News Round Up - March 4th, 2019 - Morning

Today's most interesting news articles with links and brief summaries...

 

 

Germany to strip 'Islamic State' fighters' citizenship

LINK: https://m.dw.com/en/germany-to-strip-islamic-state-fighters-citizenship-report/a-47760138

The new law would apply to jihadists who are of age, have a second nationality and take part in future battles as part of IS. It would not apply to IS fighters who are currently imprisoned.

The new legislation would expand the Nationality Act to apply to someone who "Takes part in combat operations abroad for a terrorist militia," which is defined as an "Armed paramilitary organization" that violates international law in order to "Establish new state or state structures."

Part of Seehofer's initial proposal to the Justice Ministry would allow authorities to strip children under the age of five of citizenship if their parents had unlawfully acquired German citizenship, for instance by deception.

Seehofer reportedly gave up on the draft law following strong opposition from the Justice Ministry, but plans to present a new draft bill regarding citizenship as soon as possible.

 

'Unusual activity' at Russian embassy before novichok attack

LINK: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/04/unusual-activity-russian-embassy-novichok-attack-skripal-poisonings

Intelligence services investigated unusual activity at the Russian embassy in London in the days before and after the novichok poisoning, it has been reported.

The source was quoted as saying: "The intelligence agencies have been investigating unusual and increased activity at the Russian embassy in Kensington in the days leading up to and after the attack on the Skripals."

In September, Scotland Yard and the Crown Prosecution Service said there was sufficient evidence to charge two Russians, Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, with offences including conspiracy to murder after they were caught on CCTV in Salisbury the day before the attack.

Neither the Russian embassy nor GCHQ responded when contacted by the Press Association.

 

As Trump and Kim Met, North Korean Hackers Hit Over 100 Targets in U.S. and Ally Nations

LINK: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/03/technology/north-korea-hackers-trump.html

March 3, 2019.SAN FRANCISCO - North Korean hackers who have targeted American and European businesses for over two years kept up their attacks last week even as President Trump was meeting with North Korea's leader in Hanoi.

The attacks, which include efforts to hack into banks, utilities and oil and gas companies, began in 2017, according to researchers at the cybersecurity company McAfee, a time when tensions between North Korea and the United States were flaring.

North Korean hackers have been tied to attacks on banks all around the world for financial gain - a rarity among government-affiliated hackers but not surprising for a country ravaged by economic sanctions.

Since the Sony attack, McAfee's researchers said North Korea's hackers had significantly improved their capabilities: They are much better at hiding their tracks and researching their targets.

 

Police find 1,500 turtles wrapped in tape

LINK: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47437671

Police in the Philippines have seized more than 1,500 live turtles found wrapped in duct tape at Manila airport.

A total of 1,529 turtles of different species, including Sulcata Tortoises - which are recognised as vulnerable on the IUCN's Red list of Threatened species - were found in four pieces of unclaimed luggage in the arrivals area of Ninoy Aquino International Airport on Sunday.

The Bureau of Customs said the turtles were left behind by a Filipino passenger who was onboard a Philippine Airlines flight from Hong Kong.

The turtles have now been handed over to the Wildlife Traffic Monitoring Unit.

 

The body of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was likely burned in a large oven at the Saudi consulate general's residence in Istanbul, an Al Jazeera investigation revealed

LINK: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/jamal-khashoggi-body-burned-large-oven-saudi-home-190304011823218.html

The body of slain Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was likely burned in a large oven at the Saudi consulate general's residence in Istanbul, an Al Jazeera investigation revealed.

Turkish authorities monitored the burning of the outdoor furnace as bags believed to be carrying Khashoggi's body parts were transferred to the Saudi consul's house after he was killed inside the consulate a few hundred metres away.

A critic of Saudi Arabia's powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Khashoggi entered the consulate in Istanbul to obtain paperwork so he could marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz.

A CIA report said Prince Mohammed likely ordered Khashoggi's killing - an allegation Saudi Arabia denies.