Source: NATO
On Wednesday 13 September 2023, the NATO Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg, will meet with the Foreign Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia and Chairperson-in-Office of the OSCE, Mr. Bujar Osmani, at NATO Headquarters.
There will be no media opportunity.
Photographs of the meeting will be available on the NATO website after the event.
Contact the NATO Press Office.
Follow us on Twitter (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress)
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
A man has been sentenced to 27 years in prison after his drill lyrics provided crucial evidence linking him to an attempted murder.
Ryan Maqsood, 26 (23.02.97) of Liverpool Road, N1 was convicted of attempted murder and possession of a bladed weapon after appearing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, 16 August.
He was sentenced at the same court two days later – reporting restrictions were in place until now.
Detective Sergeant Katy Phipps, who led the investigation, said: “Maqsood carried out a brutal attack on a 16-year-old boy which left him in a life threatening condition after suffering 19 stab wounds. He is extremely lucky not to have succumbed to his injuries.
“The evidence we gathered during this investigation left the jury with no doubt as to his guilt, despite the fact the victim did not wish to assist police.
“The drill music recovered from Maqsood’s phone included very specific details that we believe could only have been known to someone who was there when the incident took place.”
On 15 April 2019, police were called following a stabbing on Brookes Court, EC1. A 16-year-old boy was found with multiple stab wounds. A member of the public provided first aid before he was taken to hospital in a life-threatening condition.
Detectives launched an investigation, conducting CCTV enquiries which showed seven attackers on push bikes on an apparent ‘ride out’ style gang attack. Two of them chased down the victim and stabbed him 19 times.
Two rambo-style knives, with the victim’s DNA on the blade, were found inside a backpack which had been hidden in bushes. Maqsood’s DNA was found on one of the knives and on the backpack, which was seen on CCTV being worn by one of the attackers.
As part of the police investigation, analysis was conducted of drill tracks written and performed by Maqsood who performed under the stage name ‘Rashy’. One of the tracks appeared to describe the stabbing in significant detail and included references that would only have been known by someone present at the time of the offence.
An officer with specialist knowledge in drill music gave expert evidence in court to explain to the jury what the lyrics referred to. This was combined with expert local gangs evidence which provided further context.
Evidence revealed that the stabbing had been motivated by a conflict between street gangs within Islington.
Maqsood was sentenced 27 years in prison, plus a further five years on licence.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Officers investigating a series of incidents where a woman was harassed and assaulted by a man not known to her are appealing for assistance from the public.
At around 06:20hrs on Tuesday, 4 July a woman boarded a Route 116 bus on Staines Road in Feltham and sat on the top deck.
A man who got on at the same stop sat directly behind her and through the space of the seats tried to touch her inappropriately.
The woman leaned away, however the man then leant forward and touched her waist. He then reached over the seat, grabbed her over the shoulders, hugged her for around 30 seconds and kissed her on her cheek.
The suspect then followed the victim while at Hounslow Bus Station and grabbed her right arm and tried to pull her towards him for a hug.
The woman told him no several times and tried to pull away but was not able to. He proceeded to kiss her on her cheek. He asked her twice to do it again and the victim declined. The suspect then walked away from the woman.
Around 20 minutes after getting off the first bus, the victim got on a Route H37 towards Richmond. The suspect followed her on and sat next to her. Not far into the journey he grabbed the victim’s leg before alighting from the bus at Isleworth Bus Station. The victim remained on the bus and continued her journey.
An investigation was launched by officers from the Roads and Transport Policing Command. As part of their inquiries they are releasing images of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the matter.
DC Charlotte Joseph, of the Met’s Roads and Transport Policing Command, said: “This was a really frightening and intimidating experience for the victim, which has left her nervous to travel.
“The suspect thought it was fine to harass, assault and grab a young woman who was simply going about her daily business. It is absolutely not acceptable that any woman should have to deal with this type of behaviour and we are working hard to target those who commit such offences.
“I have no doubt this individual will likely attempt to assault other females, he needs to be identified and caught. I would urge anyone who believes they recognise the man in the images to come forward.”
Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 quoting CAD 2394/08SEP23, or to give information anonymously call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA
The IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi began his opening address to the IAEA’s Board of Governors by pledging support to the victims of Friday’s devastating earthquake in Morocco. He promised a quick IAEA response to provide technical assistance to the country.
Fukushima Daiichi ALPS Water Release
Mr Grossi updated the Board on the controlled release of ALPS-treated water into the sea from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, which Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the Plant’s operator, began last month.
IAEA experts have assisted in ensuring the relevant international safety standards continue to be applied by sampling the treated water before release. Japan also requested assistance from the IAEA to monitor the seawater after the treated water began to be released on 24 August. Mr Grossi stated he was happy to note that the independent sampling and monitoring from the Agency has confirmed that the levels of tritium in the discharged water are below Japan’s operational limit and said the IAEA would continue to monitor the seawater.
The Agency is also providing continuous live data from Japan on the release of treated water.
Nuclear safety, security and safeguards in Ukraine
Mr Grossi reiterated his support for nuclear safety and security in Ukraine, speaking of the five main principles he outlined at the United Nations Security Council in May, and urging that these continue to be observed. Mr Grossi also highlighted the 53 missions the IAEA has carried out since 31 August 2022, including to all five nuclear sites in Ukraine.
It has been just over a year since the IAEA established a team of experts and inspectors at Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine. In June the Director General led a mission to assess how damage of the Kakhovka dam is impacting safety at the plant. However, the overall situation at the facility remains highly precarious, and in the past week, IAEA experts based at the plant have heard numerous explosions, in a possible sign of increased military activity in the region that could also pose a potential threat to nuclear safety and security at the site.
“It is the increase of military activity around the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant that worries us the most,” he told the 35-member Board “The possibility of a nuclear accident with serious radiological consequences continues to be a reality, and we hope this will not happen.”
In addition to programmes supporting nuclear safety and security, the Director General said the IAEA was also providing technical assistance in Kherson Oblast province, in response to flooding caused by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam.
Verification and monitoring in Iran
The Director General presented his latest reports on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran. He updated the Board on how cooperation with Iran is progressing, following the joint statement by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran and the IAEA in March and regrets no further progress has been made.
“Of course, our work with our colleagues from the Islamic Republic of Iran continues … I hope to do better,” he said “And our Iranian colleagues know that. So, we will continue working together, trying to go faster and better and deeper in this important and indispensable area.”
Nuclear solutions for global challenges
The IAEA continues to assist countries in addressing some of their most pressing development challenges through peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology.
Mr Grossi announced the IAEA is launching a new initiative, Atoms4Food, aimed at supporting Member States in increasing food production, food safety, agricultural planning, and nutrition programming, using nuclear and isotopic techniques. This will involve working closely with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
Continuing on the theme of the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme, which includes almost 150 Member States, Mr Grossi spoke of recent successes in the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative, which has helped widen access to cancer care in Benin, Chad, Kenya, Malawi and Niger, and citing a major milestone in Botswana, which opened its first public radiotherapy centre in July, with IAEA support.
He also referred to the NUTEC plastic initiative, which is helping countries in Latin America, Asia and the Pacific address the global challenge of plastic production. He spoke about the Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action’s (ZODIAC) initiative, aimed at helping prevent pandemics from diseases that pass from animals to humans.
In relation to the energy and climate crisis, Mr Grossi highlighted the efforts to harmonize regulatory approaches and standardize industry approached through the IAEA’s Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative (NHSI), which will support the timely deployment of safe and secure small modular reactors.
Next month, the IAEA plans to launch the IAEA World Fusion Outlook at the 29th International Fusion Energy Conference, which will become the global reference for authoritative information and foster international cooperation and knowledge sharing regarding the latest developments in fusion energy.
Nuclear Security Training and Demonstration Centre
Another new development is the opening of the IAEA’s Nuclear Security Training and Development Centre on 3 October, which Mr Grossi described as “the first truly international centre of capacity building in the area of nuclear security”. The new centre will help strengthen countries’ abilities to tackle nuclear terrorism, by providing
advanced training in the physical protection of nuclear and other radioactive materials and facilities, detection of and response to criminal and intentional unauthorized acts, nuclear forensics and preparation for major public events implementing nuclear security measures.
Closing the gender gap in nuclear
Mr Grossi concluded his statement by celebrating gender equality initiatives such as the IAEA’s flagship Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, which aims to support the next generation of women nuclear professionals through scholarships and internships. Mr Grossi said the programme would soon award scholarships to 200 women engaged in nuclear related master’s programmes, bringing the total number of fellows to more than 500. In terms of the Lise Meitner Programme for early- and mid-career women professionals, he said the first cohort had their first round of professional visits in the United States. It is hoped more countries will come forward to host LMP professional visits in future.
He said: “My promise, my commitment to get to gender parity [at the IAEA] by 2025 is still on. We have reached and gone above the 43 per cent line. I’m very happy to announce this.”
The Board of Governors is meeting at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna from 11-15 September.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
On September 11, 2023 at approximately 8:15 a.m., Prince Albert RCMP received a report of a firearm discharge in the Lac La Ronge Indian Band community of Little Red River.
Investigation determined unknown individuals discharged a firearm toward residences in the community. No injures were reported to police.
Prince Albert RCMP are actively investigating. They are asking members of the public to report sightings of two suspect vehicles.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Rosetown RCMP are currently responding to the report of a serious collision on Highway #7, approximately one kilometre southwest of Tessier, SK.
Traffic is being re-routed for an undetermined amount of time. Motorists are advised to plan alternate routes and to follow traffic restrictions.
An investigational update will be provided when available.
Visit the Highway Hotline for road closure updates.
Source: United States Attorneys General 4
WASHINGTON — An Oregon man has been arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges, including assaulting law enforcement, related to his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.
Ryan Wilson, 40, of Athena, Oregon, is charged in a criminal complaint filed in the District of Columbia with felony offenses of obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon. Wilson is also charged with several misdemeanors, including knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, and act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings.
Wilson was arrested today in Portland, Oregon, and will make his initial appearance in the District of Oregon.
According to court documents, Wilson was identified among the crowd of rioters in the Lower West Terrace Tunnel on Jan. 6, 2021. Wilson wore a distinctive plaid button-down shirt and, at times, a black balaclava. Wilson was captured on Capitol building surveillance footage outside the tunnel entrance, standing next to his father, Duke Wilson, at approximately 2:56 p.m.
Court documents say that Wilson and his father made their way into the Tunnel toward the police line and, at about 2:58 p.m., Wilson threw a water bottle at the police. By approximately 3:00 p.m., Wilson was standing directly in front of the police line, separated only by shields that the police officers were using to defend themselves. At that time, a rioter behind Wilson began to thrust a pipe toward the police. Wilson then grabbed the pipe and rammed it toward the police repeatedly and forcefully. Wilson then took steps to re-position himself and used the pipe to thrust near the heads and faces of the officers.
The police then deployed OC spray, which hit Wilson. He then threw the pipe toward the police line, turned around, and exited the Tunnel.
This case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
This case is being investigated by the FBI’s Portland and Washington Field Offices. Valuable assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 32 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,100 individuals have been charged in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 396 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, a felony. The investigation remains ongoing.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
Source: United States Air Force
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio (AFNS) —
Using the acquisition and fielding of the Air Force’s newest bomber as a backdrop, Gen. Duke Z. Richardson, Air Force Materiel Command Commander, emphasized the critical role the organization maintains in outpacing and deterring the People’s Republic of China in a high-profile address, Sept. 11 during the Air Force Association’s 2023 Air, Space and Cyber Conference.
“In the machine of our nation’s defense, we are the powerhouse,” Richardson said. “Outpacing and deterring the People’s Republic of China starts with AFMC. ‘Accelerate Change or Lose’ isn’t just a bumper sticker. It’s our call to action.”
During his address, Richardson highlighted AFMC’s vital role in the fielding and life cycle of every Air Force platform and capability, to include installations as power projection platforms for the service. Using the B-21 Raider as an example, he stressed the command’s reliance on integrated work across its six purpose-built centers and program executive offices, alongside the need for the materiel enterprise to accelerate pace to remain ahead of the PRC and other modern adversaries.
“The Air Force relies on creative AFMC Airmen to deliver capabilities faster by leveraging every available tool,” Richardson said. “We’re focused on enterprise solutions, digital materiel management, and collaboration with our warfighters across every MAJCOM for every weapon system. The B-21 program exemplifies our commitment to delivering integrated capabilities, covering all aspects of the life cycle, from research and development, through acquisition and testing, to long-term sustainment and support.”
The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office is leading the development of the B-21 Raider, under the direction of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Secretary of the Air Force. AFMC is partnering closely with the DAF RCO in the development of the platform and comprises nearly 70% of the Program Executive Office team.
Richardson’s keynote address detailed the specific types of support each of the six AFMC centers provide to the B-21 program office and short videos by subject matter experts from each AFMC organization offered first-hand accounts of the ongoing work.
He spoke about the Air Force Research Laboratory’s role in creating novel technologies for improved aircraft performance, operational efficiency and enhanced mission execution, highlighting the center’s role in B-21 material certification and evaluative testing, environmental assessments, technology maturation and more.
“AFRL’s innovations translate to improved aircraft performance, operational efficiency and enhanced mission success rates,” he said.
Richardson then spoke of the acquisition and fielding role led by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center.
More than 237 AFLCMC personnel currently support the B-21 program in areas ranging from financial management and contracting to digital acquisition, systems engineering, airworthiness certification and production planning. The overall goal is to ensure that the platform is safe, secure, effective, available and sustainable over the long term.
“Our team at LCMC provides warfighting capabilities at the speed of relevance, and the B-21 is no exception,” he said.
Richardson then highlighted the Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center’s role in the B-21’s nuclear certification, safe escape distance analysis, hardness assessment, and Nuclear Command, Control and Communications planning. With the platform designed to be a dual-capable penetrating strike stealth bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions, AFNWC expertise is critical to ensuring safety and viability over the long term.
First-hand accounts of an Air Force test pilot and maintainer showcased the Air Force Test Center’s responsibility for B-21 flight test planning and operations and related support in areas such as systems engineering, maintenance, business operations and information technology. Richardson discussed the center’s role in putting the B-21 through a combination of realistic simulations, intensive exercises, and carefully designed evaluations.
“This process goes beyond routine testing and dives deep into understanding the capabilities. The test center stresses our systems to determine failure modes and maintenance challenges in a controlled environment, vice during war,” he said.
As the B-21 moves towards operational capability, Richardson talked about how the Air Force Sustainment Center is working to ensure readiness for depot maintenance and sustainment activity. AFSC teams currently aligned to the B-21 program provide organic software development and testing, composite and propulsion support, depot activation, facility planning and more, ensuring the organic capability to maintain the platform’s lethality into the future.
“Transitioning from developing, acquiring, and testing to heavy maintenance, our sustainers showcase real-world, wrench turning stories,” he said.
With the B-21 slated to operate out of Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, with Whiteman AFB, Missouri, and Dyess AFB, Texas, also identified as preferred operating locations the Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center is planning for mission bed-down through installation assessments and planning, including any required infrastructure construction or upgrades.
“IMSC’s approach to installation management optimizes the Air Force’s ability to rapidly deploy and sustain operations,” he said.
Richardson concluded his keynote address by reemphasizing the critical role of AFMC in ensuring the Air Force is postured to maintain a strategic advantage over the PRC and all other adversaries through the delivery of integrated capabilities across the mission set. The ability of the Air Force to fly, fight and win in all domains depends on AFMC.
“As with the B-21, if our Airmen fly it, shoot it, fuel it, move it, drive it, wear it, communicate with it, or work in it…AFMC powers every weapon system, every installation, for every command and every Airman,” he said. “Together, our power is unmatched. Our work in the B-21 program embodies Air Force Materiel Command’s core principle: Every individual capability, every piece of technology we develop, must maximize readiness and lethality, not just on its own, but as part of an integrated whole.”
To view the full recording of Richardson’s keynote address, visit the 2023 Air, Space & Cyber Conference website.
Source: United States Air Force
ARLINGTON, Va. (AFNS) —
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III was joined by Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in marking the 22nd anniversary of the terrorist attack at a ceremony honoring the 184 lives lost at the Pentagon.
“I know that being here today is hard,” Austin said as he extended his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. “I know that it aches to remember this milestone year after year. And I know that nothing can make it right.
“And, as the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on or even forgetting what happened here on Sept. 11, 2001,” he said. “But please know this: The men and women of the Department of Defense will always remember.”
Austin and Milley highlighted the outpouring of service and selflessness by the defense community and ordinary Americans in the immediate aftermath of the attacks and the years to follow.
The response by Americans at the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and aboard United Airlines flight 93, which crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, offered proof that “terror would never destroy us,” Milley said.
“Those terrorists hated America,” he said. “They hated our Constitution and the values that bind us together as a nation.
“Those terrorists wanted to destroy our country,” he said. “But, on that day and every day since, the United States has demonstrated that we would never bow to fear and hatred.”
Austin noted that in the month following the attack on the Pentagon, more than 2,500 people volunteered to provide assistance to the grieving families of those who died in the attack.
Years after the attack, that same courage and compassion continued to shine, he said.
As the years go by, it may feel that the world is moving on or even forgetting what happened here on Sept. 11, 2001. But please know this: the men and women of the Department of Defense will always remember.”
Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense
That call to service has echoed throughout the decades, propelling thousands of young people to answer the call to serve in the military, Milley said.
“Sept. 11 reminds us that the American spirit still shines in times of testing,” Austin said. “After the attacks, amid the horror and the grief, many Americans felt a deeper sense of duty to their communities and to their country. And all around the country with hearts breaking for the slain and the suffering, Americans looked within themselves and felt called to give back.”
Austin vowed to maintain that legacy of service and honor those who lost their lives in the attacks.
“It is our duty to live up to the goodness that they embodied,” he said. “And it is our duty to defend the democracy that they loved so much. So, we will always seek to meet that challenge.”
“We will always work to keep America safe, and we will always, always remember,” he said.
Source: Royal Canadian Mounted Police
East Hants District RCMP has charged a man after a robbery on Uniacke Mines Rd. in Mount Uniacke.
On September 10, 2023, at approximately 9:20 p.m., East Hants District RCMP responded to a report of a robbery on Uniacke Mines Rd. in Mount Uniacke. RCMP officers learned that a man and woman had been travelling in a vehicle, owned by the woman, on Uniacke Mines Rd. when the man told the woman to get out. When the woman refused, the man sprayed her with a chemical irritant, forcibly removed her from the vehicle and threw her belongings out of the vehicle. The man then fled the area in the vehicle. The victim was not physically injured and declined medical treatment.
While investigating the robbery incident, East Hants District RCMP were advised that the suspect in this incident, had just stolen fuel from a gas station in Mount Uniacke and had left the gas station on Hwy. 1 heading towards Windsor. West Hants District RCMP were notified of the incident and their assistance was requested.
At approximately 10:50 p.m., a West Hants District RCMP member observed the suspect vehicle travelling at a high rate of speed on Hwy. 1 in Ardoise. The vehicle was observed turning off Hwy. 1 onto Buster Davis Rd. and a traffic stop was attempted. The man stopped the vehicle and surrendered. He was safely arrested and transported to the Enfield Detachment where he was held in custody.
Evan Lloyd Wheadon, 18, of Mount Uniacke, has been charged with Robbery, Theft and Failure to Comply with Conditions (2 counts). He appeared in Shubenacadie Provincial Court today, where he was remanded into custody. Wheadon will return to Shubenacadie Provincial Court on September 25, 2023.
File #: 2023-1348867