Latest news with #Russian-founded
The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Online hate group listed as a terrorist organisation
The online far-right extremist network Terrorgram has been listed as a terrorist organisation, with members facing decades in jail if convicted of an offence. The federal government says the group provides instructions on how to conduct terrorist attacks and has been responsible for inspiring terror events in the United States, Europe and Asia. The listing means Australians who join, recruit or fund the network will face prison terms of up to 25 years. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the listing was different to previous ones because of the way Terrorgram operated. "If people imagine a big chat group dedicated to hatred and violence," he told ABC Radio on Friday. "It's a situation where the members won't necessarily know each other. They won't necessarily know the people who they're recruiting." Mr Burke said the group was a direct threat to the safety of Australians and had previously made threats. The group encouraged not just the sharing of hatred but the sharing of acts of violence and how-to guides to enable people to commit acts of violence, he said. "You never stop chasing these characters down ... this listing won't be the last thing we have to do against far-right supremacist groups." Mr Burke said the nature of terrorist threats kept changing, particularly involving young males being radicalised online around the principle of violence. "These sorts of groups try to tell a whole lot of Australians they're not welcome here," he said. "They try to tell people they intend for them not be safe. "We're saying 'no, no, no, it's the hatred and the bigotry and the violence that isn't welcome here'." Mr Burke said the government was sending the message anyone who wanted to engage in Terrorgram faced serious criminal penalties. In February, the neo-Nazi and white supremacist group was slapped with counter-terrorism financing sanctions as part of the federal government's crackdown on anti-Semitism. Its channels share fascist content on how members can carry out racially-motivated violence against minority groups, police, public figures, political figures and journalists. Announcing the financing sanctions, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said they made it a criminal offence to use or deal with the assets of, or make assets available to, Terrorgram. Penalties include up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines. It was the first time Australia had imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on an entirely online entity, Senator Wong said. Terrorgram has operated on the Russian-founded social media site Telegram, aiming to inspire lone-wolf acts of terror. In January, the US State Department branded Terrorgram a terrorist group. The online far-right extremist network Terrorgram has been listed as a terrorist organisation, with members facing decades in jail if convicted of an offence. The federal government says the group provides instructions on how to conduct terrorist attacks and has been responsible for inspiring terror events in the United States, Europe and Asia. The listing means Australians who join, recruit or fund the network will face prison terms of up to 25 years. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the listing was different to previous ones because of the way Terrorgram operated. "If people imagine a big chat group dedicated to hatred and violence," he told ABC Radio on Friday. "It's a situation where the members won't necessarily know each other. They won't necessarily know the people who they're recruiting." Mr Burke said the group was a direct threat to the safety of Australians and had previously made threats. The group encouraged not just the sharing of hatred but the sharing of acts of violence and how-to guides to enable people to commit acts of violence, he said. "You never stop chasing these characters down ... this listing won't be the last thing we have to do against far-right supremacist groups." Mr Burke said the nature of terrorist threats kept changing, particularly involving young males being radicalised online around the principle of violence. "These sorts of groups try to tell a whole lot of Australians they're not welcome here," he said. "They try to tell people they intend for them not be safe. "We're saying 'no, no, no, it's the hatred and the bigotry and the violence that isn't welcome here'." Mr Burke said the government was sending the message anyone who wanted to engage in Terrorgram faced serious criminal penalties. In February, the neo-Nazi and white supremacist group was slapped with counter-terrorism financing sanctions as part of the federal government's crackdown on anti-Semitism. Its channels share fascist content on how members can carry out racially-motivated violence against minority groups, police, public figures, political figures and journalists. Announcing the financing sanctions, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said they made it a criminal offence to use or deal with the assets of, or make assets available to, Terrorgram. Penalties include up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines. It was the first time Australia had imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on an entirely online entity, Senator Wong said. Terrorgram has operated on the Russian-founded social media site Telegram, aiming to inspire lone-wolf acts of terror. In January, the US State Department branded Terrorgram a terrorist group. The online far-right extremist network Terrorgram has been listed as a terrorist organisation, with members facing decades in jail if convicted of an offence. The federal government says the group provides instructions on how to conduct terrorist attacks and has been responsible for inspiring terror events in the United States, Europe and Asia. The listing means Australians who join, recruit or fund the network will face prison terms of up to 25 years. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the listing was different to previous ones because of the way Terrorgram operated. "If people imagine a big chat group dedicated to hatred and violence," he told ABC Radio on Friday. "It's a situation where the members won't necessarily know each other. They won't necessarily know the people who they're recruiting." Mr Burke said the group was a direct threat to the safety of Australians and had previously made threats. The group encouraged not just the sharing of hatred but the sharing of acts of violence and how-to guides to enable people to commit acts of violence, he said. "You never stop chasing these characters down ... this listing won't be the last thing we have to do against far-right supremacist groups." Mr Burke said the nature of terrorist threats kept changing, particularly involving young males being radicalised online around the principle of violence. "These sorts of groups try to tell a whole lot of Australians they're not welcome here," he said. "They try to tell people they intend for them not be safe. "We're saying 'no, no, no, it's the hatred and the bigotry and the violence that isn't welcome here'." Mr Burke said the government was sending the message anyone who wanted to engage in Terrorgram faced serious criminal penalties. In February, the neo-Nazi and white supremacist group was slapped with counter-terrorism financing sanctions as part of the federal government's crackdown on anti-Semitism. Its channels share fascist content on how members can carry out racially-motivated violence against minority groups, police, public figures, political figures and journalists. Announcing the financing sanctions, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said they made it a criminal offence to use or deal with the assets of, or make assets available to, Terrorgram. Penalties include up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines. It was the first time Australia had imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on an entirely online entity, Senator Wong said. Terrorgram has operated on the Russian-founded social media site Telegram, aiming to inspire lone-wolf acts of terror. In January, the US State Department branded Terrorgram a terrorist group. The online far-right extremist network Terrorgram has been listed as a terrorist organisation, with members facing decades in jail if convicted of an offence. The federal government says the group provides instructions on how to conduct terrorist attacks and has been responsible for inspiring terror events in the United States, Europe and Asia. The listing means Australians who join, recruit or fund the network will face prison terms of up to 25 years. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the listing was different to previous ones because of the way Terrorgram operated. "If people imagine a big chat group dedicated to hatred and violence," he told ABC Radio on Friday. "It's a situation where the members won't necessarily know each other. They won't necessarily know the people who they're recruiting." Mr Burke said the group was a direct threat to the safety of Australians and had previously made threats. The group encouraged not just the sharing of hatred but the sharing of acts of violence and how-to guides to enable people to commit acts of violence, he said. "You never stop chasing these characters down ... this listing won't be the last thing we have to do against far-right supremacist groups." Mr Burke said the nature of terrorist threats kept changing, particularly involving young males being radicalised online around the principle of violence. "These sorts of groups try to tell a whole lot of Australians they're not welcome here," he said. "They try to tell people they intend for them not be safe. "We're saying 'no, no, no, it's the hatred and the bigotry and the violence that isn't welcome here'." Mr Burke said the government was sending the message anyone who wanted to engage in Terrorgram faced serious criminal penalties. In February, the neo-Nazi and white supremacist group was slapped with counter-terrorism financing sanctions as part of the federal government's crackdown on anti-Semitism. Its channels share fascist content on how members can carry out racially-motivated violence against minority groups, police, public figures, political figures and journalists. Announcing the financing sanctions, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said they made it a criminal offence to use or deal with the assets of, or make assets available to, Terrorgram. Penalties include up to 10 years in prison and heavy fines. It was the first time Australia had imposed counter-terrorism financing sanctions on an entirely online entity, Senator Wong said. Terrorgram has operated on the Russian-founded social media site Telegram, aiming to inspire lone-wolf acts of terror. In January, the US State Department branded Terrorgram a terrorist group.
The Age
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Age
Australian members of Terrorgram white supremacist network face 25 years jail
Australians who join, recruit or fund a white supremacist network that has told its members how to attack politicians and minority groups, will face up to 25 years in prison after the Albanese government listed Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation. The online network, which seeks to incite a race war, will become the fourth white supremacist group to be listed as a terrorist organisation and the first given that designation by the Albanese government. The group largely functions on the Russian-founded social media site Telegram and aims to inspire lone-wolf actors to attack people such as politicians and abortion activists, and shared documents on how to make bombs. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the listing would give national security agencies the power to restrict Terrorgram's operations and stop it from promoting violent nationalism and racist extremism. 'Online radicalisation is a growing threat, but the government has tools at its disposal and we will use every one of them to keep Australians safe,' Burke said. 'This group fosters and promotes an ideology that would seek to make some Australians feel unwelcome in their home. It is this extremist hatred which is not welcome and has no place in Australia.' Telegram has previously shut down Terrorgram channels, but the decentralised group continues to pop up and at its peak had 50 channels with hundreds of members, with other communication channels operating underground. Lone-wolf attackers have referred to Terrorgram in their manifestos, including one written by a 19-year-old who shot dead two men and himself outside a Slovakian LGBTQ bar in October 2022.
Sydney Morning Herald
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Australian members of Terrorgram white supremacist network face 25 years jail
Australians who join, recruit or fund a white supremacist network that has told its members how to attack politicians and minority groups, will face up to 25 years in prison after the Albanese government listed Terrorgram as a terrorist organisation. The online network, which seeks to incite a race war, will become the fourth white supremacist group to be listed as a terrorist organisation and the first given that designation by the Albanese government. The group largely functions on the Russian-founded social media site Telegram and aims to inspire lone-wolf actors to attack people such as politicians and abortion activists, and shared documents on how to make bombs. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the listing would give national security agencies the power to restrict Terrorgram's operations and stop it from promoting violent nationalism and racist extremism. 'Online radicalisation is a growing threat, but the government has tools at its disposal and we will use every one of them to keep Australians safe,' Burke said. 'This group fosters and promotes an ideology that would seek to make some Australians feel unwelcome in their home. It is this extremist hatred which is not welcome and has no place in Australia.' Telegram has previously shut down Terrorgram channels, but the decentralised group continues to pop up and at its peak had 50 channels with hundreds of members, with other communication channels operating underground. Lone-wolf attackers have referred to Terrorgram in their manifestos, including one written by a 19-year-old who shot dead two men and himself outside a Slovakian LGBTQ bar in October 2022.
Daily Express
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
inDrive, Maxim ordered to cease operations in Malaysia from July 24
Published on: Friday, May 09, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 09, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. PETALING JAYA: Russian-founded e-hailing firms inDrive and Maxim have been ordered to cease their operations in Malaysia from July 24 for allegedly operating illegally. Transport minister Loke Siew Fook said letters ordering the two companies to halt their operations have been sent by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), Harian Metro reported. 'Effective July 24, inDrive and Maxim must stop operating in this country. 'These two e-hailing companies may file an appeal, but the decision on the appeal can only be made by me as the transport minister,' he said. Last week, Apad revoked inDrive Malaysia's operating licence after it reportedly failed to comply with regulations introduced by the agency in 2019. The company said it had sought clarification after receiving the notice. In September 2022, the road transport department raided inDrive's Malaysian office and discovered that the firm was operating with an expired licence. In 2023, Maxim was also raided by Apad officers for allowing vehicles to operate without a valid permit. There are 21 e-hailing companies registered with Apad. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Star
InDrive Malaysia says engaging with relevant authorities after receiving notice of revocation
KUALA LUMPUR: InDrive Malaysia said it "is currently engaging with the relevant regulatory authorities to seek further clarification following a recent notice of revocation by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD)". The global ride-hailing company said it has "proactively reached out to the relevant agencies to understand the situation better and take the necessary actions" to ensure the continuity of its services in Malaysia. "We are committed to providing safe, reliable and accessible mobility solutions to the tens of thousands of people across Malaysia who rely on our platform every day. As a global mobility and urban services platform, inDrive operates with the highest regard for local laws, regulations, and the communities we serve. "We will provide updates once we have received further clarity from the authorities. We thank you for your understanding and continued support," it said in a statement to Bernama. According to a news report, APAD has given inDrive a three-month deadline to return its Intermediation Business Licence (IBL) following the company's failure to comply with regulations introduced in 2019. The action against inDrive also marked the second termination notice involving a Russian-founded e-hailing service following Maxim's in 2023. — Bernama
