Associated Press: Australian Police Arrest 7 Alleged Teen Extremists Linked To Stabbing Of A Bishop In A Sydney Church

“Australian police arrested seven teenagers accused of following a violent extremist ideology in raids across Sydney on Wednesday to protect the community from a potential attack, officials said. The seven, aged 15 to 17, were part of a network that included a 16-year-old boy accused of the stabbing of a bishop in a Sydney church on April 15, police said. Five other teenagers were still being questioned late Wednesday by the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team, which includes federal and state police as well as the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, the nation’s main domestic spy agency, and the New South Wales Crime Commission, which specializes in extremists and organized crime. More than 400 police officers executed 13 search warrants at properties across southwest Sydney because the suspects were considered an immediate threat, New South Wales Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson said.”

Voice Of America: African Leaders Meet In Nigeria To Discuss Terrorism

“A high-level Africa counterterrorism summit opened Monday in Nigeria with hundreds of delegates from around the world. Africa has become the world's epicenter of terrorism. Leaders at the summit hope to change that through regional cooperation and partnerships. The summit was jointly hosted by Nigeria and the United Nations Office of Counter Terrorism (UNOCT) with the aim of strengthening regional security response and cooperation against acts of terror. "Terrorism snaps at the very fabric of the prosperous and just society we seek to build for ourselves and our children,” Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said during remarks at the two-day summit in Abuja. “This violent threat seeks to frighten the farmer from his field, children from their schools, women from the marketplace and families from their very homes. We must therefore fight this threat together, combining determined national effort with well-tailored and regional and international collaboration."”

CEP Mentions

Dayfreuro: More Dangerous Than Daesh, These Terrorists Are The New Real Threat Weighing On France

“... This relatively young branch is known for its extreme violence: assassinations, beheadings and torture are associated with it. Above all, it can still gain power, its members would be able to obtain “the funds they need”, assured theAFP Hans-Jakob Schindler, director of the NGO Counter Extremism project. According to a UN report dating from February 2022, EI-K is also expanding: “The numbers of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan have increased from 2,200, ‘according to previous estimates, at nearly 4,000, following the release of several thousand prisoners.’”

The Spectator: Prisons Have Lost The War On Drugs

“Aldous Huxley’s dystopian best seller Brave New World, published back in 1934, envisaged a society where stability was enforced by a numbing drug called ‘soma’. Constant consumption of soma, mandated by the state, dulled the senses, vanished despair and discouraged rebellion. I was reminded of this by comments made by some of the Times‘ new crime commissioners as they launch a year-long project to fix our broken criminal justice system. They were speculating as to why we weren’t seeing a national jail insurrection similar to what happened here in the spring of 1990 when multiple prisons across the country exploded in violent disorder. After all, many of the precursors that existed then are now present once again: severe overcrowding, demoralised and overwhelmed staff, endemic brutality and squalor.”

United States

Associated Press: Biden Tries To Navigate The Israel-Hamas War Protests Roiling College Campuses

“Student protests over the war in Gaza have created a new and unpredictable challenge for President Joe Biden as he resists calls to cut off U.S. support for Israel while trying to hold together the coalition of voters he’ll need for reelection. The protests at Columbia University in New York and other campuses have captured global media attention and resurfaced questions about Biden’s lagging support from young voters. His handling of the Middle East conflict is also being closely watched by both Jewish and Arab American voters in key swing states. At best for Biden, the protests are a passing distraction while the White House presses forward with negotiations over a ceasefire and the release of hostages held by Hamas while pushing Israel to limit casualties with more than 34,000 Palestinians dead. At worst, they build momentum toward the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, potentially triggering scenes of violence that could recall the unrest of protests against the Vietnam War during the party’s convention there in 1968.”

Reuters: US Calls On Iraq To Safeguard US troops After New Attacks

“The U.S. military called on Iraq's government on Tuesday to take steps to safeguard American troops in both Iraq and Syria after failed attacks a day earlier by Iran-aligned militia. The drone and rocket fire were the first such incidents since a near three-month pause in what had been almost daily attacks that culminated in the January killing of three U.S. soldiers at the Tower 22 outpost in Jordan. With U.S.-Iran tensions soaring after the Jordan attack, and some calls from Republican lawmakers in Washington for a direct U.S. response against Iran, a senior Iranian commander had called on militia to halt their attacks at the end of January. Speaking at the Pentagon, Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder, a spokesperson, did not speculate about what triggered the renewal in attacks. But he called on Baghdad to act.  "These attacks put coalition and Iraqi personnel at risk. We call on the government of Iraq to take all necessary steps to ensure the safety of U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria against attacks from these groups," Ryder told a news briefing.”

Turkey

Voice Of America: Turkey Arrests Pro-Kurdish Reporters In 'Terrorism' Probe, Relative Says

“Nine Turks working for pro-Kurdish media outlets were arrested Tuesday in Turkey, their employers and lawyers said, with a relative of one saying they were accused of "terrorist activities." Four women and five men were arrested at dawn in Istanbul, the capital Ankara, and the southeastern city of Urfa, lawyers from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA), a press freedom organization, said. MLSA said those arrested work for news organizations including the Mezopotamia Agency and the newspaper Yeni Yasam and include several journalists and "press employees." The nine were denied access to their lawyers for 24 hours, MLSA said in a message on X. "No declaration has been made about the reasons for the detention of the journalists" on Tuesday morning, it said. Mezopotamia said one of its journalists was arrested in Ankara during "a police operation at his home.””

Associated Press: Auditors Say It’s Hard To Tell How Turkey Is Using EU Refugee Funds. Some Officials Aren’t Helpful

“European Union auditors said on Wednesday that they are unable to establish whether some of the billions of euros the bloc has given to Turkey to help it cope with Syrian refugees is actually having any impact. Under a deal concluded between EU leaders and Turkey in 2016, the bloc committed to provide at least 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion) to Turkey to help it cope with migrants crossing in from Syria. Turkey in turn committed to stop migrants leaving its territory for Europe. In March 2016, a month after the deal came into effect, Turkey’s government said the number of migrants crossing illegally into Greece had dropped from around 6,000 per day in November 2015 to about 130 daily. In 2021, the leaders announced plans to send a further 3 billion euros ($3.2 billion) for refugees in Turkey. The pact, which was hailed in Europe as a great success, served as a template for other more recent and elaborate deals with Tunisia and Egypt.”

Afghanistan

Voice Of America: Small Businesses A Lifeline For Afghan Women Facing Taliban Restrictions

“Zuhal Akbari has opened a new pastry factory in the western Afghan city of Herat, recruiting women “so that they can do something for themselves, their families and their health.” Akbari told VOA that most of the 11 women who work with her are university graduates who lost their jobs after the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021. Under the Taliban, women are barred from working in the public sector and for NGOs, getting a secondary and university education, traveling long distances without male relatives, and going to parks, public baths and gyms. Although the Taliban said that they have no problem with women working in the private sector, they have imposed restrictions on certain businesses, such as beauty salons. Last year, the Taliban closed beauty salons that employed tens of thousands of women. “Many women are coming to us for jobs, but we cannot hire more,” said Akbari, adding that she does not have the resources.”

Pakistan

Reuters: Iran, Pakistan Urge U.N Security Council To Take Action Against Israel

“Iran and Pakistan called on the United Nations Security Council in a joint statement issued on Wednesday to take action against Israel, saying it had "illegally" targeted neighbouring countries and foreign diplomatic facilities. The joint statement, released by Pakistan's foreign ministry, followed a three-day visit to the country by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi at a time of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Explosions were heard last Friday over the Iranian city of Isfahan in what sources said was an Israeli attack. However, Tehran played down the incident and said it had no plans for retaliation. "Recognizing that the irresponsible act of the Israeli regime forces was a major escalation in an already volatile region, both sides called on the UN Security Council to prevent the Israeli regime from its adventurism in the region and its illegal acts attacking its neighbours...," Iran and Pakistan said in their joint statement.”

Yemen

Atlas News: Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood Founder Dies In Exile, Istanbul

“Yemeni national cleric Abdul Majeed al-Zindani, founder of the Yemeni Muslim Brotherhood, has died at the age of 82 in Istanbul, Turkey. His son Muhammad bin Abdul Majeed Al-Zindani confirmed that he passed away in an Istanbul hospital. Zindani’s long career in education, religious extremism, and revolutionary incitement have garnered praise from radical groups throughout the Middle East and condemnation from the United Nations, United States, and the monarchy governments on the Arabian Peninsula. He founded the Iman University in Sanaa Yemen in 1995 with Yemeni government support and was a leader member of Yemen’s al-Islah Party (the Yemeni Congregation for Reform). He also established the  Commission on Scientific Signs in the Quran and Sunnah, based in Saudi Arabia, and claimed to have successfully administered AIDS treatments at Iman University, claims which have since been refuted.”

Lebanon

Reuters: Hezbollah Launches Deepest Attack Into Israel Since Start Of Gaza War

“Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah group said on Tuesday it had launched a drone attack against Israeli military bases north of the city of Acre, in its deepest strike into Israeli territory since the Gaza war began. The Israeli military said it had no knowledge of any of its facilities being hit by Hezbollah, but had said earlier on Tuesday that it intercepted two "aerial targets" off Israel's northern coast. The two sides have been engaging in regular exchanges of missile fire and airstrikes since the start of the war in Gaza last October, but have refrained from pushing the conflict into all-out war. As the strikes have continued, however, fears have grown that an accident or miscalculation on either side could see the conflict could escalate rapidly, possibly drawing in other regional and world powers including the United States. Hezbollah said it had acted in retaliation for an earlier Israeli attack killing one of its fighters. The group published what appeared to be a satellite photo, with the location of the strike symbolized by a flash with a red circle around it that sat halfway between Acre and Nahariyya to the north.”

Qatar

Bloomberg: What Makes Resource-Rich Qatar Such A Powerful Mediator

“The discovery of natural gas in Qatar back in the 1970s was a transformative economic windfall for the country and its long-time rulers, the Al Thani royal family. Since then, the Al Thanis have been spending that money to build Qatar’s global brand – while strengthening diplomatic ties with powerful, and sometimes unlikely, allies. On today’s Big Take podcast, Bloomberg wealth reporter Devon Pendleton joins host Sarah Holder to trace the meteoric rise of Qatar and its royal family, and discuss how the war in Gaza and escalating conflict in the Middle East has made the country’s mediator role as critical as ever. Here is a lightly edited transcript of the conversation: Sarah Holder: Our story today begins in a hotel. A Sheraton in Doha, the capital city of Qatar…  Devon Pendleton: It's right on the shore. A five star resort, very dramatic. It's kind of shaped like a pyramid. Holder: This is Devon Pendleton, who covers wealth for Bloomberg.”

Middle East

Associated Press: UN Calls For Investigation Into Mass Graves Uncovered At Two Gaza Hospitals Raided By Israel

“The United Nations called Tuesday for “a clear, transparent and credible investigation” of mass graves uncovered at two major hospitals in war-torn Gaza that were raided by Israeli troops. Credible investigators must have access to the sites, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters, and added that more journalists need to be able to work safely in Gaza to report on the facts. Earlier Tuesday, U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk said he was “horrified” by the destruction of the Shifa medical center in Gaza City and Nasser Hospital in the southern city of Khan Younis as well as the reported discovery of mass graves in and around the facilities after the Israelis left. He called for independent and transparent investigations into the deaths, saying that “given the prevailing climate of impunity, this should include international investigators.””

The New York Times: Signs Suggest That Invasion Of Rafah Is All But Inevitable

“After weeks of delays, negotiations and distractions, Israel appeared to hint this week that its assault of Rafah — a city teeming with displaced persons above ground and riddled with Hamas tunnels below — was all but inevitable. In what some analysts and residents of the city saw as a sign of preparations for an invasion, an Israeli military official on Tuesday gave some details that include relocating civilians to a safe zone a few miles away along the Mediterranean coast. Just a day earlier, Israeli warplanes bombed Rafah, increasing fears among some of the civilians sheltering there that a ground assault would soon follow. Such indicators that Israel may be preparing an invasion, said Marwan Shaath, a 57-year-old resident of Rafah, “are terrifying and mean they may really be close to starting an operation.” Mr. Shaath, who lives in Gaza but is employed by Hamas’s Palestinian rivals in the occupied West Bank, added, “Our bags have been packed for months now for the time of the evacuation.””

Somalia

Garowe Online: Turkish Warship Docks In Somalia’s Coastline

“The implementation of the defense deal between Somalia and Turkey has kicked off, following Ankara's decision to dispatch a warship which has since docked along Mogadishu Port, in the country's mineral-rich coastline which is yet to be fully explored. The Kınalıada F514 ship docked at Mogadishu Sea Port on Tuesday, two months after President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud signed the pact, which irked the United Arab Emirates (UAE), since it had also signed a similar agreement with Somalia. Somalia signed the pact after Ethiopia penned an MoU with Somaliland, a breakaway region of the country that guarantees Addis Ababa 20 kilometers of the Indian Ocean for the construction of the port and military base. The agreement provoked Somalia, which sought Turkey's support in the protection of her coastline. "Turkey’s first warship has arrived at Mogadishu Port, initiating the 10-year agreement with Somalia. The nations will collaborate on coastal protection, blue economy growth, and naval defense capabilities. A high-level event with state leaders is set to celebrate this strategic partnership," state media reports.”

North Korea

Associated Press: North Korea Sends A Delegation To Iran In A Growing Effort To Break Its Diplomatic Isolation

“A high-level North Korean economic delegation was on its way to Iran, the North’s state media said Wednesday, for what would be the two countries’ first known talks since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Embracing the idea of a “new Cold War,” North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is pushing to build up cooperation with countries confronting the United States, as his intensified weapons tests prompted the U.S. and South Korea to expand their military drills. Pyongyang’s delegation led by Yun Jung Ho, North Korea’s minster of external economic relations, flew out Tuesday for the trip to Iran, official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday. State media did not immediately provide further details. Pyongyang and Tehran are among the few governments in the world that support Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, and both have been accused of providing Russia with military equipment.”

Technology

ABC: Social Media Companies 'Pouring Accelerant On The Flames' Of Misinformation And Extremism, Top Cop Warns

“Social media companies have been slammed by Australia's top police officer for "pouring accelerant on the flames" of misinformation and extremism on their platforms, while the boss of ASIO has raised concerns encrypted chat services are a "safe room for terrorists and spies".  The conduct of social media giants has been in the spotlight in recent weeks, following the spread of confronting, graphic and false posts in the aftermath of two stabbing attacks in Sydney. Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw will use an address to the National Press Club to argue the disinformation and misinformation that went viral following the attacks highlight the consequences of "defiance and indifference" from social media companies. He'll use the address to say some Australians are "being bewitched online by a cauldron of extremist poison on the open and dark web". "The very nature of social media allows that extremist poison to spray across the globe almost instantaneously," Commissioner Kershaw will say.”

The Guardian: Asio Boss Says Privacy ‘Not Absolute’ As He Urges Social Media Companies To Do More On Extremism

“Social media companies must do more to stamp out extremism and assist law enforcement to track criminals, the heads of Australia’s federal police and security agencies have urged. In comments likely to provoke criticism from some civil and digital rights campaigners, the Asio director general, Mike Burgess, will use a major speech on Wednesday to argue “privacy is important but not absolute”, while the AFP commissioner, Reece Kershaw, believes “there is no absolute right to privacy”. Burgess will also sound an alarm about artificial intelligence, warning the new technology “is likely to make radicalisation easier and faster”. In the latest salvo in an expanding dispute between the Australian government and tech companies such as Facebook and X, Burgess and Kershaw will use a joint address to the National Press Club to call for social media companies to give more assistance to law enforcement in certain circumstances, including in cases of potential crimes being discussed on encrypted messaging platforms.”