Terrorism Watch

An OHCHR report alleged that Thai FIs provided services for arms procurement. Thailand   is enhancing its operational standards against money laundering and terrorism financing following a United Nations report alleging that its banks provided services for weapons procurement to foreign countries. Amongst changes include more stringent measures to verify customers’ identity and intended purpose of financial transactions, and requiring clear evidence and additional information from high-risk customers, the  Bank of Thailand  (BOT) and Thailand’s Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) said in a joint statement. Financial institutions (FIs) are guided to establish criteria for requesting additional documentation for money transfer transactions including high-risk customers, especially transactions involving dual-use items. BOT and AMLO expressed hopes that these measures will prevent Thai FIs “from being used as channels to support money laundering, terrorism, and human rights ...

  ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines — The military has declared Basilan free from the presence of Abu Sayyaf bandits after the remaining eight members of the group surrendered on Thursday. Brig. Gen. Alvin Luzon, chief of the Army’s 101st Infantry Brigade, identified the former Abu Sayyaf bandits as Abul, Julhair, Makrin, Marjan, Tawakkal and Yusup, all surnamed Bayali as well as Apong Upaman and Hasib Tularan. The former bandits said the relentless efforts of the military, supported by the local government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front, prompted them to return to the fold of the law. The surrenderees were presented to Sumisip Mayor Jul-Adnan Hataman and other local officials during a ceremony in Barangay Guiong. The former bandits turned over five rifles, a grenade launcher and ammunition to the military. “We welcome the surrender of the Bayali group. I lauded their decision to lay down their arms and return to mainstream society,” Luzon said. Hataman said the surrender would bring ...

The European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (EU TE-SAT) 2024 is a situational overview, presenting figures and trends in the terrorism landscape in the EU in 2023, based on qualitative and quantitative data provided by Member States on terrorist attacks, arrests and court decisions issued for terrorist offences. Europol publishes the EU TE-SAT on a yearly basis. With the purpose of informing policymakers, law enforcement and the wider public, the EU TE-SAT aims at protecting public safety and advancing regional stability, allowing the EU to continue responding to terrorism in an efficient manner and making Europe safer. Cite this publication:  Europol (2024), European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend Report, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg. Downloads European Union Terrorism Situation and Trend report 2024 (EU TE-SAT) pdf en (2 MB) TE-SAT 2024 - Резюме pdf bg (921.3 KB) TE-SAT 2024 - Shrnutí pdf cs (925.7 KB) TE-SAT 2024 - Resumé pdf da (900.2 K...

  n a world where artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being weaponised by cyber-criminals, the question of whether we can effectively combat AI threats with more AI is not just a technical inquiry, but a pressing global concern, writes Lisa Strydom, senior manager channels Africa at Veeam. The rise of AI-generated cyber-attacks, such as deepfake technology and automated  hacking  attempts, has created a cybersecurity arms race. Yet, ironically, it’s AI itself that might hold the key to turning the tide in this escalating battle. As cyber  security  incidents continue to surge, the thousands of job vacancies that remain unfilled due to a shortage of qualified talent means that organisations are left vulnerable to attacks that exploit the very technological advancements designed to drive progress. If human talent cannot keep pace, AI must act as the force multiplier that bridges the gap, enhancing both threat detection and response capabilities. But is th...

As we enter 2025, the frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks on  critical national infrastructure  (CNI) in the US are rising at an alarming rate. These attacks target the foundational systems that support everything from energy and water to transportation and communications, and the consequences are far-reaching and potentially catastrophic. They impact not just the operations of these services but also the very way of life for affected populations. The Deadly Cost of Ignoring OT Security Critical infrastructure attacks are particularly egregious because they have cascading effects. When a malicious actor compromises a power grid, water supply, or communication network, the impact can ripple across multiple sectors. Antonio Sanchez, Principal Cybersecurity Evangelist at Fortra, explains that the disruption of essential services, especially in such sensitive sectors, is akin to cyber-terrorism. “Successful attacks on critical infrastructure affect the way of life fo...

The Central Tibetan Administration in exile has cautioned against the use of the term 'Xizang' while referring to the Tibet region where a 6.8 magnitude earthquake killed at least 126 people.  Penpa Tsering, President of the Central Tibetan Administration in exile, said the use of the term 'Xizang' by governments and media implies being "played into the hands of propaganda of the Chinese government."  " It is not just a name change from Tibet to 'Xizang', because the Chinese interpretation of using 'Xizang' is referring to Tibet only as the Tibet Autonomous Region, and not beyond those areas," Tsering said while speaking to ANI.  "Tibet Autonomous Region is only half of Tibet. If you fall into this trap of using 'Xizang', then you are complicit in China's narrative on Tibetan territory and Tibetan historical sovereignty," he added.  On Tuesday, the powerful earthquake struck Dingi county in Shigatse prefecture --...

A Sri Lankan court jailed a politically influential, firebrand Buddhist monk on Thursday, putting him behind bars for a second time for insulting Islam and stoking religious hatred in the island nation. Galagodaatte Gnanasara was sentenced on Thursday to nine months for his anti-Muslim remarks, which date to 2016. He was previously jailed last year on a similar charge of disparaging Sri Lanka's minority Muslims, who account for just over about 10 percent of the 22 million population. He was on bail while appealing that four-year sentence. The monk is a close associate of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa, who made him the head of a panel to reform Sri Lanka's legal system to ensure religious harmony in 2021. At the time, opposition lawmaker Shanakiyan Rasamanickam described Gnanasara's appointment as "the definition of irony". In 2018, Gnanasara was also sentenced to six years for intimidating the wife of a missing cartoonist and contempt of court, but was freed...

  New Delhi:  Pakistan politician Anwaar ul-Haq recently revived a long-standing terrorist rhetoric by calling for jihad against India. He announced that his government would mobilise all available resources to expel Indian forces from Jammu and Kashmir. His remarks have drawn widespread condemnation, with critics decrying them as a serious threat to the prospect of peace between the two nations. Haq made this statement during a rally on January 5 in Muzaffarabad, marking Right to Self-Determination Day, which was further amplified by chants of "Al-Jihad, Al-Jihad," signaling a significant escalation in Pakistan’s political discourse. “If providing electricity for 3 rupees and 2,000 maunds (approximately 37 kilograms per maund) of flour does not sink the state, then jihad in the way of Allah is justified,” Haq asserted, further advocating for a revival of jihadist culture to “liberate Indian Kashmir” and expel what he described as “10 lakh Indian troops” stationed in the vall...