Latest news with #ICS
Time Business News
5 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Security Services California Handle Emergency Protocols
Unforeseen crises like fireouts, natural calamities, or security alerts require fast, systematic reactions. For many businesses, residential complexes, and public institutions in California, it is not a matter of choice to outsource these important tasks to trained professionals. The process of emergency evacuation should be quick, secure, and practiced to avoid injuries and pandemonium. The reaction of trained people in a pressurized situation can give confidence to the clients who have engaged Security Services California. Structured evacuations save lives and property. Information about how security personnel are trained and their collaboration with the emergency services may allow you to make better-informed decisions about protection schemes. Emergency protocols begin long before an actual threat occurs. Security teams conduct elaborate testing to test the fire exits, possible bottlenecks, crowd control areas, and vulnerable persons. These observations are the foundation of tailor-made evacuation plans, which are in accordance with local and federal safety codes. At Security Services California, planning is not undertaken once. It is a continuous process that is updated when there is a structural change, a report on an incident, or a policy change. Aligning with the building management and frequent interaction with the local emergency services are of considerable importance when devising a foolproof system design. The best protocol can be as expensive as the individuals using it. In their regular training sessions, security teams prepare to act in various situations: earthquakes, active shooter situations, bomb threats, or hazardous material releases. These classes are not just theoretical; an important part of them is practical skills, like finding the exits in the shortest possible time, communicating while being restrained, and assisting people at risk of evacuation. The drills comprise the essence of Security Services California's dependability. They replicate real-life emergencies and enable the personnel to determine vulnerable areas in their response times or procedures. The residents, employees, or tenants usually take part, and they become familiar with emergency procedures, eliminating panic in case of a real incident. Evacuations demand instant decisions. Security professionals communicate via radios, mobile applications, and internal systems, which keep them updated in real time. These channels enable communication not only amongst guards but also amongst fire departments, police, and emergency medical services. Most of the groups in Security Services California have been taught emergency communications standards, such as the Incident Command System (ICS), which unifies language and chain of command during emergencies. This eradicates any confusion that may occur in multi-agency responses and provides faster resolutions. During emergencies, large groups may panic. Special crowd control techniques are needed to contain the chaos and move people towards safe exits. Teams are trained to remain calm by using direct verbal orders, visual cues, and body placement. They also learn to identify and provide additional support to the people who might need it: children, older adults, or people with physical or mental disabilities. The Security Services California professionals will wear emergency vests, glow batons, and portable megaphones to enhance visibility and communication during evacuations. Where building occupants speak different languages, multilingual staff or universally understandable signage can ensure that everyone gets the same clear direction. Security firms don't operate in isolation. Good relations with fire marshals, paramedics, and police departments can secure a better and quicker response. When an evacuation alert is activated, the relevant authorities are contacted straight away. Security officers can play the role of the emergency responders' eyes and ears prior to their arrival on the scene. When examining reputable security services companies in California, they often conduct joint training exercises with city services. This approach enables all parties to become familiar with each other's systems and expectations. Such collaboration minimizes response time and prevents procedural contradictions in situations that depend on timely action. Alarms and exits are not the only elements of safety during emergencies. Safety is about preparation, coordination, and adaptability. The specialists who manage these procedures are not merely prepared for the unlikely—they are the key to reducing its effects. Residents and business entities who engage skilled Security Services California teams embrace order, reinforcement, and tranquility. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Geopolitical upheaval tops new shipping concerns survey
For the second year in a row, political instability remains at the forefront of maritime concerns, a reflection of the geopolitical tremors resonating through the globe, according to a new industry survey. The 2024-2025 Maritime Barometer Report released by the International Chamber of Shipping paints a stark picture: with over 70 national elections impacting half the world's population in 2024, the repercussions for maritime operations are profound. As the survey indicates, maritime leaders consistently rank political instability as the top risk, driven by the persistent winds of global conflict and economic upheaval. Emanuele Grimaldi, ICS Chairman, who also heads his family's namesake shipping empire, underscores the gravity of the situation. 'This geopolitical instability is reshaping our operating environments, creating cautious and uncertain commercial landscapes,' Grimaldi said in a preface to the sentiment is echoed across the industry, where a lack of confidence in handling political volatility continues to plague decision-makers, as highlighted by contrasting polls showcasing a drop in industry confidence. Contributing to this volatility are significant policy shifts, particularly from the United States. Recent tariffs and trade investigations exacerbate existing tensions, complicating the global supply chain and challenging the shipping sector's adaptability. The complexity of these dynamics is not lost on maritime executives, who are increasingly turning to Trade Disruption Insurance (TDI) to mitigate uncertain trade outcomes, reflecting a pragmatic yet cautious approach to an unpredictable political concerns, cyber-attacks have consolidated their place as a critical threat. The digital backbone of maritime operations is under siege, with state-sponsored entities increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has voiced 'grave concern,' alongside warnings from the U.S. Government Accountability Office about urgent cybersecurity vulnerabilities. ICS survey data corroborates these apprehensions, ranking cyber-attacks as the second-highest risk. Allianz's 2025 Risk Barometer further cements this position, portraying a landscape rife with cyber-crime and IT network disruptions. For maritime leaders, fortifying digital infrastructures and nurturing a culture of cybersecurity awareness across all levels of the workforce is not just prudent, it's essential. An increasing administrative burden looms large as one of the top risks identified in this year's report. This escalation is attributed to a swirl of regulatory changes that shipowners must navigate. From European Union emissions trading schemes to IMO carbon intensity indicators, the regulatory landscape is dense and unyielding. Although there is a noted dip in confidence, there's also a recognition among maritime stakeholders of the critical need to streamline compliance processes. At the same time, barriers to trade continue to loom, intertwined with political and regulatory complexities. The dual pressures of protectionist policies and shifting trade alliances are forcing maritime leaders to reevaluate strategies and fortify supply chains against emerging disruptions. These barriers, though not new, have gained renewed relevance in the face of potential trade wars and economic nationalism — challenges the maritime industry must adeptly the industry stands on the precipice of a green transformation, decarbonization efforts are gaining momentum, albeit cautiously. The report highlights a commitment to sustainability, with maritime leaders expressing mixed sentiments towards the viability of alternative fuels. While liquefied natural gas (LNG), heavy fuel oil (HFO) with abatement technology, and biofuels emerge as frontrunners, alternative solutions such as methanol and ammonia are gradually gaining ground. The ICS findings reveal a precarious balance between the allure of tried-and-tested fuel options and the promise of innovative green technologies. Methanol and ammonia offer enticing possibilities, yet concerns over infrastructure and safety remain hurdles to their widespread adoption. Nonetheless, shifts toward cleaner fuels signal a promising trajectory, albeit one contingent on sustained regulatory support and financial investment. Climate concerns remain a constant undercurrent in maritime planning, woven deeply into the industry's decision-making process. While leaders acknowledge the sector's environmental impact, tapping into sustainable practices presents a combination of challenges and opportunities. The ICS survey delineates a hopeful yet guarded stance: that confidence towards handling green regulations is growing, even as the specter of mixed public funding damps some enthusiasm. Technological advances and regulatory progress at forums like the IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee offer glimmers of optimism. Likewise, greater collaboration between public and private sectors could galvanize the needed leap toward sustainable maritime practices, echoing the sentiments of many surveyed industry stakeholders. The report delivers a holistic portrayal of an industry poised at a crossroads. Political instability, cyber threats, regulatory pressures, and the drive for sustainability converge to present both formidable challenges and unprecedented opportunities for change. Industry collaboration and a collective push for resilient frameworks are more vital than ever, shaping the course for a maritime future that is greener, safer, and more adaptable to an ever-changing world ecosystem. Said Grimaldi, 'Above all, collaboration and communication are key.' Find more articles by Stuart Chirls peak coming as trans-Pacific container rates double Retailers see cargo surge coming WATCH: Four crew missing after container ship explosion off coast of India Trac Intermodal preps 200K chassis for China container surge The post Geopolitical upheaval tops new shipping concerns survey appeared first on FreightWaves.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Changes coming to law enforcement training in Ohio
(WKBN) — Ohio will soon usher in what Attorney General Dave Yost calls 'the most comprehensive overhaul of law enforcement training in decades.' Beginning in July, training academies will start teaching an updated curriculum that prioritizes modern-day policing issues. 'We're giving Ohio's peace officers what they need to do their job — real-world tools and the training to handle the toughest calls,' said Yost, whose office encompasses the standards-setting Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission (OPOTC). 'This isn't just reform — it's a significant investment in the future of policing in Ohio.' Effective July 1, academies will introduce the updated curriculum that is mandatory by Jan. 1, 2026. The changes reflect the task force's vision for a modernized, skills-based officer training program, according to Yost. Incoming cadets to any Peace Officer Basic Training academy will now see 72 hours of outdated curriculum replaced with practical, high-stakes training tailored to today's law enforcement environment, including new courses on active shooters and threat response, critical decision-making, crisis mitigation and de-escalation, communications and mediation, and incident debriefs. Courses removed or reclassified (72 hours total): Blue Courage (16 hours): Post-graduation offering First Aid, CPR, AED (8 hours): Online prerequisite ICS/NIMS (8 hours): Online prerequisite NHTSA Speed Measuring Device (40 hours): Post-graduation elective New training topics (72 hours total): Basic & Interpersonal Communications & Mediation: 44 hours Incident Debrief Training: 4 hours Active Shooter/Threat Response + Duty to Render Aid: 8 hours ICAT (Critical Decision-Making, Tactical Breathing, Crisis Mitigation, De-escalation): 16 hours On a related matter, the task force — recognizing the urgent need to support law enforcement recruitment — introduced a modified graduation fitness standard that was implemented after OPOTC approved it in May of 2024. Although entry-level standards remain unchanged, cadets are eligible to graduate if they pass two of the three fitness test components (sit-ups, push-ups, 1.5-mile run), as long as they meet at least 75% of expected progress in the third component. In the year since this change, 91 additional cadets have graduated — officers who would have been disqualified under the previous standard — strengthening Ohio's law enforcement presence at a critical time. 'Updating Ohio's standards ensures we align with today's job demands—allowing us to strengthen the force, better reflect our communities, and increase the number of qualified officers on the streets without compromising integrity or readiness,' Yost said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Irish Examiner
06-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Cork mother undergoing bowel cancer treatment to bring Nathan Carter to City Hall for charity gig
Natasha O'Byrne, a Cork mum of two, was diagnosed with bowel cancer last November. The 25-year-old is still undergoing chemotherapy. She began to feel unwell on July 19, 2024. 'I know the date exactly because the All-Ireland final was a couple of days later, and I couldn't go. I had gotten pains in my chest; I thought I was having a heart attack. 'My GP put it down to gallstones and referred me for a colonoscopy. I was waiting and waiting for the appointment to come, and by October, the pains had gotten so bad I ended up having to call an ambulance.' Once O'Byrne was admitted to hospital, a doctor diagnosed her with pancreatitis. Over the next few days, she underwent a number of tests: An ultrasound, an MRCP, an MRI of the pancreas, and a CT scan. During the tests, her doctor noticed some enlarged lymph nodes in her abdomen and requested a biopsy to check for lymphoma. He also saw some polyps in her bowel. 'He said just to be on the safe side, he wanted to do the two biopsies. On the 11th of the 11th, which I would consider a lucky number, I wasn't so fortunate,' she says. 'The results of the biopsies showed it was not lymphoma. It was actually bowel cancer.' It is unusual for younger people to be diagnosed with bowel cancer, explains Amy Nolan, director of clinical affairs at the Irish Cancer Society (ICS). The HSE currently runs a bowel cancer screening programme for people aged between 59 and 70. Natasha O'Byrne with her four year old son Max. The mother of two is currently undergoing treatment for bowel cancer and has launched a fundraiser in aid of the Irish Cancer Society. Picture: Chani Anderson. It's a simple test that Nolan says could be the key to identifying bowel cancer at an early stage, which significantly improves a person's outcome. 'People get the test in the post, they just have to take a little bit of their poo and add it to the vial, send it back, and that's the test,' says Nolan. 'If anything is worrying in that sample, they will be contacted.' According to the ICS, bowel cancer is the second most common cancer among men and the third most common among women, with around 2,500 new cases in Ireland each year. Even though it's less common for younger people to be diagnosed with bowel cancer — about one in 10 diagnoses are in people under 50 — it's occurring more frequently now, says Nolan. To that end, the charity has recently launched a collaboration with Trinity St James's Cancer Institute to provide a young-onset programme for people with gastrointestinal cancers. The pilot programme — a first in Europe — offers wraparound supports, including sexual health and fertility; how to live beyond your cancer diagnosis; and a dedicated medical social worker who helps people deal with the practicalities of a cancer diagnosis, such as managing at home with young families. O'Byrne is the third generation in her family to be diagnosed with cancer: Her grandmother had breast cancer, and her mother had lung cancer. The realisation that she too had the disease was a traumatic experience: 'That was the first day I met my oncologist, and he's been amazing ever since. He didn't go into too much detail that first day, because it was just so traumatic getting that information. He did say I needed to begin chemotherapy as soon as possible so that they could attack the cancer as quickly as they could.' Natasha O'Byrne: "It's OK to sit and deal with the negative, too, but in small doses. I learned in counselling to make sure I'm not diverting my attention away from the negative completely, but equally, you're dealing with it in a healthy manner." Picture: Chani Anderson. With time of the essence, she did not opt to freeze her eggs, 'which would typically be offered to people of my age'. Luckily for O'Byrne, she already had two children: Emilija, aged six, and Max, aged five: 'I had to wait a month for chemo, but it would have been two months if I were to freeze my eggs. "I wanted to get the chemo started, because in two months, you don't know how much it would progress. So my thought was I already have a family, and looking at my kids, they're all I ever wanted.' She started chemotherapy on December 6, 2024. Since then, she's been having chemotherapy every second Friday: 'Thankfully, my tumour has now shrunk significantly according to my latest scan, but I'm on continuous chemo for now and we'll see what the next couple of scans bring.' She says she has a lot more energy than she had in the months before her diagnosis, when she says she was 'a shell of myself'. The diagnosis has understandably been difficult to come to terms with, but O'Byrne is determined to remain open-hearted: 'For myself, my own mental health, my kids, I focus more on the positives. It doesn't mean blocking out the negative, though. "It's OK to sit and deal with the negative, too, but in small doses. I learned in counselling to make sure I'm not diverting my attention away from the negative completely, but equally, you're dealing with it in a healthy manner.' She is currently working on a fundraiser for the ICS. She approached country singer Nathan Carter to see if he'd be available to perform a headline show at Cork City Hall on July 30. 'He was actually going to be in Munster at that time, and was delighted to be part of it. "Between my grandmother and my mom, the ICS have been a part of our family since the early 2000s, so we're just trying to raise as much money for them as possible. "It will go toward clinical trials, night nurses for palliative care, and volunteers who transport chemotherapy patients to and from treatment. We want as many people to survive cancer as possible.'
Indian Express
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
The Census of 1931
The Centre on Wednesday announced that the much delayed Census 2021 will be held in two phases beginning October 1, 2026 and March 1, 2027. This will be the first Census since 1931 to capture granular caste data, beyond the broader classifications of Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) that have been enumerated in every post-Independence Census. Some of the debates that took place around the exercise in 1931 continue to be relevant even today. As are questions of methodology, which were discussed in detail in the 518-page report compiled by Census Commissioner John Henry Hutton. Here's a brief history. Context of the Census In 1931, British-ruled India stretched from Baluchistan (Balochistan) in the west to Burma (Myanmar) in the east. Hutton, an ICS officer and an anthropologist by training, wrote about the logistical challenges in his report: 'The taking of the decennial census in India involves the cooperation of more than one-sixth of the world's population over an area of nearly two million square miles [around 50 lakh sq km]… Enumerators' duties were often as onerous physically… [For instance] in Baluchistan the average enumerator had a block of 836 square miles [2,165 sq km]…'. The Raj also faced political challenges. The 1931 Census and preparations for it took place as civil disobedience swept across much of the country. '… [This] census like that of 1921 had the misfortune to coincide with a wave of non-cooperation, and the march of Mr Gandhi and his contrabandistas to invest the salt-pans of Dharasana synchronized with the opening of census operations,' Hutton complained. The Gandhi-Irwin Pact of March 5, 1931, which effectively ended the Civil Disobedience Movement, was signed a week after the date of enumeration on February 27. The Congress boycotted the Census, observing January 11, 1931 as 'Census Boycott Sunday'. Hutton's report, however, claimed that the boycott 'was not taken up with any real enthusiasm' on the ground except for in some cities in Gujarat like 'Ahmadabad (Ahmedabad), Broach (Bharuch) and Surat ' and a few Mumbai suburbs like 'Ghatkopar and and Villaparle (Vile Parle)'. The Congress' boycott, Hutton wrote, 'had very little ultimate effect on the taking of the census'. What did have an effect, however, was the Great Depression and the economic distress it brought. 'It was another of the misfortunes of the 1931 census that it coincided with a fall in revenue and a period of economic depression which…left me no choice but to cut expenditure as fine as possible and to goad my Census Superintendents unremittingly in an attempt to finish sooner and spend less,' Hutton wrote. The 1931 Census cost the exchequer Rs 48.76 lakh compared to roughly Rs 40 lakh spent on the Census a decade previously. Even in absolute terms — not taking inflation into account — the 1931 Census was cheaper per capita than a decade earlier, costing Rs 12.8 per thousand population compared to Rs 14 per thousand population in 1921. One way in which the Census depressed costs was by not paying the nearly 20 lakh enumerators who collected the data. These enumerators, often teachers or low-level government servants, had to collect and collate Census data in addition to other quotidian tasks. Hutton also mentioned other challenges such as the Bhils refusing to have their houses numbered on 'superstitious grounds', and of enumerators in 'less law-abiding places' getting beaten up by locals. At places, enumerators were attacked by wild animals. 'Here and there wild beasts interfered instead of wild men, and the Administrator of Bastar State when inspecting census work on the night itself, was attacked by a tiger, which sprang onto the bonnet of his car, but finding the pace and the radiator too hot for him failed to make an end either of the inspector or his inspection,' Hutton wrote. Key findings of Census The 1931 Census captured crucial demographic data about (undivided) India and its people. 🔴 It found the total population of British India (including Burma and various princely states) to be 35.05 crore, up from 31.89 crores a decade ago. This equated to a decadal population growth rate of 10.6%, much higher than in the last three cycles. (It was 2.2% in 1891-1901, 7.4% in 1901-11, and 1.2% in 1911-21.) Hutton cited significant improvements in public health (particularly a reduction of deaths from the bubonic plague, cholera, and smallpox), an absence of major epidemics and, interestingly, the 'universality of marriage' as the reason for the population growth. '… [It] is enough to point out that in India the birth rate is much higher than in Europe, largely on account of the universality of marriage, the Parsis being perhaps the only Indian community in which late marriage and small families are the rule instead of the exception,' the report noted. 🔴 The distribution of this population, however, was far from uniform. While the overall population density was 85 persons/sq km, Chagai, Baluchistan, had a density of less than 1 person/sq km, the lowest in India. All of Baluchistan had a population density of only 2.5 persons/sq km. On the other hand, Cochin State on the southwestern coast had a population density of 800 persons/sq km, the highest in the country. One particular village in the princely state had a population density 1,635 persons/sq km. Also populous was the Dhaka Division of the province of Bengal, with a population density of 375 persons/sq km. '[The] variation of density of population in India depends not on industry, as in the United Kingdom, but on agriculture, and is greatest of course in the most fertile areas,' Hutton's report said. However, 'the actual rate of increase in population [was] the greatest in the less populated and less fertile areas', it noted. This, Hutton reasoned, was due to dynamics of internal migration. 'Where, therefore, there is a population already dense, there is a clearly perceptible spread towards the less profitable land,' the report said. 🔴 Calcutta (now Kolkata), with a population of 14.85 lakh, was the most populous city in British India, followed by Bombay (Mumbai) with 11.61 lakh, Madras (Chennai) with 6.47 lakh, Hyderabad (4.66 lakh) and Delhi (4.47 lakh). Besides these, Lahore, now in Pakistan, and Rangoon (Yangon) in Burma, were the only other cities that had a population of more than 4 lakh at the time. The enumeration of castes Like in earlier censuses, the 1931 Census enumerated individual castes among the Hindu population. This exercise faced strong opposition in Punjab; even in the previous Census of 1921, a total of 20,993 Hindus — about half of them from Bahawalpur State — had declared their caste as 'unspecified' due to the influence of Arya Samaj. Hutton wrote in his report: '[It is] difficult to see why the record of a fact that actually exists should tend to stabilize that existence. It is just as easy to argue and with at least as much truth, that it is impossible to get rid of any institution by ignoring its existence like the proverbial ostrich, and indeed facts themselves demonstrate that in spite of the recognition of caste in previous decades the in institution is of itself undergoing considerable modification. Indeed the treatment of caste at the 1931 census may claim to make a definite, if minute, contribution to Indian unity.' The 1931 Census put 18 questions to respondents, the eighth of which was on 'Race, Tribe or Caste'. This question had appeared in every Census from 1872 — when the first Census was conducted — onward. Thus, in the questionnaire of 1872, the fifth of 17 questions was on 'Caste or Class'; in 1882, the last of 13 questions asked for 'Caste, if Hindu, sect, if of other religion'; in 1891, the fourth of 14 questions was on 'Caste or race-Main caste', and the fifth was on 'Sub-division of caste or race'. In the 20th century, the 1901 and 1911 censuses (16 questions each) had a question on 'Caste of Hindus & Jains, Tribe, or race of others'. In 1921, the eighth of 16 questions was 'Caste, Tribe or Race'. In the 1931 Census, 18.83 lakh people, including 60,715 Hindus, gave the response 'caste nil'; 98% of them were from Bengal. The report said that no return of caste was insisted on from Arya or Brahmo Hindus. Given challenges such as the use of different surnames for the same caste, the Census report noted 'the difficulty of getting a correct return of caste and likewise the difficulty of interpreting it for census purposes'. The Census Superintendent for Madras wrote: 'Had caste terminology the stability of religious returns, caste sorting might be worthwhile. With the fluidity of present appellations it is certainly not… Individual fancy apparently has some part in caste nomenclature.'
