Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force
Tempest, GCAP and FCAS… want to know what it all means for the 6th generation of aircraft planned for service with the RAF?
We hear from Leonardo, Rolls Royce and the RAF itself as Squadron Leader Lisney gets an update.
InsideAIR is produced for the Royal Air Force by RAF Media Reserves. Theme music by RAF Music Services.
Source: United Kingdom – Royal Air Force
RAF Typhoons of II Army Cooperation (AC) Squadron from RAF Lossiemouth have landed in 22nd Air Base in Malbork, Poland for Operation Chessman.
They have arrived ahead of enhanced Air Policing missions as part of NATO’s commitment to maintaining regional security and airspace integrity.
This deployment highlights the UK’s dedication to supporting NATO allies, and promoting the collective security of Europe.
“The arrival of our Typhoon aircraft here at Malbork marks a proud moment for our team as we prepare to take on this vital NATO mission. It is a privilege to be in Poland, a country with which the United Kingdom shares a long and storied history of friendship and cooperation, that predates the NATO Alliance. This enduring bond, forged through shared values and mutual respect, reinforces the importance of NATO’s collective purpose and strengthens the foundation of our partnership.
“We are here to defend and deter, standing ready to protect against any threat, whilst reassuring our allies of the UK’s commitment to NATO and the region. Additionally, we strive to foster partnership, advance interoperability, develop trust, and reinforce collaboration and unity among our NATO member partners. Together, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to NATO’s collective defence, safeguarding the skies and fortifying bonds among our allies.”
Wing Commander Christopher Jacob
Commanding Officer, 140 Expeditionary Air Wing
140 EAW deployment is part of NATO’s ongoing air policing program, which safeguards allied airspace in areas with limited local air defence resources. This mission serves as a reminder of the UK’s unwavering commitment to NATO’s collective defence and the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the region.
Source: United States Navy
The U.S. Navy proudly announces the return of Richmond Navy Week, taking place May 12-18, 2025. As part of a nationwide outreach effort, Richmond Navy Week will bring 70-85 Sailors to engage directly with the community through a week-long series of performances, educational events, and service projects.
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Dick Durbin
April 01, 2025
The Senators wrote: “These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, along with Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and 29 Senate Democrats sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General (AG) Pam Bondi urging her to appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved in the Signal chat security breach violated federal criminal law. On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group text chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app.
“In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations,” the Senators wrote.“Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.”
The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officials presents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.
“These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike,” the Senators wrote.
In the letter, the Senators raised concerns if the Signal chat violated federal law. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees by several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.
“During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to ‘an equal, fair system of justice’ if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that ‘no one is above the law.’ As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law. The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately,” the Senators concluded.
Along with Durbin and Schumer, today’s letter was also signed by U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chris Coons (D-DE), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Fetterman (D-PA), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ed Markey (D-MA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Gary Peters (D-MI).
Full text of today’s letter is available here and below:
March 31, 2025
Dear Attorney General Bondi:
On March 24, The Atlantic’s editor in chief reported that President Trump’s National Security Advisor Michael Waltz had included him in a group message chain with several high-ranking national security officials where highly sensitive, classified, or controlled information was shared and discussed over Signal—an unsecure commercial messaging app. In addition to the reckless inclusion of a journalist in the chat, we are deeply concerned about this serious breach in the proper handling of such information and deliberations. Given the extraordinary circumstances of this shocking incident and the significant public interests at stake, it is imperative that you immediately appoint a Special Counsel to thoroughly and impartially investigate whether any of the government officials involved violated federal criminal law.
Appointment of a Special Counsel is appropriate where the Department may have a conflict of interest or extraordinary circumstances are present, a criminal investigation is warranted, and it is in the public interest to appoint an outside Special Counsel to investigate the matter. Such circumstances are clearly present here.
The Signal chat group started by Mr. Waltz included Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Central Intelligence Agency Director John Ratcliffe, among at least 18 other high-ranking government officials. In addition to discussing the sensitive foreign policy implications of military strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, these officials proceeded to discuss key operational information regarding the precise timing of the planned attacks, the types of military aircraft and munitions to be used, and the targets and results of the strikes as they occurred. An unprecedented security breach of this magnitude involving top senior government officials presents the kind of extraordinary circumstances clearly contemplated by the Special Counsel regulations.
These officials conducted a highly sensitive discussion, including of clearly classified or controlled information, over the commercial messaging app Signal, including in some instances on personal devices and while traveling in foreign countries, rather than using the secure U.S. government channels and facilities that are designed and required for the sharing of such information. Despite subsequent claims to the contrary by you, President Trump, and several of the officials involved, including in testimony before Congress, some of the information they shared and discussed over Signal would almost certainly be considered classified or, at a minimum, controlled, prior to and in the immediate aftermath of an impending strike.
These shockingly reckless breaches of security protocols for safeguarding sensitive and classified information clearly warrant an investigation into whether any of the government officials involved violated federal laws pertaining to the proper safeguarding and preservation of such information. For example, gross negligence in handling national defense information may violate the Espionage Act. Importantly, other laws, including the Federal Records Act, require the preservation of certain government records. Signal allows users to schedule messages for deletion after certain time periods and Mr. Waltz appears to have set the chat messages to delete initially after one week and then later in the chat changed the setting to delete messages after four weeks. Destruction of government records or property may constitute a violation of various criminal statutes. Subsequent statements to Congress and testimony before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees by several of the officials involved raise additional concerns about potential violations of federal criminal laws that prohibit making false statements to Congress, committing perjury in testimony to Congress, inducing another person to commit perjury, or conspiring to commit any of the foregoing actions.
Even prior to his first Administration, President Trump campaigned for the need to prosecute and “lock up” individuals who allegedly “bypass government security” or “sent and received classified information on an insecure server.” Further, as an avowedly loyal and zealous advocate for the President, you echoed these same sentiments prior to your confirmation. Given the extraordinary nature of this security breach by senior Trump Administration officials, the likelihood that these actions needlessly endangered American lives and our nation’s security, the importance of putting our nation’s security before partisan political interests, and the range of federal criminal laws that may have been violated, it is imperative that the Department of Justice conduct a thorough investigation to assess the extent of the damage and determine whether any criminal charges are warranted against any of the government officials involved.
During your confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, you assured the American people that everyone will be held to “an equal, fair system of justice” if you were confirmed as Attorney General, and that “no one is above the law.” As the individuals most seriously implicated in this incident include senior officials at the highest levels, including several of your fellow cabinet members, appointment of a Special Counsel is necessary to ensure that the investigation and any ensuing prosecutions are fair, impartial, and independent and that no official, regardless of seniority or political affiliation, is above the law.
The people of this country deserve the assurance that this matter will be taken seriously and addressed swiftly. To do so, we urge you to appoint a Special Counsel immediately.
-30-
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
HERNDON, Va., April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Unissant Inc. (Unissant) announced the addition of Brigitte Custer as Vice President, Strategy and Solutions. In her new role, Custer will spearhead strategic initiatives and drive solution development with an emphasis on the national security vertical. Her appointment comes at a pivotal moment in Unissant’s growth, as the company expands its capabilities to address the increasingly complex challenges faced by its clients.
Custer’s addition underscores Unissant’s unwavering commitment to delivering advanced solutions for agencies safeguarding national health and security. For more than three decades, she has served as a technology strategist and trusted advisor to executives and agency heads across the U.S. Intelligence Community, Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Federal Law Enforcement, and now currently for the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA). Prior to Unissant, she held senior leadership positions at CGI, GDIT, Deloitte and operated as an independent strategy consultant.
“Brigitte’s exceptional blend of strategic vision, technical expertise, and dedication to community engagement makes her the perfect fit for Unissant,” remarked President and CEO Sumeet Shrivastava. “We are excited to welcome her and look forward to her contributions in driving our strategic growth and delivering impactful solutions to our clients.”
Custer stated, “My professional journey has always been driven by a desire to bridge the gap between technology and mission needs. I’m excited to join a company that shares this vision and is committed to delivering innovative solutions with mission impact.”
About Unissant
Mission-focused, data-driven—Unissant Inc. (Unissant) delivers for the agencies that keep our nation healthy and safe. Keeping people and mission at the forefront, we apply our domain expertise, data acumen, and technology know-how to achieve breakthrough results. Agencies turn to Unissant for our expertise in AI, advanced analytics, digital excellence, and cybersecurity solutions. Our proven frameworks drive successful execution of complex projects at enterprise scale. With an unwavering commitment to advancing mission outcomes, our teams engineer human-centered, innovative solutions that accelerate time to value. We bring honesty, integrity, and dependability to every interaction with our employees, clients, and partners.
For more information, visit us at www.unissant.com.
For more information:
Theresa White
Director, Growth Enablement and Marketing
TWhite@Unissant.com
+1 703.889.8500, ext 124
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The biennial conference saw business, academia, government and civil society debate shared challenges in national security, public health and societal cohesion.
On Tuesday 25 March, the 25th anniversary edition of the Belgo-British conference was hosted by the Belgian FPS Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation at the Egmont Palace.
Justice Ministers from both the UK and Belgium, Minister Annelies Verlinden and Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede, gave opening remarks on the topic of Belgium and the United Kingdom: Resilient Partners in a Changing World.
Theo Francken, Minister of Defence and Foreign Trade, gave a closing speech.
Professor Alexander Mattelaer and Michelle Haas, moderators from the Egmont Institute, and moderator Sir Robin Niblett, from the UK’s Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), facilitated discussions on national security, public health sector, and bridging generational and societal divides from expert speakers including decision-makers from politics, civil society, business and academia from both the UK and Belgium.
The Belgian Ambassador to the UK, Jeroen Cooreman, and British Ambassador to Belgium, Anne Sherriff, were present.
Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden said:
Since my appointment as Minister of Justice and the North Sea, I have placed particular importance on our bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom. Our legal challenges transcend borders. The challenges we face whether at sea, against organised crime or in the fight against climate change are complex and interconnected. But Belgium stands ready to lead and to partner with the UK, with our neighbours and with the world.
Justice Minister Lord Ponsonby said:
I am delighted to attend the Belgo-British Conference to discuss the important ways our two great nations can co-operate with each other on security, trade, and innovation. In this uncertain world, it is vital that we work closely with our allies, like Belgium, so we are prepared to face current, emerging, and new challenges as one. We have enjoyed a close relationship for many years, and I look forward to our continued co-operation which will help boost security and growth in both our countries and across Europe.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Movellus announced today that RTX’s, SEAKR Engineering, LLC, selected the Aeonic™ Generate Intellectual Property (IP) Platform for its next-generation radiation-tolerant ASIC designs.
As part of the collaboration, Movellus provides a portion of the computer chip designs utilized in SEAKR’s spacecraft payload electronics to maximize ease of integration. Through the observable technology, mission operations staff can easily monitor the health of RTX’s SEAKR ASIC.
“The Movellus IP enabled us to quickly meet our block-to-block communication performance goals and mitigate aging effects,” said Steve Tigner, Director of ASIC Development for SEAKR Engineering. “With the Movellus team, we have a solution that is robust and tolerant of radiation effects improving the performance and on-orbit availability of our next-generation ASICs.”
The next generation of military and aerospace designs requires sophisticated computing capabilities built on advanced process technology. Movellus’ high-performance, synthesizable IP helps partners deliver on these requirements. The Aeonic™ Digital IP portfolio enables easy migration across advanced process nodes with a radiation-tolerant ready architecture that also provides mission-mode telemetry information.
Movellus continues to advance high-performance silicon through feature-rich, synthesizable IP, with a unique, radiation-hardened ready architecture that enables increased use of commercial technology in military and aerospace applications. This is a pillar of U.S. Government technology strategy in areas including the Department of Defense Microelectronic Activity initiative, The Aeonic™ Digital IP portfolio, implemented across various process nodes from 40nm to 3nm, complements this charter.
About Movellus
Movellus provides critical technology that is integrated into an array of applications ranging from edge AI devices to performance-centric cloud datacenter compute and networking offerings. The company is headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, with R&D centers in Michigan and Toronto. Visit us at: www.movellus.com.
About SEAKR Engineering
SEAKR Engineering, LLC, is RTX’s leading-edge provider of advanced payload and mission solutions for space applications. For more than 40 years, we have developed and delivered reliable and innovative solutions across a wide range of space systems. SEAKR is headquartered in Centennial, Colorado. www.SEAKR.com
About RTX
With more than 185,000 global employees, RTX pushes the limits of technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation, engineering integrated defense systems, and developing next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2023 sales of $69 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
Movellus, the Movellus logo, Aeonic, Aeonic Generate, Elevating Silicon, Aeonic Insight and Intelligent Clock Networks are among the trademarks of Movellus. The term “Movellus” refers to Movellus Circuits, Inc and / or its subsidiaries. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Press Contact: Aakash Jani | aakash@movellus.com
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Advai, an AI focussed SME, is leading the way in military and commercial AI safety.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising modern life and with the boom of large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, its impact on defence and security is growing more each day. Yet as militaries worldwide rush to implement AI systems, an equally crucial challenge emerges: how to protect them.
Advai’s CEO David Sully, who brought public sector experience to this critical challenge, explains:
Everyone was talking about AI unlocking value, but nobody was asking what happens when AI goes wrong and why it does so.
AI systems need rigorous examination to understand exactly when and how they might fail. This insight led to Advai’s simple but powerful mission: “We don’t make AI – we break it.”
Beginning in 2020, DASA recognised the strategic importance of AI assurance and funded Advai through multiple innovative projects, starting with the development of Adversarial AI attack and defence methods for Computer Vision and Natural Language Processing (NLP).
What exactly is Adversarial AI? Adversarial AI involves finding ways to make AI systems fail or produce incorrect outputs, essentially “breaking” AI to understand its vulnerabilities. Similar to testing safety equipment – before trusting it, you need to know exactly under what conditions it might fail.
Advai’s initial projects aimed to develop methods of confusing AI while being undetected by humans. Such tools are invaluable for identifying weaknesses in any AI systems.
Building on their expertise, Advai embarked on another project alongside the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) to develop Physical Adversarial Patches to manipulate computer vision systems. This innovative technology uses printable patterns capable of disrupting AI recognition systems. David Sully explains:
We can apply a filter so an object is labelled as something completely different, or disappear entirely. An automated AI-based drone might read a van as a tree or fail to detect a vehicle entirely.
Advai are just completing a second phase of this work, directly with Dstl, to significantly advance the concept of adversarial patterns. Significantly, says Sully:
We can create an adversarial texture on a ‘blackbox’ as well as ‘whitebox’ basis. Additionally, the textures can be optimised to be visually similar to existing patterns, avoiding the problem of creating visually-jarring patches.
When generative AI and large language models exploded onto the scene in 2021, Advai was already deeply experienced in AI assurance and had a head start in understanding how these systems work. Their early work provided crucial insights that transferred directly to new challenges in language model security, Advai’s leadership notes:
No one saw the generative AI explosion coming, but our focus on AI robustness gave us a huge advantage in understanding how to manage and assure these systems.
From its defence origins, Advai has expanded to serve commercial customers needing to ensure their AI systems are trustworthy and secure. Some of their tools and achievements include:
The company’s work has influenced national policy, and contributed to the Turing Institute’s framework for AI security, in-turn helping to raise political awareness about AI safety. Advai also acted as an examiner for the Defence Cyber Marvel 2024 competition, organised by the Army Cyber Association.
Today, Advai stands at the forefront of AI assurance, planning to strengthen their defence sector credibility while promoting a “safety-first, not safety-last” approach. Their roadmap includes greater commercialisation using their scalable platform. But this evolution comes with challenges. Advai CEA, David Sully emphasises:
Most of the world’s leading AI research is happening in the private sector behind closed doors rather than in universities. For AI assurance to have a chance of keeping up, companies like Advai need support from stakeholders like DASA to help ensure the UK has a domestic capability in AI safety.
Advai is a demonstration of what is achievable by DASA. We have created a genuinely world-leading AI company, working across UK defence and security. As we expand, Advai is increasingly enabling and protecting critical commercial companies. Our ambition is for Advai to be the biggest player in AI Assurance, generating the most advanced IP and technology as a sovereign UK entity, all of which can be traced back to this initial funding and support.
Advai’s adversarial AI expertise was highlighted when they demonstrated their technology to Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey and Chancellor, Rachel Reeves during a visit to Wellington Barracks, Westminster on 26 March 2025.
The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey (left), Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Tony Radakin (centre) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves (right), visit Wellington Barracks in London.
As AI technology continues to evolve, so do its potential vulnerabilities. The problems and adversaries keep changing, requiring AI safety to evolve just as quickly. Advai’s journey from research to commercial success demonstrates how early government investment in critical technologies can create lasting national capabilities. Their story shows that in the race to develop artificial intelligence, ensuring its trustworthiness and security is just as important as advancing its capabilities. Sully concludes:
The world is still coming to terms with generative AI and LLMs, let alone generative AI assurance. But thanks to DASA’s early vision, we’re ready to meet these challenges and ensure that as AI becomes more powerful, it also becomes more trustworthy.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
With a range of recycling and reuse options available, think before disposing during your spring clean.
If you’re planning a spring clean to spruce up your home, apartment, or townhouse there are several resources available to help you minimise your waste.
ACT recycling fast facts:
Whatever you’re looking to dispose of search for it in our Recyclopaedia for options to help you reduce, reuse and recycle.
Furniture and bulky waste
Whether you’re clearing out the garage, shed or opening up your living areas, there’s probably some furniture you’d like to dispose of. Make sure you consider these options:
Electronics
Disposing of a spare TV, computer, printer, modem, phone or other electronic device? If working, these items can be used again. If not, electronics are full of recyclable materials. Take a look at these options:
If working:
If broken or damaged:
Clothing, blankets and fabrics
If you’re cleaning out the wardrobe, consider donating, selling, swapping and reusing before disposing of garments and clothes.
Hazardous waste – Cleaning products, oils paint and batteries
It’s important not to place hazardous waste in your kerbside wheelie bins or put them down the drain as they are harmful to the environment.
Hazardous waste, including cleaning products, paints, pesticides, batteries, poisons, pool chemicals, gas bottles and oil, can be dropped off for free at a Resource Management Centre.
View a list of accepted hazardous waste.
Paper, cardboard, glass bottles, aluminium and steel cans
The ACT has five recycling drop-off centres where you can recycle excess empty household containers and packaging for free. The centres are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Find your nearest centre here.
You can also drop off eligible bottles, cans and cartons to earn 10 cents per item with the Container Deposit Scheme. There’s 19 return points across the ACT.
To see more information recycling tips and resources, visit the Recyclopaedia.
Get ACT news and events delivered to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The meeting of the Academic Council on the last day of March traditionally began with a formal part.
Rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy awarded the “For Merit” badge of distinction to the CEO of the BuildHouse company, a 1988 graduate of the metallurgical faculty, Alexey Evstratov, noting his contribution to strengthening the university’s image, forming and replenishing the target capital of the Endowment Fund, promoting the development of the Polytechnic Museum, and involving graduates in university events and charity events.
Andrey Rudskoy also presented the “For Merit” badges to Mikhail Volkov, Deputy General Director of the Zvezda plant for general issues; Dmitry Sachava, Head of the Advanced Technologies Marketing Department of the Computer Engineering Center; Dmitry Shamansky, Leading Specialist of the Advanced Technologies Marketing Department of the Computer Engineering Center; Nina Suratova, Head of the Scientific Literature Department and Curator of the University’s Information and Library Complex; and Natalia Sokolova, Director of the Information and Library Technologies Center.
Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation, 1978 Physics and Mechanics Faculty graduate Alexey Borovkov was awarded a commemorative medal and gratitude from the university for facilitating the development of the Endowment Fund.
For her great personal contribution to the development of the Endowment Fund and the Polytechnic Ambassadors’ Community and in connection with the anniversary, the university’s gratitude was received by the executive director of the fund, associate professor of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering and the Higher Engineering and Economics School of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, and a 1992 graduate of the Faculty of Economics and Production Management, Olga Novikova.
The ceremonial part continued with the presentation of diplomas for conferring scientific degrees. Aleksey Chechevikin received a diploma of candidate of technical sciences. Diplomas of candidates of economic sciences were received by employees and postgraduate students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade: Ekaterina Mikhel (scientific supervisor – Professor Andrey Zaytsev); Victoria Brazovskaya (scientific supervisor – associate professor Svetlana Gutman); Daria Kryzhko (scientific supervisor – Professor Irina Rudskaya); Chen Leifei (scientific supervisor – Professor Alexander Babkin); Ivan Samokhvalov (scientific supervisor – Professor Vladimir Glukhov); Vitaly Nikolaenko (scientific supervisor – Professor Olga Kalinina); Vyacheslav Melekhin (scientific supervisor – Professor Mikhail Afanasyev).
Andrey Rudskoy presented certificates of conferring the academic title of “professor” to Elena Aleksandrova, chief research fellow at the Higher School of Cybersecurity, and Olga Vlasova, director of the Scientific and Educational Center “Fundamentals of Medical and Biomedical Technologies”.
Certificates for conferring the academic title of associate professor were received by: Maria Bortkovskaya, Konstantin Greshnevikov, Mikhail Enuchenko, Alexey Kultyshev, Anatoly Novik, Irina Ptukhina, Sergey Rozov, Nina Rumyantseva and Dmitry Sharapov.
SPbPU Academic Secretary Dmitry Karpov announced that by order of the President of the Russian Federation, employees of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” under the leadership of Alexey Borovkov were awarded a scholarship from the Defense Industry Complex for scientists, designers, technologists and other engineering and technical workers of organizations implementing the state defense order in 2024.
Another achievement of the SPbPU PISh is the resolution of the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences dated June 25, 2024, based on the results of the competitive selection among student works in the field of “Mechanical Engineering, Mechanics and Control Processes” to a master’s student of the Advanced Engineering School “Digital Engineering” Lilia Nezhinskaya awarded the medal of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a prize for young scientists. Lilia’s scientific supervisor is Alexey Borovkov.
A letter of thanks from the Ministry of Education and Science for their contribution to the development of practice-oriented education in the Russian Federation within the framework of the Service Learning program was presented to Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov and Director of the Humanities Institute Natalia Chicherina.
Victor Dashonok, Academic Program Development Specialist for the RISC-V Alliance, presented letters of gratitude for organizing and conducting the course “RISC-V Ecosystem: Development and System Programming” to Vera Loboda, Director of the Higher School of Electronics and Microsystems Engineering, Associate Professor Mikhail Enuchenko, Associate Professor Dmitry Budanov, as well as Pavel Drobintsev, Director of the Higher School of Software Engineering, and Assistant Nadezhda Stepina.
Several Polytechnic University employees were awarded SPbPU honorary certificates. Head of the Department for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs Natalia Leontyeva was recognized for high professional achievements and effective work, and Chief Specialist of the Quality Control Department Igor Sechin was recognized for many years of work and high professionalism.
Leading Manager of the Protocol and Organizational Service Anastasia Kedo, leading specialist Galina Kolmykova and specialist Maria Pagurskaya were awarded for their active participation in the implementation of particularly important projects and the holding of events at a high professional level that enhance the image of the university.
Polytechnic athletes were also awarded honors.
Coaches of the Student Sports Club “Black Bears-Polytech” Stepan Verbitsky, Evgeny Chupalov and Anatoly Dimitropulo, as well as students Dmitry Gultyaev, Pavel Timofeev and Petr Shlokkin presented the Polytech team, which brought from the XI tournament of the Association of Football Federations “North-West” among youth teams named after Anatoly Turchak first place cup and gold medals.
On March 16, the Polytechnicians performed brilliantly at the Saint Petersburg University Dance Sport Championship. The university’s honor was defended by the pairs Anastasia Nazarova and Arseniy Bauman (1st place), Stefania Aldoshina and Gleb Gusev (1st place), Sofia Gordeeva and Arseniy Afonin (2nd and 3rd places). The team’s coach is Askar Isabaev.
Students Kamilla Khakimova, Grigory Gavrilash and Maxim Telepanov took second place at the Saint Petersburg Student Sambo Competition. Coach: Grigory Galkin.
After the congratulatory part, the members of the Academic Council moved on to the agenda of the meeting. Vice-Rector for Information Technology Andrey Lyamin spoke about the development of the university’s corporate information system.
“The strategic goal of developing information technologies at the university is to strengthen the university’s position in the field of science, education and innovation by creating a global digital scientific and educational ecosystem, as well as dynamic and sustainable development to ensure Russia’s technological leadership,” noted Andrey Lyamin. “Information technologies at the university are developing in several directions: information infrastructure and information security, corporate and accounting information systems, portals and web resources.”
Andrey Vladimirovich covered each area in detail, provided statistical and analytical data. He noted that special attention is paid at SPbPU to building a unified user support service (caliper@spbst.ru), in 2024, 9,685 requests were received there, user satisfaction was 4.9 out of 5. Andrei Vladimirovich also reported that a set of measures carried out by SPbPU to work with its own web portals brought the Polytechnic website tofirst place in the February ranking of media activity of Russian universities.
The Academic Council meeting discussed personnel changes at the university. On April 1, Maria Vrublevskaya assumed the post of Vice-Rector for Personnel Policy, and Oleg Rozhdestvensky headed the SPbPU Office of Technological Leadership. Oleg Igorevich presented a report to the members of the Academic Council on the tasks of the new structural unit. He recalled that on October 29, 2024, a strategic session was held under the chairmanship of the head of the Russian government Mikhail Mishustin on the development of educational organizations that provide training for engineering personnel and scientific developments for technological leadership. Based on its results, 40 universities were to formulate development strategies until 2030–2036. SPbPU developed such a strategy, and on its basis, the University Development Program was created at the beginning of 2025, which Polytechnic successfully defended. Within the framework of this program, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Office of Technological Leadership is being created.
Oleg Rozhdestvensky spoke in detail about the management structure for the implementation of the SPbPU Development Program and answered questions.
The members of the Academic Council also voted to award the academic title of associate professor to representatives of the Humanities Institute: Darina Barinova, Juntao Wang, Elena Krylova and Evgenia Tsimerman.
Scientific Secretary Dmitry Karpov reported on monitoring the implementation of the decisions of the Academic Council.
Among the current issues discussed at the meeting were the approval of tuition fees for the 2025/2026 academic year for different categories of citizens; approval of chief designers of key scientific and technological areas; the results of the 2024 competition of educational and scientific publications; prevention of offenses and the prevention of illegal actions among young people; the introduction of a working program for the education of students and the implementation of youth policy, etc. The meeting also approved the new corporate style of the university.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By David Campbell, Packey J. Dee Professor of American Democracy, University of Notre Dame
After climbing for decades, the percentage of Americans with no religion has leveled off. For the past few years, the share of adults who identify as atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” has stood at about 29%, according to a major study the Pew Research Center released Feb. 26, 2025.
But this hardly means that the “nones,” or their impact on American life, are going away. In fact, their sheer size makes it likely that they will increase in political prominence.
It will presumably come as no surprise that many secular voters lean to the political left. It may, however, be surprising to learn that a fairly large number of nonreligious voters supported President Donald Trump in the 2020 and 2024 elections.
If the above paragraph is a head-scratcher, that is because “nonreligious” and “secular” are often treated as two ways of saying the same thing. But as political scientists who study religion – and the lack thereof – we have found that there is a fundamental difference between the two. While conventional wisdom holds that religious voters are Republicans and nonreligious voters are Democrats, the reality is more complicated.
So, what is the difference between people who are nonreligious vs. those who are secular?
The nonreligious tend to define themselves by what they are not: for example, not belonging to a religion, not attending worship services, not believing in God. In our surveys, many people without a religious affiliation do not cite any particular worldview or philosophy when asked what guides their life.
Secular people, on the other hand, define themselves by what they are: someone who has embraced a humanistic and even scientific worldview. That is, when asked about where they find truth, they turn to sources such as science and philosophy instead of scripture and religious teachings. Often, they identify as atheist, agnostic or humanist.
There are secular people, however, who also embrace some aspects of faith. Religiosity and secularity are not in a zero-sum relationship: more of one does not necessarily mean less of the other. In our research, we found many cases of people who belong to a religious congregation yet have a secular worldview: This describes many Jews, mainline Protestants and even Catholics, for example.
To get a better sense of Americans’ views, for over a decade we have worked on developing questions to identify people with a secular outlook, while also asking about religious commitment, such as how often someone attends services. Our findings culminated in the 2021 book “Secular Surge: A New Fault Line in American Politics.”
Based on the results, we can divide the U.S. population into four groups: Religionists, Nonreligionists, Secularists and Religious Secularists.
The Religionists category includes people of all faiths. At 41%, this is the largest group in the United States, but they do not form a majority.
Secularists make up 27% of the population – larger than the percentage of any single religious tradition. Evangelical Christians, for example, are 23% of the U.S. population, according to Pew, and Catholics are 19%.
Another 14% of Americans are what we call Religious Secularists: people who identify with and participate in a religious community, yet have a secular worldview. They might attend worship services but consider their religion more as an expression of their culture than a source of teachings to inform their daily decision-making. Some Religious Secularists may describe themselves as agnostic or even atheist.
Finally, 18% of Americans are Nonreligionists: These are people we described above as not having any religion in their lives, but neither do they have a secular worldview. They are defined by what they are not, not what they are.
These four groups vary in whether they are politically engaged – and if so, whom they support.
In our book about America’s “secular surge” we used data from a nationwide survey in 2017. In 2021, we conducted a second wave of that survey.
According to data from that survey that we analyzed for this article, Religionists and Secularists are about equally likely to get involved in politics: roughly 30% of both groups reported doing something political in the past 12 months, such as attending a rally, volunteering for a candidate or donating money. Nonreligionists were much less likely: only 17%.
In fact, no matter the form of civic engagement – voting, volunteering – Nonreligionists were consistently the least likely to be involved. Only 30% of Nonreligionists report belonging to any sort of club or organization, while for the rest of the population, it is closer to 50%.
In the same 2021 survey, we asked people to rate various politicians on a 0-100 scale, with a higher number meaning a more positive view.
On average, Religionists rated Trump a 61, the highest of the four groups; Secularists give him the lowest score, at 14. Nonreligionists gave Trump 47 points.
It would be wrong, however, to call the Nonreligionists an ideologically conservative group.
Consider their ratings of Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democratic Party but describes himself as a democratic socialist. For three of the groups, support for Sanders was the mirror opposite of their feelings toward Trump, a Republican. Secularists, for instance, gave the Vermont senator a relatively high score of 66, on average; Religionists’ feelings toward him are much cooler, at 32 points.
By contrast, Nonreligionists gave a nearly identical rating to Trump and Sanders. Given that the two men are at opposite ideological poles, how could Nonreligionists rate them the same? We suspect it is because both figures challenge the status quo.
In 2024, the Trump campaign worked to mobilize “low-propensity voters”: political jargon for people with the low levels of civic engagement often found among Nonreligionists. Not only are they politically disengaged, they are the most likely to combine being young, male, white and without a college degree.
Secularists, too, are disproportionately young and white. But in other ways they are very different from Nonreligionists. Secularists typically have a college degree and are evenly balanced between women and men. Typically, they are also liberal and highly engaged in politics.
So how will they shape American politics? The answer may depend on whether Secularists cohere into a movement – a secular left to parallel the religious right.
Today, highly religious conservatives are a vocal group within American politics, the core of the Republican Party. A generation ago, however, they were a disparate group of people from different Christian denominations, from Baptists to Pentecostals. Many of the religious groups that now march in common cause once had sharp disagreements.
It remains to be seen whether secular voters will organize in a similar way. Either way, it is safe to say America’s religious composition has changed significantly.
Don’t assume, however, that a turn away from religion necessarily means a sharp turn toward the political left. We’d caution that the story is more complicated. For now, secular voters lean to the left – but nonreligious voters are up for grabs.
David Campbell and Geoffrey Layman received funding from the National Science Foundation.
Geoffrey C. Layman and David E. Campbell received funding from the National Science Foundation.
– ref. America the secular? What a changing religious landscape means for US politics – https://theconversation.com/america-the-secular-what-a-changing-religious-landscape-means-for-us-politics-249892
Source: US Army (video statements)
: 75th Ranger Regiment
About the U.S. Army:
The Army Mission – our purpose – remains constant: To deploy, fight and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt & sustained land dominance by Army forces across the full spectrum of conflict as part of the joint force.
Interested in joining the U.S. Army?
Visit: spr.ly/6001igl5L
Connect with the U.S. Army online:
Web: https://www.army.mil
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/USarmy/
X: https://www.twitter.com/USArmy
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/usarmy/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/us-army
#USArmy #Soldiers #Military #Shorts
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
WILMINGTON, Del., April 01, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Property and Casualty insurer, Farmers of Salem, is proud to support employee involvement in community activities that improve the quality of life in those communities where our employees live. Today, we spotlight Jenni Eber, Claims Customer Service Supervisor, who will be celebrating her 20-year career with Farmers later this year.
Jenni has always had a close relationship with military veterans. Her brother, Glenn Cherry Jr, is a Navy veteran. It has always been his dream to retire, run a farm and help his military brothers and sister. Jenni says, “My love language has always been Acts of Service.” So, it was natural for the close brother and sister to team up in 2017 and give their time and energy to Gallant Heart of NJ (GH). Glenn is a founding member, and Jenni is currently the COO.
GH hopes to bring awareness to the aftercare of our military veterans. They often attend veteran sponsored events and chip in wherever needed. “Being involved for some years now, I still struggle with the words, but I feel more passionate than ever to help in any way I can.” Jenni continued, “The basic premise is to reduce veteran suicide.”
Gallant Heart is a non-profit that focuses on providing leisure activities to our nation’s heroes. The non-profit prides itself on creating a supportive environment for veterans and first responders to experience camaraderie, brotherhood and relaxation through hunting and social events. It is our mission to provide a cost-free experience and to play a role in their continued healing and quality of life.
Each GH founding member involves their children to ensure the acts of service live beyond expectations. This past summer Jenni took her 14-year-old daughter, Blair and her field hockey teammates to a Veterans picnic. They served the veterans lunch, escorted them to locations they needed to go, and cleaned up the entire event with a smile. “It was very eye opening for them, and I’m extremely grateful I was able to provide that opportunity.”
The organization recently completed their 2025 Flagship Event: The Wounded Veteran Pheasant Hunt. The weekend event hosted 24 Purple Heart recipients and/or 100% disabled veterans. This is an all-inclusive program for wounded and injured veterans which utilizes the therapeutic effects of the outdoors, camaraderie, and social engagement to help improve everyday quality of life. All food, equipment, lodging, and travel was provided.
Regarding Jenni’s career at Farmers, she stated: “I’ve worked my way up in the claims department, starting as a part time clerk. I now handle Property Loss claims and manage our Customer Service Representatives. I truly love my job, as I’ve said before, Acts of Service is my love language. Knowing that I’m helping people in their time of need is truly fulfilling.”
“When I started at Farmers, I was a 24-year-old in college. Now I’m married, with two beautiful kids, and have a beautiful home, all while building a career with Farmers of Salem. I’ve also been able to coach sports for over 20 years and never missed a school event due to Farmers of Salem believing in putting family first.”
For more information about Gallant Heart of NJ, visit wwwgallantheartnj.org
About Farmers of Salem
Founded in 1851, Farmers of Salem provides insurance coverage to homeowners and businesses in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Maryland through a network of independent agents. Rated A- Excellent by A.M. Best Company and has received a Financial Stability Rating of A Exceptional by Demotech, Inc. We pride ourselves in providing Superior Service with Personal Attention.
Farmers of Salem provides compensated Volunteer Time Off (VTO) to full-time employees for use during their regular workday. Farmers’ recognizes volunteering provides employees with a valuable opportunity to meaningfully support their chosen charitable missions and is very proud of their employee’s service to others.
For more information about Farmers of Salem, visit farmersofsalem.com
As a mutual corporation, fundamentally rooted in serving our community, we engage in corporate philanthropy, giving annually to an array of organizations and causes. Through our giving, in local markets where we have a presence, Farmers of Salem has supported educational development, physical education, and health and wellness programs that provide communities in most need with essential services, opportunities to improve the quality of their lives and provide them with assets to create a better future.
A partial list of events and organizations that Farmers of Salem supports annually:
| Contact: | Kim Lorenzini |
| 856-628-0150 | |
| klorenzini@fosnj.com |
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/422aee69-f48d-4b0e-a4ae-4e587dea06dd
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
UK Statement for the Enhanced Interactive Dialogue on the Democratic Republic of Congo. Delivered by the UK Human Rights Ambassador, Eleanor Sanders.
Thank you Madame Vice President,
We commend the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s strong engagement with the Council during its membership so far, recognising, in particular, their leadership in convening the special session of this Council last month.
The UK is deeply concerned by the significant deterioration of the situation in eastern DRC, where M23 and Rwanda Defence Force advances have displaced over one million people since January.
A resolution to this conflict is vital. We encourage all parties to engage in good faith and refrain from inflammatory rhetoric.
We are hearing horrifying accounts of human rights abuses and violations perpetrated by all parties including M23, the Rwanda Defence Force, the Armed Forces of the DRC, Wazelendo groups, and the Allied Democratic Forces.
We urge all parties to respect international humanitarian law, protect civilians, particularly from sexual and gender-based violence, and immediately end the abduction and recruitment of children.
Lastly, the UK reiterates its objection to the death penalty in all circumstances and, once again, urges the DRC to reconsider its decision to lift the moratorium on the death penalty.
Madame Vice President,
What more can the UN and the international community do to address the human rights situation in areas under M23 and RDF control?
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 01 APR 2025 3:48PM by PIB Delhi
The cases registered, arrests made and quantity of drug seized under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 by various Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) as reported to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) during 2020 to 2024 is at Annexure-I. The specific details of incidents regarding number of killings, anti-social atrocities on women and children under the influence of various types of narcotics and chemical drugs in the country are not maintained.
As part of its drive against drug smuggling to make India a drug free nation, Government is taking various measures, some of which are mentioned below: –
(i) The Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, as amended from time to time contains stringent provision to deal with illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and controlled substances as defined under Section 2 (viiib). Further, Chapter IV of the NDPS Act, 1985 provides detailed provisions for offences committed in contravention of the relevant provisions of the Act and penalties thereto.
(ii) Considering the international obligations or having regard to the available information and evidence with respect to the nature and effects of and the abuse or scope for abuse, Department of Revenue has scheduled 134 narcotic drugs under section 2(xi)(b), 173 psychotropic substances under section 3 and 45 controlled substances under section 9A in order to exercise due regulation, control or prohibition in public interest while ensuring availability of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances for medical and scientific use subject to the relevant provisions to the NDPS Act and rules/ regulations made thereunder.
(iii) A 4-tier Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) mechanism for ensuring better coordination between Central & State Drug Law Enforcement Agencies and other stakeholders in the field of controlling drug trafficking and drug abuse in India has been established. An all in one NCORD portal has been developed for information related to drug law enforcement.
(iv) A dedicated Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) headed by Additional Director General/ Inspector General level Police Officer has been established in each State/ Union Territory to function as the NCORD Secretariat for the State/ Union Territory and follow-up on compliance of decisions taken in NCORD meetings at different levels.
(v) To monitor the investigation of important and significant seizures, a Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) under the Chairmanship of Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has been set up by Government of India.
(vi) Border Guarding Forces (Border Security Force, Assam Rifles and Sashastra Seema Bal) have been empowered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 to carry out search, seizure and arrest for illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs at international border. Further, Railway Protection Force (RPF) has also been empowered under NDPS Act to check drug trafficking along the railway routes.
(vii) Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) coordinates with other agencies like, Navy, Coast Guard, Border Security Force, State ANTF, etc., to conduct joint operations to control the drug trafficking.
(viii) Electronics scanning of consignments for drug detection at all Ports are being ensured.
(ix) Towards the capacity building of Drug Law Enforcement Agencies of the country, NCB is continuously imparting training to the officers of other Drug Law Enforcement Agencies.
(x) To strengthen NCB and to increase its pan India presence, 536 posts in different level has been created in NCB. During this restructuring, special focus has been laid on cyber, legal, and enforcement aspects for more effective drug law enforcement.
(xi) A task force on Darknet and Crypto-Currency has been set up under the Multi Agency Centre (MAC) mechanism with a focus on monitoring all platforms facilitating Narco-trafficking, sharing of inputs on drug trafficking amongst Agencies/MAC members, interception of drug networks, continuous capturing of trends, modus operandi & nodes with regular database updates and review of related rules & laws.
(xii) To assist all DLEAs/other investigation agencies for investigation and proactive policing, National Integrated Database on Arrested Narco-Offenders (NIDAAN) portal is developed. It provides data of narcotics offenders involved in narcotics offences under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
(xiii) A National Narcotics Helpline No. 1933 “Madak-Padarth Nished Asoochna Kendra” (MANAS) has been created as 24×7 toll-free National Narcotics Call Centre helpline. Accordingly, MANAS has been envisioned as an integrated system providing a single platform for citizens to log, register, track and resolve drug related issues/problems through various modes of communication like call, SMS, Chat-bot, e-mail & web-link.
(xiv) A high-level dedicated group has been created in National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in November 2022 to analyze the drug trafficking through maritime routes, challenges and solutions (Maritime Security Group – NSCS).
(xv) Director General level talks by NCB are organized with neighboring and other countries such as Myanmar, Iran, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Singapore, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, etc. to resolve various issues on drugs trafficking having international implications and issue of maritime trafficking.
(xvi) Launched Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA) in all districts of the country through more than 10000 master volunteers. It has reached out to more than 14.79 crore people including 4.96 crore youth and 2.97 crore women.
(xvii) Government is providing financial assistance to 350 Integrated Rehabilitation Centers for Addicts (IRCAs), 46 Community based Peer Led Intervention (CPLI) Centers, 74 Outreach and Drop In Centers (ODICs), 142 Addiction Treatment Facilities (ATFs), 124 District De-addiction Centres (DDACs) across the country.
(xviii) A Toll-free Helpline No.14446 for de-addiction is operated for providing primary counseling and immediate assistance to persons seeking help.
(xix) Government through its autonomous body National Institute of Social Defense (NISD) and other collaborating agencies like State Counsel of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), etc. provides for regular awareness generation and sensitization sessions for all stakeholders including students, teachers, parents.
(xx) Navchetna Modules, Teachers Training Modules have been developed by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE) for sensitizing students (6th – 11th standard), teachers and parents on drug dependence, related coping strategies and life skills.
*****
Annexure-I
|
Year |
Case |
Arrest |
Quantity (in Kg) |
|
2020 |
55,622 |
73,841 |
10,82,511 |
|
2021 |
68,144 |
93,538 |
16,09,612 |
|
2022 |
1,02,769 |
1,26,516 |
12,53,662 |
|
2023 |
1,09,546 |
1,32,954 |
13,89,725 |
|
2024 |
89,913 |
1,16,098 |
13,30,600 |
Cases registered, arrests made and quantity of drug seized under Narcotic Drugs & Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 by various Drug Law Enforcement Agencies (DLEAs) as reported to Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) during 2020 to 2024
Source: Narcotics Control Bureau
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
***
RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS
(Release ID: 2117266) Visitor Counter : 62
Source: Government of India
Posted On: 01 APR 2025 3:51PM by PIB Delhi
Strengthening of Early Warning Systems is prerequisite for preparedness measures and is the most important element of entire cycle of disaster management.
The Prime Minister has enunciated ten-point agenda on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) during the Asian Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (AMCDRR) held in New Delhi in November 2016. The all-inclusive agenda includes the following: –
“Leverage technology to enhance the efficiency of disaster risk management efforts.” and “Build on local capacity and initiative to enhance disaster risk reduction”.
The Government effectively deploys technologies for improved early warning and forecasting of disaster in the vulnerable areas. Central Government has designated nodal agencies for early warning of different natural disasters.
To promote the use of modern technologies and to strengthen the early warning system for natural disasters, Ministry of Earth Sciences has
launched a Multi-faceted transformative approach namely “Mission Mausam” for the period 2024-2026 with the goal of making India a “weather-ready and climate smart” nation.
Under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Project (NCRMP) Early Warning Systems have been installed in the Coastal States, which have proved to be of great help in alert dissemination to the coastal community during recent cyclones.
‘Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) based Integrated Alert System’ has been initiated with an outlay of Rs. 354.83 Crore, for dissemination of geo targeted early warnings/alerts related to disasters to the citizens of India for all 36 States/UTs using various disseminating medium like SMS, TV, Radio, Indian Railways, Costal Sirens, Cell broadcast, Internet (RSS feed & Browser Notification), Satellite Receiver of GAGAN & NavIC etc., through integration of all alerting agencies, [India Meteorological Department (IMD), Central Water Commission (CWC), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Defence Geo-informatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Geological Survey of India (GSI) and Forest Survey of India (FSI)].
In CAP system, the alerts related to various disasters are generated by Alert Generating Agencies like IMD, CWC, INCOIS, DGRE & FSI and moderated by SDMAs of concern States/UTs. The alerts are sent to geo targeted areas in regional languages. There is a web-based dashboard to disaster managers for approving/editing alerts and choosing media for dissemination. The system has been used successfully in recent disasters. More than 4500 crore SMS alerts have been disseminated so far using CAP.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has also initiated a project for Pan India, end-to-end secure and foolproof Disaster Grade Cell Broadcasting System (CBS) to improve faster dissemination of alert / early warning messages to the citizen.
Defence Geoinformatics Research Establishment (DGRE), Chandigarh under Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is also the nodal agency for studying and developing avalanche mitigation technologies. DGRE has installed 72 Snow Meteorological Observatories and 45 Automated Weather Stations (AWS).
India Metrological Department (IMD) issues regular and precise weather forecasts & warning bulletins including for cyclones to all the affected/ likely affected States/ UTs.
IMD uses a suite of quality observations from Satellites, Radars and Conventional & Automatic Weather Stations for monitoring of cyclones developing over the Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. It includes INSAT 3D, 3DR and SCATSAT satellites, Doppler Weather Radars (DWRs) along the coast and coastal Automated Weather Stations (AWS), High wind speed recorders, Automatic Rain Gauges (ARGs), Meteorological buoys and ships.
NDMA also conducts capacity building programmes, organizes awareness workshops and fosters community-based risk reduction strategies and also trainings for monitoring and alert mechanism to ensure last mile connectivity.
Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG) monitors the glaciers and provides comprehensive analysis of factors that trigger hazards and its associated downstream risks to significantly enhance early warning capabilities and disaster preparedness. WIHG has prepared glacial lake
inventories for Uttarakhand (2015) and Himachal Pradesh (2018), identifying 1,266 lakes (7.6 km²) in Uttarakhand and 958 lakes (9.6 km²) in Himachal Pradesh.
Central Water Commission (CWC) monitors 902 Glacial lakes and water bodies, to enable the detection of relative change in water spread areas of Glacial lakes and water bodies as well as identifying those ones which have expanded substantially during its monitoring months.
Central Government has approved National Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) Risk Mitigation Project (NGRMP) for its implementation in four states namely, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Uttarakhand at a financial outlay of Rs. 150.00 crore.
NGRMP is aimed at reducing the risks associated with glacial lake outburst floods, particularly in regions that are highly susceptible to such natural disasters. The objectives of NGRMP project are:
(i) Prevent loss of life and reduce economic loss and damage to critical infrastructure due to GLOF and similar events.
(ii) Strengthen the early warning and monitoring capacities based on last mile connectivity.
(iii) Strengthen scientific and technical capabilities in GLOF risk reduction and mitigation at local levels through strengthening of local level institutions and communities.
(iv) Use of indigenous knowledge and scientific cutting-edge mitigation measures to reduce and mitigate GLOF risk.
NGRMP, approved by the Government, has one of its components as GLOF monitoring and Early Warning Systems (EWS) including remote sensing data, community involvement for monitoring, alerting / dissemination.
Two Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) have been installed in Sikkim with further deployments of EWS planned in collaboration with C-DAC, ISRO and Space Applications Centre, Ahmedabad to provide early warning to local communities in case of any GLOF event.
CWC has finalized the criteria for Risk Indexing of Glacial Lakes offering a structured approach for identifying and ranking such lakes based on their likelihood of failure and potential damage they could cause in the event of GLOF.
A Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction (CoDRR) under NDMA involving representatives from six Himalayan States / Union Territories and other Stakeholders, has identified a set of high risk glacial lakes for sending expeditions to directly assess these lakes and prepare comprehensive mitigation strategies in terms of setting up EWS / other structural and non-structural measures.
Subsequent to Teesta-III Hydroelectric dam collapse in October, 2023, CWC has decided to review the design flood of all the existing and under construction dams vulnerable to GLOFs to ensure their adequate spillway capacity for a combination of Probable Maximum Flood / Standard Probable Flood and GLOF. Further, GLOF Studies has been made mandatory for all new dams planned having Glacial Lakes in their catchments.
This was stated by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs Shri Nityanand Rai in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.
***
RK/VV/ASH/RR/PR/PS
(Release ID: 2117268) Visitor Counter : 67
Source: NASA
Preparations for NASA’s next Artemis flight recently took to the seas as a joint NASA and Department of Defense team, led by NASA’s Exploration Ground Systems Program, spent a week aboard the USS Somerset off the coast of California practicing procedures for recovering the Artemis II spacecraft and crew.
Following successful completion of Underway Recovery Test-12 (URT-12) on Monday, NASA’s Landing and Recovery team and their Defense Department counterparts are certified to recover the Orion spacecraft as part of the upcoming Artemis II test flight that will send NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon.
“This will be NASA’s first crewed mission to the Moon under the Artemis program,” said Lili Villarreal, the landing and recovery director for Artemis II. “A lot of practice led up to this week’s event, and seeing everything come together at sea gives me great confidence that the air, water, ground, and medical support teams are ready to safely recover the spacecraft and the crew for this historic mission.”
Once Orion reenters Earth’s atmosphere, the capsule will keep the crew safe as it slows from nearly 25,000 mph to about 325 mph. Then its system of 11 parachutes will deploy in a precise sequence to slow the capsule and crew to a relatively gentle 20 mph for splashdown off the coast of California. From the time it enters Earth’s atmosphere, the Artemis II spacecraft will fly 1,775 nautical miles to its landing spot in the Pacific Ocean. This direct approach allows NASA to control the amount of time the spacecraft will spend in extremely high temperature ranges.
The Artemis II astronauts trained during URT-11 in February 2024, when they donned Orion Crew Survival System suits and practiced a range of recovery operations at sea using the Crew Module Test Article, a stand -in for their spacecraft.
For the 12th training exercise, NASA astronauts Deniz Burnham and Andre Douglas, along with ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Luca Parmitano, did the same, moving from the simulated crew module to USS Somerset, with helicopters, a team of Navy divers in small boats, NASA’s open water lead – a technical expert and lead design engineer for all open water operations – as well as Navy and NASA medical teams rehearsing different recovery scenarios.
“Allowing astronauts to participate when they are not directly involved in a mission gives them valuable experience by exposing them to a lot of different scenarios,” said Glover, who will pilot Artemis II. “Learning about different systems and working with ground control teams also broadens their skillsets and prepares them for future roles. It also allows astronauts like me who are assigned to the mission to experience other roles – in this case, I am serving in the role of Joe Acaba, Chief of the Astronaut Office.”
As the astronauts arrive safely at the ship for medical checkouts, recovery teams focus on returning the spacecraft and its auxiliary ground support hardware to the amphibious transport dock.
Navy divers attach a connection collar to the spacecraft and an additional line to a pneumatic winch inside the USS Somerset’s well deck, allowing joint NASA and Navy teams to tow Orion toward the ship. A team of sailors and NASA recovery personnel inside the ship manually pull some of the lines to help align Orion with its stand, which will secure the spacecraft for its trip to the shore. Following a safe and precise recovery, sailors will drain the well deck of water, and the ship will make its way back to Naval Base San Diego.
The Artemis II test flight will confirm the foundational systems and hardware needed for human deep space exploration, taking another step toward missions on the lunar surface and helping the agency prepare for human missions to Mars.
Source: Thales Group
Headline: DSTA and Thales Announce AI-Driven Co-Lab to Strengthen Singapore’s Defence Systems
At the 2025 Singapore Defence Technology Summit (Tech Summit), a joint team from DSTA and Thales showcased its recent collaboration on counter-drone technologies, with tangible outcomes that can potentially be integrated into systems currently in-use with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Over the last five months, engineers from both organisations co-developed Machine-Learning (ML)-enabled software modules that reduce the rate of false alarms in drone detection. By enhancing a radar’s sensor performance with the help of AI, the algorithms offer operators and end-users heightened situational awareness that enable faster and more accurate drone detection and classification.
Through this demonstration of a new Concept of Operations (CONOPs) in enhanced radar performance in drones, the team leveraged physics-, knowledge- and data-based AI, bringing together DSTA’s deep domain knowledge of the drone ecosystem and the technical and AI skills of Thales researchers and engineers. The announcement of the Co-Lab represents the next step in the strategic cooperation between DSTA and Thales, underscoring both parties’ ambitions to support the SAF in dealing with emerging and asymmetric threats.
“The DSTA-Thales Joint Lab marks a strategic step in advancing next-generation defence technologies. By harnessing AI and advanced sensing technologies, we are adopting a more agile approach to capability development, enabling us to tackle evolving threats. This collaboration reinforces DSTA’s commitment to working with global partners to co-develop advanced capabilities, ensuring our defence systems remain robust, adaptive, and future-ready,” said Mr Roy Chan, Deputy Chief Executive (Operations), DSTA.
“Thales’ AI for critical systems must meet the stringent reliability, safety and security requirements for armed forces worldwide. It is a true recognition when our customers trust us to co-develop solutions alongside them that address the pain points and challenges of the end-user. We have achieved the outcomes of the MoU in a relatively short span of time, with our teams harnessing AI to create solutions with real-world implications. This Co-Lab with DSTA speaks to the years of collaboration between us and our joint commitment to provide the best technologies for the SAF and the Singapore Ministry of Defence.” said Pascale Sourisse, President and CEO, Thales International.
Thales holds deep expertise and technological mastery in radars, with air traffic management radars used by the majority of civil aviation authorities in the region, as well as operating a Radar Centre of Excellence in Singapore. As a key partner to the SAF for over 50 years, Thales also operates a Defence Hub for services in Singapore, with skilled local expertise on-hand to support DSTA and Mindef for support and maintenance of systems currently in use with the armed forces.
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies for the Defence, Aerospace, and Cyber & Digital sectors. Its portfolio of innovative products and services addresses several major challenges: sovereignty, security, sustainability and inclusion.
The Group invests more than €4 billion per year in Research & Development in key areas, particularly for critical environments, such as Artificial Intelligence, cybersecurity, quantum and cloud technologies. Thales has more than 83,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2024, the Group generated sales of €20.6 billion.
PRESS contact
Thales, Corporate Communications Asia
Jamie CHOW
Source: European Parliament
Priority question for written answer P-001284/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Siegbert Frank Droese (ESN)
The Commission White Paper for European Defence – Readiness 2030 addresses the need to strengthen the European defence industry. As the current conflict between Ukraine and Russia shows, modern warfare is also a question of manpower. However, the White Paper primarily focuses on creating a better regulatory and financial environment for the defence industry. Furthermore, it makes reference to nuclear weapons only in connection with the threat posed by China and Russia – not in terms of Europe’s own deterrence needs. There does not therefore seem to be any notion as to how the strategic plan set out in the White Paper is to help Europe counter the threats posed by these devastating systems.
Submitted: 27.3.2025
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
The Royal Navy’s submarine-hunting Merlin helicopters will receive world-class maintenance under a £165 million contract extension, supporting 1,000 skilled UK jobs.
Merlin Mk4 helicopter
The agreement supports the government’s Plan for Change by bolstering national security and boosting the economy, with the Ministry of Defence ensuring the defence sector is an engine for growth in every nation and region of the UK.
It will sustain 200 jobs at Leonardo’s helicopters facility in Yeovil, Somerset, and 800 more across the wider UK supply chain, and covers the fleet of 30 Merlin Mk2 maritime patrol helicopters and 24 Merlin Mk4 amphibious and battlefield lift aircraft.
The deal contributes to the Government’s commitment to secure Britain’s future through the Plan for Change, which is delivering security and renewal by kick-starting economic growth to put more money in working people’s pockets.
The Mk2 helicopters are submarine hunters and can also carry out search and rescue operations, intercept drug runners and pirates, and support humanitarian relief efforts.
Armed with Sting-Ray Torpedoes and M3M .50 calibre machine guns, the Mk2 helicopters provide the Royal Navy with anti-submarine and anti-surface support.
They also use powerful radars high above the Navy’s carrier strike groups for airborne surveillance and control. The Mk4 fleet provides troop transport, casualty evacuation and can carry medium lift loads of up to 3.8 tonnes.
These versatile aircraft were recently deployed on Operation CLOCKWORK in Norway, which involved the training of Commando Helicopter Force air and ground crew, and will participate in the upcoming Carrier Strike Group (CSG25) deployment.
Our fleet of world-class Merlin helicopters provide the Royal Navy with a vital advantage over our adversaries, keeping our carrier strike groups safe and enhancing their battle-winning capability.
This investment demonstrates our unwavering commitment to maintaining cutting-edge defence capabilities that keep us safe, while utilising defence as an engine for economic growth, supporting 1,000 well-paid jobs across the UK.
As well as jobs based in Somerset, the agreement will support jobs at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall.
The UK defence sector underpins our national resilience and is a vital engine for growth, supporting 434,000 jobs across the country. Today’s news follows the announcement of the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, as the government will hit 2.5% of GDP spend by April 2027, and has a commitment to hit 3% in the next Parliament.
Leonardo is the prime contractor for the expert maintenance, with Lockheed Martin and SERCO appointed as key sub-contractors.
We’re extremely proud to have provided the UK’s AW101 Merlin fleet from the Home of British Helicopters in Yeovil.
Working closely with the Ministry of Defence and Royal Navy, we’re keeping the Merlin fleet supported and available, so it’s ready to fly whenever and wherever it’s called upon.
At the same time, we’re looking towards how Merlin will be supported the in years to come under the Rotary Wing Enterprise (RWE) agreement, which will transform how support will be delivered across the whole UK rotary fleet.
Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-001146/2025
to the Council
Rule 144
Rima Hassan (The Left), Manon Aubry (The Left), Majdouline Sbai (Verts/ALE), Carola Rackete (The Left), Marina Mesure (The Left), Matjaž Nemec (S&D), Leila Chaibi (The Left), Ilaria Salis (The Left), Per Clausen (The Left), Damien Carême (The Left), Saskia Bricmont (Verts/ALE), Merja Kyllönen (The Left), Pernando Barrena Arza (The Left), Nikos Papandreou (S&D), Anthony Smith (The Left), Isabel Serra Sánchez (The Left), Jaume Asens Llodrà (Verts/ALE), Marc Botenga (The Left), Catarina Vieira (Verts/ALE), Emma Fourreau (The Left), Mimmo Lucano (The Left)
The EU has maintained military cooperation with Rwanda, particularly in relation to operations in Mozambique, despite findings indicating Rwandan support for the M23 rebel group in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). In November 2024, the Council granted an additional EUR 20 million to Rwanda for the deployment of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) in Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.
However, UN reports have documented that RDF commanders Major-General Eugène Nkubito (report S/2024/432), Major-General Alexis Kagame (report S/2022/967) and Major-General Emmy Ruvusha (report S/2023/431), deployed in Mozambique, have been involved in destabilising operations in eastern DRC by supporting the M23 rebels, as well as in the current security crisis.
In the light of these UN reports:
Submitted: 18.3.2025
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
—————
@usarmy solders assigned to @landstuhlregionalmedicalce4025 from the Medical Readiness Command participated in 2025 Best Leader Competition at Grafenwoehr Training Area, Bavaria, Germany.
For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
—————
Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!
Like the DoD on Facebook: http://facebook.com/DeptofDefense
Follow the DoD on Twitter: http://twitter.com/DeptofDefense
Follow the DoD on Instagram: http://instagram.com/DeptofDefense
Follow the DoD on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/DeptofDefense
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Moscow schoolchildren and teachers regularly support participants in the special military operation (SVO). In addition to collecting humanitarian aid, they visit soldiers in hospitals, hold concerts and give gifts. This was reported by the press service Department of Education and Science of the City of Moscow.
“Schoolchildren, parents, and teachers participate in the humanitarian aid collection campaigns. Food packages, medicines, warm clothes, and personal hygiene products are given to soldiers and residents of new regions. In addition, children write letters to Russian servicemen. They thank the soldiers for their exploits, wish them success and a speedy return home. In addition, the children meet with the heroes of the SVO and visit them in hospitals,” the department’s press service said.
Thus, volunteers from School No. 1360 visit the Central Military Clinical Hospital named after P.V. Mandryka every week. Teachers bring there fruits, letters from children and souvenirs. The soldiers warmly accept these gifts and make return ones. For example, the school museum now houses a wooden tower assembled by a serviceman from matches and posters with parting words for students.
“Visiting the soldiers in the hospital is a very important and touching event. Their courage inspires us. We always pass on words of gratitude from the defenders to the schoolchildren. Children should know about their feat!” said Tatyana Kuvshinova, director of school No. 1360.
Volunteer detachment of school #1164, created at the beginning of the SVO, works in one of the capital’s hospitals. Deputy Director for Educational Work Natalia Moskalenko has completed training and now serves as a nurse. High school students have also actively joined the work. For example, 11th grade student Vasilisa Kostenko helps medical personnel in hospitals: she applies bandages and accompanies soldiers to procedures. The servicemen note that such support gives them strength.
Principal of School No. 1164 Mikhail Klochikhin noted that it is important to instill in children a sense of responsibility, respect for other people and an understanding that help is not a gesture of goodwill, but an important part of life. He is sure that such projects are the best lesson in citizenship. The children see how they can really support others with their efforts. And it is important for the fighters that they do not go unnoticed.
School No. 117 cooperates with a military hospital in Donbass. Parents, students and teachers collect medical supplies: antiseptics, bandages, catheters and medicines. Such assistance is especially in demand before the holidays. Thus, on the eve of the New Year, the soldiers were given 100 pieces of medical pants and posters with congratulations.
Svetlana Sologdinova, Advisor to the Director for Education at School No. 117, noted that such events are a way to thank those who defend our country. According to her, the school regularly helps hospitals and supports the fighters not only with medicines, but also morally. “This is an important mission, because their lives and health depend on it. Everyone who participates makes our world a kinder place,” Svetlana Sologdinova added.
In addition, the V.S. Loktev Song and Dance Ensemble, which operates at the Moscow Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Gory, performs in the capital’s hospitals. The group regularly holds concerts at the prosthetics and comprehensive rehabilitation center of the Moscow medical clinical center “Voronovskoye”. At the end of February, multiple world and European champion in sambo and sumo Igor Kurinnoy took part in one of them. Such meetings help to lift the spirits of patients.
Patriotic events for young people correspond to the objectives of the projects “We are together” and “Russia is a country of opportunities” of the national project “Youth and Children”.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152021073/
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Six Non-Executive Directors have been appointed for a three-year term to support the IAA’s work.
John Tuckett, Immigration Services Commissioner, has appointed Eni Bankole-Race, Susan Giles, Caroline Hattersley, Stephen McMahon, Julie Parker and Mike Venables as Non-Executive Directors for the Immigration Advice Authority (IAA).
The newly appointed non-executive members will serve a three-year term, bringing their expertise to key governance bodies within the IAA. Susan Giles and Mike Venables will join the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC), while Eni Bankole Rice, Caroline Hattersley, and Stephen McMahon will join the Advisory Board. Julie Parker will contribute to both ARAC and the Advisory Board.
In these roles, they will provide independent advice, support, and scrutiny, helping to advance the IAA’s new vision and strengthen the regulation of immigration advice and services across the UK.
They join existing Non-Executive Director, Simon Smith, Chair of the Advisory Board and ARAC.
I am delighted to welcome our new Non-Executive Directors to the IAA. Their expertise and independent insight will be invaluable in strengthening our governance, enhancing our regulatory approach, and ensuring that we continue to protect the public by upholding high standards in immigration advice and services.
Their support will be instrumental as we drive forward our ambitious new vision to improve regulation and better serve those seeking reliable immigration advice across the UK.
Eni is an organisational strategist with experience across the public, private, and voluntary sectors. A former Inter-Agency Coordinator for the UK Asylum Support Programme, she is now an independent researcher and visiting lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire. She has held various advisory and trustee roles, including as a Lay Assessor for the Advisory Committee on Clinical Impact Awards. Eni holds a law degree and is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute.
Susan is a highly experienced governance professional. Currently a Director of Corporate Governance and Company Secretary for a large NHS Trust, Susan has over 20 years’ corporate governance and risk management experience in the NHS. She also has significant experience in the voluntary sector and currently Chairs South Liverpool Domestic Abuse Service and is a Trustee of both North West Cancer Research and Thrive Social Housing. Susan is also the appointed Independent Person for Standards for York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority and a Joint Audit Committee member for Cumbria Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.
Caroline is CEO of Relate London, North, East and Essex, with over 25 years’ experience in leadership, safeguarding, and mental health. She has worked for the British Red Cross, the National Autistic Society, and Providence Row and is a recognised expert in trauma, autism, and sexual violence. Caroline chairs The Gestalt Centre, serves as a trustee for PACT, and Chair of Caritas Westminster’s’ Safe in Faith Initiative. She is also an ambassador for Widowed and Young.
Stephen served in the British Army for over 36 years, holding senior operational and strategic roles across the Middle East, Balkans, Afghanistan, and Africa. He was Assistant Chief of Defence Staff for Military Strategy and Global Engagement and later a senior mentor at the Royal College of Defence Studies. Now Executive Director of VIBSA Ltd, he provides strategic advice to the public and private sectors. He also serves as His Majesty’s Honorary Ordnance Officer at the Tower of London.
Julie is a skilled non-executive director with extensive finance and governance expertise. She has served as Director of Resources and Finance in multiple London boroughs and has held key audit committee roles, including at Arts Council England. Currently, she is a non-executive director at Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust and a board member of Estuary Housing Association.
Mike is an experienced non-executive, trustee, and consultant with expertise in governance, finance, risk management, and strategy. A former senior civil servant at the Ministry of Defence, he has held senior finance, policy, and legal roles, working internationally in Northern Ireland, Slovenia, Croatia, and on peace negotiations in Kosovo and Afghanistan.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The Polytechnic hospitably welcomed the SVO participants who are undergoing treatment at the 442nd District Military Clinical Hospital. The fighters were given fascinating excursions with an immersion into the history of the university and the contribution of the Polytechnics to the development and prosperity of our country.
I am grateful to fate that I ended up in St. Petersburg, and also in the leading engineering university of the country. Unexpectedly for myself, I discovered many historical facts that I did not even know about. For example, about the previously classified scientist, three times Hero of Socialist Labor of the USSR, Soviet designer of armored vehicles, nuclear weapons and the hydrogen bomb Nikolai Dukhov. I have never been so impressed by what I heard. And the dedication and involvement of the director of the Museum Valery Klimov showed how you need to know history, how you can love your alma mater, – said special military operation fighter Artem.
The guests of the university visited the Polytechnic Museum, the White Hall, the Academic Council meeting room, walked through the portrait gallery on the first floor of the Main Building, and learned about its history. They learned about the outstanding contribution of polytechnicians to the development of science, technology, and industry in Russia.
Thanks to such events, we pass on historical memory, preserve the country’s heritage. This is not only a tribute to the past, but also an important step in developing the culture of volunteerism and charity that have accompanied Polytechnic for more than a century, – said Tatyana Nam, Director of the SPbPU Dobro.Center.
The tour allowed the soldiers to escape from their hospital routine, feel part of the academic community and recharge with positive emotions. For many, visiting the Polytechnic University was an opportunity to meet their brothers in arms, representing different regions of the country and combat units. At the end of the tour, the honored guests were presented with memorable gifts.
I was surprised by the great designer, inventor of the legendary T-34 tank Mikhail Koshkin, who was a successful, hereditary confectioner, director of a factory. He decided at 30 to enter the Polytechnic, and after completing his studies, he realized that his calling was to work at the Kirov Plant. What a destiny! Such people motivate you to perform feats, – said SVO participant Alexander Nikolaevich.
On March 28, the Family Living Room, a very touching and sincere meeting with the wives and mothers of SVO participants, was held at the Center for Social Assistance to Families and Children of the Kalininsky District. It was exciting to listen to their stories, to see the pride and sadness in their eyes at the same time. These families know the price of courage, because their loved ones go through difficult trials defending our country. Such meetings remind us that heroes are not only people fighting on the front lines, but also their families, who will always wait for their loved ones and believe in their victory.
Irina and Elena have both a husband and a son at the front. Angela’s husband volunteered, having a reservation, and she stayed home with five children, and still manages to help other children by teaching English at a camp. Two participants of the evening turned out to be modest winners of the family, love and fidelity contest “Bereginya” among the wives of SVO participants. One participant was awarded the public medal “Mother of the Defender of the Fatherland”.
#Mvvet provided volunteer support, presented small signs of attention to women and children, played with children, drank tea with treats, took part in pleasant master classes, talked with the fighters of the Espanyola unit.
These and other events in
The Center for Volunteer Projects “Harmony” expresses gratitude to the Polytechnic Museum, Vice-Rector for Youth Policy and Communication Technologies Maxim Pasholikov, Director of the Humanitarian Institute Natalia Chicherina for their support and development of volunteerism in the university environment.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
On April 1, an exhibition based on the materials of the project “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow” opened on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. The event, timed to coincide with the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, was organized by the capital’s Department of Cultural Heritage.
“The exhibition includes 14 original stories about Moscow buildings and monuments that suffered from military action or played a special role during the Great Patriotic War, and more than 100 unique photographs, letters and documents from that time. The exhibition, timed to coincide with the celebration of a significant date – the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory, will last until April 14 inclusive. We invite everyone to visit it and get acquainted with unique stories about such architectural monuments as the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve, the Ostankino Museum-Estate, the Sandunov Baths and others,” said the head of the Moscow City Department of Cultural Heritage.
The Moscow City Government has begun implementing the “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow” project. Department of Cultural Heritage in 2021, on the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Moscow. Its main idea is to tell that there were not only people on the front lines. Moscow buildings also became participants in the hostilities. Some of them still bear traces of enemy bombing. Events that influenced the course of the war took place within the walls of these houses.
Each entry in the publication includes the author’s story and archival illustrative materials – everything that can tell in as much detail as possible about the hero monument. Anyone can help in creating the book of memory: an application containing the history of the building can be submitted on the project website. www. pamyatniki-geroi.rf
Residents and organizations share their stories, including the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, whose façade still bears traces of shrapnel from a nearby bomb, the Vakhtangov State Academic Theater, whose building was almost completely destroyed during the first bombing of Moscow, and the Bolshoi Theater, which was damaged during one of the air raids.
When the Nazi troops began their offensive on Moscow in 1941, it became clear that the building of the Red Army Theatre (now the Central Academic Theatre of the Russian Army) was an extremely successful target and landmark for enemy aircraft. There is no documentary evidence to support this, but they said that each beam of the building in the shape of a five-pointed star pointed in the direction of Moscow’s largest transport hubs – Belorussky, Savelovsky and Rizhsky railway stations, Komsomolskaya Square, and the fifth – to the center of the capital.
Employees from all the theatre’s workshops took part in camouflaging the building: actors, prop masters, carpenters and fitters. They sewed nets, painted walls and models. The first control observations were conducted during the work, and the third – upon its completion. From a height of 2.5 thousand meters when approaching from the east, the theatre building was identified only when the plane was almost above the object. And before camouflage, it could be seen 30-40 kilometers from the capital.
To enhance the camouflage effect, the roofs of nearby houses were repainted, the pond in the Catherine Garden was drained, and models of buildings were installed in the passage between the park and the theater. Thus, from above, the square and nearby buildings began to look like a residential village with houses, sheds, and trees.
During the war, the only female sniper school in the USSR was located on the territory of the Kuskovo estate. It graduated more than two thousand female snipers. Two graduates of the school, Tatyana Baramzina and Aliya Moldagulova, were posthumously awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union.
In addition to the sniper training center, the former Sheremetev estate housed the Central Experimental Kennel of Military-Sports Dog Breeding, created in 1924 to conduct experiments on the use of dogs in military affairs. In 1934, the institution was renamed the Central School of Communications, Dog Breeding, and Pigeon Breeding. During the Great Patriotic War, it regularly sent its teams to the front. Mine-detecting dogs discovered about four million mines, landmines, and other explosive devices, and sapper handlers defused them. Mine-detecting dog units participated in demining Belgorod, Kyiv, Odessa, Novgorod, Vitebsk, and Budapest.
Life at another estate, Ostankino, also changed completely on June 22, 1941. All the most valuable exhibits were taken out of the wooden palace and into the stone building of the 17th-century estate church. Only the large palace chandeliers had to be left in place, as they could not be hidden in the church vaults. All the crystal decorations were removed from them, as they would inevitably have broken during the bombing.
To avoid attracting attention from above, the palace was also camouflaged. Different parts of the building were painted in different colors so that at night, when raids most often occurred, the palace would give the impression of several separate buildings.
Moscow to Perpetuate Memory of Five Heroes Who Participated in the WarThe project “Book of Hero Monuments of Moscow” has been expanded with new stories
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/152033073/
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
The government sets out the scope and ambition of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill for the first time today.
New cyber laws to safeguard UK economy and secure long-term growth.
Hospitals and energy suppliers are set to boost their cyber defences under the new Cyber Security Bill, protecting public services and safeguarding growth as government delivers its Plan for Change.
This will ensure firms providing essential IT services to public services and the wider economy are no longer an easy target for cyber criminals. 1,000 service providers will fall into scope of measures expected to be introduced later this year.
The move forms part of the government’s drive to secure Britain’s future through the Plan for Change, delivering security and renewal by strengthening our critical infrastructure. It will give the British public, businesses and investors greater confidence in digital services – supporting the government’s mission to kickstart economic growth.
Cyber threats cost the UK economy almost £22 billion a year between 2015 and 2019 and cause significant disruption to the British public and businesses. Last summer’s attack on Synnovis – a provider of pathology services to the NHS – cost an estimated £32.7 million and saw thousands of missed appointments for patients. Figures also show a hypothetical cyber-attack focused on key energy services in the South East of England could wipe over £49 billion from the wider UK economy.
Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, Peter Kyle, said:
Economic growth is the cornerstone of our Plan for Change, and ensuring the security of the vital services which will deliver that growth is non-negotiable.
Attempts to disrupt our way of life and attack our digital economy are only gathering pace, and we will not stand by as these incidents hold our future prosperity hostage.
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, will help make the UK’s digital economy one of the most secure in the world – giving us the power to protect our services, our supply chains, and our citizens – the first and most important job of any government.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:
Cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and create real risks for our health service if we do not act now to put the right protections in place.
We are building an NHS that is fit for the future. This bill will boost the NHS’s resilience against cyber threats, secure sensitive patient data and make sure life-saving appointments are not missed as we deliver our Plan for Change.
The government is also exploring additional measures to make sure it can respond effectively to new cyber threats and take rapid action where needed to protect the UK’s national security. This includes giving the Technology Secretary powers to direct regulated organisations to shore up their cyber defences – putting the UK in the strongest possible footing to defend against new and existing threats.
Another potential avenue may include new protections for more than 200 data centres – bolstering the defences of one of the main drivers of economic growth and innovation, including through AI. Data centres process mountains of data which they need to churn out new products which have become commonplace everywhere from banking and online shopping to booking holidays and staying in touch with friends and family. The government will now consider the best route to deliver these additional measures.
In the year to September 2024, the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) managed 430 cyber incidents, with 89 of these being classed as nationally significant – a rate of almost two every week. The most recent iteration of the Cyber Security Breaches Survey also highlights 50% of British businesses suffering a cyber breach or attack in the last 12 months, with more than 7 million incidents being reported in 2024.
To face down this threat, the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill will ensure the vital infrastructure and digital services the country relies on are more secure than ever, as the government sets out its legislative ambitions for the first time today.
Richard Horne, NCSC CEO, said:
The Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is a landmark moment that will ensure we can improve the cyber defences of the critical services on which we rely every day, such as water, power and healthcare.
It is a pivotal step toward stronger, more dynamic regulation, one that not only keeps up with emerging threats but also makes it as challenging as possible for our adversaries.
By bolstering their cyber defences and engaging with the NCSC’s guidance and tools, such as Cyber Assessment Framework, Cyber Essentials, and Avctive Cyber Defence, organisations of all sizes will be better prepared to meet the increasingly sophisticated challenges.
While the legislation will arm the UK with the cyber defences it needs to meet the challenges of today, it also includes measures to ensure a swift response to new threats which emerge in the future. To do this, the Technology Secretary will be given powers to update the regulatory framework to keep pace with the ever-changing cyber landscape.
Confirmed in last year’s King’s Speech, today marks the first time the government has shared full details on its plans for the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which will be introduced to Parliament this year.
The legislative proposals follow other government recent action to boost UK cyber security, including a new, world-leading AI cyber security standard to protect AI systems, a new international coalition to boost cyber skills and the Cyber Local programme to support the UK’s rapidly growing £13.2 billion cyber security industry, which has created 6,600 new jobs in the past year.
A full copy of the policy statement containing details of the measures in the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill policy statement will be published today.
Figures on the economic impact of a hypothetical cyber incident targeting the South East’s energy structure (PDF) by the University of Cambridge.
If the proposals are adopted:
DSIT media enquiries
Email press@dsit.gov.uk
Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 3000
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.)
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In case you missed it, in a recent interview with the Los Angeles Times, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, discussed the Trump Administration’s unlawful detention of migrants at Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba (GTMO) following his visit to the base. Last week, Padilla joined a delegation of U.S. Senators in traveling to Guantánamo Bay to conduct oversight of the ongoing Department of Defense activities to support the Department of Homeland Security in the unlawful relocation of migrants. The Senators blasted the Trump Administration for its unlawful relocation of migrants and waste of taxpayer dollars and military resources.
In his interview, Padilla reiterated the “enormous” costs to taxpayers of the “misguided” Guantánamo Bay mission, emphasizing the Trump Administration’s lack of preparation and lack of reasoning for detaining migrants at Guantánamo Bay as opposed to within the United States. He also stressed that there is “no clear authority” for the Administration to take these unlawful actions, and underscored that many of the migrants being detained here are considered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement to be “low-risk.”
Padilla previously denounced Trump’s relocation of immigrants from the United States to Guantánamo Bay as unlawful and demanded answers earlier this year.
Key Excerpts:
Full text of the article is available here and below:
LA Times: ‘Misguided mission’: Senators blast detaining migrants at Guantanamo
By Andrea Castillo
Senators who visited the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where the Trump administration has flown hundreds of migrants for deportation, on Saturday called on the Trump administration to “immediately cease this misguided mission.”
The delegation of senators — four Democrats and one Independent — said they were angered that they had to fly to Cuba on Friday for answers to questions they’ve been asking administration officials for months.
“After examining the migrant relocation activities at Guantanamo Bay, we are outraged by the scale and wastefulness of the Trump Administration’s misuse of our military,” the senators wrote. “It is obvious that Guantanamo Bay is a likely illegal and certainly illogical location to detain immigrants. Its use is seemingly designed to undermine due process and evade legal scrutiny.”
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) said his biggest takeaways were that the administration didn’t properly prepare for the operation and that the cost to taxpayers is “enormous.”
“It was sort of a ready-fire-aim approach to this whole thing,” he said.
In an interview with The Times, Padilla said officials could not adequately explain why the migrants had to be held at Guantanamo, not some facility in the United States.
The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Guantanamo is best known for holding suspected terrorists and the mastermind behind the Sept. 11 attacks, but some of the migrants held there are classified as “low-level” detainees.
“We asked repeatedly, you mean to tell me that across the 48 states in the continental U.S., there’s not space for [around 40 low-level detainees]?” Padilla said, adding that he has issues with Trump’s detention and deportation operation. “But even recognizing that, there’s a much more cost-effective way of doing it than this.”
Padilla traveled to Guantanamo with Sen. Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the top Democrat on the Armed Services Committee; Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee; Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the top Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee; and Sen. Angus King of Maine, a senior member of the Armed Services Committee.
The delegation was led by Reed. King, an Independent, caucuses with the Democrats.
Padilla is a member of the Judiciary Committee and chairs its immigration subcommittee.
Upon arrival Friday, the senators were briefed by Homeland Security officials, agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Navy personnel. They visited three sites: lower-level detainees, higher-level detainees and the final 15 suspected foreign terrorists held in connection to the 9/11 attacks.
Eighty-seven migrants were held at the facility as of Friday, primarily from Latin American countries: 42 in a dormitory at the Migrant Operations Center and 45 at Camp 6, on a separate part of the base. Camp 6 is a medium-security military prison.
On March 11, the Trump administration flew 40 migrants held at Guantanamo back to the U.S., a few days ahead of a court hearing in a pair of lawsuits challenging whether it is legal to hold detainees there for civil immigration purposes.
A federal District Court judge in Washington, D.C., declined to block the administration from sending more migrants to Guantanamo. Afterward, the administration began sending more migrants there.
The Trump administration has broadly portrayed migrants sent to Guantanamo as dangerous, though many had no criminal record in the U.S. Officials have claimed without evidence that some have ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
President Trump issued an executive order in January to expand the Migrant Operations Center “to full capacity.” He suggested 30,000 migrants could be housed on the base.
Among the senators’ questions Friday, Padilla said, was what authorities are doing to meet the minimum standards for detention conditions, and which set of standards they are aiming to meet, such as those pertaining to the Navy or to ICE. There was no clear response, he said.
“A lot of it seemed to be still very much a work in progress because this is unique, in terms of it being an ICE mission at a foreign location,” he said. “That in and of itself is extremely concerning because there’s no clear authority for anything they are doing at Guantanamo.”
At times, Padilla said, officials gave contradictory information. For example, he said the answer to some questions was “it depends on their conviction.” But Padilla pointed out that some detainees haven’t been convicted of anything, and are being held based on an arrest or charge.
Padilla said officials kept using the phrase “the worst of the worst” to describe the migrants.
“If they’re all the worst of the worst, they should all be in the high-risk or violent-offender category,” he said.
Padilla said officials “did everything they could” to keep the visitors from speaking with detainees. He said he managed to ask a couple of detainees held in the low-level area when they had arrived, and they told him Thursday.
Detainees have had scarce access to phone calls. Padilla said officials recognized the need and have planned for equipment to be shipped to accommodate private attorney calls. He took that as a sign of the lack of preparation.
Padilla said he fears some detainees will be deported to their country of origin and face persecution or death because of the lack of access to counsel.
Some of the officials expressed frustration with the continuously evolving operational instructions, Padilla said. Military personnel told him they had received short notice before being transferred to Guantanamo.
Those moves leave critical missions short-staffed, Padilla said.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines — Soldiers of the Philippines Army 5th and 7th Infantry Division and U.S. Army Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division participated in a subject matter expert exchange (SMEE) on bundle drop and sling load operations training during Salaknib 25 at Fort Magsaysay, Philippines, March 25, 2025.
Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND
THAILAND — The U.S. Air Force 77th Fighter Squadron ‘Gamblers’ have flown countless missions supporting numerous conflicts and exercises around the world for 107 years, making them one of the most storied flying units still operating. Today, they’re bringing that knowledge and lethality to the Pacific theater for Cope Tiger 25—a rare first in the unit’s long history.