Terrorism Watch

Morocco has long warned against the alarming situation when it comes to the instability and lack of security against terror and drug trafficking gangs in the region. Army General Stephen T. Townsend, the commander of the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) Rabat –  Having met with senior officials in Morocco, Army General Stephen T. Townsend, the commander of the  US Africa Command  (AFRICOM), said on August 29 that Morocco is a “strong”  counterterrorism  partner. During his visit to Rabat, Townsend emphasized to the press the importance of the relationship between  Morocco and the US . The US official said that the relationship between the two countries is “based on a mutual commitment to security and sustainable development in the region.” “By training together with other African partners, the US military and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces can improve our ability to work together and provide a safe, more prosperous future for the region,” he said. Townsend added that Mor

Of 125 countries assessed, Mozambique has the highest risk of money laundering and terrorist financing, according to a  report  issued by the Basel Institute of Governance on 19 April. "Poor border controls and weak government institutions expose the country to cross-border crimes related to drugs and human trafficking. Mozambique is also vulnerable to other predicate offences including corruption, car theft and smuggling, robbery, cash smuggling, illicit trade in precious metals and stones, customs fraud and goods smuggling. Mozambique has high risks associated with corruption, which is a pervasive problem in the country," the report says. "The country also fares poorly on Financial Transparency and Standards". The report also notes that Mozambique is "listed among the US INCSR list of major money laundering countries." The score is based on 15 indicators in five areas: Quality of Anti-money laundering Framework, Bribery and Corruption, Financial Tr

An FIR has been registered against six people in the case, Muhammad Jamil, Nankana City Police Investigation Officer, told PTI. PTI In yet another incident of conversion of girls from minority communities in Pakistan, a 19-year-old Sikh girl was allegedly abducted and converted to  Islam  before being married to a Muslim man in the country’s Punjab province. An FIR has been registered against six people in the case, Muhammad Jamil, Nankana City Police Investigation Officer, told PTI. The family of the girl, in a video message, have claimed that Kaur was abducted and forcibly converted to Islam and sought  Pakistan  Prime Minister Imran Khan’s help. Police have arrested one of the suspects named Arsalan, a friend of the prime accused Mohammad Hassan who married the Sikh girl. “Arsalan facilitated Hassan in getting him married to the Sikh girl,” he said, adding that Hassan is on a pre-arrest bail and could not be arrested. Jamil said that Hassan and the girl live in the s

Air strikes on Wednesday and Thursday were to send a message that no terror group will be spared in Yemen, the UAE said. The UAE has made clear that there can be no compromise against terrorism in Yemen as Daesh claimed an attack on Friday which killed three local troops. Air strikes against targets in Aden will ensure Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) and Daesh are not allowed to recoup as the Arab Coalition continues it campaign against the Houthis, the UAE said. There are concerns that Al Qaeda has used the recent fighting in Aden to strike coalition forces using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). UAE air strikes on Wednesday and Thursday were to send a message that no terror group will be spared in Yemen, the UAE said. "The operation was carried out in accordance with the coalition's rules of engagement and applicable principles of international law, including the Geneva Convention," said the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement. The operati

In what seems to be an unrelenting nightmare, the cryptocurrency world is once again about to face another blow to its reputation. A  recent study   by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reveals that terrorist groups are using bitcoin and crypto assets to finance their activities. This comes at a time when the   Financial Action Task Force  (FATF) has issued new guidelines for its member countries on how to handle cryptocurrencies. What does this really mean for the blockchain community? Crypto privacy is under attack Data privacy and censorship resistance provide advantages for unscrupulous dealings. When cryptocurrencies are used wrongly, they can be used as a means to  evade government  oversight. As a consequence, crypto privacy has become under attack. A report  by MEMRI  says that “Cryptocurrency has come to terrorism with an array of terrorist organizations exploiting the anonymity afforded by blockchain technology for fundraising and finances.” What has c

Indian convicts sentenced to different terms A total of 19 persons, including four Bangladeshi nationals, have been sentenced to different terms of jail in a case filed over the  infamous bomb blast  which took place in West Bengal’s Burdwan district in 2014. The four Bangladeshis were jailed for 10 years, our Kolkata correspondent reports. Among the Indian convicts, two female convicts were jailed for six years and others for eight years each, a lawyer said. The convicted four Bangladeshi nationals are: Sheikh Rahmatullah alias Sajid alias Burhan Sheikh alias Surot Ali, Sadiq alias Sumon alias Tarikul Islam alias Raihan Sheikh, Liakot Ali Pramanik alias Rafique alias Rafiqul alias Mohammad Rubel, and Habibur Raman alias Jahidul Islam alias Jabirul Islam alias Zafar. The Special NIA Court in Kolkata handed down the sentence to the convicts today two days after it found them guilty in the blast case on Wednesday. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India, in a state

Similar to the way the National Football League is addressing brain injuries among its players by testing their neuropsychological health at the beginning and end of each season, the Pentagon has in recent years ordered all service members to complete cognitive evaluations before combat deployments, as well as after any blast injuries — such as from an enemy improvised bomb explosion. These tests are used to measure troop readiness, though, and are not necessarily entered into the soldier, sailor, airman or Marine’s medical records. At the joint-service explosive ordnance disposal school at Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., that is about to change. For the first time, all incoming students at the United States military’s bomb disposal school in Florida will complete a computer-based test to assess their cognitive abilities. It is not designed to measure their ability to complete the demanding course; instead, it will serve as a baseline reading of their neurologica

The social media company, co-founded by Dorsey, said the phone number associated with his account was compromised due to a security oversight by the mobile provider. Reuters Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey speaks during a press event at CES 2019 at the Aria Resort & Casino on 9 January 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Picture: AFP |  about 3 hours ago SAN FRANCISCO - The account of Twitter Inc Chief Executive Jack Dorsey was hacked on Friday afternoon, sending public tweets and retweets including racial slurs and curse words to 4 million followers before Twitter secured the account. The social media company, co-founded by Dorsey, said the phone number associated with his account was compromised due to a security oversight by the mobile provider. “This allowed an unauthorized person to compose and send tweets via text message from the phone number. That issue is now resolved,” the company said, adding separately that there was no indication that Twitter’s systems had been compromi

The letter, issued by terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen, states that “we are very close to Azadi and we need to strengthen the process”. The return of normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir seems to be troubling Pakistan-based terrorist organisations. Irked by the development, the terror outfits have been threatening local residents in the region, asking them to not open their shops and ply taxis. If this is not enough, the terrorists have also been threatening locals against reopening schools and educational institutions. One of the diktats issued in a letter by these outfits is that girls should not be allowed to walk out of their homes. The letter, issued by terrorist organisations like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen, states that “we are very close to Azadi and we need to strengthen the process”. In the letter, residents of the Valley have been asked to refrain from venturing out of their homes. The taxi drivers have been told tha

It's understood the man left his house in Stonehurst Estate and while driving towards Ou Kaapse Weg, his vehicle exploded. Kaylynn Palm An image of the car which bombed while driving towards Ou Kaapse Weg. Picture: Greg Muller/Supplied. CAPE TOWN - A man is in a critical condition after a preliminary police report said was a vehicle explosion along Steenberg Road in Westlake, Cape Town.  The incident occurred at around 12.30 on Friday.  Police say the man left his house in Stonehurst Estate and while driving towards Ou Kaapse Weg there was an explosion inside his Range Rover. The make and model have not yet been revealed.  Steenberg Road remains closed between Ou Kaapse Weg and Westlake Road, while traffic is heavily backed up in all directions.  The police's Frederick van Wyk said: “Officials are currently on the scene, combing the area for clues and to investigate the explosion. At this stage, we cannot confirm what caused this explosion.” Various agenci

The militants, who have demanded that all foreign forces leave the country, now control or hold sway over roughly half of the country and are at their strongest since their 2001 defeat by a U.S.-led invasion. AP The Taliban have launched a new attack on one of Afghanistan’s largest cities, Kunduz, the government said on Saturday, even as the insurgent group continued negotiations with the United States on ending America’s longest  war. The militants, who have demanded that all foreign forces leave the country, now control or hold sway over roughly half of the country and are at their strongest since their 2001 defeat by a U.S.-led invasion. Some 20,000 U.S. and  NATO  forces remain in Afghanistan after formally ending their combat role in 2014. They continue to train and support Afghan forces fighting the Taliban and a local affiliate of the Islamic State group. Presidential spokesman Sediq Seddiqi said Afghan security forces were repelling the attack in some parts of the cit

Police banned a planned demonstration on security grounds after last weekend saw some of the most violent clashes in three months of political turmoil. AFP Thousands of pro- democracy  protesters defied a police ban on rallying in Hong Kong on Saturday, a day after several leading activists and lawmakers were arrested in a sweeping crackdown. Police banned a planned demonstration on security grounds after last weekend saw some of the most violent clashes in three months of political turmoil but nevertheless warned residents to expect “severe disruption”. Police erected fresh barricades near the highly guarded Liason Office — the department that represents China’s central government — and water cannon were driven onto the streets in anticipation of renewed clashes. By early afternoon, a few thousand protesters in their signature black t-shirts had filled an outdoor sports ground in the city centre, with some marching through surrounding streets. In an attempt to sidestep t

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that he fears Libya will end up in a "full civil war" unless moves are soon made to end the conflict. "Unless action is taken in the near term, it is highly likely that the current conflict will escalate into full civil war," Guterres said in the report. United Nations ,  PTI  | Updated :  30 August 2019, 06:45 AM  UN chief Antonio Guterres (File Photo) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that he fears Libya will end up in a "full civil war" unless moves are soon made to end the conflict. "Unless action is taken in the near term, it is highly likely that the current conflict will escalate into full civil war," Guterres said in the report.  He acknowledged the need for the support of the international community in finding a political solution for the country, where forces loyal to strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive to take the capital Tripoli from the

Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong and another core member of a pro-democracy group were granted bail on Friday after being charged with inciting people to join a protest in June, while authorities denied permission for a major march as they took what appears to be a harder line on this summer’s protests. The organisers of Saturday’s march, the fifth anniversary of a decision by China against allowing fully democratic elections for the leader of Hong Kong, said they were calling it off after an appeals board denied permission.  It was unclear whether some protesters would still demonstrate on their own. The police commander of Hong Kong island, Kwok Pak Chung, appealed to people to stay away from any non-authorised rallies, warning that those caught could face a five-year jail term. He told a daily news conference that he was aware of social media messages urging people to take strolls or hold rallies in the name of religion.  Kwok urged the public to “make a clear break with all

In Pakistan, many such incidents are regularly reported where Hindu, Sikh and Christian girls are forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men. A Pakistani Sikh girl, who was missing for a number of days, surfaced on Thursday after she was forcibly converted to Islam and made to marry a Muslim man in Nankana Sahib area of Lahore. Her family has lodged an FIR and in a video appeal urged Pakistan prime minister Imran Khan to take action against the culprits A video of the girls has also surfaced where she was forcibly converted to Islam and named as Ayesha. The ‘maulvi’ also arranged her marriage with a Muslim man. In Pakistan, many such incidents are regularly reported where Hindu, Sikh and Christian girls are forcibly converted to Islam and married to Muslim men The 19-year-old, who is the daughter of a ‘granthi’ (priest) of Gurudwara Tambu Sahib, was allegedly forcibly taken away at gunpoint on night of August 27-28. In a video message, her brother said, “Our family h

Gold bars fraudulently stamped with the logos of major refineries are being inserted into the global market to launder smuggled or illegal gold. Reuters London : A forgery crisis is quietly roiling the world's gold industry. Gold bars fraudulently stamped with the logos of major refineries are being inserted into the global market to launder smuggled or illegal gold, refining and banking executives tell Reuters. The fakes are hard to detect, making them an ideal fund-runner for narcotics dealers or warlords. In the last three years, bars worth at least $50 million stamped with Swiss refinery logos, but not actually produced by those facilities, have been identified by all four of Switzerland's leading gold refiners and found in the vaults of JPMorgan Chase & Co., one of the major banks at the heart of the market in bullion, said senior executives at gold refineries, banks and other industry sources. Four of the executives said at least 1,000 of the bars, of a