May 2017 Security News

DR Congo approves Ebola vaccine to counter outbreak; UN-trained volunteers to educate local populations UN News 30 May 2017 -- To contain the latest outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) provided technical support to 145 volunteers of the Congolese Red Cross and community health workers to deliver lifesaving information to local populations in remote areas along the Central African Republic border.
Czech Court Rules Hacking Suspect Can Be Extradited To U.S. Or Russia RFE/RL 30 May 2017 -- A court in the Czech Republic has ruled that a Russian computer-hacking suspect at the center of a tug-of-war between the United States and Russia can be extradited to either country.
MI5 launches inquiry into Manchester attack intelligence failure Press TV 29 May 2017 -- Britain's domestic counter-intelligence agency (MI5) has launched an inquiry into how it missed warnings from the public about the threat posed by the man behind the Manchester terrorist attack.
Report says intelligence identifies 23,000 jihadists in Britain People's Daily 28 May 2017 -- The British intelligence has identified 23,000 jihadist extremists living in the country as potential terrorist attackers, media reports said on Saturday.
US Considering Laptop Ban on All International Flights VOA 28 May 2017 -- The U.S. Homeland Security chief says he's considering banning laptop computers from the passenger cabins of all international flights to and from the United States.
Libyan Militant Group Ansar Al-Sharia Says It Is Disbanding RFE/RL 28 May 2017 -- The Libyan Ansar al-Sharia militant group, linked to Al-Qaeda and blamed for the 2012 Benghazi attack that killed the U.S. ambassador, says it is formally dissolving itself.
Britain Lowers Threat Level to 'Severe' as Bombing Probe Progresses VOA 27 May 2017 -- Britain lowered its security threat level Saturday to "severe," Prime Minister Theresa May said, as police continue to make progress investigating the suicide bomb attack in Manchester.
Masked Terrorists Kill Coptic Christians on Bus in Egypt VOA 26 May 2017 -- More than two dozen Coptic Christian pilgrims traveling to a monastery in the south of Egypt were killed Friday when suspected Islamic militants opened fire on a stopped passenger bus.
Bangladesh court jails top militant leader to over 7 years Press TV 25 May 2017 -- A Bangladeshi court has sentenced a top militant leader to over seven years for leading an extremist group blamed for a series of high-profile deadly attacks across the South Asian country.
Trump Calls Manchester Attack 'Barbaric, Vicious,' Condemns Media Leaks RFE/RL 25 May 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has called the bombing at a concert in the British city of Manchester "a barbaric and vicious attack upon our civilization" and told NATO allies he has new hope that nations can unite to defeat terrorism.
Federal Court Upholds Block On Trump Administration Travel Ban RFE/RL 25 May 2017 -- A U.S. federal appeals court has handed the Trump administration another setback, ruling to continue the block on the revised travel ban targeting six predominantly Muslim countries.
UK Police Make More Arrests in Deadly Manchester Arena Bombing VOA 25 May 2017 -- Eight men are now in custody in connection with Monday's suicide bombing at a Manchester, England, pop concert, including two men who were arrested in separate raids early Thursday.
Concerns Grow About Libya Connection to Manchester Bombing VOA 25 May 2017 -- British counter-terror officers have been conducting raids and making arrests in the wake of the concert bombing earlier this week that killed 22 people, including children. The raids are reassuring on the one hand, showing the police are moving fast. But they are adding also to a sense of alarm among Manchester residents.
Appeals Court Upholds Stay on Trump Travel Order VOA 25 May 2017 -- A federal appeals court in Richmond, Virginia, on Thursday declined to reinstate President Donald Trump's executive order limiting travel from six predominantly Muslim countries for three months.
Britain Irritated by US Intel Leaks VOA 24 May 2017 -- Britain is criticizing U.S. intelligence officials for leaking information to journalists after a suicide attack Monday in Manchester.
Cybercom: Pace of Cyberattacks Have Consequences for Military, Nation AFPS 24 May 2017 -- The intensifying pace of international conflict and cyber events has consequences for the U.S. military and for the nation at large, Navy Adm. Michael S. Rogers, commander of U.S. Cyber Command, told a House panel yesterday.
British Police Arrest Fifth Suspect In Manchester Attack Probe RFE/RL 24 May 2017 -- British police say they have arrested a fifth person in connection with the Manchester suicide bombing that killed 22 people, some of them children.
Brother, Father of Alleged Manchester Bomber Arrested in Libya VOA 24 May 2017 -- A brother and father of the alleged Manchester suicide bomber have been arrested in Libya, according to a spokesman for the country's anti-terror force.
Manhunt Underway for IS-linked Militant in Philippines VOA 23 May 2017 -- Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday declared the country's restive south under martial rule for 60 days after security forces' attempt to capture a top Islamic State-linked militant leader failed, setting off clashes that left a major southern city under siege.
Britain Raises Terror Alert to Critical - the Highest Level VOA 23 May 2017 -- Britain has raised its terrorism alert to critical -- the highest level -- and soldiers are being deployed to assist armed police, Prime Minister Theresa May announced Tuesday.
ISIL claims responsibility for deadly Manchester attack Press TV 23 May 2017 -- The Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group has taken responsibility for Monday night's attack at the Manchester Arena that killed 22 people, including children, and wounded 59 others.
British Police Name Salman Abedi As Perpetrator In Manchester Bombing RFE/RL 23 May 2017 -- British police have named Salman Abedi as the dead assailant in what Prime Minister Theresa May called a "callous terrorist attack" at a Manchester pop concert that killed 22 victims, many of them children or teenagers.
British Police Still Searching for Clues in Manchester Bombing VOA 23 May 2017 -- British police are urgently trying to determine whether the suicide bomber who struck a music concert Monday in the northern city of Manchester acted alone or was part of a larger terror network.
IS Claims Responsibility for Blast Targeting Ariana Grande Concert VOA 23 May 2017 -- The so-called Islamic State terrorist group has claimed responsibility for Monday's blast at a concert by U.S. pop star Ariana Grande in Manchester, England that killed at least 22 people and injured dozens more.
22 killed, 59 injured in "one-man terrorist attack" in Manchester: police People's Daily 23 May 2017 -- A total of 22 people, including children, were killed and 59 others injured in a suicide terror attack at Manchester Arena Monday night, police announced on Tuesday.
Russia 'brazenly interfered' in US election: Former CIA chief Press TV 23 May 2017 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan has publicly said Russia "brazenly interfered" with the US presidential election and that he was aware of interactions between members of Donald Trump's campaign and Russian officials.
Ex-CIA Chief Brennan Complained To FSB Director In August Of Election Meddling RFE/RL 23 May 2017 -- Former CIA Director John Brennan said he spoke directly to the head of Russia's main security agency last summer, complaining about the harassment of U.S. diplomats and apparent Russian efforts to meddle in the presidential election campaign.
WHO Optimistic on Controlling DRC Ebola Outbreak VOA 21 May 2017 -- The World Health Organization's regional chief for Africa reports prospects for rapidly controlling the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in the Democratic Republic of Congo are good.
Increasingly Broke IS Resorts to Fire Sale VOA 20 May 2017 -- With so-called Islamic State (IS) revenue streams drying up as it continues to lose territory in Syria and Iraq, IS is resorting to a fire sale by liquidating whatever marketable products it can, Iraqi prosecutors say.
In wake of 'WannaCry' attacks, UN cybersecurity expert discusses Internet safety UN News 19 May 2017 -- A United Nations cybersecurity expert says that cybercrime is ultimately preventable, and that the internet – even the hidden so-called 'dark net' – has very good elements to it.
UN Reports Increase in Afghan Opium Poppy Cultivation Area VOA 19 May 2017 -- A new United Nations survey says the total area under opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan has increased by 10 percent, from 183,000 to 201,000 hectares, compared to the previous year, leading to a significant rise in the production of illicit opium.
Experts race against clock to quell Ebola outbreak in remote DR Congo province - UN UN News 18 May 2017 -- A race against the clock has begun to contain an outbreak of Ebola in a remote northern area of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) said today.
'WannaCry' may be dwarfed by new, mega-scale cyberattack, experts warn Press TV 17 May 2017 -- Cybersecurity experts have warned that "WannaCry," the ransomware that affected computers worldwide, will probably be dwarfed by a new, mega-scale cyberattack.
North Korea Becomes Usual Suspect in WannaCry Cyber Attack VOA 16 May 2017 -- Cyber security experts admit the technical evidence linking North Korea to the global WannaCry "ransomware" cyber attack is somewhat tenuous, but Pyongyang has the advanced cyber capabilities and the motive to compensate for lost revenue due to economic sanctions, to be considered a likely suspect.
Link between North Korea, 'WannaCry' needs to be proven: Europol Press TV 16 May 2017 -- The European Union's police agency, Europol, says it still needs to be proven that there was a link between North Korea and a recent cyberattack that locked computers in more than 150 countries.
Researchers Find Link To North Korea In Massive Cyberattack RFE/RL 16 May 2017 -- Cybersecurity firms have found clues that last weekend's global "ransomware" attack, which infected more than 300,000 computers in 150 countries, could be linked to North Korea.
CIA Claims of Russian Interference in US Election 'Totally Absurd' - Moscow Sputnik 16 May 2017 -- CIA claims of Russian meddling in the US election campaign are completely absurd as the US remained satisfied with the information on hacking possibility provided by Moscow prior to elections, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
CIA Considers Russian Involvement in US Election Hacking 'Established Fact' Sputnik 16 May 2017 -- The US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) believes that the involvement of Russian intelligence services in hacking related to the US elections is an "established fact," CIA spokeswoman Heather Fritz Horniak said.
Putin says Russia not responsible for recent global cyber attack Press TV 15 May 2017 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that his country had nothing to do with the recent global "ransomware" cyber attack that targeted some 150 countries over the weekend.
Governments, Companies Brace For New Cyberattacks As Business Week Begins RFE/RL 15 May 2017 -- Managers and employees at government offices, organizations, and businesses returned to work warily on May 15 amid fears that a massive cyberattack could worsen after the weekend.
WannaCry Ransomware Cyberattacks Slow RFE/RL 15 May 2017 -- Managers and employees at government offices, organizations, and businesses returned to work warily on May 15 amid fears that a massive cyberattack could worsen after the weekend, but computer infections appear to have slowed.
UN health agency deploying technical experts to site of Ebola outbreak in DR Congo UN News 15 May 2017 -- The United Nations health agency is deploying technical experts to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) amid an outbreak of Ebola virus near its northern border with the Central Africa Republic, the agency's regional director for Africa confirmed.
Global Cyberattacks Appear to Ease, Except in Asia VOA 15 May 2017 -- The worldwide ransomware cyberattacks appeared to ease Monday, although thousands more computers, mostly in Asia, were hit as people signed in at work for the first time since the infections spread to 150 countries three days ago.
Europol: Cyberattack Threat Escalating As Manhunt Under Way RFE/RL 14 May 2017 -- An international manhunt is under way to find those responsible for a massive global cyberattack that hit more than 200,000 victims in more than 150 countries, Europol has said.
Europol says Global Cyberattack Affects 150 Countries VOA 14 May 2017 -- Europe's police agency Europol says a global cyberattack has affected at least 100,000 organizations in 150 countries, with data networks infected by malware that locks computer files unless a ransom is paid.
Cyber Security Experts: Russia Disproportionately Targeted by Malware VOA 14 May 2017 -- Countries across the globe scrambled to respond to a malicious "ransomware" virus, as internet security watchdogs said the attack had disproportionately targeted Russia.
Ransomware Attack Could Herald Future Problems VOA 14 May 2017 -- Tech staffs around the world worked around the clock this weekend to protect computers and patch networks to block the computer hack whose name sounds like a pop song – "WannaCry" – as analysts warned the global ransomware attack could be just the first of a new wave of strikes by computer criminals.
Pak-Afghan-US trilateral meeting discuss fighting Daesh IRNA 13 May 2017 -- A high level meeting between senior military officials of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Resolute Support Mission stressed upon the need to fight Daesh through complementary efforts in respective areas of operations, Pakistan's military media wing said.
Manhunt Under Way In Cyberattack; Business Prepare For Renewed Attacks RFE/RL 14 May 2017 -- An international manhunt is under way to find those responsible for a massive global cyberattack that hit as many as 100 countries.
Stolen NSA spy weapon used in global 'ransomware' attacks Press TV 13 May 2017 -- Cyber criminals have exploited spy tools stolen from the US National Security Agency (NSA) to launch a massive "ransomware" attack in nearly 100 countries around the world, security researchers say.
Worldwide Cyberattack Spreads Further in Second Day VOA 13 May 2017 -- A cyberattack against tens of thousands of data networks in scores of countries, all infected by malware that locks computer files unless a ransom is paid, spread further in its second day Saturday, with no progress reported in efforts to determine who launched the plot.
Congo Faces New Ebola Outbreak VOA 13 May 2017 -- The World Health Organization says the Democratic Republic of the Congo is again facing an outbreak of the contagious and deadly Ebola virus.
British Hospitals Hit By Cyberattacks, Says Health Service RFE/RL 12 May 2017 -- Several English hospitals have been hit by cyberattacks, Britain's health service says, forcing some to divert ambulances to other clinics and urge people not to try to contact their doctors.
UN informed of Ebola virus outbreak in northern DR Congo UN News 12 May 2017 -- An Ebola outbreak in north-eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has killed at least one person, the United Nations World health Organization (WHO) announced earlier today.
Massive Cyberattack Appears to Be Spreading Globally VOA 12 May 2017 -- A massive cyberattack that has hit hospitals in Britain and businesses in Spain appears to be spreading to other organizations around the world.
Balochistan bombing by Daesh kills over two dozen Press TV 12 May 2017 -- More than two dozen people have been killed in a bomb attack in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan.
Suicide Bomber Kills 25 in Southwestern Pakistan VOA 12 May 2017 -- A suicide bomber has struck the convoy of an Islamic party in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least 25 people and wounding more than 40 others. Most of the victims were activists with the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), a religious-based political party.
Russia charges three suspects with terror in St. Petersburg metro bombing Press TV 11 May 2017 -- Russian prosecutors have charged three suspects over involvement in last month's bombing attack in the Saint Petersburg metro.
US Alerted France of Russian Cyberattacks During Presidential Election VOA 11 May 2017 -- The United States informed French officials that Russia had hacked France's computer networks during the country's presidential election before the cyberattacks became public, the National Security Agency chief told Congress on Thursday.
Rewards for Justice - Reward Offer for Information on al-Nusrah Front Leader Muhammad al-Jawlani US Dept. of State 10 May 2017-- The U.S. Department of State's Rewards for Justice Program is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of Muhammad al-Jawlani, leader of the al-Nusrah Front (ANF) terrorist group.
US warned France about Russian hacking before Macron leak: NSA chief Press TV 10 May 2017 -- The head of the US National Security Agency (NSA) says Washington had warned French authorities about Russia's meddling in the country's presidential election before hackers could allegedly steal documents from the centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's party.
Cyber Command Increases Readiness to Hold Targets at Risk AFPS 09 May 2017 -- With help from the services, U.S. Cyber Command continually increases its Cyber Mission Forces' readiness to hold targets that are at risk amid the intensified pace of international conflict in cyberspace threats, the Cybercom commander told a Senate panel here today.
Appeals judges hear Trump administration's arguments on Muslim ban Press TV 09 May 2017 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump has defended his proposed travel ban against citizens of several Muslim countries at an appeals court.
Putin ordered influence campaign to 'advantage' Trump: Clapper Press TV 09 May 2017 -- Former Director of US National Intelligence James Clapper has defended the assessment by the intelligence community that Russian President Vladimir Putin directly interfered in last year's presidential election to help Donald Trump.
Cyber Command Chief Says U.S. Warned France About Russia-Backed Hackers During Election RFE/RL 09 May 2017 -- The United States' top cybersecurity official says Washington warned French officials during the recent presidential election that Russia-backed hackers were penetrating French computer networks.
Germany Arrests Second Soldier In 'Strange' Alleged Right-Wing Assassination Plot RFE/RL 09 May 2017 -- German authorities say a second soldier has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in a far-right plot to assassinate politicians and blame the killings on asylum-seekers.
Court Judges Focus On Whether Trump Travel Order Targets Muslims RFE/RL 09 May 2017 -- U.S. appeals court judges asked tough questions about President Donald Trump's temporary ban on travelers from six predominantly Muslim countries, with several voicing skepticism that national security was the measure's true goal.
US Bracing for Continued Russian Cyberattacks VOA 09 May 2017 -- The United States and its Western allies are still searching for a way to make countries like Russia pay a price for potentially destabilizing cyber attacks, even as those attacks keep coming.
Indonesian government set to disband extremist group Hizb ut-Tahrir Press TV 08 May 2017 -- Indonesia is set to disband the Hizb ut-Tahrir extremist group, citing concerns that it undermines the state ideology and threatens the security of the Southeast Asian nation.
Saudi Arabia must reform 'unacceptably broad' counter-terrorism law - UN rights expert UN News 05 May 2017 -- Saudi Arabia must stop using its anti-terror law to violate the right to free speech of its people, and end the use of torture terrorist suspects during investigations, a United Nations human rights expert urged at the end of his mission to the country.
German Intelligence Agency Expects More Cyberattacks Before Election RFE/RL 04 May 2017 -- Germany's domestic intelligence agency has said it expects more cyberattacks directed against German politicians and officials ahead of a general election in September.
Russian Election Hacking 'Wildly Successful' At Sowing Discord, U.S. Intelligence Figures Say RFE/RL 03 May 2017 -- Russia has succeeded in sowing political discord in the United States by interfering in the 2016 presidential election, which will likely prompt Moscow to try it again, two former top U.S. intelligence figures say.
US Congress allocates no money for Trump's border wall Press TV 02 May 2017 -- The US Congress has ignored President Donald Trump's demand to fund his controversial campaign pledge of building a wall along the US-Mexico border in the first 100 days of the administration
Islamic State Regroups in Parts of Iraq VOA 02 May 2017 -- A car-bombing in east Mosul is confirming fears of some analysts that the offensive against the Islamic State is dealing the terror group military defeats but not necessarily political setbacks.

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May 2017 Security News