Posts Tagged ‘policy support’
UK removes terrorism designation for Syria’s HTS
The British government on Tuesday removed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the group which spearheaded the Syrian rebel alliance that helped oust President Bashar al-Assad, from its list of banned terrorist organisations. HTS, a former al Qaeda affiliate, was proscribed in 2017, meaning that Britain designated it as a terrorist group, making it illegal to support…
Read More120 Iranians detained in US for entering country illegally to be returned to Iran, state TV says
Iran said Tuesday that 120 Iranians detained in the United States for illegally entering in the country will be returned to Iran in the coming days. As many as 400 Iranians would be returning to Iran as part of the deal with the U.S., Iranian state television said, citing Hossein Noushabadi, director-general for parliamentary affairs…
Read MoreThe U.S. is designating Ecuador’s largest gangs as terrorists
The United States will designate two of Ecuador’s most powerful gangs — Los Lobos and Los Choneros — as foreign terrorist organizations, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced during a one day visit to the South American country on Thursday. The move allows Washington to freeze assets, target associates and share intelligence with Ecuador for…
Read More‘Machete amnesty’ announced by state government in Australia before total ban takes effect
Australia’s Victorian Government has set up a “machete amnesty” in support of disposing machetes safely from Sept. 1 until November, as the southeastern state becomes the first to carry out a ban on the weapons. Machetes will be criminalized in Victoria on Sept. 1, following a series of violent knife crimes and home invasions, Sky…
Read MoreRewards for Justice Reward Offer for Information on the Leader of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP)
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice (RFJ) program is increasing its reward offer for information leading to the identification or location of the leader of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki. The new reward offer for information on al-Awlaki is up to $10 million. The previous reward offer was…
Read MoreUS revokes foreign terrorist designation for Syria’s HTS
President Donald Trump’s administration has revoked the foreign terrorist organization designation for al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, according to a State Department memo filed on Monday, a major step as Washington moves to ease sanctions on Syria. The June 23 dated memo was signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and…
Read MoreUK to ban campaign group Palestine Action under anti-terrorism laws
Britain said on Monday it would use anti-terrorism laws to ban the campaign organisation Palestine Action, making it a criminal offence to belong to the group after its activists damaged two UK military planes in protest at London’s support for Israel. The proscription would put the pro-Palestinian group on a par with Hamas, al-Qaeda or…
Read MoreAustralia fast-tracks machete ban after shopping centre attack
A fight involving machetes at a Melbourne shopping centre has prompted an Australian state to fast-track the country’s first-ever ban on the weapon’s sale. The ban – to start in Victoria this Wednesday, instead of September – comes after two gangs attacked each other at Northland shopping centre in Preston on Sunday afternoon. A man,…
Read MoreState Dept. warns travelers of terrorism risk in European hot spots, including Italy
As the summer travel season ramps up, the State Department is warning Americans to “exercise increased caution” when visiting several popular European destinations, including Italy. A travel advisory dated May 23 said, “There is risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Italy.” Italy is considered a Level 2 country on the…
Read MoreState Department labels Haitian gangs as terrorist organizations
The Trump administration has designated a coalition of Haitian gangs that have embroiled the Caribbean nation in mass violence as terrorist organizations, a White House official confirmed to NBC News. The Viv Ansanm coalition and the Gran Grif gang will now be labeled a Foreign Terrorist Organizations and as Specifically Designated Global Terrorists by the…
Read More