Latest news with #USCongress
Straits Times
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Romanian man pleads guilty to ‘swatting' attacks on US officials
The calls to law enforcement made by Thomasz Szabo and his co-conspirators included false claims of homicides. PHOTO: REUTERS Romanian man pleads guilty to 'swatting' attacks on US officials WASHINGTON - A Romanian man pleaded guilty on June 2 to making bomb threats and triggering 'swatting' attacks on dozens of US officials and lawmakers, the Justice Department said. Thomasz Szabo, 26, who was extradited from Romania in November, faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and a maximum of 10 years for making threats involving explosives. 'This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation's security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas,' Attorney-General Pam Bondi said in a statement. 'Swatting' takes its name from the heavily armed SWAT teams dispatched to tackle emergencies in the United States. The law enforcement response is often prompted by a caller who reports a false violent crime at a home. The calls to law enforcement made by Szabo and his co-conspirators included false claims of homicides, suicides, kidnappings and mass shootings. According to court documents, Szabo was the organiser and moderator of chat groups formed in 2020 where the conspirators communicated with one another. He used the monikers 'Jonah,' 'Plank,' 'Rambler,' and 'War Lord,' among others. Among the false reports made to US law enforcement were a December 2020 threat to commit a mass-shooting at New York City synagogues and a January 2021 threat to detonate a bomb at the US Capitol and kill then president-elect Donald Trump. Other swatting victims included at least 25 members of the US Congress or their relatives, Cabinet-level officials and former federal law enforcement officials. The FBI tracked about 600 'swatting' incidents in the country in 2023. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Romanian man pleads guilty to 'swatting' attacks on US officials
A Romanian man pleaded guilty on Monday to making bomb threats and triggering "swatting" attacks on dozens of US officials and lawmakers, the Justice Department said. Thomasz Szabo, 26, who was extradited from Romania in November, faces up to five years in prison for conspiracy and a maximum of 10 years for making threats involving explosives. "This defendant led a dangerous swatting criminal conspiracy, deliberately threatening dozens of government officials with violent hoaxes and targeting our nation's security infrastructure from behind a screen overseas," Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement. "Swatting" takes its name from the heavily armed SWAT teams dispatched to tackle emergencies in the United States. The law enforcement response is often prompted by a caller who reports a false violent crime at a home. The calls to law enforcement made by Szabo and his co-conspirators included false claims of homicides, suicides, kidnappings and mass shootings. According to court documents, Szabo was the organizer and moderator of chat groups formed in 2020 where the conspirators communicated with one another. He used the monikers "Jonah," "Plank," "Rambler," and "War Lord," among others. Among the false reports made to US law enforcement were a December 2020 threat to commit a mass-shooting at New York City synagogues and a January 2021 threat to detonate a bomb at the US Capitol and kill then President-elect Donald Trump. Other swatting victims included at least 25 members of the US Congress or their relatives, cabinet-level officials and former federal law enforcement officials. The FBI tracked about 600 "swatting" incidents in the country in 2023. cl/md
New Indian Express
7 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Tharoor Vs Bhutto: India, Pakistan delegation in the US for diplomatic outreach
NEW DELHI: As diplomatic efforts pick up, both India and Pakistan are sending delegations to the United States this week. Their aim is to influence the views of American lawmakers and officials. From India, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor is leading an all-party delegation. They are returning to Washington on June 3 after a tour across Latin America. On the other hand, Pakistan's delegation is led by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Their visit starts in New York and Washington and will later extend to London and Brussels, according to Pakistan's foreign ministry. Bhutto-Zardari's nine-member team includes well-known leaders such as former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, ex-Information Minister Sherry Rehman, former Defence Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, and former Foreign Secretaries Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tehmina Janjua. The Indian team had already arrived in New York on May 24, just before the Memorial Day holiday when the US Congress was not in session. Now that lawmakers have returned to Washington, the Indian delegation is expected to meet members of powerful Congressional committees, key lawmakers, and some figures from the Trump administration. It is not yet known whether the Indian and Pakistani delegations will be in the same city at the same time. During an event in New York last month, Tharoor said: 'India has demonstrated Pakistan will have to pay an increasingly higher price for backing terror attacks against the country,' adding that Islamabad 'has not shown any seriousness about tackling terrorism.' Pakistan's foreign ministry says its diplomatic effort is meant to counter India's recent outreach. The Pakistan government announced two delegations would travel to North America, Europe, and Russia soon after India revealed its plan to send seven teams to 33 countries. India's outreach aims to explain the reasons behind Operation Sindoor, which targeted terrorist camps after the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. India's team also includes BJP MP Bhubaneswar Kalita, Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora, and former US ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu.
Morocco World
9 hours ago
- Business
- Morocco World
Morocco's $260 Million Javelin Missile Purchase Gets US Approval
Doha – Morocco is set to purchase 612 Javelin missiles and 200 launch units from the United States in a deal worth approximately $260 million, according to an official notice published in the US Federal Register on May 30. The sale, which still requires final approval from the US Congress, has already received the green light from the US State Department. The country's Defense Security Cooperation Agency initially announced the proposed sale on March 19, 2024, in a letter to the Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson. The official document details that the Moroccan government has requested to buy 'six hundred twelve (612) Javelin FGM–148F missiles (includes twelve (12) fly-to-buy missiles) and two hundred (200) Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLUs).' According to the policy justification section of the Federal Register notice, 'this proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO Ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in North Africa.' The Javelin is a powerful anti-tank missile system, and this deal is expected to boost Morocco's long-term defense capabilities. US defense officials state clearly in the document that 'the proposed sale will improve Morocco's long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to meet its national defense requirements. Morocco will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.' The sale includes not just the missiles and launch units but also missile simulation rounds, Javelin support equipment, hand and measuring tools, books and publications, and power and distribution equipment. It also covers component parts and support equipment, life cycle support and technical assistance, gunner and ammunition officer training, System Integration and Check Out (SICO), maintenance training, Tactical Aviation and Ground Munitions (TAGM), and other related logistics and program support elements. The prime contractors will be the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida, and RTX Corporation in Tucson, Arizona. The notice specifically states that 'there are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.' This purchase represents the first arms deal with Morocco to be announced since Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20. It follows another recent proposal on April 15, when the US offered to sell Morocco 600 FIM-92K Stinger missiles, another advanced system, in a deal estimated at $825 million. These acquisitions continue a pattern established during Trump's first term, when Morocco secured important deals with American defense companies. In 2019, Morocco purchased 24 Apache helicopters for $1.5 billion and 25 F-16 fighter jets for nearly $3.8 billion, along with upgrades to 23 older F-16s costing around $985.2 million. What is the Javelin missile? The Javelin missile system, in production since 1996, is considered one of the most prestigious anti-tank weapons in the military industry. The highly explosive anti-tank cannon can destroy modern tanks by attacking from above where armor is thinner and is effective in direct attacks against fortifications. According to the sensitivity of technology annex in the Federal Register notice, 'the Javelin Weapon System is a medium-range, man portable, shoulder-launched, fire and forget, anti-tank system for infantry, scouts, and combat engineers.' The document further notes that 'it may also be mounted on a variety of platforms including vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. The system weighs 49.5 pounds and has a maximum range in excess of 2,500 meters.' The document further explains that 'Javelin's key technical feature is the use of fire-and-forget technology which allows the gunner to fire and immediately relocate or take cover.' The system includes 'top attack and direct fire modes, an advanced tandem warhead and imaging infrared seeker, target lock-on before launch, and soft launch from enclosures or covered fighting positions.' Military cooperation between Morocco and the United States has strengthened over time, establishing Morocco as a key defense partner for Washington in Africa. The two countries regularly participate in joint military exercises, including African Lion, the largest annual US-led military drill on the continent, which enhances coordination between their forces. With these new acquisitions, Morocco continues to develop one of the most modern military forces in North Africa. According to the official notification, the US government has determined that 'Morocco can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government' and that the sale 'will not alter the basic military balance in the region.' The total military spending package, valued at $260 million, consists of $180 million for major defense equipment and $80 million for other related items and services, according to the Federal Register publication. The funding source is listed as 'National Funds' from Morocco.
Egypt Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Egypt Today
Egypt's FM, US Senator Tim Sheehy discuss bilateral ties, war in Gaza
CAIRO – 1 June 2025: Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty received Republican Senator Tim Sheehy, a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, during his visit to Egypt, on Saturday. The meeting focused on ways to enhance the strategic partnership between Egypt and the United States, and on expanding cooperation in the political, economic, military, and technical fields. Minister Abdelatty expressed his aspiration for deeper coordination with the U.S. administration and both houses of US Congress in support of advancing bilateral relations that serve the mutual interests of both countries. He also emphasized Egypt's commitment to strengthening economic, trade, and investment cooperation, highlighting the outcomes of the Egyptian-American Economic Forum, held in Cairo on May 25–26, which saw the participation of leading American companies. Minister Abdelatty reviewed Egypt's ongoing efforts to promote security and stability in the Middle East, stressing that the Egypt-U.S. partnership remains a cornerstone in supporting regional peace and stability. The two sides exchanged views on a range of regional developments, including the situation in Gaza, where Minister Abdelatty reiterated Egypt's ongoing coordination with the United States and Qatar to achieve a ceasefire and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people. He firmly reiterated Egypt's rejection of any attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians from their land. The meeting also touched on the positive impact of recent de-escalation efforts in the Red Sea on maritime security and international trade routes, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation to preserve regional stability.
