The 2009 Winners of the Dods & Scottish Widows Women In Public Life Awards were announced at the Commonwealth Club London WC2 on Wednesday March 4th 2009.

The Winner of the 2009 Woman Political Journalist of the Year went to Lesley Abdela, who was nominated by the UK Defence Forum.

Lesley spoke at UKDF dinner on Women in Defence back in November 2008. Other previous speakers have included the likes of Eliza Manningham - Buller, now Baroness Manningham - Buller and Bill Jeffrey, now Sir Bill Jeffrey.

Afghan News Round Up for May 2013 Compiled by Elayne Jude for Great North News Service.

Also dues unpaid, woman journalist recognised and raising journalism standards, social attitudes 

The spectre of Russia sending troops to Afghanistan after the coalition withdrawal was raised by media reports citing Russian Defence Ministry representative Sergei Koshelev saying Russian repair bases may be established in Afghanistan. The Defence and Foreign Ministries subsequently denied the reports.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich: "Moscow's position, that a return of the Russian military to Afghanistan is impossible, remains unchanged."

Moscow and Kabul have a military and technical co-operation agreement, under which Russian specialists repair Afghanistan's Russian-made military equipment. The pull-out in 2014 means that Moscow must re-evaluate the threats that will emerge on the borders of CIS countries.