Financial crime Malta graylisted for Financial crimes

Status: 06/24/2021 9:40 a.m.

Corruption, money laundering and “golden passports”: the Mediterranean island of Malta has fallen into twilight. An international institution to combat money laundering now wants to monitor the country more closely. The attempts by the Maltese government to avert the decision of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) were unsuccessful: The international institution for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and the financing of weapons of mass destruction has put Malta on the gray list for financial crimes, according to the Times newspaper of Malta “reported. Inclusion on this list means that the country is under increased surveillance, that it is being monitored more and more. At the same time, the state undertakes to remedy the deficiencies identified in the context of financial crime. Who is the FATF?

The Financial Action Task Force, based in Paris, is an independent international institution that develops and promotes measures to combat money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the financing of weapons of mass destruction. It was founded in 1989 by the G7 countries and currently has 37 members. More than 200 states and jurisdictions have committed to complying with the FATF standards. The FATF is supported by a secretariat affiliated with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

Malta pledges cooperation

Prime Minister Robert Abela confirmed the decision and described it as “unjust”. Most of the concerns expressed by the reviewers have already been addressed. Malta wants to continue with its reform program, said Abela. “We will intensify our exchanges to better explain Malta’s achievements and to ensure that they are respected and understood by the international community.” Malta will never show itself to be uncooperative in the fight against financial crime or resist it, he assured the international partners.

Cayman Islands and Syria are also on the gray list

It is not the first time that Malta has fallen into twilight: the country has already been screened for financial crime more intensely because of its “golden passport” program. Like Cyprus, Malta had granted citizenships in return for financial commitments. The EU Commission then initiated infringement proceedings.

With the jump on the gray list of the FATF there is now a further loss of reputation for the country. As of February 2021, the FATF gray list includes countries such as Burkina Faso, the Cayman Islands, Ghana, Mauritius, Panama, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zimbabwe.

Germany holds the FATF presidency

Germany took over the presidency of the FATF in July 2020. The term of office of Marcus Pleyer from the Federal Ministry of Finance ends on June 30, 2022.

Marcus Pleyer is currently the President of the FATF. Image: Felix Zahn / photothek.net

Incidentally, the Federal Republic of Germany is currently also being routinely audited by the FATF. In its last evaluation in 2010, the organization came to the conclusion that Germany was susceptible to money laundering and terrorist financing

First, it is necessary to consider the operating principle of Shkval. When an object moves in the water, it will create bubbles around it due to its motion, which is the phenomenon of cavitation in nature. The super-cavity is a more special case, when a large air bubble appears and covers the entire object, then the object will almost fly in the air due to the maximum elimination of friction. This is the principle applied on the VA-111 Shkval super-fast torpedo. The VA-111 Shkval was researched in the 1960s as a specialized weapon for attack submarines to fight nuclear submarines and enemy surface ships. On November 29, 1977, the VA-111 Shkval super-cavity torpedo was officially accepted into service in the combat component of the Soviet Navy. Shkval torpedo uses a solid fuel engine, the head is fitted with a special cavity-forming device. It is a thick elliptical piece of metal that is sharpened with an angle of inclination to the longitudinal axis, with a circular cross-section to create an angle of elevation. In fact, a foam generator is not enough, so the torpedo head adds foaming air ducts, the bubbles are generated by a gas booster. This allows to increase the volume of air bubbles and create bubbles that cover the entire torpedo body. The Shkval super-cavity torpedo has a speed of 93 km/h out of the launch tube and up to over 360 km/h when the engine is at full capacity, twice as fast as conventional torpedoes. The warhead of the VA-111 has a weight of 210 kg, enough to break a 10,000-ton destroyer in two with a single shot. However, it should be added that besides the advantages, the VA-111 also has deadly disadvantages, making its use in combat must be carefully considered. Firstly, Shkval’s range is too short, reaching a maximum of only 6,858 m, forcing the submarine to be close to the enemy to be able to strike. This is extremely dangerous because modern warships all have advanced sonar navigation systems and extremely powerful anti-submarine weapons. Second, it is the super-cavity technology that creates superior speed that makes the torpedo unable to establish two-way communication, when the radio signal is blocked from the outside, unable to penetrate the air bubbles. The torpedo relies on estimating target coordinates prior to launch, and its maneuverability is also extremely poor, as a sharp turn would break the supercavity bubble. Third, the secrecy of the Shkval torpedo is completely absent, because it creates extremely loud noises and forms a line of bubbles floating on the water that is easy to observe. Finally, the unit price of the Shkval torpedo is said to be significantly higher than the older generation types, while the advantages are not yet outstanding. For the above reasons, guided torpedoes such as TEST-71 or Type 53-65 combined with Kalibr cruise missiles will give modern submarines a higher combat capability, especially without tethering. it faces dangerous situations like when carrying the VA-111 Shkval. Currently, Russia announced that it has initially successfully tested the Shkval 2.0 variant with a longer range and controllability. If the above weapon is soon completed, it will really be able to replace the products of the old generation.

Mi-28NM is capable of operating in all weather conditions, performing many tasks including armored attack, destruction of low-speed air targets, reconnaissance… This latest version will be released. introduced at the MAKS-2021 Military Show this summer. The performance of the Mi-28NM combat helicopter’s complex skills will be one of the most awaited activities. Mi-28NM combat helicopter. Photo: RBTH The Mi-28NM made its first flight at the end of 2016 and has undergone state tests over the past few years. In June 2019, the Russian Ministry of Defense signed a contract for the supply of 98 aircraft of the Mi-28NM version. The first batch was delivered to the army in 2020. The production of Mi-28NM was also carried out at the Rostvertol plant. “The Mi-28NM helicopter has undergone an upgrade and modification process after the “fire test” in Syria. Engineers have tested the Mi-28NM helicopter in real combat conditions to present to the public a version of the most powerful combat helicopter in the Russian air force,” said Professor Vadim Kozyulin at the Institute of Military Science. Russia said. What’s new in Mi-28NM? The new cabin of the Mi-28NM is protected by armor, including tempered glass in front that can withstand 12.7mm bullets. The armor barrier between the non-crew members also limits the ability to deal consecutive damage to both pilots. This baffle can withstand the impact of 20mm bullets. This is the first time on the Mi-28 helicopter that there is a partition between the two main pilots and the co-pilot. The pilot and copilot emergency exit systems can be activated separately. Mi-28NM has been “fired” in the Syrian battlefield. Photo: RBTH “The Mi-28NM is the latest version of the Mi-28N helicopter. It is enhanced with many capabilities, including mobility. The new helicopter is capable of using high-precision weapons, has a new control system with integrated AI. Mi-28NM can interact with helicopters, UAVs and other aircraft on the battlefield,” said Dmitry Litovkin, Executive Director of Independent Military Review. The “weapon” of the Mi-28NM helicopter also includes kamikaze drones – a type of suicide UAV. “The Mi-28NM can deploy and control one or more suicide UAVs. When hostile objects are detected, the pilots will provide target data and monitor the removal of those targets,” the expert said. The Mi-28NM helicopter can operate in difficult weather conditions, capable of flying in both piloted and automatic modes. One of the key practical changes for the pilot on the Mi-28NM is the dual control mode: in the event of a primary pilot’s injury or death, the co-pilot can continue to control the helicopter. Mi-28N does not have this mode. According to publicly available information, the main difference of the Mi-28NM is that it is equipped with a radar and thermal imaging support system, with the ability to scan around the aircraft instead of a few directions. Mi-28NM has a huge arsenal, including new generation multi-purpose missiles, including those launched beyond the enemy’s air defense identification zone, as well as various types of bombs. The helicopter can attack fixed and moving targets within a radius of 8-10 km.

Using Bluezone helps detect close contact with suspected infected people, contributing to the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemic. The Center is headed by Mr. Do Cong Anh, Deputy Director in charge of the Department of Informatization (Ministry of Information and Communications); leader of Information Technology Department (Ministry of Health) as Deputy Director; Mr. Tran Dac Phu, consultant of Vietnam Public Health Emergency Response Center is a member, in charge of professional advice. In addition, the Center has 6 other members from functional units of the Ministry of Information and Communications and information technology enterprises. In particular, the leader of Bkav Group is in charge of the overall design of shared platforms and databases… The Center has the task of acting as a focal point, coordinating with agencies, organizations and enterprises, participating in technical and technological support and cooperation to serve the prevention and control of Covid-19 epidemic; design, build, manage, operate, monitor, ensure safety and network security for technology platforms and systems for Covid-19 prevention and control. In particular, the Center will uniformly manage, centrally connect and distribute electronic health declaration data, domestic movement declaration data, people’s reflection data, quarantine point data and data on control of entry and exit of quarantine points between Covid-19 epidemic prevention and control technology systems… Step 1: Visit https://www.bluezone.gov.vn or download directly at App Store or CH Play. Step 2: Once downloaded, the application will ask for permission to use Bluetooth to record contact with other Bluezone installed users. If Bluetooth is not open, drag the status bar and turn on Bluetooth; or go to Settings, select Bluetooth and turn it on. Step 3: Once the installation is done, click Scan Around. If someone near you less than 2m has used Bluezone, the application will automatically identify these users and put them in the contact list.

Since 2015, Russian engineers have sought to increase the combat capabilities of the Su-30SM. In particular, the plan to combine Su-30SM with Su-35S is also very feasible. To carry out this plan, engineers prepared a new Su-30SM model with a new engine, and studied the possibility of installing a new, more powerful “Irbis” radar instead of the current system. During the modernization process, the developers will propose to install the AL-41F-1C engine using the Su-35 for the Su-30SM2 version. The new engine is much more efficient than the current Su-30SM. “The life cycle of aircraft engines has doubled without increasing weight and size. Equipped with a plasma ignition system, the AL-41F-1C engine is more economical than the AL-31FP engine that the Su-30SM is using. With the same amount of fuel, the upgraded fighter can stay in the sky longer. In addition, the avionics, radar and visual positioning system have also been improved,” said Cadim Kozulin, an expert at the Russian Academy of Military Sciences. With the engine power and possibly the radar will also be upgraded, the Su-30SM2 Super Sukhoi will be a formidable opponent of the latest US F-15EX.

“Mass production has begun. It’s no longer a test, it’s a robot that can appear in sci-fi movies because of its ability to fight independently. It’s exactly the weapon. of the future,” emphasized Sergei Shoigu. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu talks about the country’s military priorities. Photo: TASS. According to Sergei Shiogu, equipping the armed forces with such means is one of the top priorities. And Moscow has a lot of work to do to expand its line of complex, military-purpose robots. Many military experts estimate that, although Russia’s military budget is not as much as that of the US or the European Union (EU), the country has spent a great deal of it on “sharpening knives”. Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense said that the first unit with attack robots will be formed in the Russian armed forces to operate five robotic systems “Uranus-9” with 20 combat vehicles. Offensive and defensive strategies will be studied in a Department of Defense science center. An experimental Russian attack robot. Photo: Sohu. It is known that the Uranus-9 is a multifunctional combat platform developed by Russia’s 766 Technical Equipment Production Bureau, with a total weight of 10 tons, 4.5 m in length, 2 m in width, 1 in height. ,4 m and maximum travel speed is 40 km/h. This combat robot combines powerful firepower, is equipped with a comprehensive controlled weapon system including 4 9S120 “Bumblebee-M” anti-tank missiles, 4 9K33 SA-18 anti-aircraft missiles and 1 2A72 cannon 30mm caliber with 200 rounds ammunition and 7.62mm machine gun mounted on the vehicle. In theory, its anti-tank missile has a range of 5,800 meters, enough to threaten today’s major armored targets.

According to experts, Kazan is a fully domestically built submarine and is superior to foreign nuclear-powered ships in terms of technical characteristics. In the future, submarines can receive the modern Zircon hypersonic missile complex. Technically completely new project In recent years, the Kazan nuclear submarine has passed tests in the White Sea, and achieved the published technical indicators. In particular, the crew conducted submarine warfare tests at positions on the water surface and underwater, measured technical parameters, in which the noise level when moving underwater and the attack weapon system. . The Kazan nuclear submarine officially entered service with the Russian Navy. The Kazan nuclear submarine was built in 2009, but the time of delivery to the Russian Navy has been delayed several times. In response to RT.ru, Editor-in-Chief of the Defense Journal Igor Korotchenko explained that the delay was due to the need to test a large number of new technical solutions integrated into the project 885M nuclear submarine. According to experts, the construction and testing of a lead submarine of an improved or new project is always a long process and goes through many complicated stages. In addition, for the domestic shipbuilding industry and the Russian Ministry of Defense, the improvement of nuclear-powered submarines is to a state that allows the performance of effective combat missions on a large scale of the oceans. Positive is an urgent priority today. Meanwhile, the founder of the Russian military information site Dmitry Kornev said that delaying the commissioning of the Kazan submarine is completely reasonable. He explained the difficulties caused by a large amount of research and development work, along with the establishment of a large-scale industrial co-production system. “The Yasen-class nuclear submarine is a completely new and technically challenging project for our industry. The real partnership mechanism was created from the very beginning, with hundreds of businesses from many different industries. It took a lot of time to find contractors and fine-tune the delivery mechanism. Russia has also abandoned the use of imported components,” said expert Kornev. 4th generation nuclear submarine Kazan is a lead nuclear submarine of the fourth generation of project 885M (Yasen class), developed by the Malakhit Marine Design Bureau (Saint Petersburg). The construction of this nuclear submarine is carried out at the facilities of JSC PO Sevmash (Severodvinsk). The Kazan Multi-Purpose Nuclear Submarine is designed to destroy enemy surface ships, submarines, transport vehicles and ground targets. The submarine is equipped with eight vertical launch tubes, salvo-type launchers for Kalibr and Onyx high-precision cruise missiles, with ranges of up to 1,500 and 300 km. The Kazan nuclear submarine was developed by the Malakhit Marine Design Bureau. According to the developer, these weapons can engage highly protected, grouped targets, including those equipped with anti-missile defense systems. In addition, the attack weapon of the project 885/885M nuclear submarine is also equipped with 30 533 mm caliber torpedoes. The main operational characteristics of the Kazan and Yasen-class ships have not yet been revealed. However, according to experts, this modernized nuclear submarine is similar to the Project 885 Severodvinsk submarine, which entered service with the Northern Fleet in June 2014 in weight, size, and weapons. work, construction characteristics and speed. Analysts say the difference is mainly related to onboard equipment, including electronics and sonar equipment. The length of the Yasen-class submarine is about 139 m, the width is about 13 m, the draft is 10 m, the displacement is about 8,600 tons, underwater up to 13,800 tons. The ship is capable of independent operation for 100 days. The multi-purpose submarine can dive to a depth of 600 m and reach a speed of 57.4 km / h underwater. According to a report by the Malakhit Maritime Design Bureau, this project 885 nuclear submarine has a mixed architecture and structure with a sturdy double-hull structure, made of high-strength steel. Expert Dmitry Kornev explained that the engineers of the Malakhit Marine Design Bureau considered a two-hull scheme for the production of nuclear submarines. The two-body scheme is resistant to mechanical damage, but is more expensive and has a relatively high noise level. Accordingly, a reasonable solution was found at Yasen when the two hulls together covered the bow of the submarine and the structural elements near the launch pad, i.e. the parts that bear the greatest load. The hull of project 885/885M is divided by strong bulkheads into 8 compartments, including: main bridge, torpedo compartment, living quarters, electromechanical, missile, reactor, turbine and auxiliary compartment. aid. “To create optimal conditions for the operation of the hydroacoustic complex, the torpedo tubes were removed from the bow and placed at an angle to the center plane. A large diameter GAK (hydroacoustic complex) spherical antenna is located at the end of the bow,” the Malakhit Maritime Design Bureau report states. The quality of the sonar equipment plays an extremely important role in the performance of the assigned tasks of nuclear submarines in the vast range of the ocean. Yesen submarine hydroacoustic complex system is used to detect enemies, classify targets, find interference direction, measure ice thickness, detect mines and torpedoes, search for ice holes to fly up and launch. safe rocket. Also according to the developer, the main power unit of the project 885/885M nuclear submarines belongs to the new generation. It consists of a pressurized water reactor and a modular single-shaft steam turbine unit, with various mechanisms and redundancies, capable of reducing the acoustic parameters of the submarine. Another technical innovation in Yasen-class submarines is a rescue chamber designed to evacuate the entire crew. This equipment is improved by domestic experts, taking into account the experience of domestic and foreign submarine accidents and incidents. The main nuclear submarine of the Russian Navy According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the project 885M submarines “will become an important part of the offensive power” of the Russian Navy and will be able to effectively operate as part of a strike group at any distance. any way compared to the base points. The crew of the project 885M Kazan nuclear submarine. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense. “In the Yasen-M class nuclear submarine project, a number of technical solutions were used that were not previously used in domestic submarine construction. The basic components of the electronic weapon complexes, modernized equipment and rescue systems are exclusively Russian products,” the Russian military agency said. In the immediate future, the nuclear-powered submarines of Project 885M will become the main multi-purpose nuclear submarine of the Russian Navy. Currently, seven such submarines are under construction, including Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Arkhangelsk, Perm, Ulyanovsk, Voronezh and Vladivostok. Experts expect that the construction and testing of these submarines will not take much time, as the verification of technical solutions and the building of cooperative relationships have been successfully completed during construction. Kazan nuclear submarine. “The official transfer of Kazan to the navy allows us to conclude that the main difficulties for the implementation of the plans for the Yasen-M project have been overcome. This is a modern, fully Russian nuclear submarine. It is superior to all existing nuclear submarines abroad in terms of overall capabilities”, emphasized expert Kornev. This expert believes that putting project 885M submarines into service will significantly improve the combat capabilities of the Russian Navy. Accordingly, in the future the Yasen-M nuclear submarine will receive Zircon hypersonic missiles in its arsenal. Currently, this weapon is still being tested. Expert Igor Korotchenko said that the appearance of nuclear-powered ships of project 885M will increase the offensive and defensive capabilities of the Russian Navy. Yasen-class submarines will significantly strengthen the position of the Russian Navy, allowing a more efficient and high-quality implementation of the assigned tasks. “With the introduction of new nuclear submarines, the Russian Navy will receive a significant increase in submarine nuclear deterrence,” concluded Korotchenko.

Turkey’s “Anka” drone (Image: wikimedia) The new attack drone (UAV, drone-ND) “Simsek” (“Lightning”) was introduced to the public by Turkish Aerospace company of Turkey this week. Unlike another UAV which is currently very famous in Turkey, “Bauyraktar”, UAV “Lightning” is a drone – kamikaze (UAV suicide, UAV is also known as flying bullets. wait-ND) – it plunges into the target and detonates the warhead. UAV- kamikaze Simsek Turkey At first glance, this is not something too new – “Simsek” is not the first type of bullets waiting to fly. The Israelis and the Americans have accumulated a lot of valuable experience in this field. Yes, and Russia already has some such design. But nevertheless, the uniqueness of the Turkish “Lightning” is that it was brought to the launch point by another drone with a larger engine power – that is, the “Anka” UAV, which also came to the fore. Turkish company aforementioned design. UAV “Anka” – a version similar to “Predator” USA and also has a useful payload of 200 kg. It has two hangers under the wings, and therefore, is capable of carrying two Simsek-kamikaze UAVs within a range of about 500 km. And as a result, it greatly increased the range of the offensive weapon (ie UAV “Simsek”). And also so that there is no need to use a manned air force to perform the same mission. To create “Simsek”, the Turks took 12 years. This project has been in operation since 2009. But in the early days, the Turks had no intention of building “Simsek” into UAV-kamikaze, but rather to build a type of high-speed aerial target to test the air defense systems, as well as for testing of “air-to-air” class cruise missiles launched from fighter aircraft. And also do not understand why the Tho kept silent during the project to build this suicide drone. Until the end of last April, General Director of Turkish Aerospace (Turkish Airlines – Aerospace) Temel Kotil recently revealed some details about the project in an interview with CNN Turk. Mr. Kotil said that the combat head weight of “Simsek” is 5 kg. The flight distance after launching from “Anka” is 100-200 km. This UAV is equipped with a jet turbine engine, so it is quite high speed. In addition, the Turkish Aerospace’s General Manager also added that it is highly maneuverable. However, I really don’t understand what this UAV model needs to be maneuverable for. Mr. Kotil did not disclose how to control the drone. He spoke briefly about: a) it is fully autonomous and b) capable of being directed to the target in direct line of sight, either from a drone or from an operator. underground. “Simsek” is capable of destroying fixed targets on the ground. From the aforementioned “a” point, we can see that the navigation for this type of projectile is carried out by GPS signals. Therefore, the most effective method to “treat” the UAV “Simsek” is to suppress satellite positioning signals with electronic warfare systems. From point “b”, it can be concluded that navigation can be done by radio command, or by laser beam. To do this, the appropriate equipment must be installed on the UAVs. And there is another very important issue. The maximum distance from the target to the launch point of the UAV-carrier is 700 km (500 km for “Anka” + 200 km for “Simsek”). In order to connect these two drones when selecting a target and choosing to attack the target, it is necessary to have a control officer at the UAV launch site – the vehicle carrying “Anka”. And so, need a high-speed satellite communication channel. Many experts believe that after a while “Simsek” Turkey will “learn” how to attack mobile targets on the ground. However, to do that, it will either have to be equipped with a self-conducting terminal – either infrared or active radar, or be able to exchange information through a reliable data transmission channel. to control the flight path. It is reported that Turkish Aerospace will produce up to one hundred “Simsek” drones per year. At this point, it must be said that Russia was ahead of Turkey in making flying ammo. But, unfortunately, up to now this is only one step ahead in terms of fabrication timelines. The two drones – kamikaze of the Zala Aero company of the “Kalashnikov” group have successfully passed the “brides face view at the Syrian shooting range”. These were UAVs “Kub” and UAVs “Lancet”. These two types of UAVs were built with a gap of nearly 2 years. However, in terms of strength, they are more modest than the “Turks”. The combat head weight of “Kub” – 3 kg. Of “Lancet-1” – 1 kg. And “Lancet-3” – up to 3 kilograms. And they are launched by traditional methods – with catapults. The shorter operating distance (Simsek) is considerable – only 30 km to 40 km. Speed ​​- from 80 to 130 km / h. Flight time is 30 minutes. But in return, the Russian works to realize on the UAVs on other features, also extremely important, a much more skillful way. All three of the aforementioned Russian drones are quite similar, only “Lancet-1” is slightly different – it has a smaller size and weight, only 5 kg. On all three UAVs there is a television camera – it is used by an officer on the ground to guide the UAV to a target. As a result, the maximum error when attacking their target did not exceed 2 meters. The mean error is even less. The image from the camera is transmitted via the anti-noise channel to the ground control point, and from this control point, the UAV is directed to the target. In addition, the Russian drone – kamikaze is able to operate independently, without the involvement of an operator – it flies to the target according to coordinates that have been pre-installed in memory. And this type of waiting-flying ammunition made by the Russian company Zala Aero also has a very “top notch” feature – that is the ability to stealth. It is completely understandable that they are made of composite materials, – an almost imperative requirement today. But at the same time, “Kub” ‘s body was shaped like a bird. And it moves in the air like a bird, except without flapping its wings. But there is a special mode that simulates the flight path of the birds. The “Lancet” has a more complex aerodynamic configuration – a vertically double fuselage with two pairs of X-shaped wings. At the same time, according to the design engineers, the drone is nearly “flying in silence. ”(Make no noise). They have different flight patterns. Can fly to the target at an altitude of 3-4 meters, and follow the terrain folds. They can also attack targets from a height of 4.5 km. This method is used when attacking a tank in the least protected top view. Unlike Turkish kamikaze, Russian drones are capable of attacking mobile targets. In addition, the designers “Kub” and “Lancet” asserted that such a stand-by bullet attack would be much cheaper than using a self-propelled howitzer. Therefore, there is a bright prospect for large-scale production of kamikaze drones to use them for mass attacks on enemy battlefields. The “ZALA Lancet” suicide drone of the “Kalashnikov” Group (Photo: Marina Lystseva / TASS) With such a spirit, it is advisable to pay attention to a comment of the US newspaper Washington Post – a newspaper with very “enthusiastic” responses to the drones – kamikaze of the Russian “Kalashnikov” Group. on display at the IDEX-2019 international weapons exhibition. This American newspaper suddenly announced that this was truly a revolution in the world of weapons, and the Russian drones presented at the show were, in fact, “a rifle. attack the modern Kalashnikov (AK) “. The strange thing is that both the US and Israel have suicide drones, at least not worse than Russian suicide drones. However, the Americans were convinced by the low cost and simplicity of use of the Russian “Kalashnikov” product. Knowing how, we won’t argue with them on this topic. Le Hung- Nguyen Hoang (Translate)

According to Antonio Belloni, CEO of blockchain technology LVMH will provide an encrypted certificate to help users feel secure about their transactions. Louis Vuitton will use blockchain to combat counterfeiting. Photo: SCMP. Given the complex structure of the blockchain, these certificates cannot be hacked or modified by outside sources. The counterfeiting situation has caused billions of dollars in losses for the big fashion brands. According to the company Frontier Economics , the total transaction value of counterfeit goods reached 991 billion USD in 2022, double the level in 2013. This includes counterfeits in the luxury goods, consumer goods and medicine sectors. Jewelry brand Cartier tested the technology for its product return policy. Customers only need to capture the status of the product before exchange and upload it to the blockchain system to prove that the product they sent to the company has not been swapped or damaged. “A simple model but helps to strengthen the trust between us and the customer,” said Cyrille Vigneron, CEO of Cartier. He also said that auctions should also use the same technology for items with great value. Blockchain technology is being used by fashion brands. Photo: icontechnic. According to Belloni, the blockchain model should be set as the industry-wide standard. Aura Blockchain, the main platform of the project, has contacted many other luxury brands. Subsidiaries of LVMH such as Louis Vuitton, Bulgari, and Hublot have started experimenting with blockchain technology. The next candidate to be tested is most likely the jewelry brand Tiffany, also a member of the group. “Trust is at the core of this industry, and we will do our best to preserve it,” says Belloni. In addition, customers can also sell used brands more easily and transparently thanks to the benefits of blockchain.

Uran-9 combat robot is 5.12m long, 2.53m wide, 2.5m high, with a total combat weight of 12 tons, is the most typical heavy fighting robot among many ground combat robots of the Russian army . Russian Uran-9 combat robot. Source: people.com.cn. The robot is equipped with various sensor modules including laser sensor, photoelectric sensor and thermal image sensor. It is capable of automatic target recognition and tracking. It can detect and track targets to a range of 3,000 meters and maneuver in either remote or automatic mode. The maximum road maneuver speed is 35 km / h and the continuous combat time is 6 hours. The robot is equipped with 1 30mm 2A72 cannon, 4 9M120 Ataka anti-tank guided missile launchers, or 6 RPO Shmel 93mm thermo-missile launchers and 1 PKT / PKTM machine gun. At the same time, the robot can also carry 9K38 surface-to-air missiles, 9K333 mobile air defense missiles and 9M133M anti-tank missiles depending on mission requirements. It can be said that robots can create “fatal” attacks against armored targets, low-range targets and infantry forces. Looking at the development and application of weapons and smart equipment of the Russian Army, it can be seen that Russia has embarked on a path of developing military equipment integrating artificial intelligence different from the West. . Especially from the development and application of the Uran-9 combat robot, three characteristics can be seen in the intelligent military development of the Russian Army. The first is to focus on the real warfare of smart technology. Compared with the West’s search for advanced intelligent technologies, the Russian Army places more emphasis on improving its practical combat capabilities. For example, the Uran-9 combat robot is strong enough to take on an armored infantry team. Heavy armored vehicles can cope with attacks from general infantry weapons and crawler chassis can adapt to complex terrain such as hills and mountains. Especially in the actual combat test in Syria, the Uran-9 combat robot has shown a high level of attack, defense and maneuverability, which can meet the actual combat needs of the ground forces. Russian troops in such missions as fire suppression, fire suppression and infiltration of enemy front lines. In general, the results achieved by the Uran-9 combat robot are due to a design philosophy that meets the practical combat needs. Second, improve the level of intelligence based on the advantages of motorized equipment. The Russian military has always had a strongly mechanized armed force, but its intelligence still has a certain distance from the West. To quickly close this gap, the Russian Army has chosen to push the development of intelligent military equipment in the direction of modularization. The Uranus-9 combat robot’s armor, weapons and chassis are the products of the era of mechanization, while sensors, fire control systems and automated algorithms are products of the age of intelligence. . Through the combination of these two methods, Russian combat robots can quickly adapt to the battlefield in the future. Based on this method of combining traditional equipment with this advanced technology, the Russian military is developing smarter weapons and equipment. Third, to address the shortcomings of conventional forces to develop intelligent weapons and equipment. Under Western containment, it was difficult for the Russian Army to develop conventional weapons and equipment on a large scale and expand its military might. In the face of NATO’s increasingly intense military pressure, Russia needed to compensate for the shortcomings of conventional military might in a manner consistent with its economic requirements. In terms of military might, the newly formed Uran-9 combat robot unit can be said to fulfill this requirement completely. Compared to the involvement of an armored infantry army, the military costs and the risk of the robot unit’s casualties are much lower on the battlefield, which is one of the key reasons why the Russian Army plans to increase. The proportion of unmanned weapons and equipment in the military by 2025 is 30%.

However, progress in military science has not stopped, in order to reduce the casualties to soldiers on the battlefield, some countries are experimenting with new forms of combat with the creation and use of systems. automatic robot. In terms of strength, they have the ability to replace a mechanized company. Russia is also not lagging behind the general trend. At present, Russia owns a number of robot combinations of different classes: Platform-M and Nerekhta weigh only 1 ton, Companion weighs 7 tons and finally heavy vehicles remotely controlled. 15 tons of Vikhr, built on the basis of the BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicle. Field tests have shown that the most successful option is the Uran midsize robot program, which aims to shape the appearance of a versatile and inexpensive multi-functional platform that can be easily modified for create final dedicated versions on that basis. Unfortunately, during the mission deployment in Syria, the Uran-9 robot and the Uran-6 revealed many shortcomings, leading to the need for corrections. Until 2019, the only real result of the program was that the Uran-6 remote bomb clearance vehicle was received by the Russian engineer force. The Uran-9 combat robot begins to return to the active part of the Russian Army Then came the modernized Uran-9 infantry escort robot platform, the first version of which was briefly tested in Syria. Today this combat vehicle is equipped with a 30 mm automatic cannon, 4 Ataka anti-tank missiles and six Shmel-M thermo-missile launchers. The Uran-9 robot complex is capable of destroying any armored vehicle at a distance of up to 5 km, as well as handling reconnaissance missions, suppressing enemy laser navigation systems and smoke curtain settings. The Russian army has begun to set up an experienced unit equipped with the aforementioned robot complex. According to the current plan, after the completion of the production of the order and the training of the operator, the handover of the Uran-9 to the combat units will begin. After the above process, it is likely that the Uran-9 robot will return to the Syrian battlefield to re-evaluate the shortcomings that caused it to be “disgraced” that has been completely overcome or not.

Armored tank force of the Polish army – illustrations documentary.

On April 16, Russian media reported that a Polish army-level officer announced Russia’s “plan of aggression” against European countries.

The Topwar site said this was “another attack on Russia from Poland”. Earlier, a series of media in Ukraine had reported that the Polish army accused the Russian army of “aggression” that Moscow was “a threat” to a safe and stable Europe.

“The West’s hysteria over the maneuvering of Russian troops, believed to be on the Ukrainian border, has yet to stop.

The Commander of the Operations Command of the Polish Armed Forces, General Tomasz Piotrowski, has been involved in accusing Russia of “aggression”.

Mr. Tomasz Piotrowski was the one who announced Moscow’s “aggression plans” concerning Europe “safe” and promised to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces “- Topwar wrote.

According to the Ukrainian press, General Tomasz Piotrowski made such a promise in a telephone conversation with the Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Unification Force, Sergei Naev.

Polish army – documentary photo.

During the phone call, the Ukrainian general informed the Polish side of the current situation at the border with Russia, and also talked about the measures taken by the Ukrainian Armed Forces to “not allow the Russian army to enter. to be European ”.

According to the Ukrainian commanding officer, Kiev is considering a number of options for the development of the situation and has been fully prepared to “contain the enemy.”

In response, Polish General Tomasz Piotrowski expressed his support as well as the Minister of Defense and the President of Poland for Kiev. Mr. Tomasz Piotrowski promised to continue assisting Ukraine on the path of joining NATO.

Earlier, according to Topwar, many people may have expressed support for Kiev over the background of the “Russian threat”.

But, all was just words, for no one would fight for Ukraine, not Poland “against Russia”, nor the “free republics” of the Baltic states, nor the United States. together with NATO will directly do as promised.

“Yes, you can do it at least ten times a day. Poland can also supply weapons. But no one has the desire to send his army to the Donbass battlefield “- the Russian newspaper sarcasm.

During the development process, the defense industry in many countries around the world has produced many different types of weapons. They were particularly interested in the idea of ​​installing a powerful weapon on a light-wheeled armored chassis. This weapon is called a wheeled tank.

As a result of all the design effort intensified only in the second half of the 20th century, the wheeled tanks were practically created that were not inferior to the classic main tank on the engine. crawler department.

So what are the advantages and disadvantages of the above combat vehicles? The first issue to mention is that the wheeled tanks are relatively light and this simplifies the transport of equipment to the battlefield.

The mass of a light wheeled tank, even with additional armor plates, does not exceed 20-25 tons, much less than any other main tank. Therefore it is much easier to deploy wheeled tanks with heavy weapons.

The ability to deploy wheeled tanks by military transport aircraft is one of the main reasons why this vehicle is used, developed and served by many armies around the world.

In modern armed conflicts it was necessary to quickly bring equipment to a conflict zone and the military came to a sensible decision: light armored vehicles such as armored vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles and Wheeled tanks will be brought to the battlefield first.

Furthermore tanks and self-propelled artillery units can be moved to the battle site. As a result, armored vehicles, including wheeled tanks, are assigned the function of a highly mobile combat unit to support ground forces.

Not only that, the wheeled tank possesses a higher travel speed than the crawler tank, which gives the advantage of maneuverability and maneuverability, much less harm to the road surface.

The downside of the wheeled tank, though, is its poor off-roading capabilities. Such vehicles travel very quickly on asphalt and dirt roads, but on rough terrain they immediately lose to a track armored vehicle.

Another downside is the poor degree of self-protection. The wheeled tank is light, mainly because the armor is thin and weak, which means both advantages and disadvantages.

Wheeled tanks cannot be used in combat like the MBT, they are also unsuitable against the MBT, it is better suited to destroy light armored vehicles.

This combat vehicle is more suitable for areas not planning to use tanks on rough terrain and large-scale military operations are not carried out, it is more suitable for urban combat.

In real world use of the wheeled tank, its downsides were noted – the wheelbase did not turn out to have any particular advantage over a crawler vehicle.

In addition, the maximum speed advantage cannot be determined due to the lack of good roads, and when used on off-road, much worse off-roading is evident. In addition, tire wear while driving on complex terrain is much higher than expected.

Based on the advantages and disadvantages described above, it is easy to see that the tire tank cannot completely replace the MBT, as it lags far behind in some basic characteristics.

What the future of a wheeled tank will be, of course it will continue to evolve and improvements could go the way of enhancing protection, while maintaining a sufficiently light combat weight.

And of course, the reality of modern military conflicts will play a big role in shaping the look of a future wheeled tank.

At the press conference, comrade Pham Thanh Ha announced the President’s Order on the announcement of the Law on Drug Prevention and Combat. Senior Lieutenant General Le Quy Vuong introduced the basic contents of the Law on Drug Prevention and Combat.

The law consists of 8 chapters and 55 articles, specifying drug prevention policies, which emphasize “giving priority to drug prevention and control resources for ethnic minorities and mountainous, remote and isolated areas. islands, border areas and drug-complex areas ”,“ officers and soldiers of agencies specialized in drug-related crime prevention and control, drug addicts in drug treatment facilities Public drug addicts are entitled to preferential regimes and policies suitable to the nature of their tasks and areas of operation according to the Government’s regulations ”.

Deputy Minister Le Quy Vuong introduced the basic contents of the Law on Drug Prevention and Control

Additional regulations on a number of prohibited acts such as “illegal research, testing and verification of narcotic substances, precursors, addictive drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursors, medicinal ingredients that are narcotic substances. , psychotropic substances, drug precursors, veterinary drugs that contain narcotic substances or precursors “,” oppose or obstruct drug testing in the body, determine drug addiction status, manage Illegal drug users, drug addiction treatment, post-detoxification management “,” instruction for production, illegal use of drugs, marketing of narcotics “,” discrimination against users illegal drugs, drug addicts, drug addicts “.

The Law specifies the responsibilities of agencies, organizations, individuals, families and communities in drug prevention and fight; specifying agencies in charge of drug-related crime prevention and combat and principles of coordination of agencies specialized in drug-related crime prevention and control.

Additional Law regulates control of drug precursors, medicinal ingredients that are narcotic active ingredients, psychotropic active ingredients, drug precursors, and veterinary drugs containing narcotic substances or precursors; additional control over activities of temporary import for re-export, temporary export for re-import of narcotic substances, precursors, narcotic drugs, psychotropic drugs, precursors, medicinal ingredients that are narcotic active ingredients, or pharmaceuticals psychotropic substances, drug precursors and veterinary drugs that contain narcotic substances and precursors to enhance the management of legal drug-related activities, contributing to improving the capacity to detect and prevent crime of illegal production of narcotics.

The management of illegal users of narcotics is a new provision of the Law compared to the 2000 Law on Drug Prevention and Control, amended and supplemented in 2008. The Law has specified specific cases of drug testing in muscle. (Article 22) for the authorities to have an objective basis to determine the person committing illegal drug use and to monitor the person who has the illegal use of narcotics.

Illegal drug users are listed and managed, monitored and supported right from the first detection of illegal drug use and this is not a measure to handle administrative violations. (Article 23).

The law specifies cases of drug addiction identification in order to facilitate the classification and management of subjects and the application of appropriate management and detoxification measures (Article 27). The detoxification measures include: voluntary drug addiction treatment is carried out in families, communities or at drug addiction establishments; Compulsory drug addiction treatment is done at public drug addiction establishments. The law does not prescribe compulsory detoxification measures in the community.

Drug addicts aged 18 years or older who do not register, do not conduct or voluntarily terminate voluntary drug addiction, treat addiction to opioid substances with substitute drugs; continuing to illegally use narcotics during voluntary drug detoxification, terminating treatment of opioid addiction with substitution drugs due to violation of regulations on addiction treatment; during post-drug detoxification and relapse management, apply administrative handling measures to sending to compulsory detoxification establishments (Article 32).

The law specifies the preparation of dossiers of application for consignment to compulsory detoxification establishments for drug addicts aged between full 12 years and under 18 years (Article 34), specifying the subjects and the later management duration. detoxification at residence (Article 40) and no regulations on post-detoxification management at detoxification establishments; regulations on drug addiction treatment for Vietnamese expelled by foreign countries for illegal use of narcotics or drug addiction; foreign drug addicts living in Vietnam (Article 37).

The law takes effect from January 1, 2022.