February 2017 Security News

Islamic State on Brink of Financial Collapse, Report Finds VOA 28 Feb 2017 -- The business model of Islamic State is failing, and the terror group will soon likely collapse financially, according to a detailed analysis of IS finances by the London-based International Center for the Study of Radicalization, and accounting group Ernst & Young.
Pentagon Spokesman Discusses ISIS Preliminary Plan, Budget Amendment AFPS 27 Feb 2017 -- Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will present a preliminary version of the Pentagon's new plan to rapidly defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria during a meeting of the White House Principals Committee today, Navy Capt. Jeff Davis said here this morning.
Pentagon Sends Trump Plan to Defeat Islamic State, Other Extremist Groups VOA 27 Feb 2017 -- The Pentagon says it has sent the White House a preliminary plan to defeat Islamic State extremists in Iraq and Syria, and says Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will brief senior administration officials on the draft later Monday.
Report: McMaster Takes Issue With White House 'Islamic Terrorism' Mantra VOA 25 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. administration's new national security adviser has reportedly told his staff that Muslims who carry out terrorist acts are corrupting Islam, a departure from an ideological position held by other senior advisers to President Donald Trump.
No evidence Trump's banned Muslim states pose threat to US: DHS Press TV 25 Feb 2017 -- A probe by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has failed to return enough evidence that Iran and six other Muslim countries included in President Donald Trump's entry ban pose a terror threat to America.
U.S. Reportedly Found Little Terror Threat From Seven Targeted Countries RFE/RL 25 Feb 2017 -- The Associated Press reported on February 24 that U.S. security analysts have found no clear terror threat from citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries targeted in President Donald Trump's temporary travel ban.
Downfall of the Caliphate: Daesh's Revenues Plummet Amid Battlefield Losses Sputnik 25 Feb 2017 -- Daesh might be the richest terrorist organization in the world, but its business model is hardly sustainable since the group's revenue is closely dependent on the area under its control and the number of people living in its self-proclaimed caliphate. In other words, battlefield losses lead to territorial losses which mean shrinking revenues.
Officials: Pakistani Religious Schools Increasingly Linked to Afghan Taliban VOA 25 Feb 2017 -- When Afghan intelligence officials, assisted by international investigators, probed a terror attack last month that killed five Emirati diplomats in Kandahar, they traced the suspects to a conservative religious seminary in Pakistan.
Pakistan, Afghanistan to Hold Counterterror Talks VOA 25 Feb 2017 -- Pakistan disclosed Saturday that it is engaged in negotiations with Afghanistan on developing a joint "mechanism" to address mutual cross-border terrorism concerns, and both sides could formalize a deal next week.
Trump proposal for listing Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps a 'terrorist group' in limbo: Report Press TV 25 Feb 2017 -- A proposal by the administration of US President Donald Trump to designate Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps a "terrorist organization" has reportedly stalled over warnings from US defense and intelligence officials that the move could "backfire."
Rogers Discusses Near Future of U.S. Cyber Command AFPS 24 Feb 2017 -- Navy Adm. Mike Rogers, the chief of U.S. Cyber Command, discussed the command's future over the next five to 10 years yesterday at West 2017, a sea services event in San Diego co-sponsored by AFCEA International and the U.S. Naval Institute.
Guard Soldiers deploy in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel Army News 24 Feb 2017 -- Trading the Caribbean Sea for the Persian Gulf, Puerto Rican Soldiers with the 215th Vertical Engineer Company, Army National Guard, departed from the Silas L. Copeland Arrival/Departure Airfield Control Group here Feb. 2 in support of Operation Freedom's Sentinel.
Trump, Kelly Contradict Each Other on Use of US Military in Deportations Sputnik 24 Feb 2017 -- US President Donald Trump referred to the effort to deport undocumented immigrants as "a military operation" just a few hours before Department of Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly stated that there would be "no, repeat, no, use of military force in immigration operations."
Joint Statement by Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly on Bilateral Discussions in Mexico City US Dept. of State 23 Feb 2017
Statements to the Press US Dept. of State 23 Feb 2017 -- Remarks by Rex W. Tillerson, Secretary of State, Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Videgaray Caso, and Mexican Government Secretary Miguel Angel Osorio Chong
Mexico rejects Trump's 'unilateral' move on immigration Press TV 23 Feb 2017 -- The government of Mexico rejects any "unilateral" measures by the administration of President Donald Trump on immigration.
US Homeland Security: No Military Force Will Be Used in Immigration Operations Sputnik 23 Feb 2017 -- John Kelly claims that the United States is not going to use military forces to round up and deport undocumented immigrants.
Bomb blasts hit Pakistan's Lahore, leave casualties Press TV 23 Feb 2017 -- Two bomb explosions have occurred in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, with authorities announcing a death toll of six from one of the blasts.
In Face Of Threats And Attacks, Pakistani Media Establish 'Safety Hubs' RFE/RL 23 Feb 2017 -- In Pakistan, a country where journalists are often the targets of threats and deadly attacks and have little protection from authorities, many reporters are left to fend for themselves.
Pakistan Launches Anti-Terror Operation Across Country Sputnik 22 Feb 2017 -- The Pakistani authorities announced a countrywide counterterrorism operation with the participation of law enforcement agencies and the armed forces.
Pakistan Army Launches Nationwide Anti-terror Operation VOA 22 Feb 2017 -- Pakistan has launched its first ever nationwide military operation "to eradicate the threat of terrorism," in response to a recent surge in suicide bombings and militant attacks that killed scores of people in the country.
Background Briefing Previewing Secretary Tillerson and DHS Secretary Kelly's Travel to Mexico US Dept. of State 21 Feb 2017 -- Special Briefing by Senior Administration Officials
US Must Hire 5,000 Border Patrol Agents - Homeland Security Secretary Sputnik 21 Feb 2017 -- Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said that US Customs and Border Patrol agency must immediately hire 5,000 new border patrol agents to apprehend immigrants entering the United States illegally.
US Homeland Security Directives Outline Aggressive Immigration Enforcement VOA 21 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued two new memos outlining the implementation of President Donald Trump's executive orders to stop illegal immigration while deporting undocumented immigrants out of the U.S.
Five killed, 15 injured in bomb attack on court in northern Pakistan Press TV 21 Feb 2017 -- At least five people have been killed as a bomb explosion rocked a court complex in northern Pakistan, the latest in a string of attacks which have claimed more than 100 lives over the past 10 days.
Suicide Attack on Pakistani Courthouse Kills 7 VOA 21 Feb 2017 -- A suicide gun-and-bomb attack on a courthouse in northwestern Pakistan Tuesday killed at least seven people and wounded 30 others.
UN Presses ASEAN to Boost Cooperation as Islamic State Builds Regional Links VOA 20 Feb 2017 -- The United Nations says Southeast Asia needs to put in place a comprehensive regional plan to combat a rising threat of violent extremism as Asian fighters return home from Iraq and Syria.
Why Isn't Afghan Taliban on US List of Foreign Terror Groups? VOA 20 Feb 2017 -- They both call themselves the Taliban. They regularly carry out deadly suicide bombings, kill civilians with impunity and, in many respects, behave like brutish terrorist groups. So why is one – the Tehrik-I Taliban of Pakistan – on the State Department's list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations, while the other – Afghanistan's Taliban – is not?
US to expand deportation of undocumented immigrants: Report Press TV 19 Feb 2017 -- US Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly has signed sweeping new deportation guidelines that will authorize more aggressive operations to deport undocumented immigrants, according to a new report.
Trump's Border Chief Promises 'Streamlined' New Travel Ban VOA 19 Feb 2017 -- President Donald Trump will soon release a "more streamlined version" of a presidential order banning immigrants from seven Muslim-majority nations, but it will be better implemented and avoid the chaos that resulted from an earlier attempt to restrict foreign travelers arriving in the U.S., Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly said.
US-based blind Egyptian cleric, accused terrorist Omar Abdel-Rahman dies in NC prison Press TV 18 Feb 2017 -- Blind Egyptian cleric Omar Abdel-Rahman accused of "plotting" large-scale bombing of major landmarks across New York City and delivering "radical sermons" and sentenced to life imprisonment has died in a US federal prison in North Carolina.
Terrorist Nicknamed 'Blind Sheik' Dies in US Prison VOA 18 Feb 2017 -- U.S. prison authorities say an Egyptian cleric convicted of participating in a plan to blow up landmarks in New York City has died in prison.
Militants, Afghanistan Question Pakistan's Anti-terror Crackdown Claims VOA 18 Feb 2017 -- A splinter faction of the Pakistani Taliban is accusing security forces in Pakistan of killing its detained members in "fake encounters," and has denied as false army attacks on the group's "imaginary" camps.
White House Denies Plan For National Guard To Round Up Illegal Immigrants RFE/RL 17 Feb 2017 -- The White House is denying a media report that it is considering the deployment of up to 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants in 11 states, some far from the Mexican border.
Powerful explosion at Pakistani shrine kills at least 72, injures over 150 Press TV 16 Feb 2017 -- More than 70 people have been killed and over 150 others injured in a huge bomb explosion at a shrine in Pakistan's southern province of Sindh.
IS Claims Deadly Suicide Shrine Bombing in Pakistan VOA 16 Feb 2017 -- An Islamic State suicide bomber killed more than 70 people and wounded about 200 others Thursday inside a crowded Shi'ite shrine in southern Pakistan. Reuters reports that 30 of those killed were children.
Tunisia extends state of emergency citing 'terror threats' Press TV 16 Feb 2017 -- Tunisia has renewed for three more months the state of emergency which has been in place across the North African state since a deadly Daesh terror attack in 2015.
Louisiana Guard Assists Police in $2 Million Drug Bust AFPS 16 Feb 2017 -- The Louisiana National Guard's Counterdrug Task Force providing an aviation asset in assisting several law enforcement agencies in removing nearly $2 million worth of drugs from the streets of Alexandria, Louisiana, last month.
NATO and Finland step up cyber defence cooperation NATO 16 Feb 2017 -- In the face of a rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, strong partnerships play a key role in effectively addressing cyber challenges. Today (16 February 2017), NATO and Finland stepped up their engagement with the signing of a Political Framework Arrangement on cyber defence cooperation. The arrangement will allow NATO and Finland to better protect and improve the resilience of their networks.
Ukraine Says Russian Hackers Targeting Kyiv's Power Grid, Financial System RFE/RL 16 Feb 2017 -- Ukraine has accused Russian hackers of targeting its power grid, financial system, and other infrastructure with thousands of attacks and a new type of virus that attacks industrial processes.
Islamic State Calls on Supporters to Target Religious Scholars VOA 16 Feb 2017 -- Islamic State propagandists have launched a coordinated online campaign accusing prominent Muslim clerics in the Arab world and the West of betrayal in an apparent bid to delegitimize them, especially in the eyes of younger Muslims.
New Trump Travel Ban Coming Next Week VOA 16 Feb 2017 -- The administration of President Donald Trump is planning to issue a new executive order to replace the travel ban that suspended travel from seven Muslim countries and temporarily barred most refugees.
Cyber teams throw virtual effects, defend networks against ISIS Army News 15 Feb 2017 -- Soldiers in new cyber teams are now bringing offensive and defensive virtual effects against Islamic militants in northern Iraq and Syria, according to senior leaders.
IS Propaganda Switches from Utopian Caliphate to Battlefield Reality VOA 15 Feb 2017 -- As the terror group Islamic State loses more and more territory in Iraq and Syria, its propaganda has undergone a significant change, according to analysts. Many of the recent videos produced by the group have focused on the battle for the Iraqi city of Mosul – with a decreasing emphasis on calls for foreign fighters to join the group.
Pakistan Reacts Sharply to US's Anti-Terror Criticism VOA 14 Feb 2017 -- Pakistan has sharply reacted to recent criticism and assertions by U.S. congressmen, the U.S. military and Washington-based, influential think tanks blaming the country for the worsening security situation in Afghanistan and calling for President Donald Trump to toughen his approach toward Islamabad for harboring the Taliban and its ally, the terrorist Haqqani network.
UN Security Council urges joint measures to protect "critical infrastructure" from terrorist attacks People's Daily 14 Feb 2017 -- The UN Security Council on Monday unanimously adopted resolution 2341 (2017), calling upon member states to consider developing or further improving their strategies for reducing risks to critical infrastructure from terrorist attacks.
Venezuela's vice president slams Washington's 'miserable, vile attack' Press TV 14 Feb 2017 -- Venezuelan Vice President Tareck El Aissami has slammed Washington for imposing sanctions against him and a close ally over alleged mass shipment of illicit drugs into the United States.
US imposes sanctions on Venezuelan VP in latest move against Caracas Press TV 14 Feb 2017 -- The US has imposed sanctions against Venezuelan Vice-President Tareck El Aissami over his alleged involvement in drug trafficking, in yet another hostile measure that could spark fresh tensions between the two countries.
Synthetic drugs are making headway in Afghanistan, UN agency reports UN News 14 Feb 2017 -- Methamphetamine is increasingly being seized by law enforcement in Afghanistan, and there is also evidence that it is being produced in the country, according to the first of its kind assessment on synthetic drugs released today by the United Nations drug and crime agency.
National Guard assist New Orleans police after tornado cuts through neighborhoods Army News 13 Feb 2017 -- Louisiana Army National Guard members continue to provide 24-hour security operations in New Orleans East after a powerful tornado struck the area Tuesday.
Background Briefing on an Announcement From the Treasury Department US Dept. of State 13 Feb 2017 -- Special Briefing by Senior Administration Officials
Treasury Sanctions Prominent Venezuelan Drug Trafficker Tareck El Aissami and His Primary Frontman Samark Lopez Bello US Dept. of Treasury 13 Feb 2017 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated Venezuelan national Tareck Zaidan El Aissami Maddah (El Aissami) as a Specially Designated Narcotics Trafficker pursuant to the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) for playing a significant role in international narcotics trafficking.
UN Security Council urges joint measures to protect 'critical infrastructure' from terrorist attacks UN News 13 Feb 2017 -- Given the importance of critical infrastructure for a country's prosperity and security and against the backdrop of increasingly diverse physical and cyber threats from terrorist groups, the United Nations Security Council today underlined the need for international collaboration – both domestically and across borders – to ensure their protection.
DoD Prepares Response to Possible Dam Collapse in California AFPS 13 Feb 2017 -- The Defense Department stands ready to assist in operations surrounding a failing dam in northern California, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters today.
US Accuses Venezuela VP of Major Role in International Drug Trafficking VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- The United States has designated Venezuela's vice president as an international narcotics trafficker under its Kingpin Act.
Bomb Rips Through Protest Rally in Pakistan, at Least 13 Killed VOA 13 Feb 2017 -- Police and witnesses in Pakistan say that a suicide bomber detonated a blast at a protest rally in the eastern city of Lahore, killing at least 13 people and wounding around 85 others.
White House: All Options Considered to Blunt Ruling Thwarting Immigrant Travel Ban VOA 12 Feb 2017 -- A key aide to U.S. President Donald Trump said Sunday the White House is considering "all of our options" in an effort to blunt a court ruling freezing Trump's order to ban travel from seven majority-Muslim countries and block refugees from entering the United States.
Turkish Court Formally Charges Nightclub Massacre Suspect VOA 11 Feb 2017 -- A Turkish court has formally charged an Uzbek man with murdering 39 people and wounding scores of others in a New Year's Day shooting rampage at an Istanbul nightclub.
I won't allow immigration to become a tool for terrorism: Trump Press TV 11 Feb 2017 -- US President Donald Trump says he will not allow his country's immigration system to be turned against the United States "as a tool for terrorism."
Trump Says He May Issue New Immigration Order RFE/RL 11 Feb 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump said late on February 10 that he is considering issuing a new executive order on immigration now that his original January 27 order has been suspended indefinitely by the courts.
Trump Administration May Put Pressure on Hezbollah, Analysts Say VOA 11 Feb 2017 -- As the Trump administration promises to take a hard line on Iran, U.S. pressure could rise against Iranian proxy Hezbollah, which has a key fighting role in backing the Syrian regime in its fight against rebels, analysts say.
Trump: Immigration System Will Not Be Tool for Terrorists VOA 11 Feb 2017 -- President Donald Trump has promised that the country's immigration system will not be used as a tool to advance the cause of foreign terrorists.
Nonprofits React to Reports Trump Could Focus on Radical Islam VOA 11 Feb 2017 -- Advocacy groups are turning away U.S. federal grants to combat extremism after reports that the Trump administration wants to focus its counterterrorism effort exclusively on Muslim radicals.
Two New York City Residents Pleaded Guilty to All Charges in Terrorism Case US Dept. of Justice 10 Feb 2017 -- Earlier today, Munther Omar Saleh, 21, of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, New York, to all charges in an indictment charging him with conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization, and with assaulting and conspiring to assault federal officers.
Cyber stands up civilian career field, mulls direct commissioning Army News 10 Feb 2017 -- Army cyber leaders announced a new career management program for civilians Wednesday, as well as plans to study a direct commissioning pilot to recruit talented people into the emerging domain.
Former Army National Guardsman Sentenced to 11 Years for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL US Dept. of Justice 10 Feb 2017 -- Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 27, of Sterling, Virginia, and a former member of the Army National Guard, was sentenced today to 11 years in prison and five years supervised release for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Trump's proposed US-Mexico border wall to cost $21 billion: Report Press TV 10 Feb 2017 -- US President Donald Trump's proposed wall along the US-Mexico border would be a series of walls and fences that could cost about $21 billion, and take more than three years to build, according to a US government estimate.
U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Block On Trump Immigration Order RFE/RL 10 Feb 2017 -- A U.S. appeals court has refused to reinstate President Donald Trump's temporary ban on refugees and travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations, dealing a major setback to the new administration.
India Protests China Move to Keep Islamic Militant Leader Off UN Terror Blacklist VOA 10 Feb 2017 -- India has lodged a protest with China for its opposition to a proposal at the United Nations to put Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of Pakistan-based Islamic militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, on a U.N. terror blacklist.
New Somali President Wants His Country Off Immigration Ban VOA 10 Feb 2017 -- Somalia's new president says he will work to have his country removed from the list of nations whose citizens were -- and may yet be -- barred from entering the United States.
US appeals court maintains suspension of Trump's Muslim ban Press TV 09 Feb 2017 -- A US federal appeals court has rejected a request from the Justice Department to restore President Donald Trump's executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the United States, setting up a potential showdown in the Supreme Court.
US Appeals Court Refuses to Reinstate Trump Travel Ban VOA 09 Feb 2017 -- A federal appeals court Thursday refused to reinstate President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations.
Southcom Chief Stresses Innovation, Cooperation in Countering Threats AFPS 09 Feb 2017 -- Fighting transregional and transnational threats requires building networks stronger than those that are keeping those threats in business, the commander of U.S. Southern Command told members of the American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America and the Caribbean at a luncheon in Miami yesterday.
Turkey President Mute About US Travel Ban in Hope of Concessions VOA 08 Feb 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump spoke by telephone Tuesday with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the White House described the 45-minute conversation as productive.
Adapting to increased military pressure, ISIL shifts to 'dark web,' UN Security Council told UN News 07 Feb 2017 -- The terrorist group, known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/Da'esh), is on the defensive militarily in several regions, but is also adapting to military pressure by resorting to covert communications such as the 'dark web,' the top United Nations political affairs official warned today.
UN Report: Military Pressure on IS has Group on 'Defensive' VOA 07 Feb 2017 -- The United Nations says the so-called Islamic State terror group has not been able to withstand sustained military pressure in several conflict zones at once and is on the defensive.
Homeland Security Chief Says He Should Have Delayed Trump Travel Ban VOA 07 Feb 2017 -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly told lawmakers Tuesday that he should have delayed implementation of President Donald Trump's executive order to suspend the country's refugee admissions program and temporarily ban travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the U.S.
Turkey detains 748 Daesh suspects in nationwide operations Press TV 06 Feb 2017 -- Security forces in Turkey have raised the number of detained suspects linked to the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group to nearly 750 people, says the Interior Ministry.
Turkish Security Forces Launch Major IS Crackdown VOA 06 Feb 2017 -- Since early Sunday, Turkish police have been breaking down the doors of suspected Islamic State members, detaining more than 700 people across the country.
Daesh still posing grave threat despite budget, recruitment crisis: UN report Press TV 06 Feb 2017 -- The United Nations has warned that the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group continues to pose a threat despite reports of a drop in the outfit's revenue and its waning ability to attract new recruits.
Turkey 'arrests 400 suspected Daesh terrorists' Press TV 05 Feb 2017 -- Turkey says its police forces have detained 400 suspects linked to the Daesh terrorist group across the country, including in the capital city, Ankara.
Court ruling against Trump ban 'move in right direction,' Iraq says Press TV 05 Feb 2017 -- Iraq welcomes a US appeals court ruling against a travel ban imposed by the administration of President Donald Trump that bars citizens from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.
Appeals court rejects Trump's request to restore travel ban Press TV 05 Feb 2017 -- A US court has denied an emergency appeal from the Department of Justice to restore President Donald Trump's executive order banning citizens of seven Muslim countries from entering the United States.
U.S. Court Denies Justice Department Appeal To Reinstate Travel Ban RFE/RL 05 Feb 2017 -- A U.S. federal appeals court in San Francisco has denied an emergency motion filed by the Justice Department to immediately reinstate President Donald Trump's executive order temporarily barring citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries, as well as all refugees, from entering the United States.
US Court Denies Request to Reinstate Travel Ban; Asks for More Arguments Monday VOA 05 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. appeals court that rejected the Trump administration's request to reinstate a temporary travel ban has given the government and state's challenging the order until Monday to file more arguments.
Louvre Attack Suspect Not Talking to Investigators VOA 05 Feb 2017 -- The man suspected of attacking French soldiers outside the Louvre museum in Paris Friday is so far refusing to speak with investigators, French judicial sources say.
Trump eats humble pie; State Department suspends Muslim ban Press TV 04 Feb 2017 -- The administration of President Donald Trump has announced to comply with a federal judge's order halting its travel ban, despite the fact that Trump has questioned the judge's ruling.
US judge orders nationwide halt to Trump's travel ban Press TV 04 Feb 2017 -- A US federal judge in Seattle, Washington, has ordered a temporary, nationwide halt to President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban that blocks the entry of citizens from seven predominately Muslim countries.
Jihadists Could Use US Travel Restrictions as Recruiting Lure, Analysts Say VOA 04 Feb 2017 -- Jihadist groups like Islamic State and al-Qaida could use the controversy over the disputed U.S. travel ban on seven Muslim-majority nations as a way to recruit followers, according to some analysts.
British Defense Minister Accuses Kremlin Of 'Weaponizing Misinformation' RFE/RL 04 Feb 2017 -- Britain's defense minister says Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to undermine the West by spreading lies and hacking critical infrastructure.
Norway Suspects Russian Intelligence Involved In Hacking Attempts RFE/RL 03 Feb 2017 -- Norway's security service says civil-servant e-mail accounts have been targeted by hackers believed to be associated with Russian intelligence.
French Soldier Shoots Machete-Wielding Man At The Louvre RFE/RL 03 Feb 2017 -- A French soldier shot and wounded a man armed with a machete who was trying to enter the Louvre museum in Paris in what the government said appeared to have been a terrorist attack.
Trump Receives Limited International Support for Immigration Restrictions VOA 02 Feb 2017 -- The international reaction to temporary immigration restrictions put in place by U.S. President Donald Trump has been largely negative – with several major organizations publicly denouncing the directive – but a few foreign leaders have voiced support for the plan.
Slight Change to Russia Sanctions Puts Many on Edge VOA 02 Feb 2017 -- Efforts to fix an unintended consequence of recent sanctions against Russia nearly set off a new controversy for the Trump administration, underscoring the high level of anxiety present in relations between Washington and Moscow.
Indonesia, Australia agree to 'choke off' terror funding Press TV 02 Feb 2017 -- Indonesia and Australia have reached an agreement to fight terrorist groups by blocking their financial resources amid concerns in both countries that supporters of Daesh may be planning new terror attacks there.
Evidence of Terror Group Chief's Part in Mumbai Attack 'Available in Pakistan' Sputnik 02 Feb 2017 -- In reply to Pakistan's demand for concrete evidence against Hafiz Saeed, a leader of the Jamat-ud-Dawa terror group, India has said that all the evidence to implicate the mastermind of Mumbai terror attack is already available in Pakistan.
U.S. Treasury Eases License Sanctions On Russia's FSB RFE/RL 02 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. Treasury Department has eased some financial sanctions imposed on Russia's lead domestic security agency, a move experts said appeared to be aimed at helping U.S. technology companies.
US Treasury Eases Some Restrictions on Russian Security Agency VOA 02 Feb 2017 -- The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that it is easing some restrictions on business transactions with Russia's Security Service (FSB), despite cyber-sanctions put in place by former President Barack Obama.
Executive Order 13694 of April 1, 2015 Blocking the Property of certain Persons Engagin in Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities - General License No. 1 Authorizing certain Transactions with the Federal Security Service Office of Foreign Assets Control - Dept. of the Treasury 02 Feb 2017
John McCain Calls Trump Easing of Sanctions on Russia's FSB 'Technical Fix' Sputnik 02 Feb 2017 -- The announcement the Trump administration will relax certain sanctions against Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) appears to be a "technical fix" rather than a change in US policy toward Russia, US Senator John McCain told reporters.
UN chief calls on Trump to lift controversial travel ban Press TV 01 Feb 2017 -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the administration of US President Donald Trump to entirely lift a controversial ban it has imposed on the entry of nationals from seven Muslim-majority countries.
Iraq's President Masum criticizes Trump over travel ban Press TV 01 Feb 2017 -- In Iraq, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi is not the only senior official to have censured US President Donald Trump's travel ban targeting seven Muslim-majority countries; President Fuad Masum has also said Washington's move was "a shock."
US travel ban a 'significant setback' for those needing international protection - UN rights experts UN News 01 Feb 2017 -- Expressing concern that a new Executive Order by the United States President Donald Trump is in breach of the country's human rights commitments, a group of United Nations rights experts have called on the US to live up to its human rights obligations and provide protection for those fleeing persecution and conflicts.
US should lift measure suspending refugee resettlement, says UN chief Guterres UN News 01 Feb 2017 -- Reacting to the recent suspension by the United States of its longstanding refugee programme, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres today said resettlement is often "the only possible solution" for people fleeing conflict and persecution, and that the US policy, which bars entry of Syrians into the country, "should be removed sooner rather than later."
Russian cybersecurity experts arrested in 'US-linked' treason case Press TV 01 Feb 2017 -- Two senior Russian cyber security officials along with a top anti-hacking expert have been arrested in a US-linked treason case.
Russian Lawyer Says FSB Officers, Kaspersky Manager Charged With Treason RFE/RL 01 Feb 2017 -- А Russian lawyer has confirmed the arrests of two Federal Security Service (FSB) officers and a manager at a Russian cybersecurity company on treason charges, and that they are suspected of passing classified information to U.S. intelligence.

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February 2017 Security News