July 2019 Security News

UN Experts: Islamic State Down But Not Out RFE/RL 31 Jul 2019 -- The Islamic State (IS) extremist group may be based mostly in Iraq, but the covert network is poised for an eventual resurgence, a group of UN experts told the international body's Security Council this week.
Reports: Al-Qaida Heir Hamza bin Laden Is Reportedly Killed VOA 31 Jul 2019 -- The son and heir of al-Qaida founder Osama bin Laden is presumed dead, apparently killed in a U.S.-supported operation, according to reports.
UN working 'intensively' to stop Ebola in eastern DR Congo, following second case in major border town UN News 31 Jul 2019 -- Senior UN officials tasked with controlling the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have responded to Tuesday's confirmation of a second case of Ebola in Goma, a major trading town in the vast country's restive east, near the border with neighbouring Rwanda, which resulted in the death of the patient.
Fears Growing Congo's Ebola Could Spread to Neighboring Countries VOA 31 Jul 2019 -- As the Ebola epidemic in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo enters its second year, experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) are voicing concern about the growing risk of the virus spreading to neighboring countries.
Second Ebola Death in DRC City of Goma VOA 31 Jul 2019 -- Officials in the Democratic Republic of Congo say the person who was confirmed as the second case of Ebola in the city of Goma has died.
Second Ebola Case Detected in Congo's Goma City - Report Sputnik 30 Jul 2019 -- A second case of Ebola was detected on Tuesday in the eastern Congolese city of Goma, Reuters reported, citing a Congolese health official.
Conflict, climate change among factors that increase 'desperation that enables human trafficking to flourish', says UN chief UN News 30 Jul 2019 -- To mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has stressed that "human trafficking is a heinous crime that affects every region of the world" – especially women and children.
Two Men Arrested for Conspiring to Provide Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 29 Jul 2019 -- John Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security, Michael Bailey, the United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, Michael McGarrity, Assistant Director of the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, and Sean Kaul, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Field Office, announced that on July 26, Ahmed Mahad Mohamed and Abdi Yemani Hussein, were arrested for conspiring to provide material support and resources to ISIS, a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Trump Administration Further Tightens Asylum Eligibility Requirements VOA 29 Jul 2019 -- The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has tightened the eligibly requirements for seeking asylum in the United States, making it more difficult for those persecuted because of family ties to be granted protection.
UN Warns Islamic State Leader Plotting Comeback from Iraq VOA 29 Jul 2019 -- The Islamic State terror group's self-declared caliphate may be dead, but its leaders are hanging on in Syria and Iraq, dreaming of the day when they can again direct attacks on targets around the world.
UN to Double Food Rations for Ebola-Affected People in DR Congo VOA 28 Jul 2019 -- The U.N. World Food Program says it plans to double food rations to assist 440,000 people affected by the Ebola virus and their contacts over the next six months to respond to escalating needs in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Foreign Fighters Law Approved in Australia VOA 28 Jul 2019 -- New terror legislation to stop foreign fighters from returning to Australia has been approved by lawmakers. The government says the new laws will prevent carnage in Australia. But experts say the exclusion measures will apply mostly to women and children, and will increase the risk of radicalization.
US and Guatemala sign asylum deal that critics call cruel, unlawful Press TV 27 Jul 2019 -- The United States and Guatemala have signed a controversial asylum agreement that will force any migrants traveling through the Central American country en route to the US to claim asylum there, a move that critics say is cruel and unlawful.
US Supreme Court Approves Diverting $2.5 Billion from Pentagon Budget to Border Wall Sputnik 27 Jul 2019 -- The US Supreme Court announced Friday that US President Donald Trump's administration can redirect $2.5 billion in congressionally approved funds for its proposed barrier structure along the US-Mexico border.
Bronx Man Arrested for Attempting to Provide Material Support for Terrorism US Dept. of Justice 26 Jul 2019 -- Delowar Mohammed Hossain was Arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport While Allegedly Attempting to Travel Overseas to Join the Taliban in Order to Kill Americans
91st Cyber Brigade completes rollout of ShadowNet enterprise solution Army News 26 Jul 2019 -- The Virginia National Guard's Bowling Green-based 91st Cyber Brigade completed the nationwide rollout of its ShadowNet enterprise solution July 19, 2019, with the integration of the 125th Cyber Protection Battalion into the solution's virtual private network. ShadowNet is a custom-built private cloud-based out of the brigade's data center in Fairfax, Virginia, that uses VPN connectivity to provide its aligned units with 24-hour, seven-days-a-week remote access to critical cyber training at both the collective and individual levels. The brigade successfully integrated its three other cyber protection battalions - the 123rd, 124th, and 126th Cyber Protection Battalions - into the ShadowNet platform last January.
DR Congo: efforts to control Ebola epidemic continue, UN food relief agency doubles assistance to affected people UN News 26 Jul 2019 -- With Ebola accelerating in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) announced on Friday that it plans to scale up and double food assistance to people affected by the disease.
WHO: Vaccination Vital in Slowing Spread of Ebola in DRC VOA 26 Jul 2019 -- The World Health Organization reports an experimental vaccine is saving lives and slowing the spread of the Ebola virus in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. But as the first anniversary of the Ebola epidemic nears, the WHO warns many challenges remain before the deadly disease is fully contained.
US, Guatemala Sign Deal to Restrict Central American Asylum-Seekers VOA 26 Jul 2019 -- President Donald Trump says Guatemala has signed a deal with the U.S. that would restrict Central Americans from seeking asylum in the United States.
US Senate Review Finds No Evidence Any Votes Changed in 2016 Elections Sputnik 25 Jul 2019 -- The US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence said in a report on Thursday that it had found no evidence any votes were changed in the 2016 presidential election despite what it called Russia's "extensive activity" against state and local election infrastructure.
Senate Intel Releases Election Security Findings in First Volume of Bipartisan Russia Report Senator Burr 25 Jul 2019 -- Today, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) released "Russian Efforts Against Election Infrastructure," the first volume in the Committee's bipartisan investigation into Russia's attempts to interfere with the 2016 U.S. elections.
New US Asylum Restrictions Halted VOA 25 Jul 2019 -- The White House on Thursday blasted a federal court action temporarily blocking the Trump administration from enforcing a directive that disqualifies a significant proportion of mostly Central American asylum-seekers who reach the U.S.-Mexico border.
Statement from the Press Secretary The White House 25 Jul 2019
Alaska Army National Guard responds to wildfires Army News 25 Jul 2019 -- The Alaska Army National Guard assisted local and state authorities in response to multiple wildfires throughout the state July 2-16, flying helicopters to scoop 600-gallon buckets of water from lakes and releasing over fires and hot spots.
Statement from the Press Secretary The White House 24 Jul 2019
Rise in US domestic terror arrests linked to white supremacy: FBI Press TV 24 Jul 2019 -- White supremacist violence is to blame for a spike in US domestic terror arrests, says Christopher Wray, the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
'Deadly environment' plus 'political and social' obstacles hinder Ebola fight in DR Congo, Security Council hears UN News 24 Jul 2019 -- The problems of eradicating Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are not only medical, but also linked "to a variety of political and social factors", the head of the UN mission in the country told the Security Council on Wednesday.
Russia 'absolutely intent' on interfering in US elections: FBI director Press TV 23 Jul 2019 -- FBI Director Christopher Wray says Russia is determined to interfere in the next US presidential election in 2020 despite US sanctions and other efforts to deter such actions.
Pakistan remands alleged mastermind of Mumbai attacks for 14 days Press TV 24 Jul 2019 -- A court in Pakistan has remanded to custody a terror suspect accused of masterminding a four-day attack on India's financial capital, Mumbai, in 2008, his lawyer says.
PM Imran Khan Admits 40,000 Pakistani Militants Linked to 40 Groups Exist on His Country's Soil Sputnik 24 Jul 2019 -- In a first of its kind admission, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan revealed that around 40,000 militants linked to 40 different groups exist on his country's soil. Khan also admitted that it was members of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) who carried out the Pulwama attack.
Wisconsin National Guard troops to assist in severe weather Army News 23 Jul 2019 -- Approximately two dozen Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers reported for state active duty today to assist civil authorities in Langlade County after severe storms resulted in damage to local infrastructure and utilities.
Democrats: Trump, Republican Inaction on Election Security Puts US at Risk VOA 23 Jul 2019 -- Democratic lawmakers accused U.S. President Donald Trump and the Senate's leading Republican of working to kill legislation designed to protect the upcoming U.S. presidential election from interference by Russia and others.
DRC Health Minister Resigns After Being Dismissed as Head of Ebola Response VOA 22 Jul 2019 -- The Democratic Republic of Congo's health minister resigned Monday after he was dismissed as head of the team tackling a persistent Ebola outbreak.
Text of a Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Transnational Criminal Organizations The White House 22 Jul 2019
Text of a Letter to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate The White House 22 Jul 2019
IS Decentralizing Into 'Provinces' in Bid to Return VOA 21 Jul 2019 -- A series of Islamic State (IS) announcements of new provinces it controls in recent weeks has renewed debate over the group's possible resurgence after its self-proclaimed caliphate fell, with some analysts warning an increasingly decentralized IS could recover and spread its tentacles to other parts of the world.
American Citizen who became an ISIS Sniper and Trained Other ISIS Members in the Use of Weapons Charged with Providing Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 19 Jul 2019 -- Defendant Was Transferred to the United States from Custody of Syrian Democratic Forces
Brooklyn Man Charged with Being Islamic State Emir VOA 19 Jul 2019 -- A 42-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, is back on U.S. soil, charged with fighting for the Islamic State terror group as a sniper before rising through the ranks to become an emir.
Treasury Targets Senior Hizballah Operative for Perpetrating and Plotting Terrorist Attacks in the Western Hemisphere US Treasury 19 Jul 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated a senior member of Hizballah's External Security Organization (ESO), which is responsible for the planning, coordination, and execution of terrorist attacks outside of Lebanon. Specifically, OFAC designated Salman Raouf Salman for acting for or on behalf of Hizballah.
Argentina Labels Hezbollah Terrorist Organization, Orders Asset Freeze Sputnik 19 Jul 2019 -- Argentina's authorities have designated the Lebanese-based Hezbollah movement a terrorist organization and ruled to freeze all financial assets belonging to the group.
Pompeo Confirms US Sanctions Against Hezbollah Suspect in 1994 Argentina Bombing VOA 19 Jul 2019 -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed Friday in Argentina that the United States has imposed financial sanctions against a Hezbollah militant group leader suspected of directing a deadly bombing in 1994 of a Jewish community center in Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
Don't panic, support DR Congo in fight against deadly Ebola virus, UN health agency urges UN News 19 Jul 2019 -- Ebola virus is just one challenge among many facing communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Friday, reiterating an appeal for the international community to show support and solidarity for its people.
US Brings Back Suspected American IS Fighter From Syria to Face Charges VOA 18 Jul 2019 -- An American suspected of fighting with the Islamic State terror group in Syria is back in the United States, where he is expected to be charged with and tried for terrorism-related crimes.
Trump Criticized For Tweet Hailing Pakistan's '10-Year' Search For Alleged Mastermind Of Mumbai Attack RFE/RL 18 Jul 2019 -- U.S. President Donald Trump has faced criticism for saying Pakistan's arrest of the alleged mastermind of the 2008 attacks in Mumbai had come after a 10-year search, as the suspected militant had been living freely.
Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, Sinaloa Cartel Leader, Sentenced to Life in Prison Plus 30 Years US Dept. of Justice 17 Jul 2019 -- Joaquin Archivaldo Guzman Loera, known by various aliases, including "El Chapo" and "El Rapido," was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan to a life term of imprisonment plus 30 years to run consecutive to the life sentence for being a principal leader of a continuing criminal enterprise – the Mexican organized crime syndicate known as the Sinaloa Cartel – a charge that includes 26 drug-related violations and one murder conspiracy. The Court also ordered Guzman Loera to pay $12.6 billion in forfeiture.
Rights groups file lawsuit against Trump administration over new anti-asylum rule Press TV 17 Jul 2019 -- The American Civil Liberties Union and other advocacy groups have sued the administration of President Donald Trump in an attempt to block a new rule that would prevent almost all migrants from seeking asylum inside the United States.
Pentagon Gives Green Light to Deployment of 2,100 More Troops to US Southern Border Sputnik 17 Jul 2019 -- Previously, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requested that the Defence Department provide 1,000 additional troops to reinforce the border in a bid to stop the flow of illegal migrants crossing it.
Civil Rights Groups File to Temporarily Block Trump Asylum Rule VOA 17 Jul 2019 -- Several civil rights groups on Wednesday sought a temporary restraining order to block a Trump administration asylum rule that went into effect the day before.
Bulgarian Authorities Say Suspect Detained In Massive Hacking Attack RFE/RL 17 Jul 2019 -- Bulgarian authorities said they detained a man suspected in a massive hacking attack that leaked personal financial data of millions of Bulgarians, the largest such leak in the country's history.
DR Congo Ebola outbreak now a Public Health Emergency, UN health agency declares UN News 17 Jul 2019 -- The second worst Ebola outbreak of all time, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), was officially declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on Wednesday, with the head of the World Health Organization calling for countries to 'take notice and redouble our efforts".
WHO Declares Ebola in DRC a Global Public Health Emergency VOA 17 Jul 2019 -- The World Health Organization on Wednesday declared the Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's conflict-ridden North Kivu and Ituri provinces a public health emergency of international concern.
Pakistan detains alleged mastermind of 2008 Mumbai attacks Press TV 17 Jul 2019 -- Pakistani authorities say they have detained a terror suspect blamed for a four-day militant attack on the Indian port city of Mumbai in 2008, on terror finance charges.
Pakistan Arrests Alleged Mastermind Of Mumbai Attacks Ahead Of Trump Meeting RFE/RL 17 Jul 2019 -- Pakistani authorities say they have arrested the radical Islamist leader accused of masterminding the 2008 attacks in Mumbai that killed 166 people.
Pakistan Arrests Hafiz Saeed, Chief of Outlawed Jamat-ud Dawa Sputnik 17 Jul 2019 -- On Wednesday, Pakistan arrested Hafiz Saeed, chief of the outlawed Jamat-ud Dawa, earlier known as Lashkar-e-Taiba, and has remanded him to judicial custody. Saeed is the mastermind behind several terror attacks in India, including the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Pakistan Arrests Cleric Wanted By US for Terrorism in India VOA 17 Jul 2019 -- Police in Pakistan have arrested an Islamist cleric whom the United States has designated as a global terrorist for his alleged role in the deadly 2008 attacks on the Indian city of Mumbai.
Bulgaria Links Hacking Attack To Plans To Buy Military Jets From U.S. RFE/RL 16 Jul 2019 -- A massive hacking attack in Bulgaria via a Russian website might be linked to Sofia's decision to buy military jets from the United States, the Balkan country's interior minister said, as the government's Security Council gathered to assess the situation.
Terrorist Designation of Ali Maychou US Dept. of State 16 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. Department of State (DOS), in concert with the U.S. Department of Treasury, took action today targeting Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a West-African terrorist group designated as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) in September 2018.
Treasury Targets Al-Qa'ida in Mali US Treasury 16 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), in concert with the Department of State, took action today targeting Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a west African terrorist group designated in September 2018, by designating a JNIM leader as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.
'Severe' new US asylum restrictions will put vulnerable families at risk, UN refugee agency says UN News 16 Jul 2019 -- Deeply concerned about the new rule barring from asylum the majority of people crossing the southern land border of the United States, the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, has warned that the 'severe' measure will endanger vulnerable people in need of international protection from violence or persecution.
UNHCR: A Coordinated Regional Approach Needed to Resolve US Asylum Problem VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- The U.N. refugee agency is reiterating its call for countries in the Americas to work together to develop a coordinated regional response to the growing Central American migration and asylum problem.
Trump administration tightens US asylum laws Press TV 16 Jul 2019 -- The administration of US President Donald Trump set a new policy for immigrants applying for asylum in the United States, requiring them to first apply for asylum in a "third country" through which they had traveled on the way to the United States.
Ebola emergency meeting to go ahead as UNICEF warns of higher risk to very youngest children UN News 16 Jul 2019 -- Ahead of a key expert meeting convened by the United Nations to decide whether to declare the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) an international health emergency, the UN Children's Fund UNICEF warned that the epidemic "is infecting more children" than earlier outbreaks.
Children Hardest Hit by Ebola Epidemic in DR Congo VOA 16 Jul 2019 -- The current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is affecting more children than normal. The United Nations Children's Fund says kids represent nearly one-third of current total cases, compared to about 20 percent in previous outbreaks.
First Case of Ebola Detected in DRC's Goma - Health Ministry Sputnik 15 Jul 2019 -- The Congolese Health Ministry said in a press release on Sunday that the first case of Ebola has been detected in the city of Goma more than 350 km (220 miles) away from where a pandemic originated a year ago.
'We won't get to zero cases of Ebola without a big scale-up in funding,' UN relief chief warns UN News 15 Jul 2019 -- Deadly, attacks on health workers in Ebola-hit areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), including one at the weekend that left two dead, are an indication that combating the disease outbreak will require far greater international support, UN humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock said on Monday.
WHO: Spread of Ebola to DRC's Goma Could be 'Game-Changer' VOA 15 Jul 2019 -- The head of the World Health Organization warns the spread of Ebola to a large city in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo could have dire consequences. The WHO chief spoke Monday at a high-level meeting that examined current efforts to contain the growing Ebola epidemic in Congo.
US Moves to Restrict Asylum for Southern Border Arrivals VOA 15 Jul 2019 -- The Trump administration is moving to block most asylum-seekers at America's southern border, a move that would largely affect Central Americans who cross through Mexico.
US-Guatemala Asylum Deal Advances Without UN Refugee Agency VOA 12 Jul 2019 -- A "cooperative" asylum agreement between the United States and Guatemala may be near, despite no such cooperation between the U.S. State Department and the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR).
Opening Remarks by Vice President Pence at Roundtable Discussion with U.S. Border Patrol and Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee | McAllen, TX The White House 12 Jul 2019
Remarks by Vice President Pence in a Press Conference | McAllen, TX The White House 12 Jul 2019
Louisiana National Guard preps for Tropical Storm Barry Army News 12 Jul 2019 -- The Louisiana National Guard, as directed by Governor John Bel Edwards, has been authorized to activate up to 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen, not to include full-time Guardsmen, ahead of Tropical Storm Barry, July 11, 2019.
Argentina mulls blacklisting Lebanon's Hezbollah: Report Press TV 12 Jul 2019 -- Argentinean President Mauricio Macri considers designating Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement as a terrorist group, a report says.
Islamic State Terror Group Ramping Up Video Messaging VOA 12 Jul 2019 -- Islamic State media operatives appear to have regrouped, at least in part, intent on showing the world that the terror organization is living up to its motto of "remaining and expanding" despite its lack of a physical caliphate.
Acting Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper Appoints Convening Authority for al-Nashiri and al-Bahlul Military Commission DoD 11 Jul 2019 -- Acting Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper designated Mr. Robert D. Hogue as convening authority for matters related to the military commissions of United States v. Abd al Rahim Hussayn Muhammad al-Nashiri and United States v. Ali Hamza Ahmad Suliman al-Bahlul, effective July 5.
U.S. Administration Officials Warn Of 'Active Threats' To 2020 Elections RFE/RL 11 Jul 2019 -- U.S. administration officials have warned of "active threats" to the 2020 presidential elections as they briefed Congress on measures that the government has taken to improve security following what the U.S. intelligence community said was Russian interference in the 2016 campaign.
Al-Qaeda Chief Tells Kashmiri Separatists to 'Bleed India Through Unrelenting Terror Attacks' Sputnik 11 Jul 2019 -- India's investigation and intelligence agencies are likely to be in a greater state of high alert following al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri's latest video message to separatists in the northern Kashmir Valley to bleed the Indian economy through unrelenting terror attacks.
Mass measles vaccination campaign begins in Ebola-hit DR Congo province UN News 11 Jul 2019 -- Health workers have started a massive measles vaccination campaign in north-east Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a region that's in the grip of the second deadliest Ebola virus outbreak on record.
Islamic State Remains Unpredictable as it Regroups VOA 11 Jul 2019 -- The Islamic State terror group is adapting to the loss of its self-declared territorial caliphate by returning to its origins and becoming once again a more local, Iraq-focused insurgency, and is recruiting in remote border areas in Iraq's western desert. But it still harbors ambitions to strike in the West, warn European officials and analysts.
US Immigration Raids Planned VOA 11 Jul 2019 -- U.S. officials reportedly plan to start immigration raids on Sunday and are expected to target at least 2,000 undocumented people for whom deportation orders have been issued, some as a result of their failure to appear in court for immigration proceedings.
Democrats Push Trump Administration on Immigration Oversight VOA 11 Jul 2019 -- Congressional Democrats hope to put last month's scuffle over the $4.6 billion emergency border bill behind them with renewed oversight of the Trump administration's immigration policies and legislation to strengthen protections for families detained at the U.S.-Mexico border.
EU mulls adding Saudi Arabia to new money laundering grey list Press TV 11 Jul 2019 -- The European Union, under pressure from Saudi Arabia, may add the Arab kingdom to a money laundering grey list, five months after blacklisting it.
Terrorism 'spreading and destabilizing' entire regions, Guterres warns States, at key Kenya conference UN News 10 Jul 2019 -- "Trauma from terrorism" hurts families, communities and destabilizes entire regions, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on Wednesday, as he expressed solidarity with victims of extremist attacks in Africa.
US Border Apprehensions Decline Amid Summer Heat, Mexico Deal VOA 10 Jul 2019 -- The number of people apprehended at the U.S.-Mexico border declined in June, breaking a six-month streak of dramatic increases and prompting the Trump administration to quickly – though cautiously – claim an early victory in its negotiations for stricter border enforcement in Mexico.
Guard deployed to help after California rocked by quakes Army News 09 Jul 2019 -- Two major earthquakes that hit towns in the Mojave Desert of California July 4 and 5 left behind cracked and burning buildings, closed highway and burst water lines that prompted call-up of the National Guard to help distribute water and food.
Threat from petty criminals who turn to terrorism, a growing concern, Security Council hears UN News 09 Jul 2019 -- The less predictable threats represented by small-time criminals who have opportunistically embraced terrorism, are a source of growing concern, the UN Security Council heard on Tuesday. That warning came from Tamara Makarenko, an International Consultant, who works with the UN Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), speaking at an open debate on threats to international peace and security.
Tunisia's Upcoming Elections Vulnerable to Terror Threats, Experts Warn VOA 09 Jul 2019 -- As an estimated 6.7 million Tunisian voters prepare to head to the polls to elect their next government later this year, a growing fear of terrorist attacks could risk undermining the democratic process in the North African country, some analysts warn.
US Homeland Security Department Requests 1,000 Additional Troops for Mexico Border - Reports Sputnik 09 Jul 2019 -- The US Department of Homeland Security has asked the Defence Department to provide 1,000 additional troops from the Texas National Guard to support the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency on the border with Mexico, CNN reported, citing a Pentagon spokesperson.
US Treasury imposes sanctions on two Hezbollah lawmakers Press TV 09 Jul 2019 -- The US Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on two Hezbollah members of Lebanon's parliament and a security official responsible for coordinating between the resistance movement and the country's security agencies.
Sanctioning of Three Senior Hizballah Officials US Dept. of State 09 Jul 2019 -- The United States designated three senior Hizballah political and security officials today who leverage their positions to facilitate Hizballah and the Iranian regime's malign efforts to undermine Lebanese sovereignty.
Treasury Targets Iranian-Backed Hizballah Officials for Exploiting Lebanon's Political and Financial System US Treasury 09 Jul 2019 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated key Hizballah political and security figures leveraging their privileged positions to facilitate Hizballah's malign agenda and do Iran's bidding. Specifically, OFAC designated Hizballah Members of Parliament Amin Sherri and Muhammad Hasan Ra'd, and Hizballah security official Wafiq Safa, for acting for or on behalf of Hizballah.
Texas Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS US Dept. of Justice 08 Jul 2019 -- A 20-year-old U.S. citizen from Houston, Texas, has entered a guilty plea to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
UN rights chief 'appalled' by US border detention conditions, says holding migrant children may violate international law UN News 08 Jul 2019 -- Conditions in which migrants and refugees are being held in the United States are appalling, said the UN human rights chief on Monday, underscoring that children should never be held in immigration detention, or separated from their families.
UN Rights Chief Condemns US Conditions of Immigration Detention VOA 08 Jul 2019 -- The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, has condemned the conditions of detention in which refugees and migrants are being held on the southern border of the United States.
Massive Displacement in Eastern DR Congo Poses Health Hazard VOA 06 Jul 2019 -- The International Organization for Migration warns massive displacement from renewed inter-ethnic fighting in DR Congo's Ebola-affected Ituri province poses a serious health hazard.
Cameroon and Nigeria Pledge to Combat Terrorism VOA 06 Jul 2019 -- Nigeria has promised to assist Cameroon in combating the separatist crisis rocking the central African country's English speaking region. The pledge, made during a security meeting, has been described by Cameroon authorities as reassuring, following accusations that separatist fighters in Cameroon were being trained in Nigeria, and that weapons they use are brought in through the neighboring country.
Sentencing for Garissa Attacks Brings No Closure to Survivors VOA 05 Jul 2019 -- A Kenyan court Wednesday sentenced three men connected to the deadly 2015 assault on Garissa University that killed 148 people, most of them students.
US Court Rejects Trump Administration Request for Border Wall Military Funding - Reports Sputnik 04 Jul 2019 -- The US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld a freeze on using Pentagon money to build a border wall with Mexico, local media reported.
South Sudan on High Alert for Ebola Virus VOA 04 Jul 2019 -- South Sudan's health officials are ramping up efforts to prevent the deadly Ebola virus from entering the country following a confirmed case some 70 kilometers from the border, in the northern Democratic Republic of Congo.
Australia Plans to Stop Militant Fighters Returning Home VOA 04 Jul 2019 -- Australia is expected to introduce anti-terror laws to parliament Thursday that would ban foreign fighters from returning home for up to two years. The government has said the measures are necessary to protect Australia from extremism, but critics have insisted they would violate the rights of citizens.
Pakistan Registers Terror Financing Cases Against Leader of Banned Militant Group VOA 03 Jul 2019 -- Pakistani counterterrorism officials have registered 23 cases related to terrorism financing against more than a dozen people, including Hafiz Saeed, a central figure in the Mumbai attacks of 2008 that killed more than 170 people.
W. Va. Guard responds to flooding in Harman Army News 03 Jul 2019 -- Response efforts continued today for the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (WVDHSEM) and the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) in Eastern West Virginia for areas impacted by heavy rainfall and flooding on Sunday, June 30.
White House Slams Judge for Imposing 'Open Borders Views' on US, Warns Against 'Illegal Aliens' Sputnik 03 Jul 2019 -- Washington's frustration comes amid its efforts to tighten the screws on US asylum rules. In late June, President Trump delayed planned immigration raids, giving Congress two weeks to pass restrictions on the asylum laws. On Monday, however, Trump announced that the raids would start shortly after the nation's Fourth of July celebrations.
US Federal Judge Blocks AG Barr's Order Permitting Indefinite Detention of Asylum Seekers Sputnik 03 Jul 2019 -- On Tuesday, a federal judge blocked US Attorney General William Barr's recent order to jail and deny bail to individuals seeking asylum in the US, which allowed authorities to detain them indefinitely.
Australia Foils Alleged Islamic State-Inspired Plot in Sydney VOA 03 Jul 2019 -- A court in Sydney has charged two men arrested during counterterrorism raids with involvement in the Islamic State terror group. Australian investigators continue to interview the alleged mastermind of an Islamic State-inspired plot to attack buildings, including churches, courts and embassies. He has also been accused preparing an act of terror.
DHS Inspector General: Overcrowded Migrant Centers 'A Ticking Time Bomb' VOA 03 Jul 2019 -- A new report by the Homeland Security Inspector General describes appalling conditions and wretched overcrowding at migrant detention centers in Texas with a top manager at one of the facilities saying he fears for the security of his staff, calling the situation a "ticking time bomb."
Customs Agency Cash Seizures at Airports Cost Travelers Millions VOA 03 Jul 2019 -- A little-known U.S. anti-money laundering law is costing international travelers millions of dollars a year, raising concerns of civil liberties' advocates that many innocent people are unwittingly being swept up by a statute designed to catch criminals.
US Homeland Security Chief Orders Probe of Agents' Offensive Facebook Posts VOA 03 Jul 2019 -- The U.S. Homeland Security chief on Wednesday ordered an immediate investigation into a report that current and former U.S. Border Patrol agents are part of a Facebook group that posts racist, sexist and violent comments about migrants and Latin American lawmakers.
Pakistan Hails US Branding of Separatist Group as Global Terrorists VOA 03 Jul 2019 -- The United States on Tuesday designated a major anti-Pakistan militant organization conducting deadly attacks against local and foreign targets in the South Asian nation as a global terrorist.
Australia police nab 3 for plotting terror attacks Press TV 02 Jul 2019 -- Counter-terrorism police in Australia have arrested three men in Sydney allegedly tied to the Daesh terrorist group, thwarting a plot to stage attacks on public buildings and embassies, authorities say.
Australia Police Launch Mass Anti-Terror Raid in Sydney - Report Sputnik 02 Jul 2019 -- Local police have arrested three suspects following multiple anti-terror raids in Sydney launched earlier on Tuesday, according to News Corp Australia.
IS Group Claims Responsibility For Deadly Attack In Chechnya RFE/RL 02 Jul 2019 -- The Islamic State (IS) extremist group has claimed responsibility for an attack in Russia's North Caucasus region of Chechnya in which a police officer was killed.
US Sanctions Pakistan's Balochistan Liberation Army as Terrorist Group Sputnik 02 Jul 2019 -- The United States has imposed economic sanctions on the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), a separatist group in Pakistan's southwestern province of Balochistan, for its terror bombings in a bid to break away from Islamabad, the US Department of State said in a press release.
Terrorist Designations of Balochistan Liberation Army and Husain Ali Hazzima and Amendments to the Terrorist Designations of Jundallah US Dept. of State 02 Jul 2019 -- The Department of State has designated the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Hizballah operative Husain Ali Hazzima as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs) under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.
Report: FBI, DOJ 'Deprioritize' Investigating Far-Right Violence VOA 01 Jul 2019 -- Despite rising incidence of far-right violence in the United States, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Justice Department continue to deprioritize investigating the violence and prosecuting its perpetrators, according to a report released Monday.

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July 2019 Security News