Email from Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Global News on Extremism and Terrorism Eye on Extremism April 2, 2025   Top Stories The Telegraph: Hamas ‘quietly drops’ thousands of deaths from casualty figures New research shows that Hamas has quietly dropped thousands of deaths from its Gaza war casualty figures. Salo Aizenberg, from the US-based non-profit organisation Honest Reporting, said that Hamas’s March 2025 casualty update had removed thousands of people it previously listed as having been killed last year. “Hamas’s new March 2025 fatality list quietly drops 3,400 fully “identified” deaths listed in its August and October 2024 reports – including 1,080 children. These “deaths” never happened. The numbers were falsified – again,” Mr Aizenberg wrote. The casualty lists are released as PDFs by the Hamas-run Gaza ministry of health, which has been cited by international media as a source for fatality figures in the enclave since the start of the war. A report by the Henry Jackson Society in December said that the number of civilians killed in the Gaza conflict had probably been inflated by Hamas in order to portray Israel as deliberately targeting innocent people. Associated Press: Netanyahu says Israel will establish a new security corridor across Gaza Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel is establishing a new security corridor across Gaza. In a statement issued Wednesday, he described it as the Morag corridor, using the name of a Jewish settlement that once stood between Rafah and Khan Younis, suggesting it would run between the two southern cities. Israel said Wednesday that it planned to seize large areas of the Gaza Strip and add them to its “security zones” as it launched a wave of strikes that killed more than 40 people, including several women and children, according to Palestinian health officials. CounterPoint Blogs & Briefs Highlighting CEP-New Zealand Digital Violent Extremism Cooperation Guns, Drugs, and Swastikas: Europe’s Neo-Nazi Mafias CounterPoint Brief: The U.S.-Jordan Struggle to Extradite Hamas Member Ahlam al-Tamimi The Houthi Torture Industrial Complex CEP Mentions Berliner Morgenpost: Iran prepares missiles for massive attacks on US bases Experts believe the harsh tone from Tehran is primarily a threat to deter Americans and Israelis from attacking their own nuclear facilities. "However, if the Iranians actually attack US bases, this would lead to a massive escalation and a major American counterattack," Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director at the Berlin-based think tank Counter Extremism Project, told our editorial team. United States Reuters: As Iran tensions build, US military moves warplanes to reinforce Middle East U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has reinforced U.S. military capability in the Middle East with more warplanes, the Pentagon said on Tuesday, amid a more than two-week-old U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen and mounting tensions with Iran. The Pentagon's brief statement did not specify which aircraft were being deployed or where precisely they were sent. However, as many as six B-2 bombers have relocated in the past week or so to a U.S.-British military base on the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, according to U.S. officials, speaking on condition of anonymity. Experts say that puts the B-2s, which have stealth technology and are equipped to carry the heaviest U.S. bombs and nuclear weapons, in an ideal position to operate in the Middle East. Associated Press: By the numbers: US deployment of B-2 bombers as tensions ramp up with Houthis and Iran Satellite images analyzed Wednesday by The Associated Press show the deployment of at least six nuclear-capable B-2 Spirit bombers to Camp Thunder Bay on the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. The presence of the bombers comes as the United States continues an intense airstrike campaign targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The B-2 has been used in combat to target the Houthis in the past. Independent: Far-right podcaster who hosted Kash Patel eight times says he wants a ‘final solution’ to rid US of Jewish people Far-right internet personality Stew Peters suggested he wants a “final solution” to remove Jewish people from the United States. Peters, known for spreading Covid-19 misinformation, promoting white supremacist rhetoric and denying the Holocaust, discussed on his March 27 show about how President Donald Trump is “making Israel great again.” Vice: Danzig Used a Racist Symbol on His New Tour Merch Danzing is out for a short run of tour dates on the West Coast and the band seems to have included a racist symbol on some of the merch they’re offering. Metal Injection reports that the metal band fronted by Glenn Danzig is selling a shirt and posters that utilize the Sonnenrad, also known as the Sunwheel or Black Sun. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), this particular symbol is “one of a number of ancient European symbols appropriated by the Nazis in their attempt to invent an idealized ‘Aryan/Norse’ heritage.” It’s currently unclear if Danzig is aware of the situation. Reuters: Princeton's US grants frozen, follows Trump actions against other schools Princeton University said on Tuesday the U.S. government froze several dozen research grants to the school, which became the latest academic institution targeted by the Trump administration in a crackdown on what it calls antisemitism on campuses. Princeton President Chris Eisgruber said government agencies including NASA and the defense and energy departments notified the university of the move. The university said in a statement it was given no reason for the action and it did not provide a dollar value for the grants. The Guardian: US House Democrat blasts Trump for using ‘antisemitism’ to attack universities The representative Jerry Nadler of New York has slammed Donald Trump’s crackdown on American universities in the name of fighting antisemitism, saying that withholding federal funding from schools will “not make Jewish students safer”. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Democratic representative said he condemned Trump’s “latest attacks on higher education cloaked under the guise of fighting antisemitism”. “Once again, the president is weaponizing the real pain American Jews face to advance his desire to wield control over the truth-seeking academic institutions that stand as a xxxxxx against authoritarianism,” Nadler said. Jewish Insider: In embracing deported pro-Palestinian activists, Democrats struggle to acknowledge antisemitism When ICE agents detained Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil in March, the start of an escalating Trump administration effort to deport foreign students deemed sympathetic to Hamas, some Jewish Democrats were concerned. Like President Donald Trump, they were worried about antisemitism on campus and took issue with Khalil’s leadership of Columbia’s anti-Israel encampment last spring. But they feared that deporting a green card holder for his activism would raise issues about due process and freedom of expression. They wanted Democrats to articulate that nuance — outspokenness against antisemitism combined with an embrace of liberal American values. Some Jewish Democrats, such as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), addressed that complexity, criticizing both Khalil and Trump’s immigration enforcement actions against him. New York Times: A Mysterious Group Says Its Mission Is to Expose Antisemitic Students On March 24, a shadowy group that calls itself Canary Mission posted a new feature on its website, “Uncovering Foreign Nationals,” in response to President Trump’s recent executive order on combating antisemitism. The group, which says its mission is to single out those who promote “hatred of the U.S.A., Israel and Jews on North American college campuses,” listed the names of seven students and academics, including three current and former professors at Columbia University. Ary News: US-Pakistan cooperation on counterterrorism remains crucial: State Department The US State Department has reaffirmed the importance of collaboration between the United States and Pakistan in combating terrorism, emphasising their shared commitment to security. Responding to a question about recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan, a State Department spokesperson cited the arrest of ISIS-K operative Mohammad Sharifullah as a demonstration of ongoing counterterrorism cooperation between the two nations. Canada Globe and Mail: More Canadians with Iranian backgrounds stopped from entering the U.S. Canadian citizens born in Iran say they are routinely being stopped at the U.S. border and interrogated – and often not allowed to enter – as American authorities signal they are focusing their attention on preventing the entry of foreigners they characterize as a national-security threat. Europe El Mundo: Brussels presents its security strategy against terrorism, illegal immigration, and chemical and nuclear attacks: "Europeans should live without fear" Brussels is highly aware of direct military threats, mainly those coming from Russia. But also, with other dangers that in some cases are equally linked to the Russian country but in others go beyond. These include terrorism, the use of illegal migration flows to destabilize countries, organized crime, hybrid or infrastructure attacks, or chemical, biological, and even nuclear weapons. Therefore, the European Commission has presented its new internal security strategy, named ProtectEU, which is very clear in its communication document. Yahoo! News: EU plans major expansion of Europol's powers The European Commission is pushing to significantly expand the authority of Europol, transforming it into an operational law enforcement agency with greater powers and resources. A detailed proposal for the pan-European police agency's new mandate is expected next year and will require approval from the European Parliament and the Council of the EU. France Associated Press: At just 29, Jordan Bardella inherits the French far-right spotlight, whether he’s ready or not He wears his suits like armor, smiles like a pop star and boasts more than 2 million followers on TikTok. At just 29, Jordan Bardella has become the fresh-faced figurehead of France’s National Rally party and is now poised to inherit one of the most electorally successful far-right machines in Europe. But behind the image of youthful confidence lies a question increasingly whispered by allies and adversaries alike: Can Bardella, who has no experience in government, really lead? The presidential ambitions of Bardella’s mentor, Marine Le Pen, could be over after a French court convicted her of embezzling European Union funds and barred her from holding office for five years. That means Bardella finds himself the last man standing atop the largest party in the French National Assembly. But having the spotlight doesn’t mean he commands the stage. Reuters: France holds rare defence cabinet meeting over Iran as tensions with US mount French President Emmanuel Macron was convening key ministers and experts on Wednesday to discuss Iran, including its nuclear programme, amid growing tensions between Tehran and U.S. President Donald Trump, three diplomatic sources said. Such a cabinet meeting dedicated to a specific subject is rare and highlights mounting concern among Washington's European allies that the United States and Israel could launch air strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities unless there is a quick negotiated deal on its nuclear programme. Associated Press: French far-right leader Marine Le Pen barred from seeking office for 5 years, a political earthquake French court on Monday convicted Marine Le Pen of embezzlement and barred her from seeking public office for five years — a hammer blow to the far-right leader’s presidential hopes and an earthquake for French politics. Le Pen denounced the verdict in an interview with French TV channel TF1 as a “political” move aimed at preventing her from running in the 2027 presidential election and said that millions of French people “are outraged.” New Yorker: What Marine Le Pen’s Conviction Means for French Democracy To help understand the scandal and what the court’s decision means for France, I recently spoke by phone with Cécile Alduy, a professor of French studies at Stanford and an expert on the French far right. During our conversation, which has been edited for length and clarity, we discussed whether this decision upholds or undercuts French democracy, how the far right may change under a new leader, and what the second Trump Administration could mean for French politics going forward. Wall Street Journal: France’s Far Right Confronts Life After Le Pen In banning Marine Le Pen from running for the presidency in 2027, however, a French court has forced the Le Pen family party, National Rally, into a reckoning over its future. The dilemma: whether Le Pen should dig in and fight for her political future or make way for a successor. Germany Jerusalem Post: Citing post-Holocaust doctrine, Germany seeks to deport pro-Palestinian protesters Germany is moving to deport four foreign residents of Berlin over their alleged activity at pro-Palestinian protests, in a move that appears likely to test a foundational law enacted in the wake of the Holocaust. Three of the residents are citizens of the European Union, which normally allows free movement between member states. Kasia Wlaszczyk is a citizen of Poland, and Shane O’Brien and Roberta Murray are citizens of Ireland. The fourth, Cooper Longbottom, is a 27-year-old US citizen from Seattle who faces a ban from all 29 European countries in the Schengen Zone for two years after leaving Germany. None of them has been convicted of a crime. A conviction is not required for deportation under German law, but authorities are still expected to provide justifications proportional to the punishment. Reuters: German wind farms asked to install radar amid security concerns Wind farms off the northern German coast have been asked to install radar facilities in an attempt to boost surveillance of ships and drones, the federal maritime authority said on Wednesday. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has heightened security concerns in European waters, with attacks on infrastructure and the discovery of ageing oil tankers. Spain Ara: National Nucleus, the hooded "savior-of-the-country" extremists who call for action "against the foreign invasion." Around fifteen men wearing black balaclavas, wearing neo-Nazi aesthetics, with their arms crossed over their chests and standing in formation behind a spokesperson are featured in the video that the Civil Guard has been investigating since Tuesday as a hate crime. It was broadcast Sunday night on X by the far-right organization Núcleo Nacional, which the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has targeted eight months after allowing them to register as a legal association. In the video, the hooded spokesperson for Núcleo Nacional calls for the "active defense" of the state's streets "against foreign invasion," as Marlaska denounced in a media address on Wednesday morning, criticizing the "unnecessary" existence of these "saviors of the country." Jewish News Syndicate: Spain cracks down on Barcelona Hezbollah cell Spanish security forces on Tuesday launched an operation targeting a Hezbollah cell in Barcelona, local media reported. The investigation is focused on Lebanese nationals and involves the country’s intelligence services, according to the Spanish outlets El Confidencial and Europa Press, citing sources familiar with the probe. Additional arrests are expected. United Kingdom Times of India: British Hindus object to ‘police report’ claiming they are aligned with the far right British Hindu groups have condemned a leaked police report which allegedly states that "British Hindu extremists" are forming alliances with far-right groups in Europe "over their common hatred of Muslims", saying it is completely untrue, misleading and baseless. The Telegraph: Convicted Syrian terrorist allowed to stay in UK after police back asylum claim A convicted terrorist has been allowed to stay in the UK after counter-terrorism police backed his refugee claim. The 43-year-old Syrian was jailed for two years for terrorism offences in 2017 after being granted refugee status in the UK three years earlier. The Home Office sought to revoke this status on the basis that he had been convicted of a serious crime and “constituted a danger to the community”. However, the man appealed, arguing that he no longer posed a threat and had not reoffended since he was released from prison. BBC: Teenager admits sharing terrorist material online A teenager has pleaded guilty to sharing Islamic State group (IS) videos and other material online on Telegram and TikTok. Leo Walby, 19, from Swanley, Kent, admitted six charges of dissemination of a terrorist publication between 10 July and 20 August 2024, when he appeared at the Old Bailey on Wednesday. He also admitted a failing to comply with a Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act notice. BBC: Man arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences A man from Stoke-on-Trent has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offences. The 28-year-old was held on suspicion of supporting a proscribed organisation and inciting racial hatred, Staffordshire Police said. Officers said he was detained following a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation. He was arrested on Wednesday, the force said. Russia Russian Life: Neo-Nazis Return to Russian Streets Far-right groups in Russia have grown increasingly active amid Russia's ongoing war in Ukraine, according to independent outlet Replika. Experts describe an unprecedented rise in street violence, including attacks involving weapons. Attackers frequently post videos of their violence against migrants, unhoused persons, and LGBTQ+ people on Telegram channels. The Sova Information and Analysis Center reported that 265 people were victims of ideologically motivated violence in Russia in 2024, including one fatality. Researchers noted these figures are comparable to those from 2011, marking a notable spike in far-right violence not seen in more than a decade. Gaza Strip CNN: Palestinian man tortured to death by Hamas militants after criticizing group and attending protests, family says A 22-year-old Palestinian man was tortured and killed by Hamas militants after he criticized the group publicly and participated in rare anti-Hamas protests in Gaza, his family said. Uday Rabie was taken last week by dozens of armed fighters with Hamas’ military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza City, his brother Hassan Rabie told CNN on Tuesday. Hassan said his brother had altercations with members of the group around a month before his death and had expressed fears that militants would come for him. Associated Press: Protests broke out against Hamas in Gaza. What do Palestinians think about the militant group? Thousands of Palestinians chanted against Hamas during anti-war protests last week in the Gaza Strip, the biggest show of anger at the militant group since its attack on Israel ignited the war. Protesters said they were venting anger and desperation as they endure a new round of war and displacement after Israel ended a ceasefire. They leveled unusually direct criticism at Hamas even while remaining furious at Israel, the United States and others for their plight. Times of Israel: Gazan clan executes alleged Hamas operative who killed one of their relatives Members of a prominent Gazan family in Deir al-Balah on Tuesday executed a man who they said was a Hamas operative responsible for the deadly shooting of one of their relatives earlier in the day. The gunmen were members of the Abu Samra clan of central Gaza. They said they killed the Hamas member after he shot their relative Abdulrahman Sha’aban Abu Samra while he was waiting in line for flour in Deir al-Balah. Israel Reuters: Israel's Netanyahu heads to Hungary, defying ICC arrest warrant Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu begins a four-day visit to Hungary on Thursday, defying an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over allegations of war crimes in Gaza as Israel has expanded its military operation in the enclave. As a founding member of the ICC, Hungary is theoretically obliged to arrest and hand over anyone subject to a warrant from the court but Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban made clear when he issued the invitation that Hungary would not respect the ruling. Times of Israel: Ahead of Passover, Israelis warned Hamas, Iran may target travelers and Jews abroad In a warning Tuesday ahead of the Passover holiday, the National Security Council (NSC) said Israelis and Jews traveling abroad could be targeted by Hamas, Iran and global jihadi groups including Islamic State. Many Israelis typically fly abroad during the weeklong holiday, which will begin on April 12. The warning urged Israelis to exercise caution when traveling abroad and to check NSC travel recommendations before flying. According to the NSC, Iran is the main backer of global terrorism targeting Jews and Israelis. The body warned that “Iranian terror operatives have continued attempts to lure Israeli citizens — both domestically and abroad — through deceptive business offers or impersonation, aiming to harm or abduct them.” Lebanon Naharnet: Bassil says Hezbollah military role 'no longer acceptable' Free Patriotic Movement chief Jebran Bassil has said that its old ally Hezbollah can no longer have a military role and has to abide by the Lebanese constitution and rules. "We had an understanding but it no longer exists," Bassil said Tuesday, accusing Hezbollah of going to a war that was not in Lebanon's interest. "This has greatly weakened our relations, but it is still a Lebanese party and we have to talk to them just like we talk to all the other parties." Syria New York Times: These Militias Refuse to Join Syria’s New Army As the Islamist rebels who ousted the dictator Bashar al-Assad in December set up a new government, they are seeking to fold disparate militias including this one, which sprung up during Syria’s nearly 14-year civil war, into a single national force. A unified military is crucial to securing control over the entire country and establishing stability, but that goal has proved elusive. Since January, several of the strongest Druse militias had been in talks with the government about their conditions for joining the new army. They were skeptical over the interim president’s pledges to protect the rights of Syria’s many religious and ethnic minorities. Yemen Associated Press: Suspected US airstrikes in Yemen kill at least 4 people near Hodeida, Houthi rebels say Suspected U.S. airstrikes battered rebel-controlled areas of Yemen into Wednesday, with the Houthis saying that one strike killed at least four people near the Red Sea port city of Hodeida. Meanwhile, satellite images taken Wednesday and analyzed by The Associated Press show at least six stealth B-2 Spirit bombers now stationed at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean — a highly unusual deployment amid the Yemen campaign and tensions with Iran. Media Line: Houthis Claim New Attacks on US Warships in the Red Sea Houthi forces in Yemen say they carried out three attacks on the USS Harry S. Truman and accompanying US Navy vessels in the Red Sea over the past day, intensifying a months-long campaign targeting American and Israeli-linked military and commercial assets. The Houthi-run al-Masirah TV broadcast a statement early Wednesday from military spokesperson Yahya Sarea claiming responsibility for the strikes, which reportedly used drones and missiles. “Our operations will continue at an escalating pace against the American enemy by targeting its warships in the region,” Sarea said. “Our operations will not stop until the Israeli war against Gaza stops.” Newsweek: Houthi Video Shows Wreckage They Say Is Downed U.S. Drone The Iranian-backed Yemeni Houthis have released video footage showing what they say is the wreckage of an American MQ-9 Reaper drone they claim to have shot down. Newsweek has reached out to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) and Houthi officials for comment. Bangladesh Times of India: Bangladesh says NYT report claiming rise in Islamist extremism ‘misleading’ Bangladesh has dismissed as "misleading" an NYT report, which claimed that while country works to rebuild its democracy and shape a new future for its 175 million people, a “streak of Islamist extremism” that had been hidden beneath its secular surface is now emerging. India OpIndia: Punjab Police thwart a possible terror attack, Pak-ISI-linked operative arrested In a significant development aligned with the ongoing efforts to enhance safety and security in Punjab, as directed by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, the Counter-Intelligence (CI) unit in Amritsar has successfully thwarted a potential terrorist attack. This was achieved through the apprehension of an individual linked to Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency, during which a hand grenade was also recovered, as shared by Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, on Tuesday. Mashable India: Muslim Activists Demand Boycott Of Salman Khan's Sikandar Over Islamophobia Allegations Against AR Murugadoss Salman Khan’s Sikandar has been basking in widespread affection from fans, but it’s now facing calls for a boycott from a Muslim activist. The pushback stems from director AR Murugadoss’s alleged history of Islamophobia. Mumbai-based lawyer and activist Shaikh Faiyaz Alam has called on people to skip the film, encouraging them instead to support Gaza relief efforts and fund Muslim education, legal aid, and political empowerment. Per a News18 report, Alam highlighted Murugadoss’s earlier work, Thuppakki, which he claims promoted Islamophobic themes, urging fans to shun Sikandar this Eid. Pakistan Daily Excelsior: Pak Ahmadi community faces issues in offering Eid prayers due to pressure from religious extremists The minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan faced issues in offering Eid prayers as police did not allow them to gather for the ritual due to pressure from Muslim religious extremists. The Jamaat-e-Ahmadiyya Pakistan (JAP) in a statement on Tuesday said Ahmadis in Lahore were stopped from offering Eid prayers even inside their homes in five areas, including their worship place in Garhi Shahu. “Extremist groups especially Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) gathered outside the Ahmadi worship places, shouted hateful slogans, and tried to create trouble, following which Ahmadi worship places were illegally sealed,” it said. Pakistan Television: Long-Term Strategy Inevitable To Tackle Illegal Immigration, Terrorism: Talal Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said a joint and long-term strategy is inevitable for tackling challenges of illegal immigration, terrorism and human trafficking. Talal Chaudhry, who is attending border security summit 2025 in London, said steps are necessary to promote legal and regular immigration. He said on the instructions of the Prime Minister and interior Minister, Pakistan is actively working on eliminating illegal immigration and organized crime at the global level and enhancing border security. Singapore Reuters: Singapore detains two teenagers, one over plan to shoot mosques, other planned to join Islamic State Singapore used an internal security law against two teenagers separately, one over plans to attack mosques and the other for wanting to fight in Syria alongside Islamic State militants, authorities said on Wednesday. The 17-year-old male was detained and subscribed to far-right extremist ideology, seeing himself as an "East Asian supremacist," authorities said. Morocco New Arab: Morocco king pardons Belgian dual national jailed over extremist network A Belgian-Moroccan sentenced in 2009 to life in prison after being accused of leading an extremist network has been pardoned by King Mohammed VI, his family told AFP on Monday. Abdelkader Belliraj was convicted of being the mastermind behind a network of 35 people dismantled by Moroccan authorities in 2008, and was also accused of committing six murders in Belgium in the 1980s and 1990s, which he denied. He was found guilty in a trial criticised for rights violations. Niger Guardian: Niger’s junta withdraws from Lake Chad anti-Islamist force Niger’s ruling junta has quit a regional force fighting armed Islamist groups in west Africa’s Lake Chad area, cementing an acrimonious split from former allies in the region. The decision to exit the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) was announced in a bulletin on state television over the weekend. The move “reflects a stated intent to reinforce security for oil sites”, the bulletin stated, without providing further details. The MNJTF was formed in 2015 by Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria in the wake of increasing jihadist attacks across their territories. At its peak, it had an estimated 10,000 troops and fought many armed groups, especially Boko Haram and its offshoots. But any serious progress has been hampered or even undone by poor collaboration and equipping, analysts say. Peoples Gazette: Experts fault Niger’s withdrawal from MNJTF, say decision setback in fight against extremism Experts and stakeholders in the defence and security sector have expressed concerns over the recent withdrawal of the Republic of Niger from the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF). MNJTF is a regional military coalition between Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and Niger, strengthened to combat Boko Haram and Islamic States of West African Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the Lake Chad Basin. Somalia Stars and Stripes: Houthi link-up with Somalia’s al-Shabab could newly imperil Middle East shipping, report says Africa’s most lethal terrorist organization is expected to gain strength in Somalia, raising the security threat through a Middle East choke point for commercial shipping, a new report cautions. Somali militant group al-Shabab is poised to take advantage of its budding alliance with Yemen’s Houthi rebels, a team-up that could allow the former to attack vessels with drones or even missiles, according to a global terrorism threat assessment by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Australia Algemeiner: Australian Politician Whose Signs Were Hit With Swastikas Says Time Has Come to ‘Show Up for the Jewish Community’ Vandals targeted the campaign yard signs of Australian parliamentarian Andrew Wallace in the country’s Sunshine Coast this past weekend, drawing black swastikas over his face on the blue and yellow Liberal National Party ads. In addition to speaking out forcefully against antisemitism, Wallace serves as deputy chair of the Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee and chair of the Australia-Israel Allies Caucus. He previously worked as Speaker of the House of Representatives and led the campaign that resulted in the criminalization of publicly displaying Nazi symbols, including performing the Sieg Heil salute. Australian Broadcasting Corporation: Dumped artist Khaled Sabsabi speaks out about impact of Creative Australia's Venice Biennale decision Khaled Sabsabi, the Lebanese-Australian artist dumped as Australia's representative at the 2026 Venice Biennale, has spoken publicly for the first time since Creative Australia withdrew his highly prized commission. In an interview with ABC Radio National's The Art Show, Sabsabi described the impact of the Commonwealth arts funding body's February decision as "devastating". He says two artworks that triggered Creative Australia's decision — raised first in the media and later in parliament — have been "grossly misrepresented". New Zealand The Spinoff: Chief human rights commissioner accused of Islamophobia by Jewish groups Three New Zealand community groups, two representing Jewish voices, are calling for Stephen Rainbow to resign from his role as chief human rights commissioner after what they believe were Islamophobic comments made during an official meeting with a Jewish community leader. At the time of Rainbow’s appointment last year, he was questioned about his history of pro-Israel statements and writing. Rainbow told RNZ that his views on Israel weren’t “particularly relevant” to his role as chief human rights commissioner. In January 2024, Rainbow wrote an op-ed for the Israel Institute about New Zealand’s changing relationship with Israel. “Now, in New Zealand, to be on the Left it seems -if the kaffiyeh wearing antics of Labour and Green MPs of late are any indication- to be anti-Israel has become an integral part of the Leftist creed. Technology Worldcrunch: Is That A Hitler Salute In Your Feed? Decoding Neo-Nazi's Secret Emoji Language as milk ever made you think of racist propaganda? Did a kiwi ever strike you as a symbol of transphobia? Probably not. Understandably so: These things usually have nothing to do with each other. That is, unless you stumble onto the wrong accounts on TikTok, Instagram or X. There, a Christmas tree can signal eco-fascist beliefs, and the 100% emoji can stand for so-called “white ancestry.” In these circles, emojis are secret codes for the neo-nazis to express their beliefs.   The Counter Extremism Project (CEP) is a nonprofit and non-partisan international policy organization working to combat the growing threat posed by extremist ideologies. CEP depends on the generosity of its supporters. If you value what we do, please consider making a donation. DONATE Were you forwarded this email? Subscribe for yourself here. Counter Extremism Project (CEP) | PO Box 3980 | NEW YORK, NY 10185 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice