CLARK FIELD: Defense ministers from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed a joint declaration during the 11th ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) on Monday, promising cooperation to counter terrorism and violent extremism in the region.
ASEAN consists of the Philippines — this year's host of the ADMM, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei Darussalam.
The ministers released a statement, read during the signing ceremony, which said: “The joint declaration being signed embodies the collective sense of the ASEAN defense ministers on the regional security environment. More importantly, it contains the ministers’ shared thrust and specific undertakings to address the security challenges facing the region as well as practical measures to promote cooperation.”
The defense chiefs also used the joint declaration to condemn “in the strongest terms the attacks carried out by violent extremists across the world, particularly in Southeast Asia, including the attack by the Maute Group in Marawi City, Philippines, which led to casualties, destruction of properties, and displacement of people, among others.”
The officials likewise declared full support for the Philippines' efforts to address the security and humanitarian crisis in Marawi City, where more than 250,000 villagers were displaced by the five-month battle between government forces and the Maute group.
They also acknowledged the need for enhanced regional cooperation through intelligence- and information-sharing, surveillance measures, and promoting public awareness.
North Korea
In the same document, the officials expressed grave concern over the escalation of tensions in the Korean Peninsula, including the testing and launching of intercontinental ballistic missiles by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in addition to its previous nuclear tests and ballistic missile launches.
“(We) strongly urge the DPRK to immediately comply with its obligations arising from all the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the officials said.
South China Sea
The ministers also reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting safety and freedom of navigation in and over the South China Sea, along with the need to avoid further actions that may complicate the situation in the region. All parties expressed their commitment to implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC).
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ASEAN defense chiefs pledge cooperation in fight against terrorism
ASEAN defense chiefs pledge cooperation in fight against terrorism
Iran-linked hackers claim cyberattack on Albanian parliament
- Albania hosts several thousand members of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI or MEK), an organization that Iran has denounced as 'terrorist'
- Albania’s IT services were targeted, in 2022, prompting the Balkan country to sever diplomatic ties with Iran
TIRANA: Albania’s parliament on Tuesday said it had been hit with a “sophisticated cyberattack,” after Iran-linked hackers claimed to have stolen lawmakers’ data.
A group called “Homeland Justice,” which has previously been linked to Iran and claimed responsibility for past cyberattacks in Albania, announced the hack on Telegram.
“All conversations and correspondence of corrupt MPs from recent months are in the hands of Homeland Justice,” the post said.
“We are much closer to you than you think.”
Albania hosts several thousand members of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI or MEK), an organization that Iran has denounced as “terrorist.”
Experts have warned that as the war in the Middle East continues, highly capable hackers linked to Iran have broadened their activities.
In a statement, the Albanian parliament said its computer systems had been hit with a “sophisticated cyberattack aimed at deleting data and compromising several internal systems.”
“It was found that information had been deleted from several accounts belonging to administration employees,” it added, saying “the main working infrastructure” did not appear to be affected and that measures had been taken “to neutralize the attack.”
The country’s National Cyber Security Authority said it had teams investigating the attack.
“Further information will be made public after the technical assessment is completed,” the authority’s director, Saimir Kapllani, told AFP.
In June, Homeland Justice also attacked the information technology services of the Albanian capital, Tirana.
In 2022, Albania’s IT services were also targeted, prompting the Balkan country to sever diplomatic ties with Iran.
A group called “Homeland Justice,” which has previously been linked to Iran and claimed responsibility for past cyberattacks in Albania, announced the hack on Telegram.
“All conversations and correspondence of corrupt MPs from recent months are in the hands of Homeland Justice,” the post said.
“We are much closer to you than you think.”
Albania hosts several thousand members of the People’s Mujahedin of Iran (PMOI or MEK), an organization that Iran has denounced as “terrorist.”
Experts have warned that as the war in the Middle East continues, highly capable hackers linked to Iran have broadened their activities.
In a statement, the Albanian parliament said its computer systems had been hit with a “sophisticated cyberattack aimed at deleting data and compromising several internal systems.”
“It was found that information had been deleted from several accounts belonging to administration employees,” it added, saying “the main working infrastructure” did not appear to be affected and that measures had been taken “to neutralize the attack.”
The country’s National Cyber Security Authority said it had teams investigating the attack.
“Further information will be made public after the technical assessment is completed,” the authority’s director, Saimir Kapllani, told AFP.
In June, Homeland Justice also attacked the information technology services of the Albanian capital, Tirana.
In 2022, Albania’s IT services were also targeted, prompting the Balkan country to sever diplomatic ties with Iran.
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