The use of TikTok on government equipment is being prohibited in the UK.
Cabinet ministers requested risk assessments, which prompted the ban. The security risk assessments and cyber security risk assessments that were carried out, looked at the potential exposure of public information from social networking apps on mobile devices and the risks associated with how sensitive information could be acquired and utilised by some platforms. Government policies on the management of third-party purposes will be strengthened, and a preventative restriction on TikTok on government devices is being established, given the undoubtedly sensitive nature of data that is saved on government devices. "The ban on government devices applies to government corporate devices within all government departments. Specific exemptions for the use of TikTok on government devices are being put in place where required for work purposes. Exemptions will only be granted by security teams on a case-by-case basis, with ministerial clearance as appropriate, and with security mitigations put in place. These exemptions will cover areas such as individuals working in relevant enforcement roles, or for example for the purposes of work on online harms." Source and Credit Ref: GOV.UK
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Russia-Ukraine War
Reports of Putin having visited Mariupol, in Ukraine, have been buzzing across the media; These reports come, not long after the ICC issuing arrest warrants for the Russian President. The independent reports; "Kyiv officials described Vladimir Putin as a “criminal” returning to a “crime scene” after the Russian president visited Mariupol in the second of two appearances in Ukraine after a warrant for his arrest was issued by the International Criminal Court." ICC Statement; Today, 17 March 2023, Pre-Trial Chamber II of the International Criminal Court (“ICC” or “the Court”) issued warrants of arrest for two individuals in the context of the situation in Ukraine: Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova. Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, born on 7 October 1952, President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the Rome Statute). Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova, born on 25 October 1984, Commissioner for Children’s Rights in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation, is allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Ms Lvova-Belova bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute). Pre-Trial Chamber II considered, based on the Prosecution’s applications of 22 February 2023, that there are reasonable grounds to believe that each suspect bears responsibility for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population and that of unlawful transfer of population from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, in prejudice of Ukrainian children. The Chamber considered that the warrants are secret in order to protect victims and witnesses and also to safeguard the investigation. Nevertheless, mindful that the conduct addressed in the present situation is allegedly ongoing, and that the public awareness of the warrants may contribute to the prevention of the further commission of crimes, the Chamber considered that it is in the interests of justice to authorise the Registry to publicly disclose the existence of the warrants, the name of the suspects, the crimes for which the warrants are issued, and the modes of liability as established by the Chamber. The abovementioned warrants of arrests were issued pursuant to the applications submitted by the Prosecution on 22 February 2023. The BBC have released a map and route trace of the Russian President during his visit; BBC extract; "The BBC identified some of the key landmarks along the Russian leader's route. Mr Putin appears to be driving down Kuprina St, turning into Myru Avenue and then into Metalurhiv Avenue, where the Philharmonic Concert Hall is and which he visits later on in the footage. He is sitting next to a man in a black cap, who Russian media identify as Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin. On his left as they drive down Myru Avenue are sculptures of birds in what was Mariupol's Freedom Square. Further on, on the right and not shown in the footage, is Mariupol's Maternity Hospital Number Three, which was bombed in a notorious incident last March." A bold move by the Russian President, one of further defiance inlight of the move to issue arrest warrants in his name, Mariupol is the first of the Russian occupied territories that Putin is known to have visited. Reference Links; https://www.icc-cpi.int/news/situation-ukraine-icc-judges-issue-arrest-warrants-against-vladimir-vladimirovich-putin-and https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/putin-makes-surprise-trip-mariupol-first-occupied-donbas-ukraine-2023-03-19/ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65007289 https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/putin-visits-mariupol-arrest-warrant-b2303950.html A Message from #EEAST
The Ambulance Staff Crisis Phone line is available to ALL ambulance staff. This includes managers, call handlers, fleet crew, administrators, and technicians, to name a few. If you’re having suicidal thoughts, call 0300 373 0898. #TASCP From 6 April 2023, the cost of applying for an individual SIA licence for any sector in the regulated private security industry will be reduced to £184.
This is the lowest fee ever since licensing was introduced in 2004. The reduction applies to both new applicants and those renewing existing licences. Licence holders applying for an additional licence after this date will pay 50% of the new reduced fee. The reduction has been possible due to various efficiency and cost savings the SIA has made. These savings have also enabled the SIA to increase its resourcing for its inspection and enforcement work, bolstering its footprint and visibility across the UK without increasing the licence fee. The SIA has doubled the number of staff working in intelligence, inspections, and criminal investigations. The £6 reduction is on top of the existing £20 reduction in fees funded from previous historical surpluses under a rebate scheme approved by the Treasury, which will continue until 2026. It also represents a three percent efficiencies savings in the SIA’s operational costs. The SIA has committed to continue to work hard on further costs savings and efficiencies to keep the licence fee as low as possible. SIA Chief Executive Michelle Russell said: "The licence payers and public rightly expect us to be as efficient and as economic as possible, providing value for money for those we regulate, while delivering on key public safety agendas. We recognise that £6 may feel like a small amount to many, but in the context of the cost-of-living challenges, for some, every pound counts." This latest reduction brings the licence fee down to less than it was 19 years ago when licensing was first introduced. We remain committed to regulating the private security industry effectively and efficiently keeping the cost to licence holders as low as possible. At £184, the new licence fee is at its lowest it has ever been. If adjusted at inflation levels since 2004 the current fee level would be £350. Further information:
Darya Dugina, 29, died after an explosion on a road outside Moscow. Roughly 9.00 p.m. local time on Saturday, near the village of Bolshiye Vyazemy, according to the press service of the Russian Investigative Committee, as reported by the Russian state news agency TASS. The Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin aka "Putin's brain" or "Putin's Rasputin", Darya Dugina is the daughter of Alexander Dugin, intelligence suggests her father was intended target of the car bomb. The bombing is considered to have been devised and was a deliberate attempt on the life of Alexander Dugin.
Dugin early career see's him recognised as one of the earliest members within the National Bolshevik Party (NBP) Dugin, split off to form the more right-wing, anti-liberal, anti-left and alleged anti-Kasparov, aggressive nationalist organization, National Bolshevik Front (NBF). It is reported once split with Eduard Limonov the, then NBP Founder and Leader, he became close to Yevgeny Primakov and later to Vladimir Putin's circle. In present times; Alexander Dugin has called for the unification of Russian-speaking and other territories to create a new Russian empire. This empire inludes Ukraine where Russian forces are carrying out what Moscow calls a "special military operation" initiated on the 24th February 2022, had previously annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014. Russia has been quick to point fingers at Ukraine, for this bombing, questions still remain surrounding the attack. Ukraine has denied any involvement. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia's foreign ministry, said that if the murder investigation's trail led to Ukraine, then it would point to a policy of "state terrorism". It has become a concern that prior to evidence or proof being presented to support or oppose this allegation, this incident will be used to fuel and push momentum to Russia's special military operations within Ukraine.
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