CEP Mentions
Daily Mail: Inside Our Failing Jails: Former Prison Governor Ian Acheson Reveals A System Gripped By Violence, Rampant Drug Taking And Radicalisation - While Woke Bosses Take The Knee Rather Than Tackle The Chaos
“Every morning, men and women serving on the front line of His Majesty's Prison and Probation Service pull on a cheap uniform and go to work in what's been called the most hostile work environment in Europe. The endemic violence in our jails means many of them are ending their shifts in hospital rather than home with their families. A month ago, an officer went on duty on B wing in HMP Whitemoor, one of our maximum security prisons. He left in an ambulance and was put on a ventilator, unconscious, after a vicious assault. He's now thankfully recovering. Rates of assault against prison staff run at almost one every hour of every day. Would you work in a place like this? I used to walk those landings too many years ago. I progressed from officer to senior manager and then senior mandarin. I like to think I know what I'm talking about. I know this experience is causing those in power some embarrassment. Tough.”
Daily Mail: Prisons Carry Out So Few Mandatory Drugs Tests On Inmates That Officials Have Stopped Publishing The Data - As Spice Epidemic Spirals
“…Professor Ian Acheson, a former prison governor and author of Screwed: Britain's Prison Crisis and How To Escape It, was shocked when he came across the figures. He wrote in an exclusive op-ed for MailOnline: 'The prison drugs market is enormous and much of it is under the control of organised crime cartels who have a literally captive market and enormous mark ups for product. 'And now we can't even know the true scale of the problem because the prison service redacted its own findings.' Professor Acheson suggested a lack of prison officers to carry out the tests could be to blame.”
Front Office Sports: A Bare-Knuckle Fighter Won His Pro Debut. The Far Right Scored A Marketing Win
“...“A successful individual, such as a celebrity or someone who stands out in their field, can help make extremist beliefs more appealing to regular people,” says Joshua Fisher-Birch, a researcher at the Counter Extremism Project. BKFC founder David Feldman did not respond to a request for comment sent in early April. He did reply immediately to an FOS inquiry about the availability of media assets sent in mid-April, after which he claimed not to have received the initial request for comment. He did not respond to subsequent calls and emails. “We were not aware of Polk’s sponsor or [alleged] ties to these groups,” he told the Southern Poverty Law Center. “Him or any other fighter who fights for organizations who support white supremacist beliefs are not welcome and will not fight in the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship.””
United States
Associated Press: US Sanctions Fundraisers For Extremist West Bank Settlers Who Commit Violence Against Palestinians
“The Biden administration on Friday imposed sanctions on two entities accused of fundraising for extremist Israel settlers already sanctioned, as well as the founder of an organization whose members regularly assault Palestinians. The Treasury Department announcement comes as the West Bank has seen some of its worst violence perpetrated by extremist settlers against Palestinians since the war in nearby Gaza began. There is also friction between President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose far-right government has reacted angrily to previous sanctions imposed against West Bank settlers. Included in the Friday sanctions are two entities — Mount Hebron Fund and Shlom Asiraich — accused of raising funds for sanctioned settlers Yinon Levi and David Chai Chasdai. Both men were previously sanctioned by the Biden administration for violently attacking Palestinians in the West Bank.”
MSNBC: Nearly Three Decades After The Oklahoma City Bombing, GOP Has Learned The Wrong Lessons
“Twenty-nine years after killing 168 people in the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City — the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history — Timothy McVeigh is dead and buried. But the extremism that fueled his hate on April 19, 1995, is alive and unencumbered in today’s conservative movement. In many ways, McVeigh embodied the threats of political violence and radicalization presently gripping conservatives — and thus, the rest of the U.S., too. I think of McVeigh as connecting the eras of white domestic terrorism that characterized the 20th century and the more recent strain of extremism infecting the MAGA movement. In 2018, for example, historian Kathleen Belew wrote that the Oklahoma City bombing ought not be seen as the act of a “lone wolf” but, rather, in its proper context: McVeigh, who was executed in 2001, wasn’t a lone wolf. He was one among a pack. And his death appears only to have spawned other extremists.”
Iran
Associated Press: Iran’s Supreme Leader Tacitly Acknowledges That Tehran Hit Little In Its Attack On Israel
“Iran’s supreme leader on Sunday dismissed any discussion of whether Tehran’s unprecedented drone-and-missile attack on Israel hit anything there, a tacit acknowledgment that despite launching a major assault, few projectiles actually made it through to their targets. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s comments before senior military leaders didn’t touch on the apparent Israeli retaliatory strike on Friday on the central city of Isfahan, even though air defenses opened fire and Iran grounded commercial flights across much of the country. Analysts believe both Iran and Israel, regional archrivals locked in a shadow war for years, are trying to dial back tensions following a series of escalatory attacks between them as the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip rages on and inflames the wider region. Khamenei, 85, made the comments in a meeting attended by the top ranks of Iran’s regular military, police and paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, a powerful force within its Shiite theocracy.”
Bloomberg: Week Of Iran-Israel Strikes Marks A Mideast ‘Game Changer’
“One of the most incendiary weeks in the decades-long shadow war between Iran and Israel ended with relief Friday after Tehran declared it had defeated what it said was a small attack on its territory by Israeli drones. But while the strike, which Israel didn’t officially claim, avoided touching off fresh escalation for now, there was no escaping that the tit-for-tat exchange ushered in a new era where the two adversaries look more willing to fight each other directly rather than through proxies. And that, government officials and experts fear, could lead to open war. “The past week has been a game-changer,” said Suzanne Maloney, a former State Department official who’s now vice president at the Brookings Institution. Iran’s massive missile attack on Israel six days ago “has changed the nature of this conflict and I don’t see it changing back even though the Israelis were very, very calibrated in their response,” she said. “The baseline for escalation is much higher.””
Iraq
Associated Press: Iraq Investigates A Blast At A Base Of Iran-Allied Militias That Killed 1. US Denies Involvement
“Iraqi authorities said Saturday that they were investigating an explosion that struck a base belonging to the Popular Mobilization Forces, a coalition of Iran-allied militias, killing one person and injuring eight. Militia officials had initially described the explosion at the Kalsu military base north of Babylon — a former U.S. base that was handed over to the Iraqi military in 2011 — as an airstrike, blaming it on U.S. forces. The U.S. Central Command denied in a statement that it had carried out any airstrikes in Iraq. The PMF in a statement Saturday afternoon described the blast as an “attack” but did not blame any specific party. Iraq’s Security Media Cell said the country’s air defense command had not detected any drones or fighter plane in the airspace of Babylon before or during the explosion. It said one PMF member died and eight people were injured, including an Iraqi army soldier.”
Reuters: Iraq's Kataib Hezbollah Denies Saying It Resumes Attacks On Us Forces
“Iraqi armed faction Kataib Hezbollah has denied issuing a statement saying it had resumed attacks on U.S. forces, a statement from the group issued on the Telegram messaging app said. The denial came hours after a post circulated on groups thought to be affiliated with the Iran-backed armed faction that declared a resumption in the attacks some three months after they were suspended. Kataib Hezbollah described that as "fabricated news". On Sunday at least five rockets were launched from Iraq's town of Zummar towards a U.S. military base in northeastern Syria, two Iraqi security sources and a U.S. official told Reuters. The attack against U.S. forces is the first since early February when Iranian-backed groups in Iraq stopped their attacks against U.S. troops.”
Turkey
Reuters: Turkey Detains Dozens Over Alleged Islamic State Ties
“Turkish authorities have detained 36 people over suspected ties to Islamic State, in operations carried out across four provinces, Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya said on Sunday. In a post on social media platform X, Yerlikaya said police had seized suspects who were found to have been active within Islamic State, to have helped fund and provide supplies to the group. Police also seized several unlicensed shotguns and pistols as part of the operations, the minister said.”
Afghanistan
Voice Of America: One Killed In Explosion Claimed By IS In Afghan Capital
“One person was killed and three others wounded by an explosion in Kabul on Saturday evening, Afghan police said, with the Islamic State group claiming responsibility for the sticky bomb attack. The improvised explosive device was detonated in the Kot-e-Sangi neighborhood, near an enclave of the historically persecuted Shiite Hazara community, which has been targeted by the militant group in the past. "The sticky bomb was planted on a minibus," Kabul police spokesperson Khalid Zadran said in a statement late Saturday. "The driver of the vehicle lost his life, and three other civilians were injured." Security personnel were investigating the incident, the statement added. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility on its Telegram channel, saying a minibus carrying Hazaras was blown up as it passed through a Taliban checkpoint. The attack "led to its destruction and the killing and wounding of around 10" people, the IS statement said.”
Pakistan
Associated Press: Iran’s President Holds Talks With Pakistani Premier After Arrival In Islamabad For A 3-Day Visit
“Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday soon after arriving in the capital, Islamabad, for a three-day visit, officials said. The meeting came as part of efforts by Islamabad and Tehran to mend ties which had been briefly strained in January when the two sides carried out tit-for-tat strikes targeting militants accused of attacking their security forces. Raisi was welcomed at the airport by Housing Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada and other officials. Authorities have deployed hundreds of additional police and paramilitary forces to ensure security during the visit. Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militant violence in recent months, mostly blamed on Pakistani Taliban and insurgents targeting security forces in Pakistan and neighboring Iran. Sharif welcomed Raisi with a guard of honor ceremony in front of the premier’s office, broadcast by the state-run Pakistan Television.”
Voice Of America: High-Profile Afghan Taliban Religious Scholar Assassinated In Pakistan
“Afghanistan’s Taliban government confirmed Friday that one of its leading religious scholars was assassinated by unknown assailants in neighboring Pakistan. The deceased, identified as Mohammad Omar Jan Akhundzada, was leading evening prayers at a mosque in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta on Thursday when gunmen stormed the building and fatally shot him before fleeing, according to local police. There were no immediate claims of responsibility for the deadly shooting. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Friday on social media platform X that Akhundzada was part of a government oversight committee of top Islamic scholars and taught at the central “jihadi” madrasa, or Isla mic seminary, in the southern Afghan city of Kandahar. Mujahid also tweeted a picture of the deceased man.”
Qatar
The Wall Street Journal: Hamas Explores Moving Political Headquarters Out Of Qatar
“Hamas’s political leadership is looking to move from its current base in Qatar, as U.S. legislators build pressure on the Gulf state to deliver on cease-fire negotiations that look likely to fail. If Hamas left Qatar, the move could upend delicate talks to free dozens of Israeli hostages held captive in Gaza and likely make it more difficult for Israel and the U.S. to pass messages to a group designated by Washington as a terrorist organization. Hamas leaders have lived in Doha, the Qatari capital, since 2012 in an arrangement supported by the U.S.”
Middle East
i24: Terrorist Behind Killing Of Israeli Teen Benjamin Achimeir Arrested In West Bank
“Iseali security agency Shin Bet, Israeli police and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Monday reported arresting Ahmed Duavsha, 21, in a joint operation in the town of Duma near Nablus in the West Bank. Duavsha is believed to be the terrorists who on April 12 killed an Israeli Benjamin Achimeir, 14. The joint statement by the Israeli security forces said Dawabsha “implicated himself” in the attack near the outpost of Malachei Shalom during an initial interrogation. Shin Bet stated there were significant developments in the investigation during the past days leading to the arrest. Achimeir went missing while shepherding in the West Bank on April 12. His body was found a day later.”
Associated Press: Israeli Strikes On Southern Gaza City Of Rafah Kill 22, Mostly Children, As Us Advances Aid Package
“Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 22 people, including 18 children, health officials said Sunday, as the United States was on track to approve billions of dollars of additional military aid to Israel, its close ally. Israel has carried out near-daily air raids on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has sought refuge from fighting elsewhere. It has also vowed to expand its ground offensive against the Hamas militant group to the city on the border with Egypt despite calls for restraint, including from the U.S. “In the coming days, we will increase the political and military pressure on Hamas because this is the only way to bring back our hostages and achieve victory. We will land more and painful blows on Hamas — soon,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. He didn’t give details.”
Associated Press: Israeli Leaders Criticize Expected US Sanctions Against Military Unit That Could Further Strain Ties
“Israeli leaders on Sunday harshly criticized an expected decision by the U.S. to impose sanctions on a unit of ultra-Orthodox soldiers in the Israeli military. The decision, expected as soon as Monday, would mark the first time the U.S. has imposed sanctions on a unit inside the Israeli military and would further strain relations between the two allies, which have grown increasingly tense during Israel’s war in Gaza. While U.S. officials declined to identify the unit expected to be sanctioned, Israeli leaders and local media identified it as Netzah Yehuda — an infantry battalion founded roughly a quarter of a century ago to incorporate ultra-Orthodox men into the military. Many religious men receive exemptions from what is supposed to be compulsory service. Israeli leaders condemned the anticipated decision as unfair, especially at a time when Israel is at war, and vowed to oppose it.”
Somalia
Garowe Online: ISIS Clashes Al-Shabaab In Fight For Control In Somalia's Puntland
“The war against terrorists in Somalia has taken an interesting twist after ISIS militants reportedly raided Al-Shabaab bases in the northeastern part of the country, which could further change the dynamics in the ongoing operations across the country. For the last 20 months, Somalia has invested in the fight against Al-Shabaab, one of the terror groups with substantive bases across the nation, with the soldiers on the frontlines managing to secure several strategic towns. Much focus has been on the fight against Al-Shabaab, which has dominated central and southern regions of the country for the last two decades. The al-Shabaab is affiliated with Al-Qaeda, a huge terror network in the Middle Eastern region. According to sources, the ISIS militants launched an assault on Al-Shabaab bases in Puntland, claiming the lives of more than 50 members, including important commanders, according to a report published in the Al_Naba.”
Southeast Asia
Jurist: India Security Forces Kill At Least 29 Left-Wing Extremists In Chhattisgarh
“Indian security forces killed at least 29 left-wing extremists called Naxals, or Maoists, in the Indian Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected state of Chhattisgarh’s sensitive region Bastar this week. The Indian states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Kerala are all considered LWE affected, albeit to varying degrees. The Indian Border Security Force (BSF) and District Reserve Guard (DRG) carried out an operation based on intelligence from BSF in the Kanker, which falls under the LWE-affected sensitive region of Bastar in Chattisgarh state. At least 29 left-wing extremists were killed in the operation, and at least one BSF member was injured. BSF’s official X (formerly Twitter) account shared information about the operation. It stated: In a major crackdown against the Maoist menace in Kanker, Chattisgarh, a joint operation by BSF & DRG was launched based on specific BSF intelligence. The operation yielded huge success as the troops eliminated 29 CPI Maoist cadres including top commander Shankar Rao. A large cache of weapons & ammunition were also recovered. The successful operation will help in breaking backbone of maoist activity and immensely augment the efforts to bring normalcy & development in the region.”
Associated Press: Indonesian Police Arrest 8 Suspected Militants, Part Of A Banned Extremist Group With Al-Qaida Links
“Indonesia’s elite counterterrorism police arrested eight suspected militants in recent days believed to be part of a new cell linked to Jemaah Islamiyah, an al-Qaida-linked group, authorities said Saturday. Police conducted raids in Central Sulawesi province between Tuesday and Thursday, said Agus Nugroho, the provincial police chief, adding that five suspects were arrested in the city of Palu, two in Sigi, and one in Poso which is a known extremist hotbed. Two laptops, several cellular phones and documents, including jihadist books were seized and suspects were being interrogated, Nugroho said. National Police spokesperson Trunoyudo Wisnu Andiko said the arrests were the result of information obtained from 59 suspected militants detained in Oct. 2023. “(The eight) all actively participate in organization activities, particularly in military-style training and collecting funds for alleged plans of terror acts,” Andiko told reporters at the National Police headquarters in the capital, Jakarta. He added that convicted leaders of the group and veteran fighters in Afghanistan were recruiting and training new members.”
China
Bloomberg: China Plays Diplomatic Long Game In Iran-Israel Feud
“Hi, I'm Ben Holland in Hong Kong, where my 15 years of experience covering the Middle East from Istanbul and Washington has suddenly made me very popular in the newsroom. Chinese officials were on the phone this week to the Middle East right after Iran’s missile and drone strike against Israel – perhaps checking on the prospects for one of their main diplomatic success stories. Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to his counterparts in Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two longtime rivals who reached a détente deal just over a year ago that surprised the world. With Israel’s war in Gaza threatening to spill into a wider conflict — especially after its apparent attack on Iran on Friday — it’s a tough time to draw up long-term blueprints for the Middle East. Still, Wang’s phone diplomacy is a reminder that there are two such projects under way: The Saudi-Iran rapprochement that China backs and the Saudi-Israel normalization that the US is pursuing.”
Technology
The Telegraph: Men Who Hate Women: How ‘Incel’ Culture Became Mainstream
“It should have been a joyful day spent shopping for clothes and enjoying time with loved ones. Instead, on April 13, at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney, 40-year-old Joel Cauchi created terror, stabbing six people to death – five of whom were women. One, Ashlee Good, 38, threw her stabbed baby into the arms of a stranger before later dying in hospital of her wounds. Her nine-month-old child is still recovering. The only man who died was security guard, Faraz Tahir, 30, who tried in vain to intervene. Following the attack, the New South Wales police commissioner, Karen Webb, told Australia’s ABC News that it was clear Mr Cauchi targeted women. “It’s obvious to me, it’s obvious to detectives... that the offender focused on women and avoided the men,” she said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the gender element of the attack as “concerning”. Cauchi’s father meanwhile told reporters: “To you, he is a monster. To me, he was a very sick boy… he wanted a girlfriend and he’s got no social skills and he was frustrated out of his brain.””
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