Source: The Conversation – USA – By Matthew Sturchio, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University; Faculty Afffiliate in Ecology, Colorado State University
Solar panels on grasslands can generate electricity and useful forage or wildlife habitat.Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND
Grasses growing in the shade of a solar array were only a little less productive than those growing nearby in open grassland during years of average and above-average rainfall – but in a dry year, the shaded plants grew much better than those growing in full sun. That’s the result of a four-year study we conducted in a semi-arid grassland of northern Colorado.
When choosing a location for generating solar power, consistent sunlight and interconnection to the electric grid are key criteria. In Colorado the combination of new electrical transmission infrastructure, abundant sunlight and short vegetation that is easy to maintain have made grasslands a prime target for solar development.
Grasslands, like those that dominate the eastern plains of Colorado, provide important habitat for wildlife and serve as a critical food source for livestock. Although these grasslands have long been productive despite their normally arid environment, a warmer climate has increased the potential for more frequent and severe drought. For instance, a recent global study found that previous research likely underestimated the threat of extreme drought in grasslands.
Semi-arid grassland near the Colorado-Wyoming border. Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND Semi-arid grassland near Cheyenne, Wyo., with close-ups of flowers of some of the plants that grow there. Matthew Sturchio, CC BY-ND
At Colorado State University, biology professor Alan Knapp and I started the ecovoltaics research group to study the effects of solar development in grasslands. Our primary goal is to ensure an ecologically informed solar energy future.
Solar panels create microclimates
Strings of solar panels redirect rain to the edge of panels. Because of this, small rain events can provide biologically relevant amounts of water instead of evaporating quickly.
Simultaneously, solar panels shade plants growing beneath them. Some arrays, including the ones used in our study, move the panels to follow the path of the Sun across the sky.
This results in a combination of sun and shade that is very different from the uninterrupted sunlight beating down on plants in a grassland without solar panels. In turn, patterns of plant stress and water loss also differ in grasses under solar arrays.
A time-lapse video shows how a single-axis tracking solar array at Jack’s Solar Garden modifies patterns of sunlight availability.
How grasses respond to a solar panel canopy
To get a handle on how these different conditions affect grasses, we measured plant physiological response during the early stages of our study. More specifically, we tracked leaf carbon and water exchange throughout daylight hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., over 16 weeks in summer 2022 at Jack’s Solar Garden, a solar array over grassland in Longmont, Colorado.
In general, plants that are adapted to full sun conditions, including most grasses, might not be expected to grow as well in partial shade. But we suspected that growth benefits from reduced water stress could outweigh potential reductions in growth from shading. We call this the “aridity mitigation potential” hypothesis.
Sure enough, we found evidence of aridity mitigation across multiple years, with the most pronounced effect during the driest year.
When water is scarce, increases in grassland productivity are more valuable because there isn’t as much around. Therefore, increasing grassland production in dry years could provide more available food for grazing animals and help offset some of the economic harm of drought in rangelands.
Informing sustainable solar development in grasslands
So far, our research has been limited to a grassland dominated by a cool season grass: smooth brome. Although it is a perennial commonly planted for hay, fields dominated by smooth brome lack the diversity of life found in native grasslands.
Future work in native shortgrass prairies would provide new information about how solar panels affect plant water use, soils and grazing management in an ecosystem with 30% less precipitation than Jack’s Solar Garden. We’re beginning that work now at the shortgrass ecovoltaic research facility near Nunn, Colorado. This facility, which will be fully operational later in 2025, was constructed with support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, through the wider SCAPES project.
Testing the effects of solar panels over grasslands in a native ecosystem with even greater aridity will help us develop a clearer picture of ways solar energy can be developed in concert with grassland health.
Matthew Sturchio works for Cornell University and serves as a Faculty Affiliate at Colorado State University. Funding for this work came from US Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Systems project entitled “Sustainably Co-locating Agricultural and Photovoltaic Electricity Systems,” led by the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Grant Number: 2021-68012-35898, 2021–2025.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ivis García, Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning, Texas A&M University
Hurricane Harvey inundated the Cottage Grove neighborhood of Houston in 2018.Scott Olson/Getty Images
When powerful storms hit your city, which neighborhoods are most likely to flood? In many cities, they’re typically low-income areas. They may have poor drainage, or they lack protections such as seawalls.
New Orleans’ Lower Ninth Ward, where hundreds of people died when Hurricane Katrina broke a levee in 2005, and Houston’s Kashmere Gardens, flooded by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, are just two among many examples.
Hurricane Irma flooded Immokalee, Fla., in 2017. The community, home to many farmworkers, had infrastructure problems before the storm, and recovery was slow. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert
The new guidance required cities to both consider social vulnerability among neighborhoods in their disaster mitigation planning and involve socially vulnerable communities in those discussions in ways they hadn’t before.
However, as the U.S. heads into what forecasters predict will be an active 2025 hurricane season, that guidance has changed again. The Trump administration’s new FEMA Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide 2025 talks about public involvement in planning but strips any mention of equity, income or social vulnerability. It mentions using “projections for the future” to plan but removes references to climate change.
In the past, local mitigation plans just focused on fixing roads or protecting property in general from storm damage, without recognizing that socially vulnerable groups, such as low-income or elderly populations, were more likely to be hardest hit and take much longer to recover.
Low-income neighborhoods in Puerto Rico have been slow to recover from 2017’s Hurricane Maria. Ivis Garcia
The FEMA 2023 guidance encouraged communities to consider both the highest risks and which neighborhoods would be least able to respond in a disaster and address their needs.
The equity requirement was designed to ensure that local plans didn’t just protect those with the most wealth or political influence but considered who needs the help most. That might mean providing information in multiple languages in emergency alerts or investing in flood prevention in neighborhoods with aging infrastructure like roads, bridges and flood barriers.
How New York City’s 2024 plan helped
New York City’s 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan, for example, included a thorough social vulnerability assessment to identify neighborhoods with high percentages of people who were living in poverty or were older, disabled or weren’t fluent in English.
Knowing where disaster risk and social vulnerability overlapped allowed the city to boost investments in flood protection, emergency communication and cooling centers during summer heat in neighborhoods such as the South Bronx and East Harlem. These neighborhoods historically faced some of the greatest risks from disasters but saw little investment.
The NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice mapped the risk of storm surge flooding in the 2020s (purple) and 2080s (dark blue), and neighborhoods that fall under the city’s ‘disadvantaged communities’ criteria. A 1% risk means a 1% of chance of flooding in any given year, also referred to as a 100-year flood risk. NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
Further, New York’s plan calls for expanding outreach and early warning systems in multiple languages and enhancing infrastructure in areas with high concentrations of Spanish speakers. These kinds of changes help ensure that vulnerable residents are more likely to be better protected when disaster strikes.
Why is FEMA dropping that emphasis now?
FEMA’s reasoning for the guidance change in 2025: make it quicker and easier to get plans approved and unlock federal funding for projects like flood barriers, storm shelters and buyouts in areas at high risk of damage.
It’s a pragmatic move, but one that raises big questions about whether residents who are least able to help themselves will be overlooked again when the next disaster strikes.
And FEMA isn’t alone — other agencies, like the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and its Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program, have made similar changes to their own disaster planning rules. Community Development Block Grant funds for disaster recovery are flexible and can be used for things like rebuilding homes and businesses, restoring infrastructure and helping local economies recover.
What this means for low-income areas
Some experts worry that the changes might mean low-income and other at-risk communities will be ignored again when cities develop their next five-year mitigation plans. Research from the Government Accountability Office shows that when something is required by law, it gets done. When it’s just a suggestion, it’s easy to skip, especially in places with fewer resources or less political will to help.
But the short-lived rules may have already helped in one important way: They made cities and states pay attention to social vulnerability, climate change and the needs of all their residents.
Many local leaders have learned the value of using data to understand where socially vulnerable residents face high disaster risks. And they have a model now for involving communities in decision-making. Even if those steps are no longer required, the hope is that these good habits will stick.
Where and how communities invest in disaster protection affects who stays safe and who faces higher risks from flooding, hurricanes and other disasters. When government policy shifts, it’s not just about paperwork – it’s about real people.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
About 1 in 4 U.S. children – nearly 19 million – have at least one parent with substance use disorder. This includes parents who misuse alcohol, marijuana, prescription opioids or illegal drugs. Our estimate reflects an increase of over 2 million children since 2020 and an increase of 10 million from an earlier estimate using data from 2009 to 2014.
To arrive at this estimate, our team used data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in 2023, the most recently released year of data. Nearly 57,000 people ages 12 and up responded.
Why it matters
As a researcher who studies substance use in adolescents and young adults, I know these children are at considerable risk for the disorder, and other mental health issues, such as behavioral problems and symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Substance use disorder is a psychiatric condition marked by frequent and heavy substance use. The disorder is characterized by numerous symptoms, including behaviors such as driving while intoxicated and fights with family and friends over substance use.
Despite the new study’s findings, mental health programs for children at risk could be cut.
Of the 19 million children, our study found about 3.5 million live with a parent who has multiple substance use disorders. More than 6 million have a parent with both a substance use disorder and significant symptoms of depression, anxiety or both. Alcohol is by far the most common substance used, with 12.5 million children affected.
Our 19 million estimate is significantly larger than an earlier estimate based on older data. That study, which reviewed data from 2009 to 2014, indicated that 8.7 million U.S. children – or roughly 1 in 8 – lived with a parent, or parents, with substance use disorder. That’s a difference of about 10 million children.
This happened primarily because between the time of the two studies – from 2014 to 2023 – the criteria for diagnosing someone with substance use disorder became broader and more inclusive. That change alone accounted for more than an 80% jump in the estimate of children affected by parental substance use disorder. There was also a further increase of 2 million in the number of affected children since 2020, which reflects the rising number of parents with a substance use disorder.
What’s next
There is a critical need to better identify parents with substance use disorder and the children who are affected by it. In my experience, many pediatric clinicians screen children for substance use, but they are much less likely to screen accompanying parents. So the first step is to make such screenings common and expected for both children and their adult caregivers.
But that is not the case now. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an expert panel that recommends screening and prevention best practices for clinicians, does not yet recommend such a screening for children, although that could help direct those in need to treatment and prevent the worst outcomes from substance use disorder.
Additional intervention, which requires funding, is needed from federal, state and local government. This may seem fanciful in an age of scrutinized government budgets. But the alternative is a bill that comes due later: millions of adults exposed to this disorder at an early age, only to struggle decades later with their own substance use and mental health problems.
The Research Brief is a short take on interesting academic work.
Ty Schepis receives funding from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the US Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Any views expressed are those of Dr. Schepis and do not necessarily represent the official views of NIH/NIDA, the FDA, or SAMHSA. These funders had no role in any articles, and there was no editorial direction or censorship from the funders.
Detroit and other former immigrant gateway metro areas such as Buffalo, New York; Cleveland, Ohio; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and St. Louis, Missouri experienced significant immigration in the early 20th century. These population booms were followed by a period of decline in immigration numbers.
Now these cities are using branding strategies to construct inclusive identities designed to attract and retain immigrants. It may be surprising to think of a city branding itself, but local governments often work with private nonprofits to shape and manage their city’s image. They try to build a unique and desirable identity for the city, differentiate it from competitors, and attract new businesses, residents and tourists this way.
Here are three reasons why Detroit and other cities want to welcome immigrants:
1. Encouraging economic growth and attracting talent
Immigrants also fill labor needs, from high-tech fields such as engineering and research to manual labor sectors such as construction and food service.
This economic impact extends to tourism as well. The region’s marketing campaigns embracing diversity shape how visitors perceive the region. The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau spotlights the unique experiences the city’s diverse neighborhoods offer to tourists.
2. Enhancing community and regional resilience
Regional resilience describes a region’s ability to withstand and adapt to challenges such as economic shocks and natural disasters. Cities like Detroit that are still trying to bounce back from deindustrialization know from experience how critical this is.
Immigration contributes to regional resilience, research shows. In addition to supporting local economies and strengthening the labor force, the arrival of immigrants in Detroit has helped offset native-born population decline, stabilizing the overall population and bolstering local tax bases.
According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the Detroit metro area’s native-born population decreased by 58,693 people during that 13-year period, while the foreign-born population increased by 109,154. The top five countries of origin for immigrants in the metro area are India, Iraq, Mexico, Yemen and Lebanon.
From 2023 to 2024, the metro area’s population gained 40,347 immigrants and lost 11,626 native born residents – resulting in a population gain of 28,721.
Efforts to welcome immigrants in Detroit and its surrounding communities contributed to this trend of immigrant population growth offsetting overall population decline.
3. Promoting social cohesion and enhanced civic engagement
Successful place brands are rooted in inclusion and a strong civil society. Detroit’s rich tapestry of cultures in areas such as Dearborn and Hamtramck creates a vibrant regional identity.
Organizations such as Global Detroit’s Welcoming Michigan actively support local grassroots efforts to build mutual respect and ensure that immigrants are able to participate fully in the social, civic and economic fabric of their hometowns.
Examples include Global Detroit’s Social Cohesion Initiative, Common Bond and Opportunity Neighborhoods. These initiatives help bring neighborhood residents of various backgrounds together to share their cultures, support each other’s small businesses and socialize. Such programs strengthen the region’s democratic foundations and enhance its appeal as a welcoming and inclusive place to live.
Forging a way forward
Detroit has found that welcoming immigrants and integrating them into the life of the city is one way to navigate the economic, political and cultural challenges it faces.
And it is not alone in embracing this strategy. Other cities practicing similar strategies include Baltimore; Boise, Idaho; Charlotte, North Carolina; Dallas; Dayton, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; New Orleans; Pittsburgh; Roanoke, Virginia; and Salt Lake City.
Although not all cities choose to pursue such strategies, in those that do, local leaders signal a region ready for a globalized future.
Paul N. McDaniel previously received funding from the National Geographic Society, served on the Content Advisory Board for the Welcoming Standard and on the Steering Committee for Welcoming America’s One Region Initiative, and is a member of the American Association of Geographers.
Darlene Xiomara Rodriguez was co-PI on funding received from the National Geographic Society and served on the national pilot program with Welcoming America One Region Initiative’s Steering Committee and Program Evaluation Team.
Biotech company Colossal Biosciences made headlines in April 2025 after claiming it had “successfully restored … the dire wolf to its rightful place in the ecosystem.” Three wolf pups – Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi – were born through this de-extinction project.
But behind the scenes lies a more complicated reality.
What Colossal actually did was edit a small number of gray wolf genes, aiming to create physical traits that resemble those of the extinct dire wolf. The edited embryos were implanted into surrogate domestic dogs.
Many scientistsand reportersexpressed skepticism about the claim that this amounts to restoring the dire wolf. Experts pointed out that tweaking a handful of genes does not replicate the full biological reality of a long-extinct species. Most of the dire wolf’s genetic makeup remains unknown and unreplicated.
This gap between appearance and biological identity raises a deeper question: What exactly is a species, and how do you decide whether something belongs to one species rather than another?
Biologists call the answer a species concept – a theory about what a species is and how researchers sort organisms into different groups. As a philosopher of science who studies what defines a species, I can say this: Whether de-extinction projects succeed depends on which species concept you think is right – and the truth is, even scientists don’t agree.
How scientists define a species
When scientists talk about biodiversity – the variety of life-forms found in nature – species are the basic building blocks. A species is supposed to reflect a real division between distinct groups of organisms in the natural world, not just a convenient label.
In classifying living things into species, scientists are trying to “carve nature at its joints” to reflect real patterns shaped by evolution. Even so, deciding what counts as a species turns out to be surprisingly difficult and highly controversial. Scientists have proposed dozens of distinct species concepts – some scholars have counted over 32 ways to define a species – and each draws the lines a little differently. These definitions don’t always agree on whether an organism is part of one species rather than another.
Two of the most influential species concepts highlight the challenge. The biological species concept defines a species as a group of organisms that can naturally breed with each other and produce fertile offspring. Under this view, African forest elephants and African savanna elephants were once classified as the same species because they could mate and have young together, even though they lived in different habitats and looked different.
Another approach, the phylogenetic species concept, emphasizes ancestry instead of breeding. A species, in this view, is a group that shares a unique evolutionary history, forming its own distinct branch on the tree of life. By this standard, researchers found that forest and savanna elephants had been genetically evolving separately for millions of years, long enough to be considered different species even if they could still interbreed.
Understanding these different species concepts is crucial for evaluating claims about de-extinction. If Romulus, Remus and Khaleesi could naturally mate with historical dire wolves and produce fertile offspring, then they would be considered true dire wolves under the biological species concept.
But for definitions of species that emphasize evolutionary history, such as the phylogenetic species concept, the lab-created wolves would not qualify as real dire wolves – even if they were indistinguishable from the originals – because they did not descend from historical dire wolves.
Despite differences on how best to define species, there is a surprising degree of consensus among scientists and philosophers on one big idea: What makes something part of a species is not an internal feature, such as a specific set of genes, but a relationship to something else – to its environment, to other organisms, or to a shared evolutionary history.
By this way of thinking – what is often called relationalism – there is no special “lemon gene” that makes a lemon and no hidden genetic marker that automatically makes an animal a dire wolf. Commonly shared across all these theories is the notion that belonging to a particular species depends on connections and context, not on anything inside the organism itself.
But what if that consensus is wrong?
On warblers and mitochondria
At first glance, the standard ways of defining a species seem to work well. But every now and then, nature throws a curveball – and even the most trusted definitions don’t quite fit.
Take the case of the blue-winged and golden-winged warblers. These two songbirds look and sound different. They wear different plumage, sing different songs and prefer different habitats. Birders and organizations such as the American Ornithological Society have always classified them as separate species.
Yet under two of the most common scientific definitions of species, the biological and phylogenetic species concepts, blue-winged and golden-winged warblers are considered the same species. These birds regularly mate and produce young together. They’ve been swapping genes for thousands of years. And when scientists looked at their nuclear DNA – the genetic material tucked inside the nucleus of each cell – they found the two birds are 99.97% identical. This finding suggests that even careful, widely accepted species definitions can miss something important.
The golden-winged warbler, left, and blue-winged warbler are considered two distinct species, but according to many species concepts they would count as the same. Wildreturn, Ken Janes/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
So what if, instead, the key to being part of a species lies deep inside the organism, in the way its basic systems of life fit together?
Recent work in biology and philosophy suggests another way of thinking about species that focuses on a hidden but vital system inside cells: the partnership between two sets of genetic material. I and my colleague Kyle B. Heineexplore this idea by drawing on research in mitonuclear ecology – the study of how different parts of an organism’s genetic material adapt and work together to produce energy.
Virtually every cell contains two kinds of DNA. One set, stored in the nucleus, acts like an instruction manual that guides most of the cell’s activities. The other, found in structures called mitochondria – the cell’s energy centers – contains its own much smaller set of instructions geared toward supporting its unique role in keeping the cell running.
Producing energy depends on precise teamwork between nuclear DNA and mitochondrial DNA, like two musicians playing in perfect harmony. Over millions of years, the nuclear and mitochondrial DNA of each species have evolved together to form a unique, finely tuned system.
This insight has led to a new way of thinking about species, called the mitonuclear compatibility species concept. According to this idea, an organism belongs to a species if its two sets of genes – those in the nucleus and those in the mitochondria – are optimized to work together to generate life-sustaining energy. If the cellular partnership between these two genetic systems is mismatched, the organism may struggle to produce the energy it needs to survive, grow and reproduce.
By this standard, different species aren’t just defined by how they look or behave, but by whether their nuclear and mitochondrial genes form a uniquely coadapted team. For example, even though blue-winged and golden-winged warblers are nearly identical in their nuclear DNA, they differ by about 3% in their mitochondrial DNA – a clue that their energy systems are distinct. And that’s exactly what the mitonuclear compatibility species concept predicts: They really are two separate species.
Bringing back a species like the dire wolf isn’t just a matter of getting the fur right or tweaking a few visible traits. According to my preferred species concept, even if a recreated animal looks the part, it won’t truly be a dire wolf unless its inner genetic systems – the ones that power its cells – are finely tuned to work together, just as they were in the original species.
That’s a tall order. And without restoring the full inner machinery of the original species, any lab-grown look-alike would fall short.
Understanding how scientists define species – and how those definitions shape the possibilities of de-extinction – offers more than just a lesson in biological bookkeeping. It shows that classification is not just about names or lineages, but about recognizing the deep biological patterns that sustain life, offering a deeper appreciation of what it really means to bring back the past.
Reviving an extinct species isn’t like assembling a model from spare parts. It means recreating a living, breathing system – one whose parts must work in concert, not just look the part.
And that’s why philosophy and science both matter here: To understand what we’re bringing back, we must first understand what was truly lost.
Elay Shech does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Prime numbers are numbers that are not products of smaller whole numbers.Jeremiah Bartz
A shard of smooth bone etched with irregular marks dating back 20,000 years puzzled archaeologists until they noticed something unique – the etchings, lines like tally marks, may have represented prime numbers. Similarly, a clay tablet from 1800 B.C.E. inscribed with Babylonian numbers describes a number system built on prime numbers.
As the Ishango bone, the Plimpton 322 tablet and other artifacts throughout history display, prime numbers have fascinated and captivated people throughout history. Today, prime numbers and their properties are studied in number theory, a branch of mathematics and active area of research today.
Informally, a positive counting number larger than one is prime if that number of dots can be arranged only into a rectangular array with one column or one row. For example, 11 is a prime number since 11 dots form only rectangular arrays of sizes 1 by 11 and 11 by 1. Conversely, 12 is not prime since you can use 12 dots to make an array of 3 by 4 dots, with multiple rows and multiple columns. Math textbooks define a prime number as a whole number greater than one whose only positive divisors are only 1 and itself.
Math historian Peter S. Rudman suggests that Greek mathematicians were likely the first to understand the concept of prime numbers, around 500 B.C.E.
Around 300 B.C.E., the Greek mathematician and logician Euler proved that there are infinitely many prime numbers. Euler began by assuming that there is a finite number of primes. Then he came up with a prime that was not on the original list to create a contradiction. Since a fundamental principle of mathematics is being logically consistent with no contradictions, Euler then concluded that his original assumption must be false. So, there are infinitely many primes.
The argument established the existence of infinitely many primes, however it was not particularly constructive. Euler had no efficient method to list all the primes in an ascending list.
Prime numbers, when expressed as that number of dots, can be arranged only in a single row or column, rather than a square or rectangle. David Eppstein/Wikimedia Commons
In the middle ages, Arab mathematicians advanced the Greeks’ theory of prime numbers, referred to as hasam numbers during this time. The Persian mathematician Kamal al-Din al-Farisi formulated the fundamental theorem of arithmetic, which states that any positive integer larger than one can be expressed uniquely as a product of primes.
From this view, prime numbers are the basic building blocks for constructing any positive whole number using multiplication – akin to atoms combining to make molecules in chemistry.
Today, primes in this form are called Mersenne primes after the French monk Marin Mersenne. Many of the largest known primes follow this format.
Several early mathematicians believed that a number of the form (2p – 1) is prime whenever p is prime. But in 1536, mathematician Hudalricus Regius noticed that 11 is prime but not (211 – 1), which equals 2047. The number 2047 can be expressed as 11 times 89, disproving the conjecture.
While not always true, number theorists realized that the (2p – 1) shortcut often produces primes and gives a systematic way to search for large primes.
The search for large primes
The number (2p – 1) is much larger relative to the value of p and provides opportunities to identify large primes.
When the number (2p – 1) becomes sufficiently large, it is much harder to check whether (2p – 1) is prime – that is, if (2p – 1) dots can be arranged only into a rectangular array with one column or one row.
Fortunately, Édouard Lucas developed a prime number test in 1878, later proved by Derrick Henry Lehmer in 1930. Their work resulted in an efficient algorithm for evaluating potential Mersenne primes. Using this algorithm with hand computations on paper, Lucas showed in 1876 that the 39-digit number (2127 – 1) equals 170,141,183,460,469,231,731,687,303,715,884,105,727, and that value is prime.
Also known as M127, this number remains the largest prime verified by hand computations. It held the record for largest known prime for 75 years.
Researchers began using computers in the 1950s, and the pace of discovering new large primes increased. In 1952, Raphael M. Robinson identified five new Mersenne primes using a Standard Western Automatic Computer to carry out the Lucas-Lehmer prime number tests.
As computers improved, the list of Mersenne primes grew, especially with the Cray supercomputer’s arrival in 1964. Although there are infinitely many primes, researchers are unsure how many fit the type (2p – 1) and are Mersenne primes.
By the early 1980s, researchers had accumulated enough data to confidently believe that infinitely many Mersenne primes exist. They could even guess how often these prime numbers appear, on average. Mathematicians have not found proof so far, but new data continues to support these guesses.
George Woltman, a computer scientist, founded the Great Internet Mersenne Prime Search, or GIMPS, in 1996. Through this collaborative program, anyone can download freely available software from the GIMPS website to search for Mersenne prime numbers on their personal computers. The website contains specific instructions on how to participate.
GIMPS has now identified 18 Mersenne primes, primarily on personal computers using Intel chips. The program averages a new discovery about every one to two years.
The largest known prime
Luke Durant, a retired programmer, discovered the current record for the largest known prime, (2136,279,841 – 1), in October 2024.
Referred to as M136279841, this 41,024,320-digit number was the 52nd Mersenne prime identified and was found by running GIMPS on a publicly available cloud-based computing network.
This network used Nvidia chips and ran across 17 countries and 24 data centers. These advanced chips provide faster computing by handling thousands of calculations simultaneously. The result is shorter run times for algorithms such as prime number testing.
New and increasingly powerful computer chips have allowed prime-number hunters to find increasingly larger primes. Fritzchens Fritz/Flickr
The Electronic Frontier Foundation is a civil liberty group that offers cash prizes for identifying large primes. It awarded prizes in 2000 and 2009 for the first verified 1 million-digit and 10 million-digit prime numbers.
Large prime number enthusiasts’ next two challenges are to identify the first 100 million-digit and 1 billion-digit primes. EFF prizes of US$150,000 and $250,000, respectively, await the first successful individual or group.
Eight of the 10 largest known prime numbers are Mersenne primes, so GIMPS and cloud computing are poised to play a prominent role in the search for record-breaking large prime numbers.
Large prime numbers have a vital role in many encryption methods in cybersecurity, so every internet user stands to benefit from the search for large prime numbers. These searches help keep digital communications and sensitive information safe.
In April 2025, the UK’s Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling in For Women Scotland Ltd v Scottish Ministers, offering long-awaited clarification on how “sex” should be interpreted under the Equality Act 2010. The court ruled that, for the purposes of this legislation, “woman” refers to biological sex, not gender identity.
The decision sparked intense debate across political, legal, and social spheres. But beyond the controversy, one crucial question remains: what does this mean for employers and employees?
For managers, the implications are significant. Legal obligations must now be understood within a clarified framework that distinguishes between biological sex and gender reassignment.
Employers face legal risks such as unlimited compensation at an employment tribunal. There’s also the potential fallout in terms of their reputation, as well as internal tensions as staff navigate issues of identity, belief and inclusion.
The Supreme Court case centred on whether Scottish legislation could expand the definition of “woman” to include transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC). The court ruled it could not, reaffirming that the Equality Act defines “woman” and “man” by reference to biological sex. While the Act separately protects people with the characteristic of gender reassignment, the two are not interchangeable in law.
This ruling has wide-reaching implications for how single-sex services – such as women-only refuges, sports or changing facilities – can be structured. Under Schedule 3 of the Equality Act, providers may offer single-sex services where it is a “proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim”. The judgement affirms that such services must now be assessed strictly through the lens of biological sex.
For employers, this means they are required to navigate a more tightly defined legal landscape. The Equality Act 2010 recognises both sex and gender reassignment as protected characteristics. While single-sex spaces are lawful in limited, justifiable contexts, the legal bar for exclusion remains high.
In practical terms, employers must ensure that provision of single-sex facilities – such as toilets, showers and changing rooms – complies with the Act.
Any such policies must be rooted in demonstrable need, such as privacy, dignity or safety concerns, and must not cause undue harm to trans employees. Providing gender-neutral or private alternatives is increasingly seen as good practice to minimise legal and reputational risk.
There is a real risk of legal claims on either side. Cisgender women may bring claims where their rights to single-sex spaces are perceived to be undermined. Meanwhile, trans individuals may claim indirect discrimination if reasonable adjustments such as updating internal systems (email or ID badges, for example) or offering a uniform to reflect the employee’s identity are not made.
Employers must ensure that decisions on workplace design or service provision are evidence-based, proportionate and reviewed regularly.
What employers should be offering
Navigating this complex issue demands more than legal compliance. At its core, this is about people – and creating a respectful and inclusive workplace culture that values all employees.
Employers should review and reinforce workplace values through:
• clear dignity and respect policies that ensure staff are aware of lawful protections for both sex-based and gender identity rights
• voluntary and inclusive communication practices, such as the optional use of pronouns in email signatures or profiles
• training for managers and staff on both the legal framework and the lived realities of trans and gender-critical perspectives
• robust mechanisms for resolving disputes that treat all complaints sensitively and without bias.
Such steps will not only mitigate legal risk, they can also foster trust, morale and retention in a diverse workforce.
Employee handbooks and HR policies should be checked and updated if necessary so that all staff know what they are entitled to. Vitalii Vodolazskyi/Shutterstock
Employers must review whether their facilities and HR policies comply with the clarified legal interpretation.
In terms of facilities, where single-sex provisions exist, employers should ensure that they serve a clear and proportionate aim. This might be a female-only changing room in a fitness centre or healthcare setting where staff or service users are required to undress. Or it could be a women-only toilet or shower facility in a refuge for survivors of domestic abuse.
At the same time, gender-neutral or private alternatives should be considered to meet the needs of trans and non-binary employees.
And when it comes to HR and equality policies, employee handbooks, inclusion strategies and grievance procedures should be updated in line with the ruling. Employers should carry out impact assessments to determine whether any group is indirectly disadvantaged. They should then clearly document any steps for mitigation.
One of the most sensitive implications of the ruling is how employers manage conflicting beliefs. Some employees may have gender-critical views, while others consider gender identity as central to inclusion.
Following the decision in the Forstater v CGD Europe case, these views – if expressed respectfully – are protected under the Equality Act’s provisions on religion or belief. Employers must walk a careful line: upholding lawful freedom of belief while enforcing respectful conduct.
Best practice includes things like promoting freedom of expression without tolerating harassment or abuse, avoiding compelled speech (for example, forced pronoun use) while encouraging inclusive language, and offering mediation where tensions arise between staff.
The key is balance. It should be possible to protect all employees’ rights while ensuring that no one feels unsafe or undermined. Some gender-critical employees may feel legally vindicated in expressing sex-based views. Others, particularly trans and non-binary staff, may feel their identities are being questioned or their inclusion diminished.
Workplace dignity policies must ensure that everyone is treated respectfully and fairly. As such, employers must carefully manage interpersonal dynamics and provide clear channels for raising concerns.
The Supreme Court ruling does not strip rights – it clarifies the legal terrain. For employers, the priority should be legal clarity, respectful inclusion and thoughtful leadership. This is not a time for reactive or ideological responses. Rather, it calls for policies that are lawful, proportionate and based on the principles of fairness and dignity.
By updating facilities, reviewing policies, training staff and managing conflict with integrity, employers can ensure that their workplaces uphold the law while building a culture of trust and mutual respect. The law has spoken, and now it’s time for employers to lead.
Jonathan Lord 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.
WASHINGTON, DC— Today, Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee Ranking Member Don Davis (D-NC-01) and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN-02) introduced the bipartisan Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act of 2025as original cosponsors, alongside House Financial Services Committee Chair French Hill (R-AR-02), House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-PA-15), Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee Chair Dusty Johnson (R-SD-AL), Representatives Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), Bryan Steil (R-WI-01), Ritchie Torres (D-NY-15), and Warren Davidson (R-OH-08).
“Families, entrepreneurs, and small businesses across our country, including rural areas in eastern North Carolina, seek ways to engage in the modern economy. Digital assets present a chance for a more inclusive financial future, but we need clear rules and fair oversight for innovation to thrive. Congress must ensure that America shapes digital finance, creates opportunities, protects consumers, and supports overlooked communities,” said Congressman Davis, the ranking member of the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee.
The CLARITY Act establishes a new regulatory framework for the issuance and trading of digital assets by outlining specific criteria for when a digital asset is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Under the legislation’s regulatory framework, the CFTC would be given regulatory authority over the “digital commodities” market. This market would include digital assets related to blockchain systems deemed “mature,” or largely decentralized. While the bill provides clarity regarding what types of digital assets would fall under the “digital commodity” definition, it directs the CFTC and SEC to define several key terms through agency rulemakings. Notably, the bill would give the CFTC authority over most secondary market crypto transactions where investors buy and sell previously issued crypto assets.
As with Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act from the previous Congress, the bill would grant CFTC new authorities, generally providing it exclusive jurisdiction over “cash” or “spot” market digital commodity transactions (with some exceptions) and requiring CFTC registration for entities (including exchanges, brokers and dealers) offering trade in digital commodities. The bill would impose certain requirements on intermediaries, including ensuring trading is not susceptible to manipulation, requiring disclosures, customer fund segregation and addressing market integrity and recordkeeping requirements.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — Customs offices at Beijing’s two major airports processed 369 million yuan (about 51.4 million U.S. dollars) in tax refunds from outbound overseas travelers in the first four months of 2025, up 79.41 percent year on year and setting a new record for the period, data from Beijing Customs showed.
The introduction of 240-hour visa-free transit has led to a significant increase in the number of foreigners arriving in China, customs officials said.
In January-April this year, 7.07 million incoming and outgoing travelers passed through Beijing Customs posts, up 22.3 percent year-on-year. In addition, at Beijing’s two international airports, Beijing Capital International Airport and Beijing Daxing International Airport, customs officials recorded a 23.9 percent increase in the number of incoming and outgoing flights to 40,622. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — China’s Ministry of Education is working with the Office of the Central Cyberspace Commission and the Ministry of Public Security to curb the spread of malicious information related to the upcoming national college entrance examination, the ministry said Friday.
The authorities have called on relevant online platforms to identify and eliminate false information about the leakage of examination materials, the sale of “answers” and combat fraud related to university admissions.
Authorities have warned that those who create and spread online rumors, disturb public order or mislead the public will be subject to severe punishment.
They also urged applicants and their parents to refrain from exam-related crimes and remain vigilant against fraud.
The nationwide college entrance exam, also known as the gaokao, will begin on June 7 this year, with a total of 13.35 million applicants taking it. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
SINGAPORE, May 30 (Xinhua) — The 22nd Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defense and security summit, opened here on Friday amid geopolitical tensions.
This year, representatives from 47 countries are participating in the dialogue, including 40 minister-level delegates, 20 chiefs-of-defence delegates, more than 20 senior military officials, as well as eminent academics, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said.
French President Emmanuel Macron will deliver a keynote speech on Friday evening in which he is expected to portray France and Europe as supporters of international cooperation and rules-based trade.
Analysts expect regional cooperation, U.S. security policy, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict to be key topics at the conference. The fallout from the U.S. tariff hike is also likely to draw attention. Officials will use the platform to reassure partners and find guidance in an increasingly multipolar security landscape.
The dialogue will last from May 30 to June 1. –0– Oleg
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, May 30 (Xinhua) — A Russian delegation is heading to Istanbul and will be ready to continue talks with Ukrainian representatives on Monday morning, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov announced at a briefing.
“Today I wanted to inform you that our delegation, the Russian delegation of negotiators, is leaving for Istanbul and will be ready on Monday morning to continue negotiations, for the second round of negotiations,” he said.
According to the press secretary, the drafts of the Russian and Ukrainian memorandums will not be published. “Of course, nothing will be made public. This cannot be made public,” D. Peskov noted. “Both draft memorandums, the Russian and Ukrainian, we hope, will be discussed at the second round of negotiations,” he added.
The security of navigation in the Black Sea, according to the Kremlin representative, will become an integral part of the conditions of the temporary truce. “A list of conditions is being developed, a list of conditions for a temporary truce will be agreed upon, and thus the security of navigation in the Black Sea will one way or another become an integral part of possible future understandings,” he noted.
The briefing also touched on the possibility of direct negotiations between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian and US Presidents Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump. According to D. Peskov, this can only be discussed after the Russian and Ukrainian delegations have achieved results in the negotiations. “If such a result is achieved, and when it is achieved, then, of course, we can talk about contacts at the highest level,” he said. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — China’s international trade in goods and services reached 4.37 trillion yuan (606.8 billion U.S. dollars) in April, up 6 percent year on year, data released by the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) showed Friday.
In dollar terms, the country’s exports of goods and services amounted to $326.5 billion, while imports amounted to $280.3 billion, resulting in a positive balance of $46.2 billion, according to the department.
Of the total exports, the value of goods reached 2.1 trillion yuan, while that of imports reached 1.65 trillion yuan, resulting in a surplus of 446.4 billion yuan. The value of exports of services reached 250.5 billion yuan, while the value of imports of services in April was 364.4 billion yuan, resulting in a deficit of 113.8 billion yuan. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) — China’s transport sector saw 22.74 billion inter-regional trips in the first four months of this year, data released by the Ministry of Transport showed Friday.
According to the agency, this figure increased by 3.8 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
In particular, 20.96 billion trips were made on roads, and 76.55 million on waterways, the ministry said in a statement.
The country also recorded an increase in commercial freight traffic between January and April, with the total volume reaching 18.09 billion tons, up 4.7 percent year-on-year.
Fixed asset investment in the country’s transportation sector totaled 950.3 billion yuan (about $132.3 billion) during the period, according to the ministry. -0-
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
Due to numerous requests from students, additional enrollment has been opened for the free additional professional education program “Organizational, managerial and organizational and methodological foundations of inclusive higher education”, conducted by the State University of Management.
The training will help participants develop and deepen the professional competencies necessary for successful teaching and management activities in the field of inclusive higher education.
The program is designed for:
Management personnel of higher education institutions. Research and teaching staff. Educational and support personnel of educational institutions.
Both persons with higher education and those studying in higher education programs are admitted to training. A certificate of advanced training is issued to students only after receiving the relevant educational document.
The program is designed for 72 academic hours, includes studying modules and completing a final assignment, and will be conducted in a correspondence format using distance learning technologies.
Registration is open until June 10, 2025. Training will run from June 16 to June 30, 2025.
Questions regarding documents can be sent to the email address: ea_vlasova@guu.ru.
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: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Istanbul, 30 May 2025 – This week, government representatives and International Organization for Migration (IOM) staff from 14 partner countries gathered in Istanbul for the the Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions (COMPASS) Global Meeting. Co-hosted by IOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, this flagship event held from 27 to 29 May brought together partners to strengthen cooperation on migration governance and the protection of migrants under the COMPASS initiative.
“The COMPASS initiative is not only about protecting migrants but also about building systems that work for everyone,” said Warner Ten Kate, Head of the Migration and Development Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, during the event. “Migration is, by its nature, a transnational phenomenon that requires a comprehensive approach and cooperation, and we are proud to work alongside IOM and our partner countries to drive this systemic, sustainable change.”
Launched in 2021 and now in its second phase (2024–2027), COMPASS is a comprehensive protection programme implemented in 14 countries across Africa and the Middle East. The programme contributes to strengthening migration governance systems, multistakeholder cooperation, and protecting and upholding the rights of migrants. In 2024, the programme provided protection assistance to over 35,500 migrants, including over 1,400 who benefited from return support. Additionally, more than 1,000 policymakers received training or tools to support migrant protection, according to the full 2024 data report.
“COMPASS is a shared commitment to improving migration governance by addressing common challenges through sustainable solutions,” said Vincent Houver, IOM Director of the Department of Mobility Pathways and Inclusion. “This partnership between IOM, the Netherlands, and partner countries brings together strategic vision, flexible financing, operational expertise, and local leadership. It fosters strong and equal cooperation across countries of origin, transit, and destination and sets a global benchmark for effective, innovative migration responses that place migrant protection at the core.”
During the meeting, delegates shared each country’s experience with project implementation and key achievements from COMPASS Phase II, reflected on lessons learned, and discussed strategic priorities in areas such as legal identity, localization, and specialized protection. Interactive sessions also focused on data-driven programme adaptability, community-based initiatives, and the critical role of local partnerships in achieving lasting impact.
A COMPASS marketplace added a dynamic element to the event, with country teams showcasing local innovations and programme highlights, while global teams presented tools and resources designed to drive solutions and foster collaboration with partners and stakeholders.
About COMPASS
COMPASS (Cooperation on Migration and Partnerships to Achieve Sustainable Solutions) is a joint initiative of IOM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. Now in its second phase, it supports migrant protection, migration governance and community-led solutions in 14 countries, through systemic, adaptable, and people-centred approaches.
The government is continuing to show leadership by removing more interprovincial trade barriers to grow Nova Scotia’s economy and build a stronger Canada.
New regulations will allow more types of commercial trucks and other passenger vehicles to enter and operate in the province, supporting the movement of goods and services across the country. Previously, certain vehicles have not been allowed in Nova Scotia even though they are registered in another jurisdiction.
The Province will be introducing legislative changes to enhance the new Traffic Safety Act in the fall, which will enable these changes to be made permanent.
“Nova Scotia wants to see free trade nationwide, and we are leading by looking within our own regulations and practices to see where we can remove barriers,” said Premier Tim Houston. “If a vehicle can operate in another province or territory, it should be able to operate in Nova Scotia. We are removing needless and burdensome barriers. This is another example of how we are taking a Team Canada approach to creating a more prosperous future.”
In recognizing out-of-province registrations, the Registrar of Motor Vehicles will still have the ability to place special conditions on a vehicle’s operation to ensure safety and protect infrastructure, as is the case with Nova Scotian vehicles. This could include limiting commercial vehicle access to certain roads and bridges and age requirements for passengers in passenger vehicles.
Vehicles will be required to comply with all other existing provisions of the Motor Vehicle Act, including inspections and insurance.
Nova Scotia is also announcing plans to amend the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations to allow factory-built (modular) buildings that meet the National Building Code to be installed in the province without having to meet additional Nova Scotia-specific standards.
Currently, manufacturers are required to redesign the same building model for every province depending on that province’s standards. This increases costs, causes delays and creates barriers for standardization and interprovincial trade.
“Both of these moves are to address unique and urgent challenges brought on by the trade war and housing crisis,” said Premier Houston. “It is about fairness for workers, opportunity for businesses and respect for Canadians’ right to move, work and trade freely across their own country, and it’s about getting people into safe and affordable housing, faster.”
The proposed amendments to the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations will:
enhance productivity and accelerate the development of new modular housing
allow modular construction contractors to work to one national code, rather than individual provincial codes
position Nova Scotia as national leaders in housing innovation and reduction of interprovincial trade barriers
position Nova Scotia as an easy export destination for modular housing and invite reciprocal recognition for Nova Scotian manufacturers from other provinces and territories.
The proposed changes to the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations only apply to factory-built construction.
Quick Facts:
the amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act regulations and the Building Code Act regulations fulfill the intent of the Province’s Free Trade and Mobility Within Canada Act by removing key interprovincial barriers
the Motor Vehicle Act regulations take effect Tuesday, June 3, and these changes will be evaluated to inform future regulatory updates
most of the vehicles not previously allowed in the province were certain types of commercial trucks and low-speed vehicles
the 45-day public notice period required for any changes to the Nova Scotia Building Code Regulations will be held
Additional Resources:
News release – Legislation to Remove Barriers to Trade: https://news.novascotia.ca/en/2025/02/25/legislation-remove-barriers-trade
Registration, driving and road safety information: https://novascotia.ca/driving-and-road-safety/
Department of Public Works on X: https://x.com/NS_PublicWorks
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s child health status has continued to improve in recent years, said a health official on Friday.
In 2024, the national infant mortality rate and under-5 mortality rate dropped to 4 per 1,000 and 5.6 per 1,000 respectively, hitting record lows and ranking among the top in upper-middle-income countries globally, Shen Haiping, a senior official with the National Health Commission, told a press conference.
Examining global trends over the past decade, China’s average annual rate of decline in infant mortality and under-5 mortality ranked third and fourth, respectively, among 53 upper-middle-income countries globally, Shen said.
Between 2010 and 2023, China’s average life expectancy increased by 3.8 years, with 21.7 percent of this increase attributable to the decline in the under-5 mortality rate, she added.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The value of China’s international trade in goods and services reached 4.37 trillion yuan (606.8 billion U.S. dollars) in April, an increase of 6 percent year on year, official data showed on Friday.
In U.S. dollar terms, the country’s exports of goods and services amounted to 326.5 billion U.S. dollars, while imports totaled 280.3 billion U.S. dollars, resulting in a surplus of 46.2 billion U.S. dollars, according to data from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange.
Of the total, the export value of goods reached 2.1 trillion yuan and the import value stood at 1.65 trillion yuan — which meant a surplus of 446.4 billion yuan. The export value of services reached 250.5 billion yuan while the import value of services was 364.4 billion yuan in April, resulting in a deficit of 113.8 billion yuan.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Paris Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen of China continued her strong run at the French Open on Friday, advancing to the women’s singles Round of 16 with a straight-sets win over 18-year-old Canadian qualifier Victoria Mboko.
The eighth seed needed just under 90 minutes to beat Mboko 6-3, 6-4 in their first career meeting, marking her second appearance in the last 16 at Roland Garros after her breakthrough run in 2022.
Zheng Qinwen returns a shot during the women’s singles 3rd round match between Zheng Qinwen of China and Victoria Mboko of Canada at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros, Paris, France, May 30, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Jing)
“I was born in China in a really hot place, which is called Wuhan. So I handled the hot weather quite well,” Zheng said in her post-match interview. “Last year when I played the Olympic Games, it was hotter than this. So actually I like this condition, but I want to say thanks to all the crowd who suffered here under the sun today with me.”
Zheng also praised her young opponent. “I want to say congrats to the opponent because I feel she played really well, and I think we pushed each other to play our best tennis. And sometimes we had really good points. It was not an easy match.”
Zheng will next face the winner of the match between Dayana Yastremska of Ukraine and Liudmila Samsonova of Russia as she looks to reach her first French Open quarterfinal.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The spokesperson for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following announcement today (May 30) regarding an incident involving insertion of a nasogastric tube:Service Director (Quality & Safety), Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital AuthorityConsultant, Department of Intensive Care, Tseung Kwan O HospitalChief Manager, Quality & Safety Division (Patient Safety & Risk Management), Hospital AuthorityDeputy Service Director (Quality & Safety), Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital AuthorityDepartment Operations Manager, Department of Intensive Care, Prince of Wales HospitalCluster General Manager (Nursing), Kowloon East Cluster, Hospital AuthorityChief of Service, Intensive Care Unit, Queen Elizabeth HospitalChief of Service, Department of Ear, Nose & Throat, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital
About 22% of light-duty vehicles sold in the first quarter of the year in the United States were hybrid, battery electric, or plug-in hybrid vehicles, up from about 18% in the first quarter of 2024. Among those categories, hybrid electric vehicles have continued to gain market share while battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles have remained relatively flat, according to estimates from Wards Intelligence.
These different vehicle types affect the broader energy sector in different ways. Battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles can consume electricity from isolated power sources or, more commonly, from the grid. So, their use can affect electricity demand. By comparison, hybrid electric vehicles do not have plugs, so they don’t directly affect grid-delivered electricity demand.
Data source: U.S. Energy Information Administration
The decrease in electric vehicle sales was driven by declining sales of battery electric models such as the Honda Prologue, Chevrolet Equinox, and Tesla Model Y. These declines were partially offset by increased sales of other battery electric models, such as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Toyota bZ4X.
Battery electric vehicle sales in particular are more common in the luxury vehicle market. U.S. luxury vehicles accounted for 14% of the total light-duty vehicle market in the first quarter of the year, the lowest share since mid-2020. Electric vehicles accounted for 23% of total luxury sales in the first quarter of 2025. Electric vehicles had accounted for more than one-third of luxury sales in 2023 and 2024 before Wards reclassified the Tesla Model 3 as non-luxury in late 2024.
Data source: Wards Intelligence
Battery electric vehicles’ average transaction prices remain persistently higher than the overall market: the average transaction prices increased from $55,500 in December 2024 to $59,200 in March 2025, compared with the average price of all new vehicles, which decreased from $49,700 to $47,500. This 25% difference between battery electric vehicles and the industry average prices in March 2025 was the highest in any month since April 2023.
Since sales figures in any year are relatively small compared with the total number of vehicles on the road, electric vehicles’ share of the total light-duty vehicle fleet is much less than the recent 10% sales share. In our Monthly Energy Review, we maintain annual data series on light-duty vehicles, battery electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles, and hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles based on data from S&P Global. In 2023, the most recent data year, electric vehicles accounted for less than 2% of all registered light-duty vehicles in the United States.
Headline: Around the Air Force: SECAF Priorities, Electromagnetic Warfare, XCOMM Roundup
In this week’s look Around the Air Force, SecAF Troy Meink outlines FY26 budget priorities and the growing challenges facing the department, the EA-37B reaches a critical milestone, and exercise XCOMM Roundup strengthens expeditionary communications capabilities in contested environments.
The event, at West Park on Saturday 28 June from 12pm to 4pm, will celebrate the Armed Forces and all they do for the city and the country, and promises a wide range of activities for people of all ages.
Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Craig Collingswood, who is also chair of the City’s Armed Forces Covenant Board, said: “I hope as many people as possible from across the city come along to Armed Forces Day and show their support.
“Wolverhampton has a special relationship with our Armed Forces as do I with my son serving in the British Army, and this fantastic, free and fun event for all the family is a wonderful way to mark this.
“I look forward to seeing you there, joining the festivities with you and celebrating all that the Armed Forces do to defend our nation at home and abroad.”
Highlights include an Armed Forces Parade at 1pm, along with funfair rides and inflatables, live music, street food and bar traders, a smoothie bike, motorcycle display, military exhibition and face painting. For more information, please visit Armed Forces Covenant.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday that division between the two superpowers, the United States and China, is the main risk currently confronting the world as he emphasized the need for building new coalitions between Paris and partners in the Indo-Pacific.
Macron is visiting the region as France and the European Union aim to strengthen their commercial ties in Asia to offset uncertainty over U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff measures.
“I will be clear, France is a friend and an ally of the United States, and is a friend, and we do cooperate – even if sometimes we disagree and compete – with China,” said Macron, who was speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier defence forum, alongside a two-day state visit to Singapore.
The French president said Asia and Europe have a common interest in preventing the disintegration of the global order.
“The time for non-alignment has undoubtedly passed, but the time for coalitions of action has come, and requires that countries capable of acting together give themselves every means to do so,” Macron said.
Macron is following leaders of China, Japan and other European countries in visiting the region in recent weeks, in a sign of south east Asia’s strategic importance amid uncertainties on global supply chains and trade.
Personal income increased $210.1 billion (0.8 percent at a monthly rate) in April, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income (DPI)—personal income less personal current taxes—increased $189.4 billion (0.8 percent) and personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased $47.8 billion (0.2 percent).
Personal outlays—the sum of PCE, personal interest payments, and personal current transfer payments—increased $48.6 billion in April. Personal saving was $1.12 trillion in April and the personal saving rate—personal saving as a percentage of disposable personal income—was 4.9 percent.
The increase in current-dollar personal income in April primarily reflected increases in government social benefits to persons and in compensation.
The $47.8 billion increase in current-dollar PCE in April reflected an increase of $55.8 billion in spending on services that was partly offset by a decrease of $8.0 billion in spending for goods.
From the preceding month, the PCE price index for April increased 0.1 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index also increased 0.1 percent.
From the same month one year ago, the PCE price index for April increased 2.1 percent. Excluding food and energy, the PCE price index increased 2.5 percent from one year ago.
Personal Income and Related Measures [Percent change from Mar. to Apr.]
Current-dollar personal income
0.8
Current-dollar disposable personal income
0.8
Real disposable personal income
0.7
Current-dollar personal consumption expenditures (PCE)
0.2
Real PCE
0.1
PCE price index
0.1
PCE price index, excluding food and energy
0.1
For definitions, statistical conventions, updates to PIO, and more, visit “Additional Information.”
Next release: June 27, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. EDT Personal Income and Outlays, May 2025
Technical Notes
Changes in Personal Income and Outlays for April
The increase in personal income in April reflected increases in government social benefits to persons and in compensation.
The increase in government social benefits to persons was led by an increase in Social Security payments, reflecting payments associated with the Social Security Fairness Act.
The increase in compensation was led by private wages and salaries, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Current Employment Statistics (CES). Wages and salaries in services-producing industries increased $53.1 billion. Wages and salaries in goods‑producing industries decreased $3.1 billion.
Revisions to Personal Income
Estimates have been updated for October through March. Revisions for October through December for compensation, personal taxes, and contributions for government social insurance reflect the incorporation of fourth-quarter wage and salary data from the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages program. The estimates for January through March reflect updated BLS CES data. The revision to Social Security benefits for March reflects information on retroactive payments associated with the Social Security Fairness Act.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced the confirmation of three members of her cabinet.
“New Yorkers deserve smart, experienced professionals at every level of government, and these leaders have distinguished themselves as public servants,” Governor Hochul said. “Our Administration is laser focused on making New York safer and more affordable, and these three commissioners will play pivotal roles in our work to improve the lives of all New Yorkers. “
The following Commissioners were confirmed by the Senate:
Willow Baer, Office For People With Developmental Disabilities
Amanda Lefton, Department of Environmental Conservation
Denise Miranda, Division of Human Rights
About Commissioner Willow Baer
Willow Baer was confirmed by the New York State Senate on May 21 to serve as Commissioner of the Office of People with Developmental Disabilities. Commissioner Baer has been serving as Acting Commissioner since July 2024.
Commissioner Baer is honored to lead OPWDD. Previously, she served as OPWDD’s Executive Deputy Commissioner and oversaw the agency’s operational management, including planning, fiscal planning and oversight, and policy development. She was also responsible for oversight of agency staff in a broad range of capacities, including direct care support, clinical and medical staff in residential and non-residential settings, maintenance and operations.
Commissioner Baer has served twice as Assistant Counsel to Governor Hochul, overseeing legal priorities and legislation across the fields of Human Services and Mental Hygiene. Additionally, she previously served as General Counsel to OPWDD, General Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for the Office of Children & Family Services, and as Counsel to the NYS Justice Center.
Commissioner Baer was named one of PoliticsNY and amNY’sMetro 2024 Power Players in Health Care and was presented with the 2025 Distinguished Public Service Award by the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation.
Commissioner Baer has spent her entire career working to protect and advocate for underrepresented populations. She will continue the agency’s work to ensure that New York is a state that is inclusive, supportive, and one that those with developmental disabilities live with meaningful choice and are proud to call home.
About Commissioner Amanda Lefton
Amanda Lefton was confirmed by the New York State Senate on May 28 to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Commissioner Lefton has been serving as Acting Commissioner since February 2025.
Commissioner Lefton’s diverse career spans the public and private sectors, including previously serving as the Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) within the Department of the Interior. Under her leadership, BOEM developed and implemented an ambitious federal offshore wind program creating a new industry of family supporting jobs and generational opportunity. Her collaborative approach brought together various stakeholders to responsibly manage the nation’s critical offshore energy and mineral resources.
Prior to her role as BOEM Director, Lefton served as the First Assistant Secretary for Energy and Environment for New York, where she led the State’s environmental and climate initiatives overseeing a portfolio of executive agencies including the DEC. She has also worked for The Nature Conservancy in New York as the Deputy Policy Director and climate mitigation lead, the Rochester Regional Joint Board of Workers United and the New York State Assembly and New York State Senate. Lefton comes to the DEC from RWE, one of the world’s leading players in the offshore wind sector, where she was the Vice President of Offshore Development, U.S. East.
Originally from Queens, Commissioner Lefton grew up on Long Island and holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University at Albany. She now resides in the Capital Region with her wife and stepchildren.
About Commissioner Denise Miranda
Denise Miranda was confirmed by the New York State Senate on May 29 to serve as Commissioner of the Division of Human Rights. Commissioner Miranda has been serving as Acting Commissioner since March 2024.
Under Commissioner Miranda’s leadership, the Division has launched ambitious efforts to overhaul the agency’s discrimination complaint intake and case management processes while also implementing vital organizational changes and operational improvements. These essential upgrades will result in a bolder, more powerful, and more efficient Division that is prepared to protect the rights of all New Yorkers at a time when that mission has never been more critical.
Since Commissioner Miranda’s appointment, the Division has increased staffing levels agencywide by more than 50 percent, expanded education and outreach initiatives, and launched new units essential to advancing the agency’s work. These initiatives have been supported by Governor Hochul’s historic investments. The Governor has more than doubled the Division’s funding during her time in office, including an $11 million increase in the FY26 Enacted Budget.
Prior to this, Commissioner Miranda served as the Executive Director of the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs for seven years. She oversaw the agency’s operations, which included investigations into abuse and neglect, criminal prosecutions, and administrative disciplinary proceedings. Under her leadership, the Justice Center managed the care of over one million individuals, with a workforce of more than 425 employees and a $41 million operating budget.
Rome (Agenzia Fides) – “Thank you very much, thank you all, thank you for this fraternity”: these were the first words spoken by Father François Marie Herve Du Penhoat, elected new Superior General of the Society of African Missions (SMA) at the XXII General Assembly of the Society underway in Rocca di Papa, an Assembly that will end on June 8 (see Fides, 20/5/2025).The new Superior General, 70 years old, of French origin, served as a missionary for 15 years in Benin, from 1991 to 2013, among the Bariba, a West African ethnic group. He was also in Spain and then in France from 2013 to 2025.”In recent years, despite many difficulties, including Covid and the internal restructuring of the SMA, you have given everything, you have worked intensely, and you have been very present in the field. You have demonstrated that you are a united and complementary Council, which was also seen in the preparation of the General Assembly,” said Father François, referring to the 22nd General Assembly of the Society of African Missions underway.”This is a key moment of renewal for our congregation. Thank you very much,” emphasized the new Superior General, thanking the outgoing Superior General, Father Antonio Porcellato, and the other members of the outgoing council, Father François de Paul, Father Rosario, and Father Christophe. “We are counting on your support and collaboration as we move forward together. We are at the end of a cycle in which we have invested a lot in building our congregation; we must now orient ourselves more towards the missionary aspect, towards others, towards the local Church. We are on the right path that will take us far if we all follow it together. Let us continue like this.””When the rhythm of the song changes, the dance steps must also change,” added Father François, quoting an African proverb. “There may be a change of rhythm, but we must first understand this new rhythm in order to follow it; it may be a little chaotic, it is possible, but the Holy Spirit works where chaos reigns.”Since the founding of the SMA in Lyon in 1856, the African continent has been at the heart of the SMA’s mission and life. Over these 169 years, the relationship with Africa has developed and undergone significant changes. In summary, it can be said that Africa, which was initially only the object of the mission, has today become, and is increasingly becoming, an active subject of the mission. Today, the majority of the SMA’s permanent members are of African origin. Furthermore, 90% of the more than 300 seminarians in formation are of African origin. For the pastoral work of proclaiming the Gospel, the missionaries and associates of the SMA are 900 members and 200 seminarians, officially present in 30 countries on four continents. The priority is and remains the first evangelization of the African continent. (AP) (Agenzia Fides, 29/5/2025)
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Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) – “We demand a deep inquiry into these deaths, to reveal the real circumstances and motives, to ensure the security and safety of our priests and all Kenyans in the future”. This was requested by Monsignor Maurice Muhatia Makumba, Archbishop of Kisumu and President of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB), following the murder of two Catholic priests just days apart.Father John Ndegwa Maina, parish priest of the church of St Louis in Igwamiti, died in hospital on May 15, from suspected poisoning after being found in serious condition, but still alive, on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway (see Fides, 21/5/2025).Before his death, the priest said he had been kidnapped by unknown assailants. Bishop Makumba called it “a horrible murder and cries out to God against its perpetrators”.On May 22, Father Alloyce Cheruiyot Bett was shot dead after being attacked by bandits in the Kerio Valley, in Elgeyo Marakwet (see Fides, 23/5/2025). “We are deeply shocked by the fact that both deaths appear to have been caused by malicious intent and under mysterious circumstances. We wish to decry the deaths of these ministers of God and the sense of insecurity and helplessness created by such incidents against the servants of God,” he remarked.The KCCB President then expressed the Kenyan Bishops’ “deep dismay” “by how cheap life has become, where murders and deaths are taken lightly, and used carelessly for political expediency”.”The work carried out by our Catholic priests goes beyond the service of religion and evangelisation. It reaches out to caring for the marginalised, the forgotten and the sick, to bring them hope that does not disappoint”, concluded Msgr. Makumba. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 30/5/2025)
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by Nikos TzoitisAfter fifteen centuries of autonomy, the Orthodox Monastery of St. Catherine on Mount Sinai has passed into the hands of the Egyptian State, according to a ruling issued by the Ismailia court. The measure has generated strong reactions and deep concern in the ecclesiastical and international spheres for the future of the monastery and its monastic community.The monastery on Mount Sinai was founded in the 6th century A.D. by Emperor Justinian, and it has survived wars, conquests, and persecutions thanks in part to its status as a Vakuf, a sacred site to be protected according to Koranic tradition, and by the Bedouins of the Sinai Desert. UNESCO had included it among the monuments recognized as World Heritage Sites.The monastery’s priceless treasures—icons, manuscripts, relics, libraries, and properties—were managed by the twenty monks of the local monastic community, who enjoyed broad autonomy within the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem.According to the ruling issued by the Ismailia Court on Wednesday, May 28, the monastery’s assets are effectively confiscated and placed under the management of the Egyptian state, while the monks face access restrictions to certain buildings. Their continued presence in the monastery is allowed only for religious purposes and under conditions set by the new state owner.The website orthodoxia.info described the decision of the ruling as “one of the most serious violations of religious and individual freedoms in recent centuries,” carried out during a time of great turmoil in the Middle East.The ruling, which effectively strips the monastery of its autonomy, follows a prolonged period of legal disputes and judicial actions aimed at challenging the monastery’s administrative independence.Some Egyptian officials have justified the measure as an act of protecting the monastery’s cultural heritage. Archaeologist Abdel Rahim Rihan argued that the monastery’s real estate falls under cultural heritage laws and that the implementation of the court decision ensures its promotion for the benefit of “world heritage and the monks.” The monks, however, describe the ruling as a de facto expulsion from their own monastery.The decision controversially concludes the long-standing legal offensive by the Egyptian state against the monks of St. Catherine’s—an effort that has been ongoing, in varying intensity, since the time of the Muslim Brotherhood-led government, with the goal of bringing the monastery under state control.According to some analysts, the ruling reveals that even President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi may be unable to control certain elements within the so-called “deep state,” some of which are linked to Salafist groups.Cairo must now manage a diplomatic crisis with Greece, which reacted harshly to the government action concerning the Monastery. This comes at a time when Egypt is at the center of turbulent developments in Palestine, with implications for the Sinai Peninsula—an area where jihadist factions have operated and previously threatened the monastery, even carrying out armed attacks.The ruling also weakens the Monastery’s position in various civil disputes it was engaged in, including cases involving adverse possession.The monks have reacted strongly. An international campaign is already planned to raise awareness and inform churches and other religious communities, with the goal of revoking the decision.The reaction of the Greek Orthodox Archbishop of Athens Ieronymos was immediate. “I do not want to believe, and I cannot believe,” Ieronymos declared, “that Hellenism and Orthodoxy are once again undergoing a historic ‘conquest’.” He added, “This spiritual beacon of Orthodoxy and Hellenism – he added – is now facing a question of survival.” (Agenzia Fides, 30/5/2025)
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