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CEP Mentions
Frankfurter Neue Presse: “Dangerous demonstration of power”: Islamic group separates genders at university lecture at Berlin Charité
Hans-Jakob Schindler, Senior Director at the NGO Counter Extremism Project, calls such actions transgressions : "They want to test how far they can go. This is a dangerous demonstration of power," Schindler said in an interview with the Münchner Merkur by IPPEN.MEDIA . There is no justification for this, especially not at the Berlin University.
ProSieben: CEP Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler on Pro7 TV Newstime
Counter Extremism Project (CEP) Senior Director Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler discusses the arrest of a Danish citizen of Afghan origin who was spying on behalf of Iran and scoping out Jewish individuals and institutions in Berlin with the possible aim of an attack.
Analysis
Stimson Center: Why Israeli Attacks Brought Fear But Not Regime Change to Iran
Despite the military pressure and the temporary destabilization of Iranian state structures during the 12-day war, public support for externally driven regime change failed to materialize. Several sociological mechanisms explain this. Iran’s strong sense of national identity, deeply shaped by collective memories of foreign intervention, fosters public opposition to external interference. During World War II, despite Iran’s declared neutrality, Allied forces occupied the country, forcing Shah Reza Pahlavi to abdicate. Post-war Soviet reluctance to withdraw from northern Iran and support for separatist movements have also left enduring scars on the national psyche.
Times of Israel: Israel’s 12-day war with Iran was a test of technological dominance
In just 12 days of conflict with Iran, Israel put decades of military innovation to the test, demonstrating a level of technological dominance and strategic coordination that reshaped the battlefield against a growing missile and drone threat. The conflict, which began with Israel’s “precise, preemptive strike” against Iran on June 13, marked the most extensive and deadly military exchange to date between the two regional adversaries. The operation, named “Rising Lion,” saw Israel launch hundreds of airstrikes deep inside Iranian territory, deploy its arsenal of drone capabilities, and activate its multi-layered defense systems in response to Iran’s retaliatory missile attacks.
United States
Jerusalem Post: What Zohran Mamdani has actually said about Jews and Israel
Though he was elected to represent Astoria, Queens in New York’s State Assembly, Zohran Mamdani — who last week pulled off a stunning upset in New York City’s mayoral primary — has called the Palestinian cause “central to my identity,” both in and out of politics. Mamdani consistently and proudly associates with the pro-Palestinian movement in high-profile settings across New York City. Take Saturday night, for instance, when he took the stage with Mahmoud Khalil, the pro-Palestinian protest leader who was detained by the Trump administration, at comedian Ramy Youssef’s show at the Beacon Theater on the Upper West Side.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Trump administration accuses UN Palestinian rights envoy of ‘virulent antisemitism and support for terrorism’
The Trump administration has called on the United Nations to remove Francesca Albanese, the U.N. rapporteur on Palestinian rights, alleging “virulent antisemitism and support for terrorism,” according to a letter obtained by The Washington Free Beacon. The letter, dated June 20 and addressed to U.N. secretary-general Antonio Guterres, also alleges that Albanese claims to be an “international lawyer” but is not licensed to practice law.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Schumer and other Senate Democrats condemn the phrase ‘globalize the intifada’
Minority Leader Chuck Shumer and several other Senate Democrats condemned the pro-Palestinian slogan “globalize the intifada” in response to a controversy surrounding NY mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s interpretation of the phrase. In statements to Jewish Insider, Sens. Schumer, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania and Jacky Rosen of Nevada offered statements saying “Globalize the intifada” is a call to violence or, in Fetterman’s case, “deeply troubling.”
Jewish Telegraphic Agency: Kirsten Gillibrand apologizes to Zohran Mamdani over ‘global jihad’ remark
New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand apologized to NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani Monday night over comments she made on WNYC last Thursday in which she falsely claimed Mamdani had made “references to global jihad.” The apology, which was first reported by Politico, comes after Gillibrand had previously backed away from the comments she made on WNYC last Friday, telling Rolling Stone that she “misspoke.”
Fox News: Trump official fires back at Democratic senator who called historic flag 'Christian nationalist' symbol
Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler delivered a sharp rebuke to Democratic Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts on Tuesday after he accused the federal agency of raising a "Christian nationalist, White supremacist" flag earlier this month. The SBA flew a large American flag and a smaller "Appeal to Heaven" flag at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., on June 11 in celebration of Flag Day. The white flag featuring a green pine tree dates back to the Revolutionary War, and the words, "An appeal to Heaven," describe the hopes of colonists that God would deliver them from British tyranny.
Latin Times: Idaho Firefighter Shooting Connected to 2001 Fire at Aryan Nation Compound, Internet Sleuths Claim
The deadly ambush that killed two firefighters in Idaho over the weekend has sparked speculation online, as internet sleuths point to its timing on the anniversary of a pivotal moment in the region's dark history. Wess Roley, 20, died by apparent suicide after deliberately setting a blaze on Canfield Mountain near Coeur d'Alene, allegedly luring firefighters to respond to the scene only to shoot at them. The attack occurred on Sunday, 24 years after local firefighters burned down the infamous Aryan Nations compound in nearby Hayden Lake as part of a training exercise.
Nashville Scene: Former FBI Operative Recounts Infiltrating American Hate Groups
In his 1991 autobiography A Season for Justice, celebrated civil rights lawyer Morris Dees recounted the courtroom battles and close escapes of his career — with a particular focus on his creative legal strategy to bankrupt the Ku Klux Klan. (Disclosure: I was one of the book’s editors.) As Dees urged in his introduction, his family and colleagues — and by extension, his readers — should know him by his cases; chapter by chapter, decade by decade, he ticked them off, bringing us into a rancid cesspool of racism. Scott Payne organizes his own riveting story, Code Name: Pale Horse, in a similar vein, bolstered by the gifts of his talented co-writer Michelle Shephard. The memoir re-creates his assignments as an undercover FBI operative, opening with a harrowing scene set in Rome, Ga., in 2019 as he meets a cell of white supremacists he found online. He’d reached out to them as “Scott Anderson,” a South Carolina biker and former skinhead, now auditioning for “the Base.” The nearest FBI backup is miles away. His initial contacts go by digital noms de guerre — “Militant Buddhist” and “Pestilence” — underscoring the quasi-religious nature of underground right-wing brotherhoods. Code Name: Pale Horse is nothing if not a spiritual quest.
Jerusalem Post: Parents of Jewish students sue Seattle, Virginia schools over failure to prevent antisemitism
The parents of Jewish children at two schools - one in Washington State and one in Virginia - have filed lawsuits due to the antisemitic harassment of their respective children, including antisemitic slurs, cyberbullying, an attempted physical attack, and others. The cases, though unrelated, were filed within just two weeks apart.
New York Post: Posh Virginia private school that allegedly praised Hitler expelled three Jewish students who faced antisemitic bullying: complaint
A Northern Virginia private school celebrated as one of the best in the country allegedly expelled three Jewish siblings who endured relentless antisemitic harassment in the wake of the Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack on Israel — all while their community celebrated Hitler as a “strong historical leader.” The Brandeis Center filed the complaint on behalf of the children’s parents, Brian Vazquez and Ashok Roy, against the Nysmith School for the Gifted, a K-8 academy located just an hour outside of Washington, DC, and its headmaster, Kenneth Nysmith.
Concord Bridge: Federal complaint alleges ‘rampant’ antisemitism at Concord-Carlisle High School
The Anti-Defamation League and other groups want the federal government to take action at Concord-Carlisle High School, alleging that administrators’ mishandling of antisemitic abuse allowed the targeting of Jewish students and forced at least one to transfer out of the district. The ADL, the Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law, and the Mayer Brown law firm filed their brief with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights on Monday.
Fox 32: Chicago alderwoman pushes citywide response to rising antisemitism
Chicago Alderman Debra Silverstein calls for emergency action as antisemitic hate crimes surge, making up over one-third of all reported hate crimes in the city in 2024.
Jewish Insider: When Jewish pain becomes ‘political’: Therapists fired after raising antisemitism concerns
One November afternoon last year, Jackie Junger and Jacqueline Katz, both therapists at a private practice in Dallas, sat down with their colleagues for their weekly team meeting. This one-hour gathering was a lifeline for the therapists, where they could discuss challenges their clients were facing and receive advice from their fellow practitioners.
FM News 101 KXL: Jewish Group Gathering To Protest Antisemitism In Educational Settings
For the local Jewish population in Portland, there’s an avenue to making voices heard. StandWithUs, a nonpartisan group that supports Israel and fights antisemitism, is holding a rally across from the Oregon Convention Center as the National Education Association assembly hosts its annual conference in Portland.
New York Post: House Committee probing Columbia University leadership’s ‘troubling’ statements on campus antisemitism
The House Education Committee is probing Columbia University leaders over messages that appeared to downplay fears of antisemitism on the Ivy League campus last year. A new letter, penned by chairs Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) and Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), demands that Columbia University President Claire Shipman clarify a series of messages, including one that labeled concerns about the hostile antisemitic sentiment that has permeated the Manhattan campus as irrational and “threatening.”
Jerusalem Post: Iowa Governor Signs Executive Order Addressing Antisemitism, Supporting Israel
At the Combat Antisemitism Movement’s State Leadership Summit on Antisemitism and Support for Israel in Kansas City on Monday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced the signing of Executive Order 13, which formally denounces antisemitism and affirms the state’s support for Israel.
NBC 10 Boston: Violent crime down in Mass. but anti-Jewish hate crimes spiked last year, new data shows
Overall and violent crime rates continued a downward trend in Massachusetts last year, according to new data released by the state, however there was one glaring and troubling increase -- anti-Jewish hate crimes, which spiked more than 20% in 2024. For the first time since the state began tracking in 1991, the preliminary data released Tuesday shows that anti-Jewish bias incidents surpassed anti-Black incidents as the most reported hate crime in the Bay State.
France
Reuters: France's Le Pen hands Bayrou a lifeline, but budget will test her patience
French far right leader Marine Le Pen may have decided to let Prime Minister Francois Bayrou survive this time round, but his days might be numbered. Bayrou survived his eighth no-confidence motion on Tuesday, after a truce struck with the Socialists collapsed over his failure to soften France's pensions reform but Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) declined to join the mutiny.
Germany
Deutsche Welle: Iranian envoy summoned over suspected spy's arrest
Berlin has summoned the Iranian ambassador in Germany over the arrest in Denmark of a Danish national accused of spying on Jews in Germany for Iran. "We will not tolerate any threat to Jewish life in Germany," the German foreign ministry said in a post on X, adding that the allegations needed to be "thoroughly investigated." According to German prosecutors, the man's suspected aim was to collect information on Jewish sites and individuals in Berlin. The man allegedly spied on three properties in June 2025 and prepared for further intelligence activities, possibly terrorist attacks on Jewish targets.
Context: Germany's latest Pride trend? Far-right, anti-LGBTQ+ marches
Pride marches are increasingly targeted by right-wing extremists and neo-Nazi protesters in Germany, with LGBTQ+ activists blaming the rise of the far-right and anti-LGBTQ+ voices in politics. Germany is ranked among the highest in Europe for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights by ILGA World, a worldwide federation of organisations campaigning on such issues.
Netherlands
NL Times: Man arrested for threats to singer Douwe Bob; Said to lead far-right group in Amsterdam
The police have arrested a 38-year-old man from Amsterdam for threatening the musician Douwe Bob. The singer recently decided to leave the country for his family's safety. The singer received the threats after he had decided not to perform at a Jewish children’s football event. The police got in contact with the singer as a result of the threats. Police have said that Bob made his own decision to leave the country, and he used his own means of transport to do so.
NL Times: Douwe Bob leaves Netherlands over threats after VVD leader's anti-Semitism accusations
Singer Douwe Bob has left the Netherlands with his family on the police’s advice, the singer said on social media. He’s received serious threats after VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz accused him of anti-Semitism. “I am writing this from the car on the way from the Netherlands. To ensure the safety of my family and myself, we have decided to leave for the time being,” Douwe Bob wrote.
Switzerland
Reuters: Swiss move to dissolve Gaza aid delivery group's Geneva branch
Switzerland on Wednesday initiated proceedings to dissolve the Geneva branch of the controversial, U.S- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation aid group, citing legal shortcomings in its establishment. The GHF began handing out food packages in the Gaza Strip at the end of May, overseeing a new model of aid deliveries that has drawn U.N. criticism over a perceived lack of neutrality in Gaza's war as well as the killings of hundreds of Palestinians in mass shootings near its distribution hubs.
United Kingdom
Jewish News: Teacher survey confirms huge rise in Jew-hate but union boss blames ‘far-right’
The acting leader of a teaching union has been accused of “shamefully letting down Jewish members” after a survey showed a horrific rise in antisemitic incidents in schools. A survey conducted by the NASUWT union found 90% of Jewish teachers believed their employers need more training on recognising and challenging antisemitism.
The Standard: Who are the Maniacs Murder Cult and the Russian Imperial Movement set to be proscribed with Palestine Action
The UK Government is set to proscribe two neo-Nazi groups in the form of the Maniacs Murder Club and the Russian Imperial Movement, alongside Palestine Action, calling into question the motives of the UK’s leadership. By proscribing all three at the same time, the Government risks ‘misusing’ terrorism laws against Palestine Action if authorities press ahead with proscribing them as a terrorist group, United Nations experts warned.
Afghanistan
Reuters: Surge in Afghans driven from Iran in spy hunt after Israel attacks
Afghan citizen Enayatullah Asghari watched dismayed after Israel and Iran launched strikes on each other last month, as the Gulf nation where he had sought refuge turned more hostile, work on Tehran building sites dried up and he was accused of spying. Asghari, 35, is among tens of thousands of Afghans whom Iran has deported home in the past few weeks, in the fallout of a conflict the United Nations says risks further destabilising Afghanistan, already battling a humanitarian crisis.
Afghanistan International: Taliban Violations Of Doha Deal Fuel Regional Instability, Pakistan’s Bhutto Says
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, chairman of Pakistan’s People’s Party, has accused the Taliban of repeatedly violating their commitments under the Doha Agreement, warning that their actions are fuelling instability across the region. Speaking at a seminar titled “Pakistan’s War on Terror for the World” in Islamabad, Bhutto urged the Taliban to honour the terms of the 2020 agreement signed with the United States, which includes preventing terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS from operating on Afghan soil.
Afghanistan International: Death Toll Rises To Eight After Taliban Open Fire On Protesters In Badakhshan
At least eight civilians, including a young girl, have been killed and 27 others wounded in the district of Khash, Badakhshan province, following gunfire by Taliban forces during protests, local sources told Afghanistan International on Tuesday. Medical staff at a local hospital in Badakhshan confirmed that the fatalities occurred over two days of unrest. Six people, including a woman, were reportedly killed on Monday, while two more died on Tuesday. The condition of several of the injured remains critical.
Amu: Taliban cut telecom services in Khash amid unrest: Sources
Taliban have shut down telecommunication networks in the Khash district of Badakhshan Province following violent confrontations with protesters that have left at least 15 people dead, according to local sources. The blackout comes amid growing tensions in the remote northeastern district, where residents have staged demonstrations against the Taliban’s counternarcotics crackdown. Protesters claim the Taliban responded with force, using live ammunition to disperse crowds.
Gaza Strip
Naharnet: Hamas says open to Gaza truce but stops short of accepting Trump-backed proposal
Hamas suggested Wednesday that it was open to a ceasefire agreement with Israel, but stopped short of accepting a U.S.-backed proposal announced by President Donald Trump hours earlier, insisting on its longstanding position that any deal bring an end to the war in Gaza. Trump said Tuesday that Israel had agreed on terms for a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza and urged Hamas to accept the deal before conditions worsen. The U.S. leader has been increasing pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas to broker a ceasefire, and hostage agreement and bring about an end to the war.
Reuters: Trump urges Hamas to accept 'final proposal' for 60-day Gaza ceasefire
U.S. President Donald Trump urged Iran-backed Hamas militants on Tuesday to agree to what he called a "final proposal" for a 60-day ceasefire with Israel in Gaza that will be delivered by mediating officials from Qatar and Egypt. In a social media post, Trump said his representatives had a "long and productive" meeting with Israeli officials about Gaza.
Reuters: Hamas orders Gaza clan leader to surrender, accuses him of treason
The Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza on Wednesday ordered the leader of a well-armed Bedouin clan defying the group's control of the Palestinian enclave to surrender and face trial, accusing him of treason. A ministry statement said the decision was taken by what it called a "Revolutionary Court". Yasser Abu Shabab, who does not recognise the authority of Hamas and accuses the militants of hurting the interests of Gaza, had 10 days to surrender, it said.
Iran
Reuters: US bombing "seriously damaged" Iran's Fordow nuclear site, FM says
The U.S. bombing of Iran's key Fordow nuclear site has "seriously and heavily damaged" the facility, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with CBS News, opens new tab. "No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged," Araqchi said in the interview broadcast on Tuesday.
New York Times: Top Iran Official Survived Israeli Strike
A senior Iranian official and adviser to Iran’s supreme leader who had been presumed killed in an Israeli attack last month was seen walking with a cane at a funeral service for military commanders over the weekend in Tehran. Israel had attacked the penthouse duplex apartment of the official, Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, with a missile when it launched military strikes against Iran on June 13, beginning a 12-day war that was later joined by the United States. Admiral Shamkhani, 69, is one of Iran’s most influential political figures. He had supervised negotiations with the United States over Iran’s nuclear program before talks collapsed. He had served for years as secretary of the country’s Supreme National Security Council and, most recently, had been appointed as a senior adviser to the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Reuters: Iran made preparations to mine the Strait of Hormuz, US sources say
The Iranian military loaded naval mines onto vessels in the Persian Gulf last month, a move that intensified concerns in Washington that Tehran was gearing up to blockade the Strait of Hormuz following Israel's strikes on sites across Iran, according to two U.S. officials. The previously unreported preparations, which were detected by U.S. intelligence, occurred some time after Israel launched its initial missile attack against Iran on June 13, said the officials, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence matters. The loading of the mines - which have not been deployed in the strait - suggests that Tehran may have been serious about closing one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, a move that would have escalated an already-spiraling conflict and severely hobbled global commerce.
Reuters: Surge in Afghans driven from Iran in spy hunt after Israel attacks
Afghan citizen Enayatullah Asghari watched dismayed after Israel and Iran launched strikes on each other last month, as the Gulf nation where he had sought refuge turned more hostile, work on Tehran building sites dried up and he was accused of spying. Asghari, 35, is among tens of thousands of Afghans whom Iran has deported home in the past few weeks, in the fallout of a conflict the United Nations says risks further destabilising Afghanistan, already battling a humanitarian crisis.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency: 24 Iranian Jews remain in prison as government launches internal crackdown, sources say
Twenty-four members of the Jewish community in Tehran and Shiraz remain in prison as of Sunday after being arrested along with hundreds of others in a sweeping government crackdown in Iran that began as fighting ended with Israel. The arrests took in 35 Jews originally, according to a report put out Saturday by HRANA, the Human Rights Activist News Agency, an affiliate of the Human Rights in Iran NGO. Mass arrests began early in the morning of June 23, according to the report. Eleven Jews have been released since the original arrests, according to a former senior Iranian communal leader, who would speak only on condition of anonymity due to concerns for his contacts in Iran.
Israel
Times of Israel: Katz announces plans to curb settler violence against Israeli troops
Following an emergency meeting with top security officials, Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday a series of measures he said were aimed at curbing settler violence against Israeli troops and security forces in the West Bank. “We will not allow or accept such serious incidents in any form,” Katz said at the Monday night meeting, according to a Defense Ministry statement, vowing significant police enforcement and the creation of a joint task force led by the police in coordination with the IDF and Shin Bet to address the phenomenon. Katz also approved tens of millions of shekels for social programs aimed at integrating extremist settler youth into normative educational frameworks and said a follow-up meeting would be held in three weeks to assess progress.
Jerusalem Post: Hamas official doubles down on demands for end of war amid new hostage deal hopes – report
Hamas officials have doubled down on demands that a new hostage deal agreement would see a complete end to the war, the Associated Press (AP) reported on Wednesday, citing an official from the terror group. Hamas official Taher al-Nunu said that Hamas was “ready and serious regarding reaching an agreement.” He added that the terror group was “ready to accept any initiative that clearly leads to the complete end to the war.”
Jerusalem Post: Ben-Gvir rallies Smotrich to block Gaza ceasefire, opposition offers Netanyahu 'safety net'
Otzma Yehudit chair MK Itamar Ben-Gvir appealed to Religious Zionist leader MK Bezalel Smotrich to join him in opposing a hostage deal that would include a ceasefire in Gaza, N12 reported on Wednesday.
Ben-Gvir's reported plea to Smotrich follows US President Donald Trump's claim that Israel had agreed to a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release.
Reuters: Israel's defence chief threatens to retaliate for Houthi missiles
Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz vowed to retaliate against Iran-aligned Houthis after his country's military intercepted a missile launched from Yemen toward Israeli territory. "The fate of Yemen is the same as that of Tehran," Katz said in a statement, referring to last month's 12-day conflict during which Israel targeted Iran's nuclear and missile programmes.
Lebanon
Naharnet: Hezbollah reportedly preparing its own response to US paper
Hezbollah is waiting to receive a copy of the Lebanese paper that is being prepared by President Joseph Aoun, Speaker Nabih Berri and PM Nawaf Salam in response to the paper submitted by U.S. envoy Tom Barrack, informed political sources said. The Lebanese response will consider the current government’s Ministerial Statement as “a Lebanese acknowledgment of the monopolization of arms in the hands of the state” and will demand that Israel stop its strikes and release the Lebanese captives, the sources told ad-Diyar newspaper.
Naharnet: Details of US envoy's proposal for Lebanon revealed
A high-ranking political source, familiar with ongoing talks, has confirmed to al-Joumhouria newspaper that U.S. envoy Tom Barrack's six-page paper presented to Lebanon focuses on Hezbollah's disarmament, as well as that of other factions, and Lebanon's relationship with Syria, including border demarcation. The document also emphasizes the implementation of financial reforms as a prerequisite for reconstruction, in exchange for Israel's complete withdrawal and cessation of violations, including assassinations against Hezbollah commanders and members.
Naharnet: Reports of fighters build-up on Syria-Lebanon border are 'baseless'
Security on Lebanon’s eastern border with Syria is “under control” and “sponsored by Saudi Arabia” and the reports about a build-up of foreign fighters on the frontier are “baseless,” senior diplomatic sources told the al-Anbaa news portal of the Progressive Socialist Party. The unconfirmed reports had said that fighters were mobilizing on the border for possible military action against Hezbollah.
Naharnet: Salam says 'things positive' as to Lebanese response to US paper
Prime Minister Nawaf Salam has said that “things are going in a positive manner with President Joseph Aoun and Speaker Nabih Berri” regarding Lebanon’s response to the U.S. paper of demands. In an interview with An-Nahar newspaper, Salam said he has stressed to U.S. envoy Tom Barrack and his administration the need to “obtain real guarantees that truly lead to Israel’s withdrawal from the occupied territory and halting its attacks and violations of Lebanon’s sovereignty in a permanent manner.”
Naharnet: Lebanon mulls phased disarmament amid 'difficult' debate within Hezbollah
Lebanese officials are racing against time to reach “acceptable formats” for a Lebanese paper responding to a U.S. proposal calling for an end to Israel’s attacks and the withdrawal of its forces in return for Hezbollah’s disarmament, a media report said. “Hezbollah has partially opened the door to discussions over this topic, which had been a taboo in the past, without giving clear answers on whether or not it accepts the principle,” Lebanese sources informed on the ongoing deliberations told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.
Reuters: Lebanon drafts reply to US demand for Hezbollah to disarm, sources say
Lebanese officials were drafting a response on Tuesday to U.S. demands for armed group Hezbollah to relinquish its weapons across the country by November in exchange for a halt to Israeli military operations, two sources briefed on the matter said. The deadline has turned up the heat on Iran-backed Hezbollah, which was struck hard by Israel during last year's war, is suffering a financial crunch and faces pressure in Lebanon to disarm.
Syria
Reuters: Israeli military says it captured 'terrorist cell operated by Iran' in southern Syria
The Israeli military said on Wednesday it had captured a "terrorist cell operated by Iran" in an operation in southern Syria.
Turkey
Reuters: Erdogan says cartoon depicting prophets is 'vile provocation'
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday condemned as a "vile provocation" a cartoon in a satirical magazine that appeared to depict Prophets Mohammad and Moses, amplifying an outcry by religious conservatives after the arrest of four cartoonists. The cartoon, published a few days after the end of a 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran, appears to show Mohammad, Islam's chief prophet, and Moses, one of Judaism's most important prophets, shaking hands in the sky while missiles fly below in a wartime scene.
Singapore
National Press Foundation: Even Singapore is Dealing with Right-Wing Extremists
In a society with so many cultures, religions and nationalities living in close proximity, Singapore’s government has long emphasized social cohesion. Those efforts have come into play in new ways over the past two decades as the city-state confronts ISIS-inspired security risks and now far-right ideologies and conspiracies.
Thailand
Jerusalem Post: Arrests made in Thailand after explosives laid across Thai tourist hotspots
Three major tourism provinces in Thailand have announced they are heightening their security measures after explosives were planted across tourism hotspots earlier this week, including one at Phuket International Airport. Two men, identified only as 29-year-old Muhamah and 27-year-old Sulaiman by Thai media, were arrested in connection with the explosives at 11 sites. The men are currently understood to be part of Barisan Revolusi Nasional group, an Islamist separatist group. CCTV footage allegedly revealed the pair planting the bombs from June 21 until June 23, with many not being defused until days later.
Australia
Reuters: Australia cancels rapper Ye's visa over 'Heil Hitler' songv
Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, has had his Australian visa cancelled after he released “Heil Hitler”, a song promoting Nazism, the country’s home affairs minister said on Wednesday. The U.S. rapper released the song that praised the Nazi leader Adolf Hitler across social media and music streaming platforms in May.
Region Canberra: White supremacist online network with violent intent listed as a terrorist group
White supremacist online network Terrorgram has been officially listed as a terrorist organisation under Australia’s Criminal Code. Group members and anyone found supporting it will face penalties of up to 25 years in prison. That includes those who train with the network, recruit for it or provide it with funds.
Africa
Arab Weekly: Emulating Syria’s Islamists, al-Qaeda-linked JNIM seeks power in Africa’s Sahel
In Africa’s turbulent Sahel region, the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM jihadist group is expanding its influence by repeated massacres, food distribution and signing pacts with local authorities to position itself as a key political player. The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has not ruled out governing states and has condemned bloody attacks it accuses mercenaries from the private Russian company Wagner and its jihadist rivals of carrying out.
Congo
Reuters: Rwanda exercises command and control over M23 rebels, say UN experts
Rwanda has exercised command and control over M23 rebels during their advance in eastern Congo, gaining political influence and access to mineral-rich territory, according to a confidential report by a group of United Nations experts. The report obtained by Reuters details training which the experts say Rwanda has provided to M23 recruits and military equipment they say Rwanda has deployed - notably "high-tech systems capable of neutralizing air assets" - to give the rebels "a decisive tactical advantage" over Congo's beleaguered army. The report was submitted to the U.N. Security Council sanctions committee for Congo in early May and is due to be published shortly, said diplomats.
M23 has advanced in eastern Congo, seizing the region's two largest cities, Goma and Bukavu in January and February. Congo, the United Nations and Western powers say Rwanda is supporting M23 by sending troops and arms.
Reuters: Exclusive: USAID cancelled rape survivor kits for Congo as conflict erupted
U.S. President Donald Trump's administration cancelled a major contract to supply emergency kits for rape survivors in Congo as violence surged in the east this year, leaving thousands without access to life-saving medication, the United Nations and aid groups said. The emergency kits include medication to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, as well as unwanted pregnancies. The decision to cancel the contract for around 100,000 post-rape kits has not been reported previously.
Mali
News Central TV: Mali Military Says 80 Militants Killed After Attacks
Mali’s armed forces have announced they killed 80 al Qaeda-linked militants following a series of “simultaneous and coordinated attacks” on military posts across central and western parts of the country. Officials reported that these assaults occurred in seven towns and cities, spanning areas near the border with Senegal and further north, close to the frontier with Mauritania. The Malian army released this statement during a special bulletin broadcast on its armed forces’ television channel.
Technology
Global Network on Extremism & Technology: Playing with Hate: How Far-Right Extremists Use Minecraft to Gamify Radicalisation
With over 200 million monthly active players, Minecraft offers near-total creative freedom, including the ability to design maps, host private servers, and create mods. While most players use these features harmlessly, far-right actors have exploited this freedom to build propaganda-filled environments, memorialise violent events, and embed hate speech into virtual architecture. This is not limited to hateful swastikas; some builds include recreated mass shooting sites or ‘shooter training’ simulators. Others are more subtle, using old buildings from fascist times, hidden messages, or characters that repeat extremist ideas.
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