November 2017 Security News

Haqqani Network Remains Primary Source of Pakistan-US Tensions VOA 29 Nov 2017 -- Just days before U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is scheduled to visit Pakistan for crucial talks, the top American general in Afghanistan has alleged the Pakistani spy agency continues to maintain ties with the Haqqani terrorist network and allows Taliban leaders to operate out of havens in the country.
Canadian Man's Guilty Plea In Yahoo Hack Offers More Glimpses Of Russian Spy Case RFE/RL 29 Nov 2017 -- A Canadian man has pleaded guilty to his role in the 2014 hack of Yahoo's e-mail servers, the latest development in a mysterious investigation that has ensnared officers of Russia's main security agency.
NATO's flagship cyber exercise begins in Estonia NATO 28 Nov 2017 -- Cyber Coalition, NATO's biggest and most important cyber defence exercise, is taking place this week. The exercise involves more than 700 participants from 25 Allies, as well as NATO partner countries, the European Union, industry and academia.
Sinai Villagers Say Jihadists Threatened Attack Prior to Mosque Massacre VOA 27 Nov 2017 -- Villagers in Bir al-Abd in Egypt's northern Sinai, scene of a devastating jihadist attack on a crowded Sufi mosque Friday that left more than 300 dead, have added to doubts about the competence of the country's counterterror efforts.
Egypt court upholds death sentences for 7 Daesh suspects Press TV 26 Nov 2017 -- An Egyptian court has upheld death sentences for seven suspected members of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group over the beheading in Libya of 21 Coptic Christians in 2015.
Saudi Arabia Launches Islamic Counterterrorism Summit RFE/RL 26 Nov 2017 -- Saudi Arabia's crown prince has opened the first high-level meeting of a kingdom-led alliance of Muslim nations against terrorism, pledging that extremists will no longer "tarnish our beautiful religion."
Saudi Crown Prince Vows to 'Wipe Terrorists Out From the Face of Earth' Sputnik 26 Nov 2017 -- The summit follows the Saudi crown prince's statement in favor of the country returning to "moderate Islam," which came amid a number of steps aimed at expanding women's rights.
Saudis Launch Counterterror Coalition VOA 26 Nov 2017 -- A Saudi-led Muslim military coalition, commanded by a former Pakistan army chief, was officially launched Sunday in Riyadh where defense ministers of the participating nations met for the inaugural meeting.
Pakistan warned of 'repercussions' over release of Hafiz Saeed Press TV 26 Nov 2017 -- The United States has taken issue with Pakistan's release of Hafiz Saeed, who is wanted by Washington over allegedly masterminding a terrorist attack in India in 2008.
At Least 300 Killed In Attack On Sufi Mosque In Egypt RFE/RL 25 Nov 2017 -- Egypt's military says warplanes have attacked several vehicles used in a November 24 attack against a Sufi mosque that killed hundreds of people in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula.
Suspected Militants Kill 305 in Sinai Mosque Attack VOA 25 Nov 2017 -- Egyptian officials said 305 people were killed Friday by suspected militants in an attack on a packed mosque in the volatile northern Sinai Peninsula. Twenty-seven of the dead were children.
US Asks Pakistan to Arrest Freed Cleric, Charge Him with Terrorism VOA 24 Nov 2017 -- The United States has called on Pakistan to arrest and charge an Islamist cleric accused of masterminding the 2008 attacks on India's financial capital.
235 killed in attack on mosque in Egypt's Sinai Press TV 24 Nov 2017 -- At least 235 people have been killed and over 130 others injured in a shooting attack and bombing at a mosque in the restive Sinai Peninsula, state TV says.
Czech Court Rules Russian Hacking Suspect Can Be Extradited to U.S. RFE/RL 24 Nov 2017 -- A Czech court has ruled that a suspected Russian hacker at the center of a tug-of-war between Washington and Moscow can be extradited to the United States.
Egypt: UN chief and Security Council condemn attack on Sinai mosque UN News 24 Nov 2017 -- Secretary-General António Guterres and the United Nations Security Council have condemned "in the strongest terms" the attack on al-Rawdah Mosque during Friday prayers in the town of Bir al-Abed in North Sinai, Egypt, that left scores of people dead and wounded.
Suspected Militants Kill 235 in Sinai Mosque Attack VOA 24 Nov 2017 -- Egyptian security officials said 235 people were killed Friday by suspected militants in an attack on a packed mosque in the volatile northern Sinai Peninsula.
Analysts, Leaders Say Returning IS Foreign Fighters Are Concern for N. Africa VOA 23 Nov 2017 -- As the embattled Islamic State terror group has lost much of its territory and strength in Syria and Iraq, governments in North Africa fear many returning fighters from the Mideast battlegrounds could trigger instability in the region.
Uzbek Suspect In New York Truck Attack Faces New Charges, Possible Death Penalty RFE/RL 22 Nov 2017 -- A U.S. grand jury has leveled 22 new charges against an Uzbek immigrant accused of running down eight people in a truck attack in New York City last month, including murder and support for the extremist group Islamic State (IS).
Pakistan Court Orders Release of Cleric Wanted by US for Terrorism VOA 22 Nov 2017 -- A court in Pakistan has ordered authorities to release from house arrest an Islamist cleric whom the United States accuses of plotting the 2008 attacks on India's financial capital of Mumbai.
Soldiers ready to defend the homeland with domestic response training at Exercise Vigilant Shield Army News 21 Nov 2017 -- Ghostly underground tunnels. Murky sewers. Collapsed buildings. These are just a few of the obstacles that 10th Mountain Division Soldiers faced recently during exercise Vigilant Shield 18 here.
Idaho National Guard's 101st Civil Support Team prepares for upcoming evaluation Army News 21 Nov 2017 -- The Idaho National Guard's 101st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team responded to a hazardous material incident on Gowen Field, Oct. 26. Team members readied their equipment, donned their protective gear and gathered for a mission brief.
USNS Comfort Completes Hurricane Relief Mission in Puerto Rico NNS 21 Nov 2017 -- Military Sealift Command's hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) returned to Naval Station Norfolk after providing life-saving medical care to the people of Puerto Rico.
White House Asks Supreme Court to Uphold Travel Ban VOA 21 Nov 2017 -- The White House is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold a ban on travelers from six countries after an appeals court in California last week allowed only parts of the president's order to go into effect.
US Announces Arrests of 267 MS-13 Gang Members in Latest Sweep VOA 16 Nov 2017 -- U.S. law enforcement officials announced on Thursday the arrest of 267 members of MS-13, a violent gang the Trump administration has vowed to get off America's streets.
Russia Calls Spain's Accusations It May Have Meddled In Catalonia Vote 'Hysteria' RFE/RL 16 Nov 2017 -- Russia has dismissed allegations from Spanish leaders that it may have spread "disinformation" that helped precipitate a crisis over Catalonia's vote for independence last month.
'Unity, solidarity and collaboration' can turn tide on terrorism, bolster human rights, says UN chief UN News 16 Nov 2017 -- Noting that at least 11,000 terrorist attacks occurred in more than 100 countries last year, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stressed on Thursday that "terrorism is fundamentally the denial and destruction of human rights."
Russia rejects Catalonia's cyber-meddling claims as 'hysteria' Press TV 15 Nov 2017 -- Russia has dismissed claims by Spanish authorities that Moscow interfered through its cyber campaign in a political standoff in Catalonia.
Cybercom Challenges Industry: Be Agile, Precise AFPS 15 Nov 2017 -- At U.S. Cyber Command's first-ever industry day, leaders from across the command briefed nearly 400 members of private industry about the command's acquisition priorities at the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency's Arthur Lundahl Conference Center at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Oct. 27.
About 15 Percent Of U.S. Agencies Have Kaspersky Software On Computers RFE/RL 15 Nov 2017 -- About 15 percent of U.S. government agencies have detected Kaspersky Lab's software on their systems in a review prompted by concerns that the Russian antivirus firm is vulnerable to Kremlin influence, a security official has told Congress.
Report: Afghan Opium Production Up 87 Percent In 2017 RFE/RL 15 Nov 2017 -- A new report says opium production in Afghanistan increased by 87 percent to a "record level" of 9,000 tons this year, compared with 2016 levels.
Afghanistan opium production jumps 87 per cent to record level – UN survey UN News 15 Nov 2017 -- A profoundly alarming trend in the cultivation and production of opium in Afghanistan reveals an 87 per cent production increase compared to 2016, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) said Wednesday in its Afghanistan Opium Survey 2017.
Afghan Opium Production Increases by 87 Percent VOA 15 Nov 2017 -- Afghanistan has produced a record 9,000 metric tons of opium this year, up 87 percent compared with 2016 levels.
Militant Convoy That Left Raqqa Contradicts America's New Counter-IS Strategy VOA 15 Nov 2017 -- When the Trump administration rolled out a new campaign in May to "annihilate" Islamic State, Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis praised tactical changes that would provide "no escape" for the terrorists.
UN Group Recommends Dropping Inquiry into Eritrea's Ties to Al-Shabab VOA 13 Nov 2017 -- After years of inquiry, the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia and Eritrea has found no conclusive evidence of Eritrean support for al-Shabab militants in Somalia, an allegation that led to sanctions in 2009. In its latest report, the group identified violations of those sanctions and recommended that the Security Council form a new entity focused only on Eritrea to continue investigating the country's actions.
Tennessee National Guard continues supporting hurricane relief efforts Army News 13 Nov 2017 -- As hurricanes ravaged through the southern United States and Caribbean territories this year, the Tennessee National Guard was there. More than 475 Tennessee National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from across the state supported recovery operations in Florida in September. At the same time, nearly 230 more were supporting the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Trump Travel Order Gets Partial Go-ahead VOA 13 Nov 2017 -- A federal appeals court has ruled that President Donald Trump's order restricting travel to the U.S. from several countries may take effect in part.
US National Security Agency Reportedly in Jeopardy After Its Cyberweapons Stolen Sputnik 13 Nov 2017 -- The crisis in the NSA caused by a massive hacker attack has decreased the morale of its employees, with many of them reportedly preferring to leave the agency for better-paid jobs.
'Incredibly Damaging': US Cyber Security Ranks Vacant After Massive Hacks Sputnik 13 Nov 2017 -- Many top cybersecurity top posts remain empty, according to White House cybersecurity coordinator Rob Joyce, as the NSA reports disastrous leaks of key assets.
US Immigration Enforcement Agency Seeks to Double in Size by 2023 VOA 10 Nov 2017 -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is considering a hiring surge that would more than double the agency's size in the coming six years to nearly 46,000 employees, surpassing previously published estimates, according to a government contracting-related document released this week.
Yahoo Executive Warns Most Firms Vulnerable To Russian Cyberattacks RFE/RL 09 Nov 2017 -- A former Yahoo executive has blamed "Russian agents" for a massive data breach in 2014 at the Internet company and said no company is immune from such threats.
Defeated Daesh terrorists in Iraq, Syria heading to Libya, says Egyptian president Press TV 09 Nov 2017 -- Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi says the defeat of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in Iraq and Syria is likely to have forced militants to seek a safe haven in neighboring Libya.
USNS Comfort Restocks to Continue Post-Hurricane Care AFPS 08 Nov 2017 -- The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort replenished its medical supplies, food and other necessities, by connecting with the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Big Horn while underway off the coast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Nov. 6.
First U.S.-Qatar Counterterrorism Dialogue US Dept. of State 08 Nov 2017 -- U.S. and Qatari officials met in Washington, DC on November 8 for the first U.S.-Qatari counterterrorism dialogue.
Estonia Arrests Russian Man Suspected Of Being FSB Agent RFE/RL 07 Nov 2017 -- Estonia has detained a man suspected of being a Russian agent operating against the Estonian state, the Prosecutor-General's Office says.
Estonia Detains Russian National Suspected of Preparing Cybercrime Sputnik 07 Nov 2017 -- The Russian Embassy in Tallinn was notified of the detention and is ready to help the Russian citizen.
Power mission in Puerto Rico set to be largest ever in US Army News 06 Nov 2017 -- After the most devastating hurricane in 89 years hit Puerto Rico, all 3.4 million residents were left without power. Though uncertainty remains as to how much it will take to repair the electric grid, restoring power in Puerto Rico is quickly becoming the largest power mission to ever take place on U.S. soil, according to Lt. Col. Daniel Kent, Commander of the 249th Engineer Battalion, Prime Power.
Life Saving Kearsarge Returns Home NNS 06 Nov 2017 -- The amphibious assault ship USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) returned home to Norfolk Nov. 6, after 68 days of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico in the wake of hurricanes Irma and Maria.
US Calls for 'Equal Diligence' in Efforts to Combat Terror Groups in Pakistan VOA 06 Nov 2017 -- The United States has called on Pakistan to show "equal diligence" in fighting all terrorist groups operating in the country, including the Haqqani network, and cautioned bilateral relations are at a "critical juncture."
CIA documents on Iran's links to Al-Qaeda "shameless fabrication": FM spokesman ISNA 05 Nov 2017 -- Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi has rapped the newly-released CIA documents which accuse the Islamic Republic of being linked to the Al-Qaeda terrorist group.
US Orders Staffers to Leave Somalia Over 'Specific Threat' VOA 04 Nov 2017 -- The United States has ordered all non-essential employees of its mission to Somalia to leave the capital, Mogadishu, citing "specific threat information" against them.
Trump says ISIL will pay a 'big price' for attacking New York Press TV 03 Nov 2017 -- US President Donald Trump says that the Daesh (ISIL) terrorist group will pay a "big price" for every attack it carries out in the United States, following the New York truck attack by an alleged ISIL loyalist.
Islamic State Extremist Group Calls New York Attacker 'Soldier Of Caliphate' RFE/RL 03 Nov 2017 -- The Islamic State extremist group on November 3 called the attacker accused of killing eight people in a truck rampage in New Yorka "soldier of the caliphate," according to a U.S.-based extremist monitoring group.
Uzbek Sister Of NYC Suspect Fears Saipov 'Brainwashed,' Pleads For Time And 'Fair Trial' RFE/RL 03 Nov 2017 -- A sister of New York City terror suspect Sayfullo Saipov has told RFE/RL from their native Uzbekistan that her family believes the 29-year-old was "brainwashed" and has pleaded with U.S. authorities to give him "time" and a "fair trial."
IS Claim for NYC Attack Raises Questions VOA 03 Nov 2017 -- Key differences between Islamic State's claim of responsibility for the New York City truck attack and claims for previous terror attacks have caught the eye of counterterror officials, who are trying to determine what it might mean for the state of terror group.
Partnership Enables Sealift Relief Efforts for Puerto Rico AFPS 02 Nov 2017 -- The first humanitarian relief supplies sealifted from here to Ponce, Puerto Rico, departed Oct. 31.
Navy Cyber Mission Force Teams Achieve Full Operational Capability NNS 02 Nov 2017 -- On November 2nd, the U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet announced that all of the Navy's Cyber Mission Force teams achieved full operational capability (FOC) in early October, almost a full year ahead of schedule.
Explainer: The Facts Behind The Now-Endangered U.S. 'Diversity Visa' Plan RFE/RL 02 Nov 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded an end to the visa lottery program that grants legal permanent residency -- so-called green cards -- to people from countries with low rates of immigration to the United States.
Trump Reiterates Call For Death Penalty For New York Attack Suspect RFE/RL 02 Nov 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has repeated calls for an Uzbek immigrant accused of killing eight people in a New York truck rampage to get the death penalty.
'Fancy Bear' Tried To Hack E-Mail Of Ukrainian Making Artillery-Guidance App RFE/RL 02 Nov 2017 -- An officer who developed an artillery-guidance app used by the Ukrainian military in its fight against Moscow-backed separatists was among 545 members of Ukraine's political and military elite targeted by a hacking group with alleged links to Russian security services, according to an investigation by the Associated Press.
Gitmo War Court Orders US General Jailed For Supporting Detainee's Legal Rights Sputnik 02 Nov 2017 -- On Wednesday, a judge in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sentenced a US Marine in charge of a military court's legal representation to three weeks of confinement and ordered him to pay $1,000 for failure to follow orders concerning a case that involved the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000.
Trump: NYC Attacker Should Get Death Penalty or Guantanamo VOA 02 Nov 2017 -- U.S. President Donald Trump is calling for swift justice in the case of accused New York City truck terrorist Sayfullo Saipov, including the death penalty.
Macedonian Court Convicts 33 People of Planning Terrorist Attacks VOA 02 Nov 2017 -- A court in Macedonia on Thursday convicted 33 people of planning terrorist attacks as members of an ethnic Albanian militant group.
Officials Detail DoD Support During Unprecedented Hurricane Season AFPS 01 Nov 2017 -- Defense Department officials told the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee yesterday how DoD has supported federal, state and local officials in responding to the unprecedented series of hurricanes this year.
Analysts: Islamic State's Global Reach Shrinking VOA 01 Nov 2017 -- The Islamic State terror group is trying to sell a transnational image, but its future doesn't lie West of the Middle East, according to analysts.
Federal Terror Charges Filed Against New York City Truck Attacker VOA 01 Nov 2017 -- Federal prosecutors have placed terrorism charges against the Uzbek immigrant accused of running down eight people with a truck in New York City.

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November 2017 Security News