VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Viva Gold Corp (“Viva” or the “Company”) (VAU:TSXV, VAUCF:OTCQB), with operations in Tonopah, Nevada and focused on the permitting and development of the Tonopah Gold Project, today announced that Jim Hesketh, Chief Executive Officer, will present live at the Metals and Mining Virtual Investor Conference hosted by VirtualInvestorConferences.com, on February 12th, 2025
DATE: February 12th TIME: 10:30 AM ET LINK:https://bit.ly/3ErtN1E Available for 1×1 meetings: February 12, 13, 14, and 17
This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event.
It is recommended that online investors pre-register and run the online system check to expedite participation and receive event updates.
Viva recently announced very encouraging drill results from its 100% owned Tonopah Gold Project in Nevada, right in the heart of American mining country
The Company will now move into pre-feasibility study work which will lead into the permitting process
Permitted projects in Nevada tend to command premium valuations compared to projects without permits. Viva will be entering the permitting process this year to take the Tonopah Gold Project into production
About Viva Gold Corp: The Tonopah project sits in the middle of gold mining country about a half hour drive south of the Round Mountain mine owned by Kinross Gold and controls a major land position on the prolific Walker Lane Trend in Western Nevada. Viva has consistently grown the gold resources at Tonopah since 2018 and is in the completed two drilling programs in 2024, both of which have been targeted to potentially increase the gold resource while also upgrading the confidence level of known gold mineralization. The Company plans to update the resource model and initiate Pre-Feasibility Study in 2025, both of which are major catalysts and value creation events for shareholders.
Viva Gold is led by CEO James Hesketh, a 40-year veteran in the mining space who has led the development and construction of eight other mines around the world throughout his career. James has surrounded himself with equally experienced mining professionals both on the management team and the board.
The Tonopah Gold Project, a potential open pit, heap leach/mill opportunity, has all the hallmarks of a successful mining development project as key infrastructure is in place and is supported by compelling economic PEA studies.
Viva Gold trades on the TSX Venture exchange “VAU”, on the OTCQB “VAUCF” and on the Frankfurt exchange “7PB”. Viva currently has ~132.9 million shares outstanding and boasts a best-in-class management team and board with decades of gold exploration and production experience. The Company is advancing its high-grade Tonopah Gold Project in mining friendly Nevada with the support of several institutional shareholders. More information can be found on https://www.Sedar.Com and please visit our website: www.vivagoldcorp.com.
Viva is committed to developing the Tonopah Gold Project in an environmentally and socially responsible fashion. These values are aligned with management’s core values and permeate throughout our decision-making process.
About Virtual Investor Conferences® Virtual Investor Conferences (VIC) is the leading proprietary investor conference series that provides an interactive forum for publicly traded companies to seamlessly present directly to investors.
Providing a real-time investor engagement solution, VIC is specifically designed to offer companies more efficient investor access. Replicating the components of an on-site investor conference, VIC offers companies enhanced capabilities to connect with investors, schedule targeted one-on-one meetings and enhance their presentations with dynamic video content. Accelerating the next level of investor engagement, Virtual Investor Conferences delivers leading investor communications to a global network of retail and institutional investors.
CONTACTS: Viva Gold Corp Name: Jim Hesketh Title: CEO Phone: +1-416-842-9003 Email: jhesketh@vivagoldcorp.com
Virtual Investor Conferences John M. Viglotti SVP Corporate Services, Investor Access OTC Markets Group (212) 220-2221 johnv@otcmarkets.com
Yasser Abdulaal, who has lived in Ōtautahi Christchurch for five years, said his two sisters had lost their homes in the 15-month-long war.
“Toxic wasteland” . . . Palestinians take shelter in tents set up amid heavily damaged buildings in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip. Image: Al Jazeera screenshot APR
Abdulaal said they and their husbands — all teachers — could have left at the start of the bombing but refused to abandon their land — and they would not be leaving now.
“After the ceasefire and with Trump’s statements, they are definitely not going to leave Gaza, regardless of what he says and what [the US] does. It’s their land.”
He said New Zealand should recognise Palestine as a state and sanction Israel in accordance with international law.
It should also call for more funding for international aid to Gaza, he added.
‘Two-state solution’ “New Zealand voted for a two-state solution and we have been asking the government to enforce that. Many countries during the genocide already recognise Palestine as a state but our government sees it as ‘not the right time’.
“I think it is the right time, and New Zealand should recognise Palestine immediately.”
Abdulaal said he reached a moment during the war where he could not bring himself to call his sisters.
“I didn’t know what to say, remotely, from New Zealand.
“It’s a really hard time for everyone, they’ve been in tents for more than eight months, both [my sisters’] houses have gone, they are completely rubble.
“They are still in tents despite the ceasefire because they have no other place to go to.”
Israeli tanks in area “One of my sisters can’t even go and see her house as there is still Israeli tanks in that area [the Philadelphia corridor]. But we know from footage — as she says — the height of my house now is half a metre, it was two levels but now it’s half a metre.
“It’s mixed emotions. The killing and bloodshed has stopped, but I have lost 55 [relatives] in the airstrikes, most of them women and children.
“They haven’t even had a proper funeral . . . it’s really hard, people are just trying to get food for their kids, those basic human rights for people which they don’t have.
“They are happy with the ceasefire, and we hope it will be a permanent ceasefire, but we have also lost lots of people . . . [the rest] have lost their houses, their jobs, everything.
Families returning to northern #Gaza are shocked by the scale of destruction.
UNICEF’s Tess Ingram shares the reality on the ground and the immense challenges people are facing. pic.twitter.com/IRYrN9AsNM
— UNICEF MENA – يونيسف الشرق الأوسط وشمال إفريقيا (@UNICEFmena) February 9, 2025
“When I close my eyes and I think about losing 55 people, and that’s just the ones we know about. It’s horrific, I can’t believe it . . . they’re all relatives: cousins, uncles, extended family.”
Trump’s proposal was a “dangerous statement and outrageous”, Abdulaal said, likening it to “a reward to Netanyahu and the Israeli government who have been bombing everything in Gaza, killing everyone, committing genocide”.
“[President Trump] says he wants to drive the people out of Gaza, meaning he wants to ethnically cleanse the people from Gaza, which is another war crime,” said Abdulaal.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Four more experts have been appointed members to the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs.
Following the announcement of 10 leading experts joining the ACMD’s Advisory Council in January, 4 more appointments have been made today.
Professor Karen Ersche
Professor Sunjeev Kamboj
Doctor Lorna Nisbet
Jon Privett
The 4 will be joining the ACMD which provides advice and makes recommendations to the government on the harms caused by drugs.
Professor Ersche is Professor of Addiction Neuroscience at the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, whilst Professor Kamboj is Professor of Translational Clinical Psychology at the Research Department of Clinical, Educational and Health Psychology at University College London.
Doctor Nisbet is Senior Lecturer (teaching and research) at the Leverhulme Research Centre for Forensic Science, at the School of Science and Engineering, University of Dundee.
Jon Privett will bring his extensive knowledge as an expert witness in drug trafficking with the Metropolitan Police to the ACMD.
The appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.
Today (Monday 10th February) marks the start of this year’s Apprenticeship Week and the Isle of Wight Council celebrated by raising the apprenticeship flag outside County Hall alongside council staff and apprentices.
Since the introduction of the apprenticeship levy in 2017, more than 500 council and maintained school staff have embarked on their apprenticeship journeys. These individuals have benefited from over 70 different apprenticeship programmes, showcasing the diverse opportunities available. In 2024 alone, the Isle of Wight Council invested over half a million pounds in apprenticeship programmes, all funded by the apprenticeship levy.
This brings the total investment to over £2.25 million, emphasising a commitment to developing the island’s workforce and fostering professional growth. Councillor Jonathan Bacon, cabinet member for Children’s Services, Education and Corporate Functions, said: “We are incredibly proud to be able to provide islanders with professional opportunities like apprenticeships through the Apprenticeship Levy.”
“Apprenticeships give people a chance to build on their skills, knowledge and confidence in their career journey, no matter the stage of their life or circumstances.”
“Anyone over the age of 16 can do an apprenticeship, and I’d encourage everyone to make use of the resources provided during this year’s National Apprenticeship Week to find the one that suits you best.”
Stay tuned to the Isle of Wight Council’s social media channels where we’ll be highlighting apprenticeship stories, sharing resources to get you started on your own apprenticeship journey and celebrate the achievements of current apprentices on the island.
In a milestone move intended to increase campus safety and lower operational costs, safety officials at UConn Storrs and UConn Health recently coordinated the removal of four cesium-sourced irradiators used for research and medical purposes.
The disposal operation – a costly, highly-choreographed effort at each site that involved cranes, giant disposal casks, flatbed trucks, and campus and state police escorts – was made possible through the Cesium Irradiator Replacement Project (CIRP), a voluntary initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) offering financial incentives to medical and research institutions willing to replace cesium-137 irradiators with new x-ray-based devices. Run by DOE’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), Office of Radiological Security (ORS), the program covers 100% of the cost of disposing cesium-137 based irradiators and reimburses up to 50% of the purchase price of new equipment.
Kevin Higgins, the radiation safety officer at UConn Health, estimates it would have cost roughly $580,000 each – a total of $1.74 million – had UCH attempted to dispose its three irradiators on its own. Another $450,000 to $500,000 in savings was realized, he says, thanks to CIRP covering half the cost of two new X-ray irradiators that replaced the two cesium-based devices used by researchers and the blood bank at UCH. A third cesium irradiator no longer in use, was removed but not replaced.
At Storrs CIRP helped offset roughly $882,000 in costs associated with the removal and replacement of its single cesium-sourced irradiator, a 1969-era model housed in the Pharmacy Biology Building and used for genetics and cell research, says Amy Courchesne, the radiation safety officer at UConn Storrs. The program also reimbursed the cost of add-ons for the new X-ray irradiator, which included specialized accessories, and $16,000 for modifications to the room it occupies, and a service contract.
“If we decided not to go with CIRP, the University would have had to cover those costs,” she says.
The primary goal of CIRP is to reduce the security risks associated with the institutional use of cesium-137 and cobalt-60 sourced irradiators. The irradiators are safely shielded to protect users from exposure but contain highly radioactive isotopes with a long half-life that could pose a significant health risk if dismantled from their protective shielding or released into the environment.
While radioactive source irradiators have benefits, such as scientific research and the irradiation of blood, they would pose a grave risk to communities should they be lost or stolen. In the wrong hands, even a small amount of high-activity radioactive material could be used in an act of radiological terrorism.
Contributed photo.
UConn is among the hundreds of academic, medical, and other institutions to participate in CIRP since its inception in 2014. In course of 10 years, the program has facilitated the replacement of 67% of the radio-isotopic irradiators in the United States, according to Evan Thompson, a foreign affairs specialist with NNSA.
As of Sept. 5, 2024, some 235 cesium-137-sourced blood irradiators have been replaced through the program and 82% of self-shielded cesium-137-based blood irradiators in the U.S. have been replaced, removed, or are slated for removal by contract or pledge.
Replacing the irradiators at both sites required a great deal of planning, teamwork, and coordination. At UCH, the new research irradiator was installed prior to the cesium irradiator being removed. For the blood bank, an entirely new location for blood irradiation was constructed.
On removal day, UConn, state, and local police were onsite to secure the site and manage traffic flow. The irradiators were then disassembled to access the shielded containers housing the radioactive sources. The containers, which weigh several thousand pounds, were then moved under police escort to a loading dock, lifted from there to a loading dock and placed on the ground. A crane then hoisted them up and into a specially designed shipping cask securely fastened to the flatbed tractor-trailer. As a last step, the cask was pressure tested to ensure proper assembly and escorted offsite by state and local police.
The advantages of participating in the program go well beyond the cost savings associated with removal and replacement, notes Courchesne. The bureaucratic and regulatory aspects of operating the cesium-sourced irradiators were significant.
“Due to security, FBI background checks were required for unescorted access,” she says. “After 9/11, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission put additional security orders into effect, including 24/7 monitoring, fail-safe monitoring with backup power, contingency planning and more.”
The stricter rules prohibited the university from publicly disclosing that it owned a cesium-sourced irradiator, which limited use of the device to researchers within the university. Individuals interested in using the irradiator for research had to contact Courchesne and take an exam to ensure they had the capability to safely use it, then be escorted by radiation safety personnel when they used it.
Under CIRP, the cradle-to-grave custodianship of the cesium-sourced devices shifts from the owning institution to the federal government, freeing UConn and UCH from that responsibility and any associated costs.
At Storrs, the removal was facilitated by UConn’s Office of Vice President for Research (OVPR). Jeremy Blasbaugh, director of UConn’s Center of Open Research Resources (COR²E), will oversee the installation and the new X-ray irradiator at that site and its future use by researchers.
“As the radiation safety officer, I’m excited that researchers will be able to use the replacement X-ray irradiator,” says Courchesne. “We can share about it and promote collaboration. We don’t have the liability and regulatory restrictions around the device anymore.”
Marshall Islands Journal editor Giff Johnson says US President Donald Trump’s decision on aid “is an opening for anybody else who wants to fill the gap” in the Pacific.
Trump froze all USAID for 90 days on his first day in office and is now looking to significantly reduce the size of the multi-billion dollar agency.
The Pacific is the world’s most aid dependent region, and Terence Wood from the Australian National University Development Policy Centre told RNZ Pacific this move would hit hard.
“The US is the Pacific’s largest aid donor and what is happening there is completely unprecedented . . . there’s also a cruel irony that Elon Musk is the world’s wealthiest man and right now he seems to be calling the shots with decisions that are literally going to be life or death for the world’s poorest people . . . it’s hard to wrap one’s head around,” he said.
Marshall Islands Journal owner and editor Giff Johnson on the USAID crisis. Video: RNZ Pacific
Wood was concerned about how the dismantling of USAID would impact the Pacific.
“It’s not a good time to be in the world’s most aid dependent region . . . indeed Sāmoa PM Fiame Naomi Mata’afa has already expressed concern about what might happen to funding for organisations like the World Health Organisation . . . so everyone is watching this with considerable alarm”.
‘It’s hard to believe that Trump has changedhis sense’ Editor Johnson said said in an interview with RNZ Pacific last week that Trump’s shutdown of USAID was at odds with the increased engagement in the Pacific.
He said the move did not line up with the President’s rhetoric on China, and the fact the new US compact agreements were instigated by his administration the last time he was in power.
“So it’s hard to believe that Trump has changed his sense and I mean, he’s putting tariffs in on China, right? . . . So that’s still very much in play,” Johnson said.
“It’s just like amazing to me that that they’re willing to undermine relationships in the Pacific that they claim to be a very important region for them.
“And you know, this is, I mean, certainly it’s an opening for anybody else who wants to fill the gap, I suppose, until Washington decides what it is doing.”
USAID shutdown bug thing for Pacific Meanwhile, in the Cook Islands, the vice-chairperson of the Pacific energy regulators Alliance said Trump’s shutdown of USAID was a big deal for the region.
Dean Yarrall said his organisation was planning a multi-day training course on best practices in electricity regulation, funded by the US, which had now been called off.
He said the cancelling of the training course caught his organisation off guard.
“We’re seeing a lot of competition between parties, the Chinese are looking to increase the influence Australia as well and the US through USAID are big supporters of the Pacific so seeing USA sort of drop away, I think that will be a big thing,” Yarrall said.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Churchill Resources Inc. (“Churchill” or the “Company”) (TSXV: CRI) is pleased to provide an update on its 2024 fieldwork results at the Florence Lake nickel project located in Labrador. Highlights include:
Seahorse Lake Intrusive
CRI 2024 sampling confirms Ni-Co potential and ~7.5km strike length to the variably exposed Seahorse Intrusion with consistent historical surface grab samples grading 0.2-0.4% nickel and Company 2024 results confirm historical and new exposures with grades or 0.2-0.32% Ni and 100-756ppm Cobalt. The high cobalt value is much improved over the best historical result of 361ppm Co.
13 of 27 CRI samples at Seahorse returned high-interest aluminum undepleted komatiite geochemical signatures, suggesting more primitive, potentially Ni-enriched units may also be present in the volcanic assemblage. This is a very encouraging early sign for Seahorse.
The lone short historical drillhole, TSH96-04, into the eastern margin of the intrusive, also returned nickel values in the 0.2-0.3% range with 0.01%Co from selected short samples between 30-100m downhole. The entire core is available for sampling to the end of hole at 102m.
Baikie Belt
The northern licenses’ Baikie Sub-belt high-grade targets have been sampled with prioritization based on prospective komatiite geochemistry/VTEM conductors/high nickel-in-soil sampling highlighting numerous areas for detailed follow-up.
Paul Sobie, CEO, commented:
“Our 2024 fieldwork has confirmed that the Seahorse Lake Ultramafic Intrusive spans some 7.5km x 1km as suggested by its magnetic signature, and found it to outcrop over several impressively large areas. Historical grab sampling by Falconbridge returned pervasive surface nickel assays in the 0.2 to 0.4%Ni range, consistent with similar ultramafic intrusions being evaluated in Ontario, Quebec, BC, and Alaska.
Our 2024 sampling confirmed Seahorse’s Ni-Co potential per Table 1 and Figure 1, including a grab sample grading 756ppm Co (0.076%). We plan to cut long channel samples through these large outcrop exposures during fieldwork in 2025 to define nickel content over significant strike lengths and widths, as an important part of our first full “boots on the ground” season based out of the Florence Lake camp.
On our northern licenses covering the high-grade target Baikie Sub-belt ~5km northwest of Seahorse, we’ve now sampled most of the 43 priority targets identified from VTEM survey and follow-up soil sampling, allowing for prioritization for detailed prospecting, geology and geophysical surveys this summer.
Florence Lake lies ~70km west of the deep-water port of Postville, an all-weather road proposed along the Labrador coast would pass within 15km, and nearby waterfalls offer hydro-electric power potential, all greatly enhancing project economics.”
Figure 1 – Seahorse Lake Total Magnetic Intensity with 2024 and Falconbridge Surface Sampling
Figure 2 – Outcropping serpentinized peridotite southern Seahorse Lake Intrusion (note helicopter in distance for scale)
Figure 3 – Outcropping serpentinized peridotite central Seahorse Lake Intrusion
The Baikie-Sub-belt volcanic package is highly encouraging for nickel discoveries throughout the volcanic stratigraphy, rather than just the Baikie Showing horizon, the primary target of Falconbridge, where a small deposit was delineated. CRI is continuing to sample the ultramafic lavas in the area of priority targets, following the recognition of numerous Al2O3-undepleted ultramafic volcanic areas (i.e., more primitive lavas, associated with nickel mineralization), as stacked targets located throughout the upper Eastern Volcanic areas of the greenstone belt, and importantly also within the more basal Western Volcanics. Kambalda-style nickel sulphide deposits occur primarily in the basal portions of ultramafic volcanic sequences.
Figure 4 following shows the location of 2024 lithogeochemical samples detailed in Table 1, as well as the location of all other CRI surface samples collected since 2021. As well Dr. Derek Wilton has sampled numerous historical drill holes, and NL Government Geological Survey geologists have sampled the rest of the historical drillholes, which data will be available in the near-term to further our compilations of geochemical data and follow-up plans. CRI is in close contact with the Geological Survey team, who are actively assessing the Baikie and Seahorse Lake areas through mapping, lithogeochemistry and age-dating of surface and core samples and who completed their first field season in the Florence Lake area in 2024. The Geological Survey is planning to be active again this summer on our property and the collaboration will be extremely helpful to Churchill.
2024 soil sampling was modest in sample numbers and targeted to assess VTEM conductors lower in the stratigraphy in the Western Volcanics per Figure 5. Moderate nickel anomalies were generated in several areas for follow-up this summer.
The technical and scientific information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Derek H.C Wilton, P.Geo., FGC, who is a “qualified person” as defined under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”). Mr. Wilton is an honourary research professor of Economic Geology at Memorial University and is independent of the Company for the purposes of NI 43-101.
The lithogeochemical samples reported here were whole rock pieces, collected from outcrop and historical drill core by Dr. Wilton during fieldwork in September/October 2024. These samples were sealed in labelled plastic bags in the field. All sample bags were photographed and transported to Thunder Bay, ON, by secure courier. The samples were analysed by ALS Geochemistry Ltd. in Thunder Bay using ME-ICP06 whole rock and ME-MS61L analytical protocols. Samples with over limit Ni contents were re-assayed using OG-46 Aqua-Regia overlimit method. Quality control results, including the laboratory’s own control samples, were evaluated immediately.1
The soil samples were placed in labelled, sealed kraft paper bags and delivered to Eastern Analytical of Springdale, NL, an ISO/IEC 17025 certified facility. The samples were analysed using ICP 34 (inductively coupled plasma) analytical protocols. Samples with over limit Ni contents were re-assayed using Eastern’s Ore Grade Assay (multi acid digestion) overlimit method. Quality control results, including the laboratory’s control samples, were evaluated immediately.
Figure 4 – CRI Lithogeochemical Samples 2021-2024 in Baikie Sub-belt
Figure 5 – CRI Soil Samples 2022-2024 in Baikie Sub-belt on detailed CRI magnetics
About Churchill Resources Inc.
Churchill Resources Inc. is a Canadian exploration company focused on high grade, magmatic nickel sulphides in Canada, principally at its prospective Taylor Brook and Florence Lake properties in Newfoundland & Labrador. The Churchill management team, board and its advisors have decades of combined management experience in mineral exploration and in the establishment of successful publicly listed mining companies, both in Canada and around the world. Churchill’s Taylor Brook and Florence Lake projects have the potential to benefit from the province’s large and diversified minerals industry, which includes world class nickel mines and processing facilities, and a well-developed mineral exploration sector with locally based drilling and geological expertise.
Further Information
For further information regarding Churchill, please contact:
Churchill Resources Inc.
Paul Sobie, Chief Executive Officer
Tel.
+1 416.365.0930 (o)
+1 647.988.0930 (m)
Email
psobie@churchillresources.com
Alec Rowlands, Corporate Consultant
Tel.
+1 416.721.4732 (m)
Email
arowlands@churchillresources.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information
This news release contains “forward-looking information” and “forward-looking statements” (collectively, “forward-looking statements”) within the meaning of the applicable Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as at the date of this news release. Any statement that involves discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance (often but not always using phrases such as “expects”, or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “anticipates” or “does not anticipate”, “plans”, “proposed”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “forecasts”, “estimates”, “believes” or “intends” or variations of such words and phrases or stating that certain actions, events or results “may” or “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken to occur or be achieved) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. In this news release, forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the Company’s objectives, goals and exploration activities conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Company’s properties; future growth potential of the Company, including whether any proposed exploration programs at any of the Company’s properties will be successful; exploration results; and future exploration plans and costs and financing availability.
These forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions and estimates of management of the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual future results may differ materially as forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to materially differ from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors, among other things, include: the expected benefits to the Company relating to the exploration conducted and proposed to be conducted at the Company’s properties; failure to identify any mineral resources or significant mineralization; the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, including to fund any exploration programs on the Company’s properties; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of gold, silver, base metals or certain other commodities; fluctuations in currency markets (such as the Canadian dollar to United States dollar exchange rate); change in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and mineral exploration; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); the unlikelihood that properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated; soil sampling results being preliminary in nature and are not conclusive evidence of the likelihood of a mineral deposit; title to properties; and those factors described in the most recently filed management’s discussion and analysis of the Company. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes, or believed at the time, to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure shareholders that actual results will be consistent with such forward-looking statements, as there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. There can be no assurance that forward-looking information, or the material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information, will prove to be accurate. The Company does not undertake to release publicly any revisions for updating any voluntary forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable securities law.
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
1 The Company reminds investors that surface rock samples are select samples and may not be representative of all mineralization on the Florence Lake property.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
Faculty of Computer Science HSE University is launching a professional development course on artificial intelligence in education. Program is intended for teachers, lecturers, and methodologists planning to integrate AI technologies into the educational process, as well as for management teams of educational institutions interested in improving educational processes through the implementation of AI.
Teachers from the Faculty of Computer Science at the National Research University Higher School of Economics will show how to make artificial intelligence an assistant to a teacher so that it works for the benefit of the educational process. For example, students will be able to use neural networks to develop tests and educational materials, and analyze academic performance.
The program consists of four blocks. The first is devoted to the effectiveness of AI in educational practice and the ethical issues of its use. The second block will examine AI services in detail: Yandex GPT, GigaChat, Perplexity and others. Teachers will tell how to use them to create programs of academic disciplines, articles, presentations, tests and assignments, and conduct data analysis. Block 3 contains information on how AI is currently used in education, business and media. The last block is a bonus. It is intended for those who want to delve deeper into the structure of large language models and learn about the practice of their application. Upon completion of the training in the Artificial Intelligence in Education program, students will be able to confidently create their own projects for integrating AI into the educational process based on the studied cases and examples.
“AI opens up huge opportunities for personalizing learning, automating routine tasks, and increasing the efficiency of the educational process as a whole. Our course is designed to help teachers master these innovative technologies and implement them in their teaching practice,” she emphasized.
The Higher School of Economics already has successful experience in this area. Last year, as part of the strategic academic leadership program “Priority 2030” More than 50% of HSE full-time employees have completed the course “Artificial Intelligence in Education and Research”.
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.
Q) Thanks for joining us today, Deborah, can you tell us why Safer Internet Day is such an important day to mark for Samsung, and what it means to you personally?
Days like Safer Internet Day are really crucial to help give all parents and guardians a platform to continue to talk openly about helping our children stay safe online and also share their experiences in how to achieve this. This is an ongoing area of focus for us, but marked days are vital for growing awareness on important topics. As a parent with a young son, my priority is his safety, both off and online. As he gets older and learns how to navigate the online world, it’s important that I’ll be able to help educate and give him a safe space to be confident, secure and knowledgeable when accessing new technologies.
Q) What is Samsung’s role, as a device manufacturer, in helping combat the growing issue of keeping young people safe online?
We do have a shared responsibility with all invested stakeholders to help combat this problem. We are now in our eighth year of supporting Safer Internet Day and have partnered with Internet Matters since 2019, creating vital resources to help parents and children. We need to keep these relationships strong and work together on projects that shine a light on online safety. This won’t be solved by any one organisation or campaign alone. We must collaborate to help inspire and enable parents and guardians to keep having the most important of conversations with their children, especially as we see how prevalent social media is in today’s society.
We want all families who use our devices and services to be able to understand the tools and resources available to them, helping them to set positive boundaries and measures they feel can be effective. We always seem to say that our kids seem more tech-savvy than we are, but learning together can really help everyone in the family dynamic to understand the important and dangers of online safety.
Q) Internet Matters does a huge amount of work on this issue, how important is this partnership to Samsung?
It really is critical to work alongside incredible organisations like Internet Matters and try to tackle the online safety issue collaboratively. For example, in 2023, we launched the ‘Online Together Project’ with Internet Matters, where we designed a teaching module tool to educate on key topics such as online hate, giving families practical advice and encouraging more open conversations between parents and children. We are proud of the resources created and we wanted to highlight that this type of conversation should always be a two-way, open dialogue.
I certainly want my son to be able to have those conversations with me and share his views so we can set boundaries together, talk about safety and security openly, and develop a better way forward that builds trust and honesty as he gets older and inevitably has more access to the online world.
Our work with Internet Matters has been critical to enhancing our own understanding of how we should not only collectively work together but also how we face into this issue as a manufacturer that has a responsibility to ensure its product features reflect the needs of parents and guardians. When they take that first step of introducing their children to new technology and the internet, we hope to enable them to do so armed with as much knowledge and expertise as we can provide. We design our products with safety and security as a critical priority and we take pride in that.
Q) What plans do Samsung have to mark Safer Internet Day this year?
I think it’s important to say that we have made a huge amount of progress already – from a device manufacturer perspective, we want to listen to our customers on this issue and address their concerns. You will all be aware over the last year that there has been an increased focus on this issue from key stakeholders – the Government, media and online safety parent campaigners – to champion the need to do more and push more on this issue, and we have been taken part in many constructive debates and discussions.
We’re doing this by using our communication channels to help raise awareness on the parental controls and safety settings available across Samsung’s products. We are also providing free online safety resources for teachers to use in schools through our Solve for Tomorrow Next Gen programme. Next Gen this year is aimed at 11-15 year olds, focusing on AI for secondary school teachers to help students explore the benefits and challenges of AI and better understand how to use AI responsibly.
This year, we are also raising awareness of Safer Internet Day and the existing Samsung tools & resources available to our customers through our brand and marketing channels, in-store and on the large format Piccadilly Lights digital screen in London. We encourage people to check out our latest online safety guides and videos available on Samsung.com that will address the need for better and more simpler education for parents, guardians and young children.
We are also inviting people to register for our ‘Let’s Talk Online Safety’ Panel discussion event on the 18th March, hosted at Samsung KX, to continue the momentum and conversation beyond tomorrow. One of our brilliant ambassadors, Fearne Cotton, will be holding a panel discussion where we will be exploring the challenges that we know young people face online and the role we can all play in supporting them.
Q) Finally Deborah, what is your message to our customers about our future ambitions to help tackle this issue?
I think we have to understand that the work should never be done, we understand that this is a critical moment in time where this issue has never been more important in the eyes of so many people. We are open to working with the Government, our partners and stakeholders, through our role within our Tech UK industry body, on initiatives that will really engage customers and have the reach and impact that creates meaningful conversations.
We champion and encourage these conversations all year-round through our interactions with our customers, but also crucially through our educational initiatives, encouraging early conversations about responsible use of technology. It really is a long-term journey that we’re committed to, but there is still a lot work ahead of us, to help tackle online safety successfully.
To attend our ‘Let’s Talk Online Safety’ Panel Event at Samsung KX, on Tuesday 18th March at 5.30pm, please register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lets-talk-online-safety-hosted-by-fearne-cotton-tickets-1234746994499?aff=oddtdtcreator
To learn more about Safer Internet Day, please go to: https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2025
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacts with students during Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025 The United Nations declared 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ and promoted it across the world on a proposal from India: PM
Seasonal fruits must be eaten, food must be chewed properly, right food must be eaten at the right time: PM
Absence of illness doesn’t mean we are healthy, focus on wellness: PM
One should prepare oneself for pressure concentrating on task at hand: PM
We should continue to strive for better, fight our own battles, find stillness within: PM
Be an example, don’t demand respect command respect, lead by doing not demanding: PM
Students are not robots, studies are for holistic development, they should have freedom to explore their passions: PM
Exams are not everything, knowledge and exams are not the same thing: PM
The habit of writing should be developed: PM
Discover and nurture each student’s unique talent, look for positivity: PM
We all have the same 24 hours, it’s about managing our time wisely: PM
Focus on the Present, share your feelings with your loved ones: PM
Don’t compare your children with others,understand your children to support their passion, find your child’s strengths: PM
Learn to listen, Right Breathing is the key: PM
Every child is unique, know their dreams, guide their journey, be their support: PM
Avoid comparing students, don’t criticise students publicly, encourage and praise to motivate them: PM
Challenge yourself, defeat your past, thrive in the present: PM
Listen, Question, Understand, Apply, compete with yourself: PM
Convert your failures into opportunities: PM
Use technology wisely not fearfully, technology should be utilised optimally: PM
We should not exploit nature but protect and nurture our Environment showing our gratitude, Ek Ped naam ke Naam is one such initiative: PM
Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 3:14PM by PIB Delhi
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacted with students at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi today during the 8th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC). The Prime Minister in an informal interaction with the students from across the country discussed a host of topics. He distributed sweets made of Til (sesame) which is traditionally served during winters to keep the body warm.
Nourish to Flourish
On the topic of Nutrition, Shri Modi remarked that the United Nations had declared 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ and promoted it across the world on a proposal from India. He added that the Government of India strongly urged that there should be a lot of awareness regarding nutrition, as proper nutrition helps prevent many diseases. The Prime Minister highlighted that Millets were known as a superfood in India. He added that in India, most things like crops, fruits were linked to our heritage and cited an example where every new crop or season was dedicated to God and festivals were celebrated in most places across India. He further mentioned that the offerings to the God were distributed as Prasad. Shri modi urged the children to eat seasonal fruits. He encouraged the children to avoid Junk food, oily food and food products made of Maida. Touching upon the importance of how to eat food correctly, the Prime Minister encouraged the children to chew their food at least 32 times before swallowing. He also shared tips to the children to take small sips of water and savor its taste, whenever they drink water. On the topic of eating the right food at the right time, Shri Modi citing the example of farmers, said that they had a hearty breakfast in the morning before going to the fields and completed their supper before the sunset. He encouraged the students to follow similar healthy habits.
Nutrition and wellness
Discussing Wellness, the Prime Minister underlined that absence of wellness does not mean that one is healthy, and urged the children to focus on wellness. He added that the right amount of sleep was important to ensure the fitness and wellness of the body. He mentioned that there were many research projects being conducted on the importance of sleep in human wellness. Shri Modi, stressing on the importance of sunlight for the human body, encouraged the children to cultivate a daily habit of soaking in the morning sunlight for a few minutes. He also told them to take deep breaths standing under a tree right after the sunrise. The Prime Minister summed it up by informing that for an individual to progress in life, the importance of nutrition lies in what, when, how and why one eats.
Mastering Pressure
On the topic of Mastering Pressure, the Prime Minister remarked that it is unfortunate how our society has ingrained the idea that not scoring high marks in school exams like 10th or 12th means life is ruined. This, he said, added to the pressure on the children. Citing a reference to the batsman’s concentration on the ball in a cricket match, Shri Modi encouraged the children to evade the outside pressure like the batsman and focus and concentrate on their studies only which would help them overcome the pressure.
Challenge Yourself
Asking the students to be well prepared and keep challenging themselves every time, the Prime Minister remarked that many people do not fight their own battles against themselves. He remarked on the importance of self-reflection, urging individuals to frequently ask themselves what they can become, achieve, and what actions will bring them satisfaction. He highlighted that one’s focus should not be swayed by daily external influences like newspapers or TV, but rather should be steadily cultivated over time. The Prime Minister pointed out that many people often let their minds wander without direction. He advised them not to be frivolous in their decisions and make up their mind to find stillness on something which will help them to tackle the challenges.
The Art of Leadership
On being asked by a student to share tips on effective leadership, Shri Modi said that outer appearance does not define a leader but a leader is one who leads by setting an example for others. To achieve this, he said that individuals must change themselves, and their behavior should reflect this change. “Leadership is not imposed, but accepted by those around you”, said the Prime Minister. He remarked that preaching to others will not earn acceptance; it is one’s behavior that is accepted. He cited an example, noting that if one gives a speech on cleanliness but does not practice it, they cannot be a leader. Shri Modi emphasised that teamwork and patience are essential for leadership. He underlined that when delegating tasks, it is important to understand the challenges faced by the team members and helping them through difficulties will build their confidence and trust in leadership. The Prime Minister illustrated this by sharing a childhood story about a child holding a parent’s hand at a fair. The child preferred the parent to hold their hand, ensuring a sense of security and trust. This trust is a significant strength in leadership, he emphasised.
Beyond Books – 360º Growth
On the topic of balancing hobbies with studies, while the general belief is that academics is the only path to success, the Prime Minister stated that students are not robots and emphasized the importance of holistic development. He noted that education is not solely for advancing to the next class but for comprehensive personal growth. Reflecting on the past, he highlighted how the lessons from early schooling like gardening might have seemed irrelevant, but they contribute to overall development. The Prime Minister urged parents and teachers not to confine children to a rigid academic environment, as this stunts their growth. He added that Children need an open environment and activities they enjoy, which in turn enhances their studies. He emphasized that exams are not everything in life, and told students that adopting this mindset will help convince families and teachers. The Prime Minister also clarified that he is not advocating against reading books; rather, he emphasized the importance of acquiring as much knowledge as possible. He remarked that exams are not everything and that knowledge and exams are two different things.
Finding Positives
The Prime Minister remarked that people often question advice given to them, wondering why it was said and if it reflects a flaw in them. This mentality hinders one’s ability to help others. Instead, he advised identifying the good qualities in others, such as singing well or dressing neatly, and discussing these positive traits. This approach shows genuine interest and builds rapport. He further suggested offering assistance by inviting others to study together. The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of developing the habit of writing. He noted that those who develop the habit of writing would capture their thoughts effectively.
Find your Uniqueness
Recounting an incident in Ahmedabad where a child was about to be expelled from school for lack of attention, the Prime Minister said however, the child excelled in a tinkering lab and won a robotics competition, showcasing unique strengths. The Prime Minister emphasized that it is the teacher’s role to recognize and nurture unique talents and strengths of children. Shri Modi proposed an experiment for self-reflection and understanding relationships. He suggested recalling 25-30 childhood friends and writing their full names, including their parents’ names. This exercise often reveals how little we know about those we consider close friends. The Prime Minister encouraged identifying positive traits in people and cultivating the habit of finding positivity in others. This practice, he noted, would be beneficial for personal growth.
Master your time, Master your life
On being asked by a student about time management, Shri Modi pointed out that everyone has 24 hours in a day, yet some people accomplish a lot while others feel nothing is achieved. He highlighted the importance of time management, noting that many lack an understanding of how to utilize their time effectively. The Prime Minister advised being mindful of time, setting specific tasks, and reviewing progress daily. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on subjects that are challenging rather than avoiding them. He cited an example of how to take up the subject which one feels difficult first and tackle it head on. By taking on these challenges with determination, individuals can overcome obstacles and achieve success. Addressing the issue of distractions caused by various ideas, possibilities, and questions during exam time, the Prime Minister remarked that students often do not truly know themselves and engage in conversations with friends, making excuses for not studying. He noted that common excuses include being too tired or not in the mood. The Prime Minister highlighted that such distractions, including those from phones, hinder focus and academic performance.
Live in the moment
The Prime Minister emphasized that the most valuable thing is the present moment. Once it passes, it is gone, but if lived fully, it becomes a part of life. He highlighted the importance of being mindful and appreciating the moment, such as noticing a gentle breeze.
The Power of Sharing
On the topic of Coping with anxiety and depression while managing their studies, Shri Modi said the issue of depression often starts with feeling disconnected from family and gradually withdrawing from social interactions. He emphasized the importance of expressing inner dilemmas openly to prevent them from escalating. The Prime Minister highlighted the traditional family structure, where open communication with family members acted as a pressure release valve, preventing emotional build-up. He reflected on how his teachers worked hard to improve his handwriting, which deeply touched him and emphasized the impact of genuine care from educators. The Prime Minister noted that this care and attention can greatly influence a student’s well-being and academic performance.
Follow your interests
Shri Modi addressed parental pressure on children to choose certain careers. He remarked that parents’ expectations often stem from comparing their children to others, which can hurt their ego and social status. He advised parents not to showcase their children as models everywhere, but to love and accept their strengths. He cited the previous example of a child who excelled in robotics after being on the verge of expulsion from school, illustrating that every child has unique talents. He also cited the example of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. The Prime Minister encouraged parents to recognize and nurture their children’s strengths, even if they are not academically inclined. He emphasized the importance of skill development and mentioned that he would have chosen the Skill Development Department if he were not the Prime Minister. By focusing on their children’s abilities, parents can reduce the pressure and help them thrive.
Pause, Reflect, Reset
The Prime Minister illustrated how focusing on identifying different sounds can help in concentrating. He shared that practicing breathing exercises, such as Pranayama, can generate a different kind of energy, helping to manage anxiety. The Prime Minister provided a technique to balance breathing through both nostrils, which can bring the body under control in seconds. He mentioned how learning about meditation and breath control can alleviate stress and help maintain focus.
Realising your potential, Achieving targets
Addressing the concern of staying positive and finding happiness in small victories, Shri Modi highlighted that sometimes people become negative due to their own thoughts or the influence of others. Interacting with a student who aimed for 95% in the 10th grade but achieved 93%, which led to disappointment, the Prime Minister considered this a success and congratulated the student for setting a higher target. He emphasized that targets should be ambitious yet realistic. Shri Modi encouraged viewing achievements from a positive perspective, understanding one’s strengths, and appreciating the effort put into reaching close to the target.
Every Child is Unique
On the topic of maintaining good health during exams, the Prime Minister remarked that the primary issue lies less with students and more with their families. He highlighted that many parents pressure their children to pursue specific careers, like engineering or medicine, despite the child’s interests in fields like art. This constant pressure leads to a life of stress for the child. He urged parents to understand and recognize their children’s abilities and interests, monitor their progress, and provide support. For instance, if a child shows interest in sports, parents should encourage and motivate them by taking them to watch sports events. The Prime Minister also addressed teachers, urging them to avoid creating an environment where only top-performing students receive attention while others are neglected. He emphasized the importance of not comparing students and encouraging each child’s unique abilities. He reminded the students to strive for improvement and perform well, but also recognize that academics is not everything in life.
Self – Motivation
On the topic of self- motivation, the Prime Minister advised never to isolate oneself and emphasized the importance of sharing thoughts and seeking motivation from family or seniors. He suggested challenging oneself with small goals, such as cycling 10 kilometers, to build confidence and enjoy the sense of accomplishment. Shri Modi highlighted that these small experiments with oneself help overcome personal limitations and live in the present, allowing the past to remain in the past. The Prime Minister stated that he finds motivation from the people – 140 crore Indians. He shared that while he authored “Pariksha Pe Charcha,” individuals like Ajay in their villages are transforming it into their poetry. This makes him feel that he should continue such work, as there are many sources of motivation around us. On being asked about Internalising things, Shri Modi advised that merely contemplating advice, such as waking up early, is not enough without implementation. He emphasized the importance of applying learned principles practically and refining oneself through personal experimentation. The Prime Minister illustrated that by making oneself a laboratory and testing these principles, one can truly assimilate and benefit from them. Shri Modi highlighted that most people compete with others rather than themselves, often comparing themselves to those who may be less capable, which leads to disappointment. He emphasized that self-competition builds unwavering confidence, whereas comparing oneself to others can cause discouragement.
Failure as fuel
On the topic of how to overcome failure, Shri Modi remarked that even if 30-40% of students fail in their 10th or 12th grades, life does not come to an end. He emphasized the importance of deciding whether to succeed in life or only in academics. He advised making failures one’s teacher, using cricket as an example where players review their mistakes and strive for improvement. The Prime Minister urged viewing life holistically, not just through the lens of exams. He highlighted that differently-abled individuals often possess extraordinary strengths and that everyone has unique capabilities. He stressed the importance of working on these strengths rather than focusing solely on academic achievements. He stated that in the long run, it is one’s life and abilities that speak for success, not just academic marks.
Mastering Tech
Emphasising that we are all fortunate, and especially so in an era where technology is widespread and impactful, the Prime Minister remarked that there is no need to shy away from technology, but instead, individuals should determine whether they spend their time on non-productive activities or delve deeper into their interests. By doing so, technology will become a strength rather than a destructive force. Shri Modi highlighted that researchers and innovators develop technology for the betterment of society. He urged people to understand and optimally utilize technology.
On being asked how to give one’s best in any task, Shri Modi emphasized the importance of continuous improvement, stating that the first condition for doing one’s best is to strive to be better than yesterday.
How to Convince Your parents?
Addressing the dilemma of choosing between following family advice or personal interests, Shri Modi remarked that it’s important to acknowledge family suggestions and then persuade them by asking how to proceed with their advice and seeking their assistance. By showing genuine interest and discussing alternative options respectfully, families may gradually understand and support one’s aspirations.
Dealing with Exam Pressure
Discussing the common issue of students not finishing their exam papers on time, leading to stress and pressure, the Prime Minister advised thorough practice with previous exam papers to learn how to write concise answers and manage time effectively. He highlighted the importance of focusing on questions that require more effort and not spending too much time on questions that are difficult or unfamiliar. He emphasized that regular practice helps in better time management during exams.
Caring for Nature
The Prime Minister addressed climate change and commended the young generation for their concern about it. He noted that much of the development in the world has led to a culture of exploitation, where people prioritize personal gain over environmental protection. Shri Modi mentioned Mission LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which promotes a lifestyle that protects and nurtures nature. He shared cultural practices in India, such as apologizing to Mother Earth and worshipping trees and rivers, which demonstrate respect for nature. He also highlighted the campaign “Ek Ped Maa ke Naam,” encouraging people to plant trees in memory of their mothers. This initiative fosters a sense of attachment and ownership, leading to the protection of nature.
Growing your own Green Paradise
Shri Modi encouraged the students to plant their own trees and suggested practical tips for watering them. He advised placing a clay pot filled with water next to the tree and refilling it once a month. This method helps the tree grow quickly with minimal water usage. The Prime Minister congratulated everyone and expressed his gratitude for their participation.
Education meets Gaming at Create in India Challenge Season-1 at WAVES 2025 Know Your City well? Come and Play City Quest: Shades of Bharat and get recognised at WAVES 2025 for your knowledge of Indian cities, their achievements and challenges
Compete & learn with city-specific cards promoting SDG awareness & regional pride; Explore strengths of 56 Indian cities & overall sustainability performance on a global scale
Innovative Gaming meets Sustainable Development: City Quest-Shades of Bharat highlighted the SDG action at IIT Bombay’s E-Summit 2025, driving youth engagement
Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 3:17PM by PIB Delhi
If you have in-depth knowledge of your city’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), here’s your chance to be recognized on a national stage.World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES)2025offers a unique opportunity for individuals who understand their city’s sustainability efforts, challenges, and achievements.
‘City Quest: Shades of Bharat‘, an innovative educational game, is a key component of the ongoing Create in India Challenge under WAVES 2025. This engaging game is designed to educate and inspire the youth by gamifying the metrics of urban development through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It explores the strengths and challenges of 56 cities across the country while reliving the joy of the childhood trump card game.
This platform will provide a space to highlight cities making significant strides toward a sustainable future. Stand out as a champion of urban sustainability and get the opportunity to showcase your knowledge about the city’s SDG journey, with winners to be felicitated at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025.
About the Game
City Quest game engages in a single-player format where players compete against a computer opponent using a deck of city cards. Each card features six parameters, allowing players to compare cities based on various statistics, such as the Hunger Index, Good Health and Well-being, and Gender Equality. It tracks 15 SDGs and uses the top 6 SDGs across 56 cities using NITI Aayog’s Urban Index (2021).
Through interactive gameplay, it educates players on the developmental challenges and achievements of 56 Indian cities, emphasizing the impact of sustainable practices.
As players explore each city’s attributes through City Quest, they also gain insights into how individual and collective actions can significantly impact India’s overall sustainability performance on a global scale
CityQuest game is open to participation by all individuals across all age groups offering a dive into a nostalgic card game experience with a fresh twist and an opportunity to learn more about Bharat’s vibrant cities. The game features both national and city-specific leaderboards, fostering healthy competition among players and encouraging participation from various regions. Players can sign up for their home city, creating a sense of community and local pride.
City Quest: Igniting Minds at IIT Bombay’s E-Summit 2025
‘City Quest: Shades of Bharat’, an Edu-game that compares 56 Indian cities on Sustainable Development Goals was showcased at the recently concluded E-Summit 2025, the annual flagship event of E-Cell IIT Bombay last week. The event had unmatched energy, enthusiastic minds, endless excitement, and a buzzing crowd of over 30,000 students over two days.
At IIT Bombay’s E-Summit 2025, E Gaming Federation (EGF), which is driving City Quest in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, steered key discussions on gaming, startups, and emerging tech. Their sessions illuminated the significant role that the gaming industry and innovative technologies play in modern entrepreneurship.
Key headliners at the Summit included Nandan Nilekani, Anupam Mittal, and Sonam Wangchuk. City Quest caught the attention of IITB students and visitors, generating buzz around the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit 2025, as well as the Create in India Season 1 Challenges.
SDG engagement through Interactive Storytelling at IIT Bombay
City Quest offered an immersive experience to students via interactive storytelling about Indian cities and the importance of active participation by Indian citizens through daily actions in significantly boosting India’s performance on SDG global rankings.
Exciting competitions were also organized amongst students as brand ambassadors of their hometowns competing with each other through City Quest trump cards. Select winners were awarded a special edition of City Quest decks every hour of the day.
Highlights of City Quest: Shades of Bharat:
Innovative Gameplay: Players participate in friendly competitions, using strategic thinking to assess how cities contribute to achieving the SDGs, fostering a sense of community and civic pride.
Bridging Gaps: City Quest exemplifies how gamification can effectively bridge policy and public participation, offering an engaging method to educate and motivate India’s youth towards sustainable development.
WAVES 2025
Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Railways, Electronics and IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced the dates and venue for the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025). This landmark event, set to position India as a global leader in the creative industries, will be held in Mumbai from 1st May 2025 to 4th May 2025.
The announcement follows a fruitful meeting of the Advisory Board of WAVES with Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, reflecting the nation’s ambition to become the creative powerhouse of the world. This summit will bring together the world’s top media CEOs, biggest entertainment icons, and creative minds from across the globe—unifying entertainment, creativity, and culture like never before.
Just concluded an extensive meeting of the Advisory Board of WAVES, the global summit that brings together the world of entertainment, creativity and culture. The members of the Advisory Board are eminent individuals from different walks of life, who not only reiterated their… pic.twitter.com/FoXeFSzCFY
The game is currently available for free on Android devices viaGoogle Play, providing an accessible platform for players nationwide to engage with important social issues while contributing to a collective understanding of urban growth and sustainability.
NHRC, India in collaboration with the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur organised a National conference on combating human trafficking in the digital era In his inaugural address, NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V Ramasubramanian emphasised the need for building awareness among people about the pitfalls while engaging with digital spaces to ensure their safety
Highlighted strengthening of the regulatory and institutional frameworks as well as technological solutions to check effectively the misuse of digital space
Among various suggestions, the conference stressed on amending the ITP Act to provide clearer distinctions between child and adult trafficking with specific provisions to include cyber trafficking within its scope
Formal linkage between the ITPA and the IT Act also stressed filling existing legal gaps and addressing trafficking in the digital realm
Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 1:13PM by PIB Delhi
Justice Shri V Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India inaugurated a day-long National Conference on ‘Combating human trafficking in the digital era’ organised on 7th Februray, 2025 by the Commission in collaboration with the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. With digital technologies increasingly being exploited for human trafficking, this conference examined the role of the internet, social media, cryptocurrency, and various online tools in facilitating trafficking crimes and the role of technology, law enforcement agencies, and the community in preventing them.
Addressing virtually, the experts, law enforcement officials, academicians, and activists gathered to deliberate upon the growing menace of cyber-enabled trafficking, Justice Ramasubramanian highlighted various forms of digital trafficking such as sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, organ trafficking, and forced marriage. He also highlighted “Active Recruitment,” known as Hook Fishing, and “Passive Recruitment,” known as Net Fishing using digital technology to lure in gullible people.
The NHRC, India Chairperson emphasised the need for building awareness among people about the pitfalls while engaging with digital spaces to ensure their safety besides strengthening the regulatory and institutional frameworks as well as technological solutions to check effectively the misuse of digital space.
The conference was divided into two thematic sessions. The first session focused on the role of the Internet in facilitating human trafficking and migrant smuggling: A legal, administrative, and regulatory perspective’. It was chaired by Smt Bhamathi Balasubramanian, IAS (Retd.), co-chaired by Dr Sanjeev Shukla, Inspector General of Police, Bilaspur. Other resource persons included Dr K.V.K. Santhy, Professor of Law, NALSAR Hyderabad; Shri Kirtan Rathore, Additional SP, Raipur; and Smt Pratibha Tiwari, Additional SP, Mahasamund.
The session provided a comprehensive discussion on the various factors contributing to human trafficking, with a strong emphasis on its gendered dimensions and the growing role of digital anonymity in facilitating such crimes. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the issue of migrant smuggling in different parts of India, particularly examining recruitment strategies, coordination networks, and the smuggling of victims.
Experts highlighted trafficking cases from Chhattisgarh, shedding light on the persistent problem of non-reporting and the critical role played by Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in addressing these challenges. The session also explored the regulatory mechanisms in place to combat trafficking, emphasizing the need for capacity building and the development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) tailored to the digital era. Additionally, the speakers underscored the role of the internet, artificial intelligence, and digital forensics in tracking and preventing trafficking cases, particularly those involving social media and missing children.
The second session was focused on the theme “Preventive Strategies against Human Trafficking: Role of Technology, Law Enforcement Agencies, Victim Support, and Community Engagement.” It was chaired by Dr Manish Mishra, Joint Director, Chhattisgarh Human Rights Commission, and co-chaired by Dr Purushotam Chandrakar, Member, Child Welfare Committee (Raipur). The panellists also included Ms Pallabi Ghosh, Founder & Director, Impact and Dialogue Foundation (Kolkata); Ms Chetna Desai; Shri Ritesh Kumar, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF, Chhattisgarh; and Prof. (Dr) Vishnu Konoorayar, Professor of Law, HNLU.
Shri Joginder Singh, Registrar (Law), NHRC, India in his concluding remarks said that combating human trafficking is a global effort requiring collaboration between governments, NGOs, technology companies, and individuals.
The conference brought forward several key suggestions to address the growing challenge of human trafficking some of which are as follows:
• Amend The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) to provide clearer distinctions between child and adult trafficking, with specific provisions to include cyber trafficking within its scope; • Formal linkage is needed between the ITPA and the IT Act to fill existing legal gaps and address trafficking in the digital realm;
• Increase awareness regarding self-reporting portals such as the Centralized Complaint and Prevention of Women and Children (CCPWC), which could serve as an effective tool for public participation in reporting trafficking cases;
• Equip and train Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) to combat trafficking in the digital era; • Authentic data on human trafficking needs to be systematically collected across different categories to better inform policies and interventions;
• There is a need for community engagement as a critical component in combating trafficking in all its forms by encouraging local communities to take an active role in preventing and reporting such crimes.
Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) was envisaged as a comprehensive package which will result in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. It will not only provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country but also improve the capacity of food processing units which help in providing better returns to farmers and creating employment opportunities especially in the rural areas, reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods.
However, standalone cold storages are not supported under PMKSY. The state-wise number of storages approved for captive use under PMKSY since inception in 2017 are at Annexue-1. Further, under the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure a sub-scheme of PMKSY, 06 projects are approved in the state of Telangana in the last five years. The details district –wise are at Annexure-2.
As informed by Food Corporation of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in order to upgrade and modernize the storage facilities, Government of India approved Action Plan for construction of steel silos on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode in the country. Under this plan, Silos with capacity of 24.25LMT at various locations throughout country are under implementation. Out of which silos with a capacity of 17.75LMT have been completed and remaining 6.5LMT are under various stages of development. In addition to above, silos of 5.5LMT capacity at 7 locations have already been constructed and put to in use in 2007-09 under circuit base model. Further, under phase –I of Hub & Spoke model Silos of 10.125 LMT at 14 locations on FCI owned land awarded and 24.75 LMT at 66 locations on private land have been awarded and are in development stage. As per the data of Food Corporation of India (FCI), the status of Grain Silos construction as on 30.11.2024 is placed at Annexure-3
MoFPI has been implementing Central Sector Umbrella Scheme – PMKSY since 2016-17 to create post-harvest infrastructure and processing facilities to boost the overall development of the food processing sector including reduction in post-harvest losses. The component schemes under PMKSY provide credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing/preservation infrastructure which, inter-alia, includes cold storages and refrigerated vehicles to minimize post-harvest losses.
As per the Evaluation Study conducted and submitted by NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS) in 2020 on “Impact of Units Implemented under Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure assisted by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)”, it was highlighted that due to interventions of the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure Scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, while all sectors had shown some decrease in wastages, but Fruits & Vegetables, Dairy and Fisheries sector had shown significant reduction in wastages.
Apart from MoFPI, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has also launched the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme in July 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package in order to improve post-harvest infrastructure and create community farming assets. The AIF Scheme facilitates sanction of medium to long term loans by Banks and other lending institutions for the setting up of cold storage facilities, warehouses and processing units, aimed at reducing crop wastage and enhancing value addition.
This information was provided by the minister of state for food processing industries Shri Ravneet Singh in a written reply to rajysabha.
*****
ANNEXURE-1
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 578 FOR ANSWER ON 07TH FEBRUARY, 2025 REGARDING “STORAGE FACILITIES UNDER PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJNA”
Ministry is implementing Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojna (PMKSY). Under PMKSY standalone Cold storages/ frozen storage/ CA/ MA are not supported. The number of storages approved for captive use under PMKSY since inception in 2017 are as follows:
S.No
State
No of Cold storages/ frozen storage/ CA/ MA
Capacity
(LMT/Annum)
1
Andaman & Nicobar
2
0.29
2
Andhra Pradesh
31
7.88
3
Arunachal Pradesh
1
0.14
4
Assam
8
6.97
5
Bihar
1
7.44
6
Chandigarh
0
0.0
7
Chhattisgarh
6
2.61
8
Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu
0
0.05
9
Delhi
0
0.0
10
Goa
0
0.06
11
Gujarat
35
20.28
12
Haryana
30
8.89
13
Himachal Pradesh
28
4.34
14
Jammu & Kashmir
16
1.99
15
Jharkhand
0
0.0
16
Karnataka
35
12.17
17
Kerala
12
4
18
Ladakh
0
0.0
19
Lakshadweep
0
0.0
20
Madhya Pradesh
17
8.17
21
Maharashtra
93
72.71
22
Manipur
5
0.09
23
Meghalaya
0
0.12
24
Mizoram
9
0.58
25
Nagaland
3
0.35
26
Orissa
8
2.54
27
Puduchery
0
0.0
28
Punjab
61
14.69
29
Rajasthan
29
7.18
30
Sikkim
0
0.0
31
Tamil Nadu
59
10.6
32
Telangana
16
9.49
33
Tripura
1
1.11
34
Uttar Pradesh
38
16.92
35
Uttarakhand
64
11.61
36
West Bengal
35
8.06
TOTAL
643
241.33
ANNEXURE-2
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 578 FOR ANSWER ON 07TH FEBRUARY, 2025 REGARDING “STORAGE FACILITIES UNDER PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJNA”
Details of sanctioned projects in the state of Telangana under the scheme of Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure, a component of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojna (PMKSY) in the last five years (as on 31.12.2024)
Sr.No.
Project
Sector
District
State
Total project cost (₹ in crore)
Approved grant (₹ in crore)
Amount of grant released (₹ in crore)
Status
1
Sri Krupa RGR Agrogatros
F&V
Nalgonda
Telangana
36.22
9.36
2.22
Under Implementation
2
VNR Dairy Products
Dairy
Nalagonda
Telangana
26.20
6.84
4.56
Under Implementation
3
Dadus
Dairy
Malkajgiri
Telangana
77.31
7.35
2.45
Under Implementation
4
Almond House Private Limited
Dairy
Hyderabad
Telangana
56.81
7.62
2.54
Under Implementation
5
Manjeera Dairy Products
Dairy
Sangareddy
Telangana
22.71
6.51
0
Under Implementation
6
AL QAWI Frozen Foods Pvt Ltd
Meat
Sangareddy
Telangana
32.71
8.68
0
Under Implementation
TOTAL
251.96
46.36
11.77
ANNEXURE-3
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 578 FOR ANSWER ON 07TH FEBRUARY, 2025 REGARDING “STORAGE FACILITIES UNDER PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJNA”
India to Inaugurate EFTA Desk to Enhance Trade and Investment under TEPA Business Roundtable to Witness Participation from Over 100 Companies from India and EFTA Nations
Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 10:19AM by PIB Delhi
In a significant step towards deepening economic ties with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal along with the EFTA bloc represented by H.E. Mrs. Helene Budliger Artieda, Swiss State Secretary, H.E. Mr. Tomas Norvoll, State Secretary of Trade and Industry, Norway, H.E. Martin Eyjolfsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Iceland, H.E. Dominique Hasler, Minister of External Affairs, Education, and Sport, Liechtenstein, Mr. Markus Schlagenhof, Deputy Secretary General, EFTA Secretariat and Mr. David Sveinbhornsson, Senior Officer, EFTA Secretariat, will inaugurate the EFTA Desk at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on February 10, 2025.
The initiative, in line with Chapter 7 of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which was signed on March 10, 2024, aims to serve as a dedicated platform to promote trade, investment, and business facilitation between India and the four EFTA nations—Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. The inauguration ceremony will be attended by senior officials from the Government of India and high-ranking dignitaries from EFTA member states.
Senior officials from Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Department of Commerce (DOC) will also address the gathering, outlining India’s vision for stronger economic engagement with EFTA nations.
The India-EFTA Dedicated Desk will act as a centralized support mechanism for EFTA companies looking to expand in India. It will provide market insights and regulatory guidance, business matchmaking, and assistance in navigating India’s policy and investment landscape.
Post-inauguration, a high-level EFTA-India Business Roundtable will convene, featuring over 100 leading businesses from India and EFTA nations, aimed at fostering collaboration across key sectors, including Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences, Financial Services & Fintech, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Energy & Sustainability, Seafood & Maritime, Food Processing & Agritech. The roundtable will provide a structured forum for companies to explore joint ventures, investment opportunities, and technology partnerships under the framework of TEPA.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Tech Applied Summit organised by the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) today (February 10):Sunny (Board Chairman of ASTRI, Mr Sunny Lee), 劉副市長 (Deputy Mayor of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, Professor Liu Bo), 葉部長 (Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu), distinguished speakers and guests, ladies and gentlemen, Good morning. It’s my pleasure to stand before you today at the Tech Applied Summit, a truly remarkable convergence of talents, ideas, and innovation. First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to ASTRI for organising this event, bringing together more than 40 visionary speakers and 1 000 attendees from across the globe. To our distinguished speakers who have travelled from afar, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong. We are thrilled to have you here, and look forward to the insights you’ll share, which will no doubt inspire us all. Innovation and technology, I&T in short, are not merely buzzwords – they are the lifeblood of Hong Kong’s future. As outlined in the Chief Executive’s latest Policy Address, we are investing ambitiously to ensure I&T serves as the engine for high-quality development in Hong Kong. New initiatives, such as the HK$10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund, the HK$180 million I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme and the new round of HK$1.5 billion Research Matching Grant Scheme, are empowering start-ups, researchers, and businesses to transform bold ideas into transformative realities. These efforts are cementing Hong Kong’s position as a leading innovation powerhouse in the region. Our investments extend beyond funding. We invest in talent, infrastructure, and partnerships. We are opening doors for the world’s brightest minds to call Hong Kong home, while nurturing local talent to lead in fields like AI, robotics, life and health technology, and advance manufacturing. Today, as we gather under the banner of I&T, we are reminded of the power of collaboration. In Hong Kong, the close partnership among government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors forms the cornerstone of our strategy to unlock new opportunities and drive progress, and our partnerships extend far beyond our borders. The potential for Hong Kong-Mainland collaboration is indeed immense. ASTRI has played a pivotal role in fostering this collaboration. With the opening of its office in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last year, ASTRI has been instrumental in transforming ideas into impactful solutions that benefit businesses, society, and the economy. This year is particularly special as ASTRI celebrates its silver jubilee – 25 years of excellence, dedication, and leadership in I&T. Well done to everyone at ASTRI who has been part of this incredible journey. The Government earlier proposed the merger of ASTRI and NAMI (the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute), a combination of two strong public R&D (research and development) centres with complementary advantages and shared values, thereby enhancing our capability and capacity for high value-added applied R&D work. We are eager to unleash the integrated power of the new entity and jointly accelerate the development of new quality productive forces. As we usher in the Year of the Snake, a year symbolising wisdom, transformation, and resilience, I wish you all an auspicious and prosperous year ahead. Let us work towards a smarter, more connected and innovative world. Thank you.
Yellowstone Caldera Chronicles is a weekly column written by scientists and collaborators of the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory. This week’s contribution is from Cathy Whitlock, Regents Professor with the Department of Earth Science and the Paleoecology Lab at Montana State University.
In Yellowstone, geology and ecology go hand in hand. In fact, the geology of Yellowstone can be mapped by its vegetation! For example, the glacial clays in the Lamar and Hayden valleys are rich in nutrients, like calcium and magnesium, and have high water-holding capacity; these qualities favor growth of grassland and sagebrush steppe. These landscapes are called the “Serengeti of North America”— lush grasslands that support large populations of bison and elk, not to mention coyotes, wolves, and grizzlies. Thinner soils with intermediate fertility form on the eastern side of Yellowstone National Park in the Absaroka volcanic province, where andesitic compositions are common. They support forests of Engelmann spruce, subalpine fir, and whitebark and lodgepole pine, like those found in much of the northern Rockies. In contrast, the plateaus of central Yellowstone National Park, created from explosive and lava-flow eruptions with rhyolite compositions, are overlain by thin, infertile soils. Their lack of critical nutrients and low water-holding capacity limit most conifers, with the notable exception of lodgepole pine. Lodgepole’s seeds are released when the cones are heated, enabling rapid establishment after fire and further ensuring the conifer’s dominance in central Yellowstone.
Modern vegetation on different geological substrates in Yellowstone. Left: steppe/grassland on glacial clay found in places like Lamar and Hayden Valleys. Center: Mixed conifer forest in the Absaroka andesite volcanic field in the eastern part of Yellowstone National Park. Right: Lodgepole pine forest on Central Plateau rhyolite (hydrothermal grassland is present in the geyser basin in the middle of the photo). Figure by Cathy Whitlock, Montana State University.
Yellowstone didn’t always look like it does today, though. The vegetation has varied over time along with climate. One way to investigate the vegetation and climate conditions of the past is to collect and analyze sediment cores from lakes in the area. Sediment layers in lakes preserve millions of pollen grains that can be used to study changes in vegetation and climate through time.
Comparing pollen records from three lakes in different geological substrates highlights the influence of geology and climate on long-term vegetation development. Radiocarbon dating of sediment cores indicates that these lakes formed 14,000–15,000 years ago at the end of the last ice age. A pollen record from Slough Creek Pond, near the confluence of Slough Creek and the Lamar River in the northeast part of Yellowstone National Park, describes the history of the fertile grassland regions. Following ice recession, when the climate was cool and wet, the clay-rich areas were covered by shrub tundra. As temperatures rose, Engelmann spruce moved into northern Yellowstone to form a subalpine parkland. As more trees arrived with further warming, a parkland of spruce, fir, and whitebark pine developed. After 11,000 years ago, during the early-Holocene warm period, Slough Creek supported a forest dominated by lodgepole pine and juniper. The present Douglas-fir parkland was established about 7,000 years ago, when the climate of northern Yellowstone became drier and fire activity increased.
A pollen record from Cub Creek Pond in the Absaroka region shows that the initial vegetation was similar to that of Slough Creek Pond. Following an early period of shrub tundra, a subalpine parkland of Engelmann spruce formed about 12,500 years ago and became more diverse about 11,700 years ago. On andesitic substrates, the early-Holocene warm period supported abundant lodgepole pine, some Douglas-fir, and aspen. In the last 5,000 years, this region became cooler and wetter, and present-day mixed forest of spruce, fir, and pine developed.
Compare these histories with that of the rhyolitic Central Plateau. A record from Cygnet Lake shows that shrub tundra or steppe was present before 11,000 years ago. While other parts of the park were colonized by spruce, fir, and whitebark pine, the infertile soils limited their establishment in the Central Plateau. It wasn’t until lodgepole pine arrived 11,000 years ago that rhyolite regions became forested, and despite shifts in climate and fire activity, central Yellowstone has been covered by lodgepole pine forest ever since.
Vegetation history based on pollen records from three small lakes on different geological substrates in Yellowstone National Park. Blue is open vegetation, light green is parkland, dark green is forest. Top plot is from Slough Creek Pond, in a present grassland area dominated by glacial and lake sediment in the northeast part of Yellowstone National Park. Middle plot is from Cub Creek Pond in the Absaroka volcanics on the east side of Yellowstone National Park. Bottom plot is from Cygnet Lake in the Central Plateau rhyolites in the center of Yellowstone National Park. Figure by Cathy Whitlock, Montana State University.
So, what do we learn from this? First is that Yellowstone is a geoecosystem in which the geologic template as well as changes in climate and fire shape vegetation development. Imagine how this geo-connection played out through time. If Yellowstone did not overlie a hotspot, we would not have had caldera and post-caldera rhyolitic eruptions. No rhyolite, no lodgepole pine forest. If the hotspot hadn’t created what Ken Pierce and Lisa Morgan call the “Yellowstone crescent of high terrain,” (which is essentially an area of the Rockies that has been uplifted by the hotspot’s interaction with the North American plate) we wouldn’t have had the high elevations necessary for ice to form during glacial periods. No hotspot, no glaciers, no clay-rich soils, no fertile steppe. In short, Yellowstone would have looked like the rest of the northern Rockies. But to our good fortune, all of these events did transpire and created the Yellowstone geoecosystem that we see today. Geology matters!
Additional reading:
Despain, DG. 1990. Yellowstone vegetation; consequences of environment and history in a natural setting. Roberts Rine- hart, New York, New York, USA.
Iglesias, V, Whitlock, C, Krause, TR, Baker, RG. 2018. Past vegetation dynamics in the Yellowstone region highlight the vulnerability of mountain systems to climate change. Journal of Biogeography 45: 1768-1780.
Pierce, KL, Morgan LA. 1992. The track of the Yellowstone hot spot: Volcanism, faulting and uplift. Geological Society Memoir 179, Chapter 1.
Whitlock, C. 1993. Postglacial vegetation and climate of Grand Teton and southern Yellowstone National Parks. Ecological Monographs 63: 173-198.
Question for written answer E-000433/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Nikos Pappas (The Left)
Despite Parliament’s September 2023 resolution on the system of European Schools[1], serious difficulties persist regarding the schools’ governance, management and financing. These issues hinder the functioning of the schools and have negative consequences for the entire school community. The challenges involve legal matters, resources, infrastructure, staff recruitment and aspects related to educational and pedagogical quality. Recently, the Commission and Parliament signed an agreement with a private school in Brussels to address the shortage of places in European Schools. However, this agreement only provides a limited number of spots for English- and French-speaking pupils, thus failing to resolve overcrowding.
The Commission is therefore asked:
1.Is there a plan to immediately evaluate the current situation of European Schools, determine which of the demands outlined in Parliament’s resolution have been met and take the necessary corrective action, and are there plans to establish agreements with other schools in the Brussels area to alleviate overcrowding and ensure the proper functioning of the schools?
2.Will there be an increase in EU financial contributions to the European Schools system to enhance the level of service provided to the existing European Schools?
3.What is the situation regarding the new facility in Neder-Over-Heembeek, which language sections will be relocated there, and what is the expected completion date?
Submitted: 30.1.2025
[1] European Parliament resolution of 12 September 2023 on the system of European Schools: state of play, challenges and perspectives (OJ C, C/2024/1757, 22.3.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/1757/oj).
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
In the research laboratory “Laser and Additive Technologies” of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering of Materials and Transport of SPbPU, acceptance tests of the laser powder cladding complex were carried out. Specialists of the company “UK KER-Holding” assessed the configuration and capabilities of the manufactured installation.
Polytechnic University and the management company “Complex Energy Development-Holding” began to cooperate in 2019, when the organization was choosing reliable partners for the repair of gas turbine engines. Over six years, specialists from the Research Laboratory “LiAT” of IMMiT have completed more than 20 projects. Now two projects are being implemented at once: the commissioning of the complex and the repair of the second-stage working blades of the GTE.
In addition, the Polytechnic University conducted acceptance tests of the laser powder cladding complex. The customer was represented by the chief metallurgist of UK KER-Holding Yuri Dvoeglazov, investment director Zufar Idrisov and chief designer Nikolai Tsyganov.
Successful completion of acceptance tests under the contract for the supply of the unit is another starting point in cooperation with the company. Our specialists developed technical documentation and manufactured the complex. We demonstrated the surfacing process in real conditions to the receiving party, – said Mikhail Kuznetsov, head of the Research Laboratory “LiAT” of IMMiT.
Laser powder cladding and direct laser deposition are modern technologies that allow creating materials and products with high precision and quality. They are used in various industries, such as medicine, aviation, space exploration, energy, mechanical engineering and others.
We can confidently talk about the fruitful work carried out over six years of cooperation. In the Polytech-KER-Holding team, specialists have completed many projects and solved a large number of “starred” problems. Direct evidence of this is the serial repair of working and nozzle blades of gas turbine engines and the creation of a laser powder cladding complex with technology transfer, – shared Yuri Dvoeglazov.
It is gratifying that the interaction between the Polytechnic University and UK KER-Holding is actively developing. The employees of the Research Laboratory LiAT make a worthy contribution to strengthening the ties. Long-term cooperation in the field of repair of nozzle units using the laser powder cladding method is of great importance for the development of the energy industry, – noted the Director of IMMiT Anatoly Popovich.
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.
By 2035, China will overtake the United States in terms of GDP and become the world’s largest economy. Today, there are over 108 million entrepreneurs and 50 million industrial enterprises in this country. Last year, economic growth was 4.8%. This opens up unique opportunities for Russian companies. HSE experts explained how to enter one of the most promising markets.
The HSE Expert Club “Eastern Perspective” held a business session “China: Five Steps to Entering the Market That Will Bring Profits”. The club was created by HSE experts to discuss tools, trends and insights on cooperation between Russia and the countries of Southeast Asia, the Near and Middle East, and North Africa. The participants were addressed by experts with successful experience in the Chinese market. The meeting was moderated by Deputy Director Marketing Communications Directorate HSE University Dmitry Chubarov.
Sergey Mikhnevich, Managing Director of the Department of International Multilateral Cooperation and Integration of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Coordinator of Russian Business Participation in the Business Twenty, Executive Secretary, Member of the Presidium of the Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union, spoke about a possible strategy for working with the Chinese business community and GR. First of all, he noted that China is the largest trading partner for Russia, but the volume of trade is quite concentrated and is mostly tied to one or two large projects. At the same time, there is currently a shortage of good experts in China in our country. Even the number of Russians who know Chinese and study this country has noticeably decreased in recent years.
The speaker noted a number of markers of the Chinese approach to the market, related to the consideration of national characteristics, that is, the adaptation of foreign experience to their own realities and capabilities. He assigns a key role to the government of the PRC, since certain attributes of socialism are preserved in the country, which affects, among other things, the system of development of the Chinese economy and various methods of managing it. First of all, the Chinese market is a market of tough competition with directive management methods.
“Despite the fact that for 10-12 years the PRC has been placing a big bet on increasing the role of the domestic market as an economic driver, exports also play a colossal role. At the same time, many companies enter the Chinese market not to sell their products, but to use the country’s production capabilities and then export goods to the target market, be it the Russian Federation or the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. There are quite a few such examples in a variety of economic sectors, because China’s import needs are really very high,” he said.
According to the expert, China currently has a need for such areas as green development, ensuring the sustainability of supply chains for goods and raw materials, and the formation of new dynamic and stable sales markets.
Professor Faculty of World Economy and World PoliticsNatalia Guseva, head of the HSE educational programs “Business with the East”, presented the educational programs “Eastern Perspective” for entrepreneurs working with countries of the Near and Middle East, North Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region.
“We want to give listeners new knowledge and share successful cases, and sometimes failed cases, when a company loses tens and hundreds of thousands, or even millions, due to mistakes. It is very important to understand what strategy you are going to use to enter the Chinese market and how you are going to compete there,” Natalia Guseva emphasized. “For example, why do they only talk about how to export products? Why not create a local enterprise? Why not make direct foreign investments? Why not think about licensing or franchising, depending on the specifics of the product or services provided?”
Anastasia Nasedkina, founder of a Chinese marketing agency, spoke about the peculiarities of the Chinese market Matessa, author of educational courses on Chinese advertising platforms Baidu, WeChat, Weibo, Douyin (Ocean Engine). According to her, there are a number of significant differences from the Russian and European markets that need to be understood. For example, the Chinese in most cases trade and conduct business via mobile phones, not from a desktop computer, so to enter the Chinese market, a company does not need a website: its functionality will be replaced by the official WeChat account. For the same reason, social networks are serious tools for business development there. Analogues of WhatsApp, FB, Inst and VK, which are used in China: WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Kuaishou, QQ.
A foreign company must register a legal entity – this will allow it to promote the brand without strict restrictions. In addition, having a legal entity increases audience loyalty. A verified WeChat account will provide a credit of trust even for a young company: legal entity accounts are strictly checked, and this takes up to six months.
One of the most popular online platforms for watching and sharing short videos is Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Its audience is very diverse: about 60% of users are between the ages of 18 and 35, followed by the audience of 35-50 years old. The platform is popular in various regions of China, with a significant portion of users coming from first- and second-tier cities, that is, developed and wealthy provinces. The platform has a built-in Douyin Shop, where you can sell products if you have a registered trademark.
In addition, live broadcasts conducted by the brand’s official account are popular in the country. In 2021, they already accounted for 57% of all broadcasts on the Douyin platform. The content on these accounts consists of simple and short videos, the editing of which mainly comes down to adding background music and effects.
Entering the Chinese market should always begin with research, notes Anastasia Nasedkina. It is necessary to analyze the demand of the target audience, competitors, as well as the economic and political landscape. It is also important to assess the brand’s presence in the digital environment, the adaptation of the product and service to local preferences, the ability to ensure fast and hassle-free payment for purchases through local services.
It is also important to pay attention to national rules of negotiation. Here, the strict hierarchy of age and position, the Chinese desire to “not lose face,” as well as cultural differences with Western views on topics such as worldview, relationships, family, etc. are important.
“When you enter the Chinese market and hire employees there, you need to somehow build interaction with them, and it is important to either have a person who understands all these cultural differences and peculiarities and can build communication, or to immerse yourself and thus build a team in China. The Chinese market is quite complex, but with proper preparation and understanding, with the right strategy, you can enter it and gain a foothold in one or two years,” she summed up.
In conclusion, the moderator of the event, Dmitry Chubarov, once again invited the business session participants to take the HSE educational programs dedicated to the East. He emphasized that the expertise and cases that will be discussed will not be based on abstract textbooks, but on the daily successful practice of both Russian and international companies.
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 –
On the Day of Russian Science, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University held many events: open lectures, seminars, quizzes, round tables, webinars and competitions. And the main event of the holiday was the award ceremony for the winners of the “Graduate Student of the Year” competition, the most active SPbPU scientists in the media and journalists popularizing science.
Congratulating scientists, postgraduates and students on the holiday, Vice-Rector for Research Yuri Fomin emphasized that unprecedented attention is being paid to support of scientific activity at the federal level today.
At a recent meeting of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation for Science and Education, it was discussed that it is necessary to ensure the superiority of domestic science-intensive technologies and products in vital areas. Polytechnic scientists are making their contribution to solving this problem. We are proud of their achievements and grateful to active popularizers of science who attract young people to research work, said Yuri Vladimirovich.
After the greeting, the Vice-Rector for Science presented awards to the winners and prize-winners of the first-ever “Postgraduate of the Year” competition and their academic supervisors. In the field of natural and exact sciences, first place was taken by Polina Shinkevich from the Civil Engineering Institute (scientific supervisor Natalia Politaeva), second and third places went to Physics and Mechanical Institute postgraduate students Daniil Provodin (scientific supervisor Vadim Davydov) and Anna Ponomarenko (scientific supervisor Alexander Yashin).
In the field of technical sciences, first place went to Ksenia Velmozhina from ISI (scientific supervisor Natalia Politaeva), and second place went to postgraduate students from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Ekaterina Volokitina (scientific supervisor Nikolai Razumov) and Salbek Beketov (scientific supervisor Sergei Redko).
In the field of humanities and social sciences, all prize places went to postgraduate students of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade:
The first was won by Grigory Kulkaev (scientific supervisor Oleg Kichigin), the second by Alexey Melnik (scientific supervisor Alexander Babkin), and the third by Maria Rodionova (scientific supervisor Tatyana Kudryavtseva).
“At the very beginning of their journey, all young scientists go through postgraduate studies,” noted Yuri Fomin. “That is why it was important for us to launch this competition, to emphasize the role of postgraduate students and their scientific supervisors, and we hope that the new tradition will be supported and gain momentum.”
Also, together with the Head of the Public Relations Department Marianna Dyakova, Yuri Fomin awarded the Polytechnic scientists who demonstrated maximum media activity in 2024. These are researchers and experts who gave comments in federal and regional media, actively collaborated with journalists in preparing materials.
Marianna Dyakova thanked those who regularly appear on the Polytechnic’s media resources and help with the preparation of materials in the media: Thank you for creating the image of our university, its reputation. We understand that it is difficult to distract scientists from their scientific work, but this is also important work for the university, and we really appreciate those who find time for it.
Among those awarded were: Head of the Laboratory of Lightweight Materials and Structures Oleg Panchenko, Director of the Scientific and Educational Center (SEC) “Mechanical Engineering Technologies and Materials” Pavel Novikov, Director of the SEC “Nanotechnologies and Coatings” Alexander Semencha, Head of the Scientific Research Laboratory (SRL) for the Analysis of Biomedical Images and Data Ekaterina Pchitskaya, Head of the Laboratory nano- and microencapsulation of biologically active substances Alexander Timin, research fellow at the Nanobiotechnology Research Complex Natalia Morozova, head of the Food Quality Control Laboratory Maria Kireeva, head of the System Dynamics Research Laboratory Angi Skhvediani, head of the General and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory Evgenia Pochkaeva.
In honor of Russian Science Day, the university also thanked journalists who regularly cover the Polytechnic University’s scientific activities in the media. As Marianna Dyakova emphasized, the media always show great interest in SPbPU, and the university is grateful to many of them for their attention. And Russian Science Day is a good reason to thank the most active information partners: producer of the Directorate of Socially Significant Thematic Programs and Special Projects of the Saint Petersburg TV Channel Natalia Lomonosova, senior correspondent of Rossiyskaya Gazeta Marina Ledyaeva, special correspondent of the TASS news agency Sergei Rybakov.
On the eve of Science Day, representatives of the Student Scientific Society also made a presentation about their activities at the Polytechnic University. The head of the organization, Mikhail Udovichenko, told which institutes the SSS is actively working in and where it is not yet, and called on students to take advantage of the opportunities provided by the association, attend events and propose ideas. Viktor Klinkov, head of the educational laboratory of applied chemistry and candidate of physical and mathematical sciences, told students about his experience and path to science. And Angelika Gerner, head of the youth scientific competitions sector of the Office for Support of Scientific Projects and Programs, and Ekaterina Linnik, director of the Center for Scientific Publications, told students about the available opportunities for participating in competitions, receiving grants, and writing scientific articles.
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.
A giant slinky, an inflatable castle, a huge neon colouring wall and a high-powered light beam sharing a morse code message with the universe, were just some of the illuminated exhibits on display as thousands of visitors from across Scotland and the UK took to the streets of Aberdeen to experience Spectra, Scotland’s Festival of Light.
Over 100,000 visits were recorded across the four-day free-to-attend event, which ran from Thursday 6 to Sunday 9 February. Featuring 15 artworks from artists from both the UK and Australia, as well as an assortment of entertainment from street performers to dancers, and musicians, this year’s event marked the festival’s 11th year of lighting up the city.
Councillor Martin Greig, cultural spokesperson for Aberdeen City Council, said: “Spectra offers an unrivalled cultural feast f light installations and entertainment. It’s great that thousands came out in such numbers to enjoy the festival. It has been a wonderful opportunity for people in the city to get together and make Spectra 2025 such a success. Many visitors have come to our wonderful city to experience the amazing images and sounds. I would like to thank the brilliantly talented artists who have created these inspiring artworks.
“Our production team, Live Event Management, deserve sincere thanks for their splendid work to make this festival happen. We are all grateful for the very generous sponsorship from Burness Paull, Vattenfall, First Aberdeen, Aberdeen Inspired and EventScotland. Their funding support has made a huge difference and is much appreciated.
“The festival theme of Journeys was especially appropriate as the city gets ready to host the Tall Ships Races in a few months time. This will be another opportunity to keep our profile up. A majestic fleet of ships will return for the first time in almost 30 years. This is going to be a very exciting time for the Granite City as it hosts another major free celebration for residents and visitors to enjoy together.”
Fiona Doherty, an Aberdonian who now lives in Livingston, attended the festival for the first time after winning a social media competition. She visited on Sunday with her husband and two-year little girl.
She said: “It’s been amazing to visit Spectra. I’m originally from Aberdeen but previously never visited the festival so it was great to have the opportunity to finally attend with my daughter after winning the competition!
It’s been lovely to travel up from Livingston for the night. Taking the train made for a really easy and stress-free trip, with my little girl enjoying the views along the way as well as the lights and atmosphere of Spectra. We’ll definitely visit again in the future!”
Scott Morrice is from Aberdeen and is a regular visitor to Spectra. He said: “Spectra is such a wonderful spectacle for the city. I come every year and it’s really great to see so many people out and about at a time when the city centre might need a bit of a boost.”
Highlights of the festival included a 50m long multi-sensory walkway by Kent-based Lucid Creates, which explored the contrast between light and dark using strobes of light, the heartbeats of over 65 Aberdonians, a sprawling illuminated fungal network and a virtual exhibition by artist Craig Barrowman and local artists in partnership with Look Again at RGU’s Gray’s School of Art.
A specially commissioned art piece by Aberdeen Art Gallery and Scottish artist, Council Baby, took pride of place in the Gallery’s magnificent Sculpture Court area which saw a large-scale video installation projection comprising of four striking stained-glass designs inspired by works in the city’s collection and visits to the area, with each animated panel capturing different aspects of Aberdeen’s rich history. The piece will continue to feature at the gallery as part of its permanent collection.
The iconic ABERDEEN letters by Aberdeen Inspired also featured a special design for the occasion outside Marischal College. The letters will now return to their usual position in Union Terrace Gardens.
Eventgoers are being invited to share their thoughts and feedback on Spectra by completing the visitor survey.
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
In Russia, mostly married women aged 30–39 with higher education living in large cities work remotely, while platform employment is more typical for men of the same age with a wide range of qualifications from megacities. This is the conclusion reached by economists from the Higher School of Economics after analyzing digital forms of employment in the Russian labor market. The study was published in a preprint of the series “Problems of the labor market”.
Modern technologies have changed the labor market, making remote and platform employment popular forms of work. Russia has not remained on the sidelines: remote work attracts women with higher education living in large cities, and platform employment is more typical for men working in the transport sector or in retail.
Platform employment is work via online platforms where specialists find clients, communicate with them, and provide services or sell goods. This is how taxi drivers, couriers, psychologists, tutors, copywriters, and designers work.
Remote employment is work that is performed outside of an office or other work premises provided by the employer. It can be organized with or without the use of digital technologies.
Scientists have found that in Russia, women work remotely, making up about 60% of the workforce, while men work remotely, making up 40%. According to the researchers, this is due to two circumstances. Firstly, there are traditionally more women among workers engaged in mental work (white collars), while physical work (blue collars), which is more often done by men, requires personal presence, which makes remote employment virtually impossible. Secondly, remote work allows you to devote more time and attention to family responsibilities, which traditionally fall on women.
Among remote workers in Russia, employees aged 30–39 (36.5%) predominate; they live in cities and have higher education. Remote employment is most often used in the field of information technology, where every eighth person works online. Then come scientific and technical activities — 7%, finance and real estate transactions — 4%. This form of employment is even less common in administrative activities — about 2.5%. The outsider in this list is agriculture: there are practically no remote employees in this industry.
In platform employment, as in remote employment, the largest group is workers aged 30 to 39. Most Russians who work in platform employment mode, like remote workers, live in large cities (82%); almost 40% have higher education. However, unlike remote work, platform employment is widely represented by blue-collar jobs with different qualification requirements, so it is more skewed towards the male audience (58%). If we talk about industries, platform employment is most often used in the field of transport and trade (about 20%), construction (about 10%) and manufacturing (slightly more than 7%). In sectors such as agriculture, mining, electricity and water supply, platform employment is almost never used.
“Today, a significant portion of Russian workers have accumulated real experience working in these non-standard modes and are able to switch to them quickly and painlessly,” notes Daria Zinchenko, one of the authors of the study.
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.
California WildfireScientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.
Scientists in Scotland have developed a new method to understand the heat and intensity of fires that burned out millions of years ago, which could unlock our understanding of wildfires during past and present periods of climate change.
Developed by geoscientists at the university of Aberdeen – Dr Thomas Theurer, Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Professor. David Muirhead, Dr Clemens von Scheffer, and Daniel Coathup – and fire engineers at the university of Edinburgh – Professor Rory Hadden, Dr Zakary Campbell-Lochrie, and Sergio Vargas Córdoba – the new technique to analyse charcoal can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ago.
They published their findings in the Nature journal Scientific Reports.
The increase in wildfire activity is a major global concern, especially for vulnerable wetland ecosystems that play a key role in storing carbon and fighting climate change.
Last month’s devastating wildfires in California, which destroyed or damaged more than 18,000 homes and structures, brought to global attention how the size of the areas affected by wildfires is growing, individual fires have increased in intensity and the fire season has extended.
The recently published Forest Fires 2023 report, says this shows ‘the undeniable effects of climate change’.
In addition to the devastation caused by fires which spread rapidly across forests and moorlands, so called ‘zombie fires’ also burn in peatland, smouldering deep in the soil, and can release 100 times the carbon that a wildfire does
Wildfires have occurred throughout geological history, including during periods of extreme climate change.
As charcoal can persist within rocks for hundreds of millions of years, this method can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ag” Dr Thomas Theurer
In creating a method to measure historical events, scientists applied state-of-the art analyses using a laser, called Raman spectroscopy, to charcoals created during experiments at the University of Edinburgh Rushbrook Fire Laboratory simulating wildfire.
It is the first calculation of wildfire energy release measured from charcoal chemistry, the team say, that can be applied to complex, natural fuel mixes and wildfire reconstructions of any age.
Dr Thomas Theurer, a research Fellow at the University of Aberdeen, said: “As geoscientists, we can study simultaneous changes in ancient plant communities, climate, and fire that are often preserved in rock, and begin to understand the drivers of intense fire activity in the past, and how this modifies ecosystems.
“As charcoal can persist within rocks for hundreds of millions of years, this method can be applied to understand the behaviour of any wildfire, from the present day all the way back to the first evidence of wildfire 420 million years ago.”
Dr Dmitri Mauquoy, Senior Lecturer in Geosciences at the University of Aberdeen added: “Current methods to estimate ancient fire temperatures, called ‘geothermometry’, study specific changes in charcoal chemistry that result from the temperatures experienced during a wildfire event. However, energy release and transfer in wildfires is a complex process that cannot be understood through temperature measurements alone. Therefore, these methods may not be as accurate or useful in understanding ancient fire behaviour as previously thought.
“The method we have developed allows us to quantify the energy release from wildfires using charcoal remains – the first and only method of its kind that is non-destructive and universal to complex, natural mixes of vegetation as fuel.”
Understanding modern wildfire activity and how it may change with escalating climate change is complicated by the modification of environments by humans throughout history – such as forestry, agriculture, and fire suppression.
“By applying this new method, we are able to get insights into how past fire activity has changed with climate change, independent of human interference, in a way that allows comparison to modern wildfire activity,” said Professor Rory Hadden, Personal Chair of Fire Science at the University of Edinburgh.
“This allows us insights we can use to assess and contextualise predictions of future fire activity, and how they may impact global ecosystems and populations.“As charcoal is a commonplace by-product of fire, it is exciting to think how this method might be applied to other areas of study, such as archaeology, forensic fire investigations, and fire safety science more broadly.”
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An interregional conference entitled “Development of the intellectual property sphere in the regions of the Russian Federation” was held at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University.
The co-hosts of the round table were the Chairperson of the Board of the Intellectual Property Development Fund, Patent Attorney of the Russian Federation Natalia Petrova and the Head of the Regional Department of the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR) Dmitry Mitroshin. In their welcoming speech, they emphasized the importance of the event, which brought together representatives of various services and departments from several regions of Russia. Natalia Borisovna noted that intellectual property is important for the development of the country and the implementation of national projects that require new technologies.
On behalf of SPbPU, the participants were greeted by Vladimir Glukhov, Advisor to the Rectorate, who emphasized the need to improve intellectual property management and solve problems with copyright protection.
The head of the Center for Strategic Communications of the Federal Institute of Industrial Property (FIPS) Darya Shipitsyna spoke about the current situation in the sphere of intellectual property. She emphasized that the government of the country is taking measures to protect intellectual property and support companies implementing innovations. The Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation has developed a package of preferences, which includes 17 benefits for high-tech enterprises participating in the development of technologies: from the provision of loans to grant support.
Anna Aleksandrova, head of the FIPS analytical center, spoke online and told how to set up intellectual property management processes for regional development purposes. Leading researcher Marina Ivanova presented tactics and strategy for intellectual property management in the regions.
Representatives of leading universities from Moscow, Kazan, Mordovia, Yakutia, Tyumen, Kaluga, and Samara also shared their opinions.
Director of the SPbPU Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer Ismail Kadiev presented the experience of the Polytechnic University, on the basis of which the Center for Technology and Innovation Support was created ten years ago. He said that the Polytechnic has created all the necessary infrastructure to support the activities of inventors, and provides assistance in preparing applications and preparing documents for obtaining patents. The SPbPU TISC ranks first among similar centers in the Russian Federation.
The round table was organized by the Intellectual Property Development Fund, the Association of Innovative Regions of Russia (AIRR), SPbPU, the Center for Scientific and Technical Information of the Republic of Tatarstan, the Commission for the Implementation of Effective Mechanisms for Regulating Intellectual Property in the Subjects of the Russian Federation of the Public Council under the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, and the St. Petersburg Regional Office of Delovaya Rossiya.
As part of the round table at the Boiling Point — Polytech, a strategic session entitled “The Image of the Future Intellectual Property Market in the Regions of the Russian Federation” was also held. Participants in the “Universities and Research Institutes” block presented best practices and proposed increasing the number of technology brokers in universities and research institutes, using local regulations of leading universities, replicating the experience of creating intellectual property and technology transfer centers, applying an IT system for intellectual property management, and developing agreements with state corporations and on company orders.
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Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Roman Motylev
Head of the Department of Construction Organization at SPbGASU, Associate Professor Roman Motylev was awarded the title of “Honorary Sports Judge of Russia” in Sambo. The corresponding order was signed by the Minister of Sports of the Russian Federation Mikhail Degtyarev on February 4, 2025.
“I have been practicing sambo since the fifth grade – since 1987. This type of martial arts allows you to stand up for yourself and learn to overcome various difficulties. For almost forty years, I have not only remained faithful to sambo, but also tried to develop. I am a master of sports of Russia in sambo, I have the third dan in judo. I consider the assignment of the title of honorary judge to be reaching the pinnacle in this area,” said Roman Vladimirovich.
Since 2015, he has been the chairman of the panel of judges of the regional branch of the All-Russian Sambo Federation of St. Petersburg, a member of the referee commission of the All-Russian Sambo Federation, since February 2022 – a judge of the international and all-Russian category in sambo (license A), since 2023 – a first category judge in SBE (MMA), since 2025 – a second category judge in judo.
“From 2009 to 2013, I worked as a first-category sambo coach, and for more than ten years at the Department of Physical Education at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering. As an honorary sports judge of Russia in sambo, I aim to control the correctness and purity of refereeing, and to develop sambo as an international and Olympic sport,” concluded Roman Motylev.
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The country turned 185 on Thursday, but not everyone wanted to celebrate and debate.David Seymour’s address is here.They turned their backs and took his microphone, but nobody actually tried to argue that division based on ancestry is better than liberal democracy.
Spaghetti Government
Just over a year ago the New Zealand Initiative, a think tank, released a short and brilliant report on Government in New Zealand.Cabinet Congestion: The Growth of a ministerial maze.
The gist of the report is that our Government has far more Ministers, and far more portfolios, than similar-sized countries. For example the Government of Ireland has fifteen ministers with eighteen portfolios and eighteen departments.
Once upon a time New Zealand was roughly like that. Cabinet had sixteen ministers who all attended the main Cabinet meeting. Each Minister had one or two departments they were responsible for, and that was also their portfolio. For example, if you were the Minister of Police, you were responsible for Police, Police was your portfolio, and you were the only Minister of Police.
Then came the MMP and the Government required multiple parties. It meant the Bolger Government needed to share power, but wouldn’t. Instead, Ministerial power was diluted with a little water in the wine.
National negotiated the position of ‘Treasurer’ for Winston Peters, because they couldn’t imagine giving up Finance. The idea of a Minister outside Cabinet was also born, meaning Ministers who don’t attend the main Cabinet meeting. Four of these new Ministers meant 20 in total.
Not to be outdone, Helen Clark formed an even bigger Government three years later. Cabinet expanded to 20 Ministers, and Ministers outside cabinet doubled to eight. Then there were 28.
Not much has changed since then, except for an eruption of portfolios and departments. We now have a Ministry for Pacific Peoples, and a Ministry for Ethnic Affairs. Then there are portfolios without a specific department, including Racing, Mental Health, Auckland, the South Island, to name a few of the 78 Portfolios that now exist.
There are other complications. For example needing to pick nearly 30 Ministers from a Government majority of just over 60 MPs affects quality. It means nearly half of MPs are Ministers when their ‘side’ is in Government. There’s been more than a few in recent years who wouldn’t have got a job like being a Minister otherwise.
Most Ministers have multiple portfolios, around three to four on average. They’ll be less effective at, say, improving foreign relations if they’re also responsible for local government (Nanaia Mahuta was terrible at both). They’ll be less effective because they can’t specialise, but also because a specialist is less likely to be appointed in the first place.
On the other hand, many departments have multiple ministers. There are three in Education, but that’s nothing compared with the 18 that MBIE is responsible to. Who is in charge?
As theInitiativereport argues, confusion empowers the bureaucracy. They can face multiple Ministers who themselves have many other jobs, often in totally unrelated areas. This makes it extremely difficult to shrink Government, or get much done at all.
Some will criticise ACT for creating the Minister for Regulation. The Party would respond that restricting how other people can use their property is the most important government power to restrain besides taxing and spending. The latter has the Minister of Finance and Treasury, but who restrains regulation?
ACT is now at the centre of government for the first time, and sits at the table that’s been set over the last thirty years of MMP. If the Party was charged with setting the table, there would be fewer placemats.
How would we do it again? Any future Government should stick to three rules when it’s being set up.
Every Minister sits in Cabinet so they’re part of every discussion.
Every Minister has a department, so there are no portfolios that don’t involve managing a department.
No Department has more than one Minister, so every public servant knows who they’re accountable to.
This would mean getting rid of about half the portfolios and eight Ministers. It would go a long way to improving government efficiency and allow the government to get a lot more done much faster with much less ‘resource.’
Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the diocese of Jalpaiguri, India, presented by Bishop Clement Tirkey.The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Fabian Toppo, of the clergy of the same diocese, until now professor and spiritual director of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Calcutta, as bishop of the diocese of Jalpaiguri, India.The Reverend Fabian Toppo was born on 21 December 1960 in Darupisa in the diocse of Jashpur, Chhattisgarh. He studied philosophy at the Papal Seminary in Pune, and theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University in Rome, and was awarded a master’s degree in English from the University of North Bengal and a doctorate in biblical theology at the Pontifical Urbaniana University of Rome, as well as a diploma in administrative canon law.He was ordained a priest on 3 December 1994 for the diocese of Jalpaiguri.Since ordination, he has held the following roles: director of the Candidates’ House and for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue in Jalpaiguri (1994-1998), parish priest of Shanti Rani in Mongradagni (1998-2001), and professor (2002-2007) and administrator (2020-2021) of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Calcutta.Since 2016 he has served as professor of biblical theology and spiritual director of the Morning Star Regional Seminary and College in Calcutta. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 8/2/2025)
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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Bernard Laloo, of the clergy of Shillong, India, until now chancellor and parish priest of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Laitumkhrah, as auxiliary bishop of the same metropolitan archdiocese of Shillong, India, assigning him the titular see of Trofimiana.Msgr. Bernard Laloo was born on 16 June 1976 in Laitlyngkot, Meghalaya, in the metropolitan archdiocese of Shillong. He studied philosophy at Christ College in Shillong and theology at the Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology in Pune.He was ordained a priest on 30 April 2006 for the metropolitan archdiocese of Shillong.Since priestly ordination, he has held the following offices: deputy parish priest of Saint Paul in Upper Shillong (2006-2007), administrator of Christ College in Shillong (2007-2009), dean, with responsibility for studies, at Saint Paul’s Seminary in Shillong (2009-2015), head of the Divine Saviour Hr. Secondary School in Laitumkhrah (2015-2016), and director of the Social Service Centre in Shillong (2017-2021).Since 2022 he has served as chancellor of the metropolitan archdiocese of Shillong and parish priest of the Cathedral of Mary Help of Christians in Laitumkhrah. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 8/2/2025)
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Zamboanga City (Agenzia Fides) – Christians and Muslims in the south of the Philippines joined the World Interfaith Harmony Week (February 1-7) organized by the United Nations, which was celebrated in Catholic parishes, schools, universities, cultural centers and, above all, in numerous cities on the island of Mindanao, where most of the six million devout Filipino Muslims live in the “Autonomous Region of Bangsamoro in Muslim Mindanao” (BARMM). The BARMM currently consists of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur and Tawi-Tawi (the inclusion of the province of Sulu Islands is currently being discussed) and is the result of the peace agreement between the government and the “Moro Islamic Liberation” Front.Among the main actors and promoters of the marches, public rallies, seminars and prayer meetings were the Catholic communities and institutions dedicated to dialogue, including the Islamic-Christian “Silsilah” movement, founded more than 40 years ago in the city of Zamboanga by Father Sebastiano D’Ambra, an Italian missionary of the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions (PIME). But civil institutions are also participating in the week of interreligious dialogue, which is celebrated worldwide. For example, the mayor of the city of Zamboanga, Maria Isabel Climaco Salazar, organized and participated in an interreligious congress in her city, which is characterized by a pluralistic society, to convey to the population a message of coexistence and cooperation for the common good. At the civil society level, former Philippine President Benigno Aquini Jr. had already officially called on civil institutions in 2013 to join and pay utmost attention to the initiative, which aims to raise awareness and create social harmony in the country. Among the various initiatives held on the island of Mindanao was a meeting on February 4 at the Western Mindanao State University, a public university in Zamboanga, which brought together Christian and Muslim students, teachers and citizens who discussed together on the theme of building harmony and peace. Joselito Madroñal, vice president of the university, emphasized the university’s role as a “beacon of peace” in the region, in culture and in the education of young people. “Our university is more than just an educational institution. We are a force for change, a catalyst for peace and a solid partner in the search for harmony,” he stressed. Among the speakers present were Father Sebastian D’Ambra, founder of the Silsilah movement, Sheikh Mahir Gustaham, a Muslim representative and coordinator of the “Interreligious Solidarity for Peace” forum, and Father Guilrey Anthony Andal (SJ), who wanted to share their experiences and encourage young people to continue on the path of peaceful coexistence. Following the interreligious celebration, the University officially inaugurated the “Month of the Arts”, identifying art as a privileged language and a fertile ground for interreligious dialogue. (PA) (Agenzia Fides, 8/2/2025)
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Capgemini reveals gen AI-driven breakthrough to accelerate the bioeconomy
New methodology reduces the data requirements for protein engineering by 99% so organizations can unlock innovation even in resource-constrained environments
Paris, February 10, 2025 –Capgeminitoday announced a new generative AI-driven methodology for protein engineering that uses a specialized protein large language model (pLLM) to predict the most effective protein variants. With a patent pending,1this novel approach will help accelerate the advancement of the global bioeconomy2and drive critical scientific breakthroughs across industries including healthcare, agriculture, and environmental science. By reducing the datapoints required to design protein sequences by over 99%, the new methodology harnesses the power of generative AI (gen AI) to drastically reduce the time and resources needed for research and development (R&D). Using this approach, Capgemini can help clients reduce the development cost of biosolutions and unlock business cases that were not previously viable.
Breakthrough solves the data bottleneck challenge Advancements in engineering biology3 are expected to disrupt all industries, with half of business leaders predicting this transformation will happen within the next five years.4 However, data can be a critical bottleneck in research timelines. This new methodology makes scientific breakthroughs possible with significantly smaller data sets, enabling organizations to innovate even in resource-constrained environments. Using this novel approach, Capgemini is exceptionally positioned to help clients find and develop innovative solutions to global challenges such as disease, food security, and climate concerns.
The methodology was created in the bespoke gen AI-driven biotechnology lab of Cambridge Consultants, the deep tech powerhouse of the Capgemini Group. The methodology was applied to several critical use cases to demonstrate how it could drive a step-change in innovation. Examples that can be readily translated to other applications include:
60% increase in plastic degradation efficiency: Capgemini’s gen AI-driven approach enhanced the cutinase enzyme, increasing its ability to break down PET plastic by 60%. This advancement is one example of how protein engineering can create novel, highly efficient and cost-effective solutions to tackle global plastic waste. By making it easier to degrade plastic, this breakthrough can support sustainability objectives and help lower operational costs associated with waste management.
Reduced experimentation for faster innovation: Using gen AI predictions, Capgemini reduced the number of experiments needed to identify an improved variant of the commonly cited Green Fluorescent Protein benchmark, from thousands to just 43 data points, achieving a brightness level seven times greater than that of the natural jellyfish protein. This significantly cuts down on the time and resources typically required for experimental testing, enabling quicker deployment across a range of fields, from accelerating drug discovery and enhancing diagnostic tools to advancing bioengineering applications.
“Capgemini’s proprietary generative AI-driven approach means we are uniquely placed to enable clients to significantly accelerate their bio-journey in previously untapped areas and, crucially, contribute to helping solve many of humanity’s most pressing challenges,” said Roshan Gya, CEO of Capgemini Invent and member of the Group Executive Board. “Our new methodology is faster, more cost-effective, and opens the door to new opportunities for clients to develop innovative bio-based solutions. The Capgemini Group delivers end-to-end engineering biology and scale-up capabilities so that our clients can derive significant business value and develop proprietary IP, moving away from traditional carbon-based approaches and fueling growth in the bioeconomy.”
Prof. Stephen Wallace, Professor of Chemical Biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh, stated: “Capgemini’s generative AI-driven approach represents a significant leap in protein engineering. By drastically reducing data requirements, Capgemini has fundamentally transformed the innovation timeline in bioengineering. This breakthrough reflects a clear vision for the future of engineering biology, leveraging the design and engineering of new biocatalysts to enable more sustainable and scalable industrial processes. With its expertise and adaptability, Capgemini is well-positioned to drive technological advances in this exciting and rapidly evolving interdisciplinary field.”
Building on 10 years of pioneering engineering biology and AI development, the bespoke AI-driven biotechnology lab at Cambridge Consultants has been created at its UK headquarters, home to an unrivalled combination of multidisciplinary experts in biology, chemistry, gen AI, digital twins, electronics, software, sustainability and more.
About Capgemini Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2023 global revenues of €22.5 billion. Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com
1 A priority patent application has been submitted in GB – patent pending 2 The bioeconomy refers to economic activity that relies on biological resources and processes (animals, plants, microorganisms, and biomass) 3 Engineering biology is also known as synthetic biology 4“Unlocking the power of engineering biology: The time is now”, Capgemini Research Institute, July 2024