Latest news with #Sceptre
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police make 180 arrests in knife crime crackdown
Officers made 180 arrests and seized 30 bladed weapons during a week-long knife crime crackdown in West Yorkshire. West Yorkshire Police conducted 55 "knife sweeps" in parks, fields and in urban centres in search of weapons as part of the national Sceptre initiative. High visibility patrols were also deployed in 66 knife crime hotspots in the county, with police visiting 43 schools to carry out awareness campaigns. A force spokesperson said the initiative was part of its "longer term work to dissuade young people from carrying knives in the first place". During the seven days of targeted action, weapons including knives and a sword were uncovered after a search of an address in Batley. Other avenues included visits to retailers to test if they were willing to sell knives to children. One shop in Calderdale was found to be selling blades without carrying out age checks. Ch Supt Lee Berry, of the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership, said: "I hope residents have been reassured by all of the highly visible action which has taken place in our communities. "Anyone who has information about persons carrying knives or the illegal sale of them is urged to contact either their local neighbourhood policing team or the independent Crimestoppers charity." Alison Lowe, West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing and crime, said: "This is a vital part of our collective ambitions on knife crime here in West Yorkshire. "This dedicated awareness week offers just a window into the ongoing partnership work taking place, day in day out, to keep our communities safe." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North 'Personal responsibility' needed to tackle knives Carrying knives 'commonplace' among teens West Yorkshire Police
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
US unveils world's first supersonic artillery shell that can hit targets 100 miles away at a blistering 2,700mph speeds
The missile is equipped with AI technology SHELL SHOCK US unveils world's first supersonic artillery shell that can hit targets 100 miles away at a blistering 2,700mph speeds Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE US has revealed the world's first supersonic artillery shell, capable of striking targets 100 miles away at speeds of a blistering 2,700mph. Tiberius Aerospace, a UK-US defence firm, unveiled the Sceptre TrBM 155HG supersonic missile at the Future Artillery Conference in London. 6 THE US has unveiled the world's first supersonic artillery shell Credit: Tiberius 6 The supersonic shell's fueling design boosts shelf life to over 20 years Credit: Tiberius 6 The missile is equipped with AI technology, GPS, and a sensor system Credit: Tiberius The technological milestone can reach speeds of Mach 3.5 and soars to an altitude of 65,000 feet. This makes it impervious to countermeasures and GPS jamming systems. It uses a ramjet engine, enabling supersonic speeds and a range of up to 150km. The missile is equipped with AI technology, GPS, and a sensor system that corrects errors in real-time. An important feature is that the Sceptre TrBM 155HG can be powered by diesel, JP-4, or JP-8 fuel. Unlike typical solid-fuel missiles, the supersonic shell's fueling design boosts shelf life to over 20 years and cuts storage risks. The Sceptre's propulsion system also reduces reliance on niche energetics, letting the defence firm source fuel from established logistics networks and strengthening the supply chain. Chad Steelberg, CEO and founder of Tiberius Aerospace, described the state-of-the-art missile as a "10X solution" in range precision, cost-effectiveness, survivability and operational adaptability. He added: "This is a weapon designed for the future battlefield: fast, precise, and resilient in a denied environment." It comes after Britain hit a major milestone in the race for hypersonic supremacy – with a powerful new missile engine tested 233 times and hailed as a game changer for UK defence. Putin develops yet another secret new hypersonic missile - this time mini-sized - in bid to outdo West, as 6,100 mph Zircon to be tested next month The new air-breathing propulsion system, designed to fire cruise missiles at speeds of over five times the speed of sound, is part of a £1billion push to build a British hypersonic weapon by 2030. The breakthrough comes as military experts warn a British version of Israel's famed Iron Dome missile shield would be "too prohibitively expensive" to protect the entire UK – leaving cities exposed to attacks from Putin's rockets. Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'We are living in a more dangerous world and it has never been more important for us to innovate and stay ahead of our adversaries, equipping our forces with the technologies of the future. 'This milestone moment on hypersonics research, supported by British scientists and British small businesses, demonstrates another crucial area where we are working in lockstep with the United States to bolster our Armed Forces and strengthen our deterrence.' The engine, developed through a joint effort between the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the US Air Force Research Laboratory, and UK industry players like Gas Dynamics Ltd, was successfully trialled at NASA's Langley Research Centre in Virginia. Over six weeks, scientists carried out 233 static tests across a range of supersonic and hypersonic speeds, analysing real-time data to tweak designs and boost performance. Paul Hollinshead, Chief Executive of Dstl, said: 'This milestone represents a critical advancement in the UK's defence capabilities and reinforces our standing in the AUKUS hypersonic weapon development collaboration. "The success of these tests highlights the UK's commitment to technological leadership and innovation in this crucial area.' What is the Iron Dome – and is it really effective? ISRAEL'S Iron Dome is a high-tech, all-weather mobile air defence system designed to intercept and destroy short-range threats like rockets, missiles, mortars and drones. The system is made up of at least 10 batteries placed strategically around the country. Each battery includes a radar detection system, a control centre to assess threats, and truck-towed launchers that fire radar-guided Tamir interceptor missiles. How does it work? The radar detects incoming projectiles and sends data to a central command that decides if the threat will hit a populated or strategic area. If it will, the system fires interceptors to destroy it mid-air – ignoring rockets headed for open spaces. Range & reach: The Iron Dome can take out targets launched from up to 43 miles away. Each launcher holds up to 20 interceptors, and the batteries together can protect nearly 60 square miles of land. Israel has worked on increasing the range to up to 155 miles and enabling the system to handle multiple threats from different directions. How effective is it? Very. Iron Dome has a reported success rate of around 90 per cent, according to its developer Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. It has intercepted thousands of rockets since its first combat use in 2011. During the 2021 conflict with Gaza, it stopped roughly 90 per cent of over 4,000 rockets fired into populated areas. In the October 2024 Iranian missile barrage, the system again proved its mettle, downing most of the 180 missiles fired. Limits under pressure: The system isn't invincible. On October 7, 2023, when Hamas fired thousands of rockets at once, it overwhelmed the system. Experts say there's a limit to how many incoming projectiles the Iron Dome can handle at once – and anything above that threshold can get through. Part of a trio: The Iron Dome is just one part of Israel's multi-layered defence network, alongside David's Sling (for medium-range missiles) and Arrow 2/3 (for long-range ballistic missiles), creating overlapping protection against a variety of aerial threats. Bottom line: Iron Dome is a battlefield game changer – incredibly effective against limited rocket fire, but not a silver bullet against massed missile barrages. 6 The Sceptre TrBM 155HG can be powered by diesel, JP-4, or JP-8 fuel Credit: Tiberius 6 It uses a ramjet engine, enabling supersonic speeds Credit: Tiberius
The Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
US unveils world's first supersonic artillery shell that can hit targets 100 miles away at a blistering 2,700mph speeds
THE US has revealed the world's first supersonic artillery shell, capable of striking targets 100 miles away at speeds of a blistering 2,700mph. Tiberius Aerospace, a UK-US defence firm, unveiled the Sceptre TrBM 155HG supersonic missile at the Future Artillery Conference in London. 6 THE US has unveiled the world's first supersonic artillery shell Credit: Tiberius 6 The supersonic shell's fueling design boosts shelf life to over 20 years Credit: Tiberius 6 The missile is equipped with AI technology, GPS, and a sensor system Credit: Tiberius The technological milestone can reach speeds of Mach 3.5 and soars to an altitude of 65,000 feet. This makes it impervious to countermeasures and GPS jamming systems. It uses a ramjet engine, enabling supersonic speeds and a range of up to 150km. The missile is equipped with AI technology, GPS, and a sensor system that corrects errors in real-time. read more on tech An important feature is that the Sceptre TrBM 155HG can be powered by diesel, JP-4, or JP-8 fuel. Unlike typical solid-fuel missiles, the supersonic shell's fueling design boosts shelf life to over 20 years and cuts storage risks. The Sceptre's propulsion system also reduces reliance on niche energetics, letting the defence firm source fuel from established logistics networks and strengthening the supply chain. Chad Steelberg, CEO and founder of Tiberius Aerospace, described the state-of-the-art missile as a "10X solution" in range precision, cost-effectiveness, survivability and operational adaptability. Most read in Tech He added: "This is a weapon designed for the future battlefield: fast, precise, and resilient in a denied environment." It comes after Britain hit a major milestone in the race for hypersonic supremacy – with a powerful new missile engine tested 233 times and hailed as a game changer for UK defence. Putin develops yet another secret new hypersonic missile - this time mini-sized - in bid to outdo West, as 6,100 mph Zircon to be tested next month The new air-breathing propulsion system, designed to fire cruise missiles at speeds of over five times the speed of sound, is part of a £1billion push to build a British hypersonic weapon by 2030. The breakthrough comes as military experts warn a British version of Defence Secretary 'This milestone moment on hypersonics research, supported by British scientists and British small businesses, demonstrates another crucial area where we are working in lockstep with the United States to bolster our Armed Forces and strengthen our deterrence.' The engine, developed through a joint effort between the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), the US Air Force Research Laboratory, and UK industry players like Gas Dynamics Ltd, was successfully trialled at NASA's Langley Research Centre in Virginia. Over six weeks, scientists carried out 233 static tests across a range of supersonic and hypersonic speeds, analysing real-time data to tweak designs and boost performance. Paul Hollinshead, Chief Executive of Dstl, said: 'This milestone represents a critical advancement in the UK's defence capabilities and reinforces our standing in the AUKUS hypersonic weapon development collaboration. "The success of these tests highlights the UK's commitment to technological leadership and innovation in this crucial area.' What is the Iron Dome – and is it really effective? ISRAEL'S Iron Dome is a high-tech, all-weather mobile air defence system designed to intercept and destroy short-range threats like rockets, missiles, mortars and drones. The system is made up of at least 10 batteries placed strategically around the country. Each battery includes a radar detection system, a control centre to assess threats, and truck-towed launchers that fire radar-guided Tamir interceptor missiles. How does it work? The radar detects incoming projectiles and sends data to a central command that decides if the threat will hit a populated or strategic area. If it will, the system fires interceptors to destroy it mid-air – ignoring rockets headed for open spaces. Range & reach: The Iron Dome can take out targets launched from up to 43 miles away . Each launcher holds up to 20 interceptors , and the batteries together can protect nearly 60 square miles of land. Israel has worked on increasing the range to up to 155 miles and enabling the system to handle multiple threats from different directions. How effective is it? Very. Iron Dome has a reported success rate of around 90 per cent, according to its developer Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. It has intercepted thousands of rockets since its first combat use in 2011. During the 2021 conflict with Gaza, it stopped roughly 90 per cent of over 4,000 rockets fired into populated areas. In the October 2024 Iranian missile barrage, the system again proved its mettle, downing most of the 180 missiles fired. Limits under pressure: The system isn't invincible. On October 7, 2023, when Hamas fired thousands of rockets at once, it overwhelmed the system. Experts say there's a limit to how many incoming projectiles the Iron Dome can handle at once – and anything above that threshold can get through. Part of a trio: The Iron Dome is just one part of Israel's multi-layered defence network, alongside David's Sling (for medium-range missiles) and Arrow 2/3 (for long-range ballistic missiles), creating overlapping protection against a variety of aerial threats. Bottom line: Iron Dome is a battlefield game changer – incredibly effective against limited rocket fire, but not a silver bullet against massed missile barrages. 6 The Sceptre TrBM 155HG can be powered by diesel, JP-4, or JP-8 fuel Credit: Tiberius 6 It uses a ramjet engine, enabling supersonic speeds Credit: Tiberius 6 Chad Steelberg, CEO and founder of Tiberius Aerospace, described the state-of-the-art missile as a '10X solution' Credit: Tiberius
South Wales Argus
19-05-2025
- South Wales Argus
Force will be carrying out weapon sweeps in Newport area
The initiative is part of Sceptre, the national awareness week. Throughout the week officers will be carrying out warrants, searches and weapon sweeps, along with sharing crime prevention advice in schools and the wider community and knife amnesty bins. PS Phill Jones, leading Gwent's Sceptre operation, said: 'While policing plays a big role in reducing knife crime, other interventions with partners such as educational work in schools, knife amnesties, encouraging and enforcing the legal and responsible sale of knives, are vital to the approach. 'Carrying a knife doesn't protect you. In fact, they can make a situation worse and while the reality is that very few people carry knives, we urge you to report if someone you know is carrying a knife. It could save someone's life. 'You can report it to the police, speak to a trusted family member or teacher, or you can report it anonymously to Crimestoppers.' Knife amnesty bins have been set up at five police stations in Gwent, allowing people to safely, and anonymously, dispose of dangerous knives and blades. The bins will be at the following stations and accessible during these times: Newport Central: 8am - 6pm Monmouth: 9am - 1pm and 2pm – 4pm Blackwood: 9am - 1pm and 2pm – 4pm Ebbw Vale: 9am - 1pm and 2pm – 4pm Cwmbran: 9am - 1pm and 2pm – 4pm. People looking to deposit knives at these surrender bins are asked to store them securely when transporting them and then package the blade prior to placing them in the bins so they can be removed safely.
The Guardian
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Kaliane Bradley: ‘I dreaded the book going to people I know'
Kaliane Bradley, 36, lives in east London and works as an editor at Penguin Classics. Her debut novel, The Ministry of Time (Sceptre), was published last year to critical acclaim and a place in the bestseller charts and is out in paperback now. It's a vivid time travel tale following Lieutenant Graham Gore, a crew member of Franklin's lost 1845 Arctic expedition, who is brought back to life in the 21st century as part of a government experiment. He develops an unlikely relationship with his 'bridge', a contemporary character helping him assimilate to the modern world. It was longlisted for the 2025 women's prize for fiction and the BBC has commissioned a TV adaptation. What has the past year been like for you?Lovely and discombobulating. I veer wildly between immense gratitude and intense impostor syndrome. But I'm still working 4.5 days a week, so I'm grounded by my job. How did The Ministry of Time come about?In 2021 I started watching a TV series called The Terror. I didn't know anything about polar exploration but – because this was during lockdown, and I was just roving around the house – I started thinking a lot about the Franklin expedition. I looked up one of the characters, Graham Gore. Then I came across a very sweet community of people online, some of whom were fans of the show and others who were more generally interested in polar exploration. They shared a lot of their research with me. I started writing what would become The Ministry of Time as a kind of gift for them. What drew you to Graham Gore?I do think the photo of him that's published in the book is great. He's dashing, frankly. Many people disagree – I simply cannot say why the Americans took the photo out of the book. But also, when I read about him, it suggested he was a very competent, kind, calm man. And I'm not a calm person at all. That really appealed to me. What modern invention was most fun to describe to someone from a different time?Spotify. It's mad that for most of human history, music was something you had to make together. And now you can just play music endlessly by yourself. And you don't even have to treat it as something to respect. You can play some of the greatest symphonies in history while you're doing the washing up. That's just stupid. The book's narrator, 'the bridge', is British-Cambodian, and you use time travel as a metaphor for the immigrant experience. How did that come to you?It wasn't with me immediately. The story started off very playful: what would happen if we introduced this man to a washing machine? But a satisfying book is one where you take a silly conceit seriously, where you prove the emotional possibilities of it. The more I tried to imagine what it would be like for a person torn from history to experience London in the 21st century, the more it became obvious to me that what I was looking at was the refugee experience. It was probably at the forefront of my mind because the book I was trying to write before this was a 'serious' novel about Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge, my family and the diaspora. What is your relationship to your Cambodian ethnicity?It's a family relationship – a relationship with my mother and my mother's family. And I feel like there are multiple versions of Cambodia that I have relationships to. One of them is a past Cambodia that no longer exists; that's the Cambodia of my mother's stories. But the internalised sense of my ethnicity changes on a daily, hourly basis. Though I feel very strongly that I am a British-Cambodian writer at this time in my life. It's had a significant impact on the way I write. How?I was brought up Buddhist. There are frameworks that I continually refer to in my writing that come from Buddhism, such as the idea of attachment. We become attached to things that are impermanent. But they have to leave us, so we will always mourn their loss, and the only way to free ourselves from this pain and yearning is to accept the transience of life, even the transience of self. But I worry about how you apply that to human solidarity. That comes up in Ministry: the bridge is someone who continually fails to show solidarity, and moves towards complicity. You first sent out your novel to agents under a pseudonym. Why?I masochistically wanted to check that the work was good enough that it could pass without me leveraging my contacts. And there was the absolute dread that it would go to people I know and respect and they'd talk to one another and say: 'God, did you get that book? It's shit, isn't it? What do we tell her? Should she just leave the industry?' The idea of that was mortifying. Which book made you want to work with books?Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. The first one I ever picked up was Interesting Times, which is actually not one I recommend. But reading Pratchett when I was very young – I mean, I was still losing milk teeth – made me excited about the possibilities of literature, books, series, authors. He has influenced my writing more than anyone else. Is there a book you return to often?I read King Lear every five years or so. I think it's the greatest play ever written. And I always come back to Le Grand Meaulnes by Alain-Fournier. I'm drawn to that idea of yearning and loss. Which new book are you most excited about?Moderation by Elaine Castillo, which is coming out in July. It's about moderating comments on a social media platform. I think it's going to really startle people. What can you tell us about your second novel?It's about a lighthouse that occupies a border between the land of the living and the land of the dead. The person who runs the lighthouse takes on an apprentice every winter to look after the crossings, and she starts to experience very weird phenomena. There is something wrong with the border, so she has to investigate. The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is published by Sceptre (£9.99). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at Delivery charges may apply
