“New York state and county officials sought this week to reassure attendees and
area residents that extensive security measures are being implemented in
response to a threat against an upcoming cricket World Cup event reportedly
posted on a pro-ISIS internet platform. “Public safety is my top priority,” New
York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in a statement, “and we are committed to
ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience.” In a first for
a competition that has been held eight times since 2007, a number of matches in
the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup are taking place in the
United States, which is jointly hosting the event this year with the West
Indies. Among the matches slated to take place starting Saturday at a newly
constructed, 34,000-seat facility in New York’s Nassau County is a highly
anticipated showdown on June 9 between India and Pakistan.””











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Eye on Extremism



May 30, 2024



The Washington Post: New York Officials Address Terrorism Concerns Ahead Of
Cricket World Cup
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“New York state and county officials sought this week to reassure attendees
and area residents that extensive security measures are being implemented in
response to a threat against an upcoming cricket World Cup event reportedly
posted on a pro-ISIS internet platform. “Public safety is my top priority,” New
York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in a statement, “and we are committed to
ensuring the Cricket World Cup is a safe, enjoyable experience.” In a first for
a competition that has been held eight times since 2007, a number of matches in
the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup are taking place in the
United States, which is jointly hosting the event this year with the West
Indies. Among the matches slated to take place starting Saturday at a newly
constructed, 34,000-seat facility in New York’s Nassau County is a highly
anticipated showdown on June 9 between India and Pakistan.””



The Guardian: Quarter Of Political Donations In EU Go To Extremist And
Populist Parties, Data Reveals
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“A quarter of all private money donated to political parties in the EU is
going to far-right, far-left and populist movements, boosting their finances by
millions of euros before crucial European parliament elections next week. With
the polls predicting a rise in support for hardline conservative, Eurosceptic
and pro-Russia parties, the Guardian and other 26 media partners, led by the
investigations group Follow the Money, are publishing Transparency Gap, the
most extensive analysis yet of political financing in the EU. The data was
gathered from the annual reports of more than 200 parties across 25 countries.
It shows €150m (£128m), the equivalent of €1 in every €4 of all private
donations made between 2019 and 2022, went to populist parties and those with
the most extreme political views. Far-right groups have pulled in more than
€97m, equivalent to €1 in every €7 of private money.”



CEP Mentions



WTOP News: The Hunt: How Will The Death Of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi
Impact Stability In The Region?
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“How will the death of Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi impact stability in the
region? On this week’s episode of “The Hunt with WTOP national security
correspondent JJ Green”, Dr. Hans Jakob Schindler, senior director at the
Counter Extremism Project, says it’s complicated.”



Afghanistan



Voice Of America: Taliban Appear Set To Take Part In UN-Organized Doha Meeting
On Afghanistan
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"Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers stated their intention Wednesday to join a
United Nations-organized meeting in Doha on June 30 that aims to facilitate and
coordinate the world’s engagement with the country hit by a multitude of
crises. The announcement came a week after a senior U.N. diplomat visited Kabul
and extended to the de facto authorities “an advance invitation” to participate
in the two-day conference of special envoys on Afghanistan. The international
event will be the third Afghanistan-centered gathering in Qatar's capital since
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres initiated the process in May 2023,
aiming to increase interaction with Afghanistan “in a more coherent,
coordinated and structured manner.” Zakir Jalali, a senior Taliban foreign
ministry official, said in a “keynote speech” to its staff in the Afghan
capital that “representatives of the Islamic emirate will take part in the main
discussions” in Doha. A ministry spokesperson posted details of his remarks on
X, formerly known as Twitter, on Wednesday.”



Pakistan



Reuters: Four Pakistanis Killed, 2 Injured By Iranian Forces In Southwestern
Pakistan, Officials Say
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“Four Pakistanis were killed and two were injured late on Tuesday night, when
Iranian forces opened fire in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan
in Pakistan, officials said. The shooting took place near the Pakistan-Iran
border, in Washuk District, confirmed Umar Jamali, additional deputy
commissioner. Naeem Umrani, deputy commissioner Washuk, said an investigation
is being initiated to determine the reason for the shooting. Former Iranian
President Ebrahim Raisi visited Pakistan in April on a three-day official visit
as the two Muslim neighbours seek to mend ties after unprecedented tit-for-tat
military strikes this year. Raisi's visit was seen as a key step towards
normalising ties with Islamabad.

Iran and Pakistan have had a history of rocky relations, but missile strikes
in January were the most serious incidents in years, with Pakistan recalling
its ambassador to Tehran and not allowing his counterpart to return to
Islamabad, as well as cancelling all high-level diplomatic and trade
engagements.”



Yemen



Associated Press: Ship Attacked By Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Was Full Of Grain
Bound For Iran, The Group’s Main Benefactor
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“A Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that came under attack
by Yemen’s Houthi rebels earlier this week had a cargo of grain bound for Iran,
the group’s main benefactor, authorities said Thursday. The attack on the Laax
comes as the Houthis continue their attacks on shipping throughout the Red Sea
corridor, part of a campaign they say aims at pressuring Israel and the West
over the war in Gaza. However, as shipping through that artery has dropped
during the months of attacks, the rebels have struck vessels associated with
Iran, as well as Tehran’s economic lifelines of China and Russia. Initially
after the attack, the Laax had listed its destination as Fujairah in the United
Arab Emirates. On Thursday, however, its listed destination instead appeared to
be Bandar Khomeini, Iran.”



Middle East



Associated Press: The Latest | 2 Soldiers Are Killed In A West Bank
Car-Ramming Attack, Israeli Military Says
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“The Israeli military said Thursday that two soldiers were killed in a
car-ramming attack in the occupied West Bank. Violence in the West Bank has
surged throughout the war in Gaza as Israel raids Palestinian towns in the
territory to crack down on militancy, with incursions resulting in the deaths
of more than 500 Palestinians. In the Gaza Strip, Palestinians in the border
city of Rafah reported heavy fighting Wednesday, and Israel’s military said it
seized control of the entire length of Gaza’s border with Egypt. Fighting in
Rafah has already spurred more than 1 million Palestinians to flee, most of
whom had already been displaced in the war between Israel and Hamas. They now
seek refuge in makeshift tent camps and other war-ravaged areas, where they
lack shelter, food, water and other essentials for survival, the United Nations
says.”



i24: Knesset Advances Bill To Designate UNRWA As A Terrorist Organization
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“The Israeli Knesset has passed a preliminary reading of a bill designating
the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near
East (UNRWA) as a terrorist organization. The bill, introduced by MK Yulia
Malinovsky, passed with a 42-6 majority on Wednesday. It seeks to abolish the
immunities and privileges currently enjoyed by UNRWA employees. The bill,
formally titled the "Bill to Abolish the Immunity and Privileges of the United
Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA)," comes in response to evidence suggesting links between UNRWA
employees and Hamas. If passed in the final reading, the Anti-Terrorism Law
will apply to UNRWA, ending all ties between Israel and the agency and closing
its assets in Israeli territory.”



Associated Press: Israel Says It’s Taken Control Of Key Area Of Gaza’s Border
With Egypt Awash In Smuggling Tunnels
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“Israel’s military said Wednesday it seized control of a strategic corridor
along Gaza’s border with Egypt to cut off smuggling tunnels as it tries to
destroy the militant Hamas group in a war now in its eighth month. The capture
of the Philadelphi Corridor could complicate Israel’s relations with Egypt,
which has complained about Israel’s advance toward its border. Israel says the
corridor is awash in tunnels that have funneled weapons and other goods for
Hamas — despite a yearslong blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt. Israel also
deepened its incursion into the southern Gaza city of Rafah, where hundreds of
thousands have been seeking shelter from fighting, and where intensifying
violence in recent days has killed dozens of Palestinians. The military said
that a fifth brigade — up to several thousand soldiers — joined troops
operating in the city on Tuesday.”



Somalia



Garowe Online: Somalia Strengthens Military Ties With Turkey
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“The Federal Republic of Somalia is seeking to deepen military ties with
Turkey, a dependable European country that has been helping the Horn of Africa
nation to stabilize, including through training and equipping of local forces.
Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, the minister for defence, met his Turkish counterpart
Yaşar Güler during the EFES-2024 Exercise's Distinguished Observer Day in Izmir
on Wednesday, where close cooperation between the two nations was deliberated.
Defense cooperation between Somalia and Turkey has been in the offing, with the
two countries signing a pact early this year. Turkey has invested immensely in
Somalia’s security forces, including through training and equipping the GorGor
elite troops. "Our Turkish brothers play a major role in building our army,
developing it, and fighting the Khawarij," said the Somali Defense Minister.”



Europe



BBC: Italy’s PM Says Fascism Is ‘Consigned To History’. Not Everyone Is So Sure
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“They line up in military-like formation: a thousand strong, most dressed in
black, some with tattoos on shaved scalps. At the spot in Milan where Sergio
Ramelli, a far-right student, was killed almost 50 years ago by anti-fascists,
a leader summons his battalion of loyalists to attention. He shouts "camerata",
or "brother-in-arms", and Ramelli’s name, as if delivering a roll-call. And
then it comes: stiff right arms outstretched and raised, palms facing down, the
fascist salute in the heart of Italy’s second city, and the crowd reply on the
dead man's behalf with a roar: "Present! Present! Present!" It's 2024, but this
has frightening echoes of a century ago. While it may seem extraordinary to an
outsider – and it was staggering to me, watching it close up – it is not out of
the ordinary in Italy, where commemorations of this type take place every year.”



Reuters: European Powers Seek Action Against Iran At IAEA Meeting Despite US
Concerns
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“Britain, France and Germany have circulated a draft resolution against Iran
ahead of the U.N. nuclear watchdog's board meeting next week and appear
determined to push it despite opposition from their U.S. ally, three diplomats
said on Wednesday. Reuters reported on May 24 that the U.S. and its European
partners, known as the E3, were divided over whether to confront Iran with
Washington fearing such a resolution could risk further escalation in the
region and rock the boat ahead of November's U.S. election. "We are pushing the
Americans, but they remain stuck in the thinking that nothing should be done to
escalate with Iran," said a senior European official. "That has achieved
nothing so far and we believe we need to show firmness now." Tehran bristles at
such resolutions and often responds by stepping up its activities.”



China



Reuters: Xi Says China Wants To Work With Arab States To Resolve Hot Spot
Issues
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“China wants to work with Arab nations to resolve hot spot issues in ways
conducive to upholding fairness, justice and achieving long-term peace and
stability, President Xi Jinping said in a speech on Thursday that also
highlighted the Gaza crisis. China is seeking to strengthen its relations with
Arab states as a model for maintaining world peace and stability, Xi was quoted
as saying by state media at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing.
In remarks about the war in Gaza, the Chinese leader said war cannot continue
indefinitely, justice cannot be permanently absent and a "two-state solution"
should be firmly upheld. "In the face of a turbulent world, mutual respect is
the way to live in harmony, and fairness and justice are the foundation of
lasting security," Xi was quoted as saying by Xinhua news.”



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