Nicolás Maduro back in New York federal court in ‘narco-terrorism’ case

The deposed Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro is again scheduled to appear in a Manhattan federal court on Thursday for his “narco-terrorism” case after his capture by US military forces earlier this year. US special forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, on 3 January in a controversial pre-dawn raid during an assault on Caracas…

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FBI opens first Ecuador office in fight against drug trafficking

The United States has opened its ​first Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) office ‌in Ecuador, the U.S. Embassy in Quito said on Wednesday. The office will aim to ​work with Ecuadorean officials to fight the trafficking ​of drugs and weapons, along with ⁠money laundering and the financing of ​terrorism, the embassy said in a social…

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Iran will allow ‘non-hostile vessels’ to pass through Strait of Hormuz

Leaders in Iran sent a Tuesday letter to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) confirming that “non-hostile vessels” would be permitted to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. The choke point carries a fifth of the world’s oil per day. But few ships have made the journey through the single passageway from the Persian Gulf to…

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At least 66 killed in military plane crash in Colombia, head of armed forces says

A military transport plane with 128 people on board, mostly soldiers, crashed shortly after taking off Monday in Puerto Leguizamo, Colombia, killing at least 66 people and leaving dozens injured, the head of Colombia’s armed forces said. General Hugo Alejandro López Barreto said that four military personnel were still missing. “Sadly, as a consequence of…

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State Department launches effort to counter cyberattacks, AI risks from Iran, others

The State Department has formally launched a new entity charged with anticipating and responding to dangers posed by Iran and other U.S. adversaries’ weaponization of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, officials familiar with the matter tell ABC News. The department’s Bureau of Emerging Threats has been tasked with safeguarding American national security against cyberattacks, the…

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Israel hits Tehran with airstrikes on Persian New Year as war jolts energy markets

Israel pounded Tehran with airstrikes Friday as Iranians marked Nowruz, or the Persian New Year, in the midst of a war that has sent shock waves through the global economy and risked drawing Iran’s Arab neighbors directly into the conflict. Activists reported hearing strikes around Iran’s capital. The attacks came a day after Israel pledged…

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Justice Department Disrupts Iranian Cyber Enabled Psychological Operations

The Justice Department announced the seizure of four domains as part of an ongoing effort to disrupt hacking and transnational repression schemes conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS). The affidavit supporting the seizure warrant can be found here. The seized domains – Justicehomeland[.]org, Handala-Hack[.]to, Karmabelow80[.]org, and Handala-Redwanted[.]to –…

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