Question for written answer E-002363/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Kathleen Funchion (The Left)
In the recent Commission staff working document, entitled ‘2025 Country Report – Ireland’, which accompanies the Commission communication entitled ‘Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the economic, social, employment, structural and budgetary policies of Ireland’ (COM(2025)0207), there is an acknowledgement that the segregated ‘special schools’ are not in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
1.Could the Commission outline what supports, including financial supports, are available to Ireland to increase special classes within mainstream schools to cater for children with additional needs?
2.What funding opportunities are there for targeted treatments within the school environment to assist with diagnoses, development and ongoing learning, such as speech and language therapy and additional resources teachers?
3.What funding opportunities are there for other therapeutic treatments, play therapy counselling, nurture programme teachers and other related techniques?
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On June 27, the National Center “Russia” will host the final of the All-Russian competition of final qualifying works in the format “Startup as a Diploma”, the operator of which is the State University of Management.
Guests of the event will be able to meet the best startuppers and experts, learn how student startups are launched and what opportunities exist for their development, get inspired by student projects and take part in a prize draw.
The Final program includes:
Finalists’ presentation; Presentation “Startup as a Diploma 2.0”; Awarding of winners; Interactive platforms; Exhibition of TOP-50 projects; Partners’ stands and networking.
Let us remind you that our students Danila Yakovlev and Mikhail Zorin are participating in the final. We invite everyone to come to the final and support the guys, as well as get inspired to work in the new academic year.
Pre-registration is required.
We look forward to seeing you on June 27 at 10:00 at the National Center “Russia” at the address: Moscow, Krasnopresnenskaya embankment, 14, pavilion No. 3 (western entrance).
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.
Inclusion is at the core of the Erasmus+ programme which supports initiatives focused, inter alia, on educational support for children from vulnerable social groups.
The programme funds cooperation projects that develop innovative practices to address inclusion challenges. Schools can benefit from small-scale partnerships designed for organisations with less experience in EU programmes. The European School Education Platform[1] further supports teachers with resources and tools for inclusive education.
Erasmus + funds mobility activities for individuals including children from vulnerable groups. Additional financial support helps remove barriers to participation, covering up to 100% of additional costs to remove barriers linked to social, economic, or educational obstacles.
The programme operates under both direct and indirect management. In the latter case, National Agencies are responsible for national implementation.
This ensures that innovations in inclusion respond to community needs rather than top-down initiatives. Young pupils and adults who participate in mobility projects share experiences, creating opportunities for intergenerational exchange.
By connecting participants from diverse backgrounds, Erasmus+ fosters inclusion, supports lifelong learning, and strengthens communities.
The SALTO Resource Centres for Inclusion and Diversity in Education and Training[2] actively support education organisations. They work with National Agencies to enhance impact, offer guidance, and share best practices.
They also conduct research on challenges faced by participants with fewer opportunities , supporting evidence-based policy and practice.
The Committee on Regional Development will hold a public hearing on the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) “Cohesion policy for the equality of the regions and sustainability of the regional cultures” with the participation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, the Committee on Culture and Education and the Committee on Petitions on Wednesday 25 June 2025.
Secondary Year Two pupils at Northfield Academy were so inspired by the courage and sacrifice of former pupil Lance Corporal Allan Douglas they decided there should be a memorial plaque and trophy created in his honour.
Lance Corporal Allan Douglas, of The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons), lost his life on 30 January 2006, while on patrol in Al Amarah, Iraq.
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron, unveiled the memorial plaque at the main entrance of the school building yesterday (Wednesday 18 June). The pupils of Crew 2.5 wanted the plaque located there as they want everyone entering the building to be reminded of Allan’s legacy.
The unveiling ceremony, featured, a lone piper suggested by Allan’s mum who was delighted and moved to learn of the pupils’ tribute to her son. Rikki Evans, owner of Alba Bagpipes was a school friend of Allan and said it was an honour to play in Allan’s memory.
The ceremony also included a welcome from Craig McDermott, head teacher of Northfield Academy before the pupils from Crew 2.5 spoke about why they felt compelled to honour Allan. Ann Lowson, a retired guidance teacher, spoke fondly of Allan as she shared memories of his time at the school with the audience that included members of Allan’s family, the school community and the wider Northfield community.
Following the ceremony, the Lord Provost, said: “It was clear that the unveiling of the memorial plaque and creation of the Allan Douglas Trophy, means a great deal to the school community and the wider community of Northfield.
“Lance Corporal Allan Douglas was a young man when he died, and his legacy continues with the commendable efforts and community spirit demonstrated by the pupils of Crew 2.5 at Northfield Academy. They are immensely proud of Allan, and I am sure he would be very proud of them too.”
Former guidance teacher Ann Lowson, said: “Allan’s death was very tragic. He was a typical Northfield lad …..full of life and fun. He was very caring of others, a loyal friend and very respectful of staff.”
The pupils from Crew 2.5 have worked with the school’s management team and technical department to create the permanent memorial plaque.
In addition to the plaque, the pupils have also raised funds for the creation of the Allan Douglas Trophy. This annual award, presented at the academy’s Celebration of Success ceremony, will recognise Northfield Academy pupils who display bravery, courage and sacrifice.
The first recipient of this special award is Adam Mitchell, Secondary Year One pupil, who was presented with the Allan Douglas Trophy at the academy’s Celebration of Success ceremony, on Wednesday 11 June. The trophy was awarded for bravery, courage and sacrifice.
Adam Mitchell, Secondary Year One (S1) pupil at Northfield Academy. “It’s been a real honour to win the first ever Allan Douglas Trophy. It has been overwhelming in a good way. I was left absolutely speechless when winning the trophy and receiving the medal. It is good to remember a former pupil from this school who fought for his country and sadly got killed during the war. I am proud to have been chosen.”
Paul Rorie, Executive Officer, TD SCOTS RHQ Aberdeen & Tayforth Officer Training Regiment and John McLeish, Chief Executive, The Gordon Highlanders Museum were also in attendance.
Photo: The Lord and Lady Provost of Aberdeen, Dr David Cameron and Hazel Cameron with pupils from Crew 2.5 Mason Sherriffs; John Eglitis; Ashton Duncan; and Kaiden Henderson at the unveiling of plaque in memory of Lance Corporal Allan Douglas.
Pressing global challenges and high uncertainty rightly command our attention in the current juncture, but they also threaten to overshadow issues such as climate change. Meanwhile, physical risks of climate change are becoming more evident, and the global transition remains too slow.
Governor Krogstrup commented: “Rather than looking away, the many concurrent challenges should reinforce our commitment to addressing these in a risk-based, prioritized manner.”
Scenario analysis is a cornerstone of climate risk assessment. While climate policy is a government responsibility, climate-related risks fall squarely within the mandates of central banks. At Danmarks Nationalbank, climate work is integrated into scenario analysis and data collection. Nationalbanken has developed scenarios and collaborated with the Danish Research Institute for Economic Analysis and Modelling (DREAM) to understand how the green transition may impact the Danish economy and banks.
Governor Krogstrup concluded by calling for collaboration: “The risks arising from climate change are global and multidisciplinary. Learning from each other and collaborating is not only useful — it is necessary.”
Pressing global challenges and high uncertainty rightly command our attention in the current juncture, but they also threaten to overshadow issues such as climate change. Meanwhile, physical risks of climate change are becoming more evident, and the global transition remains too slow.
Governor Krogstrup commented: “Rather than looking away, the many concurrent challenges should reinforce our commitment to addressing these in a risk-based, prioritized manner.”
Scenario analysis is a cornerstone of climate risk assessment. While climate policy is a government responsibility, climate-related risks fall squarely within the mandates of central banks. At Danmarks Nationalbank, climate work is integrated into scenario analysis and data collection. Nationalbanken has developed scenarios and collaborated with the Danish Research Institute for Economic Analysis and Modelling (DREAM) to understand how the green transition may impact the Danish economy and banks.
Governor Krogstrup concluded by calling for collaboration: “The risks arising from climate change are global and multidisciplinary. Learning from each other and collaborating is not only useful — it is necessary.”
The Education Bureau today said today that it is encouraged that universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) continue to hold top spots in the latest World University Rankings, which are published by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), an international higher education organisation.
The bureau highlighted that five UGC-funded universities stayed in the world’s top 100 in the World University Ranking 2026, making Hong Kong the place with the highest concentration of top-ranked universities globally.
It said the rankings reflect not only the unremitting efforts and continuous pursuit of excellence of Hong Kong’s higher education institutions but also the Government’s long-term commitment to investing in education.
The University of Hong Kong rose six places to 11th globally in the latest rankings, while the Chinese University of Hong Kong climbed four spots to 32nd, and the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology advanced three positions to 44th.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and City University of Hong Kong also achieved outstanding results, ranking 54th and 63rd respectively.
The bureau said the Government will do its utmost to provide assistance and convenience to overseas talent interested in studying or conducting research at higher education institutions in Hong Kong, and will strive to further expand the non-local student quota. It added that the Government will continue to promote internationalisation and diversified development in the eight UGC-funded universities.
Furthermore, it outlined that the Government strives both to attract talent from around the world and nurture local talent through various initiatives such as scholarship programmes, thereby leveraging Hong Kong’s strengths to serve the country’s needs.
The bureau also stressed that the Government will continue to strengthen global exchanges, including strengthening and broadening research networks and co-operation.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre to hold fun day this weekend to celebrate reopening
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department will present the Fun Day of Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre (SWHCC) from 1pm to 5.30pm on June 21 (Saturday) and 22 (Sunday) to celebrate the reopening of SWHCC after renovation and improvement works. Members of the public are welcome to join. An array of programmes blending Chinese and Western cultures, with youth and community engagement as highlights, will be held at the Fun Day. Programmes include a lion dance performance by the acclaimed dragon and lion dance team of the Buddhist Ho Nam Kam Secondary School, an exhilarating Chinese drum performance by the Hong Kong Drum Ensemble, a street dance and busking performance by the Youth Outreach’s School of Hip Hop, and a performance of various styles of jazz music by young musicians from the group Fountain de Chopin. Young musicians curated by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Boys’ & Girls’ Clubs Association of Hong Kong will also stage performances of diverse music pieces. Moreover, the ceremony of the Fun Day will be held at the Theatre of SWHCC at 1pm on June 22, with exciting lion dance and majestic Chinese drum performances for public enjoyment. A number of workshops will also be available at the Fun Day, including the “One Day in the Theatre” workshop by the Absolutely Fabulous Theatre Connection (AFTEC), the venue partner of SWHCC, for participants to try being an actor or working backstage in a theatre setting, and 19/06/2025, 11:27 Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre to hold fun day this weekend to celebrate reopening (with photos) https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202506/19/P2025061900251p.htm#:~:text=The Leisure and Cultural Services,after renovation and improvement works. 1/2 to take part in a showcase performance on the same day. Furthermore, the AFTEC will present the “Re-imagine Theatre” exhibition at the foyer of SWHCC from June 21, guiding audiences into the world of theatrical plays as the protagonists’ companions. On June 21, a stage tour will be available for members of the public at the Theatre of SWHCC to introduce participants to the new and advanced stage equipment and facilities after the renovation of SWHCC and to learn about the operations behind the scenes in a stage production. Admission is free. For details, please visit www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/swhcc/aboutus/funday.html . Ends/Thursday, June 19, 2025 Issued at HKT 12:30 NNNN
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Since 2011, over 1,100 social facilities have been built in Moscow: schools, kindergartens, medical institutions, sports and cultural complexes. They were built both using funds from the capital’s Targeted Investment Program and with the participation of private investors. This was announced at the XXVIII St. Petersburg International Economic Forum by Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.
“Moscow pays great attention to the creation of social infrastructure. The facilities are built at the expense of the city budget and investors. Thus, since 2011, 1,143 social facilities have been built in Moscow: 661 school and kindergarten buildings, about 175 healthcare facilities, 225 sports facilities and 82 cultural facilities. In particular, the construction of such important institutions for the capital as the flagship center of the V.M. Buyanov City Clinical Hospital, the ice palace in the Mnevnikovskaya floodplain have been completed, and the first kindergarten built using modular technology has been opened in Izmailovo,” Vladimir Efimov noted.
Work on creating social infrastructure continues. Last year alone, 49 schools and kindergartens, 17 sports facilities and nine cultural facilities were built through the joint efforts of the city and investors.
“In the first five months of this year, developers have already built more than 10 socially significant facilities. For example, in the Pokrovskoe-Streshnevo district, an investor built a school for 825 students with an area of more than 12 thousand square meters. In the east of Moscow, a developer built a multidisciplinary medical center in the Kosino-Ukhtomsky district, and in the South Administrative District, in the Biryulevo Vostochnoye district, a sports and recreation complex with an area of over seven thousand square meters was built using extra-budgetary sources,” said the Minister of the Moscow Government, head of the capital’s Department of Urban Development Policy
Since 2011, the capital has also built such significant facilities as the flagship centers of the N.V. Sklifosovsky Research Institute of Emergency Care, the V.V. Veresaev City Clinical Hospital, No. 15 named after O.M. Filatov and named after S.P. Botkin, the International Sambo Center, the boxing center on the territory of the Luzhniki Olympic Complex, the Sports Palace in Nekrasovka, and the educational complex of the N.E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
The construction of social facilities in Moscow corresponds to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.
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.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health today (June 19) launched a new edition of antimicrobial guidelines entitled the Interhospital Multi-disciplinary Programme on Antimicrobial ChemoTherapy (IMPACT) Guidelines. These guidelines serve as a reference for doctors when prescribing antimicrobial drugs for inpatients, aiming to prevent overuse which may aggravate antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
“In view of the evolving AMR situations, the CHP in collaboration with experts updated IMPACT based on local AMR data and the latest international and local literature for reference of doctors so that antimicrobials can be prescribed in a more accurate manner. The CHP organised a forum today to introduce the major updates of the guidelines, including the empirical therapy of common infections, antimicrobials for known pathogens and recommendations for surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis to over 150 participating healthcare professionals from the public and private sectors. Recommended dosing and adverse reactions for certain antimicrobials are also set out in the updated guidelines,” said the Consultant (Antimicrobial Resistance) of the Infection Control Branch of the CHP, Dr Edmond Ma.
In addition to the forum for the medical field, the CHP also issued a Letter to Doctors today, urging them to refer to the new guidelines and prescribe the appropriate antimicrobials to patients in need. This will help curb the spread of drug resistance and safeguard the effectiveness of existing treatments.
Dr Ma added, “AMR occurs when microorganisms (such as bacteria and viruses) evolve and become resistant to previously effective medications. When patients are infected with drug-resistant bacteria, their illness may be prolonged, and their risk of death may even increase. The misuse and overuse of antibiotics are the major drivers of drug-resistant bacteria. Since the first edition of the IMPACT Guidelines was launched in 1999, it has become an important reference for healthcare professionals, helping to minimise unnecessary or inappropriate prescribing of antimicrobials. At the same time, it has become a key foundation for launching the Antimicrobial Stewardship Programme in public hospitals and will facilitate the enhancement of relevant measures in private hospitals in the future. According to the latest surveillance data, the proportion of antimicrobials in the Watch category (i.e. antimicrobials considered by the World Health Organization to be at a higher risk of developing drug resistance) in the total supply of antimicrobials in Hong Kong decreased from 40.3 per cent in 2016 to 34.6 per cent in 2024, indicating that doctors are prescribing relatively fewer broad spectrum antibiotics to help combat AMR.”
The Government has been placing great importance on addressing the necessity of combating AMR. In 2022, the Government published the second Hong Kong Strategy and Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance (Action Plan), outlining strategies to tackle the threat of AMR from 2023 to 2027. The measures include reviewing and updating IMPACT, and reminding doctors to prescribe antimicrobials to patients in accordance with guidelines and scientific evidence.
The IMPACT set of guidelines, now in its 6th edition, are a collaborative effort among the CHP, the Hospital Authority, the Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong, the Faculty of Medicine of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Medical Association and the Hong Kong Private Hospitals Association. The CHP would like to express its sincere gratitude to the Editors, Dr Ho Pak-leung, Dr Wu Tak-chiu, and the other members of the Editorial Board.
The CHP also urged members of the public to work with healthcare professionals to eliminate AMR by observing the following:
Consult a doctor when having a cold, flu or COVID-19. Do not buy antibiotics without a prescription at community pharmacies;
Do not demand antibiotics from doctors. Only take antibiotics when advised by doctors and complete the whole course of treatment even if symptoms have improved;
Follow health advice stated on the prescription bag and adopt appropriate infection control measures such as maintaining hand hygiene, wearing a surgical mask when having respiratory symptoms, and disinfecting and covering all wounds properly to prevent person-to-person spread of resistant bacteria when taking antibiotics;
Receive seasonal influenza and COVID-19 vaccines as effective means to prevent secondary bacterial infection, hence reducing the use of antibiotics and occurrence of AMR;
Be aware of the risk of acquiring resistant bacteria from ready-to-eat (RTE) food. People taking antibiotics or antacids, and high-risk populations (such as pregnant women, infants and young children, the elderly and people with weakened immunity) are of higher risk and should avoid eating raw or undercooked RTE foods; and
Observe good hygienic practices in the kitchen when handling food to minimise the risk of cross-contamination by resistant bacteria.
For details of the IMPACT Guidelines, please visit the IMPACT webpage (impact.chp.gov.hk/). For more information about AMR, please visit the CHP website.
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government is today hosting a Provincial Day of Mourning in honour of the victims of last week’s floods.
Thursday’s ceremony which will take place at King Sabatha Dalindyebo Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College in Mthatha will bring together government leaders and community members to pay tribute to the lives lost in the storms.
The death toll in the tragedy currently stands at 92, including a teenage girl whose body was recovered along the Mthatha River on Wednesday. The total number of fatalities in Mthatha alone are at 68.
“Mthatha in the OR Tambo District Municipality remain the hardest hit across the province and the number of deceased persons may continue to rise. Progress has been made with the processing of the bodies as 86 bodies have now been positively identified, with 83 collected by family members.
“Five bodies remain unidentified. The Provincial Government is still urging members of the public to report any missing persons at their nearest police station to assist ongoing recovery and identification efforts,” provincial spokesperson, Khuselwa Rantjie said in a statement.
Rantjie said the provincial government continues to work tirelessly to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to 4 308 individuals that have been left homeless across the province.
Processes are underway to ensure the provision of Temporary Residential Units (TRUs).
“Significant progress has also been made in the restoration of critical infrastructure. The OR Tambo District Municipality has reported steady advancements in the restoration of water supply systems. Full restoration is anticipated across all affected areas by Friday, 21 June 2025,” Rantjie said.
READ | Death toll in Eastern Cape floods rises to 90
In the Amathole District Municipality, operations at the Butterworth Water Treatment Works (WTW) have resumed following the successful repairs to the high lift and backwash pumps. Water supply has also been restored in most areas.
However, the provincial government said high-lying communities are still facing limited access as the system stabilises, and this will take some additional time to recover fully.
Authorities continue to monitor the situation and conduct assessments to quantify the full restoration across all affected communities.
Premier Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane has commended South Africans and the world for the provision of much needed support to reach people in dire need.
“We are encouraged by the outpouring of love and support from all corners of the globe. The Provincial Government remains committed to working alongside municipalities, national departments, and civil society to restore dignity and livelihoods across the province,” Mabuyane said. – SAnews.gov.za
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday welcomed India’s significant improvement in the QS World University Rankings 2026, calling it a reflection of the country’s growing stature in global education.
Responding to a post on X by Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, PM Modi said, “The QS World University 2026 Rankings bring great news for our education sector. Our government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India’s youth.”
A record 54 Indian institutions have been featured in the QS World University Rankings 2026, with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi emerging as the top-ranked Indian institution nationally.
The education minister said the improvement was the result of education reforms introduced over the past decade, particularly the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
“This five-fold jump — from just 11 institutions in 2014 to 54 in 2026 — is a testament to the transformative reforms brought in by the Modi government over the last ten years,” he said. “The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not just changing our education system; it is revolutionising it.”
According to the Ministry of Education, India has seen an “unprecedented rise” in representation, with more universities than ever earning a place in the global rankings. The ministry stated that India is now the fastest-growing G20 country in the QS rankings, recording a 390 percent increase in the number of ranked institutions over the past decade.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Scientists comment on UKHSA announcing a rabies case in an individual that had contact with an animal in Morocco.
Dr Chris Smith, Clinical Associate Professor, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said:
“Rabies is a fatal but preventable disease. Although cases in UK travellers are very rare, this recent tragic case underscores the importance of awareness and timely treatment.
“Rabies is endemic in many parts of the world, including popular holiday destinations such as Morocco, Turkey, India, Thailand, the Philippines, and Indonesia. All human rabies cases reported in the UK since 1902 have been acquired abroad: typically through dog bites. Since 1946, 26 imported cases have been reported, with the most recent prior to this being in 2018, following a bite from a cat in Morocco.
“Travellers to countries where rabies is present should seek pre-travel advice regarding vaccination.
“Rabies is usually transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, most often dogs, but also cats and bats. Even a minor scratch or lick on broken skin can pose a risk. If exposed, immediate first aid is essential: the wound should be thoroughly washed with soap and water, and prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) – including a course of rabies vaccinations and, in some cases, rabies immunoglobulin – should be sought. These interventions are highly effective when started early.”
“The key public health messages are:
Rabies is a deadly but preventable disease
Seek pre-travel advice regarding vaccination when visiting high-risk countries
Avoid contact with animals abroad; if bitten or scratched, seek medical care immediately — don’t wait for symptoms to appear”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A meta-analysis published in Aging Cell looks at the effect of Rapamycin, Metformin, and Dietary Restriction on non-human vertebrate lifespan.
Dr David Clancy, Lecturer in Biogerontology, Lancaster University, said:
“Diet restriction seems to extend lifespan significantly but is hard to do, and certainly no fun. So Ivimey-Cook et al decided to look at hundreds of datasets across 8 species of vertebrate which examined lifespan effects of diet restriction (DR), the immune suppressant drug rapamycin and the diabetes drug metformin. Both drugs have been extensively tested for lifespan extension. The closest species to humans were rhesus monkeys (4 studies) and the furthest from humans were fish (4 studies). The most common were mice and rats (210 studies).
“This well-done study showed DR and rapamycin extending lifespan with significant consistency across studies, in both sexes, DR probably a little greater than rapamycin. However metformin did not. That is a pity for the many people now taking off-label metformin for lifespan extension. Let’s hope it doesn’t have any or many adverse effects.
“Rapamycin is used mainly as an immune suppressant in kidney transplant. Oddly it may be slightly toxic to kidneys in humans but has not been tested in non-renal patients, and not over the long term as in these lifespan studies. Early experiments in flies and worms show that it needs the cell process known as autophagy to exert its lifespan extension. This is the process whereby cells ‘clean’ themselves of damaged and misfolded proteins and other damaged biomolecules and cell components and recycle them. Unsurprisingly research is looking for stimulators of autophagy (which DR achieves, and exercise), and is searching for ‘rapalogues’ – molecules similar in action to rapamycin but ideally smaller, less complex molecules with no immune system or other ‘off-target’ effects.”
Prof Dame Linda Partridge, Professorial Fellow, UCL, said:
“This meta-analysis of published studies of the effects on vertebrate animals of dietary restriction (DR) and two licensed drugs, metformin and rapamycin, finds that only DR and rapamycin consistently extend lifespan. They do so to about the same extent and with similar effects in males and females. Dietary restriction is long established as ameliorating many of the adverse effects of ageing, The discovery of lifespan extension from rapamycin is more recent. In mice irapamycin also holds back several ageing-related pathologies. The finding that DR and rapamycin have effects of similar magnitude on lifespan across species implies that rapamycin is a candidate for repurposing for prevention of ageing-related pathologies in humans. Other licensed drugs may be similarly geroprotective, and more work is needed to investigate their potential to prevent deterioration of health in older people. Given that many of the candidate drugs are off patent, public and charity funding may be needed to investigate the potential of these drugs for prevention of age-related diseases.”
Prof Lynne Cox, Associate Professor of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, said:
“Research into ageing understandably attracts a lot of public interest. For most people, retaining their health is more important than the exact length of time they live, but it is also the case that increased lifespan usually reflects better health, and in the scientific laboratory, lifespan (time from birth to death) is clear and easy to measure.
“Dietary restriction (DR, i.e. cutting down on overall food intake, reducing calories or undertaking periods of fasting) has been widely reported to increase lifespan in experimental animals. But it is very hard for people to achieve DR for long periods, and in fact research suggests that it is actually harmful for older adults to cut down on how much they eat.
“Scientists have therefore looked for ways of achieving lifespan extension without having to stick to a highly restrictive diet, using drugs that might mimic DR, particularly rapamycin and metformin. Each drug has been reported to increase lifespan in multiple scientific reports. In this new study, the researchers compare results from 167 scientific papers studying the effect on lifespan of dietary restriction, metformin or rapamycin. They conclude that DR and rapamycin (but not metformin) increase lifespan in all vertebrate species analysed, and that males and females equally benefit.
“The difficulties these researchers encountered when trying to find original raw data highlights a major problem in the ageing field – the lack of transparency and accessibility of lifespan data so that others can cross check and carry out further analysis. They also report far fewer studies on females compared with males – again a major issue with biomedical research.
“The paper is an interesting first-pass analysis, but it doesn’t take into account the really important aspect of drug dosing or duration, which can have huge impacts on healthspan and lifespan; a very high dose of a drug might be toxic, while much lower doses of the drug could be beneficial. Dosing is particularly important with rapamycin which is immunosuppressive at high doses but immunosupportive at low doses. Similarly, metformin either increases or decreases lifespan in mice according to dose. It is therefore vital that the drug dose, duration of treatment, and the age of the individual at which the drug is administered, are all taken into account when analysing lifespan effects. By drawing together results from so many studies across different vertebrate species, this paper is a step in the right direction but highlights the need for even more studies that provide important information on age, dose and treatment duration, as well as correlations with detailed health measures.”
Prof Neil Mabbott, Personal Chair of Immunopathology, Roslin Institute & Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Edinburgh, said:
“Many studies have described how interventions such as dietary restriction can extend lifespans in experimental settings. However, the impact that some of these approaches have on lifespans has occasionally been inconsistent, or not observed, when repeated in different animal species or laboratories. To address these concerns the authors have analysed over 900 effect sizes across 167 studies to compare the reported effects of three interventions on their ability to extend lifespan. Their analysis revealed that dietary restriction or treatment with the immunosuppressant drug rapamycin were equally effective in extending lifespans in the animal species used in those studies.
“This is an interesting and useful study, but more research is now required to uncover how these treatments extend lifespans. Furthermore, none of the studies the authors compared described effects in humans. So it is uncertain whether the effects described in animals such as laboratory mice, rats, dogs, macaques, fish and mouse lemurs, are also applicable to humans.
“With advances in health care etc. lifespans across the world are forecast to steadily increase. While this is obviously to be welcomed, an increased elderly population does bring with it challenges, especially to health care providers. In this study the authors compared how effective the different interventions were on extending lifespan. However, rather than simply focusing on lifespan duration, we should also focus our efforts on extending the health-span. This is the period of our lives in which we live healthily and disease-free. While this study found consistent effects on lifespan, it is uncertain whether these interventions have a similar impact on the health-span. Living a lot longer but with the multiple morbidities that can accompany aging is perhaps not the best thing. Treatments that can improve the duration of those healthy years, will themselves feedback into increased lifespans.”
Prof Ilaria Bellantuono, Co-director of the Healthy Lifespan Institute, University of Sheffield, said:
“This meta-analysis compiles existing data on the effects of dietary restriction (DR), metformin, and rapamycin on lifespan across multiple species, but its findings—particularly regarding DR and rapamycin—should be interpreted with caution. While the authors report no significant differences between these two interventions or between sexes, this may reflect limitations in the underlying data, and its heterogeneity, rather than a true absence of effect. Both rapamycin and DR have demonstrated sex-specific and context-dependent effects on longevity in numerous experimental models, especially in mice. Moreover, the analysis cannot address key translational questions, such as dose dependency and timing of intervention—factors that are particularly important given rapamycin’s known side effects. Perhaps more critically, the study focuses on lifespan rather than healthspan, and it is well established that longer life does not necessarily mean more years in good health. Although the study reinforces general principles about the influence of these interventions on longevity, its relevance to human ageing and therapeutic translation is limited, and claims of equivalence should be treated with caution.”
Dr Laura Sinclair, Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Exeter, said:
“The team made use of the powerful tool of meta-analysis to look at how dietary restriction, metformin and rapamycin affect longevity across published experimental research studies.
“As one might expect, a drug’s effect on lifespan can be quite difficult to assess in humans, so research often uses model organisms for assessing lifespan, while human studies focus more on age-related diseases. For example, the Targeting Ageing with Metformin (TAME) Trial in the US will use mortality and a combination of age-related disease indications to examine metformin’s effects on ageing and lifespan.
“The team analysed data from lots of experiments from other studies. Most of the experiments that the team studied will have involved giving an animal a treatment and measuring their lifespan compared to a control group of animals not given the treatment. The dietary restriction treatment may have consisted of giving the animal less food, less time to eat and/or less nutrition in their food.
Dietary restriction is well known to increase longevity across many studies in animals, but its effects are difficult to replicate in people in the real world for many reasons.
“When you eat less, lots of nutrition-sensing pathways are affected in your cells. These pathways overlap a lot with cell-controlling pathways that are associated with living longer. It is important to study these pathways as targeting them might help us be able to live healthier in older age. It is also important to consider sex differences as some differences in response between sexes have been observed in other studies.
‘Rapamycin, not metformin, mirrors dietary restriction-2driven lifespan extension in vertebrates: a meta-analysis’by Ivimey-Cook et al. will be published in Aging Cell at 00:01 UK time on Thursday 19th June, which is when the embargo will lift.
Declared interests
Prof Neil Mabbott “I have no conflicts of interest to declare”
Prof Ilaria Bellantuono “I am consulting for Holland and Barrett.”
Dr Laura Sinclair “My project is currently funded by the charity, Animal-Free Research UK”
Prof Lynne Cox “Lynne Cox is a biochemist at the university of Oxford. She runs the Lab of Ageing and Cell Senescence in Oxford, and has strong research interest in rapamycin and drugs that act in similar ways to preserve healthspan. She has served for the past 3 years as co-director of the UK Ageing research Networks (UKAN) and is currently Program Director of Dynamic Resilience, a $60m global healthspan program co-funded by Wellcome Leap and Temasek Trust.”
Dr David Clancy “No interested to declare”
For all other experts no reply to our request for COIs was receive.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The Times Higher Education (THE) rating agency has published the results of the international TНE University Impact Rankings 2025. It measures the contribution of universities to socio-economic development through the prism of 17 UN global goals. This year, the ranking included 2,526 universities from 130 countries, including 80 Russian ones. Polytechnic University demonstrated high results, taking first place among Russian universities and entering the group of 301-400 best universities in the world.
THE Impact Rankings is an opportunity to assess the scale of achievements of such multidisciplinary universities as ours. Due to our polytechnic nature, we make a significant contribution to the development of a wide range of areas. I am proud of the social responsibility of polytechnics, their concern and desire for positive changes. Therefore, even focusing on technological leadership, Polytechnic does not lose sight of the importance of social and economic development of Russia and the world, – noted the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy.
This year’s ranking showed a significant improvement in Polytechnic University’s positions on eight sustainable development goals. Particularly impressive is the progress in the area of “Partnerships for Sustainable Development Goals” (SDG17), where the university moved up 11 positions among Russian universities and 200 positions in the world ranking. Indicators for the goal “Preservation of Marine Ecosystems” (SDG14) also increased significantly: plus seven positions in Russia and plus one hundred in the world. Significant progress was noted for the goals “Climate Action” (SDG13) and “Good Health and Well-Being” (SDG3), where SPbPU moved up six and five positions, respectively, among Russian universities. Polytechnic University maintains its leading position in Russia for the goal “Responsible Production and Consumption” (SDG12).
In addition to its significant impact on the economic development of the region and the country, Polytechnic University makes a significant social contribution. Our university provides access to quality education to more than 30 thousand Russian and foreign students, is a major employer, providing jobs for more than six thousand people, including people with disabilities. In addition, the university organizes many free socially significant events for the local community, and this is only part of our social activities. Evaluation of this kind of contribution is no less important, and this is the great value of such ratings, – commented Vice-Rector for Human Resources Policy Maria Vrublevskaya.
The assessment is based on information provided by universities and confirmed by Elsevier bibliometric data. The analysis covers three important areas: research activities (development of science to solve global problems), management efficiency (resource management and educational activities) and social work (implementation of social programs within the university).
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: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The MetaCampus Polytech project, which is being implemented by the team of the Civil Engineering Institute, has become one of the key initiatives within the framework of the digital transformation of SPbPU. It is a digital campus ecosystem based on an information model that unites more than 300,000 square meters of area, 30 academic buildings and about 10,000 rooms.
The uniqueness of the project is that MetaCampus Polytech is the first and only example of creating a digital twin of a university campus in the country. This makes it not only a platform for internal digital transformation, but also a pilot solution that can be used by other Russian universities.
The project is interdisciplinary in nature and is being implemented jointly with the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity. More than 2,000 undergraduate, specialist and master’s students are participating in its development. Eight project groups have been organized, nine new work programs of disciplines and practices have been developed, such as “Digital Modeling of Buildings”, “Geoinformation Technologies”, “Energy Audit”, “Project Practice” and others. At the moment, work is underway on interdisciplinary final qualification works.
Digital services intended for various user groups of the university are being actively created and developed. One of them, “Property Management”, is aimed at automating analytics and visual management of the university’s material and property complex. The service allows you to track the parameters of premises online and generate their digital passports.
At the moment, specialists are developing a technology for converting multimodal campus infrastructure data into a single information presentation format for subsequent analysis and processing using machine learning and artificial intelligence algorithms. The goal is to combine heterogeneous data collected over two years (PDF documents, images, BIM models, point clouds, tables and other file types) into a single structured system associated with specific campus objects and premises.
Based on these unified data, the digital service for managing the property complex will be expanded, which will allow for the prompt generation of analytical reports and graphical representations of indicators at the user’s request using an AI assistant. This approach will ensure not only the integrity of information, but also high speed of decision-making on managing the university’s resources.
During the project implementation, a video presentation was created, which presents a historical retrospective of the formation of the SPbPU campus. The basis for creating the video were digital models of the university buildings.
The experience gained during the implementation of the MetaCampus Polytech project became the basis for new international cooperation. Representatives of the Civil Engineering Institute and partners from Cuba agreed to launch a joint project on the digitalization of cultural heritage sites. Cuban colleagues shared their experience in the digitalization of architectural monuments, including joint research with universities in Spain and Colombia, and expressed interest in developing cooperation.
In addition, the Institute of Historical and Cultural Heritage has concluded an agreement with the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments of St. Petersburg (KGIOP) on developing a digital passport of cultural heritage sites based on the approaches of the MetaCampus Polytech project. This will create a unified format for digital information about cultural sites and may become the basis for the formation of digital twins of historical cities both in Russia and abroad.
The significance of the project was confirmed by its victory in the nomination “Best Campus Management Practice” in the competition organized by the “Sociocenter” jointly with the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia as part of the strategic academic leadership program “Priority-2030”.
In the future, MetaCampus Polytech will be able to become the basis for creating a digital twin of St. Petersburg. At the moment, the territory of the university campus, which is contained in the form of an information model, is a serious digital asset. Using its example, we could replicate this practice in order to transfer our entire city to a digital model, – noted the director of ISI Marina Petrochenko.
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: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, June 19 (Xinhua) — Uzbekistan and China are strategic partners in promoting green development, Sarvar Rakhmatullaev, a leading researcher at the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, said in an interview with Xinhua.
He noted that in the era of global climate challenges and energy transformation, international cooperation in the field of sustainable development is of particular importance. One of the most striking examples of such interaction is the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and China in the field of green economy: two countries united by a common vision of an environmentally sustainable future are demonstrating an exemplary model of interstate cooperation that can become a catalyst for green transformation of all of Central Asia, the scientist emphasized.
According to S. Rakhmatullaev, in recent years, a remarkable transformation has been observed in relations between Uzbekistan and China, turning bilateral interaction into the embodiment of successful interstate cooperation. Thanks to the active efforts of the leaders of the two states, these relations have reached a new, higher level with the establishment of an all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership in a new era, he added.
Economic indicators eloquently testify to the scale of the progress achieved: the most significant trend of recent years has been the transition from traditional forms of cooperation to the environmental agenda, the expert said. Today, there is a significant dynamic of interaction between Uzbekistan and China in green energy, which implies cooperation in the use of technologies that promote environmental efficiency and sustainability, including innovative solutions and advanced developments to achieve environmental goals, the agency’s interlocutor said.
S. Rakhmatullaev noted that in recent years, China has secured its status as the undisputed leader in the field of renewable energy and green technologies. The green development policy has become one of the priority tasks of the Chinese government, it is based on the concept of the ecological civilization of China, aimed at balanced and sustainable development, harmonious coexistence of man and nature, the expert added. -0-
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Polytechnic University scientists have developed a new chemical composition with increased anti-cancer activity and virtually zero toxicity.
Malignant neoplasms are one of the most serious problems of modern healthcare. Globally, about 20 million new cases of the disease are registered annually, and global mortality from cancer reaches 9-10 million people per year. In Russia, more than 640 thousand new cases of cancer are detected annually. At the same time, about 40% of patients seek medical help when the disease has already reached stage III-IV, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of treatment and worsens survival. The most common types are breast cancer, lung cancer and colorectal cancer.
High morbidity and a significant proportion of cases of late diagnosis require the introduction of new, effective and affordable methods of therapy, which scientists in all countries are working on. Over the past ten years, a breakthrough has been achieved in the treatment of malignant neoplasms after the approval of tyrosine kinase inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors, which have significantly changed approaches to the treatment of patients with cancer tumors. Small-molecule inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) are a promising group of new antitumor agents that can selectively inhibit the enzyme responsible for the restoration of genotoxic damage in cells, which ultimately leads to apoptosis and death of tumor cells.
In Russia, under the conditions of sanctions pressure and the rising cost of modern foreign medicines, the creation of domestic antitumor drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity is especially relevant. This is the task that a group of scientists from Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University is solving. They have selected chemical substances and invented a method for obtaining a new compound that has not only high anticancer activity, but also low toxicity.
Standard tests using resazurin revealed that the obtained compound has more than 50 times the anti-cancer activity of its FDA-approved analogue. We determined the toxicity of the compound using the method of G. N. Pershin on mice. The results of the experiments showed that, according to the current classification, the compound belongs to class V of virtually non-toxic drugs. The obtained characteristics make it possible to use this compound to create new targeted drugs with low toxicity to healthy tissues, – said one of the authors of the invention, head of the Laboratory of Nano- and Microencapsulation of Biologically Active Substances of the Institute of Cardiovascular and Biological Problems of St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Alexander Timin.
The potential of the drug for further production of anti-cancer drugs is highly appreciated by specialists participating in testing the new compound, in accordance with the agreement concluded between the N. N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology of the Ministry of Health of Russia and SPbPU.
Currently, there are no registered inhibitors of domestic development in Russia. Therefore, it is especially important that the compound created by the scientists of the Polytechnic University of Petrovsky already demonstrates encouraging results at the early stages. This is an original molecule with characteristics comparable to foreign drugs. We continue research on biological models and are preparing for preclinical trials in accordance with international standards in order to provide patients with an effective and affordable antitumor agent in the future. Now we are waiting for the decision of the Ministry of Health on financing the project within the framework of the State assignment – the first stage of expert evaluation has already been successfully completed, – said Artem Poltoratsky, Head of the Department of Organization of Preclinical and Clinical Research, Leading Researcher and Oncologist at the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology.
Conducting preclinical studies and, in general, bringing the drug to market will be significantly cheaper also because Polytechnic scientists use artificial intelligence technologies. They conduct retrosynthetic analysis of large data sets (Big Data), establishing the relationship between the structure and biological activity of the compounds being studied.
The neural network we trained generates potential structures with the required properties and predicts binding affinities with target molecules. The proposed approach allows us to calculate properties based on the structure, create training samples based on more than 40,000 molecules and predict the structures of leading compounds. These solutions and the developed neural network approach, which tracks the effect of molecules on the body, significantly reduce the time and material costs of preclinical studies, – said the leading researcher of the laboratory of nano- and microencapsulation of biologically active substances, one of the authors of the invention Sergey Shipilovskikh.
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: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Excellent performance of Hong Kong’s higher education system showcases effectiveness of government measures He stressed that the Government attracts quality talent from around the world and nurtures local talent through various measures such as scholarship programmes to leverage Hong Kong’s strengths to serve the country’s needs. Starting from the 2024/25 academic year (AY), the non-local student quota for UGC-funded institutions has been doubled from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, raising non-local undergraduate enrolment from 19.9 per cent (2023/24 AY) to 23.2 per cent. The Government will further foster collaboration among the eight UGC-funded universities, including supporting the jointly established Heads of Universities Committee’s Standing Committee on Internationalisation to continue to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand worldwide.
The spokesman added that the Government will continue to promote the strengthening of global exchanges and connections of research personnel and teams of local universities and support them to broaden research networks and co-operation areas with their overseas counterparts.
The Government attaches great importance to the quality of teaching and learning at universities and invests substantial resources to step up support for the high-quality development of Hong Kong education. For the 2025–2028 triennium, approximately 78 per cent of the Block Grant will be allocated to support teaching and learning. Compared with the 2022-2025 triennium, the Teaching Development and Language Enhancement Grant provided by the UGC will increase by $100 million to approximately $920 million. The key themes of the Grant – including the integration of generative artificial intelligence and innovative technologies in education, the sharing of exemplary practices in teaching and learning, and the enhancement of students’ well-being and personal development – are aligned with current trends in education and societal needs. The most recent round of quality audits conducted by the Quality Assurance Council under the UGC also reaffirms the high quality of educational experiences offered by UGC-funded universities.
To dovetail with the National 14th Five-Year Plan, the Government will leverage the vast opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, supporting cutting-edge research conducted by the eight UGC-funded universities through the Research Grants Council (RGC) under the UGC. Over 20 research funds and scholarship programmes operate under the RGC, with more than 1 500 new projects receiving funding annually. These measures will help foster a robust research environment and further consolidate Hong Kong’s position as an international post-secondary education hub. Issued at HKT 17:06
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
The State University of Management entered the top 10 best economic universities in Moscow according to RIA Novosti.
On the eve of the start of the admissions campaign, the publication presented a selection of the best universities in the capital based on data on the programs offered, educational conditions, and positions in various rankings.
GUU was included among the best economic universities in Moscow. The authors noted the practice-oriented approach to teaching, which allows students to gain real work experience and develop the necessary skills.
Let us recall that our university is a recognized leader in project-based learning and is a federal innovation platform for the implementation of the project “Interregional educational and methodological center for project-based learning, project-based learning as a technology for practical training.”
Earlier, the State University of Management was included in the annual ranking of the best universities in Russia RAEX-100, became one of the leaders of the first National Ranking of Graduates’ Employment, and the works of SUM students were noted as some of the best in the All-Russian competition of final qualification works in the format “Startup as a Diploma”.
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.
Every year, some 100 billion garments are produced worldwide, and 92 million tonnes of clothing waste end up in landfills. Given this enormous amount of waste, it is logical to think that the only way forward is to degrow fashion. But can fashion and degrowth co-exist?
Degrowth is defined as the planned reduction of production and consumption in a way that ensures equitable living. Degrowth principles, such as sufficiency, cooperation and care, clash with growth principles of maximization, commodification and efficiency. For the fashion industry, which is responsible for immense resource extraction and waste creation, reducing resource throughput and ensuring equitable value creation pose enduring challenges.
While some governments and corporations encourage consumers to shop responsibly and reduce waste, collective responsibility is needed to facilitate a degrowth transition, which urges a fundamental shift in the way designers, manufacturers and brands approach fashion waste. Will circular practices help create a just and equitable industry? Is it possible to produce clothing locally and differently than “fast fashion” retailers?
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Upcycling as a radical rethinking of our relationship with waste
In a recent study, we explored how the circular fashion practice of upcycling – creative and caring transformation of discarded or waste clothes into something of higher value – pushes industry actors to rethink their relationship to fashion waste and give it value as a resource compatible with degrowth values. We examined how upcycling is practiced across institutions – brands, manufacturers, designers and NGOs – in Turkey, one of Europe’s largest textile producers.
It is important to note that while conversations about recycling – the practice of breaking down textile waste into raw material through mechanical or chemical processes – are prevalent in the fashion world, the painful fact is that only 1% of clothes are recycled into new garments, meaning the majority of fashion waste is doomed to remain as waste. Through upcycling, on the other hand, waste is treated as a resource. Rather than viewing clothes as disposable, upcycling enables us to understand and care about our clothes’ journey and the people and ecosystems behind them. Converting discarded food into natural dyes for colouring fabric, or using sailcloth to make handbags, creates value through the creativity, materials, skill sharing, and caring involved.
As part of green-growth efforts, some circular fashion actors treat waste as a commodity and try to maximize growth through efficient waste reduction. However, this is incompatible with degrowth. We need to reduce production of textiles and make use of existing textile waste, not just discard textile waste efficiently.
Relational ways of working with waste, technology, nature and people
Our research highlights the importance of the socio-ecological value of waste in industry upcycling practices. Such value is generated through social and solidarity networks of relations around waste, including between designers, manufacturers and upcycling brands, and involving nature and technology.
We emphasise the growing interest in the story of waste material, which is reinforcing strong connections to waste and its origins. Upcycling designers highlight local and material heritage in the production of upcycled clothes, which is necessary to foster the ecological and material consciousness required for a degrowth transition. Designers we interviewed evoked the idea that “nature doesn’t waste anything”, and mentioned being inspired by and mimicking nature’s cycles in the design process.
We also reflect on the kind of technology needed to support more relational, localised systems. The practices of upcycling designers and small brands highlight the value of the creation of waste-sharing platforms among industry actors. These platforms serve as waste libraries and provide opportunities to purchase different kinds of textile waste for upcycling.
Making waste valuable
Industry actors we interviewed said they are not simply trend chasers focused on profit, but seeking to build alternative ways of working with each other, nature, waste and technology. For example, designers partnered with local women in rural areas in Erzurum, Mugla and Kilis provinces to upcycle discarded fabrics into handwoven garments, preserving cultural heritage. A brand collected food waste to create natural textile dyes, collaborating with local cafés and friends in Istanbul. During the Covid-19 crisis, solidarity networks emerged between hospitals, textile manufacturers and designers to make upcycled uniforms for doctors and nurses. We have observed that manufacturers also repurpose waste to give gifts to employees, children and others. These practices aim to reduce waste and reconnect people to waste material, and enable the sharing of local knowledge and skills.
Our data also demonstrates a concern over lack of circular literacy among industry actors. Currently, access to upcycling knowledge and skills, as well as waste material, happens through knowledge hubs and waste-sharing platforms. For example, working with sectoral representatives and local governments, one knowledge hub created a circular economy guide to raise industry awareness about ways to revalue and reduce textile waste.
Upcycling is still a niche circular practice, and access to waste resources for initiatives, as well as lack of public funding and policy support for projects, remain important concerns. Nonetheless, when it is grounded in local communities, new narratives about materials, and care, upcycling can foster degrowth values in fashion.
Handan Vicdan ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.
Air pollution levels in Oxford are continuing to improve, new data from Oxford City Council has found.
However, despite improvements, there continues to be no safe level of air pollution.
Latest data from Oxford City Council has found that during 2024, overall NO2 levels in Oxford decreased by 10% on average compared to 2023 levels – with some areas seeing decreases of up to 24% – and a 38% decrease overall on pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
The data follows the publication of Oxford City Council’s latest Air Quality Annual Status Report for 2024 which examines air pollution levels across 118 locations in the city from January 2024 – December 2024.
According to the latest NO2 data, Oxford met all UK legal limits for NO2 at all sites of relevant public exposure, with one site in breach of the UK’s legal target (Headington Hill). In addition, the city is on track to meet its local NO2 target by the end of 2025, with only four locations exceeding this target, with just one site in a location of public exposure.
Monitoring air pollution
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is measured in micrograms in each cubic metre of air (μg/m³), with the legal annual mean target set by Government of 40 μg/m³.
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) published new guidelines which recommended stricter limits on the ‘safe’ level of air pollution, including PM2.5 and NO2, advising that there is no level at which pollutants stop causing damage.
In Oxford, there are two annual mean targets for Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution:
National legal limit: the annual mean concentration of NO2 which must not exceed 40 μg/m³
Oxford’s own adopted local annual mean target for NO2 of 30 µg/m3
Pollutant
World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended annual mean
UK Legal annual mean limit value
Oxford’s local annual mean target (commitment to be achieved across the city by 2025)
PM2.5
5 μg/m³
10 μg/m³
Non applicable
NO2
10 μg/m³
40 μg/m³
30 μg/m³
Oxford City Council has a statutory duty to report on air quality within the city and gathers data from each monitoring station within the city, following detailed technical guidance from DEFRA.
Report highlights:
Some of the highlights of the latest report are:
On average, NO₂ levels fell by 10% in 2024
In areas of high bus traffic – such as High Street and St Aldates – there were reductions of up to 24%, largely due to the introduction of ZEBRA funded electric buses in January 2024
Oxford met all UK legal limits for NO₂ at all sites of relevant public exposure
Only one site was found to be in breach of the UK’s legal target. This is in an area with limited public exposure to air pollution (eg busy roads away from residential areas or areas with pedestrians):
Headington Hill measured a concentration of 43 μg/m³. While still 7% (3 μg/m³) over the legal target, this is a 19% reduction compared to in NO₂ levels in 2023 (53 μg/m³).
Only four of the 118 sites were found to be in breach of Oxford’s local annual mean target for NO₂: St Clements (34 μg/m³), with the other three located in areas of limited public exposure: Headington Hill (43 μg/m³), and Oxford’s ring road (32 μg/m³ and 31 μg/m³).
Over the past decade (2013 – 2023), average NO2 levels in Oxford have decreased by 52%
While NO₂ levels fell by 10% on average, areas of high bus traffic – such as High Street and St Aldates saw reductions of up to 24%. This is believed to be largely due to the introduction of 159 ZEBRA funded electric buses from January 2024.
In February, the Council published an updated source apportionment study for Oxford, which found that the transport is the largest contributor to nitrogen oxides (NO + NO₂) emissions, accounting for 44% of the total emissions of these pollutants.
The Source Apportionment Study modelling suggested that there was a 12% drop in road transport NOX emissions (from 40% to 32%), with buses now contributing only 4% to total NOX emissions. This reflects a significant (28%) reduction since the previous source apportionment study.
The latest air pollution data supports this modelling, with the 24% reduction on High Street (reduction from 27 to 21 μg/m³) and St Aldates (reduction from 31 to 23 μg/m³) largely attributed to the introduction of the ZEBRA scheme electric buses, which now covers 69% of Oxford’s total bus mileage.
ZEZ Pilot
In February 2022, the Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council launched the UK’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot in Oxford.
In 2024, NO₂ levels within the ZEZ Pilot area overall remain well below both the UK’s legal limit of 40 μg/m³ and Oxford’s local target of 30 μg/m³
NO₂ levels have generally remained stable at locations that are largely pedestrianised: Cornmarket (15 μg/m³), New Inn Hall Street (14 μg/m³), and St Michael’s Street (14 μg/m³).
Pedestrianised areas that are shared with buses and taxis (Queen Street, Bonn Square, and New Road) saw the largest reductions in NO2:
Queen Street: 17 μg/m³ – a reduction of 4 μg/m³
Bonn Square: 18 μg/m³ – a reduction of 2 μg/m³
New Road: 16 μg/m³ – a reduction of 6 μg/m³
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
All the monitoring locations both inside and on the boundary roads of Oxford’s LTNS showed a decrease in NO₂ levels measured in 2024, compared to 2023.
None of the NO2 levels measured both inside and on the boundary roads of Oxford’s LTNS were above the UK legal limit
Only one location (St Clements) showed NO2 levels above the city’s local annual mean target for NO2
St Clements – historically Oxford’s most polluted street – saw notable NO₂ reductions of 4 μg/m³, 5 μg/m³, and 3 μg/m³ – averaging 34 μg/m³
Between Towns Road also saw a significant reduction of 5 μg/m³ (from 28 to 23 μg/m³)
Hollow Way saw a reduction of 2 μg/m³ (from 31 to 29 μg/m³), now meeting Oxford’s local air quality target for the first time
Particulate pollution (PM2.5 and PM10)
PM10 and PM2.5 were both monitored by automatic continuous monitors at St Ebbes (urban background) and Oxford High Street in 2024.
Oxford has consistently met all UK legal limits for PM2.5 in recent years and is now 2 μg/m³ away from achieving the WHO-recommended annual mean of 5 μg/m³ – considered the safest level for human health.
PM10 annual means for these sites were of 9 and 13 μg/m³. These values are both below the current UK legal annual mean limit of this pollutant (40 μg/m³) and of the WHO recommended annual mean (15 μg/m³).
Botley road closure
In April 2023, Botley Road was closed to traffic as part of broader improvement works on the western side of Oxford Railway Station. Since then, NO₂ levels have been monitored at four locations along Botley Road.
In 2022, prior to the road closure, the average NO₂ concentration at these sites was 19 μg/m³
In 2023, this dropped to 16 μg/m³ (a 16% decrease)
In 2024, the average further declined to 14 μg/m³ – a 2 μg/m³ decrease compared to 2023 levels, and 13% decrease, compared to the 10% city average
Main arterial routes into Oxford
On other major arterial roads into Oxford, 2024 monitoring data shows a consistent decline in NO₂ levels:
Abingdon Road: saw a 1 μg/m³ reduction (from 24 to 23 μg/m³)
Woodstock Road: saw a 1 μg/m³ reduction on average across 3 sites (from 16 to 15 μg/m³)
Banbury Road: saw a 2 μg/m³ reduction on average across 3 sites (from 18 to 16 μg/m³)
Headington Road/London Road: saw a 2 μg/m³ reduction on average across 3 sites (from 20 to 18 μg/m³)
Sunderland Avenue: saw a 2 μg/m³ reduction on average across 5 sites (from 22 to 20 μg/m³)
Next steps
The Council’s report will be submitted to the Government to be ratified and approved.
The report will also be used to inform the Council’s upcoming Air Quality Action Plan, which will be updated in 2026 following public consultation later this year.
An Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) outlines the actions that the Council and its partners will take to improve air quality in Oxford within a certain period of time. The Council’s current Air Quality Action Plan can be read here.
Comment
“It is great news that air pollution levels are continuing to fall across all areas of the city, that Oxford is are legally compliant in all locations of public exposure, and that we are close to reaching our localised air pollution target. However, it is important to remember that there is ultimately no safe level of air pollution – it always causes us harm.
“This data provides us with the latest picture on pollution in Oxford and will help inform our upcoming Air Quality Action Plan, which will look at what measures we can take over the next few years to further improve air quality for everyone in our city.”
Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On the Black Sea coast, a new thematic shift “Engineers of meanings: designers of a new reality” of the All-Russian children’s center “Smena” and the public organization “Movement of the First” was launched. The educational strategy for the professional training of engineers of meanings in the field of communication activities, which has been implemented by the Higher School of Media Communications and Public Relations of the Humanitarian Institute at SPbPU since 2020, for the first time became the conceptual logic of the educational shift for the country’s studying youth.
70 college students who came to the “Nastvornik” camp from all over the country were welcomed by the head of the Center for Innovative Pedagogical Technologies of the All-Russian Children’s Center “Smena” Roman Khevsokov and the director of the Higher School of Music and Social Sciences of the State University of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Marina Arkannikova. In her welcoming speech, she noted the high level of organization of the camp and the substantive content of the program of events.
You have two unforgettable weeks ahead of you. I wish you to take away from the Black Sea coast a sea of impressions, new knowledge and, of course, friends. And I will finish with the words of Robert Rozhdestvensky: “If you exist, be the best, if you exist, be the first. It is harder and easier to be the first!” said Marina Arkannikova.
On the day of the grand opening of the shift, a visionary lecture and master class on the topic “Engineers of meanings as visionaries of the communications industry and cultural sovereignty of Russia” took place. The speaker spoke about the strategy of national security of Russia in terms of preserving and developing the cultural sovereignty of the country, as well as about civil initiatives that form the value-semantic principles of the cultural code of the nation and protection from information aggression in the context of mental wars and cancel culture. For their interest in the discussion and thoughtful reasoning, the distinguished listeners were awarded the book “Engineers of meanings: from concept to professionalization”, prepared under the scientific editorship of Marina Sergeevna and published by the Polytechnic University.
The students of the educational program are participants of the All-Russian project “First Student” and winners of the competitive selection, who showed the highest results in motivation, in the desire for development and readiness to think strategically and on a large scale. For two weeks, from June 12 to 25, a course of professional skills, a series of business quests from the State Corporation “Rosatom”, a festival of professions “Masters of the Future”, a workshop “Smart City” will be organized for them. The participants of the shift will be able to get acquainted with the possibilities of professional growth in the field of children’s self-government in the primary organizations of the “Movement of the First”, will be engaged in the development of projects and their own first business, and will also be able to become part of a friendly society that will definitely support their ideas and meanings.
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: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
Congratulations to Anatoly Ivanovich Osokin, Head of the Department of Geotechnics at SPbGASU, on the successful defense of his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences.
Scientific consultant – Rashid Abdullovich Mangushev, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Geotechnics at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
Dissertation topic: “Conceptual foundations and practical application of principles of scientific and technical justification and support of underground construction in soft soils”. Scientific specialty – 2.1.2. Foundations and bases, underground structures.
The defense took place on June 18 in the dissertation council 24.2.380.04, created on the basis of our university.
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.
regon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and community partners joined together to spotlight the importance of preventing and reporting abuse of older adults in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). This observance serves as a critical reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the safety, dignity and rights of older adults across Oregon.
Every year, thousands of older Oregonians are subjected to various forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, financial and neglect. In Oregon in 2024, there were 18,535 alleged victims, according to data collected by the Adult Protective Services (APS) unit within ODHS. However, many cases go unreported due to fear, isolation, or lack of awareness. Education and community engagement are essential to ensure people know what to do if they are being harmed or suspect someone they know could be at risk.
“Anyone can be a victim of abuse. Understanding the many forms that abuse takes and what to do about it is everyone’s responsibility,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD). “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a time to strengthen our commitment to educate ourselves, check in on neighbors and relatives, and speak up when we see or suspect harm.”
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is on June 15 each year, communities across Oregon held events this month, sharing educational materials and connecting with local organizations to help foster a safer environment for older adults.
In Klamath County, APD partnered with the Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging, the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens’ Center, and other local agencies to host a community resource fair on June 10. The event featured guest speakers, educational booths, engaging activities, giveaways, and a free lunch. A similar event was held the following day in Lake County at The Center (formerly the Lake County Senior Citizens Center). Hundreds of community members participated in the two events, showing strong local support for older adult abuse awareness and prevention. Events were also hosted virtually. Several APD leaders gave an informational presentation on June 12 at the Oregon Health Care Association’s Elder Abuse Prevention Summit 2025. The presentation focused on best practices facilities can implement to prevent abuse. Other topics covered at the summit included long-term care facility resident rights, effective abuse report investigations and navigating conflict.
Resources:
Anyone who suspects elder abuse is encouraged to call Oregon’s SafeLine at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). Reports are confidential and can be made twenty-four hours a day.
Warning signs of abuse can include:
Physical: Unexplained injuries or physical signs of punishment or restraint.
Emotional: Anxiety, depression, or behavior changes
Neglect: Poor hygiene, bedsores, weight loss or unsafe living conditions.
Abandonment: A dependent person left alone.
Sexual: Withdrawal, distress or physical symptoms.
Financial: Unexplained bank transactions, late bill payments or missing assets.
For more information on how to help spot, prevent and report abuse, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/report-abuse/pages/default.aspx
Faced with the choice in their daily lives, their work or their politics, why do some people decide to keep quiet, to censor themselves in anticipatory obedience, even if they’re not ordered to do so?
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly, we talk to self-censorship expert Daniel Bar-Tal about what drives people to censor themselves, and its consequences for society.
It was Daniel Bar-Tal’s experiences serving in the Israeli army that prompted him to begin studying self-censorship. “ I was observing all kind of phenomenon that are going on within a country that is engaged in intractable conflict,” he told us.
Bar-Tal, an emeritus professor in the school of education at Tel Aviv University, began to notice that self-censorship was essential in societies, like Israel, living in conflict. He explains:
There are all kind of directives which develop censorship, in the army, in school, teachers are told what they should do and say. But self-censorship is going beyond this. So it means that nobody tells you that you must say A or B or C, but you feel an obligation by yourself to say certain things without any order from above.
Bar-Tal assembled a team of researchers from different disciplines to examine how self-censorship plays out across different sectors of a society, from politics to academia to journalism. They found three main motivations why people self-censor: as a defence mechanism for their in-group; out of fear; and to win rewards.
Listen to Bar-Tal talk about his research into self-censorship on the latest episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, which includes an introduction from Beth Daley, executive editor at The Conversation U.S. about self-censorship currently happening in parts of American academia.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Daniel Bar-Tal 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.
For centuries, humans have searched for ways to extend life. Alchemists never found the philosopher’s stone, but scientists have consistently shown that a longer life can be attained by eating less – at least in certain lab animals. But can we find a way to live longer while still enjoying our food?
Compounds that mimic the biological effects of dieting could be the answer, and the two most popular diet-mimicking drugs are rapamycin and metformin. In a new study, my colleagues and I found that rapamycin prolongs life almost as consistently as eating less, whereas metformin does not.
Eating less, or dietary restriction, has been the gold standard for achieving a longer life ever since a study nearly a century ago in which laboratory rats that ate less surprised scientists by outliving their well-fed lab mates.
But for many people, sticking to a permanent diet is hard and far from enjoyable. Also, if taken to extremes, it can even be bad for health. That is why we wanted to know whether drugs that are dieting mimics could bring the same benefit of eating less without the unwanted side-effects.
Rapamycin was first discovered in bacteria living in Easter Island soil in the 1970s, and medical professionals now use it to prevent organ-transplant rejection, as it is a powerful immunosuppressant. It works by blocking a molecular switch that tells cells when nutrients are abundant.
Metformin, meanwhile, is a synthetic descendant of a compound found in French lilac (also known as goat’s rue) and is widely prescribed to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Both drugs are involved in the body’s ability to sense nutrients and energy, so biologists like us hoped they might copy the mechanisms activated by eating less.
To find out, we pooled the results of many studies to see if there were any overall patterns. We carefully examined thousands of scientific papers to finally home in on 167 studies on eight vertebrate species, from fish to monkeys, that provided sufficient details on survival and how the study was done. Then we compared three longevity strategies: eating less, taking rapamycin and taking metformin.
We found that eating less still came out on top as the most consistent way to prolong life in all animals but rapamycin was close behind. Metformin, in contrast, showed no clear benefit. The life-extension effect of eating less was the same in both sexes, and it didn’t matter whether the diet plan involved eating smaller portions or intermittent fasting.
That makes rapamycin one of the most exciting leads for new anti-ageing therapies. Ageing might not be considered a disease, but it is a risk factor behind many diseases from cancer to dementia. If we slow that underlying process, the benefit will be extra years of quality life and lower healthcare bills as the world’s population grows older.
Rapamycin was first isolated from bacteria found in the soil on Easter Island. JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
Encouraging early signs, but we’re not quite there yet
However, there are some important points to consider. First, we discovered considerable variation from experiment to experiment with some studies even showing that eating less or taking rapamycin reduced lifespan.
Also, most of the evidence originates from mice and rats that have many of our genes but are clearly not exactly like us.
Finally, rapamycin may have side-effects such as repressing immunity and reproduction. Researchers are now investigating milder doses of rapamycin to see if they provide the advantages without the side-effects.
The preliminary signs are encouraging. In an ongoing human rapamycin trial, volunteers given low, intermittent doses of rapamycin have experienced positive effects on indicators of healthspan. For metformin, the human trial is still in progress and the findings are expected to be out in a few years time.
For now, nobody should run to their doctor asking for prescriptions of rapamycin to live longer. But this drug, extracted from obscure soil bacteria, shows us that interfering with a single molecular pathway can be enough to mimic the benefits of eating less. The challenge is to use this discovery to produce therapies that make us healthier for longer without compromising our quality of life – or our taste for the occasional slice of chocolate cake.
Dr. Zahida Sultanova works for the University of East Anglia and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. She is a member of European Society of Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Society of Turkey (EkoEvo).
The results of an extensive engagement focusing on multiple strategies will be used to shape plans to support communities across the city.
The results of the “Your Place, Your Plans, Your Future” engagement were presented to the Community Planning Aberdeen board yesterday (18 June) and saw 2087 participants share their insights to help Community Planning Partners set their priorities for the years ahead.
Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “My thanks go out to everyone who gave us their views. Your feedback is invaluable in helping us to focus on the things that matter most to those living in our communities.
The engagement ran from 24 March to 18 May, with citizens able to contribute via an online survey for adults, a survey designed for children and young people and drop-in sessions where assistance was available with support from third sector organisations.
The engagement focused on the Local Housing Strategy, Health and Social Care Strategic Plan, Community Learning and Development Plan, Visitor Levy, and the next Local Outcome Improvement Plan, Locality Plans, Children’s Services Plan, and Local Development Plan.
The engagement used the Place Standard tool, a nationally-approved tool to assist with long-term planning that promotes conversations about how to improve people’s health, wellbeing and quality of life.
The results are being used to inform the finalised Local Housing Strategy, Health and Social Care Strategic Plan, Community Learning and Development Plan and Visitor Levy proposal before submission for approval.
Community Planning Aberdeen, the Locality Empowerment Groups and Priority Neighbourhood Partnerships, are analysing the results to support the development of the Local Outcome Improvement Plan and Locality Plans 2026-36 which are to be consulted on in early 2026.
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, June 19 (Xinhua) — A joint Chinese-Uzbek archaeological team made significant progress in excavating the early Iron Age Bandikhon 2 site in the Surkhandarya River basin in June 2025, providing key evidence to uncover the historical appearance of ancient city-states in southern Central Asia during the early Iron Age, CCTV reported on June 17, citing the Silk Road Joint Archaeological Research Center of Northwest China University (Shaanxi Province, northwest China).
Since 2023, the Institute of Cultural Heritage of the North-West University, together with Termez State University and the Termez Archaeological Museum of Uzbekistan, formed a joint archaeological group. They conducted interdisciplinary research in the Surkhandarya River basin, examining 47 sites. It was established that the Bandikhon-2 settlement is an important city-state of the ancient Bactria period. This is of great scientific importance for filling the gaps in the regional historical and cultural chronology.
In 2024-2025, the Chinese-Uzbek joint archaeological team conducted three archaeological seasons at the Bandikhon-2 settlement. Well-preserved reinforced adobe walls 7 m wide and 2 m high were discovered. A large room was excavated inside the settlement. In the center of the room, there were two square earthen columns standing vertically. In the corner of the room, there was a adobe bed, and a stone door groove was located under the door axis. A large number of household ceramics, stone grain grinders, and other stone tools for processing grain crops, as well as bronze knives, arrowheads, and other bronze tools were discovered at the site.
Based on systematic scientific dating and typological analysis of the discovered ceramics, the archaeological team confirmed that the Bandikhon 2 settlement was founded in the 9th century BC and abandoned in the 6th century BC. The excavations of this site provided key evidence for understanding the building structure and functional layout of the city-states of the early Iron Age.
It should be noted that Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists at all stages of excavations consistently adhered to the principle of “preservation above all else.” Considering the serious damage caused to earthen monuments by the local scorching sun and highly alkaline soil, archaeologists used original technologies for constructing the settlement. They used the method of laying clay layers and adobe bricks to strengthen the walls and other objects, maximally preserving and presenting the authentic appearance of the object. -0-
