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The article examines how bottom-up mobilization in response to the Russo-Ukrainian war has enabled the implementation of the Triple Nexus (TN). In conducting in-depth interviews (n:55) with key social actors, this research analyses the practices, collaboration, and complementary actions across the pillars of the TN within the transnational Polish-Ukrainian civic ecosystem. The research highlights the informality and agility of civic ecosystems key to making the TN approach work, as well as the possible pitfalls of this framework on the fringes of conflict zones. We argue that it is the absence of structure and clear modes of governance that have enabled the intersection of the humanitarian, development and peace/security sectors, working in the space of informality, ambiguity, and lack of long-term solutions. The research offers a view on new forms of bottom-up legitimacy and cooperation taking shape between and within these spaces, which may be instructive for future TN structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, some of the timeliest intelligence was provided not by intelligence agencies, but by private actors. Open-source intelligence is an increasing focus in intelligence studies; however, little systematic attention has been paid to the vendors that collect, analyze, and operationalize intelligence outside of classified national security environments. This research addresses this gap through a new dataset that seeks to capture the expanding array of intelligence providers that serve the private sector. This paper examines how vendors apply intelligence tradecraft to support corporate risk mitigation, including travel security, executive protection, and geopolitical risk analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to clarify Algeria's efforts to develop the agricultural sector as one of the main alternatives outside the fuel sector .to achieve this, it is necessary to adopt economic policies and strategies and implement them in a comprehensive and integrated manner in cooperation between the government, the private sector and civil society to achieve food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper takes the unexpected event of the new coronavirus as the research background, selects the daily closing price data of the financial sectors (banking, insurance, securities, and multifinance) from 20 June 2017 to 31 December 2023. It then applies the TVP-VAR-DY model to empirically study the risk spillover effect among financial sectors. The study identified three distinct stages: before, during, and after the epidemic. It revealed that the total systematic spillover exhibited an initial increase, followed by a subsequent decrease. Notably, the fluctuation in this phenomenon intensified significantly during the epidemic. The securities sector emerged as the most susceptible to spillover risks from other sectors and, in turn, the most vulnerable to risk contagion from other sectors. Conversely, the banking sector demonstrated relative stability. Furthermore, the multifinance sector is more susceptible to risk contagion from other sectors during the pre-epidemic and mid-epidemic stages. However, following the epidemic, as the economy has not yet fully recovered, the multifinance sector is more likely to experience spillover risks from other sectors, and the insurance sector also primarily acts as a risk spillover. Finally, five different lag orders were selected to test the robustness of the empirical results of the model. The test results demonstrated that the model was valid and the results were feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to general analysis of the current legislation in the field of ensuring financial security of the non-banking sector of the economy. The author considers theoretical developments of domestic scholars on this topic, namely namely, the definition and approach to the term 'financial security'. It is established that financial security is an important part of the national security mechanism that ensures sustainability and efficiency of development of any state. The risks and obstacles that a national that Ukraine's national security may face, namely, the growth of the of the shadow economy and criminalisation of almost all areas of economy, which leads to a decrease in public confidence in democraticinstitutions and values. The importance of the importance of the Concept of National Security in the Financial Sector and the Strategy of Economic Security of Ukraine until 2025 as key documents in the field of financial security, documents in the field of financial security. Since the latest information and developments in this area pointed to the unsatisfactory state of financial security in Ukr aine. The author characterises the role of licensingand state registration in ensuring financial market stability, the essence and nature of licensing as a legal category are analysed. Thus, the main function of licensing is to minimise the risk of admission to the financial market of non-bank financial institutions whose activities whose activities may threaten the interests of market participants. And the main task of state registration is to support the protection of the interests of financial services consumers, ensuring state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines Europe's approach to minilateralism in the security sector and how it influences its Indo-Pacific security policy. It argues that Europe has an ad hoc bottom-up approach to minilaterals in the sense that groups of states take initiatives to address new challenges that are informally coordinated with EU institutions and then tested in practice. If successful in attracting additional member state participation and achieving objectives, these minilaterals are transformed into EU policies. This approach has not only been used within Europe to establish initiatives such as Permanent Structured Cooperation in defense, but also in the Indo-Pacific with France and Britain initiating freedom of navigation operations in the mid-2010s to create a maritime security footprint for Europe that is now formally recognised as part of the EUs Indo-Pacific strategy. It is argued that the European approach is effective in testing the viability of a new policy on a small scale and then slowly build a constituency of supporters that is large enough to obtain approval at EU level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study seeks to examine the role of Türkiye in the peace process in Somalia through the lens of the Peace Studies paradigm. It aims to assess Türkiye’s contributions in light of positive and negative peace concepts developed by Johan Galtung and to determine the extent to which these activities support the establishment of sustainable peace in Somalia. Through a qualitative approach and historical descriptive analysis, the article systematically investigates the theoretical framework of Peace Studies, the historical context, and the current socio-political dynamics of Somalia, as well as Türkiye’s initiatives in Somalia post-2011. The findings suggest that Türkiye’s multi-faceted engagement in Somalia (humanitarian aid, development cooperation, and security sector reform) generally aligns with the positive peace paradigm. Türkiye’s initiatives in Somalia, such as infrastructure development, education and health services improvement, and institutional capacity building, are considered efforts to reduce structural violence. Nevertheless, the analysis emphasizes the need for more comprehensive, long-term, and multi-actor strategies to effectively tackle Somalia’s intricate and multi-layered challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union (EU) has been attempting to promote stability in the Sahel since 2011 through capacity-building missions in the security and defence sectors. These policy instruments have been criticised for their limited effectiveness. To explain it, a common argument claims that 'local elites' lack ownership and political engagement. This article opposes such rationale and suggests that we need to rethink the agency of non-European actors beyond a Eurocentric conceptual toolbox ('resistance', 'fragility', 'ownership'). Building on an ethnography of the European capacity-building mission in support of security forces in Niger (EUCAP Sahel), this article shows that Nigerien elites regard the EU as an economic resource rather than a genuine security actor. Therefore, they primarily seek economic profits, material advantages, and professional opportunities from EU security policies. The argument proceeds in three steps. The first part intends to refine the broad category of 'local elites'. I suggest an inductive distinction that helps simplify our understanding of the agential practices of non-European actors. The second part uses this inductive distinction to foreground different strategies of Nigerien elites to make the most out of EU security policies. Third, the article discusses both the theoretical and policy implications of these empirical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The semiconductor global value chain (GVC) which was established by global lead companies and their strategic suppliers is now facing significant disruption because of geopolitical tensions between the US and China. As semiconductor production became offshored to East Asia, China's growing market for semiconductors associated with its role as a major electronics assembly location facilitated its integration into the global value chain for lower value added functions such as assembly and packaging. Together with its high level of optimisation, the GVC is also characterised by significant oligopolies of intellectual property resulting in an overall asymmetric interdependence between locations in advanced and emerging regions. Because of the vital role of the semiconductor sector in areas of national security and within the technology sector more widely, China seeks to develop greater self-reliance in semiconductors at a time when its integration in the global value chain is facing significant threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital preservation encompasses policies, technologies, and strategies to ensure that digital objects and collections will sustain for future use. This study aimed at investigating the trends toward digital preservation in terms of in-house activities versus outsourcing by systematically reviewing the extant literature. The relevant studies were identified by accessing multiple databases and indexing and abstracting services. After retrieving the relevant literature, necessary filtering was done by following the PRISMA protocols, and thereafter the selected studies were finalized for further review. The meta-analysis of the final studies affirms a strong global preference of libraries, archives, and other cultural and memory organizations toward in-house activities for the preservation of their digital objects and collections compared to outsourcing digital preservation activities by third parties. The results of this study provide a holistic view of how digital assets are being preserved in memory institutions across the world and underpin the global management (in-house or outsourced) approaches for digital preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary focus of this article is to critically evaluate the feasibility of fostering social cohesion in northwest Syria. This exploration hinges on the nuanced perspectives of local authorities, residents, and civil society organizations (CSOs) actively operating within the region. To comprehensively understand this dynamic, a structured approach was employed, including conducting 25 Key Informant Interviews (KII), organizing three focus group discussions with a total of 30 participants representing the broader community base, and launching a public survey that garnered insights from 516 respondents across diverse community sectors following up with the post-data collection, the research utilized advanced Excel methodologies to rigorously analyze the findings, thereby probing the stated hypotheses. The analytical journey unearthed a myriad of challenges and roadblocks impeding the attainment of social cohesion. The survey underscored an imperative: the need for capacity-building across all regional actors. It also highlighted certain critical areas requiring immediate intervention and overhaul, notably the economic and security sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper scrutinises the evolving digital security landscape, encompassing technological advancements, regulatory frameworks, and industry-specific challenges. It explores the influence of technologies like AI, quantum computing, and blockchain on security paradigms whilst identifying emergent threats. The study analyses the interplay between digital security and legislative policies, underlining their impact on industry practices and individual behaviours. Sector-specific examinations are conducted, pinpointing unique security concerns in sectors such as healthcare and finance and advocating bespoke solutions. The study highlights discrepancies between security intentions and actions, proposing strategies to bridge this divide. Projecting into the future, we anticipate shifts in technology and regulation, culminating in pragmatic recommendations for stakeholders. This article offers an informed perspective on digital security, laying the groundwork for proactive approaches in a dynamic digital environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the phenomenon of banditry as a criminal enterprise in Nigeria. By employing qualitative and quantitative data, it provides a historical context for banditry and discusses kidnapping for ransom as its variant. The spatial distribution and patterns of kidnapping incidents are also highlighted. In response to this persistent challenge posed by banditry, the study notes the government and community members have implemented three distinct strategies. They are enhancing security and law enforcement, negotiations, and legislation. The limitations of these responses are also examined. The paper offers guidance on the necessary policy imperatives to effectively combat armed banditry through a multifaceted approach. It emphasizes that addressing the escalating incidents of kidnapping for ransom in the northwest region cannot be addressed independently from the broader need for reform within the security sector of the country. Strengthening border security, preventing the free flow of illicit firearms into the nation, and concerted effort focused on the recruitment, training, and deployment of adequately equipped security personnel to the border areas become pivotal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender inequality in the workplace remains a pressing issue in many industries, and the security and defense sector is no exception. The security and defense sector encompasses a system of state authorities, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other military formations established in accordance with Ukrainian law, law enforcement and intelligence agencies, state bodies with law enforcement functions, civil protection forces, and the defense-industrial complex of Ukraine, which has historically been male-dominated, creating unique challenges for women seeking to serve in these bodies. Research indicates that gender inequality manifests in various forms, including gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and limited career advancement opportunities. Considering the psychological and organizational foundations that affect the interaction between men and women in a professional environment contributes to the enhancement of professional ethics, reduction of conflicts, improvement of the moral and psychological climate, and overall increase in the efficiency of work in the security and defense sector. The aim of the article is to reveal the main aspects of gender-based service relations, highlight their significance, and emphasize the need for consideration to achieve harmonious and productive functioning of the security and defense sector. The main objectives of the research were to identify the problems faced by gender equality in this field, to justify solutions, and to outline development prospects. The study employed empirical methods, comparison, and analysis. Results: it was found that gender inequality issues in the workplace within the security and defense sector include the low representation of women in leadership positions, gender-based discrimination, and insufficient attention to issues affecting women working in these bodies. The practical significance of the study lies in developing recommendations for public and private organizations to implement effective policies and practices aimed at reducing gender inequality and improving the work environment. The theoretical significance lies in deepening the scientific understanding of gender discrimination mechanisms and the consequences of gender-based violence in the specific context of the security and defense sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complex Event Detection (CED) in video streams involves numerous challenges such as object detection, tracking, spatio–temporal relationship identification, and event matching, which are often complicated by environmental variations, occlusions, and tracking losses. This systematic review presents an analysis of CED methods for video streams described in publications from 2012 to 2024, focusing on their effectiveness in addressing key challenges and identifying trends, research gaps, and future directions. A total of 92 studies were categorized into four main groups: training-based methods, object detection and spatio–temporal matching, multi-source solutions, and others. Each method's strengths, limitations, and applicability are discussed, providing an in-depth evaluation of their capabilities to support real-time video analysis and live camera feed applications. This review highlights the increasing demand for advanced CED techniques in sectors like security, safety, and surveillance and outlines the key opportunities for future research in this evolving field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the postulates of systems theory is the tendency of any system to seek a stable state and avoid chaos. Stability is associated with overcoming crises, which are considered obstacles to development. Crises can serve various functions: destructive, threatening the viability of the system; destructive, leading to further development; and crises that are merely disr uptions of equilibrium. In the context of transitioning from repelling armed aggression to ensuring military security in the post-war period, it is appropriate to describe the crisis phenomena and situations of the recovery period, which encompass the real crises of the recovery period. Special attention should be paid to the classification of crises, modeling their development, establishing crisis communications and decisionmaking in crisis conditions, developing state policy and crisis response strategies, as well as devising methods for crisis prevention. Situation centers play a key role in forecasting the security situation, preparing stabilization operations, and coordinating the actions of various security and defense structures. Their tasks include conveying decisions to personnel and the local population, organizing management and interaction, informing about the development of events, and controlling the execution of decisions. The centers also collect and analyze operational information for timely response to crisis situations. In legal science, the concept of a "crisis of the recovery period" is not widespread, but it may be useful for describing emergencies in the post-war period. The definition of such crises should consider the specific impacts of hazardous factors on national interests. The modern concept of national security of Ukraine envisages the integration of various security sectors, including economic, political, social, and legal aspects. According to legislation, the national security system in the recovery period should be an organized set of entities united by common goals and tasks regarding the protection of national interests. These entities participate in military-civil relations, coordinate their actions, and develop crisis response strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After the full-scale military invasion of the occupying country, the national security of Ukraine required drastic and urgent actions both on the battlefield and to ensure security within the state. The search for alternative and more effective ways of obtaining and transmitting information in the defense and security sector is an important issue for achieving peace in our country. The current state of repelling military aggression prompts Ukrainian society to format information and analytical support on new tracks and rapid training of personnel. The discovery of collaborators and aids of the aggressor country in the temporarily occupied territories among modern Ukrainians became a new resistance in the modern war. This phenomenon does not create a positive dynamic in expelling the occupier from Ukrainian land, which is due to betrayal, assistance and the need to fight against such elements. Modern war emphasizes the need to neutralize the enemy not only on the battlefield, but also in the middle of our country. In this aspect, receiving and transmitting information in the defense and security sector will make a significant contribution to achieving a positive result. The development of events without the appropriate armament conditions decision-making and their implementation in a way that does not correspond to traditional military tactics. Skillful processing of the received information can lead to a change in the situation on the battlefield in the shortest possible time. The use of traditional guerrilla warfare in modern conditions must be adapted to military practices and the latest technologies. However, this aspect is due to the lack of opportunities and the necessary support for the implementation of the assigned operational and service-combat tasks. In such conditions, the acquisition of skills in relevant fields before the onset of critical and/ or emergency situations becomes an important issue. After all, professional orientation involves understanding and internal perception of the goals and tasks of professional activity. The changes taking place in the content of professional orientation are reflected in the fact that they strengthen the motives related to professional activity, call for a desire to conscientiously perform one’s official duties, the desire to show oneself as a qualified specialist and achieve success not only at work, but also on the battlefield with the enemy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the salience of corruption in elections in Latin America and beyond, it remains unclear what makes certain candidates attractive to voters as solutions to address corruption. Building on studies about the effect of candidates' professional affiliation on voting behavior, we hypothesize that police and military officers are perceived to be more competent to address corruption. We test our theoretical expectations through an online survey of Brazilian voters with an image-based factorial experiment that presents respondents with three randomly generated handbills, varying candidates' professional affiliations and potential confounders, such as economic policy, insider versus outsider status, and demographic features. Our results demonstrate that candidates affiliated with the police or the military are perceived to be more effective at reducing corruption, all else equal. The effect of police or military professions on candidates' perceived effectiveness to fight corruption varies according to respondents' ideology and is particularly significant among conservative voters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Stakeholders from the mental health care sector and the social security sector are often involved in the implementation of vocational rehabilitation (VR) interventions, so-called coordinated or integrated program, as clients need support from both fields. Collaboration of the involved stakeholders from both sectors is therefore important. In this study, a review was performed to provide an overview of the barriers and facilitators for collaboration during the implementation of coordinated or integrated vocational rehabilitation interventions. Methods: A systematic review (PROSPERO ID CRD42023404823) was performed in the databases of Medline PubMed (n = 11.511), Web of Science (n = 4821), and PSYCINFO (n = 368). We used the AI-driven tool ASReview to support the screening process, conducted by two researchers independently. A thematic content analysis was performed to analyse the reported barriers and facilitators. Appraisal of the quality of included studies was conducted using Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP). Results: We included 105 of the 11,873 identified articles for full text screening, of which 26 were included for final analysis. Six themes of barriers and facilitators were found: attitude and beliefs, engagement and trust, governance and structure, practical issues, professionals involved, and client-centeredness. We found a reporting quality between 8 and 20, based on CASP. Conclusion: We found that a positive attitude towards and belief of those involved in collaboration during coordinated of integrated VR interventions can enhance collaboration. Moreover, a negative attitude or lack of trust, most often found among mental health professionals, hindered collaboration. Collaboration between stakeholders from different sectors could be increased by improving positive attitudes and mutual trust and increasing knowledge about each other's expertise. Also sharing success stories, co-location of professionals, and having a clear governance were found to be a factor in collaborations' success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the Swedish public sector has undergone rapid digitalization, while cybersecurity efforts have not kept even steps. This study investigates conditions for cybersecurity work at Swedish administrative authorities by examining organizational conditions at the authorities, what cybersecurity staff do to acquire the cyber situation awareness required for their role, as well as what experience cybersecurity staff have with incidents. In this study, 17 semi-structured interviews were held with respondents from Swedish administrative authorities. The results showed the diverse conditions for cybersecurity work that exist at the authorities and that a variety of roles are involved in that work. It was found that national-level support for cybersecurity was perceived as somewhat lacking. There were also challenges in getting access to information elements required for sufficient cyber situation awareness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides evidence on the evolution and dynamics of banditry and how they are enabled through interlocking factors of governance deficits in northwest Nigeria. It relies on first-hand perspectives gathered covertly and directly from the bandits, defectors, residents, and victims. The paper provides a significant contribution to knowledge by analysing the real and potential impacts of banditry. It links causation to the effects, and shows how the continuous interaction of these factors generates a cycle of polycrisis in northwest Nigeria. The study yields insights for theory and offers direction on the policy imperatives for combatting banditry. The paper concludes that the governance framework to eliminate, neutralise, and disrupt banditry must embrace four strategies − the peacebuilding approach, security sector reform, development, and strategic social support to victims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 40 years, the private security sector in Belgium, along with its related policies, has undergone significant transformations, with the industry establishing itself as a crucial partner in domestic security governance. Although the political context in which private security has evolved holds considerable importance in criminological scholarship, the specific processes of framing this phenomenon have attracted much less attention. This article examines the various approaches adopted by political actors in framing private security within policy formulations and efforts to introduce new regulations. Empirical data are drawn from parliamentary records spanning the years 1980 to 2020. By focussing on the parliamentary arena, we analysed how the issue – that is, the need for regulating private security – has been discussed, motivated and framed by those in power. Our results demonstrate that six conflicting and supporting frames revolved around three overarching themes: the function and position of private security, and what the government sought to protect in society. The findings of this study provide new insights into the forms, degrees and manifestations of framing private security, along with its relation to security events over time. Consequently, it offers a deeper understanding of the political field and societal conditions under which the trajectory of private security has unfolded in Belgium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has regionally and globally shifted the security paradigm and consequently undermined the international peace and stability. In this context, global security organizations have been put to a hard test and determined to use the blueprints of deterrence and defence based on political-military cohesion, resilience and adaptation. Developments on all dimensions of the defence and security sector have been reconsidered, thus the gender perspective being reconfirmed as crucial on the agendas of NATO and EU across all core tasks. Military capability, effectiveness and interoperability represent the most valuable assets for the challenging security landscape unfolding at present, therefore benchmarking the NATO and EU gender developments is key in the process of advancing gender equality and enhancing its integration in a coherent and coordinated manner. The new adopted Women, Peace and Security policies, plans and procedures enable both NATO and the EU to respond better to the broader security challenges and to thoroughly approach the intersection between gender and all other emerging security threats, by recognizing and employing diversity as a catalyst for a more secure future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Civil society and parliamentary control over the system for national security are the basic principles of the state system in countries with parliamentary government. Without the observance of basic principles of democratic control, the idea of a democratic and legal state cannot materialize. The complex environment of uncertainty, which includes unconventional-hybrid wars, generates new challenges, risks and threats to national and international security, different from the ones we know. In this context, security sector institutions strive to adapt to the challenges. Since security is central to people's well-being, it is essential that their views should be clearly reflected in the security policy. Parliament is responsible for establishing the legal parameters, adopting the budget and monitoring the relevant activities. To fully exercise these responsibilities, it needs wide access to information, the necessary technical expertise, the power and the intention to keep the executive under control. In this article, we will try to give a real picture of the concept of active citizen control by presenting information analysed and extracted from focus group discussions, which reflects a qualitative and topical nature. The legislative process is a complex factual composition carried out according to a strictly normatively regulated procedure. In this context, the necessity of imposing a legal initiative must be established in advance, based on permanent observations, analytical studies and research. Therefore, the research method used throughout this paper will be that of analytical research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article interrogates the late colonial and postcolonial evolution of Sudan's security sector, trade unions, and professional associations. Specifically, this article is concerned with how Sudan's police and army responded to trade professional associations during the Joda Strike of 1956 and the October Revolution of 1964. Through these historical junctures, this article analyses the evolution and actions of the security forces through the lens of Anibal Qujano's study on the coloniality of power. In doing so, it interrogates the "modernist" development of power structures that emerged during the Anglo-Egyptian Condominium and in the post-independence period. In addition, this article draws on Sylvia Wynter and Walter Mignolo's discussions on epistemic decolonial practices. As such, this article argues that trade and professional organisations naturally responded to the coloniality of Sudan's security forces through epistemic decolonial practices. In doing so, they challenged the structures of domination embodied by the security forces, while simultaneously articulating their own narrative for Sudan's political, social, and economic future. Using archival sources and an extensive literature review, this article makes a significant contribution to African studies, decolonial studies, and postcolonial history by theoretically conceptualising the development of Sudan's coloniality of security and the epistemic responses of unions and associations. In doing so, it advances decolonial thought and advocates for a history from below approach in the fields of postcolonial literature, cultural studies, history, and political analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The cyber–physical systems (CPSs) of various stakeholders from the mobility, logistics, and security sectors are needed to enable smart and secure situational awareness operations in a port environment. The motivation for this research arises from the challenges caused by some unexpected events, such as accidents, in such a multi-stakeholder critical environment. Due to the scale, complexity, and cost and safety challenges, a simulation-based approach was selected as the basis for the study. Prototype-level experimental solutions for dataspaces for secure data sharing and visualization of situational awareness were developed. The secure data-sharing solution relies on the application of verifiable credentials (VCs) to ensure that data consumers have the required access rights to the data/information shared by the data prosumer. A 3D virtual digital twin model is applied for visualizing situational awareness for people in the port. The solutions were evaluated in a simulation-based execution of an accident scenario where a forklift catches fire while loading a docked ship in a port environment. The simulation-based approach and the provided solutions proved to be practical and enabled the smooth study of disaster-type situations. The realized concept of dataspaces is successfully applied here for both daily routine operations and information sharing during accidents in the simulation-based environment. During the evaluation, needs for future research related to perception, comprehension, projection, trust, and security as well as performance and quality of experience were detected. Especially, distributed and secure viewpoints of objects and stakeholders toward real-time situational awareness seem to require further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, in the air defense system of units of the national security and defense sector of Ukraine, despite the constant updating (replenishment) of the park with modern models, there are still shortcomings in the system of detecting air targets of the surface layer with a small and ultra-small effective scattering surface. One of the most effective and cost-effective, from the point of view of financial and time resources, approaches is the creation of a modern tactical level information platform. Such a platform is based on the use of passive (seismic, acoustic, optical-electronic, magnetic, infrared, and other) sensors in military radio network structures compatible with the geographic information system (GIS) to identify targets of the surface layer that pose threats to military and infrastructure facilities of Ukraine. This article is dedicated to a thorough analysis of the routing management algorithm in sensor radio networks, with a focus on enhancing their stability and reliability. The authors concentrate on challenges associated with complex network operating conditions, such as instability of network interfaces, equipment failures, and various external and internal interferences that can negatively impact network performance. Special attention is given to the use of Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) for modeling multimodal data, which allows for increased accuracy and efficiency in routing management. The results presented in the article demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has high accuracy, as confirmed by comparison with data obtained through simulation modeling. This indicates the practical applicability of the algorithm in real-world conditions. The research opens new perspectives for improving the stability and reliability of sensor radio networks, which is particularly relevant in the context of widespread use of wireless technologies. The proposed algorithm can be used to develop more reliable and efficient routing management systems, ensuring better adaptation to the changing conditions and challenges faced by modern wireless networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why do some militias bandwagon with the state during a civil war while others resist state authority? A formal model highlighting the role of material incentives treats militia commanders as rent-seekers competing for security sector jobs run by civilians. Western donors can send aid to inflate the size of the pie that civilians distribute to militia commanders. Our key result is a partial incorporation equilibrium by which jointly-sustainable strategies selected by a minimum winning coalition of battalion commanders maximize their share of rents. Battalion commanders outside this coalition do best by remaining outside the state. We evaluate the model using an analytic narrative of contemporary Ukraine – a hard case for our theory since ideology and ethnicity play an important role in most standard accounts of the conflict. Analysis of a volunteer battalion incorporation dataset, results from a survey of 64 Ukrainian volunteer battalion members, and a short discussion of the Azov Battalion suggest the salience of intra-Ukrainian distributional politics to militia commanders' incorporation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many contexts in the Mediterranean, Security Assistance (SA) is perceived to have contributed to state fracture or prolonged conflict. In Tunisia, in contrast, SA has increased the performance and capacities of the security forces in matters of counterterrorism and migration control. However, in this article, by analysing SA's reordering impacts, I argue that it has interacted with political developments to reconfigure Tunisia's volatile political landscape in two ways. Firstly, SA programmes have acted to reinforce the coercive capacities of Tunisia's security forces vis-à-vis the general population. Secondly, vertical SA practices contributed to the reconfiguration of power dynamics between different actors in Tunisia's security sector, helping consolidate power in the increasingly authoritarian hands of the executive as well as the increasingly politicized security forces. Furthermore, in the final section of this article, I reflect upon the entanglements between security assistance, Tunisian political economy and the economic interests of many provider states. In doing so, I make the case for a 'recoupling' of security studies and political economy in analysis of external interventions in the Mediterranean to better understand their reordering impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It was emphasized that in the conditions of ongoing Russian aggression, the issue of effective and stable functioning of the system of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has become important. It is noted that such an intention is possible only thanks to the systematically effective work of all subjects of this system. The exceptional role of the State Special Service of Transport in this aspect is emphasized, given the subject orientation of the latter. We are talking about the transport component, which is one of the basic prerequisites for the successful implementation of the lion's share of measures by subjects not only of the ministry system, but also of the entire security and defense sector. The position of the State Special Service of Transport as a subject of public-legal relations at the current stage of law-making is highlighted in general outlines. It was found that it is appropriate to talk about an institution endowed with the status of a specialized military formation, which carries out a number of defense measures peculiar only to it. Despite its regulatory specifics, it is advisable to talk about a number of similar parameters, compared to the rest of the institutions. The essence of the directions of the analyzed body's work, including under the current situation, is outlined and disclosed. Arguably, it is emphasized that such directions are derived from the functions of the institution, which the latter's officials implement in practice. The legislator's position on their gradation into two fundamental groups was supported and developed: 1) peacetime; 2) a special period. Based on this, the author's vision of the quantitative and specific composition of the areas of work of the State Special Service of Transport is proposed, followed by their general characteristics. The problems of the importance of public administration tools in the framework of the implementation of management functions performed by this specialized military formation have been studied. It is emphasized that the presence of these tools is a prerequisite for the implementation of management steps. The above constitutes a critical and unalternative position from the point of view of the application of appropriate measures within the limits of one or another outlined direction. Based on the preliminary results, an attempt was made to determine the place of the State Special Transport Service in the structure of the Ministry of Defense system. Based on the competence of the institution, directions of influence and awareness of the role of the stability of the transport component, a well-argued assumption is made about the uniquely important role of this institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fight against substance use disorders, which have been on the rise in recent years, requires a multidisciplinary approach. The factors that cause addiction, environmental factors that enable substance access, and the resulting harm from substance use are intertwined. As per the 2021 data released by the Istanbul Morgue Specialization Department of the Council of Forensic Medicine, drug or stimulant use caused 1.7% of the 5458 autopsies conducted. In our research, deaths resulting from polysubstance use are the most prevalent, with amphetamine derivatives being the most frequently detected substance. The rise in fatalities associated with amphetamine derivatives and their easy accessibility pose a significant public health concern. Based on these findings, it is crucial to focus on the environmental and economic factors that support the use of these substances to control access to amphetamine derivatives. Additionally, people with substance abuse problems are isolated due to social isolation. This situation makes it difficult for them to access addiction treatment and prevents them from receiving emergency medical intervention in the event of an overdose. In this context, it is advisable to adopt a multidisciplinary approach and to develop a comprehensive intervention strategy in cooperation with the health, education, and security sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article studies norm translation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda by interrogating the ways in which external support can contribute to gendering the security sector in conflict-affected countries. Through a case study of a Norwegian-led Specialized Police Team which provided capacity building in crime scene management to Malian Security Forces as part of the UN mission in Mali, it analyses how different understandings of gender inform gender mainstreaming practice. The analysis shows that while the Norwegian officers worked actively to promote gender equality and women's participation, the possibilities for capacity building to contribute to a gendering of the security sector are limited by the lack of more transformative understandings of gender to inform practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Computer und Recht is the property of De Gruyter and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article applies the international cooperation concept of issue linkage to identify an overlooked pathway to successful security assistance. We argue that providers can effectively incentivise recipients to implement otherwise undesirable reforms when they explicitly link implementation to another good whose value to the recipient outweighs the costs of the reforms. Drawing on original interviews, we find support for our argument in post-Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), where the United States used the promise of NATO’s Partnership for Peace program to incentivise BiH to integrate its three armies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Now a days, most of the people are using internet in which security is the major issue which has to be maintained. Digital data, which must be protected from eavesdroppers when being stored or sent during communication via an insecure network, is the main source of information in the internet age. As the use of internet is increased, the rate at which the data is transmitted per day is also increased. Various approaches, including steganography, cryptography, and watermarking, are employed in the security sector to secure digital data inside a network. In this paper will use a technique which is steganography-based steganography based on text, picture, audio, and video is used in safety devices. Essentially, a thorough explanation of video steganography in both the compressed and unfiltered domains is provided. Considering a variety of transform coefficients, the suggested approach presents video steganography within a condensed domain. The confidential information is hidden by using the conversion coefficients of the non-dynamic and dynamic "Region of Interest" (ROI) of the concealed cover video screen as an intermediary subject. Through the use of powerful secret keys and efficient embedding and extraction algorithms, the suggested video steganography becomes more efficient. The suggested video steganography's level is assessed using three parameters: "robustness", which is determined by "bit error rate" (BER) and "similarity" (Sim), "embedding capacity", which is determined by "hiding ratio" (HR), and "imperceptibility", which is determined by "mean square error" (MSE) and "peak signal-to-noise ratio" (PSNR). Both a real-time video sample and a well-defined conventional video dataset have been used in experiments using the suggested technique. A thorough elaboration of the pertinent research in the domain of compressed video steganography is provided, and the outcomes are contrasted with the suggested approach using quality assessment criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real-time security surveillance and identity matching using face detection and recognition are central research areas within computer vision. The classical facial detection techniques include Haar-like, MTCNN, AdaBoost, and others. These techniques employ template matching and geometric facial features for detecting faces, striving for a balance between detection time and accuracy. To address this issue, the current research presents an enhanced FaceNet network. The RetinaFace is employed to perform expeditious face detection and alignment. Subsequently, FaceNet, with an improved loss function is used to achieve face verification and recognition with high accuracy. The presented work involves a comparative evaluation of the proposed network framework against both traditional and deep learning techniques in terms of face detection and recognition performance. The experimental findings demonstrate that an enhanced FaceNet can successfully meet the real-time facial recognition requirements, and the accuracy of face recognition is 99.86% which fulfills the actual requirement. Consequently, the proposed solution holds significant potential for applications in face detection and recognition within the education sector for real-time security surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital attacks include extorting money from users, altering, destroying, or gaining access to sensitive data, stopping regular business operations, and more. The medical and health sectors offer numerous potential for cyber security. Digital assaults can take many different forms, such as extorting money from users, destroying, altering, or accessing sensitive material in question areas, interfering with regular corporate operations, etc. Cybersecurity has various prospects in the health and medical sector. This research investigation's main goal is to concentrate safe practices in specific industries. It is very necessary starting with the second generation of computing and will continue to be so till there are computers and data in the digital realm. The medical fields of today also use digital communication and documentation. Such documents must be protected at the highest possible priority. As healthcare systems have delicate information, it becomes essential to protect such sensitive information from cyber threats. In smart healthcare systems, the patient's information is periodically collected and transmitted seamlessly to the decision-making system. However, protecting such sensitive data transmission from cyber threats becomes a challenging research problem at the edge layer. This paper addresses the challenges of cyber-attack and this study is greatly applicable for health sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial intelligence's threats to human rights can offset its significant benefits for human welfare. This makes it essential to analyse the current status and existing practices in developing the regulatory framework for artificial intelligence (AI). This paper aims to conduct a comparative legal analysis of the role of AI in ensuring human rights in Europe (in the example of the European Union) and the Middle East (in the example of Israel). The article uses comparative legal, formal legal and descriptive methods. The analysis shows that AI may harm the enjoyment of several human rights. Existing legislative initiatives (in particular, The EU Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act), the Council of Europe's AI Convention) do not fully protect human rights from the impact of artificial intelligence due to existing gaps in the regulation of the private sector and national security, as well as the effect on the transparency of decisions in criminal law. The main problem is the inadequate regulation of the development and use of AI in national security and the private sector. This creates loopholes through which AI can cause significant harm to human rights and lead to violations. Further research can determine how the shortcomings identified in this paper may affect human rights and what safeguards can be put in place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a policy framework for using offset and industrial collaboration (IC) to develop human capability in the defence and security sector, focusing on Malaysia. It underscores the importance of integrating human capital development with traditional defence spending. Key challenges and success factors in executing offset policies for human capability enhancement are identified. The introduced 'MINERVA' framework includes elements such as a clear vision for human capital development, capability gap analysis, knowledge transfer incentives, credible partners, governance frameworks, stakeholder engagement, efficient project implementation, and assessing absorptive capacity. Through qualitative analysis of Malaysian case studies, the paper highlights optimising defence budgets for skills, education and training. The paper argues that the alignment of international defence procurement with offset policies focused on human capital development can enhance indigenous defence capabilities, military potential, job creation, regional clusters and exports. This alignment bolsters national security and resilience against challenges such as digitalisation and pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of blockchain technology on estate governance focusing on enhancing transparency, efficiency and security within the sector. A structured questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale was distributed to 317 estate management professionals to collect quantitative data which was subsequently analyzed using SmartPLS 4. The results underscore transformative potential of blockchain technology revealing strong correlations between its implementation and improved estate governance outcomes. This study demonstrates how blockchain can significantly enhance estate administration by addressing inefficiencies, bolstering security and fostering greater transparency. The proposed framework for integrating blockchain into estate governance offers a comprehensive strategy to manage frozen estates more effectively, reduce administrative delays and minimize disputes. The study's primary contribution lies in its innovative application of blockchain technology to solve prevalent issues in estate management providing a strategic blueprint for future implementations. This study offers actionable insights and practical recommendations for estate management stakeholders emphasizing the critical role of blockchain in ensuring more efficient, transparent and secured governance practices. This study highlights the profound impact blockchain can have on modernizing estate management practices and establishing robust governance frameworks by thoroughly examining the dimensions of transparency, efficiency, and security. This study concludes by advocating for the adoption of blockchain technology to enhance estate governance effectiveness and improve overall management outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores the legal nature and specific features of legal regulation of lobbying as a separate legal institution based on a comparative study of the approaches existing in the US, the EU Member States and Ukraine in the context of European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes being a priority area of the foreign policy and legal development of our state. The author analyses the peculiarities of legal regulation of lobbying activities in Ukraine and identifies the key issues of and prospects for the functioning of the practical and theoretical lobbying model in Ukraine in the context of European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes. On the eve of adoption of the Law of Ukraine 'On Lobbying', the lack of proper legislative regulation of lobbying in our country was recognized as a problem of state and social development of the country at the EU and NATO levels. Therefore, of entities that influence (lobby) the interests of third parties or groups of parties while adopting legal acts by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, executive authorities and local self-government bodies had to be resolved after the beginning of official negotiations on Ukraine's accession to the European Union and its rapprochement with the North Atlantic Alliance. On 23 February 2024, the Ukrainian Parliament adopted the Law of Ukraine 'On Lobbying' which not only defined the key principles of interaction between officials representing the state authorities and local self-government bodies with the stakeholders and lobbying entities, but also outlined the basic principles, methods and legal framework of lobbying in Ukraine. On 29 November 2023, an adapted Annual National Programme was presented at the meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council. It became the most concise and practical, as it focuses on reforms in the security and defence sector and democratic transformation tasks that Ukraine is implementing within the framework of its Euro-Atlantic integration. However, the establishment of the legal institution of lobbying in our state requires amending the existing legal acts that also regulate the terms and procedures for conducting lobbying activities; introducing responsibility of all parties to this process; imposing effective control over the lobbying process; and the impossibility of limiting the participation of civil society organizations in public policy making that should help overcome corruption and fulfill the criteria being necessary for Ukraine's accession to the EU and NATO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of the security sector reforms in Europe became significant with the collapse of the communist bloc at the end of 1989 in relation to the need to implement democratic instruments. At the same time, until now, the implications of the reforms of the intelligence sector, are being discussed by virtue of the need to quickly adapt to the requirements of the security environment and the dynamics of threats at the international level. For Romania, the reform of the intelligence sector was one of the most pressing needs following the collapse of the communist regime and the establishment of a new intelligence service, the Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI), so that in less than thirty years, Romania will be represented in the intelligence community by one of the most performing and prestigious intelligence services at the international level. Therefore, this article analyses the applicability of the theory of security sector reform, in relation to the evolution of the transformations achieved within the Romanian Intelligence Service. As the intelligence services represent a category of the core actors of the security sector in a state, this article aims to gradually evaluate the implementation of the reform attributes using a methodology based on the analysis of activity reports and relevant public documents, starting from the establishment of SRI to present. Complementary, with regards to the public interest, the purpose of the article is to increase the awareness of civil society in the intelligence sector, by dismantling the conspiratorial narrative and highlighting the risks generated by the assimilation of disinformation elements aimed at the service's activity, while also highlighting the transformational evolution of the Romanian Intelligence Service regarding the elements of democratization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The comprehensive defence framework introduced in 2019 in Latvia has the potential to accelerate the implementation of national defence priorities, thus strengthening Latvia as one of NATO’s external border states. In a time of geopolitical turbulence and increasing hybrid threats, a whole-of-society approach is required and work in ever-new directions. As dimensions of psychological resilience and strategic communication are becoming an important part of the defence studies debate, the study focuses on the role of the private sector within Latvia’s strategic defence documents and aims to investigate where these dimensions are situated and how they have evolved in the strategic landscape. To study the role and evolution of the private sector within Latvia’s strategic defence documents, quantitative content analysis and qualitative text analysis were used for in-depth analysis of the documents. The study finds that the role of the private sector in the strategic defence documents has generally increased over the years and there has not been a significant change regarding private sector involvement in dimensions of psychological resilience and strategic communication. The long-term pattern indicates that dimensions of psychological resilience and strategic communication appear rare in strategic documents, suggesting that the private sector is not seen as a significant actor in achieving defence goals. Meanwhile, in more practical dimensions,an upward trend towards strengthening ties and sharing responsibilities is identified. The study therefore opens up a discussion regarding the need for a more institutionalised framework for psychological and strategic communication dimensions in order to achieve the strategic goals of comprehensive defence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel use of visual cryptography is to ensure safe bio-metric authentication in the healthcare industry. The necessity for strong authentication techniques is due to the growing digitization of records and the growing reliance on electronic health systems. There are now a lot of obstacles because of security and privacy issues with conventional bio-metric authentication techniques.Visual cryptography can be done using many algorithms for image encryption. This paper presents a method to encrypt images using two main encryption algorithms: the Advanced Encryption Standard and the Shamir Secret Sharing Scheme. AES, a widely used symmetric encryption algorithm, provides high security by converting plain text to ciphered text using a key which is symmetric. By using the Shamir algorithm, the system creates and saves encrypted images using visual cryptography. In the health care industries, biometric samples are presented as part of the authentication procedure; these samples are divided into shares and encrypted. The shares are subsequently given to the healthcare professionals, who authenticate patients using their unique shares and the help of the central server. By preventing the disclosure of any critical information to a single party, the visual cryptography technology reduces the possibility of data breaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ongoing, 20-year effort to reform Iraq's Ministry of Interior through capability building is an underreported but critical aspect of NATO's mission. This article identifies 10 strategic errors or "lessons" from this mission related to ends, ways, means, and assumptions. NATO's involvement was flawed from design to delivery, including its myopic focus on training, systemic disregard of politics, relegation of civilian expertise, and inadequate measurements of its effects. As a result, police legitimacy in Iraq eroded, potentially exacerbating instability. Capability building is becoming more attractive as a non-kinetic tool; the success of future NATO missions--in Iraq and elsewhere--will, therefore, rely on avoiding similar mistakes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses two recent books written by former Indian intelligence officers, Vappala Balachandran and Jayadeva Ranade. Balachandran's book, "Intelligence Over Centuries," provides an overview of intelligence history across cultures and time periods, while Ranade's anthology, "Strategic Challenges: India in 2030," focuses on security challenges facing India in the next decade. Both books offer valuable perspectives on past and future issues involving Indian intelligence. Ranade's anthology covers a wide range of topics, including China's threat to India, Pakistan's use of terrorism, India-US bilateral relations, and emerging technologies. While the book lacks engagement with academic literature and primary sources, it provides insights from former Indian officials on foreign partnerships and technologies in the national security sector. Overall, the anthology serves as a valuable resource for understanding India's strategic challenges and perspectives on national security. [Extracted from the article]

This study examines South Africa's strategies for peace, safety, and human security in line with the African Union's Agenda 2063, which aims for a united, prosperous, and peaceful Africa. Since the end of apartheid in 1994, South Africa has made major political and social changes to address economic disparities and promote inclusive governance. This article evaluates how well South Africa's strategies align with the goals of Agenda 2063 by analysing key government plans and reviews. The results show both agreements and differences, emphasising achievements such as the significant role of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and improvements in security sector reforms. Ongoing challenges identified in the study include socio-economic inequalities, corruption, and xenophobia. The study emphasises the importance of involving government, civil society, and regional organisations in addressing pertinent issues. Furthermore, the study suggests promoting deeper regional integration, empowering youth, ensuring gender equality and environmental conservation to better align with Agenda 2063 and build a united and progressive African future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]