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Analysis
Eurasia Review: Afghanistan’s Safe Havens And Ideological Patronage: Catalysts For Global Terrorism
The contemporary global terrorist threat extends beyond labels or rhetoric. It is anchored in the resilience of networks such as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and Al-Qaeda. UN Security Council reports estimate that Afghanistan hosts nearly 23,000 foreign militants. Many of these militants draw ideological backing and operational freedom from the permissive governance of the Islamic Emirate. These groups remain active. They continue to recruit, train, and orchestrate attacks that reach beyond South Asia into Central Asia and the Middle East. Pakistan has lost over 80,000 lives in its counterterrorism efforts and is acutely aware of this threat. Afghanistan’s ungoverned spaces have become sanctuaries for the resurgence of militant activity.
United States
Reuters: Maduro pleads not guilty to drug charges, saying he was 'kidnapped'
Toppled Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro pleaded not guilty on Monday to narcotics charges after President Donald Trump's stunning capture of him rattled world leaders and left officials in Caracas scrambling to regroup. "I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man. I am still president of my country," Maduro, 63, said through an interpreter, before being cut off by U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in Manhattan federal court.
Jewish Telegraphic Agency: After Maduro’s capture, Rubio links Venezuela mission to fight against Iran and Hezbollah
In the wake of the U.S. operation that brought Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro to the United States to face charges, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the mission is also about ending Iran and Hezbollah activity inside Venezuela. Rubio made the remarks on U.S. television a day after elite U.S. forces carried out a pre-dawn raid in Caracas that resulted in Maduro’s capture and his transfer to federal custody in New York. President Donald Trump and Rubio have framed the mission as aimed at dismantling narco-trafficking networks and foreign influence tied to Caracas.
CBS News: Democrats mark 5 years since Jan. 6 Capitol attack as defendants retrace riot's steps
House Democrats are holding an unofficial hearing on Tuesday to mark five years since the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Lawmakers who were part of a since-disbanded special committee that investigated the riot and President Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 election are leading the hearing, which began at 10 a.m. The meeting is not an official proceeding because Democrats are the minority party.
Fox News: Our adversaries can no longer use Venezuela to export terrorism worldwide: Stephen Miller
White House Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy Stephen Miller discusses the Trump administration’s actions in Venezuela amid reports he is being considered for a role in a post-Maduro government on ‘Hannity.’
Jewish Insider: Jewish leaders question Mamdani’s antisemitism strategy
Days into Zohran Mamdani’s first week as mayor of New York City, some Jewish leaders are privately raising questions about whether his fledgling administration is prepared to implement a clear strategy to counter rising antisemitism, one of the key pledges of his campaign. Even as he swiftly moved to revoke two executive orders tied to Israel and antisemitism on his first day in office, Mamdani has yet to disclose how he and his team plan to substantively address what he has repeatedly called “the scourge of antisemitism” in remarks vowing to protect Jewish New Yorkers.
Business Insider: 'Inside Edition' execs and talent made racist, sexist, antisemitic, and anti-Muslim comments, former producer says in a new lawsuit
A former producer for the syndicated CBS news program "Inside Edition" has sued Paramount Global, claiming he was fired after complaining about repeated antisemitic comments by senior talent.
Fox 59: FBI foils ‘ISIS-inspired plot’ at Indiana school
The Federal Bureau of Investigation says it stopped an ISIS-inspired attacked planned at a central Indiana school. The agency isn’t providing many details about the incident, including the school in question.
The Texan: Texas Man Federally Charged After Allegedly Attempting to Provide Bomb Material, Cryptocurrency to ISIS
A Texas man was federally charged on international terrorism offenses due to his alleged involvement with attempting to provide bomb materials and financial assistance to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, a designated foreign terrorist organization. John Michael Garza, Jr., a 21-year-old from Midlothian, was arrested on December 22 after a successful undercover operation by law enforcement. Garza brought explosive materials, in addition to other forms of assistance, to who he thought was an ISIS “brother,” but was instead an undercover agent.
Spectrum News 1: FBI: Teen was back online for just days before alleged ISIS-inspired plot
A former FBI official said an 18-year-old North Carolina man accused of plotting an ISIS-inspired attack had been back on social media for only a short time before investigators intervened, despite court records suggesting the plan had been in place for a year. The FBI arrested Christian Sturdivant last week, accusing him of plotting an attack on a fast food restaurant and a grocery store. Court documents say the attack was planned for New Year’s Eve.
Canada
Jerusalem Post: 'Hate:' Winnipeg synagogue vandalized with swastika graffiti, suspicious package found
A Winnipeg synagogue was defaced with swastikas and antisemitic graffiti on Friday, according to the Winnipeg Police Service and the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, raising fears as a suspicious package was found at the Canadian Jewish site on Sunday.
Prince George Citizen News: Symphony manager suspended after attending white nationalist event
The Prince George Symphony Orchestra (PGSO) is currently in the midst of an ongoing investigation into the actions of operations manager Thea Coburn. Coburn was reportedly photographed at a white nationalist networking event in Vancouver by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network (CAHN), which took photos of the attendees and uploaded them to its website for identification.
Venezuela
The National News Desk: Ex-Venezuela general and Maduro ally pleaded guilty to narco-terrorism charges last year
A former Venezuelan general and ally of disposed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in June of 2025 pleaded guilty to narco-terrorism charges last year. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and the Acting Administrator of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Robert Murphy announced June 25, 2025 that Venezuelan General Hugo Armando Carvajal Barrios pleaded guilty to different charges, including conspiracy to import cocaine into the U.S. and weapons-related offenses.
Germany
Jewish Telegraphic Agency: German antisemitism czar targeted in arson attack: ‘I will not be intimidated by this’
A property belonging to the antisemitism commissioner for the German state of Brandenburg was targeted in a suspected arson attack on Sunday. Andreas Büttner, the state’s commissioner of combatting antisemitism, wrote in a post on X that his family was home at the time of the attack, which targeted a shed on his property in Templin, a small town in Brandenburg. He said that no one was injured during the attack.
CBS News: Berlin mayor calls left-wing arson attack behind massive power outage terrorism that endangers lives
An arson attack claimed by a left-wing extremist group has left tens of thousands of residents in Germany's capital without electricity in the dead of winter for several days. The Saturday morning arson attack on critical electricity infrastructure in southwest Berlin cut power to nearly 50,000 homes and businesses, and renewed scrutiny of a long-running sabotage campaign by the left-wing "Vulkangruppe."
TRT World: Far-right extremism seeping into everyday life across Germany, expert warns
Neo-Nazi ideas are gaining ground on the streets, in parliament and online, especially among young people in economically weak regions, driven by social media, political neglect, and growing frustration, an anti-extremism researcher says.
United Kingdom
The Telegraph: Mahmood bans Muslim ‘hate’ preacher from Britain
Shabana Mahmood has banned an Islamic preacher from entering the UK after he defended Hamas in the wake of the October 7 terror attack on Israel. The Home Secretary revoked the travel authorisation of Dr Shadee Elmasry, an Islamic scholar from New Jersey, days before he had been due to arrive for a series of talks in the UK.
The Telegraph: Home Secretary refuses to use powers to deport ‘extremist’
Shabana Mahmood has rejected calls to ban an Egyptian “extremist” from the UK, despite claims that she has the powers to do so. The Home Secretary said she would not strip Alaa Abd el-Fattah of his UK citizenship regardless of “abhorrent” and “horrific” comments in which he called for “all Zionists” to be killed and for Downing Street to be burnt down.
Daily Record: Neo-nazi mum and daughter 'Hannah Hitler' jailed over vile racist and anti-Semitic posts
A Neo-Nazi mother and daughter who posted extremist anti-Semitic, racist and transphobic material on social media accounts have both been jailed. Shirley Craughwell described non-whites as “a different species” and published comments including “Hitler was trying to save us” and “The need for a new holocaust is never more urgent than now”.
Liverpool Echo: Warning of 'dark turn' as Nazi graffiti found by Merseyside tourist attraction
A local councillor has warned local and national politics could be about to take a "dark turn" after he discovered Nazi graffiti near a Merseyside tourist attraction. The racist scrawls were reported by Lib Dem leader Cllr John Pugh, who found it during a walk around his constituency ward in Southport, near to the town’s Marine Lake.
Afghanistan
Amu: Taliban leader bans sale and transfer of state land without approval
Taliban leader Hibatullah Akhundzada has issued a decree banning the sale, distribution and transfer of state-owned land by government bodies without his direct approval, according to an order published on Tuesday. The three-article decree, released by the Taliban body responsible for enforcing leadership orders, says ministries, government departments and municipalities are prohibited from selling or allocating state land to individuals or legal entities unless authorised by Akhundzada.
Afghanistan International: Taliban Publicly Flog 16 People In Four Afghan Provinces
The Taliban’s Supreme Court said its primary courts have publicly flogged 16 people in the provinces of Parwan, Kabul, Kunar and Balkh, imposing corporal punishment alongside prison sentences. In statements issued on Monday, the Taliban Supreme Court said those punished received between 10 and 39 lashes each and were also sentenced to prison terms ranging from one year to three years and one month.
Gaza Strip/West Bank
Jerusalem Post: Israeli teen injured in suspected West Bank car ramming, IDF blocks roads near Ramallah
A 13-year-old was injured in a possible car ramming attack in the West Bank on Sunday evening. The IDF is investigating the incident, which occured near Maayan Ateret, north of Jerusalem, the military noted.
Palestinian Information Center: Hamas: Vehicle-ramming attack north of Ramallah legitimate response to Israeli aggression
The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, has said the vehicle-ramming attack near Birzeit, north of Ramallah, came amid a wave of popular anger and constituted a legitimate response to Israel’s policies of killing, repression, and displacement.
Times of Israel: Israeli troops raid West Bank’s Birzeit University, seize property from student group dominated by Hamas-tied bloc
Israeli forces clash with students during a raid at Birzeit University, north of Ramallah in the West Bank, according to videos published by Palestinian media. WAFA, the Palestinian Authority’s official news agency, says Israeli forces broke down the university’s main gate, searched several buildings and seized property from the student movement, which is dominated by a Hamas-affiliated bloc.
Iraq
Kurdistan24: Analyst Warns of Potential Escalation as Reports Emerge of U.S. Delta Force Near Iraqi Border
A prominent political and military analyst has issued a stark warning regarding the security situation in Iraq, citing intelligence reports that suggest elements of the U.S. Army's elite Delta Force have been deployed to the country’s borders in anticipation of a significant military event.
Israel
Newsweek: Netanyahu Reveals Trump Deal on Gaza Crossing, New Hamas Deadline
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he agreed with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration that the Rafah crossing in Gaza would not reopen until Hamas had handed over the remains of Ran Gvili, the last hostage still in the strip, according to a report by KAN, Israel's public broadcaster.
Lebanon
Associated Press: Israel strikes multiple sites in Lebanon ahead of a key disarmament meeting
Israel’s air force struck areas in southern and eastern Lebanon on Monday and early Tuesday, including in the country’s third-largest city. A strike around 1 a.m. Tuesday leveled a three-story commercial building in the southern coastal city of Sidon, a few days before Lebanon’s army commander is scheduled to brief the government on its mission of disarming militant group Hezbollah in areas along the border with Israel.
Naharnet: Report: US asks Lebanon to keep Hezbollah out of any Iran war to avoid strike
President Joseph Aoun’s latest reassurance that “specter of war has become distant” was based on “information received by the Lebanese official authorities from high-ranking international parties and Western embassies,” a prominent Lebanese official said. “During their Dec. 29 meeting in Florida, U.S. President Donald Trump and the enemy’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed on striking Iran if it does not engage in a settlement according to the U.S. conditions,” the official told al-Akhbar newspaper.
Naharnet: Cabinet, Mechanism to meet this week over Hezbollah disarmament
Cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss the army's progress in disarming Hezbollah south of the Litani River. The ceasefire monitoring committee -- comprising Lebanon, Israel, the United States, France and U.N. peacekeepers -- is also set to meet this week. The meeting in Naqoura in south Lebanon will not include civilians, as the discussions will mainly focus on military matters.
Naharnet: Qassem says priority for halting aggression, calls for equipping army
Hezbollah chief Sheikh Naim Qassem has said that his party wants Lebanon to be "sovereign, free, independent and capable."
Syria
Kurdistan24: SDF Deny Deir Hafir Attack Claims Amid Escalating Tensions in Aleppo
The Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) on Monday denied claims that they targeted a military police checkpoint near the town of Deir Hafir, east of Aleppo, warning that the allegations were fabricated and aimed at justifying further escalation. In a statement issued by its Media Center, the SDF rejected accusations made by the Media and Communications Administration of the Syrian Ministry of Defense, stressing that its forces carried out no activities, movements, or military operations in the area on January 5.
Yemen
Israel Hayom: Iran and Houthis coordinate responses to potential Israeli-US strikes
Security sources in Yemen have told the Emirati website Aram News that senior officials from Iran's Quds Force and the Houthi terror organization have conducted high-level coordination over the past two weeks. According to the sources, this coordination intensified through a series of secret meetings focused on division of responsibilities and readiness for response scenarios if Iran comes under direct attack by Israel and the US. The sources noted that the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait (strategic waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden) featured prominently in the discussions, as they constitute a sensitive area from an international perspective.
Kenya
Arab News: Islamic coalition launches rehab program in Kenya
The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition recently launched an anti-extremism program in Nairobi, Kenya, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The launch of the “Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration for Individuals with Extremist Ideologies and Terrorist Behaviors” program was attended by several top officials.
Mali
Central News: Mali Gold Mine Attacked: Seven Workers Abducted and Later Freed After Militant Raid
Suspected jihadists carried out a daring raid on the Morila gold mine in southern Mali over the weekend, setting fire to equipment and briefly abducting seven workers before letting them go the next evening. This incident has sparked fresh worries about safety in Mali’s mining areas, where gold plays a big role in the economy, and highlights the ongoing threat from militant groups linked to al Qaeda.
Somalia
Dawan Africa: Somali National Army Kills Five Al-Shabaab Militants in Gedo
The Somali National Army (SNA) killed five Al-Shabaab militants during a planned operation in Gedo region, south of the country, on Tuesday, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. The targeted attack took place in the Ceel Cilaan area, approximately 30 kilometers (18 miles) east of Bardhere district. Military officials said the operation was launched to destroy a base used by the group to terrorize local communities.
Australia
Jerusalem Post: Suspect arrested in Melbourne arson of vehicle with Hanukkah billboard
A suspect in the arson of a Melbourne vehicle with a Hanukkah billboard was arrested by the Victoria Police on Tuesday, law enforcement announced. Suspect John Argento was arrested on a Richmond street without incident following the identification of the 47-year-old as a person of interest a day after the December 25 fire.
Bloomberg: Australia State Extends Ban on Protests After Bondi Beach Attack
Australia’s most populous state extended a temporary ban on protests and some other public assemblies for another 14 days, citing lingering public safety concerns after a terrorist attack at Bondi and heightened geopolitical tensions. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon told reporters Tuesday he reviewed the emergency declaration and determined that public gatherings over the next two weeks had “the potential to cause fear and public safety issues.”
Manila Times: Philippines and Australia boost counter-terrorism efforts after Bondi Beach attack
The Philippines and Australia reaffirmed cooperation to counter terrorism as the investigation continues on the Bondi beach shooting episode on December 14 wherein the gunmen traveled to the Philippines prior to the incident. The suspects, Sajid Akram, 50, and his son Naveed, 24, flew to Davao City in Nov. 2025 and stayed at GV Hotel for 28 days. They entered the country via Manila before proceeding to Davao City.
Technology
TechCrunch: Hacktivist deletes white supremacist websites live onstage during hacker conference
A hacktivist remotely wiped three white supremacist websites live onstage during their talk at a hacker conference last week, with the sites yet to return online. The pseudonymous hacker, who goes by Martha Root — dressed as Pink Ranger from the Power Rangers — deleted the servers of WhiteDate, WhiteChild, and WhiteDeal in real time at the end of a talk at the annual Chaos Communication Congress in Hamburg, Germany.
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