China Thinks It Has Leverage Over U.S. | Islam Grows, Christianity Slips as Share of World Population | The Extreme Far-Right Ecosystem in Ireland, and more

Therefore, this article endeavors to fill these lacunae. Consequently, conclusions are drawn regarding the threat posed by Hamas-led forces and other non-state actors who can or might employ drones and related technologies, and what might be done to effectively address them. Moreover, because these technologies and associated training and techniques are likely to continue to rapidly proliferate.

The Extreme Far-Right Ecosystem in Ireland: History and Contemporary Trends  (Gabriella Fattibene, Orla Lynch, James Windle, Grant Helm, Joe Purvis, and Liina Seppa,  Perspective on Terrorism)
It is often claimed that there is little to no organized extreme right-wing (ERW) presence in Ireland. The absence of the ERW is often attributed to Ireland’s ‘civil war’ political system, however, in recent years, the country has witnessed an increase in both far-right and ERW activity via online activism, street protest, and even violence. Perhaps the most prominent manifestation of the ERW is in the online space, and this article seeks to understand the Irish online ecosystem by focusing on social media influencer activity, their role in the propagation of ERW ideas, the spread or contagion of ideas into and out of the Irish eco-system, and the themes that are dominant in this space. This exploratory study, which analyzed 422,156 social media posts across four platforms (1 October 2020 to 30 June 2021), found that Twitter and Telegram played a more facilitatory role than YouTube and 4chan in the proliferation of ERW content in Ireland. The most frequently mentioned extreme right-wing influencers were Irish, British, and American public figures and social media influencers, and the majority of location mentions referenced the United States, followed by the United Kingdom. The most popular themes were global conspiracy theories followed by anti-left, alt-right, anti-black, and anti-government sentiments. The article concludes that there is ERW presence in Ireland, and it has its own online ecosystem aimed towards creating division and spreading ideologies of hate and, in some instances, a call to action.

Mapping the Money Trail: The Evolution of Terrorist Financing Networks in Indonesia  (Jose Akmal, GNET)
Terrorist exploitation of digital financing is a technological, regulatory, and enforcement problem everywhere extremists operate – all over the world. Indonesia, with its evolving domestic digital technology and history of Islamist extremism, make it a key case study in understanding terrorist financing. Groups like Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Mujahid Indonesia Timur (MIT), and emerging cells have adapted their financing methods from traditional hawala and zakat-based charities to using cryptocurrencies and digital payment systems in order to evade detection. This Insight explores how these groups exploit Indonesia’s digital landscape to fund operations more securely and indirectly. The findings aim to help Indonesian and international authorities, along with tech companies, address the growing use of cryptocurrency to finance terrorism. By recognising this threat, both domestic and international firms can collaborate with governments and other stakeholders to strengthen systems and prevent exploitation.

As Trade Talks Continue, China Thinks It Has Leverage Over U.S.  (Katrina Northrop, Washington Post)
China returns to trade talks with the U.S. holding, from its view, a strong hand: Its economy is bearing up better than expected. And it has an ace card: rare earths.

Islam Grows, Christianity Slips as Share of World Population, Survey Finds  (Angie Orellana Hernandez, Washington Post)
While the number of Christians continued to grow from 2010 to 2020, the world’s population grew faster, according to the Pew Research Center.

Why China Hasn’t Seen Another Tiananmen Movement  (Yang Jianli, Foreign Policy)
Online culture and censorship have broken the ties that once spurred protesters.

Where Does Syria’s Political Transition Stand?  (Chloe Hadavas, Foreign Policy)
A snapshot of the threats facing the post-Assad government.