September 2019 SM Online
Print Issue: September 2019
WOMEN AND TERRORISM
As more women become involved with militant groups, they also become ever more valuable as mitigators of extremism and in deradicalization efforts, according to a recent report issued by the Council on Foreign Relations.
RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION
"Loss prevention teams continue to face setbacks and challenges with new and expanding areas of threat," according to the authors of the 2019 National Retail Security Survey, which was issued by the National Retail Federation in partnership with the University of Florida.
DISTRACTED DRIVING
A National Safety Council and Emergency Responder Safety Institute survey found that U.S. drivers' urge to photograph or post on social media about road accidents endangers first responders.
RANSOMWARE
For the second straight year, the 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon found that "70 percent of all malware outbreaks" in the healthcare vertical were ransomware incidents.
RETAIL THEFT
The 31st Annual Retail Theft Survey conducted by Jack L. Hayes International finds that theft continues to be a major problem for retailers, especially because individual case loss values rose sharply.
DATA RESTORATION
A WIRED analysis found that it cost the city of Atlanta $2.6 million to restore its systems and operations after they were crippled by ransomware. The malicious actors wanted approximately $50,000 in ransom.
FEMALE TERRORISTS
A report by The International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation (ICSR), finds that 13 percent of ISIS foreign recruits in Iraq and Syria are female:
ANTITRUST SUIT
The U.S. Supreme Court delivered a divided decision in a significant lawsuit against a large online marketplace company.
ESPIONAGE
A U.S. district court sentenced a former U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer to 20 years in prison for working with an agent of the People's Republic of China.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
Citing alleged instances of gender-based and sexual harassment throughout 20 cities in the United States, more than 20 women filed suits against McDonald's Corp., making this the third time in as many years that the fast food chain giant will face such charges.
HATE CRIMES
In a 15-count indictment, a federal grand jury charged two men from Texas with committing hate crimes, kidnapping, and carjacking.
TERRORISM
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 2476, the Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019.
LABOR
The National Labor Relations Board determined that Uber drivers are independent contractors, effectively limiting them from certain federal freedoms.
BRIBERY
The European Parliament determined that Nigel Farage, leader of the UK's Brexit Party, infringed upon the organization's code of conduct when he failed to disclose £450,000 worth of gifts.
SEXUAL HARASSMENT
The EEOC filed a lawsuit against a New York-based eatery alleging the owner and general manager routinely subjected female employees to sexual harassment.
SICK LEAVE
A Minnesota Court of Appeals ruled that the state's Sick and Safe Ordinance applies to any worker who completes at least 80 hours of work per benefit year within the City of Minneapolis.
BRIBERY
A U.S. business executive admitted to a foreign bribery scheme involving bribing officials of Venezuela's state-owned and state-controlled energy company, Petroleos de Venezuela S.A., and its Texas-based subsidiary Citgo Petroleum Corporation.
WIKILEAKS
A grand jury charged Julian Assange with illegally obtaining, receiving, and disclosing classified information.
FRAUD
Fujinaga, former president and CEO of an investment company, was sentenced to 50 years in prison for his involvement in a $1.5 billion Ponzi scheme.