United States
NBC News: U.S. Senators Ask Biden Admin To Push For Release Of Princeton Grad Student Held By Iran-Backed Militia
“Two U.S. senators are urging the Biden administration to appeal to the Iraqi government to help secure the release of a Princeton University graduate student believed to have been abducted by an Iranian-backed militia in Iraq six months ago. In a letter obtained by NBC News, Democratic Sens. Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, who both represent New Jersey, home to Princeton, conveyed their “grave concern” about Elizabeth Tsurkov’s plight in their appeal to Secretary of State Antony Blinken.n They called on the administration “to use our close and abiding relationship with Iraq to raise Elizabeth’s abduction and call for her release at every opportunity and level.”nmTsurkov, 36, is a citizen of both Israel and Russia, placing her in a “uniquely vulnerable position,” the senators said. Israel is constrained in its ability to press for Tsurkov’s release, as it has no diplomatic relations with Baghdad because Iraq does not recognize Israel. And Russia has done nothing to advocate for Tsurkov’s release as she has openly criticized the Russian invasion of Ukraine, according to the letter.”
The Texas Tribune: Extremists Have Turned Texas Into A Hotbed For Hate, Report Finds
“Texas continues to be a hotbed for extremism and antisemitism, driven by the heavy presence of white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ+ groups that are headquartered or active in the state. That’s according to a report released Thursday by the Anti-Defamation League that examined nearly three years of “alarming levels of extremist ideology and activity” in Texas, and suggested a handful of policies to combat the growing problem. Since 2021, the report found, antisemitic incidents in the state have jumped by 89%, and there have been six “terrorist plots” in addition to 28 “extremist events” such as training and rallies. Texas also led the nation in white supremacist propaganda last year; had the most residents charged in relation to the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection; and, in March, saw a neo-Nazi and extreme misogynist gunman kill 8 people at an Allen shopping mall.”
Syria
The New York Times: Syria’s Leader Visits China In Search Of Friends And Funds
“President Bashar al-Assad of Syria arrived in China on Thursday as he sought financial support to rebuild his country and to improve his international standing after being ostracized over atrocities committed during Syria’s ongoing civil war. His visit takes place as China seeks to present itself as a powerful influence in the Middle East, and a partner to nations that are shunned by the United States and the West. He is expected to meet with China’s top leader, Xi Jinping. Mr. al-Assad’s trip is his first visit to China in nearly two decades and comes as he has pushed to rehabilitate Syria’s global image. China maintained diplomatic ties with Syria even as other nations isolated Mr. al-Assad over his brutal crackdown against the Arab Spring uprising in 2011, which led to civil war.His government stands accused of atrocities such as using chemical weapons against its own people, torturing thousands of opponents in a network of secret prisons and besieging towns and cities in a conflict that left more than half a million dead.”
The Jerusalem Post: UN Human Rights Chief Calls For End To Clashes In Syria's Deir Ez-Zor Region
“UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has called for an end to the current conflict in the Deir ez-Zor area in eastern Syria, where more than 50 people, many of them civilians, have been killed in several weeks of clashes between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and local Arab tribes. Turk said the fighting could add an additional “catastrophic dimension” to Syria's long-running civil war, which has already affected millions of Syrians. “The warning signs of a further fragmentation to the conflict in Syria are alarming. We cannot afford to sit back and watch the country slide even deeper into an endless conflict, which has already scarred the lives of so many civilians,” the UN human rights chief said. The American Embassy in Syria has also been working to bring an end to the clashes, with US officials meeting with SDF representatives and Arab tribal leaders in a bid to restore calm.”
Pakistan
Daily Times: Pakistan Facing Big Threat Of TTP, ISIS-K From Afghan Soil: FM
“Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani on Wednesday said that Pakistan was facing the biggest concern at present with an enhanced threat from the terrorist organizations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) and ISIS-K (Islamic State – Khorasan Province). The foreign minister expressed concern over the outfits’ ability to use the Afghan soil to launch attacks on Pakistan. He was speaking on Pakistan’s foreign policy and its quest for peace, stability, and shared prosperity at an event of Asia Society, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly session in New York. Jilani said Pakistan remained closely engaged with the interim government of Afghanistan on the issue. Highlighting Pakistan’s commitment to fighting and defeating the terrorists, he stressed that terrorist outfits trying to gain a foothold in Afghanistan should be treated as a threat to the neighbourhood and the entire international community. After Afghanistan itself, Jilani said, Pakistan had the greatest stake in Afghanistan, i.e., peace within and with its regional and international partners.”
Middle East
Reuters: Israel Bans Workers From Gaza As Border Tensions Escalate
“Israel shut crossing points with Gaza on Wednesday, preventing thousands of workers from getting to their jobs in Israel and the West Bank, after days of border demonstrations in which Israeli troops have opened fire on stone-throwing protesters. Around 18,000 Gazans have permits from Israeli authorities to work outside the blockaded enclave, providing a vital injection of cash amounting to some $2 million a day to the impoverished territory's economy. Protests backed by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls Gaza, have been held for days against issues ranging from the treatment of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails to Jewish visits to the Al Aqsa mosque compound, a site holy to both Muslims and Jews, who know it as the Temple Mount. Demonstrators along the Gaza separation fence have hurled stones as well as improvised explosive devices, while Israeli troops have responded with tear gas and live fire. The Israeli military on Wednesday said it used crowd dispersal methods against "over a hundred rioters gathered in a violent riot adjacent to the security fence" along the Gaza Strip.”
The Times Of Israel: Shin Bet Accuses Hamas Of Recent Attempt To Smuggle Explosive Material From Gaza
“The Shin Bet security agency on Wednesday accused the Gaza-ruling Hamas terror group of directing a recent attempt to smuggle explosive material out of the coastal enclave. The Defense Ministry announced earlier this month that guards at the Kerem Shalom Crossing found several kilograms of “high-quality” explosive material hidden in a shipment of clothes being exported from the Gaza Strip to Israel. Citing initial assessments, the ministry at the time said the explosives were intended to be used for terror activity in the West Bank. The September 4 incident led the military to order a halt to commercial deliveries from Gaza to Israel, before resuming nearly a week later. The Shin Bet blamed the smuggling attempt on Arafat Natash and Muhammad Abu Awwad, both of whom originally hail from the West Bank but were expelled to Gaza as part of a prisoner swap between Israel and Hamas. Citing their pasts, the security service asserted their alleged involvement was an effective “fingerprint” indicating the “West Bank headquarters” of Hamas was behind the effort.”
Egypt
Daily News Egypt: Egypt And EU Co-Chair GCTF Meeting, Reaffirm Commitment To Fighting Terrorism
“Egypt and the European Union co-chaired the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the Global Counterterrorism Forum (GCTF) in New York on Wednesday. The GCTF is a multilateral forum for exchanging experiences and best practices in the fight against terrorism and extremism. In his speech, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry highlighted the magnitude of the suffering that the people of some countries continue to face from the threat of terrorism and its repercussions, especially in light of the development of the forms and practices of terrorist organizations and groups. He stressed the need for concerted international efforts to confront and uproot such contemporary terrorist threats, as well as devising new methods of confrontation that keep up with the successive developments in the working methods of these organizations while drying up their funding sources. This is in order to prevent more innocent victims, stop the waves of displacement, and ensure the realization of human rights guaranteed by international conventions.”
Nigeria
Reuters: Nigeria's Tinubu Tells UN He Seeks To Restore Democratic Order In Niger
“Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said on Tuesday he was seeking to re-establish constitutional order to address political and economic problems in neighboring Niger following a July coup and welcomed any support for the process. Tinubu is chairman of the main West African bloc ECOWAS, which has been trying to negotiate with the Niger military junta. ECOWAS has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail. In a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Tinubu assailed military coups, which have swept through West Africa in the past few years and are sometimes cheered by citizens. "The wave crossing parts of Africa does not demonstrate favor towards coups. It is a demand for solutions to perennial problems," Tinubu said. "Regarding Niger, we are negotiating with the military leaders. As chairman of ECOWAS, I seek to help re-establish democratic governance in a manner that addresses the political and economic challenges confronting that nation, including the violent extremists who seek to foment instability in our region."”
Somalia
Reuters: Somalia Aid Theft - A Daily Reality For Country's Most Vulnerable
“For Somalis who reached the Muri camp in the capital Mogadishu after fleeing hunger and conflict in the countryside, the $130 per month they were promised to feed their families was a godsend - before they learnt there was a catch. "After the aid agency that brought the money leaves, the chairman of the camp asks for the SIM cards," said one of two affected beneficiaries who spoke to Reuters, a mother of six from central Somalia. "He says go home and I will send you the money through your mobile phone. You reach home and you see they have sent $65." Both beneficiaries spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. The chairman of the camp, Mohamed Ahmed, denied the allegations. "We never divert what the aid agencies bring for the IDPs (internally displaced persons)," he told Reuters. Alleged schemes similar to this one this one litter a confidential U.N. report commissioned by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that said its findings suggest the theft of aid in Somalia is "widespread and systemic".”
India
The Times Of India: India Suspends Visa Services To Canada Amid Tension Over Killing Of Khalistani Extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
“Amid an ongoing diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistani-linked terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil, India on Thursday suspended visa services for Canadian citizens till further notice. "Important notice from Indian Mission: Due to operational reasons, with effect from 21 September 2023, Indian visa services have been suspended till further notice. Please keep checking BLS website for further updates, a notification on the official website of a visa consultancy service provider BLS International said. BLS International also said that the notice from the Indian mission cited "operational reasons" for suspension of visa services "till further notice". Canada said on Monday that it was "actively pursuing credible allegations" linking government agents to the murder of the Khalistani extremist British Columbia in June. The government, however, has categorically rejected any such claims from the Canadian side, adding that the allegations are "absurd" and "motivated".”
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