Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced Sunday that the talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations have concluded in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, saying the discussion was “productive and focused,” with “key points including energy” addressed.
In a post on social media platform X, Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s goal is “to secure a just and lasting peace” for Ukraine and Europe at large, claiming, “We are working to make that goal a reality.”
The Ukrainian and U.S. teams met earlier in the day in Riyadh.
According to the Ukrinform news agency, the Ukrainian delegation also included State Secretary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Oleksandr Karasevych, deputy heads of the President’s Office, Pavlo Palisa and Ihor Zhovkva, as well as Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk.
The talks came almost two weeks after a previous meeting between the two sides in the Saudi port city of Jeddah saw Ukraine okay a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire plan in exchange for Washington lifting its pause on military aid to and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Notably, the meeting precedes the talks between U.S. and Russian delegations scheduled for Monday. Media reported late Sunday that the Russian delegation has arrived in Riyadh. The delegation includes Grigory Karasin, chairman of the committee on international affairs in Russia’s upper house, and Sergey Beseda, adviser to the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Case study
Common Platform: a modern digital case management system for the criminal justice system
Common Platform is a bespoke digital case management system, designed and developed by HMCTS, for the Crown and magistrates’ courts in England and Wales.
It has brought together a range of different ‘legacy’ case management systems used in the criminal justice system under a single, unified platform.
Before Common Platform, our people and partners faced significant daily challenges:
High volumes of physical documents using hours of court time to manually handle
Significant cost to the taxpayer of printing and transporting paper between agencies, causing delays and inefficiencies throughout the justice system.
Need for legal advisers and court clerks to manually record and process actions after the hearing, slowing access to justice down further for victims, defendants and witnesses
Delays and inefficiencies in completing daily tasks like booking interpreters, requesting screens, or processing court orders required multiple manual steps across different systems, causing delay and inefficiency
Benefits
Over 2.3 million criminal cases have been managed on Common Platform as of February 2025 (source Reformed Services Management Information, March 2025), meaning a number of benefits for the people and parties involved
The right people involved in a case can access the right, up to date information at any time of day or night
Users and agencies receive notifications and real time updates to the case instantly
Automation of manual processes mean quicker progress, reduced chance of error and better use of expertise
Information and data is kept and shared safely through controls over who can see what based on their role
Greater resilience as HMCTS teams and external parties can access cases from any location, ensuring service continuity even if even if they cannot physically be on site at a court
Quicker processing and uploading through automated case management, particularly for Single Justice Procedure cases
Greater efficiency by eliminating some paper-based processes
Better data collection to inform improvements
By developing the system in-house, we have strengthened our expertise and have greater flexibility to adapt the system to changing needs and technological developments.
Case Management Evolution
The implementation of Common Platform into all Crown and magistrates’ courts has transformed how cases are managed in criminal courts: over 2.3 million cases managed through the system (source Reformed Services Management Information, March 2025), demonstrates its robust capability , demonstrates its robust capability
single system replacing multiple outdated platforms, reduces complexity and training needs
real-time case updates across all agencies, significantly reduces delays in information sharing
Our Digital Transformation
The journey to modernise our criminal courts began in 2011, with Common Platform representing the most significant technological transformation in the justice system’s history. Under the Reform Programme from 2016, we faced the challenge of replacing multiple outdated systems that weren’t communicating with each other.
It has been very challenging to introduce such a significant change:
Teams across HMCTS had to adapt to new roles and ways of working while managing existing caseloads
The pandemic was especially challenging, as court personnel managed dual systems in live courtrooms
We did not always get it right, initially focusing too heavily on technical solutions rather than user experience
We did not deliver everything we set out to – for example Crown Prosecution Service case management systems interface with Common Platform, rather than being a direct part of it as originally planned
This has been valuable learning and helped shape our approach. By placing users at the heart of development and using their feedback to directly inform plans, we have still achieved a lot.
Digital Documentation
The move to digital processes has transformed how documents are handled and shared:
Defence advocates can complete crucial forms digitally in real-time, saving court time and reducing errors
Self-service access for case materials, allowing users more control
Automatic generation of notices, orders and warrants, speeding up justice delivery
Digital submission of documents, cutting costs and environmental impact
Seamless transfer of materials between magistrates’ and Crown Courts, reducing delays
Automated Processing
Reform has introduced significant automation to streamline court processes:
Automated Track Case Management (ATCM) for Single Justice Procedure (SJP) cases, increasing efficiency
Instant case creation and updates, eliminating manual data entry
Automatic notifications to relevant parties, improving communication flow
Electronic monitoring forms processed immediately, reducing processing time from hours to minutes
The digital system has revolutionised information sharing between justice partners:
Instant result notifications to police forces, enabling swift action
Direct updates to the Legal Aid Agency, speeding up payments to advocates
Immediate sharing of sentencing information with prisons and probation, improving offender management
Role-based access ensuring secure information sharing, maintaining data protection
Single point of contact through Courts and Tribunals Service Centres (CTSC), providing consistent support
System Performance
The platform has demonstrated significant improvements in efficiency and user satisfaction:
Criminal courts across England and Wales now fully digital since August 2023, modernising justice delivery
Defence practitioners can access case information instantly, improving preparation time
Court personnel report significant time savings through automated processes
positive feedback from judiciary, legal professionals and court personnel (January 2025)
This transformation represents a fundamental, technological change in the criminal courts moving all information digitally onto a shared system that all stakeholders can access, creating a more efficient, accessible and resilient justice system for all.
Working Together
We worked closely with:
local police forces on rollout and delivery – police prosecutors are now able to upload direct to the system and self-serve
CPS, who were a founding partner on setting up the system, improving their access to digital forms and requests
All criminal justice system partners
non police prosecutors (NPPs) – NPPs are now able to upload direct on to the system and self-serve
Legal Aid Agency – ensuring defence advocates are paid swiftly for legal aid cases
Courts and Tribunals Service Centres to offer best support and advice with ongoing cases to all stakeholders
HM Prisons and Probation Service improving offender management, as they previously did not have access to the Libra legacy system
Magistrates, legal advisers and judiciary as a vital partner at all levels to deliver a more streamlined system
Getting Support
We’ve established comprehensive support systems:
dedicated Courts and Tribunals Service Centre (CTSC) providing customer support
specialised training programmes for court personnel and system users
regular system updates based on user feedback
technical support available for all professional users
service boards to monitor live performance and system changes
permanent change function to prioritise and resource future improvements
Feedback and Insights
Users across the justice system have praised the new platform:
We have better oversight of cases, the triage process ensures that cases are listed appropriately and in the correct court, which means we are saving court time.
Sharon Kostanjsek, Criminal Justice Unit Manager, Avon and Somerset Police
Dealing with a case on a single system, rather than at least 3 different systems as we did previously, is more practical and efficient.
Jon Sugden, legal adviser
I like that producing orders is far simpler, now they are created directly from the result. There is no need to produce orders manually and email them or complete a lengthy electronic monitoring form.
Mark Whiteley, formerly Wales transformation implementer
Future Plans
As we continue to develop the platform, we’re focusing on:
enhanced data analytics capabilities, enabling evidence-based improvements
further automation opportunities to continue increasing efficiency
maintaining system flexibility to adapt to future needs
continue developing new features based on user feedback
transfer of system responsibility to HMCTS live service teams by March 2025
March 24, 2025 – Over the weekend, The Atlantic published a search tool that allows authors around the world to check if their works have been used in LibGen, an illegal pirate site Artificial Intelligence (AI) companies copied for their AI systems.
This is a similar tool to the one that journalist Alex Reisner made available for the Books3 AI training dataset last year, but this new list has more than 7.5 million books copied by Meta, Open AI and other AI companies for their AI systems. It is not clear whether Meta Downloaded and used every book in LibGen.
Thousands of books by NZ writers are included in this latest theft of intellectual property by Big Tech. NZ authors average incomes from their writing is circa $16k per year (Horizon Writers Survey, 2021) and our writers should not be the ones deprived of lost revenue in the development of this new technology. Big Tech can afford to pay licence fees to legally use the content they need to train their AI language models.
Meta and other AI companies know exactly what they are doing
AI companies need books for their quality writing, style, expression, long-form narration and content and use this to train their AI models. It appears those companies would rather steal that content than ask and pay for the use of it, as they do all other necessary components, costs and compliance required to run their businesses, such as electricity, wages, government health and safety requirements, and programming.
Pirate Sites Are Illegal Sources of Books for AI Training
Author societies around the world are collaborating with each other, publishers and governments to combat major piracy websites that cost authors millions in lost sales and licence fees.
In the US, collective action took down Z-Library and its 250 mirror sites and successfully sued Kiss Library, and assisted publishers in actions against LibGen, resulting in blocked domains In the US and multi-million-dollar fines. These sites remain challenging to permanently eliminate as they operate from Russia or Ukraine, and quickly migrate to new domains when blocked. New Zealand currently does not have legislation that allows site blocking to protect intellectual property and our creative industries.
Around the globe Copyright Law is being reviewed and updated to tackle AI development and intellectual property rights. In NZ, The Ministry for Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) is the Ministry responsible for the Copyright Act review. MBIE is planning to progress formal consultation in 2025 with the creative industries and the public on Copyright legislation including AI.This is demonstrably urgent.
NZSA is collating a list of all NZ books from NZSA members and other writers affected by this latest instance of mass piracy.
The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ) strongly condemns the appropriation of New Zealand Aotearoa authors intellectual property. This unauthorised use is intellectual property theft by Big Tech that infringes existing legislation. The imbalance of power between individual authors defending their property rights versus Big Tech money and might is alarming. The unsanctioned use of work is legally indefensible, and amoral. For the creative industries of Aotearoa to thrive we need robust copyright law, protections and enforcement mechanisms, and appropriate penalties for infringement.
About NZSA The NZSA represents over 1,800 writers in New Zealand. We offer support through advocacy and representation, professional development, information and guidance on publishing and the literary arts, administer prizes and awards and contract/business advice. We work to protect authors incomes and offer memberships for writers at all stages of their careers, including students. Our many assessment and mentorship programmes supported by Creative New Zealand. NZSA is affiliated to International PEN, a voice that upholds freedom of speech and protests against writers falsely silenced and imprisoned around the world. NZSA collaborates across the book sector with other organisations to make NZ books and NZ writers more visible. The NZSA is a not for profit incorporated society and a registered charity in Aotearoa. www.authors.org.nz
China and Thailand will hold a joint maritime exercise near Zhanjiang, in south China’s Guangdong Province, from late March to early April, China’s Ministry of National Defense said on Monday. The exercise will focus on urban counter-terrorism tactics, joint maritime strike operations, and anti-submarine warfare training, the ministry said on its website. This marks the sixth iteration of this series of joint exercises between the two navies — which will deepen practical cooperation and enhance joint operational capabilities, the ministry added.
Southern Cross, a French-hosted regional military exercise, is moving to Wallis and Futuna Islands this year.
The exercise, which includes participating regional armed and law enforcement forces from Australia, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and Tonga every two years, is scheduled to take place April 22-May 3.
Since its inception in 2002, the war games have traditionally been hosted in New Caledonia.
However, New Caledonia was the scene last year of serious riots, causing 14 deaths, hundreds injured, and an estimated cost of 2.2 billion euros (NZ$4.2 billion)
Southern Cross focuses on the notion of “interoperability” between regional forces, with a joint multinational command following a predefined but realistic scenario, usually in a fictitious island state affected by a natural disaster and/or political unrest.
This is the first time the regional French exercise will be hosted on Wallis Island, in the French Pacific territory of Wallis and Futuna, near Fiji and Samoa.
Earlier this month (March 3-5), the Nouméa-based French Armed Forces in New Caledonia (FANC) hosted a “Final Coordination Conference” (FCC) with its regional counterparts after a series of on-site reconnaissance visits to Wallis and Futuna Islands ahead of the Southern Cross 2025 manoeuvres.
Humanitarian, disaster relief FANC also confirmed this year, again in Wallis-and-Futuna, the exercise scenario would mainly focus on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and that it would involve, apart from the French forces, the deployment of some 19 other participating countries, with an estimated 2000 personnel, including 600 regional.
A French Carrier Strike Group exercise Clémenceau25 deployment map of operations. Image: ALPACI-Forces armées en Asie-Pacifique et en Polynésie française
Last week, still in preparation mode, a group of FANC officers travelled again to Wallis for three days to finalise preparations ahead of the exercise.
In an interview with public broadcaster Wallis and Futuna la 1ère, FANC inter-army chief-of-staff Colonel Frédéric Puchois said the group of officers met local chiefly and royal authorities, as well as the Speaker of the local territorial assembly.
In 2023, the previous Southern Cross exercise held in New Caledonia involved the participation of about 18 regional countries.
“It’s all about activating and practising quick and efficient scenarios to respond mainly to a large-scale natural disaster,” Colonel Puchois said.
“Southern Cross until now took place in New Caledonia, but it was decided for 2025 to choose Wallis and Futuna to work specifically on long-distance projection.
“So, the Americans will position some of their forces in Pago-Pago in American Samoa to test their capacity to project forces from a rear base located 2000 kms away [from Wallis].
“And for the French part, the rear base will be New Caledonia,” he added.
Port Vila earthquake He said one of the latest real-life illustrations of this kind of deployment was the recent relief operation from Nouméa following Port Vila’s devastating earthquake in mid-December 2024.
“We brought essential relief supplies, in coordination with NGOs like the Red Cross. And during Southern Cross 2025, we will again work with them and other NGOs”.
However, Colonel Puchois said not all personnel would be deployed at the same time.
“We will project small groups at a time. There will be several phases,” he said.
“First to secure the airport to ensure it is fit for landing of large aircraft. This could involve parachute personnel and supplies.
“Then assistance to the population, involving other components such as civil security, fire brigades, gendarmes. It would conclude with evacuating people in need of further assistance.
“So we won’t project all of the 2000 participants at the same time, but groups of 250 to 300 personnel”.
Cooperation with Vanuatu Mobile Force FANC Commander General Yann Latil was in Vanuatu two weeks ago, where he held meetings with Vanuatu Mobile Forces (VMF) Commander Colonel Ben Nicholson and Vanuatu Internal Affairs minister Andrew Napuat to discuss cooperation, as well as handling and maintenance of the French-supplied FAMAS rifles.
For two weeks, two FANC instructors were in Port Vila to train a group of about 15 VMF on handling and maintenance of the FAMAS used by the island state’s paramilitary force.
The VMF were also handed over more ammunition for the standard issue FAMAS (the French equivalent of the US-issued M-16).
French Armed Forces Commander in New Caledonia (FANC) General Yann Latil visits Vanuatu Mobile Forces (VMF) training in French FAMAS rifles maintenance. Image: FANC Forces Armées en Nouvelle-Calédonie
During his visit, General Latil also held talks with Vanuatu Internal Affairs Minister Andrew Napuat, who is in charge of the VMF and police.
FANC and Vanuatu security forces are “working on a regular basis”, Vanuatu-based French Ambassador Jean-Baptiste Jeangène Vilmer said.
The three-star general (equivalent of a lieutenant-general) flew back to Nouméa about 500 km away on March 8.
French vessel on fishing policing mission At the same time, still in Vanuatu, Nouméa-based overseas support and assistance vessel (BSAOM) the D’Entrecasteaux and its crew were on a courtesy call in Luganville (Espiritu Santo island, North Vanuatu) for three days.
After hosting local officials and school students for visits, the patrol boat embarked on a surveillance policing mission in high seas off the archipelago.
One ni-Vanuatu officer also joined the French crew inspecting foreign fishing vessels and checking if they comply with current regulations under the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
On a regular basis, similar monitoring operations are also carried out by navies from other regional countries such as Australia and New Zealand in order to assist neighbouring Pacific States in protecting their respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) from what is usually termed Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing from foreign vessels.
Last month, the D’Entrecasteaux was engaged in a series of naval exercises off Papua New Guinea.
Further north in the Pacific, French aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle and its strike group wrapped up an unprecedented two-month deployment in a series of multinational exercises with Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam), where “one third of the world’s maritime trade transits every day”.
This included its own Exercises Clémenceau25 and La Pérouse (with eight neighbouring forces), but also interoperability-focused manoeuvres with the US and Japan (Pacific Steller).
“The deployment of this military capacity underlines France’s attachment to maritime and aerial freedom of action and movement on all seas and oceans of the world”, the Tahiti-based Pacific Maritime Command (ALPACI) said this week in a release.
US Navy in Western Pacific activity Also in western Pacific waters, the US Navy’s activity has been intense over the past few weeks, and continues.
The Virginia-class fast-attack submarine USS Vermont (SSN 792) returned on 18 March to Joint Base Pearl Harbour-Hickam, following a seven-month deployment, the submarine’s first deployment to the Western Pacific, the US Third Fleet command stated.
On Friday, the USS Nimitz (CVN 68) Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) left Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific.
The US Third Fleet command said the strike group’s deployment will focus on “demonstrating the US Navy’s unwavering commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific in which all nations are secure in their sovereignty and free from coercion”.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced Sunday that the talks between U.S. and Ukrainian delegations have concluded in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh, saying the discussion was “productive and focused,” with “key points including energy” addressed.
In a post on social media platform X, Umerov, who led the Ukrainian delegation, emphasized that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s goal is “to secure a just and lasting peace” for Ukraine and Europe at large, claiming, “We are working to make that goal a reality.”
The Ukrainian and U.S. teams met earlier in the day in Riyadh.
According to the Ukrinform news agency, the Ukrainian delegation also included State Secretary of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Oleksandr Karasevych, deputy heads of the President’s Office, Pavlo Palisa and Ihor Zhovkva, as well as Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk.
The talks came almost two weeks after a previous meeting between the two sides in the Saudi port city of Jeddah saw Ukraine okay a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire plan in exchange for Washington lifting its pause on military aid to and intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Notably, the meeting precedes the talks between U.S. and Russian delegations scheduled for Monday. Media reported late Sunday that the Russian delegation has arrived in Riyadh. The delegation includes Grigory Karasin, chairman of the committee on international affairs in Russia’s upper house, and Sergey Beseda, adviser to the head of Russia’s Federal Security Service, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov said earlier.
Keel Laying ceremony of the second and third Next Generation Offshore Patrol Vessels (NGOPV), to be constructed by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL), was held at M/s Yeoman Marine Services Private Ltd (YMSPL), Ratnagiri on 23 Mar 25. The contracts for indigenous design and construction of 11 NGOPV were concluded on 30 Mar 23 between Ministry of Defence and GSL, Goa and M/s Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, with seven ships to be constructed by Lead Shipyard M/s GSL and four ships by Follow Shipyard M/s GRSE.
Main hull blocks of Yard 1281 and Yard 1282 are being fabricated at the premises of YMSPL, Ratnagiri as part of GSL’s build strategy. Keel Laying ceremony of both the vessels was held at Ratnagiri with V Adm R Swaminathan, Controller Warship Production & Acquisition as the Chief Guest, in the presence of senior officials from Indian Navy, M/s GSL and M/s YMSPL.
The NGOPVs with an approximate tonnage of 3000T, are designed for Coastal Defence & Surveillance, Search & Rescue operations, Protection of Offshore Assets and Anti-Piracy missions. Keel Laying of these vessels marks a significant milestone in the overall project timeline. The 11 NGOPVs are being built in consonance with the nation’s vision of ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India’ and are poised to augment the Indian Naval maritime prowess.
Cycling not only enhances health but also builds character, says Dr Manuskh Mandaviya during ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ in Lucknow Dr Mansukh Mandaviya leads 500-plus riders during ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ in Lucknow; Paralympians Nitesh Kumar, Manisha Ramdass support fight obesity campaign
Posted On: 23 MAR 2025 3:52PM by PIB Delhi
Honourable Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr Mansukh Mandaviya led more than 500 riders during the ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ here along with Minister of State for Sports & Youth Welfare, Govt of Uttar Pradesh, Girish Chandra Yadav, Principal Secretary (Sports) Manish Chauhan and Secretary (Sports) Uttar Pradesh Suhas Yathiraj.
Spreading Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message of fighting obesity and indulging in a healthy and active lifestyle, Dr Mandaviya said “Cycling not only enhances one’s health but also builds character.”
The Union Sports Minister completed a 3 kilometre ride from Marine Drive (Samajik Parivartan Sthal) to Samta Mulak Chauraha to 1090 Chauraha and back along with senior officials from Sports Authority of India (SAI) and members of MyBharat intitiative and Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI).
Organised by SAI’s Netaji Subhas Regional Centre in Lucknow, the cycling drive witnessed huge enthusiasm from young boys and girls and 100-plus athletes from the local National Centre of Excellence (NCOE) who also grooved to Zumba performances prior to the cycling drive.
Building Fitter & Healthier Bharat ! 🚴♂️🇮🇳
Participated in the #SundaysOnCycle drive in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) March 23, 2025
Addressing the media after the cycle rally, Dr Mandaviya encouraged citizens to incorporate cycling in their daily routines to fight obesity and reduce air pollution levels across the country.
“Cycling not only enhances one’s health but also builds character, boosts confidence and shapes the future of our nation. It is not just a mode of transport, but a key step towards a healthier, more sustainable future. By adopting cycling as part of our daily lives, we can improve our physical well-being, reduce pollution and contribute to a greener environment. I urge every citizen to embrace cycling, not only as a hobby but as a regular part of their lifestyle for the benefit of their health and our planet. Let us all make fitness a priority, for a healthy youth is the strength of a prosperous state and country,” he said.
Sh. Girish Chandra Yadav, Hon’ble Minister of State for Sports and Youth Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, remarked: “Fitness is the foundation of a strong and vibrant society. For our youth to succeed in life, both physically and mentally, it is essential that we instill the values of discipline, hard work and fitness.”
In Delhi, the ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ saw the presence of Paris Paralympics para badminton medallists Nitesh Kumar and Manisha Ramadass. The athletes were in Delhi to participate in the ongoing Khelo India Para Games 2025. Smt Sminu Jindal, founder of Svayam, the official accessibility partner of KIPG 2025, was also present to motivate the participants. Nitesh, Manisha and Ms. Jindal flagged off the event that was supported by PEFI and witnessed participation of more than 600 people.
In Mumbai, Asian Games medal-winning javelin thrower Kishore Jena participated in the cycling movement at picturesque Aksa Beach.
Till now, the nationwide cycling drive has been organised across 5000 locations with approximate participation of 2 lakh-plus individuals. The movement also promotes environment-friendly practices to decrease air pollution levels across the country. The initiative is being conducted across multiple States & Union Territories with participation from cycling enthusiasts, athletes, coaches, sports science experts, amongst others.
Previously, the cycling event witnessed participation of Indian Army jawans, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and prominent sports stars like Lovlina Borgohain, Sangram Singh, Shanky Singh, Nitu Ghanghas, Saweety Boora, Paris Paralympics bronze medallist Rubina Francis and Simran Sharma (para world champion) apart from celebrities like Rahul Bose, Amit Sial and Gul Panag, to name a few.
The ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), My Bikes and MY Bharat. Events are simultaneously held nationwide at SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) and the Khelo India centres (KICs).
A special Cataract Eye Surgery Camp is being held at 158 Base Hospital, Bengdubi Military Station. The camp was inaugurated by Lt Gen RC Tiwari, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, on 20th March 2025, and is set to restore vision for over 350 veterans, dependents, and select civilians. Conducted under the National Programme for Control of Blindness & Visual Impairment, this initiative underscores the Indian Army’s dedication to healthcare outreach and community welfare.
Organised under the Trishakti Corps, the initiative prioritises the vision care needs of serving and retired defence personnel and their families. While inaugurating the camp, Lt Gen RC Tiwari lauded the medical team’s expertise and dedication, reaffirming the Army’s commitment to the well-being of its personnel, veterans, and the broader community. He emphasised the importance of such initiatives in enhancing healthcare access for veterans and their families.
Bengdubi and the adjoining areas hold strategic importance, catering to a vast population across West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, and even Nepal. With an ex-servicemen population of approximately 96,000, this initiative aims to deliver cutting-edge ophthalmic care, ensuring timely medical intervention for those who served the nation.
The camp, conducted under the directives of Honourable Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh and Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, follows a request from the Honourable Governor of West Bengal, Shri C V Ananda Bose. This reflects a collaborative effort between the state and military leadership to extend high-quality ophthalmic treatment to the region, reinforcing the Indian Army’s commitment to veterans’ healthcare in the eastern sector.
Leading the medical team is Brigadier Sanjay Mishra, a distinguished ophthalmic surgeon and Head of the Department of Ophthalmology at Army Hospital Research and Referral, New Delhi. The team comprises Army Hospital Research and Referral specialists, Base Hospital Delhi Cantt, and Command Hospital Lucknow, aiming to conduct between 300 and 350 surgeries over three days. Patients are assured of the best possible ophthalmic care with state-of-the-art equipment and high-quality lenses.
Among the many veterans benefiting from the initiative is Subedar (Retd) Ramesh Thapa, who expressed gratitude for the Army’s unwavering support. “For years, my eyesight had been deteriorating, making even simple tasks difficult. When I heard about this camp, I knew this was a blessing. Today, after my surgery, I can see the world Much clearer. The Indian Army has again stood by us, ensuring we receive the best medical care. I am deeply thankful.”
As a significant step toward military-civil cooperation, some civilians also receive free cataract surgeries on a first-come, first-served basis, reinforcing the Indian Army’s role in community engagement.
This marks the third camp organised by the Indian Army, following highly successful camps in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, and Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Second Frigate of Project 1135.6 built by GSL launched Launch showcases India’s technological capabilities & Unwavering Commitment to Aatmnirbharta, says Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth
Posted On: 22 MAR 2025 5:34PM by PIB Delhi
The second frigate of Project 1135.6 Additional Follow-on Ships, named ‘Tavasya’, built by Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), was launched by Mrs. Neeta Seth in the presence of Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, and FOC-in-C West Vice Admiral Sanjay J Singh today on 22 Mar 25 at GSL, Goa. These Frigates are Follow-on of P1135.6 ships, which are now being constructed indigenously by Indian Shipyard.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, Raksha Rajya Mantri highligted the Indian Navy’s growing self-reliance. He underlined, “This launch is a defining moment in India’s Naval history, showcasing our technological capabilities and unwavering commitment to self-reliance.”
Raksha Rajya Mantri further stressed that the successful localization of critical components such as BrahMos missile system, torpedo launchers, sonar, and auxiliary control systems demonstrates the growing resilience of India’s shipbuilding ecosystem. “The launch of Tavasya is not just a step forward for the Indian Navy but a giant leap for India’s strategic defence ambitions,” he added.
The ship has been named ‘Tavasya’, after the mace of legendary warrior ‘Bhima’ from the ‘Mahabharata’, representing the indomitable spirit and growing strength of the Indian Navy.
The contract for building two Project 1135.6 Follow-on frigates was signed between the Ministry of Defence and Goa Shipyard Limited on 25 Jan 19. The first ship ‘Triput’, was launched on 23 Jul 24. These ships are designed for surface, sub-surface and air combat operations. ‘Triput’ and ‘Tavasya’ are 124.8 m long and 15.2 m wide, with a draught of 4.5 m. The displacement is approximately 3600 tons with a maximum speed of 28 knots.
‘Triput’ and ‘Tavasya’ have a large percentage of indigenous origin equipment, weapons and sensors, ensuring large scale defence production by Indian manufacturing units generating employment and capability enhancement within the country. These ships are also equipped with stealth features, advanced weapon & sensors and platform management systems.
Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL), one of India’s premier defence shipyards, achieved yet another historic milestone with the successful launch of ‘Tavasya’, the second frigate of Project 1135.6 (Yard 1259) today, March 22, 2025. The launch marks a significant advancement in India’s self-reliance in warship construction, reinforcing the country’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat in defence manufacturing.
The ship was ceremonially launched by Smt Neeta Seth, in the esteemed presence of Shri. Sanjay Seth, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Raksha Rajya Mantri commended the GSL’s extraordinary achievement in launching two complex, weapon-intensive frigates within just eight months, despite geopolitical challenges affecting global supply chains. Highlighting the Navy’s growing self-reliance, he remarked:
“This launch is a defining moment in India’s Naval history, showcasing our technological capabilities and unwavering commitment to self-reliance. The successful localization of critical components such as the BrahMos missile system, torpedo launchers, sonar, and auxiliary control systems demonstrates the growing resilience of India’s shipbuilding ecosystem. The launch of Tavasya is not just a step forward for the Indian Navy but a giant leap for India’s strategic defence ambitions,” the minister said.
With a displacement exceeding 3800 tons, ‘Tavasya’ is engineered to execute a diverse range of offensive and defensive operations, ensuring strategic dominance in the Indian Ocean Region. Equipped with advanced stealth features, high-endurance capabilities, and next-generation combat systems, the ship represents a significant boost to the operational might of the Indian Navy, the minister said. He reaffirmed India’s ambition to emerge as a global leader in warship exports, citing GSL’s pioneering role in defence exports and the Ministry of Defence’s vision to achieve ₹50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Chairman and Managing Director, GSL, highlighted the shipyard’s remarkable evolution into a strategic defence asset for the nation. “The launch of ‘Tavasya’ is the culmination of our relentless pursuit of excellence in indigenous warship building. From being a mid-sized shipbuilder, GSL has evolved into a leading defence yard, now delivering some of the most complex naval platforms. This project reaffirms our capability to execute high-end warship programs with precision, efficiency, and unmatched commitment to national security,” he said.
The event was attended byShri. Sadanand Tanawade, MP-Rajya Sabha, Cap. Viriato Fernandes, MP-Lok Sabha, senior dignitaries, including Vice Admiral SJ Singh, PVSM, AVSM, NM, FOC-in-C (WNC); Vice Admiral Rajaram Swaminathan, AVSM, NM, CWP&A; Shri Brajesh Kumar Upadhyay, Chairman and Managing Director, GSL, as well as officials from the Ministry of Defence, Senior Indian Navy officers, and GSL personnel.
It is a maiden attempt by an Indian Shipyard to construct these complex platforms, which were previously imported in a fully built condition. With an indigenous content exceeding 56%, far surpassing the 25% in similar ships constructed abroad, the frigate is a shining example of India’s engineering prowess, bolstering national security and strengthening India’s position in the global defence ecosystem. The formidable multi-role stealth frigate is designed to operate across the full spectrum of Naval Warfare – Air, Surface, and Sub-Surface – ensuring unmatched operational capability.
GSL’s impressive execution record has positioned it at the forefront of India’s defence shipbuilding industry. The shipyard has successfully launched seven ships within a year, a feat that underscores its capabilities in delivering multi-domain, next-generation vessels.
Intensifying the fight against obesity, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will be taking part in the nationwide movement ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ on 23rd March 2025. Union Minister will be joined by Honourable Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Smt. Anandiben Patel and Uttar Pradesh Minister of Sports & Youth Affairs, Shri Girish Chandra Yadav.
Dr. Mandaviya will ride a bicycle for 3 kilometres from Marine Drive (Samajik Parivartan Sthal) to Samta Mulak Chauraha to 1090 Chauraha and back, leading a group of more than 400 cyclists, spreading Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s message of fighting obesity and indulging in a healhthy and active lifestyle.
Elsewhere, Asian Games medal-winning javelin thrower Kishore Jena will be participating in the cycling movement at picturesque Aksa Beach in Mumbai with members of Physical Education Foundation of India (PEFI) taking part in the initiative in New Delhi.
Till now, the nationwide cycling drive has been organised across 4200 locations with approximate participation of 2 lakh individuals. The movement also promotes environment-friendly practices to decrease air pollution levels across the country. The initiative is being conducted across multiple States & Union Territories with participation from cycling enthusiasts, athletes, coaches, sports science experts, amongst others.
Previously, the cycling event witnessed participation of Indian Army jawans, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and prominent sports stars like Lovlina Borgohain, Sangram Singh, Shanky Singh, Nitu Ghanghas, Saweety Boora, Paris Paralympics bronze medallist Rubina Francis and Simran Sharma (para world champion) apart from celebrities like Rahul Bose, Amit Sial and Gul Panag, to name a few.
The ‘Fit India Sundays on Cycle’ is organised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS), in collaboration with the Cycling Federation of India (CFI), My Bikes and MY Bharat. Events are simultaneously held nationwide at SAI Regional Centres, National Centres of Excellence (NCOEs) and the Khelo India centres (KICs).
The 13th edition of the India-Italy Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting was successfully conducted from 20-21 March 2025 in Rome, Italy. The meeting was co-chaired by the Deputy Assistant Chief of Integrated Defence Staff IDC (A) from Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff (HQ IDS), representing India, and the Deputy Head of the Strategic Direction and Military Cooperation Division of the Italian Defence General Staff, representing Italy.
The discussions were focusing on identifying new avenues to expand the scope of bilateral military focused cooperation. Key agenda points included enhanced exchange programs, capability development efforts and strengthening collaboration between the Indian and Italian armed forces. The meeting also reviewed ongoing defence engagements, assessing their progress and exploring ways to optimize future interactions.
The MCG serves as a key institutional mechanism to enhance defence cooperation between the armed forces of both nations, fostering stronger military-to-military engagements and strategic collaboration.
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
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Soldiers from @1idbigredone celebrate the Warrior Spirit and 250 years of excellence for the @usarmy with the “Year of the Warrior” at Fort Riley, Kan.
For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
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The Albanese government’s current spending plan is expected to reach 2.33% of GDP by 2034. And in this week’s budget, it is expected to bring forward some of its already announced $50 billion increase in defence spending.
Why do these percentages matter? US President Donald Trump has made it very clear he expects America’s allies to pay more on defence, at least 3% of GDP.
We asked five experts if defence spending should be increased, and if so, by how much. They agreed more money is needed, albeit with caveats.
Canadians are heading once again to the polls on April 28 to vote in a federal election.
This election will offer voters competing visions of Canada’s future at a time when it has become all but impossible to separate foreign policy from domestic politics.
There’s no question much of the conversation during the campaign will centre on how the next government will deal with United States President Donald Trump amid his continuing threats to Canadian sovereignty.
But even though the Trump administration has undermined the liberal democratic world order in which Canada has prospered for close to a century, it’s unclear whether threats of a global tariff war, an ongoing divisive conflict in the Middle East and continued Russian aggression in Ukraine will directly affect how Canadians cast their votes.
But a recent book by historian Patrice Dutil has claimed that “at least half of Canada’s national elections featured substantive discussions of Canada’s place in the world.”
Foreign policy is what people who study elections call an “issue,” just like the economy, national security or health care.
Issues compete with many other considerations — like ideology, perceptions of leadership and the need for change — to determine a voter’s ultimate decision.
Local candidates can affect how people vote, as can party affiliation. If you live in a riding where your preferred candidate is unlikely to win, you might vote strategically.
According to Canadian political scientist Elizabeth Gidengil, for an issue like foreign policy to really matter in an election, it must satisfy three conditions:
Political parties must position themselves on opposite sides of it;
Voters must be aware of the differences between the parties’ views;
The balance of opinion on the issue must clearly favour one side over the other.
That rarely happens in relation to Canadian foreign policy. Our political parties don’t typically differ significantly on world affairs. When they do disagree, it’s unusual for the public to overwhelmingly support one side over the other.
There are no real divisions between the election’s front-runners — Liberal Mark Carney and Conservative Pierre Poilievre — over how to deal with Trump.
Until Carney replaced Trudeau, the differences between the Conservatives and the Liberals on carbon pricing were stark. Thanks to an extraordinary Conservative marketing campaign, the Canadian public was well aware of those differences — and a significant majority of Canadians sided with Poilievre.
Now that Carney has axed the tax himself, those differences have become much less significant.
Domestic politics aside, Trump will still loom large throughout the next five weeks.
But international and domestic issues have been, and remain, sufficiently interconnected that it’s hard to discuss one to the exclusion of the other.
Still, it’s not clear if these differences affected more than a small number of individual Canadians when they marked their ballots.
Voters tend to cast their ballots emotionally, and even though Trump is preoccupying the national consciousness at the moment, the leading political parties have not offered us specific policy alternatives to deal with him.
What’s ahead this election campaign
Over the next five weeks, Canadians should expect to learn about the leading political parties’ views on relations with the U.S., the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine, foreign interference in the affairs of state and Canada’s global defence.
Voters can and should demand that those who wish to lead the country are thoughtful and literate on these and other international issues.
“Since coming to office — in fact, since becoming prime minister [in 2006] — the thing that’s probably struck me the most in terms of my previous expectations … is not just how important foreign affairs/foreign relations is, but in fact that it’s become almost everything. There’s hardly anything today of any significance that doesn’t have a huge international dimension to it.”
But expecting party views on foreign policy to shape the election’s outcome is probably unrealistic.
When we head to the voting booths, most Canadians will likely just listen to their gut.
Exactly how Carney or Poilievre promises to deal with Trump probably won’t matter nearly as much as who they simply feel will do a better job on a host of issues.
Adam Chapnick does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Canadians are heading once again to the polls on April 28 to vote in a federal election.
This election will offer voters competing visions of Canada’s future at a time when it has become all but impossible to separate foreign policy from domestic politics.
There’s no question much of the conversation during the campaign will centre on how the next government will deal with United States President Donald Trump amid his continuing threats to Canadian sovereignty.
But even though the Trump administration has undermined the liberal democratic world order in which Canada has prospered for close to a century, it’s unclear whether threats of a global tariff war, an ongoing divisive conflict in the Middle East and continued Russian aggression in Ukraine will directly affect how Canadians cast their votes.
But a recent book by historian Patrice Dutil has claimed that “at least half of Canada’s national elections featured substantive discussions of Canada’s place in the world.”
Foreign policy is what people who study elections call an “issue,” just like the economy, national security or health care.
Issues compete with many other considerations — like ideology, perceptions of leadership and the need for change — to determine a voter’s ultimate decision.
Local candidates can affect how people vote, as can party affiliation. If you live in a riding where your preferred candidate is unlikely to win, you might vote strategically.
According to Canadian political scientist Elizabeth Gidengil, for an issue like foreign policy to really matter in an election, it must satisfy three conditions:
Political parties must position themselves on opposite sides of it;
Voters must be aware of the differences between the parties’ views;
The balance of opinion on the issue must clearly favour one side over the other.
That rarely happens in relation to Canadian foreign policy. Our political parties don’t typically differ significantly on world affairs. When they do disagree, it’s unusual for the public to overwhelmingly support one side over the other.
There are no real divisions between the election’s front-runners — Liberal Mark Carney and Conservative Pierre Poilievre — over how to deal with Trump.
Until Carney replaced Trudeau, the differences between the Conservatives and the Liberals on carbon pricing were stark. Thanks to an extraordinary Conservative marketing campaign, the Canadian public was well aware of those differences — and a significant majority of Canadians sided with Poilievre.
Now that Carney has axed the tax himself, those differences have become much less significant.
Domestic politics aside, Trump will still loom large throughout the next five weeks.
But international and domestic issues have been, and remain, sufficiently interconnected that it’s hard to discuss one to the exclusion of the other.
Still, it’s not clear if these differences affected more than a small number of individual Canadians when they marked their ballots.
Voters tend to cast their ballots emotionally, and even though Trump is preoccupying the national consciousness at the moment, the leading political parties have not offered us specific policy alternatives to deal with him.
What’s ahead this election campaign
Over the next five weeks, Canadians should expect to learn about the leading political parties’ views on relations with the U.S., the situations in the Middle East and Ukraine, foreign interference in the affairs of state and Canada’s global defence.
Voters can and should demand that those who wish to lead the country are thoughtful and literate on these and other international issues.
“Since coming to office — in fact, since becoming prime minister [in 2006] — the thing that’s probably struck me the most in terms of my previous expectations … is not just how important foreign affairs/foreign relations is, but in fact that it’s become almost everything. There’s hardly anything today of any significance that doesn’t have a huge international dimension to it.”
But expecting party views on foreign policy to shape the election’s outcome is probably unrealistic.
When we head to the voting booths, most Canadians will likely just listen to their gut.
Exactly how Carney or Poilievre promises to deal with Trump probably won’t matter nearly as much as who they simply feel will do a better job on a host of issues.
Adam Chapnick does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, March 21. For five decades, the Nimitz Carrier Strike Group has upheld the U.S. Navy’s commitment to a forward presence while ensuring maritime security, deterring aggression, and protecting the American way of life.
Source: United States Department of Defense (video statements)
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@marines recruits from @MCRDPI tackle the 47-foot-tall rappel tower to overcome any fear of heights and learn to trust their gear.
For more on the Department of Defense, visit: http://www.defense.gov
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Keep up with the Department of Defense on social media!
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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/
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The FCC has agreed to make the following drafting amendments to the motion:
Delete iii) (lines 12-13) and insert:
iii) Trump’s suspension of military aid to Ukraine, and lack of commitment to NATO.
In iv) (line 15) after ‘Greenland’ insert: ‘…and his threat to annexe Canada as the US 51st state.’
After line 15, insert new v):
v) Trump’s reckless comments proposing that Palestinians be removed from Gaza and ‘resettled’ elsewhere – which would constitute a grave violation of international law – undermining the already fragile ceasefire and disregarding the legitimate right of Palestinians for their own state.
After line 28, insert new x), xi) and xii):
x) Trump’s cancellation of USAID, which could lead to China increasing its influence in the Global South.
xi) The disgraceful verbal assault by Trump and Vance on President Zelensky in the Oval Office on 28 February 2025.
xii) The Trump Administration’s actions to roll back the rights of LGBTQ+ people in the US, in particular towards trans people, as well as those of women and ethnic minorities.
Amendment One
Submitted by: 12 members Mover: Helen Maguire MP (Spokesperson for Defence) Summation: Baroness Smith of Newnham (Lords Spokesperson for Defence)
After line 37, insert:
Conference welcomes the Government’s decision to raise defence spending to 2.5% of GDP, but expresses concern that doing so by cutting Official Development Assistance will ultimately make the UK less secure.
Delete E. b) (lines 69-70) and insert:
b) Committing to spending 2.5% of GDP as soon as possible – to be funded by raising the Digital Services Tax from 2% to 10% – and holding cross-party talks to agree a consensus on how to reach spending 3% of GDP on defence.
After line 84, insert:
d) Support the creation of a Rearmament Bank, together with our European and other allies, to enable greater access to finance for defence programmes.
Amendment Two
Submitted by: 12 members Mover: James McCleary MP (Spokesperson for Europe) Summation: David Chalmers (Chair of the Federal International Relations Committee)
At end of line 39, insert: ‘…and that enhancing economic ties with the EU, including by cutting red tape and boosting trade links, is essential for insulating the UK from Trump’s unpredictability as well as growing our economy’.
At end of line 57, insert: ‘…and, as the culmination of the third stage in our roadmap, negotiate a new UK-EU Customs Union by 2030 at the latest.’
Amendment Three
Submitted by: Yorkshire and Humber Mover: Samuel Jackson Summation: Adrian Ramsdale
After line 53, insert new B.:
B. Ensure Ukraine’s participation in peace negotiations as an equal partner to safeguard against a coerced and detrimental peace settlement.
Source: United States Senator for Illinois Tammy Duckworth
March 21, 2025
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Combat Veteran and U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)—a member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC)—joined U.S. Senator and fellow SASC colleague Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) in demanding clarity from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on meetings held by Elon Musk at the Pentagon today. In a letter, the Senators requested several answers to questions about whether Elon Musk received a “top-secret briefing on U.S. war plans for China” that media reports indicated would have provided him with access to information that is “among the military’s most closely guarded secrets.” Initial reports from the New York Times, later confirmed by the Wall Street Journal, indicated that Elon Musk was scheduled to receive such a briefing today, “because he asked for one.” But President Trump, Elon Musk and Secretary Hegseth indicated that they may have reversed course after this news became public. However, it still remains unclear what information Mr. Musk received at the Pentagon today.
“We hope that you did not share top-secret war plans with Mr. Musk today and do not do so in the future,” wrote the Senators. “Although they may satisfy his curiosity, there is no legitimate national security or other rationale for providing this information to Mr. Musk – who is not a military or national security expert, is not a member of the President’s cabinet, and is not even serving as a permanent federal employee.”
Although Mr. Musk is ostensibly engaged in an effort to cut wasteful spending with his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), there is no need for him to obtain access to some of our most sensitive secrets in order to do so. Meanwhile, Mr. Musk’s conflicts of interest also raise significant concerns.
Mr. Musk has extensive business interests in China through his automotive company, including a factory in Shanghai that “was built with special permission from the Chinese government” and “now accounts for more than half of (the company)’s global deliveries.” Along with Mr. Musk’s “extensive financial interests in China,” in public, Mr. Musk has “avoided criticizing Beijing and signaled his willingness to work with the Chinese Community Party (CCP).” He has parroted CCP talking points – contrary to the current official U.S. foreign policy – that Taiwan is “an integral part of China” and should become a special administrative zone like Hong Kong.
“The military’s top-secret information is classified as top secret for a reason,” concluded the Senators. “The unauthorized disclosure of such information to any one of our adversaries could pose exceptionally grave national security risks.”
The Senators asked Secretary Hegseth a series of questions to establish an accurate accounting of Mr. Musk’s briefing, including precisely what information was provided to Mr. Musk today and why.
A copy of the letter is available on the Senator’s website.
March 22, 2025 – Halifax, N.S. – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces
Today, His Majesty’s Canadian Ship (HMCS) HarryDeWolf and its crew arrived at their home port in Halifax, Nova Scotia, returning to their families and loved ones after a highly successful deployment to the Caribbean Sea.
On March 1, while sailing under Operation CARIBBE—Canada’s mission to monitor, disrupt, and intercept the flow of illicit drugs in the Caribbean Sea—HMCS Harry DeWolf played a pivotal role in the seizure of 750 kilograms of cocaine. The success of the operation underscores the robust security collaboration between the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), and other close regional partners.
The USCG Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) embarked onboard HMCS Harry DeWolf successfully apprehended this significant quantity of narcotics, valued at 26.9 million Canadian dollars, with the support of Colombian air and maritime assets. The joint effort highlights the longstanding relationship between Canada and the USCG, as well as the wider success of counter-narcotics operations involving Joint Interagency Task Force South, Operation MARTILLO, and other Caribbean regional partners.
Canada remains committed to continental security and the shared maintenance of Caribbean stability, reinforcing our dedication to protecting North American shores from the threat of illicit drugs.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
By Gao Dezheng, Ren Ke and Wang Ningchuan
The China-Iran-Russia “Security Belt 2025” naval exercise concluded at Iran’s Chabahar Port on Thursday, local time.
CHABAHAR PORT, Iran, Mar. 14 — The China-Iran-Russia “Security Belt 2025” naval exercise concluded at Iran’s Chabahar Port on Thursday, local time.
With the theme of “Creating Peace and Security Together”, the joint exercise was launched on March 9 and has been carried out in three phases, assembly preparation, maritime exercise, and shore-based summary.
The naval exercise enhanced the joint operational capabilities of the three navies to respond to various emergencies and maintain maritime security, deepened military trust and practical cooperation among the navies of the participating countries, and laid a solid foundation for future cooperation.
During the port call of the Chinese and Russian naval vessels at Iran’s Chabahar Port, Rear Admiral Shahram Irani, Iran’s Navy Chief, visited the Chinese guided-missile destroyer Baotou (Hull 133) and Russian corvette Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov respectively.
The China-Iran-Russia “Security Belt 2025” naval exercise concluded at Iran’s Chabahar Port on Thursday, local time.
The China-Iran-Russia “Security Belt 2025” naval exercise concluded at Iran’s Chabahar Port on Thursday, local time.
The China-Iran-Russia “Security Belt 2025” naval exercise concluded at Iran’s Chabahar Port on Thursday, local time.
The China-Iran-Russia “Security Belt 2025” naval exercise concluded at Iran’s Chabahar Port on Thursday, local time.
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
By Zhang Xin and Li Xiangyun
BEIJING, Mar. 21 — According to the plan of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), the Nepalese peacekeeping contingent organized a Peacekeeper Challenge and invited all troop-contributing countries to participate in. A total of 31 teams from 13 countries and units competed in the challenge.
The Peacekeeper Challenge mainly consists of military sports events with Nepali characteristics, such as “rope bridge crossing” and “mountain moving”. Compared with their counterparts from other troop-contributing countries, the Chinese peacekeepers are less familiar with most of the events, which is new to them.
But, team members of the Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion demonstrated good tactical qualities and teamwork skills in the face of unfamiliar subjects and complex rules. In the end, they won the first and second places in the group competition with their outstanding teamwork skills and excellent military qualities.
It is reported that since its deployment to the mission area in December last year, the Chinese peacekeeping infantry battalion has actively participated in various military competitions organized by UNMISS. This has laid a solid foundation for better handling emergencies, reducing mission risks, and carrying out tasks such as patrols, guard, and civilian protection in a more efficient way.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
Violet McKenzie was a pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering.
A park in Campbell has been named after Violet McKenzie, or ‘Mrs Mac’ – the woman who trained thousands in Morse code, visual signalling and international code during World War II.
The park is located behind the Campbell shops, between White Crescent and Blamey Place.
Violet McKenzie was a pioneer in Australian radio and electrical engineering.
She was committed to technical education and training, especially for women.
McKenzie also established a wireless shop in the Royal Arcade, Sydney.
In the 1930s, she began the Electrical Association for Women and wrote the first ‘all-electric cookbook’.
In addition, she established the Women’s Emergency Signalling Corps in 1939, and campaigned to have her female trainees accepted into the Navy, which was all male at the time.
Her voluntary work led to the establishment of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service, (WRANS).
The name Violet McKenzie Park was selected following community consultation held last year.
An information sign was unveiled this week by with representatives from the Royal Australian Navy and WRANS ACT in attendance.
The ACT Government would like to thank the local community that has adopted the park and helps maintain it.
Violet McKenzie’s voluntary work led to the establishment of the Women’s Royal Australian Naval Service, (WRANS).
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Source: United States Senator for Kansas – Jerry Moran
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kan.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced legislation to help provide stable energy rates and a reliable electric grid to states in the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA), including Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma and Texas.
The Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act would give SWPA the authority to operate on a self-funding, revolving Treasury fund to help provide the administration with a long-term, reliable financing source. This would give SWPA more stable funding in order to lower customer rates, which can be highly volatile due to market demand and weather. Furthermore, this legislation would provide SWPA more clarity to help plan long-term infrastructure improvements and power replacement and allow SWPA to avoid drastic and unnecessary spikes in power rates charged to its wholesale customers in an extreme or multi-year regional drought situation.
“It is critical that Kansans have access to reliable electricity at stable rates, especially during extreme and dangerous weather,” said Sen. Moran. “This legislation will provide funding stability that will allow energy providers to make needed infrastructure improvements and prevent Kansans from suffering mass power outages.”
“Kansans – especially our farmers and ranchers – need reliable and affordable power,” said Sen. Marshall. “Consumers have suffered from high energy costs for too long, and this bill will help deliver stable and affordable power while improving our power grid infrastructure. I am proud to stand with Senators Jerry Moran and Josh Hawley in supporting this important legislation.”
“After the devastating tornadoes last weekend that left victims without power for days, Missourians deserve consistent and affordable energy,” said Sen. Hawley. “This legislation will ensure that every Missourian has access to power they can rely on.”
“Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. and its member co-ops have strongly supported the Southwestern Power Fund Establishment Act for its ability to provide appropriated dollars that will improve grid reliability while helping to stabilize rates,” said Lee Tafanelli, CEO, Kansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. “We thank our home state Sens. Moran and Marshall for bringing forward legislation that will have a positive impact on our rural electric cooperatives and their consumer-members.”
“Federal hydropower is a reliably renewable generation resource,” said Nicki Fuller, Executive Director, Southwestern Power Resources Association. “This legislation recognizes the value of protecting that resource throughout the six-state region, making sure that these important assets are maintained. This legislation would go a long way toward ensuring grid reliability and affordably throughout the region for millions of homes, farms and small businesses. I thank Sens. Moran and Marshall for introducing this important bill that represents good business sense.”
“NRECA supports the Southwestern Power Administration Fund Establishment Act. The self-financed revolving loan fund authorized by this bill would allow the Southwestern Power Administration to better manage infrastructure needs while being more responsive to market conditions and electric demands created by extreme weather events.” – National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
“The American Public Power Association applauds the introduction of the Southwestern Power Fund Establishment Act. Since 1943, not-for-profit public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives have successfully partnered with the Southwestern Power Administration (SWPA) to bring reliable hydropower produced at Army Corps dams to millions of customers in Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. While SWPA customers pay all costs of generating and transmitting the electricity in their power rates, a complicated funding process has increasingly failed to provide the financial certainty necessary to steady power rates to customers during drought and extreme weather events. The Southwestern Power Fund Establishment Act would streamline this process in a manner that would help avoid rate spikes and economic hardship for communities served by public power utilities and rural electric cooperatives while continuing to ensure that SWPA customers pay all costs associated with generating and transmitting hydropower produced at Corps dams. It is a win-win for the federal government and communities served by not-for-profit electric utilities.” – American Public Power Association
Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts – Elizabeth Warren
March 21, 2025
Musk has extensive conflicts of interests, allegations of illegal drug use, and reports of previous problems protecting national security information
“Although they may satisfy his curiosity, there is no legitimate national security or other rationale for providing (top-secret war plans) to Mr. Musk.”
Text of Letter (PDF)
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote to the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, demanding clarity on meetings held by Elon Musk at the Pentagon today, with questions about whether he received a “top-secret briefing on U.S. war plans for China” that media reports indicated would have provided him with access to information that is “among the military’s most closely guarded secrets.”
Initial reports from the New York Times, later confirmed by the Wall Street Journal, indicated that Elon Musk was scheduled to receive such a briefing today, “because he asked for one.” But President Trump, Elon Musk and Secretary Hegseth indicated that they may have reversed course after this news became public. However, it still remains unclear what information Mr. Musk received at the Pentagon today.
“We hope that you did not share top-secret war plans with Mr. Musk today and do not do so in the future,” wrote the senators. “Although they may satisfy his curiosity, there is no legitimate national security or other rationale for providing this information to Mr. Musk – who is not a military or national security expert, is not a member of the President’s cabinet, and is not even serving as a permanent federal employee.”
Although Mr. Musk is ostensibly engaged in an effort to cut wasteful spending with his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), there is no need for him to obtain access to some of our most sensitive secrets in order to do so. Meanwhile, Mr. Musk’s conflicts of interest also raise significant concerns.
Mr. Musk has extensive business interests in China through his automotive company, including a factory in Shanghai that “was built with special permission from the Chinese government” and “now accounts for more than half of (the company)’s global deliveries.” Along with Mr. Musk’s “extensive financial interests in China,” in public, Mr. Musk has “avoided criticizing Beijing and signaled his willingness to work with the Chinese Community Party (CCP).” He has parroted CCP talking points – contrary to the current official U.S. foreign policy – that Taiwan is “an integral part of China” and should become a special administrative zone like Hong Kong.
“The military’s top-secret information is classified as top secret for a reason,” concluded the senators. “The unauthorized disclosure of such information to any one of our adversaries could pose exceptionally grave national security risks.”
The senators asked Secretary Hegseth a series of questions to establish an accurate accounting of Mr. Musk’s briefing, including precisely what information was provided to Mr. Musk today and why.