On Jan. 14, UConn civil engineering Professor Arash E. Zaghi was among nearly 400 individuals honored by President Biden with thePresidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). This is the highest honor bestowed by the U.S. government on outstanding scientists and engineers who are in the early phases of their careers.Jill Wegrzyn, an associate professor in the UConn Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, also received this award.
Established by President Clinton in 1996, PECASE recognizes scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership early in their research careers. The award recognizes innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology.
Zaghi, who joined the UConn faculty in 2011, is a professor in the College of Engineering. At the beginning of his career, his research focused primarily on bridge design and resilience against earthquakes and other disasters.
But after his diagnosis with dyslexia and ADHD at age 32, he knew he wanted to get involved with supporting neurodiverse learners. Building on his own experience, Zaghi quickly identified a major problem with mainstream narratives of neurodiversity.
“My diagnosis opened my eyes to the unique strengths often overlooked in individuals like myself,” Zaghi says. “As I delved into the literature, I discovered mixed perspectives. Some studies suggest that people with ADHD tend to be more creative and willing to take risks. These are precisely the skills we need to address the complex, large-scale challenges of our time. This realization sparked my commitment to redefining neurodiversity as a strength and to creating environments where diverse ways of thinking are celebrated and harnessed for innovation.”
Now, Zaghi’s work specifically centers on countering the “deficit” model of neurodiversity, which focuses on the challenges neurodiverse students face in traditional learning environments and promoting the “strengths-based” model. Instead of regarding neurodiversity as a problem to be solved, this model encourages the view of neurodiversity as a unique strength. For example, research (including Zaghi’s own) has suggested that neurodiverse students tend to excel in areas such as creativity, pattern-recognition, and problem-solving. Many also demonstrate higher than average academic ability.
My diagnosis opened my eyes to the unique strengths often overlooked in individuals like myself.
These are all the qualities, Zaghi thinks, that the fields of engineering – and science more broadly – should be embracing and actively recruiting.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) agrees. In 2017, Zaghi was awarded the prestigious NSF CAREER Award for his project “Promoting Engineering Innovation through Increased Neurodiversity by Encouraging the Participation of Students with ADHD.” In 2021, he followed it with an NSF Mid-Career Advancement award for a project usingartificial intelligence to develop personalized assistive toolsto enhance the participation of neurodiverse students in STEM education.
Zaghi’s latest honor, the PECASE, is another national recognition of the powerful potential of his work. It is the crowning jewel of a research career studded with similar accolades, most relating to promoting neurodiverse learning through a strengths-based approach.
“We are very proud of Prof. Arash Zaghi for winning this presidential award and for his pioneering research in supporting neurodiverse students to improve their learning outcome and future careers,” says JC Zhao, Dean of the UConn College of Engineering. “Arash’s research and outreach will shift the paradigm and also bring visibility to a generally misunderstood group of students who can be as successful as Arash himself.”
Throughout this career, Zaghi has been able to steadily expand the breadth of his work in supporting neurodiverse education. His earliest projects in this realm had a very specific focus – for example, supporting students with ADHD in engineering.
Over time, and thanks to collaborations with other researchers at UConn and elsewhere, Zaghi’s focus was able to grow beyond engineering to include STEM as a whole. It has also grown to include other types of neurodiversity, like dyslexia and autism, and address different age groups, from K-12 learners to graduate students.
With UConn neuroscientist Fumiko Hoeft, Zaghi is co-PI on theTRANSdisciplinary Convergence in Educational Neuroscience Doctoral (TRANSCEND) training program,an interdisciplinary training program devoted to rethinking educational neuroscience. He is also the co-PI on theUConn INCLUDE project,which supports neurodiversity in the College of Engineering.
The recognition for his work as a champion of neurodiversity is gratifying, Zaghi says, but he can remember a time just ten years ago when the idea of a strengths-based approach was considered “so radical.”
When he submitted his first proposal to the NSF, Zaghi recalls, he was told, “This is so far out of the mainstream that I have no idea how the panel is going to react.”
“We were extremely fortunate that the NSF invested in us,” he says. “I think that’s a great story of how bold research pays off. The NSF is there to support high-risk, high-payoff research, and they supported that ‘crazy idea.’ Now, here we are – with the amount of visibility, I think we have substantially contributed to changing the narrative from a deficit perspective to a strengths-based one.”
Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In 2025, the International Christmas Educational Readings will be held in Moscow from January 26 to 30.
Your Holiness!
Dear friends!
Welcome to the XXXIII International Christmas Educational Readings.
The forum is taking place in the year of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. And it is symbolic that its central theme is dedicated to this significant date.
All these decades we have kept the memory of the heroes of the Great Patriotic War. Of those who bravely fought at the front, worked in the rear, defeated fascism. The feat of our people today is the main moral guideline, helps to resist any external threats, defend national interests.
Recently, there have been increasing calls to revise the results of World War II and to belittle the significance of the Great Victory. It is necessary to stop any attempts to distort the truth about those events. Do everything so that young people study the history of the Fatherland, know at what price the liberation of the Motherland was won in 1941-1945. Pay special attention to the spiritual, moral and patriotic education of the younger generation. At present, this work is being carried out with the active participation of the Russian Orthodox Church, religious organizations of other traditional faiths, and the public.
I am confident that the recommendations and proposals prepared during your meeting will be put into practice and will serve to improve teaching activities.
I wish the participants and guests of the XXXIII International Christmas Educational Readings fruitful work, interesting discussions and all the best.
M. Mishustin
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
The IX International Conference of Thematic Partners “Artek at 100%” was held in the International Children’s Center “Artek”, in which representatives of the State University of Management with the program “Course for Business and Entrepreneurship” took part.
The International Children’s Center “Artek” annually holds a competition for additional general development programs, and in the year of the 100th anniversary of “Artek”, which will be celebrated in 2025, this conference becomes a particularly important milestone in the history of the center, demonstrating its openness to cooperation.
This year, the center plans to implement more than 170 programs with the participation of 130 partners, in all areas that exist in the Russian Federation. Within the framework of partner programs, Artek will be visited by more than 17 thousand children from 89 regions of our vast homeland, as well as from foreign countries. The “red thread” of the anniversary year will be the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the Year of the Defender of the Fatherland. Patriotic events will also be implemented jointly with partner organizations.
It should be noted that for the second year in a row, the State University of Management has become the winner of the competition of additional general development programs. This time, on behalf of the State University of Management, the conference was attended by first-year master’s students in the Project Management program, Maria Larshina and Polina Ponikarovskaya, who are members of the project team of the Business and Entrepreneurship Course program. This program was developed on the initiative of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation, and a large team of the best specialists from the State University of Management took part in its development.
The International Conference of Thematic Partners “Artek at 100” was held from January 19 to 22. On the first day of the conference, plenary sessions were held dedicated to the activities of Artek, key events of 2025 and the role of partner organizations in creating meaningful programs and the educational environment of the Artek Information Technology Center.
On the second day of the conference, the participants visited the Korsun Children’s Center, a branch of Artek in Sevastopol. Round tables were held there, as well as a ceremony to award certificates to the winners of the competition for additional general development programs. The winner’s certificate was presented to representatives of the State University of Management by the First Deputy Director of the Artek International Children’s Center, Elena Zhivoglyad. For the 100th anniversary of the International Children’s Center, a documentary film, Artek. 100 Years of Happy Childhood, was created together with the Media Glob team. The first viewers were thematic partners – participants of the IX International Conference.
On the last day of the conference “Artek at 100%” a festival of creativity was held, where participants were able to exchange experiences, ideas and their skills. The event featured more than 40 platforms from thematic partners of “Artek”. The State University of Management organized a point “Entrepreneurial Puzzle”, where participants could test their ingenuity and knowledge, as well as learn more about the additional general development program “Course on Business and Entrepreneurship”.
Let us add that the additional general development program “Course on Business and Entrepreneurship” is aimed at training qualified personnel for medium and small businesses by involving teenagers and young people. Its goal: to develop entrepreneurship competencies in students by means of interactive forms of training, project and game technologies. The main events of the program include: practical classes, conversations, discussions, project work in groups, business and role-playing games, quizzes.
Over the course of three days, representatives of partner organizations, together with Artek employees, developed mechanisms for integrating thematic programs into the educational process of the children’s center, discussed the regulatory framework for the partners’ activities, information and methodological support for the educational process, and much more.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 01/28/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Wildlife officers are investigating multiple reported sightings of a crocodile on the beach and in the water at Coonarr Beach and Elliott River mouth in the Wide Bay region.
On 23 January 2025, the Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation received five reports from community members of what they believed to be a crocodile.
Wildlife officers are reviewing a short video showing a crocodile entering the water from a beach.
Wildlife officer Alexander Peters said wildlife officers are contacting community members who made the sighting reports, and recent crocodile sighting signs will be installed in the area.
“We thank the members of the public who made these reports, and I can assure the community that they will be thoroughly investigated,” Mr Peters said.
“As part of our investigation, wildlife officers will conduct site assessments, including vessel-based searches and spotlight assessments of the area.
“While the investigation is underway, people in the Wide Bay region should be vigilant around the water, which means keeping children close and keeping dogs away from the water’s edge.
“I’d like to encourage everyone in the community to make a sighting report if they see what they believe to be a crocodile.
“When crocodiles are observed on a beach or in the ocean, they are often passing through from one estuary to another and can be difficult to locate.
“They can also move into a river or creek, and that’s why sighting reports are important as they give wildlife officers the most up to date information about the location and behaviour of crocodiles.
“Under the Queensland Crocodile Management Plan, the Wide Bay region is Zone F – atypical crocodile habitat, in which any crocodile found is targeted for removal.
“Crocodile sightings are rare in Zone F, but occasionally crocodiles considered to be vagrant animals make their way into these areas.
“I can reassure the community that any crocodile confirmed to be present in the Wide Bay region will be targeted for removal from the wild.”
Fast facts:
In 2013 and 2014, two large crocodiles were removed from the Mary River.
They remain the last estuarine crocodiles confirmed outside of Croc Country near the southern end of their range.
Croc Country begins at the Boyne River south of Gladstone.
It extends northward, up the east coast and across far north and northwest Queensland to the Northern Territory border.
The Law Library of Congress recently published a multinational report, Access to Information for Persons with Disabilities in Selected Jurisdictions, which provides individual surveys of selected jurisdictions and gives an overview of their legislation on access to information for persons with disabilities. Providing access constitutes one of the human rights protections specifically guaranteed under article 21 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Our research surveyed 27 jurisdictions, namely, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo (Democratic Republic), Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, England, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malta, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
This report surveys how the rights of persons with disabilities are protected, notably, if a jurisdiction’s constitution expressly protects persons with disabilities. It further describes the rights to information, in particular legal information, access to justice, and culture, and includes current legislative proposals as they concern persons with disabilities. The report also surveys which jurisdictions offer publicly funded libraries that specifically serve the blind and visually impaired.
A majority of the jurisdictions surveyed are parties to the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons Who Are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled and the jurisdictions have adopted legislation and procedures to make convenience copies of copyrighted material available to persons with disabilities. Several jurisdictions are also part of networks facilitating such access, such as the Accessible Books Consortium, or provide access to Bookshare.
The report is accompanied by maps and a table of primary resources. The maps reflect our findings on surveyed jurisdictions with the first map describing whether jurisdictions expressly protect persons with disabilities in their constitutions. The second map illustrates whether the jurisdiction has specific legislation that addresses access to information for persons with disabilities. Additional maps show which countries have ratified the Marrakesh Treaty and what countries have designated “NLS-style” libraries, specifically mandated to provide access and services to persons with disabilities.
The report supported the Law Library’s Human Rights Day Webinar on Laws Governing Accessibility from Around the World.
We invite you to review our report, here.
The report is an addition to the Law Library’s Legal Reports (Publications of the Law Library of Congress) collection, which includes over 4,000 historical and contemporary legal reports covering a variety of jurisdictions, researched and written by foreign law specialists with expertise in each area. To receive alerts when new reports are published, you can subscribe to email updates for Law Library Reports (click the “subscribe” button on the Law Library’s website). The Law Library also regularly publishes articles related to human rights and civil liberties in the Global Legal Monitor.
Subscribe to In Custodia Legis – it’s free! – to receive interesting posts drawn from the Law Library of Congress’s vast collections and our staff’s expertise in U.S., foreign, and international law.
A man has been charged and will appear in court following a fatal collision in Northolt.
Kamil Rouibah – 25 (14.02.99) of Squirrel Rise, Marlow Bottom will appear in custody at Uxbridge Magistrate Court on 28 January charged with causing death by dangerous driving; causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to stop for police.
A second man, aged 25, who was arrested following the collision has been released with no further action.
This follows an incident at around 04:40hrs on Monday, 27 January when a BMW car came to the notice of a patrolling police car due to the alleged speed at which it was traveling.
A short time later the BMW was involved in a collision with another vehicle, a Ford Focus, being driven by a member of the public in Ruislip Road.
London Ambulance Service and London Fire Brigade were called and attended.
Sadly the driver of the Ford Focus, a man aged 47, died at the scene. His next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially trained officers.
Two occupants of the BMW were taken to hospital for treatment before being discharged. They were arrested and dealt with as above.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
CHP receives three severe cases of influenza A infection in one day CHP receives three severe cases of influenza A infection in one day *******************************************************************
Following a severe case of influenza A infection in a 10-month-old baby girl who had not received seasonal influenza vaccination (SIV) yesterday (January 27), the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health (DH) today (January 28) received two more cases of severe paediatric influenza A infection in children who have not yet received the SIV. Another severe paediatric case of co-infection with influenza A and group A streptococcus was also reported. The first case involved a six-year-old boy with good past health, who developed fever on January 26. He attended the Union Hospital yesterday and was later transferred to Prince of Wales Hospital, where he remains in the paediatric intensive care unit. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with shock. So far, his household contacts show no upper respiratory symptom and there has been no recent influenza outbreak at his school. The second case involved a twelve-year-old boy with underlying illness who developed fever and cough yesterday. He was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital today, where he remains in the paediatric intensive care unit. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for influenza A (H3) virus upon laboratory testing. The clinical diagnosis was influenza A infection complicated with severe pneumonia and shock. He lives in a school dormitory and seven other students from the same school have recently developed upper respiratory symptoms. The CHP had conducted inspection at the school and provided health advice. “The above-mentioned two boys had no travel history during the incubation period. An initial investigation revealed that they did not receive 2024/25 SIV. The CHP reiterated its call to the parents to bring their children to receive SIV as soon as possible,” a spokesman for the CHP said. Furthermore, an eight-year-old boy with good past health developed fever since January 23, and cough and shortness of breath since yesterday. He was admitted to the Princess Margaret Hospital on the same day, where he remains in the paediatric intensive care unit. His nasopharyngeal swab specimen tested positive for influenza A (H1) virus and his blood sample tested positive for group A streptococcus. The clinical diagnosis was co-infection with influenza A and group A streptococcus complicated with sepsis. “Since the start of this influenza season in early January, the CHP has recorded eight cases (including three above-mentioned children) of severe influenza virus infection in children. Six of them were unvaccinated. Influenza vaccination has been scientifically proven to be one of the most effective ways to prevent seasonal influenza and its complications, while significantly reducing the risk of hospitalisation and death from seasonal influenza. All persons aged 6 months and above (except those with known contraindications) who have not yet received SIV should act immediately, particularly the elderly and children who have a higher risk of becoming infected with influenza and developing complications,” he added. Group A streptococcal infection is caused by bacteria, namely Streptococcus pyogenes, that can be found in the throat and on the skin. It can be transmitted by droplets and contact. The bacteria can cause mild diseases, including pharyngitis, impetigo and scarlet fever to invasive group A streptococcal infections (iGAS) such as necrotising fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Anyone can get iGAS disease, but the elderly and young children, persons with chronic illnesses (e.g. diabetes) or immunocompromised persons may be at higher risk. People with breaks in the skin or with recent viral infections (e.g. chickenpox, influenza, etc.) are also at higher risk of developing iGAS disease. On the other hand, the disease can be effectively treated with antibiotics and prompt treatment helps alleviate symptoms faster and prevent complications. The spokesman reminded the public that Hong Kong has entered the influenza season. As the seasonal influenza activity is expected to increase further while the activity of other respiratory infectious diseases may also increase. To protect their health and that of their family members, the public should not only receive SIV, but also maintain good personal and environmental hygiene, and take the following measures to prevent contacting influenza, Group A streptococcal infection and other respiratory illnesses:
Wear surgical masks to prevent transmission of respiratory viruses from ill persons. It is essential for persons who are symptomatic (even if having mild symptoms) to wear a surgical mask; High-risk persons (e.g. persons with underlying medical conditions or persons who are immunocompromised) should wear surgical masks when visiting public places. The general public should also wear a surgical mask when taking public transport or staying in crowded places. It is important to wear a mask properly, including performing hand hygiene before wearing and after removing a mask; Avoid touching one’s eyes, mouth and nose; Practise hand hygiene frequently, wash hands with liquid soap and water properly whenever possibly contaminated; When hands are not visibly soiled, clean them with 70 to 80 per cent alcohol-based handrub; Cover the mouth and nose with tissue paper when sneezing or coughing. Dispose of soiled tissue paper properly into a lidded rubbish bin, and wash hands thoroughly afterwards; Practise good wound care to reduce the chance of getting infected; Maintain good indoor ventilation; Avoid sharing personal items; When having respiratory symptoms, wear a surgical mask, consider to refrain from going to work or school, avoid going to crowded places and seek medical advice promptly; and Maintain a balanced diet, perform physical activity regularly, take adequate rest, do not smoke and avoid overstress.
???For the latest information, members of the public can visit the CHP’s group A streptococcal infection and seasonal influenza webpages.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: OSCE PCUz supports the seventh edition of the “Open Data Challenge” hackathon
Contestants and organizers of the seventh “Open Data Challenge” hackathon. (OSCE/IT Park Uzbekistan) Photo details
From 24 to 26 January, IT enthusiasts gathered at the New Uzbekistan University in Tashkent for the seventh edition of the “Open Data Challenge” hackathon.
This annual competition was organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan (PCUz) together with IT-Park Uzbekistan and the Statistics Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
More than 150 young people gathered in teams and competed to develop technological solutions based on the data opened by public authorities. Out of 60 registered teams, 8 made it to the final, with the top three teams producing projects ranging from a platform designed to analyze tenders from the open data platform etender.uzex.uz, a startup that uses artificial intelligence for people with disabilities and a chatbot for analyzing data in real time using open data.
This popular event offers a unique opportunity to further demonstrate the practical relevance and applicability of open data while engaging youth in proposing solutions to current challenges.
Open data plays an important role in the monitoring and evaluation of state bodies’ activities. In addition to strengthening public control and its anti-corruption component, the publication of data has a direct economic impact and a hugely untapped social potential.
Through the development of new services and products that offer responses to known problems or gaps, new jobs are created, and the IT community is strengthened.
Taking into account the multifaceted aspect of data, the development of an open data ecosystem in Uzbekistan is an integral part of the PCUz’ activities to promote economic development, as well as good governance.
After lengthy, torrid and emotional debate a critical decision for the future of Auckland Tāmaki Makaurau is being made in March. One party will celebrate; the other will slink back to the drawing board. But will it really settle the great Auckland stadium debate?
SPECIAL REPORT:By Chris Schulz
It resembles a building from Blade Runner. It looks like somewhere the Avengers might assemble. It is, believes Paul Nisbet, the future.
“It’s innovative, it’s groundbreaking, it’s something different,” says the driving force behind Te Tōangaroa, a new stadium mooted for downtown Auckland.
He has spent 13 years dreaming up this moon shot, and it shows. “We have an opportunity here to deliver something special for the country.”
Located behind Spark Arena, Te Tōangaroa — also called “Quay Park” — is Nisbet’s big gamble, the stadium he believes Tāmaki Makaurau needs to sustain the city’s live sport and entertainment demands for the next 100 years.
His is a concept as grand as it gets, a U-shaped dream with winged rooftops that will sweep around fans sitting in the stands, each getting unimpeded views out over the Waitematā Harbour and Rangitoto Island.
Located behind Spark Arena, Te Tōangaroa is also called “Quay Park”. Image: Te Tōangaroa
Nisbet calls his vision a “gateway for the world,” a structure so grand he believes it would attract the biggest sports teams, stars and sponsors to Aotearoa while offering visitors a must-see tourist destination. Nestled alongside residential areas, commercial zones and an All Blacks-themed hotel, designs show a retractable roof protecting 55,000 punters from the elements and a sky turret towering over neighbouring buildings.
He’s gone all in on this. Nisbet’s quit his job, assembled a consortium of experts — called Cenfield MXD — and attracted financial backers to turn his vision into a reality. It is, Nisbet believes, the culmination of his 30-year career working in major stadiums, including 11 years as director of Auckland Stadiums.
“I’ve had the chance to travel extensively,” he says. “I’ve been to over 50 stadiums around the world.”
Tāmaki Makaurau, he says, needs Te Tōangaroa — urgently. If approved, it will be built over an ageing commercial space and an unused railway yard sitting behind Spark Arena, what Nisbet calls “a dirty old brownfields location that’s sapping the economic viability out of the city”.
He calls it a “regeneration” project. “You couldn’t mistake you’re in Auckland, or New Zealand, when you see images of it,” he says.
The All Blacks are on board, says Nisbet, and they want Te Tōangaroa built by 2029 in time for a Lions tour. (The All Blacks didn’t respond to a request for comment, but former players John Kirwan and Sean Fitzpatrick have backed the team moving to Te Tōangaroa.)
Concert promoters are on board too, says Nisbet. He believes Te Tōangaroa would end the Taylor Swift debacle that’s seen her and many major acts skip us in favour of touring Australian stadiums.
“It will be one of those special places that international acts just have to play,” he says.
The problem? Nisbet’s made a gamble that may not pay off. In March, a decision is due to be made about the city’s stadium future. Building Te Tōangaroa, with an estimated construction time of six years and a budget of $1 billion, is just one option.
The other, Eden Park, has 125 years of history, a long-standing All Blacks record and a huge number of supporters behind it — as well as a CEO willing to do anything to win.
The stadium standing in Te Tōangaroa’s way Stand in Eden Park’s foyer for a few minutes and history will smack you in the face. It’s there in the photos framed on the wall from a 1937 All Blacks test match. It’s sitting in Anton Oliver’s rugby boots from 2001, presumably fumigated and placed inside a glass case.
More recent history is on display too, with floor-to-ceiling photographs showing off concerts headlined by by Ed Sheeran and Six60, a pivot only possible since 2021.
Soon, the man in charge of all of this arrives. “Very few people have seen this space,” says Nick Sautner, the Eden Park CEO who shakes my hand, pulls me down a hallway and invites me into a secret room in the bowels of Eden Park. With gleaming wood panels, leather couches and top-shelf liquor, Sautner’s proud of his hidden bar.
“It’s invite-only . . . a VIP experience,” says Sautner, whose Australian accent remains easily identifiable despite seven years at the helm of Eden Park.
The future of Eden Park if a refurb is granted. Image: YouTube
This bar, he says, is just one of the many innovations Eden Park has undertaken in recent years. Built in 1900, the Mt Eden stadium remains the home of the All Blacks — but Eden Park is no longer considered a specialty sports venue.
Up to 70 percent of the stadium’s revenue now comes from non-sporting activities, Sautner confirms. You can golf, abseil onto the rooftops and stay the night in dedicated glamping venues. It’s also become promoters’ choice for major concerts, with Coldplay and Luke Combs recently hosting multiple shows there. “We will consider any innovation you can imagine,” Sautner tells me. “We’re a blank canvas.”
Throughout our interview, Sautner refers to Eden Park as the “national stadium”. He’s upbeat and on form, rattling off statistics and renovations from memory. His social media feeds — especially LinkedIn — are full of posts promoting the stadium’s achievements. He’ll pick up the phone to anyone who will talk to him.
“Whatsapp is the best way of contacting me,” he says. Residents have his number and can call directly with complaints. After our interview, Sautner passes me his business card then follows it up with an email making sure I have everything I need. “My phone’s always on,” he assures me.
He may not admit it, but Sautner’s doing all of this in an attempt to get ahead of what’s shaping up as the biggest crisis of Eden Park’s 125 years. If Te Tōangaroa is chosen in March, Eden Park — as well as Albany’s North Harbour Stadium and Onehunga’s Go Media Stadium – will all take a back seat.
If Eden Park loses the All Blacks and their 31-year unbeaten record, then there’s no other word for it: the threat is existential.
Called Eden Park 2.1, Sautner is promoting a three-stage renovation plan. Image: YouTube
Ask Sautner if he’s losing sleep over his stadium’s future and he shakes his head. To him, Te Tōangaroa’s numbers don’t stack up. “If someone can make the business model work for an alternative stadium in Auckland, I’m all for activating the waterfront,” he says.
Then he poses a series of questions: “How many events a year would a downtown stadium hold? Forty-five?” he asks. “So 320 other days a year, what’s going to be in that stadium?”
He is, of course, biased. But Sautner believes upgrading Eden Park is the right move. Called Eden Park 2.1, Sautner is promoting a three-stage renovation plan that includes building a $100 million retractable rooftop. A new North Stand would lift Eden Park’s capacity to 70,000, and improved function facilities and a pedestrian bridge would turn the venue into “a fortress . . . capable of hosting every event”.
He’s veering into corporate speak, but Sautner sees the vision clearly. With his annual concert consent recently raised from six to 12 shows, he already thinks he’s got it in the bag, “Eden Park has the land, it has the consent, it has the community, it has the infrastructure,” he says. “I’m very confident Eden Park is going to be here for another 100 years.”
Instead of a drink, Sautner offers RNZ a personal stadium tour that takes us through the exact same doors that open when the All Blacks emerge onto the hallowed turf. There, blinking in the sunlight, Sautner sweeps his arms around the stadium and grins. “I get up every day and I think of my family,” he says. “Then I think, ‘How can I make Eden Park better?”
The stadium debate: ‘It began when the dinosaurs died out’ It is, says Shane Henderson, an argument for the ages. It never seems to quit. How long have Aucklanders been feuding about stadiums? “It began when the dinosaurs died out,” jokes Henderson.
For the past year, he’s been chairing a working group that will make the decision on Auckland’s stadium future. That group whittled four options down to the current two, eliminating a sunken waterfront stadium, and another based in Silo Park.
He’s doing this because Wayne Brown asked him to. “The mayor said, ‘We need to say to the public, ‘This is our preferred option for a stadium for the city.’” It’s taken over Henderson’s life. Every summer barbecue has turned into a forum for people to share their views.
“People say, “Why don’t you do this?’” he says. Henderson won’t be drawn on which way he’s leaning ahead of March’s decision, but he’s well aware of the stakes. “We’re talking about the future of our city for generations to come,” he says. “It’s natural feelings are going to run high.”
That’s true. As I researched this story, the main parties engaged in a back-and-forth discussion that became increasingly heated. Jim Doyle, from Te Tōangaroa’s Cenfield MXD team, described Eden Park’s situation as desperate.
“Eden Park can’t fund itself . . . it’s got no money, it’s costing ratepayers,” he said. Doyle alleged the stadium “wouldn’t be fit for purpose”. “You’re going to have to spend probably close to $1 billion to upgrade it.” Asked what should happen to Eden Park should the decision go Te Tōangaroa’s way, Doyle shrugged his shoulders. “Turn it into a retirement village.”
Eden Park’s Sautner immediately struck back. Yes, he admits Eden Park owes $40 million to Auckland Council, calling that debt a “legacy left over from the Rugby World Cup 2011”. But he denied most of the consortium’s claims.
“Eden Park does not receive any funding or subsidies from Auckland ratepayers,” Sautner said in a written statement. He confirmed renovations had already begun. “Over the past three years, the Trust has invested more than $30 million to enhance infrastructure and upgrade facilities . . . creating flexible spaces to meet evolving market demands.”
Sautner said Doyle’s statement was evidence of his team’s inexperience. “We are extremely disappointed that comments of this nature have been made,” he said. “They are factually incorrect and highlight Quay Park consortium’s lack of understanding of stadium economics.”
Do we even need to do this? As the stadium debate turns into a showdown, major stars continue to skip Aotearoa in favour of huge Australian shows, with Katy Perry, Kylie Minogue and Oasis all giving us a miss this year. New Zealand music fans are reluctantly spending large sums on flights and accommodation if they want to see them. Until Metallica arrives in November, there are no stadium shows booked; just three of Eden Park’s 12 allotted concert slots are taken this year.
Yet, Auckland City councillors will soon study feasibility reports being submitted by both stadium options.
On March 24, Henderson, the working group chair, says councillors will come together to “thrash it out” and vote for their preferred option. There will only be one winner, and The New Zealand Herald reports either building Te Tōangaroa or Eden Park 2.1 is likely to cost more than $1 billion. Either we’re spending that on a brand new waterfront stadium, or we’re upgrading an old one.
“Is that the best use of that money?” asks David Benge. The managing director for events company TEG Live doesn’t believe Tāmaki Makaurau needs another stadium because it’s barely using those it already has. He has questions.
“I understand the excitement around a shiny new toy, but to what end?” he asks. “Can Auckland sustain a show at Go Media Stadium, a show at Western Springs, a show at Eden Park, and a show at this new stadium on the same night — or even in the same week?”
Benge doesn’t believe Te Tōangaroa would entice more artists to play here either. “I’m yet to meet an artist who’s going to be swayed by how iconic a venue is,” he says. Bigger problems include the size of our population and the strength of our dollar.
No matter the venue, “you’re still incurring the same expenses to produce the show,” he says. Instead, he suggests Pōneke as the next city needing a new venue. “If you could wave a magic wand and invest in a 10,000-12,000-capacity indoor arena in Wellington, that would be fantastic,” he says.
Would a new stadium really lure big artists to NZ? Image: Te Tōangaroa
Live Nation, the touring juggernaut that hosts most of the country’s stadium shows, didn’t respond to a request for comment. Other promoters canvassed by RNZ offered mixed views. Some wanted a new stadium, while others wanted a refurbished one. Every single one of them said that any new stadium needed to be built with concerts — not sport — in mind.
“We’re fitting a square peg in a round hole,” one said about the production costs involved in trucking temporary stages into Eden Park or Go Media Stadium. “Turf replacement can add hundreds of thousands — if not $1 million — to your bottom line,” said another.
Some wanted something else entirely. Veteran promoter Campbell Smith pointed out Auckland Council is seeking input for a potential redevelopment of Western Springs. One mooted option is turning it into a home ground for the rapidly rising football club Auckland FC. Smith doesn’t agree with that. “I think it’s a really attractive option for music and festivals,” he says. “It’s got a large footprint, it’s easily accessible, it’s close to the city … It would be a travesty if it was developed entirely for sport.”
One thing is for certain: a decision on this lengthy, torrid and emotional topic is being made in March. One party will celebrate; the other will slink back to the drawing board. Will it finally end the great Auckland stadium debate? That’s a question that seems easier to answer than any of the others.
Chris Schulz is a freelance entertainment journalist and author of the industry newsletter, Boiler Room. This article was first published by RNZ and is republished with the author’s permission.Asia Pacific Report has a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Act will ban the importing, exporting and dealing in items containing ivory from Hippopotamus, narwhal, killer and sperm whale
Hippopotamus, narwhal, killer whale and sperm whale will have greater legal protection from today (28 January) under the UK’s world leading Ivory Act.
The Act will now ban the importing, exporting and dealing in items containing ivory from these magnificent animals – previously the Ivory Act only covered elephants.
The Ivory Act provides for one of the toughest bans on ivory sales in the world and anyone found guilty of breaching the ban faces tough penalties including an unlimited fine or up to five years in jail.
Closing domestic ivory markets is a critical part of the UK’s global conservation efforts. Hippopotamus is the species most at extinction risk from the trade in its ivory after elephants.
All four species are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) and already threatened by climate change with poaching and trading in their ivory – which is found in teeth and tusks – having the potential to exacerbate these threats and make their long-term survival less likely.
Mary Creagh, International Nature Minister, said:
“Today is an important moment for all wildlife lovers. The poaching of these wonderful animals for their ivory is sickening and this government will do all we can to end this horrible trade.
“The Ivory Act is one of the toughest bans in the world. This new government is showing global leadership by enshrining these protections into law to tackle the poaching of these iconic animals.”
The UK is a world leader in international conservation. Supported by ambitious domestic action and new international partnerships, we are putting climate and nature at the heart of our foreign policy including appointing a new International Nature Envoy.
Working with partners across the world we are building global ambition on nature and pushing to accelerate delivery of the UN Global Biodiversity Framework to halt the loss and reverse of wildlife internationally.
The ban is being introduced after extensive consultation and provides a limited exemption for the existing trade in artistic and cultural artefacts.
Source: The White House
RESINSTATING THE UNJUSTLY DISCHARGED: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to reinstate service members who were dismissed for refusing the COVID vaccine, with full back pay and benefits.
The Executive Order directs the Secretary of Defense to reinstate all members of the military (active and reserve) who were discharged for refusing the COVID vaccine and who request to be reinstated.
Those who are reinstated will receive their former rank and full back pay with benefits.
CORRECTING AN INJUSTICE: In spite of the scientific evidence, the Biden Administration discharged healthy service members—many of whom had natural immunity and dedicated their entire lives to serving our country—for refusing the COVID vaccine. Government redress of these wrongful dismissals is overdue.
From 2021 to 2023, the Biden Administration and former Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin discharged over 8,000 troops solely due to their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Such dismissals likely had a chilling effect on recruitment, with the Department of Defense missing its collective recruiting targets by around 41,000 recruits in FY2023.
After the vaccine mandate was repealed in 2023, only 43 of the more than the 8,000 troops dismissed elected to return to service under the Biden Administration and Secretary Austin.
CHARTING A NEW COURSE FORWARD: In 2024, President Trump declared that “there should have never been a [COVID vaccine] mandate. That should have never happened.”
President Trump went on to lament that, due to the mandate, “we’ve lost some of our best people in the military too.”
President Trump duly promised in 2024 that he “will rehire every patriot who was fired from the military with…backpay. They will get their backpay…”
Source: The White House
DEFEND THE UNITED STATES AGAINST MISSILE ATTACK: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to Build the Iron Dome for America.
The Executive Order directs implementation of a next-generation missile defense shield for the United States against ballistic, hypersonic, advanced cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks.
With the goal of providing for the common defense of American citizens, this Order accelerates the development and deployment of Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensor Layers, proliferated space-based interceptors, a Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture, capabilities to defeat salvoes prior to launch, non-kinetic missile defense capabilities, and underlayer and terminal-phase intercept capabilities.
It also secures the supply chains for all components of the Iron Dome.
The Executive Order directs a review of theater missile defense posture to defend United States troops deployed abroad and an increase in cooperation on missile defense technology development, capabilities, and operations with partners and allies.
ADDRESSING VULNERABILITIES BY MODERNIZING AN OUTDATED SYSTEM:
The threat of attack by ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic missiles remains a catastrophic threat facing the United States.
Over the past 40 years, rather than lessening, the threat from next-generation strategic weapons—including hypersonic—has become more complex with the development of next-generation delivery systems by our adversaries.
Notwithstanding this increasing threat, United States homeland missile defense policy has been limited to staying ahead of rogue nation threats and accidental or unauthorized missile launches.
THE IRON DOME WILL FURTHER THE GOALS OF PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH: By empowering the United States with a second-strike capability, the Iron Dome will deter adversaries from attacks on the homeland.
President Trump is fulfilling his promises: “I will direct our military to begin construction of the great Iron Dome missile defense shield, which will be made all in the USA.”
Source: The White House
ELIMINATING RACE- AND SEX-BASED DISCRIMINATION WITHIN THE ARMED FORCES: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to restore merit and lethality to America’s fighting force.
The Executive Order bans the use of discriminatory race- or sex-based preferences by any element of the Armed Forces, the Department of Defense, or the Department of Homeland Security.
This Order also abolishes any remnant of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy within the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.
The Secretary of Defense will task the Department of Defense with conducting an internal review of all instances of race- or sex-based discrimination based on Department of Defense DEI initiatives.
This Order also requires the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to review the curriculum at the United States Service Academies and other academic institutions to ensure these institutions eliminate radical DEI and gender ideologies.
ENDING AN ERA OF ASSAULT ON MILITARY DISCIPLINE AND CULTURE: Foreign adversaries are strengthening their fighting forces every day while the United States has deliberately been focused on radical ideology like DEI. The world is watching.
Prior to harmful changes introduced by the Obama and Biden administrations, the United States military offered equality of opportunity to every American capable of and interested in serving their country. Yet these two administrations exploited the military in favor of identity politics—harming our national defense, undermining the non-political nature of our military, and eroding morale and recruitment.
Due to this “woke” assault, the Services together logged their lowest recruiting records since 1940 with a 41,000-troop shortfall in 2023.
Today’s Order moves our military away from this dark period and renews esprit de corps, readiness, and focus. It returns the Pentagon to the warfighter.
This Order also combats ideologies that seek to divide our Armed Forces by race, sex or other immutable characteristics and thus tear at cohesion and military efficacy.
RESTORING A WARFIGHTING MINDSET: The Armed Forces of the United States exist to preserve our freedom and the American way of life.
President Trump is committed to a merit-based system of sex-neutral policies and colorblind recruitment, promotion, and retention that will return our military to greatness.
President Trump vowed to get rid of the “woke” generals who prioritize social experiments over warfighting. He stated in his 2024 reelection campaign that “…[y]ou can’t have a woke military…You need people that want to win. They want to win wars. That’s what their purpose is, to win wars, not to be woke… but we do have great military.”
Source: The White House
PRIORITIZING SERVICEMEMBER INTEGRITY, LETHALITY, AND HEALTH: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Department of Defense to update its guidance regarding trans-identifying medical standards for military service and to rescind guidance inconsistent with military readiness.
The Executive Order will require the Secretary of Defense to do the following:
Update all Department of Defense medical standards to ensure they prioritize readiness and lethality.
Take action to end the use of invented and identification-based pronouns in the Department of Defense.
The Executive Order also prohibits males from using or sharing sleeping, changing, or bathing in facilities designated for females.
The provisions in the Executive Order also apply to the Coast Guard.
The Executive Order revokes Biden Administration Executive Order 14004 and all policies, directives, and guidance pursuant to that order.
Executive Order 14004 called for accommodating “gender identity” in the military—to the detriment of military readiness and unit cohesion.
RESTORING SANITY IN OUR MILITARY: During the Biden Administration, the Department of Defense allowed gender insanity to pervade our military organizations, family, and culture. This included not only permitting the military to increase the number of individuals not physically or mentally prepared to serve, but also ordering the Department of Defense to pay for servicemembers’ transition surgeries, as well as those of their dependent children—at a cost of millions of dollars to the American taxpayer.
The United States imposes rigorous standards on all military servicemembers to ensure they are prepared to take on the challenges required of them.
Fitness, health, welfare, and readiness standards must ensure that our military members are able to deploy, fight, and win.
On the battlefield there can be no accommodation for anything less than resilience, strength, and the ability to withstand extraordinary physical demands.
Individuals who are unable to meet these requirements are unable to serve in the military. This has been the case for decades.
Unit cohesion requires high levels of integrity and stability among servicemembers.
It can take a minimum of 12 months for an individual to complete treatments after transition surgery, which often involves the use of heavy narcotics.
During this period, they are not physically capable of meeting military readiness requirements and require ongoing medical care. This is not conducive for deployment or other readiness requirements.
A LETHAL FIGHTING FORCE: President Trump’s priority to have a ready, able, and lethal military will remain a core tenant of his second term.
During his first term in 2018, President Trump’s Department of Defense took action to ensure trans-identifying servicemembers did not serve in capacities that undermined unit cohesion and lethality.
Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, with theUnited Nations Environment Programmeestimating between 19 and 23 million tons of plastic waste leak into aquatic ecosystems each year. A partnership between UConn marine sciences researchers and a leading bioplastics manufacturer is showing promise in addressing this issue.
A recent study published in theJournal of Polymers and the Environmentfound that Mater-Bi, a starch-based polymer produced by Italian company Novamont, degraded by as much as nearly 50% over nine months in a marine environment—significantly more than traditional plastics.
Novamont, which has a U.S. office in Shelton, collaborated with the UConn team to evaluate the product’s biodegradation.
The study was led by Hannah Collins, a marine sciences Ph.D. candidate. Collins and her co-author, Larissa Tabb ’22 (CLAS), highlighted research done as part of the Marine Environmental Physiology Laboratory under the guidance of her advisor, professor and head of marine sciences Evan Ward.
“I’ve always been interested in how marine animals interact with their environment,” Collins says. “When our lab started looking at microplastics, it was clear how pervasive and damaging this problem is.”
Collins says the findings could have meaningful implications for reducing plastic pollution in aquatic environments. For example, products like Mater-Bi could replace traditional plastics used in aquatic structures, such as kelp farm lines, to reduce the possibility of plastic pollution.
The tank set up for the experiment at John S. Rankin Laboratory on the Avery Point campus. (Contributed by Hannah Collins.)
“We’ve seen the pictures of sea turtles with plastic around their heads,” she says. “We have a lot of evidence of the negative effects of plastic pollution.”
Collins, who grew up visiting Cape Cod and the beaches of Long Island Sound, has long been fascinated by marine life. After earning a degree in biology from Gettysburg College and working in Alaska’s salmon fisheries, she decided to combine her passion for marine organisms and the environment, first in her master’s program and now for her Ph.D.
She says the collaboration with Novamont has helped her feel like she is making a difference in addressing marine pollution. It also provided her with hands-on experience examining real-world product applications.
Biodegradable plastics like Mater-Bi degrade much faster than traditional plastics, reducing risks to aquatic environments. However, Collins notes that many of these products are often tested under controlled conditions, not in real-world marine environments.
Students spent nine months monitoring degradation of Mater-Bi
Collins’ research on Mater-Bi was conducted in a semi-controlled environment at the John S. Rankin Laboratory on the Avery Point campus. The lab filters seawater from the surrounding area to keep large organisms, like crabs, out. This allowed Collins and her team to test how much the product degraded in natural conditions while ruling out the impact of interference from those large organisms.
Samples of the bags used in the experiment. (Contributed by Hannah Collins).
Her team tested samples of a Mater-Bi compostable bag, a traditional plastic bag, and a known biodegradable plastic in the lab. Every two weeks, they checked and measured how much each sample degraded by either mass or area. After nine months, they found that the Mater-Bi samples lost between 25% and 47% of their mass or area. Additionally, they found that the rate of degradation increased during warmer months.
“Microbial activity tends to increase in warmer conditions, which likely contributed to the faster degradation rates we observed,” Collins says.
A Mater-Bi sample at the end of the experiment. (Contributed by Hannah Collins).
Collins says she is hopeful that these findings could lead to future uses of Mater-Bi in aquaculture, especially for products where temporary or disposable materials are often used, such as oyster grow-out bags or kelp farming lines.
“If something breaks loose, it won’t persist in the water for decades,” she says.
Collins and Tabb have maintained connections with Novamont. Collins will attend the World Aquaculture Conference in New Orleans this March, where she hopes to connect industry leaders with biodegradable products like those produced by Novamont.
“Addressing plastic pollution requires a range of solutions,” she says. “Biodegradable plastics are just one piece of the puzzle.”
If there is one thing that Gaofei Zhang learned from a night-time equestrian class at UConn on a bitter cold evening is that a warm, comfortable pair of boots is one of life’s necessities.
“After that night, I tried a lot of brands of boots,’’ says Zhang, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Allied Health Sciences in the College of Agriculture, Health and Natural History (CAHNR). “They either weren’t warm or weren’t waterproof, or they were slippery or stiff or hard to clean. I didn’t understand why you’d call them ‘snow boots’ if they aren’t good in the snow!’’
Zhang has a home in Mongolia where the temperature drops as low as minus-30 degrees. The locals create warm and comfortable work boots, but they aren’t stylish. Zhang thought she could adopt their footwear expertise and merge it with something fashionable, including multi-colored fur and beads.
“As an international student, I didn’t know anything about how to start a company and I was not brave enough to create it on my own,’’ she says. Last year she brought her idea to Innovation Quest (iQ), a UConn entrepreneurship program and competition that helps students develop their ideas into thriving startups. IQ provides workshops, mentoring, and startup funding for the most promising ideas.
Today, Zhang’s unique, handcrafted boots, marketed under the name MOGSki, are ready to go to market, and the 15 styles of boots and apres-ski accessories are drawing interest from many boutiques. Elegant and chic, they are made of sheep, mink, or cow hide and lined with shearling for added warmth.
Innovation Quest Workshops Begin on Feb. 4; Students Vie for $30,000 in Funding
Zhang is one of more than 2,500 UConn students who have participated in iQ since its inception 14 years ago. The program is open to UConn graduate and undergraduate students from any field of study.
IQ is run by Kevin Gardiner ’06 MBA, an adjunct professor in business and engineering. He has held management positions at both startups and long-established companies, including Macy’s, Oracle, and Welcome Commerce.
“We’re definitely looking for someone who has grit, someone who isn’t going to give up,’’ he says. “As an entrepreneur, you get far more ‘no’s’ than ‘yeses,’ and that’s something that you have to accept. I also look for someone with a passion for the problem they are tackling. When the iQ judges see that, they know they’ve got an entrepreneur whom they can bet on.”
This year’s event will begin with a kickoff workshop at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb, 4, followed by workshops on Feb. 12, Feb. 26, and March 5. All the workshops are virtual for the convenience of students. Participants may sign up at innovationquest.uconn.edu.
IQ had a 22% increase in participation last year, over 2023, and that’s a trend that Gardiner hopes to see continue.
Previous participants have created everything from stuffed animals to clothing to personal care items to businesses engaged in environmental cleanup. Gardiner says that in recent years, students seem particularly interested in health tech, mobile apps, and AI-related companies, but all good idea are welcome.
Last year’s first-place award went to Ph.D. candidate John Toribio, whose company Zemi Labs is creating wearable garments that provide biomechanical data, including heart and muscle performance.
“UConn continues to provide more and more opportunities for student entrepreneurs, and we continue to evolve this program,’’ Gardiner says. “We welcome students who just want to dip a toe in the water, as well as those who are fully committed to creating a business.’’
The iQ program has more than 50 expert mentors and more than half of them have been associated with the program since the beginning. Every year, iQ adds new advisers, all passionate about working with students.
“I want all students to feel welcome,’’ Gardiner says. “We have four virtual workshops to help students understand entrepreneurship. Are you ready to launch a business? If not, what do you need to get ready? We want anyone, even those with a more remote interest, to attend and learn.’’
After the workshops are completed, students can submit a formal application to enter the competition and compete for a share of $30,000 in funding. Final presentations are April 14 in Storrs and the top three startup companies will be announced. Many of the previous participants have gone on to start their companies or to pursue an entrepreneurial career.
Zhang Developed Business Expertise, Confidence
For Zhang, the last year has been enormously gratifying, both personally and professionally.
“IQ has been an incredible journey for me. It’s not only helped sharpen my presentation skills but also expanded my knowledge across so many areas—product positioning, sales, marketing, tax, finance, IP, law, storytelling, and more,’’ she says.
“The competition broadened my perspectives, strengthened my courage and determination, and provided invaluable mentorship and networking opportunities,’’ she says. “It’s truly been one of the most impactful milestones in my entrepreneurial journey, directly pushing forward the progress of my startup.’’
She says she would tell anyone considering entrepreneurship to give it a try.
“I would tell other entrepreneurs to be fearless in exploring new ideas and to use your own experiences to solve problems,’’ she says. “Be adaptable, build a network, find mentors, be persistent, and be open to both failures and successes.’’
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) again warns consumers about the company AuraSwiss and the services it is offering. BaFin has already issued a warning, on 3 January 2025, about AuraSwiss and its website auraswiss.net, which has since been deactivated. The unknown operators are now using the nearly identical website auraswiss.co. BaFin suspects the operators of the websites of offering consumers financial, investment and cryptoasset services without the required authorisation.
The content of the websites is identical to other platforms that BaFin has previously warned consumers about and that display the same opening sentence: “Invest in Success Prosper with Confidence!”
Anyone conducting banking business or providing financial, investment or cryptoasset services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation. Information on whether a particular company has been granted authorisation by BaFin can be found in BaFin’s database of companies.
BaFin is issuing this information on the basis of section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG) and section 10 (7) of the German Cryptomarkets Supervision Act (Kryptomaerkteaufsichtsgesetz).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
CAIRO, Egypt, January 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
University lecturers, students, and researchers affiliated with National Research Institutions invited to participate and showcase their publications and prototypes at IATF2025.
Afreximbank (www.Afreximbank.com), in collaboration with African Union Commission and AfCFTA Secretariat, is excited to launch its new initiative the “African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF”, during the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025). The key objective is to boost academic research output and increase collaboration between academia, industry, and policy makers across Africa in the bid to drive forward intra-African trade and industrialisation.
The platform aims to provide an opportunity for African, Caribbean and Diaspora lecturers, students, and researchers to showcase innovative research and prototypes that contribute towards intra-African trade and industrialisation. It also seeks to develop industry collaborations and exchange knowledge with leading professionals in the field during IATF2025 in Algiers, Algeria from September 4-10, 2025.
The African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF aims to promote and commercialise African research and innovation. It also acknowledges that there are many talented and creative Africans across Africa, the Caribbean and the Diaspora, who have brilliant ideas, concepts, publications and prototypes but lack the relevant support required to help them nurture their ideas and commercialise them.
The platform provides access to more comprehensive information, relevant data, and literature whilst exposing national researchers to potential investors or venture capitalists who could assist with commercialising their research output and prototypes.
A key objective of the Hub is to encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among lecturers and students by connecting them to trade exhibitions, start-up pitches, and networking opportunities with business leaders, potentially leading to new start-ups and increased academic-industry collaborations. It also provides opportunities for networking and potential collaboration with others in academia and practitioners across the continent, research institutions, industry, and policymakers.
Researchers, academics and university students are provided with access to information on emerging issues in the field of intra-African trade and can incorporate these into their research programs and academic curricula. Lastly, it enhances the capacity of lecturers and students in understanding and teaching the complexities of trade policies, trade standards, regional economic communities, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and industrialisation.
The hub aims to support the broader objectives of enhancing intra-African trade, fostering economic development, and building a connected, informed, and empowered next generation of African trade and investment leaders across all fields. This hub will allow students to exhibit their prototype inventions and published research papers on select topics, which are expected to adhere to world-class standards.
Mrs. Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank said: “IATF2025 is an important moment for African research and innovation, bringing together the brightest minds from universities and research institutions to contribute towards promoting intra-African trade and industrialisation. The African Research and Innovation Hub @IATF will serve as a groundbreaking platform for African, Caribbean and Diaspora lecturers, students, and researchers to demonstrate their capabilities, and connect with industry leaders, investors, and policymakers. This is more than an opportunity to display research; it’s a unique moment to shape the future of intra-African trade and industrialisation to drive economic growth across the continent.”
Entries will be judged by a panel consisting of distinguished trade experts, scholars, and industry leaders from across Africa. The panel will evaluate submissions based on innovation, relevance to African trade and industrialisation, and the potential for practical application.
Candidates should demonstrate a number of key criteria – including academic excellence and a passion for advancing research on intra-African trade, industrialisation, leadership and initiative in projects related to trade, industrialisation and innovation, and regional economic integration; high-quality research outputs or innovative prototypes aligned with IATF’s themes and a commitment to furthering knowledge and collaboration by sharing insights from the event with their academic institutions.
University Lecturers, University Students, and Researchers Affiliated with National Research Institutions from Africa, the Diaspora including the Caribbean are invited to submit their applications directly through this email: ARIH@intrafricantradefair.com by 28 March 2025, 23:59 GMT.
You can find out the eligibility criteria, application requirements and other details on the IATF2025 website: https://apo-opa.co/3EeHRvj
Considering the effect of poor sleep on the individual as well as on society and the economy, it is hardly surprising sleep has become an intense area of research focus in recent years. Most recently we have seen an increase in the offering of and appetite for so-called sleep retreats. But what are sleep retreats and are they helpful?
As with any specialised retreat, there is no set formula for what a sleep retreat should focus on. As such, the range of what is available is incredibly variable, from retreats that just focus on a sleep-friendly environment (a cool, dark, quiet and comfortable bedroom in a luxurious location) to ones specifically aimed at managing a specific sleep disorder, using evidence-based therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia.
There are even ones that provide, among other things, a regimen of vitamins and minerals delivered intravenously. Most, however, fall somewhere between focusing on meditation, exercise and relaxation.
Although there is good evidence that exercise, at the right intensity and duration, can be beneficial for sleep, it is unlikely that a lack of exercise alone causes poor sleep.
The main challenge is that sleep, as with diet or exercise, is just an overarching term for a complex behaviour, one that is influenced and can influence almost every area of a person’s life. For example, I am hearing a lot about supplementing with magnesium to aid sleep, but this is only likely to be beneficial if you are deficient in the first place.
What to consider before you splash the cash
So, should we approach the sleep retreat with caution? Not necessarily, it is more a case of doing your homework.
First, who does the sleep retreat cater for, and what do you hope to get from the retreat? The busy executive who only allows themselves four hours of sleep a night will have very different expectations and experiences to a person who has undiagnosed sleep apnoea and sleeps for nine hours but wants to know why they are so sleepy during the day.
This leads to the second consideration: what kind of pre-screening (for conditions that might be causing insomnia) and personalisation do they offer?
Many retreats advertise an individual consultation as part of the package but don’t really say what that will cover (a sleep, medical and psychiatric history and lifestyle assessment should be done as a bare minimum. This is vital when we consider that while well-established, evidence-based treatments for a variety of sleep disturbances and disorders exist, they are not suitable for everyone.
Also, there is a perception that non-pharmacological therapies, including nutraceuticals (products derived from food sources that said to have health benefits) and over-the-counter remedies (such as antihistamines, melatonin and valerian), don’t have side-effects, which is not necessarily the case.
The final considerations are: who is delivering the retreat? And is what they are offering based on sound scientific evidence?
Considering certification in sleep medicine is a hot topic in the sleep community at the moment, it is worth doing some research. For example, in the UK there is no pathway to becoming a sleep medicine specialist, consultant or coach. So who is leading the sleep retreat and is what they offering evidence-based?
Jason Ellis has consulted to Kayak on Sleep Tourism.
Campaigns and social media often encourage people to make eco-friendly choices like using less plastic or driving less. While these actions are important, focusing so much on what people do can distract from the much larger role that businesses and governments play in causing and solving environmental problems.
For example, some campaigns promote a “net zero hero” narrative that implies that people should take the lead in fighting climate change by changing their behaviour, recycling more, taking fewer flights or eating less meat.
While personal actions can help, there’s a danger this way of thinking can put too much responsibility on consumers. These individual actions are not enough to solve the problem.
By focusing so much on personal responsibility, we risk ignoring the systemic changes needed to address the climate crisis. These include switching to renewable energy on a large scale, enforcing strict industrial regulations and redesigning cities to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
Without these bigger steps, taken by governments and large organisations, we can’t make real progress in tackling climate change.
Energy companies and trade groups have been particularly good at shifting blame to consumers. They promote products and habits that claim to lower personal carbon footprints while lobbying against strong environmental laws that would require real emission cuts from industries.
Indeed, the carbon footprint calculator itself was developed in 2004 by a public relations firm working for BP. The tool encouraged individuals to calculate their personal impact on the environment, focusing on activities like driving, energy use, and diet.
According to reports on the campaign’s origins, this approach was part of a deliberate strategy to shift public attention away from the significant environmental harm caused by corporations, particularly the fossil fuel industry.
Despite this narrative, many corporations have failed to address their own emissions. A recent study found that only 60% of companies met their 2020 emissions targets, and 31% failed to report any outcomes.
This lack of accountability highlights how many major companies neglect their responsibilities, raising serious concerns about their commitment to 2030 climate goals.
These tactics maintain the status quo and creates a cycle of guilt and failure for consumers. Many people feel overwhelmed, leading to demotivation and even climate anxiety.
In my research into climate communication, I see how stories of guilt resonate with communities already facing misplaced blame. For example, in workshops with groups affected by austerity, people often felt guilty for not helping others more.
Over time, they realised this was due to failures in governance, not personal shortcomings. They saw a similar pattern in the climate crisis, learning to separate personal guilt from the larger roles of corporations and governments.
As a climate researcher and communicator, my job is to help move the conversation from personal guilt to shared responsibility and accountability. This shift empowers people as citizens, not just consumers, to demand action from leaders and industries.
Understanding that while personal responsibility is meaningful, the real power to create change lies with corporations and governments is vital. We need systemic change, not consumer guilt.
To tackle the climate crisis, we must make personal choices that reflect care for the environment. But we must also work together to demand that companies and governments adopt sustainable practices, for example through voting for leaders who prioritise environmental reform. The path to a sustainable future is collective action – not carrying the weight of guilt alone.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Sam Illingworth does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By David Scott, Head of Division, School of Business and Creative Industries, University of the West of Scotland
Scottish musician Patrick Doyle is an acclaimed composer of over 60 feature film scores with many attendant accolades, honours and awards. I first met him in 2001 while making a now long-vanished series on movie music called Silverscreen Beats for BBC Radio.
I visited him at his office on the Shepperton lot in Surrey. There, I watched, enchanted, as he flitted between desk and piano bringing his creativity to life with his incredible musicality and riotous humour illustrating scores like Carlito’s Way (1993), Sense and Sensibility (1995) and Gosford Park (2001).
So years later, when the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) presented Doyle with an honorary doctorate, I wasted no time in asking him to visit and talk to our students. The film of that event is finally available online and is a treat for all fans of film music.
I could pick 20 favourite Patrick Doyle soundtracks for this “best of” list. In the end, I selected these four and asked him to pick a fifth.
1. Henry V (1989)
Back in 2001, Doyle told me he loves to get the opportunity to compose a song for a movie soundtrack. Henry V, his first full-length feature score, includes one of the greatest examples, Non-Nobis Domine, sung after the key battle scene of Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 film.
It builds from a plain opening verse, sung in the film by young Doyle himself who remembers, with a humorous twinkle, trying to sing it slightly “off key” to enhance its authenticity.
Non-Nobis Domine in Henry V.
From that simple introduction, the composer gradually adds choral, orchestral and complex harmonic elements, skilfully balancing the elation and darkness of triumph. And for all its harmonic counterpoint and rich orchestration, he never lets you forget that lonely central melody, doubling it down the octave on bowed double basses as it reaches the climax.
The soundtrack recording, conducted by Simon Rattle with the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, is a thing of wonder. But to truly understand the perfect marriage of story and music – even if orchestras and choirs did not typically boom across 15th-century battlefields – experience Non-Nobis Domine in the original movie.
2. Brave (2012)
The Scottish tradition is never far from Patrick’s music. Indeed, O! For a Muse of Fire, the opening theme from Henry V, uses a recognisably Scottish sound, two notes played quickly across a five note interval, as a key motif, expanding this in a melodic phrase that recalls the cries of seagulls.
In Disney Pixar’s Brave (2012), Doyle brings an authentic voice to the imaginary Scotland of its central character, the indefatigable Merida. Her defiant exuberance is mirrored in the rhythm of pieces like The Games and Remember to Smile where the composer uses a traditional hand-held drum (the bodhran), bagpipes and fiddles, with the harmony instruments often playing in tight unison to rousing effect.
Remember to Smile from the Brave score.
If a key role of the movie soundtrack is to extend narrative or visual language, the effect wrought here is almost physical – to the extent that my own embarrassed grandchildren have had to restrain me from dancing on the couch during screenings of Brave.
Elsewhere though, the slow mystery of a beautifully animated landscape is matched by atmospheric, languid passages that call on deep reserves of the tradition and its melancholy.
3. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Patrick’s Catholic upbringing is another constant presence in his music. He was greatly influenced by the beautiful Irish melodic hymns which were imported to the west of Scotland. His soundtrack for Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility was nominated for a raft of music awards including the Baftas, the Oscars and Golden Globes.
It has marvellous passages of yearning and almost devotional melody and harmony, but I include it selfishly for the hymnal Weep No More You Sad Fountains alone. It’s one of my very favourite melodies, and one I was privileged to hear him play at close quarters at UWS.
The Dreame from Sense and Sensibility.
This majestic piece can be heard on the original soundtrack, sung by English soprano Jane Eaglen, on Patrick’s 2015 album of solo piano pieces and, of course, during my interview with him. Perhaps less well known from the same film is The Dreame, another devotional piece, again sung by Eaglen and set to a Ben Johnson poem. Complex in conception and virtuosic in execution, the piece is nevertheless understated, underplayed, and more devastating for it.
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4. Carlito’s Way (1993)
Doyle’s hilarious and hugely affectionate account of working with one of cinema’s greats, the director Brian DePalma, is a highlight of the conversation I had with him at UWS. His insights range from the creation of the music, the larger-than-life DePalma himself and descriptions of giant cranes chucking down fake rain onto a Biblical-scale location shoot in New York.
The music created for Carlito’s Way, DePalma’s crime classic starring Al Pacino, is dramatic and rangy, with passages of glacial orchestrated strings – the title theme is a highlight – sitting alongside solo piano, small jazz ensemble and interesting sonic juxtapositions.
The Elevator from Carlitto’s Way.
One piece, The Elevator, combines marimba, piano and plucked strings in unison against guiro and woodblocks. It establishes a theme that builds intensely, adding different instrumental colour towards the famous climax in Grand Central Station in New York. It is recognisably “movie music”, but tells its own melodic story.
5. Doyle’s choice – Indochine (1993)
When I asked Patrick to choose an “undiscovered gem for a new generation”, he quickly picked Indochine, the 1993 drama starring Catherine Deneuve. The movie won the Oscar for best foreign film in that year and the music is classic Doyle, melodic, rich in harmony and grand enough in orchestral scale to match the sumptuous visual language of the film.
Premier Rendez-Vous from Indochine.
That devotional, romantic sound is in full flow too. Pieces like Premier Rendez-Vous and Journey’s End are almost heady in conception and execution. Among the most distinctive themes in this hugely expansive work are also among the most distinctive pieces in Doyle’s own canon: two sure-footed tango and rumba pieces and the title theme itself with its unusual and atmospheric combination of ethereal wordless vocal, eastern bass drum, gong and finger bells. Essential.
David Scott does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
And because his tariffs programme will challenge World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, Trump is likely to continue the US policy of stymieing the WTO’s appellate body, which adjudicates on trade disputes between states. US withdrawals from other international regulatory bodies are also possible.
Each of the bodies from which Trump withdrew last time around survived. However, threats to global regulatory bodies today could be greater than they were during Trump’s first term.
In the US and beyond, deglobalisation has so far been evident only in state policies, and not in trade flows. China, for example, has set up and now dominates several regional investment and trade organisations to provide alternatives to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank.
However, tariff retaliation and bloc-based regulatory standards could soon turn “slowbalisation” – a trend whereby political support for open trade has gradually weakened and the rate of growth in world trade has slowed – into trade deglobalisation.
We have been here before. The 1930s were characterised by high tariffs, breakup of trade into blocs, and withdrawals and expulsions of major powers from global bodies. In the 1940s, which saw the breakout of the second world war, trade was conducted almost exclusively among allies.
Yet almost all international regulatory bodies survived during this period, albeit they were bruised and were able to achieve less as a result.
Our study, which was published in 2021, distinguished pathways through which three distinct groups of global regulatory bodies either survived or else handed over their archives, networks and organisational capacity to their UN-era successors.
Preserving rule sets
One inter-war group of industry-specific global regulators oversaw capital-intensive and infrastructure-heavy international industries such as telecommunications and railways. This group included the International Telecommunications Union and a modest alphabet soup of closely cooperating railway bodies.
In these fields, interconnection depended on common but frequently updated and adjusted rule sets for technology, accounting and routing management. They also required continuous statistical collections by international bureaus.
Unable to agree major regulatory innovation after the global economic crisis began in 1931, these bodies reduced their focus to managing and maintaining their existing rule sets and information services.
On the outbreak of war in Europe, their bureaus went into a phase of severely reduced activity, with many of their activities suspended. However, they continued to collect and publish statistics, maintained their networks within member states, and developed ambitious plans for peacetime.
The International Telecommunications Union and the railway authorities resumed operations shortly after the end of hostilities with their rule sets intact.
Individual brokering work
A second cluster were generic bodies, responsible for the oversight of labour relations and aspects of capital flows. These are faster-moving fields than infrastructure-heavy industries. These bodies included the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Economic and Financial Organisation of the League of Nations (EFO).
They provided expertise for negotiating agreements on particular problems. In the case of the ILO, this included conventions on working time, women’s working conditions, and forced labour. The EFO brokered financial support with strict conditions for Austria and Hungary, then new and struggling states which faced acute financial crises in the early 1920s.
These organisations faced increasing difficulties during the deglobalisation of the 1930s. But they continued to provide bilaterally negotiated support for many countries. The ILO, for example, provided technical assistance to some south American governments on the design of social insurance schemes, while the EFO’s financial committee worked with central banks.
Survival or bequest was secured by the brokering work of key individual leaders who were able to exploit fluid networks among states, firms and unions in global labour and capital debates.
The EFO secured the transfer of key staff, networks and traditions to post-war bodies including the UN Economic and Social Council and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. And the ILO’s director-general, Edward Phelan, was crucial in negotiating with the US to relaunch the organisation with a new programme for the post-war era.
New international clubs
A third group of regulatory bodies was created precisely in response to the 1930s global economic crisis. These were international commodity unions for goods such as tin, rubber, tea and sugar.
Most were publicly run cartels, often backed by the imperial blocs that dominated the fragmenting world trade system. Like many cartels, their cohesion was fragile. But many of those that were successfully established managed to survive the 1930s and the war that followed.
Their survival depended less on the formal administrative organisation of the infrastructure bodies or the individual brokering work that sustained the capital and labour bodies. It was dependent more on their ability to draw upon club-like collective bonds both among major producing and exporting firms and among officials across key producer states and imperial authorities.
Within the tightly bonded International Tin Committee, for example, a succession of agreements on prices, quotas and voting rights were settled. Despite initial US reluctance to see these international commodity unions continue into peacetime, President Harry Truman was persuaded of their temporary value for economic order during reconstruction.
Some even continued until the 1970s, when they collapsed in that decade’s global economic turmoil. Freer markets then superseded intergovernmental cartels.
Trump’s policies, as well as those of China, Russia and other major powers, may again endanger the roles of global regulatory bodies. But some will survive by focusing on the routine maintenance services provided by their bureaus, and some will empower individual leaders to negotiate their way to reinvention and survival.
Others will pass their capacity to new agencies when deglobalisation eventually abates. And some new international bodies may emerge in response to conditions in industries most adversely affected by the changing terms of trade.
Our work has led us to conclude that which strategy is chosen depends on two things. First, on the features of the field being regulated. And second on the informal social organisation within the international bodies and member states, which shapes how people can act and the skills they can sustain.
It remains to be seen how informal social organisation in the WHO and climate treaty system will now evolve after US withdrawal.
Eva Heims has received funding from the ESRC.
Martha Prevezer and Perri 6 do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on DeepSeek, a new AI Chatbot.
Prof Neil Lawrence, DeepMind Professor of Machine Learning at Department of Computer Science and Technology, University of Cambridge, said:
“I think the progress is unsurprising, and I think it’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the type of innovation we can expect in these models. History shows that big firms struggle to innovate as they scale, and what we’ve seen from many of these big firms is a substitution of compute investment for the intellectual hard work. I’ve been suggesting that this has made the conditions ideal for a “Dreadnaught moment” where current technology is rapidly rendered redundant by new thinking. I don’t think DeepSeek is it, because the innovations deployed are relatively incremental, but it shows that we’re still in the age of the Newcomen engine, there’s plenty of space for budding James Watts to emerge, and that they are less likely to come from established players.”
Comment provided by the SMC pilot for Ireland:
Dr Deepak Padmanabhan, Senior Lecturer, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Queen’s University Belfast, said:
“DeepSeek is causing massive disruption in financial markets. Mainstream narratives contrast the technology with ChatGPT and illustrate the differences in technological aspects. The far more long-reaching effect it would have would not be technological, it would be political, for it could disrupt the paradigms entrenched in the tech industry in substantive ways. There could be several aspects:
“Open-Source Software: DeepSeek’s code to train AI models is open source. This means that anybody can download the code and use it to develop their own AI. This is a significant step towards democratisation of AI. The open-source availability of code for an AI that competes well with contemporary commercial models is a significant change. Yet, if one is to download and run the code to develop their own AI, they would still need to have access to large datasets and tremendous computational power – but this is nevertheless a massive step forward.
“Computational Power: AI has been noted to pose massive computational requirements over the past decade leading to corporate dominance in AI research [ https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ade2420 ]. With massive compute requirements yielding well to monopolisation of the space, big tech, and the government funding landscape (that are in turn influenced by big tech) have shown limited interests in prioritising AI research towards reducing computational requirements. DeepSeek’s models have been noted to require far lesser computational requirements than today’s commercial models. This could potentially ignite new interest in reducing computational requirements for future AI, with positive effects towards environment.
“No plans for Commercialisation: It has been highlighted that DeepSeek has no plans for commercialisation [ https://www.chinatalk.media/p/deepseek-ceo-interview-with-chinas ]. This makes it a very interesting development in that this marks a moment when a player with qualitatively different ideas enters a commercially-dominated space. This is a change against the prevailing trends – OpenAI was noted as moving to a full commercial model (from a partly non-profit model) in recent times. It may be interesting how commercial players respond to this challenge.
“In other words, the entry of DeepSeek could potentially hasten a paradigm shift in AI and pose a real challenge to commercial dominance in the sector. It may be a little too far to see this as a pathway towards taking AI into public hands, but that’s the direction of travel that DeepSeek brings to the table.
“Cheaper AI, Pervasive AI: One of the potential first effects would be cheaper consumer AI, and a fall in the profit margins within the tech sector. But it could also accelerate disruption by making AI pervasive, bringing more sectors and more jobs under threat.
“Cautious Optimism: It may be tempting to hope that open-source AI would lead to effects similar to what was seen in the 1990s when the dominance of Microsoft’s windows was challenged very well by open-source Linux. Yet, AI is not just software and computational resources – there is data too. So, there are further hurdles to overcome. We could view this development with optimism, but we must be cautious. For example, the ethos of the open-source movement was diluted with corporate players substantively entering the system leading to what has been called a ‘Corporate dominance in Open Source Ecosystems’ [ https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3540250.3549117 ]. To develop, sustain and strengthen open-source ethos within AI would require many more developments in the same direction as DeepSeek.”
New funding for bus fares, drug services and free school meals.
Agreements have been reached separately with the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Green Party to support the 2025-26 Budget.
Finance Secretary Shona Robison has announced she will table amendments to the 2025-26 Budget Bill to allocate £16.7 million funding to: • Bolster drug and alcohol services, including £1 million for specialist support for babies born addicted to drugs • Begin a £2 bus fare cap pilot in one regional transport area • Further strengthen support for hospices from £4 million to £5 million • Increase Nature Restoration by £3 million to its highest ever level • Invest in targeted support for the College sector and protect Corseford College • Extend free school meal eligibility in S1-S3 in eight local authority areas for pupils in receipt of Scottish Child Payment • Offer flexibility for Orkney Island Council in terms of capital and resource funding
Ms Robison said:
“We are determined to deliver on the issues that matter most to the people of Scotland – and that is why this Budget invests in public services and in eradicating child poverty, acts in the face of the climate emergency, and supports jobs.
“The First Minister was clear that we would bring forward a budget by Scotland for Scotland, and the negotiations we have taken forward have been in that spirit. These additional initiatives demonstrate the value of a progressive approach and dialogue.
“During every stage of this process the Liberal Democrats and the Greens have engaged in our discussions in a positive and constructive manner.
“Through seeking compromise I believe we are delivering a budget that will strengthen services and support our communities. With the agreements with these two parties now in place this will secure a majority in parliament in support of the Budget Bill.”
The new initiatives will be funded through reallocation of funding for debt servicing in 2025-26, given that debt servicing costs will be lower than expected when the draft Budget was published; and an additional drawdown of £3 million from revenues raised from Scotwind, to support nature restoration.
Aberdeen City Council is offering a one-time grant of £500 to individual local businesses that want to show their support for Spectra – Scotland’s Festival of Light – when it returns to the city next week.
Spectra, runs from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 February and will see Aberdeen city centre filled with artwork, light installations, projections and thousands of visitors.
The Council is interested in hearing from businesses on how they might ‘Spectra-fy’ their business but also how, they could incorporate light-based displays, decorations and adornments to their premises for the duration of the festival.
Councillor Martin Greig, culture spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, said: “Our one-off grants to local businesses are intended to make the city and the city centre even more vibrant during the period of the Spectra displays. This has become a very popular annual event and we want the business community to benefit as much as possible from the increased footfall.
“Last year there were over 100,000 visitors to the festival over the four days. Businesses are invited to consider how they can use the Council’s special grant scheme to take advantage of the increased footfall, for example, they could apply to extend opening hours or find other ways of attracting customers. It will be a splendid celebration hence it is important to take the interests of traders into account.”
Applications will be accepted until 28 February 2025 or until such time as funding has been fully allocated. Retrospective bids will be considered providing they are able to provide evidence that money spent was explicitly tied to the Spectra festival.
All complete applications received will be assessed and verified against the eligibility criteria by Aberdeen City Council. Incomplete applications may not be reviewed.
Successful applicants will be informed by offer letter. All decisions will be made at the discretion of Aberdeen City Council and are subject to the availability of funds.
This scheme has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
For more information on Spectra 2025 and to sign up for the latest news and offers go to www.spectraaberdeen.com
Information about grants available to businesses to host and support other events in the city is available here.
ENESS – Sky Castle – a dreamy, interactive sound and light installation, featuring a cluster of inflatable arches that span in colourful symphony across public space. It will be located in Union Terrace Gardens during Spectra 2025. Image by Gavin Jowitt photography.
The Government has adopted a bill that aims to ensure that more people who have been issued with removal orders return to their country of origin.
The Government wants to streamline returns and reduce incentives for aliens issued with removal orders to remain in Sweden. The bill therefore includes the following proposals:
that a removal order should apply for five years from the date an alien leaves the country, or longer if a re-entry ban is in force;
the option of issuing longer re-entry bans than is currently possible if an alien has not left the country when the deadline for voluntary departure has expired.
In the bill, the Government also proposes that the possibility of applying for a residence permit for work from within the country following a failed asylum application – sometimes referred to as ‘changing track’ – be eliminated.
“Today, around one in four asylum seekers have already had their cases examined. Ensuring that people who receive expulsion orders also leave the country is fundamental to maintaining confidence in our migration system. These proposals reduce incentives to stay in Sweden once an expulsion order has been issued,” says Minister for Migration Johan Forssell.
“Sweden has had lax rules on returns for decades and this is an important step towards changing that. ‘Changing track’, which has undermined regulated immigration, will be abolished. The regulation whereby expulsion orders become statute-barred after just four years will be removed and replaced with a regulation that will force more people to return home,” says Ludvig Aspling, migration policy spokesperson for the Sweden Democrats.
It is proposed that the legislative amendments enter into force on 1 April 2025.
Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Greg James has revealed that superstar Sam Fender will be headlining Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 which will be held in Liverpool from Friday 23 May – Sunday 25 May. Myles Smith, Wet Leg, Blossoms and Lola Young (following her debut UK #1 with ‘Messy’ as announced on Radio 1’s Official Chart last Friday) were also announced as the first acts set to perform.
Over the course of the weekend, around 100 acts will take to the stage, from the biggest artists in the world to exciting new and emerging artists, performing across four stages: Radio 1 Main Stage, Radio 1 New Music Stage, Radio 1 Dance and BBC Introducing. With over 100,000 music fans expected to attend, the event promises to be an unforgettable music spectacular.
The first artists to be announced are (in alphabetical order):
Blossoms
Lola Young
Myles Smith
Sam Fender
Wet Leg
Radio 1’s Big Weekend, the station’s flagship live music event, kicks off the UK’s festival season by bringing some of the biggest UK and international artists to cities that may not otherwise host such a large scale event. From Taylor Swift in Norwich, Miley Cyrus in Middlesbrough, Stormzy in Exeter, Lana Del Rey in Hull, Ed Sheeran in Coventry, Bruno Mars in Derry/Londonderry, The 1975 in Dundee, and Sabrina Carpenter in Luton, music fans around the UK have seen superstar acts perform on their doorsteps. The festival shines a light on the surrounding area and provides a major boost to the local economy, with huge demand for tickets ensuring the event sells out almost immediately every year. Last year’s festival generated £7 million for the host city of Luton.
This year, the BBC is working closely with Liverpool City Council to ensure that Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 is a safe and secure environment for all those attending the festival.
Sam Fender says: “Excited to announce we’re coming to Liverpool for Radio 1’s Big Weekend in May. Thanks for inviting us – see you there!”
Myles Smith says: “This is unreal. Big Weekend was always a dream of mine, and to be on the line-up again is insane. Thank you to everyone who’s been listening, supporting, and coming to shows. I couldn’t have done this without you. See you there!”
Blossoms say: “We’re delighted that Radio 1 have invited us to play at this year’s Big Weekend. Even more so because it’s taking place in Liverpool, a city close to our hearts, where we’ve worked and recorded every single one of our albums since our debut in 2016. It’s going to be a really special weekend and we can’t wait to perform.”
Lola Young says: “I can’t wait to play Radio 1’s Big Weekend. It’s going to get Messy! Me + the Liverpool crowd = One Big Weekend… see what I did there!!”
Greg James says: “FINALLY…Radio 1 HAS COME BACK…to Liv…er…pooool!
“The last time I was there I was doing a big game of Hide and Seek and was hidden in the Liver building for a week so it’ll be nice to see some daylight and enjoy it properly this time. We can’t wait to bring the biggest artists in the world to this brilliant city in May. Everyone’s going to LOVE the line-up!”
Aled Haydn Jones, Head of Radio 1, says: “We’re thrilled to bring Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025 to Liverpool. Liverpool’s vibrant music scene and rich history make it the perfect setting for this iconic event. With incredible artists already announced and more to be announced in the coming months, it’s set to be an unmissable weekend.”
Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, says: “Radio 1’s Big Weekend has found the perfect home this year in Liverpool. Our music, our audiences and our history of delivering world class major events add up to what is certain to be an incredible three days this May.”
Further information about Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2025, including headliners and full line-up and ticketing details will be announced on Radio 1 in the coming months.
BBC Radio 1 will broadcast live from the festival site across the weekend, with performances and tracks available live and on demand across Radio 1’s iPlayer channel and BBC Sounds.
Radio 1 and Liverpool City Council will be working together to try and make this the most sustainable outdoor live music event ever produced in the city in line with the BBC’s Sustainability programme and Liverpool’s status as the first UN Accelerator City for climate action. For more information about Liverpool please head to the Visit Liverpool website.
Lancaster City Council has welcomed the recent decision to extend the operating lifespan of Heysham’s two nuclear power stations.
Heysham One
At a recent meeting of Full Council, the following motion was passed:
This Council welcomes last month’s announcement that following a detailed technical review of the power stations, EDF’s licensee board has decided to extend generation dates for Heysham 1 by one year to 2027 and Heysham 2 by two years to 2030.
This decision is great news for Heysham and the wider local community. The power stations are a provider of high skill, high wage jobs, and the extension of the generating life of the power stations secures employment for more than 1,500 staff and contractors. The power stations are anchor institutions, with supply chains and spending power boosting the local economy. They are also a major source of business rate revenue for the Council, whose significant contributions help secure a higher standard of local services and protect more Council jobs than would otherwise be possible.
This decision is also excellent news nationally. Extending the generating lives of the Heysham stations will bolster the UK’s security of supply and support plans for the rapid expansion of renewables by helping to maintain grid stability. Nuclear power is a low carbon source of energy, and a key element of the Government’s strategy to provide clean power by 2030. Ensuring the baseload with nuclear power also helps limit the UK’s dependence on imported gas, a regrettable situation which has caused an energy crisis and led to inflated household bills.
Council has confidence in the safety considerations underpinning this decision. We note that ongoing generation from the stations will ultimately depend not on decisions by EDF, but on the outcome of future inspections, the results of which are reviewed by the independent regulator, the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
Looking to the future, Council notes that Heysham is a location earmarked by the Government for the potential siting of one or more Small Modular Reactors (SMR), that EDF is an approved development partner for these new technologies, and that the first reactors of this type are intended to be delivered by 2029. Council supports bringing ‘New Nuclear’ to Heysham and welcomes the continuation of the benefits this would bring to both our residents and the rest of the UK.
Council resolves that:
The Chief Executive will write to the Secretary” of State for Energy and Climate Change, Cat Smith MP and Lizzi Collinge MP, welcoming the generating life extensions to Heysham 1 & 2, and conveying our support for bringing New Nuclear to Heysham and a timeline for this project to achieve, so we can plan for the future engineers and the stability of the Council.
That we publicise these views via our various communications channels.
That a full response to any consultation on New Nuclear is prepared on behalf of the Council by Business Committee at the appropriate time.
Following Friday’s announcement regarding Vintage by the Sea 2025, Lancaster City Council has released the following statement.
Councillor Caroline Jackson, leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “We are all deeply saddened by the announcement about Vintage by the Sea and know this was not an easy decision for the organisers, who have put so much into the event over the years to make it a success.
“From a city council perspective we were once again looking forward to supporting the festival, but we are just one of the festival’s funders and recognise that the landscape is tough and other organisations may have had to alter their priorities due to the current state of the economy.
“Although it is disappointing that the event will not take place in 2025, the door is still open for the future and the council will provide both Deco Publique and Hemingway Design with every encouragement and help they need to return in the future.
“We are also looking forward to working with Deco on other projects separate from Vintage by the Sea and together we are exploring a number of exciting opportunities.
“The council also remains committed to supporting other festival and event organisers and only recently agreed to fund Baylight to the tune of £15,000 in direct funding as well as ‘in-kind’ support equal to £15,000, which will cover costs associated with public safety such as road closure and barriers.
“Without this support the event may not have taken place in 2025 and is an example of how the city council is supporting the arts and events sector.”
