The Department of State on July 25 charged (here) Aeroflex Incorporated, a technology innovation and marketing firm, with violating the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), stemming from alleged unauthorized exports and re-exports of defense articles. Aeroflex signed the consent agreement (here) on July 26, while the Department of State endorsed the agreement on Aug. 6. The department ordered (here) Aeroflex on Aug. 6 to pay an $8 million civil penalty. The Acting Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs at the State Department, Tom Kelly, endorsed the consent agreement and order. The State Department’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) made public the three documents on Aug. 9.

The State Department on Aug. 9 issued a travel warning for El Salvador, advising U.S. citizens to be vigilant of their surroundings at all times, to travel in groups and to avoid walking around at night. The department also cautions U.S. citizens against exhibiting wealth. The warning says tens of thousands of U.S. citizens travel safely to El Salvador every year for business and vacation, but crime remains rampant in the country. Since 2010, 25 U.S. citizens have been murdered in the country, the department says, while noting it does not believe Americans were targeted because of their nationality. The warning says transnational criminal groups are powerful in El Salvador, routinely committing crimes such as murder-for-hire, carjacking, extortion, armed robbery, rapes, and other aggravated assaults.

The State Department on Aug. 8 issued a travel warning for Pakistan, advising U.S. citizens to defer non-essential travel to the country. The department also withdrew non-emergency U.S. government personnel from the U.S. Consulate General in Lahore. The withdrawal comes amid specific threats concerning the consulate, according to a State Department statement. Terrorist groups in the country continue to pose a risk to U.S. interests and local communities, the statement said. In recent days, Pakistani militants have launched two major attacks in the area in and around Quetta, killing close to two dozen people.

The State Department issued a travel warning for Yemen on August 6, advising U.S. citizens to defer travel to the country and urging those U.S. citizens residing in Yemen to depart immediately. The department ordered on August 6 the departure of non-emergency U.S. government personnel from the country, citing concerns over the threat of a terrorist attack on U.S. interests. The department said embassy services to U.S. citizens are now limited. The travel warning follows the closure on August 4 of 19 U.S. diplomatic posts across the Middle East and Africa for nearly one week (see 13080511). The closure stems from widely-publicized reports and intelligence gathering that suggest Al-Qaeda and its affiliates are plotting an imminent attack that emanates from or may occur in the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen is located in the far southwest corner of the peninsula. The warning said the potential for demonstrations to turn violent is high.

The State Department announced on Aug. 4 it will extend its initial closure of diplomatic posts across Africa and the Middle East up to nearly one week, due to intelligence gathering that indicates an imminent and sizeable terrorist threat to U.S. regional interests, congressional leaders and administration officials confirmed over recent days. According to the department travel alert posted on Aug. 2 and set to expire Aug. 31, the potential attack may emanate from or occur on the Arabian Peninsula. Diplomatic posts will close from Aug. 5 to Aug. 10 in Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo, Riyadh, Dhahran, Jeddah, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, Sanaa, Tripoli, Antananarivo, Bujumbura, Djibouti, Khartoum, Kigali, and Port Louis.

The Revolutionary People’s Liberation Front/Party (DHKP/C) will retain Foreign Terrorist Organization status, Secretary of State John Kerry decided July 8. The DHKP/C is a left-leaning group that has waged insurgency in Turkey over recent decades, State said. In consultation with the U.S. Attorney General and Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary Kerry declined on July 8 to revoke the Foreign Terrorist Organization label last issued for the DHKP/C in 2008.

The Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) systems will undergo network maintenance on Saturday, July 27 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST. During this time the DTrade electronic licensing system will be unavailable to accept submissions. EFS, TRS, ELLIE and MARY will be unavailable, as will the pmddtc.state.gov website.

The State Department issued a Travel Warning for Saudi Arabia July 25, cautioning U.S. citizens on the renewed terrorist threat from al-Qaida cells and other militant groups. The department advised U.S. citizens to carefully consider travel to the country. If U.S. citizens choose to travel to Saudi Arabia, the State Department recommends maintaining a low profile when maneuvering around public areas. U.S. citizens are advised to stay vigilant during visits to places frequented by Westerners.

The State Department listed the countries that it certified as meeting the requirements set by Section 609 of Public Law 101-162 for continued importation of shrimp and products of shrimp into the U.S. The agency said 38 countries and Hong Kong qualify. It made no changes from last year’s list.

The State Department on July 18 issued a Travel Warning for Mali, advising U.S. citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to the war-torn West African country. After a coup deposed former Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré in March 2012, northern Mali degenerated into a large-scale conflict. Tribal rebel groups and Islamist militants are a presence in the region, despite French intervention in early 2013 to quell instability. The UN has since deployed a peacekeeping force to Mali. The State Department says kidnappings and other attacks remain a threat in the country. The security situation in the capital, Bamako, is stable, according to the department, but U.S. citizens should exercise caution. The Embassy has prohibited all personal travel outside the region surrounding Bamako for U.S. government employees. Senou International Airport in Bamako continues to operate at full capacity.