July 2018 Security News

Pentagon creates blacklist of Russian, Chinese software Press TV 31 Jul 2018 -- The US military has finished creating a "Do Not Buy" list of Russian and Chinese software that it says fail to comply with US national security standards.
Tajikistan Blames Banned Party For Attack On Foreign Cyclists; IS Posts Video RFE/RL 31 Jul 2018 -- The Tajik government has accused the banned Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan (IRPT) of being behind an attack that killed four foreign cyclists, prompting a swift denial from the group.
DHS to Launch New Cyber Division to Protect US Critical Infrastructure - Reports Sputnik 31 Jul 2018 -- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will establish a new division to protect critical US infrastructure against cyberattacks, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday.
State Department Terrorist Designation of Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil US Dept. of State 31 Jul 2018 -- The Department of State has designated Abdul Rehman al-Dakhil as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under Section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which imposes sanctions on foreign persons who have committed, or pose a significant risk of committing, acts of terrorism that threaten the security of U.S. nationals or the national security, foreign policy, or economy of the United States.
Treasury Issues Sanctions Against Lashkar-E Tayyiba Financial Facilitators US Treasury 31 Jul 2018 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) took action today to disrupt Lashkar-e Tayyiba's (LeT) fundraising and support networks by designating two of the group's financial facilitators, Hameed ul Hassan (Hassan) and Abdul Jabbar (Jabbar), as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. OFAC is designating Hassan and Jabbar for acting for or on behalf of Lashkar-e Tayyiba, a terrorist organization based in Pakistan.
US Adds 3 Pakistanis With LeT Ties to Terror Watch List VOA 31 Jul 2018 -- The U.S. on Tuesday blacklisted three Pakistani nationals for their suspected financial, technical and logistical links to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a U.S.- and U.N.-designated terror organization operating in Pakistan.
IS Claims Deadly Attack on Western Cyclists in Tajikistan VOA 31 Jul 2018 -- Islamic State is claiming responsibility for a deadly attack on Western bicyclists Sunday in Tajikistan, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
California Guard provides critical intelligence for Carr Fire Army News 30 Jul 2018 -- A critical aspect of fighting a raging wild fire, such as the Carr Fire in Northern California, comes from the skies and onto a sheet of paper.
Greek Court Approves Moscow's Second Request To Extradite Russian Cybercrime Suspect RFE/RL 30 Jul 2018 -- A Greek court has approved a supplementary request from Moscow to extradite a Russian cybercrime suspect, who is also wanted in France and the United States.
Trump Presses Demand for Wall Along US-Mexico Border VOA 30 Jul 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Congress again Monday to approve the controversial construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to thwart illegal immigration.
US Travel Ban Waiver Process is a Fraud, Lawsuit Claims VOA 30 Jul 2018 -- A group of 36 people have filed the first legal challenge to the Trump administration's travel ban after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld it in June.
Trump Threatens Government Shutdown Over Border Wall Funding VOA 29 Jul 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Sunday to shut down the government if Congress does not fund construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border to thwart illegal immigration.
Russian hackers focusing on US power grid more than electoral systems: Sources Press TV 28 Jul 2018 -- US intelligence officials say Russian hackers are shifting their focus on the country's power grid rather than its electoral systems, a report says.
U.S. Senator Says Russia Tried To Hack Her Network RFE/RL 27 Jul 2018 -- A U.S. senator has accused Russian hackers of trying unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network, in what could be the first publicly known attempt at meddling in the 2018 elections.
All Aum Doomsday Cult Members Executed in Japan Sputnik 26 Jul 2018 -- Six more members of Japan's notorious doomsday cult behind a deadly nerve agent attack in a Tokyo subway have been executed, local media reported Thursday.
Navy Utilizes Realistic Cyber Simulations to Mature Cyber Mission Forces Beyond Qualifications NNS 25 Jul 2018 -- The next phase in the maturation of the Navy's Cyber Mission Force teams is underway as leadership from U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. 10th Fleet (FCC/C10F) develop innovative training methods that allow operators to hone their skills in a realistic and challenging environment.
Michigan Man Charged With Providing Material Support To ISIS US Dept. of Justice 24 Jul 2018 -- In a criminal indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Michigan today, Ibraheem Izzy Musaibli, 28, of Dearborn, Michigan, was charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
New York Man Pleads Guilty To Attempting To Provide Material Support To ISIS US Dept. of Justice 24 Jul 2018 -- Ali Saleh, 25, of Queens, New York, pleaded guilty today to two counts of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Trump 'Concerned' Russia Will Push For Democrats In November Elections RFE/RL 24 Jul 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump says he believes Moscow will try to influence November congressional elections in favor of the Democrats and not his fellow Republicans, although the U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Russia tried to help Trump win the 2016 poll.
Trump 'Very Concerned' Russia Will Try to Meddle in US Midterms to Help Dems Sputnik 24 Jul 2018 -- During the press conference following the meeting between the US and Russian presidents in Helsinki, Trump revealed that Vladimir Putin "gave his word" that Russia had never meddled in the US elections and will never do so in the future. The upcoming mid-term elections will take place in the US in November 2018.
Trump: Russia Will Support Democrats in US Congressional Elections VOA 24 Jul 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump contended on Twitter Tuesday that Russia "will be pushing very hard for the Democrats" in November's congressional elections, against his favored Republican candidates.
Report: Russian Hackers Came Close To Causing U.S. Blackouts Last Year RFE/RL 24 Jul 2018 -- Hackers working for Russia claimed "hundreds of victims" last year in a major, long-running campaign that enabled them to gain control over some U.S. electric utilities, where they could have caused blackouts, the Wall Street Journal is reporting.
Iran's Growing Cyber Capabilities Pose Danger to German Firms - Federal Intel Sputnik 24 Jul 2018 -- Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency has released an annual report saying that the country is facing a steady increase in cyberattacks that originate from Iran.
Ebola outbreak in DR Congo declared over, now let's tackle other health challenges: WHO chief UN News 24 Jul 2018 -- The Ebola virus outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been declared over, thanks to a concerted national and international effort to contain the threat, the UN's top health official said on Tuesday.
This Time, Ebola Outbreak's Quick End Speaks of Progress Made VOA 24 Jul 2018 -- The World Health Organization says the rapid, aggressive and coordinated health response to the Democratic Republic of Congo's latest Ebola outbreak is largely responsible for quickly containing the deadly virus. WHO and Congo's Ministry of Health have officially declared the end of the ninth outbreak of Ebola in the DRC in the capital Kinshasa.
Trump calls Russia election meddling allegations a 'big hoax' Press TV 23 Jul 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has called the ongoing investigation into his alleged dealings with Russia during the 2016 US presidential election "a big hoax," saying it's his predecessor, Barack Obama, who needs to be probed for not taking action against Moscow.
DoJ Releases Report on How to Tackle Global Cyber Threats Sputnik 20 Jul 2018 -- US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced the release of a report on countering global cyber threats, the first such publication since a relevant task force was created this year within the Justice Department.
'UK identifies Russian suspects in Skripals poisoning case' Press TV 19 Jul 2018 -- British police have reportedly identified several Russian nationals suspected of having been behind an alleged nerve agent poisoning incident in which former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter were injured more than four months ago.
Guns, Sex, And A 'Flight Risk': Behind The Charges Against Maria Butina RFE/RL 19 Jul 2018 -- WASHINGTON -- The protest, held in September 2016 across the street from the Russian Embassy in the U.S. capital, featured a handful of activists intending to show their opposition to Russian leader Vladimir Putin and upcoming parliamentary elections.
Investigative Report: On The Trail Of The 12 Indicted Russian Intelligence Officers RFE/RL 19 Jul 2018 -- A U.S. grand jury charged 12 Russian citizens on July 13 with interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election by organizing cyberattacks on the computers of Democratic Party figures during the campaign.
Report: British Police Identify Russian Suspects In Novichok Attack RFE/RL 19 Jul 2018 -- British investigators believe they have identified the suspects responsible for the Novichok attack on former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter, the Press Association (PA) reported on July 19.
FBI Says China, Not Russia, 'Most Significant' Intelligence Threat to US Sputnik 19 Jul 2018 -- The Federal Bureau of Investigation said that it has ongoing economic espionage investigations in all 50 states tracing back to China, ranging from agriculture to high-tech.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Warns Of Russian Interference In Upcoming Votes RFE/RL 19 Jul 2018 -- U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen has said the United States must be ready to resist attempted Russian interference in the country's elections later this year.
Amendments to the Terrorist Designations of al-Shabaab US Dept. of State 19 Jul 2018 -- The Department of State has amended the designation of al-Shabaab – an al-Qa'ida affiliate in Somalia – to include al-Hijra and other aliases. These aliases have been added to al-Shabaab's designations as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224.
Patriot North Exercise Prepares Military, Civilian First Responders AFPS 18 Jul 2018 -- Natural disasters cause a great amount of devastation each year. They can happen any time, to anyone and in any area in the world -- they do not discriminate. A quick and decisive response to these tragedies can help mitigate their impact.
Russia urges US to produce evidence for vote hacking claims Press TV 18 Jul 2018 -- The United States should provide proof that Russia interfered in its 2016 presidential election, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov has said, days after a seemingly amicable summit between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
Trump backpedals, now says Moscow meddled in US election Press TV 18 Jul 2018 -- US President Donald Trump has gone back on his earlier remarks in Finland about Russian meddling in the 2016 US election, a day after he ignited a nationwide and bipartisan furor by siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump Says Russia No Longer Targeting U.S. Elections, Contradicting His Intelligence Chief RFE/RL 18 Jul 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has said that Russia is no longer interfering in U.S. elections, contradicting remarks by his chief of national intelligence who has warned that Russia is continuing to try to influence the 2018 U.S. congressional elections.
Butina Pleads Not Guilty To Violating U.S. Foreign-Agent Law, Held Without Bail RFE/RL 18 Jul 2018 -- A Russian woman has pleaded not guilty in a U.S. federal court to charges that she violated the U.S. foreign-agent law as part of a Russian effort to infiltrate the U.S. political system.
Congo Ebola Outbreak Expected to End Next Week VOA 17 Jul 2018 -- The World Health Organization says it expects the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo to be over on July 24. That will mark 42 days, two incubation periods of 21 days each, since the last patient infected with the Ebola virus was released from care.
Trump 'Accepts’ US Intel on Russia Meddling VOA 17 Jul 2018 -- President Donald Trump reversed himself Tuesday, saying he accepted the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election, a day after siding with Russian President Vladimir Putin's denial that Moscow had interfered.
Trump Says He Accepts That Russia Meddled In 2016 U.S. Election RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- President Donald Trump says he accepts the U.S. intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election in his favor. But he says Russian actions did not have any impact on the outcome of the vote.
Trump 'Accepts' US Intel on Russia Meddling, Says 'Could Be Other People Also' Sputnik 17 Jul 2018 -- US President Donald Trump spoke to US media in Washington on Tuesday afternoon about his one-on-one meeting in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump meeting with Putin draws rebuke from Republican leaders Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- US President Donald Trump’s news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday has stunned Republican Party lawmakers in Congress, who are warning Trump not to treat Putin as an ally.
Russian woman arrested in Washington, charged with spying for Moscow Press TV 17 Jul 2018 -- A Russian woman has been arrested and charged in the United States with conspiracy to act as a Russian government agent by developing ties with American citizens and infiltrating political groups.
Russian National Charged in Conspiracy to Act as an Agent of the Russian Federation Within the United States US Dept. of Justice 16 Jul 2018 -- A criminal complaint was unsealed today in the District of Columbia charging a Russian national with conspiracy to act as an agent of the Russian Federation within the United States without prior notification to the Attorney General.
Russian Woman Charged Under U.S. Foreign-Agent Law RFE/RL 17 Jul 2018 -- U.S. prosecutors have arrested a Russian woman and charged her with acting as an unregistered foreign agent for the Russian government.
US Charges Russian Woman With Conspiracy to Infiltrate American Organizations VOA 16 Jul 2018 -- An aide to a top Russian government official under U.S. sanctions was charged on Monday with conspiracy to infiltrate American organizations as part of Moscow's influence operations in the United States.
US accuses Russia of trying to divide Americans through social media Press TV 15 Jul 2018 -- The United States has accused Russia of trying to divide Americans using social media amid allegations that Moscow targeted the 2016 US presidential election.
U.S. Homeland Security Chief: Russia Sowing Divisions Among Americans RFE/RL 15 Jul 2018 -- The U.S. homeland security chief says the country's intelligence officials are seeing "persistent Russian efforts" to use social media and other resources to create divisions among the American people.
Grand Jury Indicts 12 Russian Intelligence Officers for Hacking Offenses Related to the 2016 Election US Dept. of Justice 13 Jul 2018 -- "The Department of Justice today announced that a grand jury in the District of Columbia returned an indictment presented by the Special Counsel's Office. The indictment charges twelve Russian nationals for committing federal crimes that were intended to interfere with the 2016 U.S. presidential election. All twelve defendants are members of the GRU, a Russian Federation intelligence agency within the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Russian military. These GRU officers, in their official capacities, engaged in a sustained effort to hack into the computer networks of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Democratic National Committee, and the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton, and released that information on the internet under the names "DCLeaks" and "Guccifer 2.0" and through another entity."
12 Russian intelligence officers indicted in Mueller investigation Press TV 13 Jul 2018 -- US Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller has indicted 12 Russian intelligence officials in connection with the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.
U.S. Charges 12 Russian Intelligence Officers For 2016 U.S. Election Meddling RFE/RL 13 Jul 2018 -- A U.S. grand jury has charged 12 Russian intelligence officers for their roles in hacking into the U.S. Democratic Party and leaking stolen e-mails and other information during the 2016 presidential campaign.
US Charges 12 Russians With Conspiracy to Interfere in '16 Election VOA 13 Jul 2018 -- A federal grand jury on Friday indicted 12 Russian military intelligence officers with conspiracy to hack into Democrat computers during the 2016 presidential election, the latest charges brought against Russian nationals by the special counsel investigating Moscow's interference.
Greek Court Approves French Request To Extradite Russian Cybercrime Suspect RFE/RL 13 Jul 2018 -- A Greek court has approved a French request to extradite a Russian cybercrime suspect who is also wanted in the United States and Russia, in a move which prompted Moscow to threaten reprisals.
Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS at NATO HQ US Dept. of State 12 Jul 2018- - U.S. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg hosted a meeting with the foreign ministers of select members of the Coalition to Defeat ISIS on the sidelines of the NATO Summit on July 12.
State Department Terrorist Designation of al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB) US Dept. of State 10 Jul 2018 -- The Department of State has designated al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB) – an Iran-backed terrorist group in Bahrain – as a Foreign Terrorist Organization under section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. The Department has also designated AAB as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. The Department also designated two AAB-affiliated individuals (Ahmad Hasan Yusuf and Alsayed Murtadha Majeed Ramadhan Alawi, AKA Mortada Majid Al-Sanadi) as SDGTs in March 2017.
US Adds Iran-backed Bahraini Militant Group to Terror List VOA 10 Jul 2018 -- Al-Ashtar Brigades, a Bahraini Shi'ite militant organization with ties to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has been identified as a specially designated global terrorist organization by the United States, the U.S. State Department announced Tuesday.
Tehran Summons European Envoys Over Arrest Of Iranian Diplomat In Germany RFE/RL 05 Jul 2018 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the French and Belgian ambassadors and Germany's chargé d'affaires to protest the arrest of an Iranian diplomat in Germany, Iranian news agencies reported on July 4.
Tehran Lodges Protest With France, Germany Over Detention of Iranian Diplomat Sputnik 04 Jul 2018 -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry has lodged a protest with France and Germany over the detention of its diplomat as part of the Belgian-led investigation into a foiled plot of a terrorist attack in the Paris outskirts of Villepinte, Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said Wednesday.
Tehran summons French, Belgian, German diplomats over diplomat arrest Press TV 04 Jul 2018 -- Iran's Foreign Ministry has summoned the French and Belgian ambassadors as well as Germany's chargé d'affaires to protest the arrest of an Iranian diplomat.
France attack claim, MKO scenario to harm Iran-Europe ties: Qassemi Press TV 03 Jul 2018 -- Iran says the notorious anti-Iran terrorist group, the Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO), is behind the "baseless and unfounded" plot against an Iranian diplomat arrested over allegations of involvement in a bomb attack in France.
Austria To Lift Iranian Diplomat's Immunity Over Alleged Bomb Plot RFE/RL 03 Jul 2018 -- Austria is stripping the immunity of an Iranian diplomat suspected of involvement in an alleged plot to bomb a meeting of exiled Iranian opposition groups in France.
Trials in Senegal Expose Possible Terror Sleeper Cells VOA 03 Jul 2018 -- As Senegal awaits rulings in the cases of 29 people recently tried on terrorism-related charges, evidence that came out during the trials is making many people in the country uneasy.
Ohio Man Arrested for Attemping to Assist a Foreign Terrorist Organization With Homeland Attack Plot US Dept. of Justice 02 Jul 2018 -- Demetrius Nathaniel Pitts, aka Abdur Raheem Rafeeq, aka Salah ad-Deen Osama Waleed, 48, of Maple Heights, Ohio, was charged with one count of attempting to provide material support to al Qaeda, a designated foreign terrorist organization. Pitts was arrested Sunday by members of the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Iran Diplomat Arrested in 'Plot' to Bomb Opponents in France VOA 02 Jul 2018 -- A German newspaper says local police have arrested an Iranian diplomat on a highway in southeastern Germany on suspicion of involvement in a plot to bomb an Iranian opposition event in France.
Trump Defends Embattled Immigration Control Agency VOA 01 Jul 2018 -- U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday defended the country's embattled immigration control agency against calls by some opposition Democrats to abolish it.

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July 2018 Security News