CEP Senior Advisor, former UK Ambassador to Yemen and coordinator of the UN Security Council's sanctions monitoring team, Edmund Fitton-Brown appeared on "Times Radio Drive with John Pienaar" to discuss the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the loss of confidence in UNRWA following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

Host Bill Roggio and CEP Senior Advisor Edmund Fitton‑Brown break down the post‑12‑Day War chessboard: The Houthis, Hezbollah, and Tehran’s other proxies—what they’ve learned, and where to anticipate the next flashpoint.

Israel is conducting airstrikes on Damascus, while fighting rages in the Druze city of Suwayda. Middle East expert [CEP Senior Director] Hans-Jakob Schindler explains how these events are connected, the role of the fragile transitional government, and Israel's strategic goals.

A high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence officer is assassinated in broad daylight—five shots, close range, in the middle of Kyiv. Within hours, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) launches a manhunt. Days later, they kill two suspects tied not only to Russia’s FSB but also to a U.S.-founded extremist group now operating from inside Russia.

In this episode, Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, Sr. Director at the Counter Extremism Project, navigates us through the shadow war playing out across Eastern Europe, where the lines between war, terrorism, espionage, and state power are blurring.

Edmund Fitton Brown, the UK's Ambassador to Yemen between 2015 and 2017, told MailOnline that before the war, it was common for young girls, 'often below the age of 10', to be married to men many decades older than them. He said he recalled hearing of girls as young as eight being married. 'Part of the incentive was economic, easing financial burdens on the family. Also for protection and to create a family alliance.' 'All of these drivers have been growing stronger.'

They are wolves in sheep's clothing. They want to appear friendly and uncontroversial. This is according to Alexander Ritzmann , senior advisor at the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) – a US-based, non-profit organization established in 2014 with the goal of combating extremism, radicalization and terrorism on a global level. CEP publishes reports and data on various extremist groups, ideologies, financing networks and propaganda, and advises authorities on how to handle potential threats. Ritzmann has closely examined the Active Club environment for several years, and is convinced that this concept is not about bare-knuckle training and martial arts.

The Russian Imperial Movement, according to the Counter Extremism Project, is a “a fascist group based in St. Petersburg, Russia, that seeks to create a ‘mono-ethnic state’ led by a ‘Russian autocratic monarchy…’” It is “best known for having members and sympathizers linked to violent activity abroad,” while “its militant branch, the Imperial Legion, reportedly has sent fighters to Ukraine, Syria, and Libya.” It allegedly runs training courses on “bomb-making, marksmanship, combat medicine, and small group tactics such as assaulting and clearing buildings.”

CEP Senior Research Analyst Sofia Koller interviewed regarding ISIS, women and children in Syria, and returnees. 

The active clubs are part of a larger international far-right movement, focusing on strength training and martial arts. The concept has spread quickly and is now present in at least 20 countries with over 100 groups globally and in most US states, according to the organization The Counter Extremism Project.