The initial training programme (IFP) for recruits is an intensive 18-week residential course, covering a huge range of policing skills and essential firearms skills. Since the courses began in 2014, hundreds of students have passed the intensive training to become CNC AFOs. With the introduction of the Non-Home Office Police Apprenticeship Programme earlier this year, the CNC recognised the need to offer the training at sites other than their Culham Headquarters and Bisley Firearms Training Unit (FTU) and as a result courses this year have taken place across the country. Ch Supt Sheree Owen, Head of the CNC’s Training Division,…
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Geneva / Goma, 2 July – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is calling for immediate and sustained action to respond to the severe humanitarian crisis in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) as the situation continues to deteriorate. Those displaced by the violence are suffering the brunt of what has been one of the world’s most neglected crises. As of October, last year, 6.9 million people were displaced across the DRC, a number expected to increase with the forthcoming reports. In North Kivu alone, by the end of May, 1.77 million people had been displaced by attacks from…
The remarkable aurora in early May this year demonstrated the power that solar storms can emit as radiation, but occasionally the Sun does something far more destructive. Known as “solar particle events”, these blasts of protons directly from the surface of the Sun can shoot out like a searchlight into space. Records show that around every thousand years Earth gets hit by an extreme solar particle event, which could cause severe damage to the ozone layer and increase levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the surface. We analysed what happens during such an extreme event in a paper published today.…
More than 90% of the world’s central banks are looking at introducing a central bank digital currency (CBDC), to complement existing banknotes. What is a central bank digital currency? A CBDC is not a new currency. It is a digital representation of an existing national currency. So an Australian CBDC would have exactly the same value as an Australian dollar. It would be legal tender. It could be available in both retail and wholesale formats but usage would be optional and it would not replace hard currency. Retail CBDCs are likely to allow point-of-sale purchases, government payments and transfers between…
Milroy Irish 5, Hadley 2 (7 innings) HADLEY — Tyler Patterson put together a well-rounded effort for the Milroy Irish on Sunday. The first baseman and pitcher reached base safely twice, drove in a run, and picked up the win on the mound to lead the Irish to a 5-2 win over the Hadley Buttermakers. Patterson pitched 4 2/3 innings in his start for the Irish, holding Hadley to three hits on the day. He allowed a pair of unearned runs after walking seven batters but struck out another three. The Irish struck first in the top of the first…
WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Labor’s final rule “Defining and Delimiting the Exemptions for Executive, Administrative, Professional, Outside Sales, and Computer Employees,” which will extend overtime protections for millions of salaried workers, becomes effective.Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su issued the following statement:“For more than 80 years, the 40-hour workweek has been a pillar of fairness for American workers. It’s the promise of going home to loved ones after putting in your time, not endless hours for flat pay. Far too many are stuck in jobs that disregard this principle. Today, our rule to restore that balance by expanding overtime…
Dissatisfaction with functioning of democracy is linked to concerns about the economy, the pandemic and social divisions A woman votes at a polling station on Oct. 4, 2021, in Turin, Italy. (Stefano Guidi/Getty Images) As citizens around the world continue to grapple with a global pandemic and the changes it has brought to their everyday lives, many are also expressing a desire for political change. Across 17 advanced economies surveyed this spring by Pew Research Center, a median of 56% believe their political system needs major changes or needs to be completely reformed. Roughly two-thirds or more hold this view…
Last week, several major record labels filed copyright infringement lawsuits in US courts against the makers of two generative AI music apps, Suno and Udio. The labels allege the AI companies have engaged in copyright infringement by copying many sound recordings belonging to the record labels, and producing outputs very similar to those recordings. The labels are seeking damages of US$150,000 (A$225,000) for each of the thousands of tracks of which copyright has allegedly been infringed. The lawsuits allege Udio produced output with “striking resemblances” to songs including Dancing Queen by ABBA and All I Want For Christmas Is You…
Antoine Christopher Kolias (31), was sentenced on Friday 28 June to a total of three and a half years’ imprisonment. During the CEU investigation, Operation Bentley, Kolias was found to be acting as a distributor for an established unlicensed medicines dealer, as well as running his own unlicensed medicines business, selling quantities of sildenafil citrate (the active ingredient in Viagra) as well as Class C drugs tramadol, zopiclone and pregabalin between the summer of 2018 and October 2019, and again between 2020 and 2021. During a three-week trial at Southwark Crown Court the court heard how Kolias, after his first…
Roblox is an online platform that allows users to create games and play those designed by others. A self-described “ultimate virtual universe,” it is hard to pinpoint exactly what Roblox is: Is it a game? Is it social media? Is it a place to create content or consume media? Is it a place to shop or sell? Is it a metaverse? Or simply a platform? How do we even understand what Roblox is? And does it matter? Roblox is a multiplayer game world where users create their own singular avatar and move through immersive experiences built by other users. On…