The United States has announced sanctions against two indivisuals in South Africa and one from the Democratic Republic of Congo who are allegedly associated with the expanded activities of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

US sanctions three terror financiers from South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo

German police have apprehended seven men accused of planning a terrorist attack, inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group, in the country. The suspects, originating from central Asia, were known to "each other for some time and share radical Islamic ideology", according to the federal prosecutor's office.

The men had travelled to Germany from Ukraine around the same time when the conflict in Ukraine broke out in early 2022.

<h2>What they had planned</h2>

Forming a cell in June 2022, the group aimed to "commit headline-grabbing terrorist attacks in the spirit of IS".

Prosecutors revealed that the suspects had identified potential targets in Germany, scouted crime scenes, and attempted to acquire weapons before their plans were thwarted, reports news agency AFP.

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"The suspects had already contemplated targets in Germany, scouted potential crime scenes and attempted to procure weapons."

However, authorities emphasised that there was no "tangible terrorist plot" in progress at the time of their arrest.

The suspects, consisting of five Turkmenistan citizens, one from Tajikistan, and another from Kyrgyzstan, were apprehended by German police in various locations within the western region of North Rhine-Westphalia.

Prosecutors alleged that, apart from the Kyrgyz suspect, the men had been "collecting funds for IS since April 2022", intending to send the money abroad to support the organisation.

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/former-us-officials-held-secret-meeting-with-prominent-russians-on-ukraine-report-612760">Former US officials held secret meeting with prominent Russians on ending Ukraine war: Report</a>

Additionally, Dutch authorities arrested a Tajikistani suspect and his Kyrgyz wife, accusing them of "committing preparatory acts for terrorism offences". The male suspect was "also suspected of membership of the terrorist organisation Islamic State".

The Washington Post reports that German prosecutors have identified the men arrested there as Ata A., a citizen of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan national Abrorjon K., and five citizens of Tajikistan — Mukhammadshujo A., Nuriddin K., Shamshud N., Said S. and Raboni Z.

<h2>Acute threat of Islamic terrorism</h2>

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasised the acute threat of Islamic terrorism and commended the focused efforts of security forces in combating such threats. "Our security forces remain firmly focused on tackling Islamic terrorism," said Faeser as reported by AFP.

(With inputs from agencies)

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German police have apprehended seven men accused of planning a terrorist attack, inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group, in the country. The suspects, originating from central Asia, were known to "each other for some time and share radical Islamic ideology", according to the federal prosecutor's office.

German police have apprehended seven men accused of planning a terrorist attack, inspired by the Islamic State (IS) group, in the country. The suspects, originating from central Asia, were known to "each other for some time and share radical Islamic ideology", according to the federal prosecutor's office. The men had travelled to Germany from Ukraine around the same time when the conflict in Ukraine broke out in early 2022. What they had planned Forming a cell in June 2022, the group aimed to "commit headline-grabbing terrorist attacks in the spirit of IS". Prosecutors revealed that the suspects had identified potential targets in Germany, scouted crime scenes, and attempted to acquire weapons before their plans were thwarted, reports news agency AFP. Also read | US releases video showing Russian jets troubling US drone over Syria "The suspects had already contemplated targets in Germany, scouted potential crime scenes and attempted to procure weapons." However, authorities emphasised that there was no "tangible terrorist plot" in progress at the time of their arrest. The suspects, consisting of five Turkmenistan citizens, one from Tajikistan, and another from Kyrgyzstan, were apprehended by German police in various locations within the western region of North Rhine-Westphalia. Prosecutors alleged that, apart from the Kyrgyz suspect, the men had been "collecting funds for IS since April 2022", intending to send the money abroad to support the organisation. Also read | Former US officials held secret meeting with prominent Russians on ending Ukraine war: Report Additionally, Dutch authorities arrested a Tajikistani suspect and his Kyrgyz wife, accusing them of "committing preparatory acts for terrorism offences". The male suspect was "also suspected of membership of the terrorist organisation Islamic State". The Washington Post reports that German prosecutors have identified the men arrested there as Ata A., a citizen of Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan national Abrorjon K., and five citizens of Tajikistan — Mukhammadshujo A., Nuriddin K., Shamshud N., Said S. and Raboni Z. Acute threat of Islamic terrorism German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasised the acute threat of Islamic terrorism and commended the focused efforts of security forces in combating such threats. "Our security forces remain firmly focused on tackling Islamic terrorism," said Faeser as reported by AFP. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Seven arrested in Germany for alleged ISIS-inspired terrorist plot

A Bosnian Muslim who pleaded guilty to terrorism charges was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday for organising a terrorist group and fighting for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/isis-has-a-new-leader-we-know-exactly-who-he-is-donald-trump-259336">Islamic State</a> (IS) in Syria, a Bosnian court said.

Ibro Cufurovic, from the northwestern town of Velika Kladusa, has been in custody since his extradition from Syria in April. He had previously been detained for about two years by a Kurdish militia in Syria.

The court cited mitigating circumstances while explaining its ruling on Cufurovic, who had used the name Abu Kasim Albosni during his five years in Syria, where he took part in militant activities alongside other Bosnians.

"The defendant admitted he was guilty," said Hasija Masovic, the court council's chairwoman. "At the time when he made the decision to leave for Syria, the defendant was only 19".

Masovic said Cufurovic had repeatedly expressed regret for his actions and had attempted to return to Bosnia, according to the defence and witnesses.

Hundreds of Bosnian citizens are believed to have left to fight for IS in Syria and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/5-years-after-islamic-state-massacre-an-iraqi-minority-is-transformed-by-trauma-264933">Iraq</a>. Many foreign nationals are now in detention camps waiting to be handed over to their countries of origin.

Also Watch: Trump warns Russia, Syria, Iran against killing civilians in Idlib

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Last week, a group of 25 former IS fighters, women and children, some of them orphaned, returned to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/diseases-food-shortages-plague-migrant-jungle-camp-in-bosnia-230757">Bosnia</a>.

Seven men were detained and questioned, while six women and 12 children, among them Cufurovic's wife and children, were taken to a reception centre for further examination and medical assistance.

Cufurovic had told the court that he fought in Syria in 2014 and 2015, but that he was detained in 2016 while trying to escape to Turkey with his family, and imprisoned.

Bosnia's state court has tried and convicted 46 people who returned from Syria or Iraq over the past few years.

A Bosnian Muslim who pleaded guilty to terrorism charges was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday for organising a terrorist group and fighting for Islamic State (IS) in Syria, a Bosnian court said.

A Bosnian Muslim who pleaded guilty to terrorism charges was sentenced to four years in prison on Friday for organising a terrorist group and fighting for Islamic State (IS) in Syria, a Bosnian court said. Ibro Cufurovic, from the northwestern town of Velika Kladusa, has been in custody since his extradition from Syria in April. He had previously been detained for about two years by a Kurdish militia in Syria. The court cited mitigating circumstances while explaining its ruling on Cufurovic, who had used the name Abu Kasim Albosni during his five years in Syria, where he took part in militant activities alongside other Bosnians. "The defendant admitted he was guilty," said Hasija Masovic, the court council's chairwoman. "At the time when he made the decision to leave for Syria, the defendant was only 19". Masovic said Cufurovic had repeatedly expressed regret for his actions and had attempted to return to Bosnia, according to the defence and witnesses. Hundreds of Bosnian citizens are believed to have left to fight for IS in Syria and Iraq. Many foreign nationals are now in detention camps waiting to be handed over to their countries of origin. Also Watch: Trump warns Russia, Syria, Iran against killing civilians in Idlib × Last week, a group of 25 former IS fighters, women and children, some of them orphaned, returned to Bosnia. Seven men were detained and questioned, while six women and 12 children, among them Cufurovic's wife and children, were taken to a reception centre for further examination and medical assistance. Cufurovic had told the court that he fought in Syria in 2014 and 2015, but that he was detained in 2016 while trying to escape to Turkey with his family, and imprisoned. Bosnia's state court has tried and convicted 46 people who returned from Syria or Iraq over the past few years.

Bosnia jails former Islamic State fighter for four years

China is coercing its neighbours to reorder the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon told Congress in its annual budget proposals for the fiscal 2019, beginning October 1 this year.

Trump administration today released their proposal for the fiscal year 2019 budget. Fiscal years are different from calendar years. The budgetary proposal covers October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019.

&quot;China is leveraging military modernisation, influence operations and predatory economics to coerce neighbouring countries to reorder the Indo-Pacific region to their advantage,&quot; the Pentagon said in its annual defence budget for the fiscal 2019.

As China continues its economic and military ascendance, asserting power through an all-of-nation long-term strategy, it will continue to pursue a military modernisation programme that seeks Indo-Pacific regional hegemony in the near-term and displacement of the US to achieve global preeminence in the future, it said.

The most far-reaching objective of this defence strategy is to set the military relationship between the US and China on a path of transparency and non-aggression, it said.

According to the Pentagon, the central challenge to the US prosperity and security is the reemergence of long term, strategic competition by what the National Security Strategy classifies as revisionist powers.

&quot;It is increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model&nbsp;gaining veto authority over other nations&#39; economic, diplomatic and security decisions,&quot; it said.

The Pentagon said Russia seeks veto authority over nations on its periphery in terms of its governmental, economic and diplomatic decisions to shatter the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and to change European and Middle East security and economic structures to its favour.

The use of emerging technologies to discredit and subvert democratic processes in Georgia, Crimea and eastern Ukraine is concern enough, but when coupled with its expanding and modernising nuclear arsenal the challenge is clear.

&quot;Rogue regimes such as North Korea and Iran are destabilising their regions by pursuing nuclear weapons or sponsoring terrorism,&quot; the Pentagon said.

North Korea seeks to guarantee regime survival and increased leverage through a mixture of nuclear, biological, chemical, conventional and unconventional weapons and a growing ballistic missile capability to gain coercive influence over South Korea, Japan and the US.

In the Middle East, Iran is competing with its neighbours, asserting an arc of influence and instability while vying for regional hegemony, using state-sponsored terrorist activities, a growing network of proxies and its missile programme to achieve its objectives, the Pentagon said.

According to the budgetary proposals, competitor states, especially China and Russia have narrowed Department of Defence&#39;s military technological advantages, demanding the US find new and innovative ways to fight in the future.

&quot;China is now a strategic competitor, using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours while militarising features in the South China Sea. Russia has violated the borders of nearby nations, and pursues veto power over the economic, diplomatic and security decisions of its neighbours,&quot; it said.

Concurrently, North Korea&#39;s actions and rhetoric continue despite the United Nation&#39;s censure and sanctions.

Iran continues to sow violence and remains the most significant challenge to the Middle East stability.

Despite the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria&#39;s (ISIS) physical caliphate, threats to stability remain as terrorist groups with long reach continue to murder innocent people and threaten peace, the Pentagon added.

China is coercing its neighbours to reorder the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon told Congress in its annual budget proposals for fiscal 2019, beginning October 1 this year

China is coercing its neighbours to reorder the Indo-Pacific region, the Pentagon told Congress in its annual budget proposals for the fiscal 2019, beginning October 1 this year. Trump administration today released their proposal for the fiscal year 2019 budget. Fiscal years are different from calendar years. The budgetary proposal covers October 1, 2018, through September 30, 2019. "China is leveraging military modernisation, influence operations and predatory economics to coerce neighbouring countries to reorder the Indo-Pacific region to their advantage," the Pentagon said in its annual defence budget for the fiscal 2019. As China continues its economic and military ascendance, asserting power through an all-of-nation long-term strategy, it will continue to pursue a military modernisation programme that seeks Indo-Pacific regional hegemony in the near-term and displacement of the US to achieve global preeminence in the future, it said. The most far-reaching objective of this defence strategy is to set the military relationship between the US and China on a path of transparency and non-aggression, it said. According to the Pentagon, the central challenge to the US prosperity and security is the reemergence of long term, strategic competition by what the National Security Strategy classifies as revisionist powers. "It is increasingly clear that China and Russia want to shape a world consistent with their authoritarian model gaining veto authority over other nations' economic, diplomatic and security decisions," it said. The Pentagon said Russia seeks veto authority over nations on its periphery in terms of its governmental, economic and diplomatic decisions to shatter the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and to change European and Middle East security and economic structures to its favour. The use of emerging technologies to discredit and subvert democratic processes in Georgia, Crimea and eastern Ukraine is concern enough, but when coupled with its expanding and modernising nuclear arsenal the challenge is clear. "Rogue regimes such as North Korea and Iran are destabilising their regions by pursuing nuclear weapons or sponsoring terrorism," the Pentagon said. North Korea seeks to guarantee regime survival and increased leverage through a mixture of nuclear, biological, chemical, conventional and unconventional weapons and a growing ballistic missile capability to gain coercive influence over South Korea, Japan and the US. In the Middle East, Iran is competing with its neighbours, asserting an arc of influence and instability while vying for regional hegemony, using state-sponsored terrorist activities, a growing network of proxies and its missile programme to achieve its objectives, the Pentagon said. According to the budgetary proposals, competitor states, especially China and Russia have narrowed Department of Defence's military technological advantages, demanding the US find new and innovative ways to fight in the future. "China is now a strategic competitor, using predatory economics to intimidate its neighbours while militarising features in the South China Sea. Russia has violated the borders of nearby nations, and pursues veto power over the economic, diplomatic and security decisions of its neighbours," it said. Concurrently, North Korea's actions and rhetoric continue despite the United Nation's censure and sanctions. Iran continues to sow violence and remains the most significant challenge to the Middle East stability. Despite the defeat of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria's (ISIS) physical caliphate, threats to stability remain as terrorist groups with long reach continue to murder innocent people and threaten peace, the Pentagon added.

China coercing neighbours to reorder Indo-Pacific region: Pentagon