Latest news with #MFA
The Star
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Brunei temporarily closes embassy in Teheran
Photo of the Brunei Embassy in Tehran, Iran. - MFA Website BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Brunei Darussalam has announced the temporary closure of its Embassy in TehEran, the Islamic Republic of Iran, citing the current situation in the country. According to a statement released by the MFA, the Embassy has ceased operations on the ground and will continue to function remotely from Brunei Darussalam until further notice. 'There are currently no registered Bruneian nationals in the Islamic Republic of Iran,' the statement noted. It also confirmed that all Embassy personnel have been safely evacuated from Teheran. In the interim, any matters related to the Embassy can be directed to phone numbers +673 2381130 or +673 8722712, or via email at for further information or assistance. - Borneo Bulletin/ANN
Arabian Post
a day ago
- Arabian Post
Massive 16 Billion Credential Leak Exposes Global Risk
Security researchers have uncovered an enormous password cache comprising 16 billion unique login credentials spanning major platforms such as Apple, Facebook, Google, Telegram, GitHub, VPN services and even government portals—making it the largest credential leak known to date. These credentials were harvested via at least 30 substantial datasets, some containing up to 3.5 billion records, indicating multiple infostealer malware operations operating at a large scale during 2025. Researchers found that the leaked datasets were transiently exposed in unsecured Elasticsearch and object‑storage instances, allowing brief public access before being shut down. Structures within the datasets included URLs, usernames and passwords, often accompanied by metadata such as tokens or cookies—making them ripe for phishing, credential stuffing and account hijacking. Analysts emphasise that the data is not a collection of old, recycled breaches: most records appear freshly harvested, enabling cybercriminals to exploit current and valid credentials in automated attacks. As one expert warned: 'This is not just a leak – it's a blueprint for mass exploitation… fresh, weaponizable intelligence at scale'. ADVERTISEMENT Infostealer malware—distributed through phishing links, fake software and compromised websites—has evolved into a pervasive threat under the malware‑as‑a‑service model. Such malware silently extracts browser‑stored credentials, cookies and session tokens before packaging and selling dumps on underground markets. The consequences are widespread. Cybercriminals can initiate credential stuffing across hundreds of services; craft highly convincing phishing emails; and mount identity theft, ransomware and business‑email‑compromise attacks. Records tied to Apple, Google and Facebook enhance the ease and effectiveness of targeted campaigns. It remains unclear how many unique users are affected, as overlapping credentials are present across the datasets. With over 5.5 billion internet users worldwide, many may have multiple accounts compromised. Security experts recommend immediate action. Users should deploy password managers to generate and store unique, complex passwords; enable multi‑factor authentication where available; and transition to passkey-based login systems, especially offered by Apple, Google and Microsoft. Regular system scans for infostealer malware and the avoidance of downloading cracked or unauthorised software are also advised. Organisations are under pressure to strengthen internal cybersecurity measures, including enforcing MFA, conducting regular training on phishing awareness and credential hygiene, and adopting zero‑trust frameworks. Endpoint protection and proactive threat monitoring have become essential amid this evolving threat landscape.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India launches Op Sindhu to evacuate nationals from Iran; first flight takes off
NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday launched Operation Sindhu to evacuate its nationals from Iran following the deterioration of the security situation due to conflict with Israel, even as reports emerged that some Indian students were injured in an Israeli strike on a students' dormitory in Tehran. As the first step under the operation, the Indian embassy in Tehran evacuated 110 Indian students from northern Iran and helped them cross over to Armenia by road on June 17, the external affairs ministry said in a statement. These students, a majority of them from Jammu and Kashmir, travelled to the Armenian capital of Yerevan and then left for India on a special flight on Wednesday afternoon. 'The government of India is grateful to the governments of Iran and Armenia for the smooth facilitation of the evacuation process,' the statement said. Around 600 Indian students have also been relocated from Tehran to Qom, people familiar with the matter said. This was done because of intense Israeli air strikes and bombings targeting Tehran over the past few days, they said. The Indian government is taking various steps for the safety and security of Indian nationals in Iran in view of the deteriorating situation as a result of the conflict between Iran and Israel, the statement said. Officials of the Iranian embassy in New Delhi said about five foreign students, including some Indians, were injured when an Israeli air strike hit a medical students' dormitory on Keshavarz Street in Tehran over the weekend. The dormitory had a sizeable number of Kashmiri students. 'After the injuries of Indian students due to the attack of the regime [on] Indian students' hostel, Iran's ministry of foreign affairs was in close touch with the embassy of India in Tehran, and the MFA and other related ministries and authorities did everything…possible to facilitate the evacuation, relocation and transportation of the said students,' the Iranian embassy said in a message posted on its Telegram channel. Indian nationals in Tehran with access to transport have also been advised to move out of the city in view of the developing situation. The external affairs ministry said that as part of the ongoing operation, the Indian embassy in Tehran has assisted 'large numbers of Indian nationals in moving from areas seeing increased hostilities to relatively safer areas within the country and to subsequently evacuate them using the available and feasible options'. Indian nationals in Iran have been advised to stay in touch with the Indian embassy in Tehran through its emergency helpline, and with the 24x7 control room established by the external affairs ministry in New Delhi. According to the latest figures from Iranian authorities, there are around 10,000 Indian nationals in Iran, most of them students enrolled in universities, professional courses and religious institutions. Israel and Iran have fired hundreds of missiles and drones at each other's cities and military and strategic facilities since hostilities erupted over the weekend. Israel said on Wednesday it struck 40 sites in Iran, including centrifuge production and weapons facilities, while Iran launched a wave of drones at Israel.
The Hill
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Russia tells Israel to halt Iran strikes, warning of ‘nuclear catastophe'
Russia's Foreign Ministry has called on Israel to stop targeting Tehran's nuclear sites, arguing the ongoing bombardment could lead to global 'nuclear catastrophe.' 'Israel's continued, intensive attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities in the Islamic Republic of Iran are unlawful under international law, pose unacceptable threats to international security, and drive the world closer to a nuclear catastrophe – the consequences of which will be felt globally, including in Israel itself,' Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement. The conflict between Israel and Iran has entered its sixth day, with Israel killing several top Iranian military leaders and nuclear scientists while urging the United States to get more directly involved to help take out Tehran's nuclear program. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defended his country's attacks as seeking to eliminate a nuclear threat from Iran, which has long maintained that its nuclear enrichment program is meant for civilian purposes. President Trump is weighing U.S. strikes among a range of options targeting Iranian sites. The president has recently edged closer toward U.S. involvement in the Middle East conflict, prompting pushback from Moscow, a top ally of Iran. Russia's Interfax news agency reported Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov warned Wednesday that direct U.S. military assistance to Israel would escalate Middle East tensions. 'This would be a step that would radically destabilise the entire situation,' it cited Ryabkov as saying. The MFA said in its statement that it believes Iranian leaders are committed to following the international Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and are pursuing only 'peaceful' nuclear endeavors. Moscow also supports the resumption of nuclear deal talks between the U.S. and Iran. Israel's surprise attack on Iran's nuclear and military facilities Thursday derailed the latest round of negotiations that were scheduled to take place over the weekend. 'Russia acknowledges Iran's clear statements reaffirming its unwavering commitment to obligations under the NPT and its readiness to resume contacts with the United States to explore potential solutions that would dispel any unfounded suspicions and prejudices regarding Tehran's nuclear programme – provided Israeli attacks cease,' the MFA said. 'Moscow supports this stance and firmly maintains that a sustainable resolution can only be reliably achieved through diplomacy and negotiations.' 'The objectives of nuclear non-proliferation, the cornerstone of which remains the NPT, must not be pursued through aggression or at the cost of innocent lives,' it added. Russia accused Western countries of using the military conflict between Israel and Iran to punish 'disfavoured nations.' 'Clearly, the attempts of the Western camp to manipulate the global nuclear non-proliferation regime in order to settle political scores with disfavoured nations come at a high cost to the international community and are entirely unacceptable,' the statement read.
Egypt Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Egypt Today
European Parliament Approves €4 Billion in Financial Assistance to Egypt
CAIRO - 18 June 2025: During its plenary session in Strasbourg on Wednesday, the European Parliament approved the final reading of the decision to grant Egypt the second tranche of the European Union's Macro-Financial Assistance (MFA) package, valued at €4 billion. Commenting on the decision, Ambassador Ahmed Abu Zeid, Egypt's Ambassador to the EU, stated that the overwhelming vote in favor followed nearly nine months of intensive deliberations across the Parliament's Committees on International Trade, Foreign Affairs, and Budgets. He noted that the decision also came after continuous diplomatic engagement by the Egyptian side with Members of the European Parliament and leaders of political groups. These efforts focused on highlighting the comprehensive nature of the Egypt-EU relationship, the six pillars of their strategic partnership, and Egypt's role in promoting stability and peace across the Middle East and Africa. Ambassador Abu Zeid underscored the significance of the financial support package as a reflection of the mutual interests between Egypt and the EU and as a step toward deepening their strategic partnership. The European Council is expected to vote on the decision in the coming days, paving the way for the initiation of the disbursement process. The second tranche is anticipated to strengthen Egypt's economic resilience in the face of increasing global and regional challenges, while also supporting the government's ambitious development and economic reform agenda.
