Latest news with #CIS
Al Arabiya
21 hours ago
- Business
- Al Arabiya
Russia's drone production jumps in May after Putin request: Think tank
Russia's drone production jumped by 16.9 percent in May compared to the previous month, data from a think tank close to the government showed on Friday, after President Vladimir Putin called for output to be stepped up. Putin in April said that more than 1.5 million drones of various types had been produced last year, including about 4,000 first-person view (FPV) drones - lightweight models designed for precision targeting - but said that troops fighting on the front line in Ukraine needed more. Both sides have deployed drones on a huge scale, using them to spot and hit targets not only on the battlefield but way beyond the front lines. Drone production growth of 16.9 percent in May was significantly higher than previous months, according to the Centre for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting, an economic think tank close to the government. The average monthly increase in the previous five months was 3.7 percent, the report said, and the level in May was 1.6 times higher than average monthly output in 2024. Moscow has been developing a new laser-based system to defend against drones, especially important as Ukrainian drones frequently strike sites deep inside Russia such as oil depots, refineries and airfields.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rubio announces new visa restrictions on families of fentanyl traffickers
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new sanctions on Thursday that he called "necessary" to "deter and dismantle" the flow of deadly fentanyl into the United States. The new policy imposes new visa restrictions on family members and close personal and business associates of foreign drug traffickers. Speaking with reporters Thursday afternoon, State Department spokesman Tommy Piggott said that this move "will not only prevent them from entering the United States, but also serve as a deterrent for continued illicit activities." In a statement released by the State Department, Rubio stressed the importance of further expanding sanctions to stop the flow of fentanyl and other drugs into the country. "The fentanyl crisis in the United States is unprecedented, with overdoses remaining the leading cause of death for Americans ages 18 to 44," said Rubio. State Department Says It Has Provided Guidance To More Than 25,000 People In Israel, West Bank And Iran Read On The Fox News App The secretary said that "more than 40 percent of Americans reportedly know someone who has died from an opioid overdose, and in 2024, the United States averaged over 220 overdose deaths daily." "Today's action expands upon existing tools," he said, adding that the State Department "will use all necessary tools to deter and dismantle the flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs from entering the United States and harming U.S. citizens." Fentanyl is a dangerous drug that is often trafficked into the United States across the southern and northern borders by cartels and other criminal elements. In 2024, fentanyl was linked to the deaths of 48,422 persons in the United States, according to the CDC. During his campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to wage a war against fentanyl traffickers through increased border security and by cracking down on illegal immigration. Since taking office, Trump has deployed U.S. troops to the southern border, targeted cartels and transnational criminal groups as "foreign terrorist organizations" and hit cartel leaders with sanctions. Liberal News Outlet Mocked For Reporting On 'Mysterious' Drop In Fentanyl Flowing Across Border According to the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), the U.S. law enforcement seizures of fentanyl, which the group explains is a "key indicator of broader total smuggling at and between the southern border's ports of entry," have dropped 50% since the November election. CIS states that this significant decline indicates a "greater decline in total fentanyl smuggling." In May, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that authorities had made one of the biggest fentanyl busts in U.S. history with the seizure of 409 kilos of fentanyl pills and 11.5 kilos of fentanyl powder. Bondi said that around 35 kilos of methamphetamine, 35 kilos of meth, 7.5 kilos of cocaine and 4.5 kilos of heroin also had been seized along with $5 million in cash and 49 rifles and pistols. Sixteen people including three women, were arrested in the operation. Six of the males are in the U.S. illegally, according to Bondi. Bondi Announces One Of Largest Fentanyl Seizures In Us History Bondi described fentanyl as a weapon of "mass destruction" and laid down a stern warning to drug pushers looking to distribute the potentially deadly drug throughout the nation. "When we catch you like all of these individuals, if convicted, we will put you behind bars. There will be no negotiating and we will lock you up for as long as humanly possible," Bondi said. "We will not negotiate with those who are killing our family members, including brothers, sisters, daughters, sons, parents, friends, everyone in this room."Original article source: Rubio announces new visa restrictions on families of fentanyl traffickers
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
Inspiring holistic growth at a leading IB World School in Abu Dhabi
Located in the heart of Khalifa City, the Italian International School (IIS) in Abu Dhabi stands as a distinguished IB World School committed to delivering holistic, world-class education. As a proud member of the Council of International Schools (CIS), IIS champions global standards of academic excellence while fostering personal growth, empathy, and resilience in every learner. With English as the primary language of instruction, and Italian and Arabic offered as additional languages, the school's unique trilingual setting cultivates strong communication skills and cross-cultural awareness — essential attributes for today's global citizens. The internationally acclaimed IB curriculum nurtures critical thinking, inquiry, research, and time management skills, ensuring students are well-prepared for top-tier universities and life beyond the classroom. IIS takes an inclusive and personalised approach to education, offering small class sizes, dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Special Educational Needs (SEN) support, and a compassionate school culture. Its world-class campus is designed to support whole-child development, featuring advanced facilities for football, padel, swimming, and a full gymnasium. 'Our campus supports whole-child development with state-of-the-art facilities for football, padel, swimming, and a full gymnasium. A rich array of extracurricular activities includes horseback riding, padel training, football Academy by Juventus Abu Dhabi, chess Academy by the Abu Dhabi Chess Club & mind games, Jiu-Jitsu, and martial arts by Palms sports, among many others.' Supporting students' well-being is a top priority. IIS provides chef-prepared, nutritious meals daily through its onsite canteen, encouraging healthy habits from an early age. With a diverse and inclusive student body representing 48 nationalities, the Italian International School is a trusted choice for expatriate families seeking a caring, high-quality international education. Its team of native English-speaking faculty brings over a decade of international teaching experience, offering consistency and excellence in every classroom.
The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Iranian-aligned hackers claim responsibility for Truth Social cyberattack
Hackers aligned with Iran have claimed responsibility for a cyberattack on President Trump's Truth Social platform, according to the cyber nonprofit Center for Internet Security (CIS). The Iran-aligned hacking group 313 Team took credit for a distributed denial of service (DDos) attack on Truth Social within hours of U.S. strikes on several Iranian nuclear facilities Saturday, a CIS spokesperson confirmed. Truth Social reportedly saw a surge in reports of problems Saturday night, shortly after Trump posted on the site about the 'very successful attack' on the nuclear sites Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan, Wired reported. The hack comes as cyberattacks have ramped up amid increasing tensions between Iran, Israel and the U.S. Iran and Israel have volleyed attacks back and forth in recent weeks following Tel Aviv's surprise attack on Tehran's nuclear facilities. An Israel-linked hacking group took responsibility for cyberattacks against Iran's largest crypto exchange last week, transferring more than $90 million out of Nobitex wallets, according to the blockchain analytics firm Elliptic. However, the hackers likely did not have the private keys to access the addresses where the stolen funds were sent, meaning they were effectively destroyed. The Nobitex hack came one day after the group, known as Gonjeshke Darande or Predatory Sparrow, also claimed responsibility for the hack of a state-owned Iranian bank.
The Star
5 days ago
- The Star
ECRL setback linked to site theft
Missing parts: Signalling cables have been reported stolen, with outdoor transformer units also removed along the ECRL line. PETALING JAYA: The target to complete the much-touted East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project by December next year is facing an unexpected obstacle – theft of signalling equipment and communication cables. The contractors have a fight on their hands with over 1,200m of signalling cables reported stolen along its alignment, with 81 outdoor transformer units also removed. According to Malaysia Rail Link (MRL) Sdn Bhd, the thieves used non-professional cutting tools to get the job done hastily, and even came with transportation. While cable theft or vandalism is a common problem, thefts along the ECRL track are distressing as the cables and transformers are custom-made, with usual delivery time taking up to six months. The 665km ECRL, which connects the Klang Valley to the East Coast, is scheduled to be completed by December next year. It will carry both passengers and freight from the west coast of the country to the east and vice- versa, with speeds of up to 160kph for passenger trains and 80kph for freight trains. The project, which began in 2017, has recorded an overall progress of 82.45%. MRL is the special purpose entity to execute the ECRL project. 'CLICK TO ENLARGE' MRL CEO Datuk Seri Darwis Abdul Razak said there were at least two known instances of such thefts along the ECRL alignment. 'The thefts may delay the project delivery. 'We were very much looking forward to the testing and commissioning phase in June next year,' he added. Since the start of the Communications, Information and Signaling (CIS) systems installation at the ECRL KotaSAS Station in Pahang this March, thieves have struck at no less than seven locations – Paya Besar, Cherating and Kuantan Port City (all in Pahang); Chukai, Dungun and Kemasik (Terengganu) and Pasir Puteh in Kelantan. At the areas near the KotaSAS Station, the contractor involved, China Communications Construction ECRL Project (CCCC-ECRL) found that some fibre optic cables were left behind after being cut. Fibre optic cables are said to be worthless in the scrap market as it does not contain metal. However, the 1,200m of signalling cable which were stolen did contain some metal. Darwis said MRL will meet with the respective state police chiefs to discuss comprehensive asset protection measures and also raise the issue with the relevant ministers. Observers note that protecting trackside assets was difficult as cables were often placed in concrete troughs, with thieves just needing to remove the cover to gain quick access to the cable bundle. Darwis said CCCC-ECRL will bear the losses from the thefts as the project has not been handed over to the government yet. 'That said, we as the project owner will also do our part to curb this problem. The ECRL project team is working closely with police to engage those in the scrap collection or recycling business,' he said. 'We have engaged security personnel to patrol the areas and will install CCTVs at critical areas, although it is not easy to keep watch over such a long alignment,' he said. It is learnt that the on-ground portions of the entire alignment will be eventually fenced up to prevent intrusions. 'In the meantime, we appeal to the public to help us by quickly alerting authorities if they spot suspicious activities along the alignment,' Darwis said. Yuslizar Daud, former head of the Land Public Transport Commission's (now defunct SPAD) Rail Division, said these types of theft were tough to overcome. 'It happens all over the world. In the United Kingdom, Network Rail lost almost £20mil (RM114.4mill) a year due to cable theft. 'Here, thieves are very smart and well-organised, with intricate networks. They are always 100 steps ahead of the operators,' he said. Yuslizar said the only way to effectively resolve the problem was for all rail operators to come together and share intelligence, resources and data. CCCC-ECRL managing director Deng Bo said theft or vandalism of rail infrastructure was a serious crime in China as it threatened the safety of rail operations, and hence, public safety. Officials said if equipment theft continues unabated, Malaysia will suffer losses as it will have to bear half the operational losses, if any, when the trains start running by early 2027.
