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News Brief: Jan 23-27

Overview

Somalia Spec Ops Raid Against ISIS

New Discoveries in Egypt Archaeology

Atlanta – Public Outrage, Protest, and a State of Emergency

The Death of “Dodger,” the OKC Zoo’s Beloved Bobcat

International

Somalia Spec Ops Raid Against ISIS

Bilal al-Sudani, an Islamic State leader integral to their funding and increased attacks in Africa, was recently killed in a United States Special Operations raid of a cave complex in remote northern Somalia.

Al-Sudani “was responsible for fostering the growing presence of ISIS in Africa and for funding the group’s operations worldwide, including in Afghanistan,” Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement Thursday, Jan. 26, 2023.

An unnamed senior administration official told the New York Times the troops were prepared to capture Mr. Al-Sudani but the response from his associates when American troops arrived at their cave complex “resulted in his death.”

Other than a dog bite, none of the American troops were hurt or killed, and neither were civilians.

Click here to read more from the New York Times about the raid, al-Sudani and the state of ISIS.

New Discoveries in Egypt Archaeology

On Thursday, Jan. 26, archaeologists found what is thought to be one of the oldest and most complete non-royal corpses ever. They believe the gold leaf-covered mummy belonged to a man named Hekashepes, discovered inside a sarcophagus not opened for an estimated 4,300 years.

Pottery, statues and three other tombs were also found at the site which sits south of Cairo, Saqqara.

One belonged to Khnumdjedef, a priest, inspector and supervisor of nobles. Another belonged to Meri, a senior palace official and “secret keeper. The third was Fetek, believed to be a judge and writer.

“This discovery is so important as it connects the kings with the people living around them,” said Ali Abu Deshish, an archaeologist involved in the excavation.

Read more from BBC about this discovery by clicking here.

National

Atlanta – Public Outrage, Protest and a State of Emergency

Smoke trails from burnt out fireworks. Shards of glass from broken windows litter the street, reflecting the still-crackling flames billowing from a police cruiser – scenes of a recent peaceful protest which escalated as it reached downtown Atlanta.

In response, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared a state of emergency on Thursday, Jan. 26, ordering to mobilize up to 1,000 state National Guard troops “as necessary.”

The group behind the recent protests, “Stop Cop City,” began in opposition to the new training facility for the Atlanta Police Department.

In 2021, the Atlanta City Council approved the facility to be built in a wooded area once declared by the same council in 2017 as a future green space. They claim it was non-binding. Still, protests began.

Then, last week at a raid of one such protest, protestor Manuel Esteban Paez Teran, died. Authorities claim Teran fired first, but activists have reportedly not been quick to trust their description, especially after Tyre Nichols was killed in Memphis during a traffic stop on Jan. 7. Those officers have been fired and charged with murder.

“We are closely monitoring the events in Memphis and are prepared to support peaceful protests in our city,” the Atlanta Police Department said in a statement Thursday. “We understand and share in the outrage surrounding the death of Tyre Nichols. Police officers are expected to conduct themselves in a compassionate, competent, and constitutional manner and these officers failed Tyre, their communities and their profession. We ask that demonstrations be safe and peaceful.”

Click here to dive deeper into this story by ABC News.

Local

The Death of “Dodger,” the OKC Zoo’s Beloved Bobcat

Earlier this month, the Oklahoma City Zoo announced the death of their male bobcat, Dodger, 3, and what transpired.

Reportedly, Dodger received injuries from an accidental encounter with another cat. Caretakers heard noise, responded and discovered Dodger with his arm stuck in the enclosure’s protective mesh. Despite veterinary care, responding within minutes and taking him to the hospital for examination, care, and monitoring, Dodger was found unresponsive a few mornings later.

The care team conducted an autopsy and concluded he died from septic shock secondary to his injuries.

Orphaned as a kitten in Montana and determined non-releasable, Dodger was brought to the OKC Zoo in 2019 where he had been a young, energetic fan favorite, and quick to learn and participate in new behaviors and training sessions.

Read more about him here.

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