Homeland Security News

When revelers begin arriving at Times Square on Saturday to ring in the new year, they will hear the familiar sound of police helicopters overhead, go through the mandatory bag screenings and see the usual mass of police officers. But they will also be greeted by something that has only recently become a regular feature of the city’s security infrastructure: strategically positioned garbage trucks loaded with sand.

The Sanitation Department bills itself as New York’s Strongest, and its hulking vehicles have made the agency a key ally as the Police Department and other law enforcement agencies seek to guard against truck attacks like those in Nice, France, and Berlin.

Trucks have been deployed outside Trump Tower on Election Day and along the route of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

The trucks weigh about 16 tons, and nearly double that with a full load of sand, according to Vito A. Turso, a spokesman for the Sanitation Department.

“They’re pretty immovable,” he said.

Read more:  New York Times

President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election.

The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency, mark a new post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russian ties and set up a potential flashpoint between incoming President-elect Donald Trump and fellow Republicans in Congress over how to deal with Moscow.

Obama, a Democrat, had promised consequences after U.S. intelligence officials blamed Russia for hacks intended to influence the 2016 election. Officials pointed the finger directly at Russian President Vladimir Putin for personally directing the efforts and primarily targeting Democrats, who put pressure on Obama to respond.

"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement from Hawaii, where he is on vacation.

"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions," he said.

Read more:  Reuters

Australian anti-terror police have charged a man for making threats against Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations.

The 40-year-old man was arrested at Sydney Airport on Thursday after arriving on a plane from London.

The alleged threats were made on social media, said Acting Deputy Commissioner Frank Mennilli.

Police also raided a house and a storage facility in Sydney, seizing documents and computer hard drives.

There was no remaining threat to the community, police said. However, they would not provide details of the alleged threats while the matter was before the court.

The arrest comes a week after police said they foiled a major terror attack planned for Melbourne on Christmas Day.

Read more:  BBC News

Google is reportedly refusing to prevent its enhanced search features from helping users search for and access content uploaded by Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, known as the pied piper of jihad. Awlaki, a US and Yemeni imam, who has previously been implicated in the planning of several al-Qaeda attacks, allegedly posted numerous online recordings such as lectures, which can easily be accessed by users by typing a few words on Google search, according to a report.

When searching for Awlaki, Google's autocomplete feature suggests additional search options such as "quotes" and "lectures". Although Awlaki was killed in 2011 in a US drone strike, his propaganda and hate-filled lectures appear to be still of interest by those who continue to be seek them online.

Read more: International Business Times (UK)

Police plan to use parked patrol cars and heavy, water-filled barricades at key crossings along the 5.5-mile Tournament of Roses parade route in response to recent terrorist attacks that used trucks as weapons.

In announcing the new security measures on Wednesday, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez stressed there was no known threat to the parade, the Rose Bowl Game or the city of Pasadena. But he said the changes were made in an abundance of caution, adding that parade security is frequently tweaked as terrorism tactics and threats evolve.

Read more: Los Angeles Times