Latest news with #MOD
BBC News
a day ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Russia hits Ukrainian training unit, killing and wounding servicemen
Ukraine's armed forces have confirmed a Russian missile strike hit a military training unit, causing a number of ground forces said late on Tuesday that three service personnel were known to have been killed and 18 had been military did not say where the training ground was located, although one Ukrainian war reporter, Andrei Taplienko, said it was in the Chernihiv region north of Kyiv which borders both Russia and ministry of defence released video of what it claimed was a strike by an Iskander ballistic missile in a wooded area that involved more than 20 cluster-type explosions. The video could not be immediately verified but the Russian MOD claimed that the number of Ukrainian casualties was far higher than Ukraine's military had said. There has been no further word from the military since late on Tuesday."Despite the security measures taken, unfortunately it was not possible to completely avoid losses among the personnel," Ukraine's ground forces said in a statement on social is the third Russian attack on a Ukrainian training unit in little more than two months. An Iskander missile attack on a camp in the norther border region of Sumy killed six servicemen in May and another strike killed 12 people and wounded another 60 last Ukrainian troops on exercises is particularly sensitive for the military, which said it would investigate whether the "actions or inaction of officials" had led to deaths or injuries in Tuesday evening's missile commander of ground forces Mykhailo Drapatyi resigned after last month's deadly attack, saying that the victims had been "young guys from a training battalion" and that most of them had been in shelters at the time.
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Soldier, 19, with ‘enormous potential' dies in training just three months into military career as MOD pays tribute
The young soldier's commanding officer praised him as 'the best of his generation' in a moving message TRAINING TRAGEDY Soldier, 19, with 'enormous potential' dies in training just three months into military career as MOD pays tribute Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A TEENAGE soldier has died just three months after joining the military, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced. Private Harry Johnson, 19, of the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, collapsed and died following a physical training session with his unit at Vimy Barracks, Catterick, in North Yorkshire on Thursday. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up He had joined the Army just three months ago on April 13 but had "already proven himself to have enormous potential as a soldier", the MOD said in an emotional tribute. Lieutenant Colonel Ben Jesty, Commanding Officer of Harry's battalion, said: "We are heartbroken by the loss of Pte Harry Johnson from the Infantry family. "A proud and passionate future Paratrooper he represented the best of his generation. "Although early in his career he had already shown significant potential." Harry was a member of the Bruneval Platoon, Parachute Regiment Training Company within the battalion. He previously served much of his time with 3 Platoon, B Company in the 1st Infantry Training Battalion, even being awarded Best Shot within the unit upon completion of his Basic Training in July. In his touching tribute, Lt Col Jesty added: "Tipped to be a future P Company Champion, he was the kind of young soldier that the country needs: fit, determined, disciplined and selfless. "Vitally, he had the sense of humour to laugh at the eccentricities of Army life. "He was a credit to his friends and family to whom we offer our most heartfelt condolences at this awful time." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun.
The Sun
a day ago
- General
- The Sun
Soldier, 19, with ‘enormous potential' dies in training just three months into military career as MOD pays tribute
A TEENAGE soldier has died just three months after joining the military, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced. Private Harry Johnson, 19, of the 2nd Infantry Training Battalion, collapsed and died following a physical training session with his unit at Vimy Barracks, Catterick, in North Yorkshire on Thursday. He had joined the Army just three months ago on April 13 but had "already proven himself to have enormous potential as a soldier", the MOD said in an emotional tribute. Lieutenant Colonel Ben Jesty, Commanding Officer of Harry's battalion, said: "We are heartbroken by the loss of Pte Harry Johnson from the Infantry family. "A proud and passionate future Paratrooper he represented the best of his generation. "Although early in his career he had already shown significant potential." Harry was a member of the Bruneval Platoon, Parachute Regiment Training Company within the battalion. He previously served much of his time with 3 Platoon, B Company in the 1st Infantry Training Battalion, even being awarded Best Shot within the unit upon completion of his Basic Training in July. In his touching tribute, Lt Col Jesty added: "Tipped to be a future P Company Champion, he was the kind of young soldier that the country needs: fit, determined, disciplined and selfless. "Vitally, he had the sense of humour to laugh at the eccentricities of Army life. "He was a credit to his friends and family to whom we offer our most heartfelt condolences at this awful time." More to follow... For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Like us on Facebook at and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSun. 1
New York Times
3 days ago
- New York Times
This Visual Timer Helps Me Get Things Done, Even on the Days My Brain Wants Me to Bed Rot
When I'm faced with any task that I suspect will take me longer than a few minutes to complete — folding the laundry, emptying the dishwasher, writing this very lede — I have a hard time getting started. Drumming up the motivation to propel myself into motion is often the hardest part. Rationally, I know that whatever it is I have to do won't actually take that long, but the part of my brain responsible for my executive functioning skills doesn't always get the memo. So when a deadline is looming, but beginning a task feels insurmountable, I reach for my visual timer. Compact, battery-powered, and available in pastel hues, this productivity tool can help you effectively manage your time. After I was diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, I set out to find tools that could better help me navigate the terrain of my neurodivergent brain. Visual timers offer an in-your-face representation of the passage of time, and for the past two years, I've been using the Time Timer Home MOD almost daily. It features a bold, colored disk that gradually shrinks as the minutes count down. Elissa Sanci/NYT Wirecutter Physically twisting the dial on the timer helps me shift my mindset. I find it's a lot easier to focus when I can see the time I'm wasting right in front of me. And once I do finally start a task, I usually find that whatever it is I've been putting off doesn't take me as long to complete as I thought it would. Every so often, however, the task at hand proves to be just as time-consuming or complicated as I'd suspected. In these moments, my visual timer is especially helpful; whenever I feel myself losing focus, I look to it for motivation. Whether I have five minutes or half an hour left, that visual cue is usually enough to propel me back into action. Sometimes, I even work harder to finish whatever it is I'm doing before the timer elapses. There's no thrill quite like beating the clock. Though any timer that shows a visual representation of time elapsing could work, I'm particularly fond of the Time Timer Home MOD. I first discovered it while scrolling on TikTok, and I was immediately drawn to its mid-century modern look and soft-pastel color palette. Time Timer offers several different models in a wide range of designs, colors, and sizes (all of which rely on the same intuitive visual-countdown system). I like the MOD because it has a sleek design, so it feels like a thoughtful piece of decor rather than just a utilitarian productivity tool. I also like that it's small, compact, and powered by a single AA battery (not included), so it's easy to carry from room to room while I tackle chores. And on the days I go to coffee shops or the library to write, I can bring it with me. The timer has an optional audible alarm, which I usually leave off because the shrill beep can be a bit jarring. When I was drafting this story in the library, I brought the MOD timer along to help. Elissa Sanci/NYT Wirecutter The MOD timer doesn't fix all of my problems, but it has certainly helped. When my to-do list feels overwhelming, and getting started is the hardest part, setting the timer for even five minutes is often the thing that gets me out of my head and nudges me into action. This article was edited by Megan Beauchamp and Catherine Kast. Streamline your home-office setup, get your desk organized, and find new ways to focus (noise-cancelling headphones for the win) with these picks. These notebook and notepad picks offer a satisfying writing experience with different types of pens and pencils. Of more than 20 to-do list apps we considered, Todoist is the best at adapting to your daily life instead of making you adapt to it.
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Councillor ‘reported to cops for racial hatred' after asking if homeless vets will get same support as migrants in hotel
It comes after details of a billion-pound Government cover-up were revealed ASYLUM HOTEL FURY Councillor 'reported to cops for racial hatred' after asking if homeless vets will get same support as migrants in hotel Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A COUNCILLOR who asked if homeless veterans could also be housed in migrant hotels was allegedly reported to cops for "stirring up hate". Cllr John Edwards claims he was "smeared" after he questioned Bracknell Forest Council's decision to house more than 300 Afghan migrants in four-star hotels in favour of hard-hit locals. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Cllr Edwards said his reputation had been harmed, despite his claims of a cover-up turning out to be true Credit: Conservatives 5 The Government was forced to cover up the relocation of thousands of Afghans after a major MOD email blunder Credit: AP 5 Cllr Edwards called for migrants to be treated with 'respect and dignity', but admitted he was worried for residents Credit: PA The independent councillor, who serves on Sandhurst Town Council, was reportedly put under investigation after he called for more clarity when hundreds of Afghans were placed in local hotels. He was allegedly reported by Labour councillor Cherise Welch, who accused him of "stirring up hate" after he suggested that key information was being withheld from Berkshire residents. But it has since been revealed that the Government secretly relocated thousands of Afghans to the UK following a major Ministry of Defence email blunder. Writing on his Facebook in April, Cllr Edwards called for the migrants to be treated with "respect and dignity", but admitted he was worried for the knock-on effect for desperate residents. He said: "Bracknell is resettling over 300 Afghans in a local hotel—and I don't believe residents are being told the full story. "I'm increasingly concerned that key information is either being withheld or presented in a way that makes it difficult to see how unfair this scheme is. "I want to make it clear that everyone arriving on this scheme must be treated with respect and dignity. But I also believe it's completely reasonable to ask what impact this scheme will have on our area. "If the money is there to house Afghans in a four-star hotel, why aren't any of the Labour, Lib Dem or Conservative councillors asking why this hasn't been provided for Bracknell's veterans or residents first? "As a Town Councillor, I felt compelled to look into this and speak up, because no other elected representative was." In response, Cllr Welch suggested the post was "complete nonsense", adding she had reported him to "the MOD, Council and local police". Others accused the concerned councillor of "spreading far-right propaganda" and targeting "specific ethnic groups". Speaking to the MailOnline, Cllr Edwards explained he had not been contacted by the police, but said his reputation had been harmed, despite his claims of a cover-up turning out to be true. Defence chiefs braced for £1BILLION compensation bill over Afghan data leak scandal He added: "The council has fuelled a narrative that I'm spreading hate and misinformation, despite my claims being true. "Another councillor has said publicly they have reported me to the police for stirring racial hatred. "It's stressful and potentially very harmful to my reputation. 'It's a way to smear and silence me, and it has a chilling effect which amounts to, 'disagree with the council and you will be call a racist'." He posted pictures of the interior and exterior facilities in the hotel, blurring out the background to conceal the location. But he was also accused of identifying the hotel by posting the images, which he strongly denies. Earlier this month, it emerged that almost 20,000 Afghans had been secretly relocated to the UK after a major Ministry of Defence error. The February 2022 leak was caused by a Special Forces soldier who accidentally shared a list of 18,714 people who had applied to flee to Britain in the wake of the 2021 Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The list also included names of their individual UK sponsors including SAS and MI6 spies and at least one Royal Marine Major General. The clumsy click has potential to be the most expensive data breach in history. A total of 18,714 Afghans were included on the secret list, many of whom arrived via unmarked planes which landed at Stansted airport. Although Defence Secretary John Healey has said that the cost of relocating the Afghans and their families will total £400 million, the final cost could be even higher. The information was kept a secret for 18 months through a superinjunction used by the MoD – the first time one had been used by the Government against the press. Around 100,000 were put at risk of Taliban death squads when their names or loved ones were revealed in 2022 — with the blunder then 'covered up' by the gagging order. Almost 900 Afghans on the 'kill list' email leak are ready to sue — with lawyers saying thousands more are poised to join them. Legal sources claimed victims whose lives were endangered could be entitled 'to five-figure payouts'. Councillor Welch has been approached for comment. 5 Cllr John Edwards was reported to the police for questioning the decision to house Afghans over locals Credit: Facebook / Cllr John Edwards
