The US Department of Defence launched a website on Thursday aimed at providing more information about so-called Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), better known as UFOs.
The US government has in recent years disclosed more details about the existence of UAPs, which were once dismissed as the realm of science-fiction fans and conspiracy theorists.
Those details included fast-moving aircraft filmed by military pilots.
Governments have never acknowledged any extraterrestrial role and have suggested the unknown craft could be built by rival powers Russia or China, as they experimented with hypersonics or other new technology.
The Defence Department is launching the new website through its All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (Aaro) “to provide the public with information concerning Aaro and its efforts to understand and resolve and identified anomalous phenomena,” Pentagon press secretary Brig Gen Pat Ryder said.
The website will provide information, including videos and photos on resolved UAP cases, as it is declassified and approved for public release, Brig Gen Ryder said.
A subsequent update will allow US troops and civilian Pentagon personnel to file reports about UAPs. Members of the public may eventually be able to use the website to upload information.
“Aaro is focused on the facts, taking in information revealing the facts and then when possible, declassifying that information,” Brig Gen Ryder said.
The website states that Aaro experts “are leading the US government’s efforts to address Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena using a rigorous scientific framework and a data-driven approach".
Last month, a former US intelligence analyst testified in Congress that the government was hiding information about UFOs and “non-human biologics”.
David Grusch said he “absolutely” believed the US was in possession of UAPs and remains of their alien operators.
The Pentagon has denied all of his claims.
Unexplained aerial phenomena, better known as UFOs – in pictures
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
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Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
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In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Conflict, drought, famine
Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.
Band Aid
Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.
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Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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