WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44175) on March 26, 2025, entitled "Navy Shipboard Lasers: Background and Issues for Congress" by naval affairs specialist Ronald O'Rourke. Here are excerpts: * * * Summary This report provides background information and issues for Congress on shipboard solid state lasers (SSLs) that the Navy is developing for surface-ship self-defense. The Navy's proposed FY2025 budget requests continued research and development funding for some of these efforts.  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following report (No. R44175) on March 26, 2025, entitled "Navy Shipboard Lasers - Background and Issues for Congress:" (Continued from Part 1 of 2) * * * ODIN Overview Optical Dazzler Interdictor Navy (ODIN) systems have been installed on eight Arleigh Burke (DDG-51) class destroyers. Figure 10 and Figure 11 reportedly show an ODIN system. The first ODIN installation reportedly was done on the destroyer Dewey (DDG-105) in 2019./35 The Navy's FY2025 budget submission more PR

BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 27 -- The Council of the European Union posted the following news release: * * * Belarus: EU lists further 25 individuals and 7 entities in the context of the so-called presidential election and for supporting the repressive regime of Lukashenka The Council today decided to impose restrictive measures on an additional 25 individuals and 7 entities responsible of undermining democracy and the rule of law in Belarus, as well as contributing to the ongoing internal repression, human rights abuses as well as military coo more PR

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Center for Strategic and International Studies issued the following commentary on March 27, 2025: * * * What Happened at the Trump Administration's Annual Threat Assessment Hearing? By Emily Harding and Julia Dickson Once a year, the two intelligence committees in Congress host the heads of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the National Security Agency (NSA), the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for a "worldw more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis posted the following news: * * * China Moves to Exploit Transatlantic Turmoil At the Munich Security Conference in February, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described his country as a "steadfast constructive force in a changing world." In other words, the US may change from one election cycle to the next, but China will not. Following on the heels of speeches by German President Frank Steinmeier, and the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, Wang Yi's message more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The International Monetary Fund posted the following news release: * * * IMF Executive Board Concludes 2025 Article IV Consultation with the Principality of Liechtenstein March 27, 2025 Washington, DC: The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultation [1] with Liechtenstein on March 21, 2025. After exhibiting significant volatility in 2020-23 with the pandemic and spillovers from Russia's war in Ukraine, growth has resumed, albeit at a low rate. After negative growt more PR

ARLINGTON, Virginia, March 27 [Category: National Defense] -- The Association of the U.S. Army posted the following news: * * * Institutional Army Must Adapt, Adopt Real-Time Lessons Amid the fastest transformation the Army has ever seen, the service must make sure the institutional force is moving forward alongside its fighting formations, said Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commanding general of the Army Maneuver Support Center of Excellence. Speaking on a panel during the Association of the U.S. Army's Global Force Symposium and Exposition more PR

BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 27 -- The Council of the European Union posted the following news release: * * * Joint communique - 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial Meeting 1. On 27 March 2025, the Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy ('The Participants') held their 20th European Union-Central Asia Ministerial meeting in  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 26 -- Sen. Angus S. King Jr., I-Maine, issued the following news release: * * * King: America "Woefully Behind" on Hypersonic Weapons, Directed Energy Capabilities WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-ME) raised concerns over the United States' hypersonic missile defense capabilities at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces. King, the ranking member of the subcommittee, urged General Anthony J. Cotton, Commander of U.S. Strategic Command for the Air Force, and General Steph more PR

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Jamestown Foundation issued the following news: * * * Moscow's Ties with Post-Soviet States Possibly Transforming in Fallout of Azeri Airlines Flight Downing By Paul Goble Executive Summary: * When an Azerbaijani airliner was shot down over Russian territory last December, chilled relations between Baku and Moscow caused some analysts to expect a collapse in ties and attempts by Moscow to regain its former influence. Neither outcome is likely. * Azerbaijani-Russian relations are becoming increasingly balanced a more PR

BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 27 -- The European Parliament posted the following news release: * * * Press briefing on next week's plenary session Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 31 March - 3 April plenary session, on Friday at 11.00 in Parliament's Anna Politkovskaya press room. When: Friday 28 March at 11.00 Where: Anna Politkovskaya press room in Brussels and via Interactio Key topics next week include: * Debate with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen on the 20 March European Counc more PR

BRUSSELS, Belgium, March 26 -- The European Parliament posted the following news release: * * * Press briefing on next week's plenary session Spokespersons for Parliament and for the political groups will hold a briefing on the 31 March - 3 April plenary session, on Friday at 11.00 in Parliament's Anna Politkovskaya press room. When: Friday 28 March at 11.00 Where: Anna Politkovskaya press room in Brussels and via Interactio Key topics next week include: * Debate with Presidents Costa and von der Leyen on the 20 March European Counc more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The International Monetary Fund posted the following news release: * * * Press Briefing Transcript: Julie Kozack, Director, Communications Department, March 27, 2025 March 27, 2025 SPEAKER: Ms. Julie Kozack, Director of the Communications Department, IMF MS. KOZACK: Good morning, everyone, and welcome to today's IMF Press Briefing. It's great to see you all, those of you here in person and, of course, our colleagues online as well. I am Julie Kozak, Director of Communications at the IMF. And as usual, this progr more PR

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on March 27, 2025: * * * Ranking Member Shaheen Pens Essay for Foreign Policy Opinion: We Need the Voice of America Now More Than Ever WASHINGTON - This week, Foreign Policy published an opinion piece by U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, making the argument that dismantling Voice of America (VOA) is a strategic mistake that weakens more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Center for European Policy Analysis posted the following news: * * * Romania's 'TikTok Messiah' Is Gone But Admirers Live On Calin Georgescu wasn't a household name when he unexpectedly won the first round of Romania's presidential elections in November. But at the peak of his campaign, he was massively famous on social media, and trending in the top nine globally on TikTok. This huge, worldwide presence, which led to the "TikTok Messiah" moniker, goes some way to explaining how Russian interference helped him g more PR

WASHINGTON, March 28 -- The Jamestown Foundation issued the following news: * * * Russia's Information Security Industry Expands International Footprint By Luke Rodeheffer Executive Summary: * Russian information security companies are expanding their operations in Russia's near abroad despite facing limitations caused by Western sanctions, as other states increasingly view internet freedom as a threat to their sovereignty. * Russian contractors are also working alongside the Kremlin to draw on Iran's experience with internet censorship  more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The Congressional Research Service issued the following Insight white paper (No. IN12534) on March 26, 2025, by Russian and European affairs specialists Andrew S. Bowen and Cory Welt. Here are excerpts: * * * Russia's War Against Ukraine: Ceasefire Talks and Related Issues Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. More than three years later, Russia and Ukraine remain engaged in Europe's largest war in scope and scale since World War II. With estimates of over 1 million killed or wounded, and more PR

KINGSTON, Jamaica, March 27 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following remarks on March 26, 2025, by Secretary Marco Rubio and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness at a joint news availability: * * * RIME MINISTER HOLNESS: Good afternoon. It is my great pleasure to welcome United States Secretary of State, the Honorable Marco Rubio, to Jamaica. Now, I have known Secretary of State Rubio for some time, and I've always been very impressed by his deep knowledge of the region. Jamaica is deeply honored that you have chosen to visit us fi more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming, issued the following floor remarks on March 26, 2025: * * * Mr. President, I traveled last week to visit with over 150 members of our Wyoming Army National Guard. They are stationed in Jordan and in Syria, and they are a long way from home--nine time zones away from Wyoming. They are there to keep our country safe and free. One year ago, our adversaries were growing bolder, stronger, and more aggressive. That was a year ago. Today, America is stronger, safer, and much more secure. Presid more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following readout by spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Secretary Marco Rubio's call on March 26, 2025, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot about bringing an end to the Russia-Ukraine war. The Secretary emphasized President Trump's determination to achieve, through negotiations, enduring peace, and stressed the United States will continue working with France towards this end. The t more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following readout by spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Secretary Marco Rubio's meeting on March 25, 2025: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze, and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys today in Washington, D.C. Secretary Rubio emphasized our strong ties to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia and reinforced our commitment to Baltic security. The Secretary welcomed their earnest contributions to Euro more PR

WASHINGTON, March 27 -- The U.S. State Department issued the following readout by spokesperson Tammy Bruce on Secretary Marco Rubio's meeting on March 25, 2025, with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan: * * * Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan today to discuss cooperation on key issues in security and trade. The Secretary requested Turkiye's support for peace in Ukraine and the South Caucasus. He appreciated Turkiye's leadership in the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and reiterated the need for clos more PR

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pennsylvania, March 26 -- Pennsylvania State University posted the following news: * * * University supports Ukrainian academics through Nonresidential Scholars Program UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State is one of nine Big Ten schools providing an academic lifeline to scholars in war-torn Ukraine. The University is sponsoring seven Ukrainian academics as part of the 2025 IU-Ukraine Nonresidential Scholars Program. Three of the scholars are being funded by the College of the Liberal Arts' Department of Germanic and Slavic La more PR

VIENNA, Austria, March 27 -- The International Atomic Energy Agency posted the following news release: * * * Update 282 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team has this week been observing operational tests of diesel generators at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) as part of ongoing efforts to help prevent a nuclear accident during the military conflict in Ukraine, where the off-site power situation remains challenging, Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said. more PR

BOSTON, Massachusetts, March 28 -- Boston University issued the following news: * * * US Defense Secretary Called Europe "Pathetic." Two BU Experts on Whether the Alliance Is Damaged Former ambassadors, both European, assess the deteriorating friendship between the longtime allies By Rich Barlow The antagonism toward traditional US allies in Europe that some Trump administration officials have expressed publicly in the past emerged again, inadvertently, from the now highly publicized March 23 app group chat about ongoing US attacks on Hou more PR

CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP, Pennsylvania, March 28 -- Westinghouse Electric issued the following news release: * * * Westinghouse Suppliers Meet with the U.S. Congress in Support of AP1000 Projects Proven AP1000 Plants Will Deliver Large Scale, Reliable Baseload Power, Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs and Enable Economic Growth Washington, D.C., March 26, 2025 - More than 30 Westinghouse Electric Company supply chain partners joined forces to meet with members of the U.S. Congress to discuss the significant benefits of deploying proven AP1000 techn more PR

MADISON, Wisconsin, March 27 -- The World Council of Credit Unions issued the following news release: * * * WFCU and WOCCU Support Ukrainian Veterans Through Credit Unions $180,000 disbursed to help Ukrainian veterans start businesses MADISON, Wis.--The Worldwide Foundation for Credit Unions (WFCU) dedicated $180,000 to help Ukrainian veterans and their families access affordable business loans through its Venerate Ukraine's Veterans initiative. An April 2024 visit to Ukraine prompted WFCU President Mike Reuter to launch the Venerate Ukrai more PR