Source: State University “Higher School of Economics” –
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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nik Georgopoulos, Associate Professor in Cell Biology and Transforming Lives Fellow, Sheffield Hallam University
Hair loss is one of the most feared and traumatic side effects of cancer chemotherapy treatment, both for patients themselves and their loved ones, as it can visibly represent the “face of cancer”.
For most patients, maintaining their hair is not just about vanity – it’s about identity, dignity and control. That’s why scalp cooling caps, or (cold caps), often worn during chemotherapy, have become an increasingly common sight in cancer wards.
Chemotherapy drugs work by killing rapidly dividing cancer cells – unfortunately, they cause collateral toxicity to rapidly dividing healthy cells in our body, like those in the roots of our hair. This leads to hair follicle damage and ultimately, hair loss.
Automated scalp cooling devices are used to chill the scalp just before, during and for a short time after chemotherapy treatment. Our previous research showed that cooling works through several mechanisms. It reduces blood flow to the scalp, meaning less of the drug reaches the hair follicles.
It lowers cell activity and metabolism, which makes hair cells less likely to react to chemotherapy. Also, cooling directly stops drugs from entering follicle cells. But despite its potential, scalp cooling doesn’t work for all patients. Until now, we didn’t really know why.
Our new research shows that temperature precision might be fundamental in the ability of scalp cooling to prevent hair loss. We used human hair follicles grown as “mini organs” in the lab to simulate what happens during chemotherapy.
When we treated hair follicles with chemotherapy drugs, we found that cooling, quite remarkably, can prevent the toxic effects of chemotherapy drugs. However, there is a catch: it only works if hair follicles are cooled to the right level. If not, the protection is not adequate to “rescue” them from the toxicity of chemotherapy.
More specifically, when cooled to an optimal temperature of 18°C, hair follicles were completely protected from chemotherapy drug-induced damage. However, when the temperature was higher – say, 26°C – the protection dropped dramatically. This finding may explain why scalp cooling doesn’t work for all patients. In real-world settings, scalp temperature can vary due to differences in equipment, head shape, blood flow, or hair type. Some patients may not reach the “protective threshold”.
But, here’s the exciting part: if the temperature isn’t cold enough, we have found a way to compensate for this by adding antioxidants, and that makes a huge difference. Together, cooling and antioxidant form a strong protective combination – offering hair follicles a powerful, double layer of defence.
So, how do the antioxidants help? Chemotherapy drugs generate harmful molecules called reactive oxygen species, or ROS, which contribute to cell damage. By adding antioxidants like N-Acetylcysteine or Resveratrol – even at sub-optimal cooling temperatures – we saw a remarkable improvement in protection. In fact, the combined effect of antioxidants and moderate cooling mimicked the protection seen with optimal cooling alone.
Although our study was conducted in the lab, it paves the way for improving the outcomes for patients undergoing chemotherapy. The findings suggest that combining antioxidants with existing scalp cooling could make the treatment more reliable and accessible.
We’re now developing a topical antioxidant treatment designed to reach the vulnerable parts of hair follicles in the scalp. The idea is to apply this lotion during scalp cooling, to boost the follicle’s defenses. Clinical trials are being planned to test this combined approach in patients.
Our new research is a milestone, because with the help of antioxidants, we may now be able to offer effective scalp cooling-based hair protection more widely and more consistently – even when conditions aren’t perfect. The combinatorial approach is based on over a decade of research into how chemotherapy damages hair – and how that damage can be stopped.
Hair loss during chemotherapy is deeply distressing. If we can improve the tools we already have, such as scalp cooling, and make them work better for more people, we can help preserve not just hair, but dignity, normality and quality of life during an incredibly difficult time.
The future of supportive cancer care isn’t just about treating the disease. It’s also about helping people feel like themselves and maintain their dignity while they fight it. This new approach has the potential to “change the face of cancer” for patients worldwide.
Nik Georgopoulos is a member of the scientific advisory board of Paxman Coolers Ltd, but receives no consultancy-related income. He holds a research collaboration with and his laboratory receives funding from Paxman Coolers Ltd.
Ofsted announces sector engagement programme to ready education providers for November start to inspections
Ofsted has today announced a full programme of sector engagement to be launched in September when the final set of education inspection reforms are published.
The programme of webinars and regional events will continue throughout the autumn term, offering providers a range of opportunities to familiarise themselves with the changes, ahead of inspections under the renewed framework beginning in November.
Ofsted will hold live webinars for different provider types across each education remit, setting out the key changes to inspection. Recordings of each webinar will be available on Ofsted’s YouTube channel afterwards.
For the early years sector, there will be separate webinars for childminders; group-based provision; and out-of-school-clubs.
For schools, individual webinars will be hosted for maintained nurseries; primaries; secondaries; non-association independent schools; University Technical Colleges (UTCs); special schools; and alternative provision.
For further education and skills, there will be webinars for specific provision types, including 16 to 19 programmes; apprenticeship providers; adult learning providers; and high needs provision.
For initial teacher education (ITE), there will be a webinar for providers of any/all phases of ITE, and another for providers of ITE programmes for the further education and skills sector.
The engagement programme will be bolstered by face-to-face and online regional events, hosted by local providers, local authorities and partners. These events will help providers build on their understanding of the renewed framework, supported by published materials. Ofsted will share further details about events in the coming weeks.
Nominees
For many years, Ofsted has successfully used a system of nominees to support inspections of further education and skills providers. Nominees help the inspection process run smoothly and collaboratively, through planning, communication and engagement with the inspection team. They provide contextual information about their setting and strengthen the professional dialogue between inspectors and leaders.
From November, nominees will be introduced to inspections across other education remits, where relevant. In advance of the renewed framework, Ofsted will offer a short online training package tailored for nominees in specific remits. These sessions will provide an overview of the framework and more information on how nominees can work together with inspectors during a future inspection.
More details about the nominee training package will be released following the consultation response in September.
All education inspectors will complete comprehensive training to support the transition to the renewed framework. Full inspector training materials will be published online, via the Ofsted Academy, once inspectors have completed face-to-face training. In addition to this training package, Ofsted will undertake pilot visits to volunteer settings, giving inspectors vital experience of full, end-to-end inspections before November.
His Majesty’s Chief Inspector, Sir Martyn Oliver, said:
I want to reassure education providers that, through our national engagement programme and published materials, they will be able to familiarise themselves with the changes during the first part of the autumn term – while routine school and further education and skills inspections are on hold.
Our Inspectors will all receive extensive training between now and November, and many will have had the experience of a full pilot inspection. I know there are some concerns about the timeline for these changes, that’s why we are planning such a comprehensive programme. I have every confidence that our approach will support a successful roll-out of new-look inspections in November.
Notes to editors
It will not be mandatory for every school or early years provider to appoint a nominee.
The nominee for early years should be the individual who knows the setting and children the best. This is a different role from the nominated individual and will be covered in the early years webinars.
The Ministry of Culture has announced a two-year official commemoration to mark the 125th birth anniversary of Bharat Kesari Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, honouring the enduring legacy of a leader whose contributions have shaped India’s political, cultural and educational journey.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, who was the Chief Guest at the inaugural event held in the national capital, paid rich tributes to Dr. Mookerjee’s vision for national unity and self-reliance. He said that India today is fulfilling the dreams Dr. Mookerjee once envisioned.
“He must be blessing us, seeing that India’s aircraft has reached the moon and that a son of India speaks with the Prime Minister from space,” the Minister said. Referring to the transformation in Jammu and Kashmir, he said, “His soul must feel content that Tiranga Yatras are carried out fearlessly at Lal Chowk, and that all laws of India are fully implemented in Kashmir. Today, there is one nation, one flag and one Constitution.”
Shekhawat further said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the government is committed to realising Dr. Mookerjee’s vision of a united and developed India. “After Independence, how India should be built — to give shape to that vision, the present Modi government is moving ahead on the path shown by him,” he added.
Speaking at the event, Vivek Aggarwal, Secretary, Ministry of Culture, highlighted Dr. Mookerjee’s ideals and their relevance in contemporary India. “He was a great patriot, a visionary educationist and a staunch believer in India’s unity and integrity,” he said. He added that the commemoration will not be confined to Delhi alone but will be observed across all states and union territories over the next two years.
Union Minister for Science & Technology, Dr. Jitendra Singh, who also addressed the gathering, described Dr. Mookerjee as one of the greatest scholars and statesmen of the pre-Independence era. He recalled Dr. Mookerjee’s courage in resigning from the government on matters of principle, saying, “That kind of integrity and conviction is rare.”
President of the Ekatma Manav Darshan Anusandhan Evam Vikas Pratishthan, Dr. Mahesh Chandra Sharma, offered a detailed perspective on Dr. Mookerjee’s role during Partition and India’s constitutional history. He said Dr. Mookerjee firmly opposed the idea of Partition and worked to save parts of Bengal and Assam from being handed over to Pakistan.
Chairman of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation, Dr. Anirban Ganguly, traced Dr. Mookerjee’s journey from his early academic brilliance to his impact on national politics. He recalled how Dr. Mookerjee strongly opposed Article 370 and famously said, “Ek desh mein do Vidhan, do Pradhan, aur do Nishan nahi chalenge.” He noted that Dr. Mookerjee became a Vice Chancellor at the age of 33, entered the Union Cabinet at 45, founded the Bharatiya Jana Sangh at 50, and sacrificed his life at just 52.
The inaugural programme featured a special exhibition showcasing rare photographs, archival material and multimedia displays highlighting Dr. Mookerjee’s contributions in education, nation-building and industrial development. A commemorative stamp and coin were also released by the Ministry to honour his memory.
The National School of Drama staged a theatrical production on the life and times of Dr. Mookerjee, while young scholars from the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training presented a soulful instrumental ensemble under the guidance of noted flautist Pt. Chetan Joshi.
Mineral-rich African countries are accelerating the rollout of refineries and processing facilities to strengthen local beneficiation, reduce raw material exports and retain more mineral value within national economies.
Amid this wave of value-added industrialization, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) – Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders – will highlight the continent’s downstream mining sector and connect African stakeholders with global investors to unlock new opportunities. Under the theme From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa’s Mineral Wealth, the event will showcase Africa’s commitment to transforming its mineral sector from extraction to industrialization.
Democratic Republic of the Congo
In June 2025, mining firm Buenassa signed an agreement with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) government to develop the country’s first integrated copper and cobalt refinery. Under the agreement, the DRC government will hold a 10% golden-share in the project. Backed by a $3.5 million grant awarded in 2024, the refinery is expected to commence operations in 2027, with a projected annual output of 30,000 tons of copper cathode and 5,000 tons of cobalt sulfate.
Mali
In Mali – Africa’s second-largest gold producer – construction began in June 2025 on a new gold refinery in Senou, near Bamako. The project – a collaboration between Mali’s government, Russia’s Yadran Group and a Swiss investor – aims to process up to 200 tons of gold annually. The refinery will enhance regional gold processing, reduce smuggling and increase national revenue from value-added gold exports. The Ministerial Forum to be held at AMW will spotlight national policies and incentives accelerating beneficiation across the continent.
Angola
Meanwhile, Angola reached a 70% completion milestone on its first gold refinery in Luanda. The $5 million facility, expected to be operational by the end of 2025, will produce 50 kgs of gold per day. Part of the country’s 2023 – 2027 Sectoral Development Plan, the project reflects Angola’s strategic effort to diversify beyond oil, stimulate job creation and expand value-added exports. AMW’s Invest in Angola session will showcase opportunities within Angola’s growing mining and refining value chain.
Zambia
In Zambia, Canada’s Jubilee Metals is expanding its Sable Copper Refinery by adding a second tank-house to boost monthly processing capacity to between 500 and 550 tons. The upgrade supports Zambia’s broader goal of reaching 3.1 million tons in annual copper output by 2031 while shifting toward value-added production. The project is set to be completed by Q1 2026. AMW will feature this and similar initiatives during a dedicated panel titled Elevating Africa’s Mineral Wealth: Case Studies in Local Beneficiation – Value Addition and Industrialization.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
About African Mining Week (AMW): AMW, as the premier platform where Africa’s mining sector opportunities and value addition efforts are discussed and optimized, will showcase these and many more projects driving the region’s beneficiation agenda.
On July 6, an arson attack targeted the East Melbourne Synagogue. It was the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents recorded across Australia since October 7 2023, when Hamas carried out a horrific terrorist attack, killing about 1,200 Israelis. These domestic incidents have escalated in both number and severity.
Australia has not previously experienced antisemitism at this scale. In response, the Albanese government appointed Jillian Segal as the nation’s first special envoy for combating antisemitism, and commissioned a plan with recommendations to address the issue.
1. Preventing violence and crime, including a proposed law enforcement framework to improve coordination between agencies, and new policies aimed at stopping dangerous individuals from entering Australia.
2. Strengthening protections against hate speech, by regulating all forms of hate, including antisemitism, and increasing oversight of platform policies and algorithms.
3. Promoting antisemitism-free media, education and cultural spaces, through journalist training, education programs, and conditions on public funding for organisations that promote or fail to address antisemitism.
The government has said it will consider the recommendations.
These measures are broadly reasonable and make practical sense. Some – such as those aimed at preventing violence and crime – are more straightforward to implement than others. It would also be logical to apply them to all forms of hate, not just antisemitism.
But that needs to be done with caution. We don’t want to create an environment in which any criticism of a community or group is shut down by regulation.
In a democracy, open and robust debate is essential. The challenge lies in the details: how we define hate, and where we draw the threshold for what counts as hate.
The document ignores the elephant in the room: whether the plan could be used to silence legitimate criticism of Israel.
The special envoy’s plan notes antisemitism has risen since October 7, but it does not fully explain the context. Israel’s military response in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, has prompted a wave of global protest and criticism of Israel, including accusations of genocide.
In this context, the line between antisemitism and criticism of Israel has become more difficult and contested than ever. Some people who attack Israel or Zionism may be expressing antisemitic views. Others may not. Distinguishing between the two is complex, but essential.
The envoy adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which covers both direct attacks on Jewish identity and certain criticisms of Israel, such as comparisons with Nazi Germany.
In my experience as a researcher working on online hate (including antisemitism), even members of the Jewish community adopting this definition often disagree on how to apply it.
The threshold varies – for example when deciding whether an online post or a statement crosses the line into antisemitism.
So where should we draw that line? It’s a crucial question. If the envoy’s recommendations are implemented, decisions about funding, visas, and even criminal charges could depend on it.
There is, of course, broad agreement on some cases. Setting fire to a synagogue is clearly antisemitic – it targets a Jewish place of worship.
Similarly, attacking a Jewish-owned business or damaging property in a Jewish neighbourhood suggests the target was chosen because it was Jewish.
Some people – often those already harbouring anti-Jewish views – treat the entire Jewish community as if it represents the Netanyahu government or the Israel Defense Forces.
This ignores the diversity of views within Jewish communities. That lack of nuance fuels antisemitism.
Few would disagree that antisemitic acts include attacks on Jewish people or property carried out indiscriminately, or when anti-Israel protests attempt to hold the whole Jewish community collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.
But we also need to be realistic. We are unlikely to eliminate all forms of antisemitic hate or intimidation from public life. Hate can be expressed without breaching laws, and people can intimidate others while staying just within legal boundaries.
Humour, sarcasm and coded language are often used to incite hatred without triggering any formal consequence. That kind of harm is much harder to prevent – and it may be something we have to learn to live with, while continuing to push back against it.
Rebuilding trust
In the long term, the only real solution is building mutual understanding. That’s why personal relationships matter.
Knowing someone who is Jewish is one of the strongest antidotes to antisemitism. When you have a Jewish friend, you’re less likely to believe or spread the myths that circulate online and offline about what Jewish people think, believe or represent.
The same applies to all forms of hate. Direct contact helps break down stereotypes across all communities.
The problem is that the current context is pushing communities apart. Segregation and isolation are increasing. Before October 7, there was meaningful interfaith work happening – Jewish students visiting the Islamic Museum, Muslim students visiting the Holocaust Museum. That work has largelystopped.
Now, people are retreating into fear, distrust and generalisations. All nuance is lost. The “other” becomes a single, threatening enemy.
It will take time to rebuild that trust – and the longer the war continues, the harder it will be.
Matteo Vergani receives funding from the Campbell Collaboration, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Home Affairs.
On July 6, an arson attack targeted the East Melbourne Synagogue. It was the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents recorded across Australia since October 7 2023, when Hamas carried out a horrific terrorist attack, killing about 1,200 Israelis. These domestic incidents have escalated in both number and severity.
Australia has not previously experienced antisemitism at this scale. In response, the Albanese government appointed Jillian Segal as the nation’s first special envoy for combating antisemitism, and commissioned a plan with recommendations to address the issue.
1. Preventing violence and crime, including a proposed law enforcement framework to improve coordination between agencies, and new policies aimed at stopping dangerous individuals from entering Australia.
2. Strengthening protections against hate speech, by regulating all forms of hate, including antisemitism, and increasing oversight of platform policies and algorithms.
3. Promoting antisemitism-free media, education and cultural spaces, through journalist training, education programs, and conditions on public funding for organisations that promote or fail to address antisemitism.
The government has said it will consider the recommendations.
These measures are broadly reasonable and make practical sense. Some – such as those aimed at preventing violence and crime – are more straightforward to implement than others. It would also be logical to apply them to all forms of hate, not just antisemitism.
But that needs to be done with caution. We don’t want to create an environment in which any criticism of a community or group is shut down by regulation.
In a democracy, open and robust debate is essential. The challenge lies in the details: how we define hate, and where we draw the threshold for what counts as hate.
The document ignores the elephant in the room: whether the plan could be used to silence legitimate criticism of Israel.
The special envoy’s plan notes antisemitism has risen since October 7, but it does not fully explain the context. Israel’s military response in Gaza, which has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, has prompted a wave of global protest and criticism of Israel, including accusations of genocide.
In this context, the line between antisemitism and criticism of Israel has become more difficult and contested than ever. Some people who attack Israel or Zionism may be expressing antisemitic views. Others may not. Distinguishing between the two is complex, but essential.
The envoy adopts the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, which covers both direct attacks on Jewish identity and certain criticisms of Israel, such as comparisons with Nazi Germany.
In my experience as a researcher working on online hate (including antisemitism), even members of the Jewish community adopting this definition often disagree on how to apply it.
The threshold varies – for example when deciding whether an online post or a statement crosses the line into antisemitism.
So where should we draw that line? It’s a crucial question. If the envoy’s recommendations are implemented, decisions about funding, visas, and even criminal charges could depend on it.
There is, of course, broad agreement on some cases. Setting fire to a synagogue is clearly antisemitic – it targets a Jewish place of worship.
Similarly, attacking a Jewish-owned business or damaging property in a Jewish neighbourhood suggests the target was chosen because it was Jewish.
Some people – often those already harbouring anti-Jewish views – treat the entire Jewish community as if it represents the Netanyahu government or the Israel Defense Forces.
This ignores the diversity of views within Jewish communities. That lack of nuance fuels antisemitism.
Few would disagree that antisemitic acts include attacks on Jewish people or property carried out indiscriminately, or when anti-Israel protests attempt to hold the whole Jewish community collectively responsible for the actions of the Israeli government.
But we also need to be realistic. We are unlikely to eliminate all forms of antisemitic hate or intimidation from public life. Hate can be expressed without breaching laws, and people can intimidate others while staying just within legal boundaries.
Humour, sarcasm and coded language are often used to incite hatred without triggering any formal consequence. That kind of harm is much harder to prevent – and it may be something we have to learn to live with, while continuing to push back against it.
Rebuilding trust
In the long term, the only real solution is building mutual understanding. That’s why personal relationships matter.
Knowing someone who is Jewish is one of the strongest antidotes to antisemitism. When you have a Jewish friend, you’re less likely to believe or spread the myths that circulate online and offline about what Jewish people think, believe or represent.
The same applies to all forms of hate. Direct contact helps break down stereotypes across all communities.
The problem is that the current context is pushing communities apart. Segregation and isolation are increasing. Before October 7, there was meaningful interfaith work happening – Jewish students visiting the Islamic Museum, Muslim students visiting the Holocaust Museum. That work has largelystopped.
Now, people are retreating into fear, distrust and generalisations. All nuance is lost. The “other” becomes a single, threatening enemy.
It will take time to rebuild that trust – and the longer the war continues, the harder it will be.
Matteo Vergani receives funding from the Campbell Collaboration, NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, the Department of Home Affairs.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The Polytechnic University held its eighth annual Summer School, an educational intensive for high school students that brought together talented children from all over the country. This year, 88 high school students from St. Petersburg and other regions of Russia who passed a competitive selection took part.
The Summer School program included four areas that combined theory, practice, and excursions to leading enterprises. The students visited UEC-Klimov, the Petersburg Tractor Plant, the Institute of Linguistic Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, NIIEFA, the IT Contact company, and the Volkhov Hydroelectric Power Station. In the final, they defended solutions to cases provided by the organizers.
On the Wings of Polytech track, the participants worked on optimizing the wing design. They created a model in KOMPAS-3D, conducted virtual tests in ANSYS, calculated the load and lift at different angles of attack. The final stage was 3D printing of the wing and its testing on a special stand. The guys presented the results in the form of an engineering report with the defense of the project. The teachers of the program were engineers of the Higher School of Power Engineering and the Scientific and Educational Center “Aircraft Engines and Power Plants” PISh CI Nikita Izbyakov, Andrey Shirokih and Anastasia Bodunova.
Participants in the track “Energovaybe: how to tame the energy current and not burn out” successfully designed an efficient power supply system for a private home. They analyzed the needs of future residents and developed an optimal layout for electrical appliances, including sockets, switches, and lighting fixtures. To ensure reliable power supply, students calculated the parameters of the key elements of the system and prepared a detailed power distribution plan. The project took into account modern requirements for safety, energy efficiency, and ease of use.
The students studied electric power engineering with maximum focus on practical applicability. Testing the operation of electrical appliances, conducting experiments on connecting light bulbs, the first modeling in a popular engineering application, developing their own power supply scheme – the participants of the Summer School had no time to get bored, – noted Maria Lyulina, senior lecturer of the Higher School of Electric Power Systems.
In the track “Linguistics in the Digital Age: from Data Analysis to Artificial Intelligence”, schoolchildren analyzed excerpts from English textbooks for grades 7–11 to assess their complexity. Using special metrics and automatic text processing tools, they found out how the “from simple to complex” principle is observed in the school curriculum. The results will help textbook authors adjust the selection of materials, and teachers will be able to adapt complex texts for better understanding. The track was organized by teachers and staff of the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy Alexander Dmitriev, Marina Kogan and Elena Krupnova.
In the “How it works: mechanical engineering” program, schoolchildren successfully designed and calculated a single-stage gearbox, a key mechanism for industrial equipment. They performed energy-kinematic calculations, created a 3D model, and analyzed various production technologies, including traditional processing and 3D printing. The intensive course allowed future engineers to master modern methods of designing mechanical systems and understand the principles of choosing optimal production solutions.
The summer school is a unique opportunity for schoolchildren to immerse themselves in student life and get acquainted with their future profession. Working in groups, together with interested and motivated children, allows them to delve deeper into various technologies of modern professions, – noted the director of the Center for Work with Applicants Artem Egupov.
The best teams received additional points, which will be taken into account when entering SPbPU, as well as gifts.
The most valuable thing for me was the acquired experience of teamwork and practical skills of working in KOMPAS-3D. The teachers presented the material in an accessible and exciting way, so it was really interesting. Thanks to the coordinated work, we were able to overcome all the difficulties and achieved an excellent result in the defense of the projects, – shared Leonid Svetlyakov.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The sports and technical creativity club “Extreme” took part in the final of the Karelia Rally Cup – the legendary race “White Nights”, which took place in the Lakhdenpokhsky district of the Republic of Karelia. In the team standings, the polytechnicians were awarded bronze medals.
The competition was held on roads that had never been used as race tracks before. The new tracks became a real test of strength for the pilots and equipment. The mechanics also had to face various difficulties: on narrow rocky special stages, which were washed away by rain on the second day, not all athletes managed to find a balance between speed and caution.
Three Extreme crews reached the finish line. In the 2000N category, bronze medals were won by Andrey Zhukovsky and Konstantin Mukhamendrikov in a Ford Fiesta, despite the fact that the crew overcame the last special stages with serious problems.
Getting there somehow is better than dropping out of the race, the crew members sum up briefly.
IMMiT 2022 graduate Danil Kolpin and Valery Smirnov earned credit points in the 1600N category on a VAZ-2108. The Polytechnicians assembled the car on the basis of the KSTT from a bare body.
On the first day, the brakes created problems, on the second day, the electrics and gearbox. On such roads, the power steering was sorely lacking. The development vector is clear, we will improve the car and next time we will drive much more effectively, – shared Danil Kolpin.
Pavel Alekseev and IE student Mikhail Krasovitsky were one step away from winning medals in a Renault Logan in the Standard category, which is intended for cars without serious sports modifications.
On the very first special stage, a couple of turns from the finish, we hit the fuel tank and tore off the fuel pump. We got to the service station on a rope and spent the rest of the first day searching for and fixing the problem. We started the second day in eighth place with a big time penalty, we didn’t finish any special stage lower than third place, but, alas, we couldn’t make up the rest of the penalty minutes. In the end, we were fourth. For a fully factory “Logan”, this is an excellent result, but we strive for the best, – said Mikhail Krasovitsky.
It was a tough race for the Polytechnicians. In such conditions, it is important not to give up, to continue the fight to reach the finish. It is impossible to win if you do not reach the end. This is probably our main principle of the team, – commented the team leader, mechanic of the Department of Transport and Mechanization of SPbPU Sergey Korovay.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The partnership combines Secarna’s OligoCreator®technologywith Vect-Horus’ VECTrans®platform to enable systemic delivery of oligonucleotide therapies across the blood-brain barrier
This collaboration marks a strategic step for both companies in expanding their presence in targeted delivery and CNS indications, uniting complementary expertise in RNA therapeutics and advanced delivery technologies
This strategic agreement unlocks new potential treatments for neurodegenerative and other CNS disorders and delivering solutions that truly impact patient lives
Martinsried, Germany, and Marseille, France, July 10, 2025 – Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, a company redefining the discovery and development of best-in-class oligonucleotide therapeutics, and Vect-Horus, an expert in the design and development of molecular vectors to facilitate targeted delivery of therapeutic molecules and imaging agents, today announced that the companies have entered into a strategic research collaboration to develop RNA-targeted therapeutics capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to address diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).
The partnership will combine Vect-Horus’ expertise and delivery technology platform, VECTrans®, a versatile delivery system focused on shuttling therapeutic or imaging payloads across biological barriers, with Secarna’s proprietary OligoCreator® oligonucleotide discovery platform. The combination of these two technologies will expand Secarna’s targeted delivery portfolio, offering a novel approach that could potentially transform the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
“This partnership brings together two complementary platforms to address one of the most challenging aspects of CNS drug development – effective, targeted, and systemic delivery across the blood-brain barrier,” said Konstantin Petropoulos, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Secarna Pharmaceuticals. “Our collaboration with Vect-Horus, whose VECTrans® technology has earned major recognition in the world, marks a significant step in our strategic expansion into targeted delivery in the context of CNS diseases, unlocking new possibilities for treating neurodegenerative and other CNS disorders and delivering solutions that truly impact patient lives.”
“We are pleased to collaborate with Secarna Pharmaceuticals” said Alexandre Tokay, co-founder and CEO of Vect-Horus. “By combining our VECTrans® delivery platform with Secarna’s OligoCreator® technology, we aim to advance RNA-targeted therapies for CNS disorders. This research collaboration represents a unique opportunity to overcome the long-standing delivery challenges through the blood-brain barrier and bring forward innovative treatment options for patients who today have limited and ineffective treatment options”
With over 20 years of expertise Vect-Horus’ VECTrans® platform uses engineered peptide and single-domain, heavy chain-only (VHH) antibody vectors to shuttle therapeutic or imaging payloads—ranging from small molecules and oligonucleotides to proteins—across biological barriers like the blood–brain barrier via receptor-mediated transport. This approach enables efficient targeting of specific cells or tissues (e.g., the CNS or tumors) while enhancing pharmacokinetics and minimizing off-target effects. VECTrans® has been validated in multiple preclinical animal models for a variety of diseases. In addition, the platform has one partnered program in the clinical stage targeting glioblastoma multiforme and pancreatic cancer.
Secarna’s AI-empowered OligoCreator® platform unites multiple delivery solutions with safety and efficacy assessment tools to rapidly discover and refine highly effective and safe oligonucleotide therapies. This powerful integration enhances Secarna’s ability to address diseases once considered untreatable, reinforcing the platform’s critical role in driving the next generation of medical innovation.
About Secarna Pharmaceuticals Secarna Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company redefining the discovery and development of best-in-class oligonucleotide therapeutics, offering hope to patients facing conditions that are beyond the reach of current approaches and modalities. With the Company’s proprietary AI-empowered OligoCreator® platform, which includes multiple delivery technologies, Secarna identifies and characterizes oligonucleotide therapeutics with unparalleled speed and excellent safety and efficacy. By delivering these novel therapeutics to the cells, organs, or tissues where they are needed, targeted oligonucleotide therapies have the potential to revolutionize treatments for a wide range of difficult-to-treat disorders. Secarna’s unique ‘OligoCreator®’ platform is leveraged to transform untreatable conditions into treatable ones, profoundly changing the future of medicine. www.secarna.com
About Vect-Horus Vect-Horus designs and develops vectors that facilitate targeting and delivery of therapeutic or imaging agents to organs, including the brain, and to tumors. Founded in 2005, Vect-Horus is a spin-off of the Institute for Neurophysiopathology (INP, UMR7051, CNRS and Aix Marseille University), formerly headed by Dr Michel Khrestchatisky, co-founder of the company. Vect-Horus has 42 employees (most in R&D). To learn more about Vect-Horus, visit www.vect-horus.com.
Contact Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG
Konstantin Petropoulos, PhD, MBA Chief Executive Officer Phone: +49 (0)89 215 46 375 info@secarna.com
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — The China-Russia Sister Cities Education Forum was held in Guangzhou, capital of south China’s Guangdong Province, on Tuesday. More than 300 educators, teachers and students from six cities in the two countries gathered to develop new approaches to cooperation through thematic seminars, amateur performances and the signing of inter-school agreements.
According to Chinese education portal eol.cn, Guangzhou maintains sister city ties with five Russian cities, where educational cooperation has become a key area. In recent years, chess tournaments, children’s art exhibitions and other exchanges have been successfully held. This forum has deepened practical cooperation between the two sides in the field of education.
“Sustainable development is the fundamental mission of education. We must strengthen mutual understanding and move forward together,” said Chen Xueming, deputy director of the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau, noting achievements in teacher exchanges, joint curriculum development and academic research.
Deputy Head of the Kazan City Education Department Alsu Biktova emphasized that the capital of Tatarstan expects to conclude new interschool agreements with China and adopt Guangzhou’s experience in pedagogy and educational institution infrastructure to take cooperation to a new level.
At a round table, the heads of six schools from sister cities in China and Russia discussed AI education and training of future personnel.
The forum showcased the fruits of Sino-Russian educational cooperation, bringing wisdom to the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind. The two sides will continue to deepen exchanges to cultivate innovative talent. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
WHO, in partnership with UNICEF, has published a new training manual to equip health and social care professionals and other workers to deliver effective and safe support to adults with mental health and psychosocial needs.
The manual provides a structured, competency-based approach to teaching and assessing foundational helping skills such as active listening, empathy and collaboration among specialist and non-specialist workers.
Globally, most people with mental health conditions do not receive effective care. For example, only 3% of individuals living with depression in low- and middle-income countries receive treatment, partly due to a shortage of well-trained mental health workers.
Everyone who is in a role supporting others – including health and social care professionals, community workers, counsellors, volunteers, and teachers ─ can benefit from evidence-informed training to improve foundational helping skills to assist with delivery of effective and safe support. Without these skills, there is a risk of ineffective, or even harmful, care.
“Millions of people cannot access quality mental health care because there simply aren’t enough trained specialists,” said Dévora Kestel, Director a.i., WHO Department of NCDs and Mental Health. “Strengthening foundational helping skills among non-specialists can help close this gap. This manual offers a practical, evidence-based path to equip helpers with the skills they need to provide effective, timely, and compassionate care to those who need it.”
Developed for the joint WHO-UNICEF EQUIP platform, the manual addresses gaps in training by offering a standardized, competency-based approach to teaching and assessing key foundational helping behaviours such as communication, empathy, collaboration, and promoting hope.
This manual equips trainers and supervisors with the tools to build helpers’ skills and confidence, ensuring care that is safe, respectful, and effective. It covers 15 core competencies and employs a validated approach to assess competency levels through structured role-plays. This competency-based approach helps reduce unhelpful or potentially harmful behaviours.
“The modular aspect of this manual makes it easy for trainers to integrate foundational helping skills in existing training courses. It can thus be flexibly adapted across health, social care, education, as well as humanitarian settings,” said Mark Van Ommeren, Mental Health Unit Head, WHO Department of NCDs and Mental Health.
Developed through expert consultation, literature review, and tested in four countries, the training has demonstrated improved competency and increased trainee confidence.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Southeast Asian counterparts on Thursday in his first visit to Asia since taking office, and will try to reassure them the region is a priority for Washington, even as President Donald Trump targets it in his global tariff offensive.
Washington’s top diplomat will meet foreign ministers of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathered in Kuala Lumpur, and also hold talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who is in the Malaysian capital, according to the U.S. State Department.
Rubio’s trip is part of an effort to renew U.S. focus on the Indo-Pacific and look beyond the conflicts in the Middle East and Europe that have consumed much of the Trump administration’s attention, with Rubio balancing dual responsibilities as secretary of state and national security adviser.
However, Trump’s global tariff strategy is likely to cast a shadow over the trip, after the president announced steep tariffs to take effect on August 1 on six ASEAN members, including Malaysia, as well as on close Northeast Asian allies Japan and South Korea.
Rubio will nevertheless seek to firm up U.S. relationships with partners and allies, who have been unnerved by the tariffs, and is likely to press the case that the United States remains a better partner than China, Washington’s main strategic rival, experts said.
“This is significant, and it’s an effort to try to counter that Chinese diplomatic and economic offensive,” said Victor Cha, president of the geopolitics and foreign policy department at Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Rubio will also meet with Lavrov later on Thursday, according to the U.S. State Department schedule. It would be the second in-person meeting between Rubio and Lavrov, and comes at a time when Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin as the war in Ukraine drags on.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also expected to join talks from Thursday, but it was unclear if Rubio would meet with him.
‘BETTER LATE THAN NEVER’
A senior U.S. State Department official told reporters on Monday that among Rubio’s priorities on the trip was reaffirming Washington’s commitment to the region, not just for its sake but because it promotes American prosperity and security.
“It’s kind of late, because we’re seven months into the administration,” Cha said of Rubio’s trip. “Usually, these happen much sooner. But then again, it is extraordinary circumstances. But I guess better late than never.”
Security cooperation is a top priority, including the strategic South China Sea, and combating transnational crime, narcotics, scam centers, and trafficking in persons, said the State Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
As well as their unease about Trump’s tariff policies, many in the Indo-Pacific have doubts about the willingness of his “America First” administration to fully engage diplomatically and economically with the region.
Trump said this week he would impose a 25% tariff on Japan and South Korea and also took aim at ASEAN nations, announcing a 25% levy on Malaysia, 32% on Indonesia, 36% on Cambodia and Thailand, and 40% on Laos and Myanmar.
Trump has also upset another key Indo-Pacific ally, Australia, which said on Wednesday it was “urgently seeking more detail” on his threat to raise tariffs to 200% on pharmaceutical imports.
According to a draft joint communique seen by Reuters, ASEAN foreign ministers will express “concern over rising global trade tensions and growing uncertainties in the international economic landscape, particularly the unilateral actions relating to tariffs.”
The draft, dated Monday, before the latest U.S. tariff rates were announced, did not mention the United States and used language similar to an ASEAN leaders’ statement in May. Both said tariffs were “counterproductive and risk exacerbating global economic fragmentation.”
The State Department official said Rubio would be prepared to discuss trade and reiterate that the need to rebalance U.S. trade relationships is significant.
The export-reliant ASEAN is collectively the world’s fifth-biggest economy, with some members beneficiaries of supply chain realignments from China. Only Vietnam has secured a deal with Trump, which lowers the levy to 20% from 46% initially.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The SPbPU Endowment Fund has opened a fundraising campaign to form two new target capitals. The initiative to create them was put forward by the directorates of the Civil Engineering Institute and the Institute of Power Engineering.
The creation of the Electromekh and Energomash and Engineering and Construction capitals will be officially announced after each of them accumulates funds in the amount of more than 3 million rubles, which will be sent to the management companies. Currently, the Polytechnic Endowment has six target capitals, and three more are being formed. The total volume of the fund’s funds by January 2025 exceeded 111 million rubles.
Let us recall that the Endowment Fund is never spent, its funds are invested in liquid financial instruments, and the income from the endowment capital is annually directed to scientific, educational and social projects, including support for students, postgraduates, teachers and their projects, improvement of living conditions in dormitories, financing of internships in Russia and abroad, support for foreign students, as well as development of infrastructure and material and technical base of institutes.
Anyone can support the initiative of the Civil Engineering Institute and the Institute of Power Engineering. To do this, simply follow the link HTTPS: //Donate.SPBSTSTE.RU/ and make a donation by selecting the desired target capital from the drop-down list.
The creation of new endowments is an important step towards the sustainable development of the Polytechnic University and the support of talented students and teachers. Join the development of your institute and support the future of the Polytechnic University!
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The steering committee on handling extreme weather, led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, released the following information today (July 10) in response to the development of weather conditions.
Due to the impact of torrential rain and squally thunderstorms brought by the remnant of Tropical Cyclone Danas, the weather conditions are expected to remain severe tomorrow (July 11). To ensure the safety of students, and considering that schools across Hong Kong may have already started their summer vacation and the actual impact of class suspension on students’ learning and teaching is relatively small, the Education Bureau announces that classes of all day schools, including secondary schools, primary schools, special schools, kindergartens, and kindergartens-cum-child care centres, will be suspended tomorrow.
The Secondary One registration procedures were originally scheduled for today and tomorrow (July 10 and 11) at the allocated secondary schools. Considering that some parents may have already made arrangements to register at the schools today, the original whole-day registration arrangements for today will remain unchanged. If parents choose to register their child at the allocated secondary school today, they should pay attention to the weather conditions and ensure safety. For safety reasons, parents should not bring their children to the school for registration.
Additionally, the registration originally scheduled for Friday, July 11 will be rescheduled to next Monday, July 14. If parents are unable to register in person or through an authorised representative on the above dates, please contact the allocated secondary school or the School Places Allocation Section of the Education Bureau (Tel: 2832 7700 or 2832 7740) to make appropriate registration arrangements.
Units under the Social Welfare Department (SWD) providing child care centre services, services under the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project, and after school care programmes for pre-primary or primary school children will not open to the public tomorrow (July 11). Members of the public in need may contact the centres or services units concerned for assistance. The SWD will closely monitor the weather conditions and make timely announcements on the latest arrangements of other services when necessary. Members of the public should pay attention to the announcements.
Under the cross-departmental co-ordination by the steering committee, various government departments have completed all necessary preparatory work and response plans, arranging extra manpower on standby, to safeguard the lives and property of the public as well as public safety. The preparatory work includes:
The Home Affairs Department (HAD) is ready to activate the Emergency Co-ordination Centre as soon as necessary and to open temporary shelters for people in need of temporary accommodation. District Offices have also co-ordinated with other departments and organisations to enhance preparedness and mobilised District Council members, members of “the three committees” and Care Teams to disseminate the latest weather information to residents in flood-prone areas, reminding them to make necessary preparations.
The Drainage Services Department (DSD) had made special arrangements to inspect and carry out necessary clearance at about 240 locations prone to flooding due to blockages. The “just-in-time” arrangement will continue, with 180 emergency response teams to conduct inspection and clearance of drainage channels in different districts across the territory. Members of the public are advised to report any street flooding to the DSD by calling the 24-hour drainage hotline at 2300 1110.
The Highways Department has reminded relevant staff members and contractors to make preparations for the activation of the Emergency Control Centres and handle road emergencies when necessary, including promptly clearing obstructions on roads and blocked road gullies and drains, reinforcing collapsed slopes with emergency shotcrete, etc, with a view to resuming road traffic on major public roads as soon as possible.
The Emergency Monitoring and Support Centre (EMSC) of the Security Bureau has made arrangements and will be fully activated when the Black Rainstorm Warning Signal is issued or from 5pm today to monitor the situation in the city. Utilising the Common Operational Picture, the EMSC will conduct real-time citywide monitoring and integrate updates from various departments to swiftly assess risks and formulate response plans and measures. Various emergency response teams, including the Fire Services Department, the Hong Kong Police Force, the Civil Aid Service and the Auxiliary Medical Service, have completed all necessary preparatory work and are on standby to handle possible emergencies during heavy rainstorms and high winds, and to provide assistance to those in need.
The Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre of the Transport Department will continue to operate round-the-clock. It will closely monitor traffic and transport conditions with public transport agencies and disseminate emergency traffic information and public transport service arrangements to the public in a timely manner.
　　 The steering committee on handling extreme weather is tasked with holistically reviewing and steering cross-departmental overall preparations and response plans for typhoons and rainstorms, and strengthening information dissemination. The committee urges the public to continue to stay alert, stay away from dangerous places such as rivers and slopes in adverse weather conditions, refrain from water sports, and to pay attention to the latest news released by the Government.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Georgette Leah Burns, Associate Professor, Griffith School of Environment and Science, Griffith University
Luciano Gonzalez/Anadolu via Getty Images
Last weekend, a woman was mauled by a lioness at Darling Downs Zoo in Queensland, and lost her arm. The zoo, which keeps nine lions, has been operating for 20 years and had never experienced an incident such as this.
The victim was a relative of the zoo owner, Steve Robinson, who told the media the lions were not aggressive and the lioness was thought to be “just playing”.
Although attacks like this are extremely rare, they are obviously of great concern. The incident should prompt a rethink of our approach to wild animals in captivity, and whether it’s morally acceptable – or safe – to keep them there at all.
Why do zoos exist?
Zoos, aquariums and other settings where wild animals are kept captive exist for two main reasons: human entertainment and profit-making.
Surveys show zoo visitors have a preference for large mammals such as elephants, primates and big cats.
Some animals are more tolerant of captivity conditions and exposure to humans than others. Fish, for example, seem to respond more neutrally to human presence than most other species.
But a recent study found captive animals generally demonstrate abnormal behaviour more often than non-captive ones.
For most wild animals, captivity deprives them of the ability to engage in natural behaviour, which harms their welfare. For example, free-living dolphins and whales have long-range migration patterns which require vast ocean spaces. They are also highly social and display complex communication behaviour.
Captive dolphins were once common in aquariums and marine parks across Australia. But now only one facility, Sea World in Queensland, still breeds dolphins for entertainment.
Another important welfare question is whether the captive animal has “agency” – that is, whether it can make choices as it would in the wild.
Can it choose, for example, which other animals it has relationships with? Or whether it has privacy? Having control over such decisions enhances the quality of life for the captive animal.
It’s important to note that some zoos can deliver positive outcomes for animals. Many play an important conservation role, such as running captive breeding programs for endangered species.
An example is a long-running program across several Australian zoos and other organisations to recover populations of the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater. The program has released more than 400 zoo-bred birds into the wild.
However, such conservation programs do not necessarily need to involve zoos to succeed.
Weighing up the risks
No matter how domesticated they might seem, some wild animals in captivity will always pose a risk to humans. Their behaviour can be unpredictable and, as the recent Queensland example shows, even a “playing” lioness can cause enormous physical harm to people.
Wild animals are called wild for a reason. To be kept in captivity, most animals require training so they can be safely handled. The Darling Downs Zoo incident shows despite this precaution, things can still go wrong.
But humans will, understandably, always be fascinated by other animals, and want to see them up close. So what are the alternatives to zoos?
Open range-zoos, such as the one to which the Perth elephants were moved, can offer a better option for some animals.
Another option is to recreate the zoo experience using technology. Artificial intelligence, virtual reality and augmented reality can be used to create images of animals that look and seem real.
Questions about animals kept in captivity require us to consider how much risk to human safety we accept, and the extent to which we prioritise human amusement over animal welfare. In searching for answers, we can start by asking whether we need zoos at all.
Georgette Leah Burns does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — The opening ceremony of the “Chinese Language Bridge” summer school for students from Kyrgyzstan was held at Xinjiang University in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Thursday, with 14 teachers and students from the Central Asian country embarking on a 10-day immersion in Chinese culture.
As reported on the official website of Xinjiang University, the head of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department of Xinjiang University warmly welcomed the guests and said that the university will always continue to build bridges of cultural exchanges between China and Kyrgyzstan. He expressed hope that the participants of the summer school, through classroom lessons, mastering traditional crafts, getting to know historical monuments and close communication with Chinese youth, will feel the unique charm of Chinese culture, see the achievements of China’s development and become ambassadors of friendship and bridges of interaction between China and Kyrgyzstan.
At the opening ceremony, 14 Kyrgyz citizens, speaking in Chinese, spoke about their motives for learning the language and expressed their determination to improve their language skills, broaden their horizons, and gain a deeper understanding of China’s development and humanitarian wealth.
The school’s program includes classes at Xinjiang University, master classes on Chinese culture, and visits to universities, museums and historical sites in Urumqi and Xi’an (Shaanxi Province, Northwest China). -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Australia’s drug approval system is under fire, with critics in the United States claiming it is too slow to approve life-saving medicines.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration balances speed with a rigorous assessment of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
So does Australia really lag behind the US Food and Drug Administration? And do we need to change how we approve medicines?
The drug development pipeline
Drug development usually begins when something new is discovered about a disease. This usually involves identifying either a change in an important protein or finding a new protein involved in the disease.
When scientists know the shape of the protein, they can design a drug that can block or activate it.
Scientists will then undertake laboratory, petri dish-type, experiments to see if the drug works on the protein in the way they designed. If it passes those tests, they will then move onto animal testing and formulation.
Formulation is the step where scientists decide what form the medicine will take, such as a tablet, injection or patch. There are more than 150 different pharmaceutical dosage forms to choose from.
The final steps are human testing. This requires the completion of three types of clinical trials. Each seeks to answer different specific questions about the drug:
Phase I trials: is the drug safe? What are its side effects?
Phase II trials: does the drug work?
Phase III trials: is the drug better than currently available medicines?
At the end of the trials, a company can apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for approval to market and sell the drug.
Getting a drug to market is time-consuming and costly. It takes around 15 years from the initial concept and design to government approval and costs more than A$3.5 billion.
But the failure rate is high: more than 90% of drugs that undergo development never gain government approval.
How are drugs approved in Australia?
The decision to approve new medicines for sale in Australia is made based on safety and efficacy evidence provided by the sponsoring company.
Listing a medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a separate process from approval, and is based on financial considerations and a cost-benefit analysis, rather than safety and efficacy.
The TGA typically takes 240 to 260 working days (around a full calendar year) from receiving a new medicine application to an approval decision. This is longer than it takes the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – 180 to 300 days.
Where there is a pressing need, the approval process can be faster. The first COVID treatment was approved in Australia just two weeks after it was submitted for consideration.
Then why do Americans often get medicines first?
There can be several reasons why a drug approval can be delayed in Australia when it has already been approved overseas.
First, with a population of 27 million out of 8 billion world-wide, Australia is a relatively small market. So it is not always a high priority for companies to apply for approval here. Regions with large populations such as China, India and Europe are a bigger focus for companies. This can therefore delay when they submit to Australia.
Other reasons for delays can be that the TGA requires additional safety or efficacy evidence other regions did not request, or because new information about the drug has come to light since the drug was approved overseas.
What about delays getting drugs onto the PBS?
When a drug is listed on the PBS, Australians can access the medicine for $31.60 (or $7.70 concession) instead of the cost of a private prescription which might be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The time it takes for medicines to be approved on the PBS has also been a focus of criticism.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), which makes PBS listing recommendations to the Federal Minister of Health, only sits three to six times per year.
US Chamber of Commerce vice president John Murphy claims the PBAC takes, on average, 32 months to make a recommendation about listing a drug after an application has been submitted.
Once a recommendation is made, the minister usually takes a minimum of five months to make a final decision.
To speed up the process, the TGA does allow parallel applications for drug approval and PBS listing.
The time taken to make a PBS listing decision is reasonable, given the scheme’s overall cost. In 2023–24, the total cost of the PBS to the government was $17.7 billion. So a decision to list can’t be made lightly.
So should Australia change how it approves medicines?
Criticising the time it takes to get regulatory approvals appears to be part of a wider plan of attack by the US government. It is putting pressure on Australia to open its market to higher prices for medicines made by US pharmaceutical companies.
Australia has a world-class regulatory agency in the TGA which ensures medicines that are approved are both safe and effective. And the PBS scheme is a key part of our public health care system and the envy of the world.
The Australian government should resist any changes to the regulatory approval processes that come from the US.
Nial Wheate in the past has received funding from the ACT Cancer Council, Tenovus Scotland, Medical Research Scotland, Scottish Crucible, and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Nial is the chief scientific officer of Vaihea Skincare LLC, a director of SetDose Pty Ltd (a medical device company) and was previously a Standards Australia panel member for sunscreen agents. He is a member of the Haleon Australia Pty Ltd Pain Advisory Board. Nial regularly consults to industry on issues to do with medicine risk assessments, manufacturing, design and testing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated United States President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He says the president is “forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other”.
Trump, who has craved the award for years, sees himself as a global peacemaker in a raft of conflicts from Israel and Iran, to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With the conflict in Gaza still raging, we ask five experts – could Trump be rewarded with the world’s most prestigious peace prize?
Emma Shortis
Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University
Nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is like entering a hyena in a dog show.
Of course Trump does not deserve it. That we’re being forced to take this question seriously is yet another indication – as if we needed one – of his extraordinary ability to set and reset the terms of our politics.
There is no peace in Gaza. Even if Trump announced another ceasefire tomorrow, it would not last. And it would not build genuine peace and security.
Trump has neither the interest nor the attention span required to build long term peace. His administration is not willing to bear any of the costs or investments that come with genuine, lasting diplomacy. And he is not anti-war.
There is no peace in Iran. Trump’s bombing of Iran simply exacerbates his decision in 2018 to end nuclear negotiations with Tehran. It pushes the world closer to, not further from, nuclear catastrophe.
Under the Trump administration, there will be no peace in the Middle East. Both the US and Israeli governments’ approach to “security” puts the region on a perpetual war footing. This approach assumes it is possible to bomb your way to peace – a “peace” which both Trump and Netanyahu understand as total dominance and violent oppression.
The Trump administration is deliberately undermining the institutions and principles of international and domestic law.
He has deployed the military against American citizens. He is threatening the United States’ traditional allies with trade wars and annexation. His administration’s dismantling of USAID will result, according to one study, in the deaths of 14 million people, including 4.5 million children, by 2030.
Indulging Trump’s embarrassing desire for trophies might appease him for a short time. It would also strip the Nobel Peace Prize of any and all credibility, while endorsing Trump’s trashing of the international rule of law.
What kind of peace is that?
Ali Mamouri
Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University
The nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize by a man who is facing charges of war crimes is an unprecedented and deeply dark irony that cannot be overlooked.
Trump’s role in brokering the Abraham Accords was hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough. It led to the normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
But this achievement came at a significant cost. The accords deliberately sidelined the Palestinian issue, long recognised as the core of regional instability, and disregarded decades of international consensus on a two-state solution.
Israeli soldiers guarding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Dom Zaran/Shutterstock
His silence in the face of a growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was equally telling. Perhaps most disturbing was the tacit or explicit endorsement of proposals to forcibly relocate Palestinians to neighbouring Arab countries, a position that evokes ethnic cleansing and fundamentally undermines principles of justice, dignity and international law.
In addition, there is Trump’s unconditional support for Israel’s military campaigns across the region, including his authorisation of attacks on Iranian civilian, military and nuclear infrastructure. The strikes lacked any clear legal basis, contributed further to regional instability and, according to Tehran, killed more than a thousand civilians.
His broader disregard for international norms shattered decades of post-second world war diplomatic order and increased the risk of sustained and expanded conflict.
Against this backdrop, any serious consideration of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize seems fundamentally at odds with its stated mission: to honour efforts that reduce conflict, uphold human rights and promote lasting peace.
Whatever short-term diplomatic gains emerged from Trump’s tenure are eclipsed by the legal, ethical and humanitarian consequences of his actions.
Ian Parmeter
Research Scholar, Middle East Studies, Australian National University
Netanyahu’s nomination of Donald Trump for one of the world’s most coveted awards was clearly aimed at flattering the president.
Trump is clearly angling for the laurel, which his first term predecessor, Barack Obama, won in his first year in office.
Obama was awarded the prize in 2009 for promotion of nuclear non-proliferation and fostering a “new climate” in international relations, particularly in reaching out to the Muslim world.
Given neither of these ambitions have since borne fruit, what claims might Trump reasonably make at this stage of his second term?
Trump has claimed credit for resolving two conflicts this year: the brief India–Pakistan clash that erupted after Pakistani militants killed 25 Indian tourists in Kashmir in May; and the long-running dispute between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi disputes Trump brokered peace. He says the issue was resolved by negotiations between the two countries’ militaries.
With regards to the Rwanda–DRC conflict, the countries signed a peace agreement in the Oval Office in June. But critics argue Qatar played a significant role
which the Trump administration has airbrushed out.
Trump can legitimately argue his pressure on Israel and Iran forced a ceasefire in their 12-day war in June.
But his big test is the Gaza war. For Trump to add this to his Nobel claim, he will need more than a ceasefire.
The Biden administration brokered two ceasefires that enabled the release of significant numbers of hostages, but did not end the conflict.
Trump would have to use his undoubted influence with Netanyahu to achieve more than a temporary pause. He would have to end the war definitively and effect the release of all Israeli hostages.
Beyond that, if Trump could persuade Netanyahu
to take serious steps towards negotiating a two-state solution, that would be a genuine Nobel-worthy achievement.
Trump isn’t there yet.
Jasmine-Kim Westendorf
Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict and Co-Director of the Initiative for Peacebuilding, The University of Melbourne
Although controversial or politicised awards are not new, awardees are generally individuals or groups who’ve made
significant contributions to a range of peace initiatives.
They include reducing armed conflict, enhancing international cooperation, and human rights efforts that contribute to peace.
Inspiring examples include anti-nuclear proliferation organisations and phenomenal women peacemakers. And Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege, who won in 2011 for their work trying to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Trump has declared his “proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier”. But he is neither.
There has been a concerning trend towards using the Nobel Peace Prize to encourage certain political directions, rather than reward achievements.
Barack Obama’s 2008 Prize helped motivate his moves toward diplomacy and cooperation after the presidency of George W. Bush.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s 2018 award was for efforts to resolve the 20-year war with Eritrea. The peace prize encouraged Ahmed to fulfill his promise of democratic elections in 2020. Embarrassingly, within a year Ahmed launched a civil war that killed over 600,000 people and displaced 3 million more.
This week’s nomination follows efforts by global leaders to flatter Trump in order – they hope – to secure his goodwill.
These motivations explain why Netanyahu has put forward Trump’s name to the Nobel Committee. It comes at the very moment securing Trump’s ongoing support during ceasefire negotiations is critical for Netanyahu’s political survival.
They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize […] It’s too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.
Prizes to genuine peacemakers amplify their work and impact.
1984 winner Desmond Tutu said: “One day no one was listening. The next, I was an oracle.” A Nobel can be a powerful force for peace.
Trump is no peacemaker, he doesn’t deserve one.
Shahram Akbarzadeh
Director, Middle East Studies Forum (MESF), Deakin University
Benjamin Netanyahu would have us believe Donald Trump is a peacemaker.
Nothing could be further from the truth. His record is stained with blood and misery. The fact Trump believes himself to be worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize only attests to his illusions of grandeur in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
The war in Gaza has gone into its 20th month because Trump did not use the levers at his control to bring the senseless war to a close.
Some estimates put the true Gaza death toll at 100,000 people, and counting. They have been killed by American-made bombs Israel is dropping across the densely populated strip; from starvation because Israel has enforced a blockade of the Gaza Strip and prevented UN food delivery with the blessings of America; and from gunshots at food distribution centres, set up with US private security.
All under Trump’s watch.
Trump could do something about this. Israel is the largest recipient of US aid, most of it military support.
This has multiplied since Israel commenced its attack on Gaza in response to Hamas terrorism on October 7 2023. Trump has approved the transfer of US military hardware to Israel, knowing full well it was being used against a trapped and helpless population.
This is not the act of a peacemaker.
Now the Israeli government is planning to “facilitate” population transfer of Gazans to other countries – a euphemism for ethnic cleansing.
This is the textbook definition of genocide: deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of people. Trump legitimised this travesty of decency and international law by promising a Gaza Riviera.
The outlandish extent of Trump’s ideas would be laughable if their consequences were not so devastating.
When Israel attacked Iran in the middle of nuclear talks, Trump had a momentary pause, before jumping to Netanyahu’s aid and bombing Iran. He then claimed his action paved the way for peace.
Trump’s idea of peace is the peace of the graveyard.
Emma Shortis is Director of International and Security Affairs at The Australia Institute, an independent think tank.
Jasmine-Kim Westendorf has received funding from the Australian Research Council.
Shahram Akbarzadeh receives funding from Australia Research Council.
Ali Mamouri and Ian Parmeter do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
If you watched any of the 2025 Wimbledon womens’ matches, you’ll have noticed many players donning a skort: a garment in which shorts are concealed under a skirt, or a front panel resembling a skirt.
You may even remember skorts from your schooling days, as they’re commonly offered in girls’ uniforms throughout Australia.
The skort (a portmanteau of skirt and shorts) has played a truly unique role in the history of women’s clothing. They were once a progressive item of clothing, as they afforded women the opportunity to partake in activities that would have been difficult in a skirt or dress.
Their role in contemporary society, however, is a bit more complicated.
Rebellious beginnings
The first garments resembling skorts were developed in the 1890s so women could ride bicycles without their skirt getting caught in the chains. While the puffy “bloomers” had already been invented a few decades earlier, women who wore them often faced ridicule.
Skorts were considered revolutionary at a time when men both figuratively and literally wore the pants.
Back then, they were usually a pair of loose pants under a front panel resembling a skirt. The aim was to retain the wearer’s femininity, and not offend those who thought pants were a purely masculine article of clothing.
A drawing from an 1896 patent of a ‘cycling skirt’.
The skort as we know it today, and as is seen across the sporting world, was popularised in the 1960s by American fashion designer Leon Levin.
This skirt was said to offer “the freedom of shorts and soft lines of a skirt”. The underlying message: even as women participate in traditionally “masculine” activities, they should be careful not to look too masculine.
Sport management academic M. Katie Flanagan argues women may be convinced that exercising in a skort achieves an acceptable gender performance. In other words, they are socialised to think they have to “perform” their gender by wearing the “correct” clothing.
Skorts in sport and school
In the sporting world, skorts are deliberately designed to be trendy and attractive, rather than purely functional.
One study on women golfers found they were more satisfied with their uniforms if they were happy with both the comfort and attractiveness, indicating women’s sportswear isn’t just about fit and practicality.
Skorts have historically also had class associations. As recently as ten years ago, sport skorts were an expensive item reserved for those from the middle and upper classes. Women from lower economic classes also tended to not have the time and/or resources to engage in the activities skorts were designed for, namely tennis and golf.
More recently, however, discount stores have made skorts accessible to those on a budget.
School skorts, a topic of my ongoing research, are particularly affordable at discount stores. A generic discount store skort may cost about A$10, compared to A$20–40 for one purchased directly from a school.
Some schools offer skorts to girls as the equivalent of sports shorts or as part of the everyday uniform. Other schools seem to prefer culottes as an alternative to a dress or skirt – shorts that are loose enough to resemble a skirt.
Many schools still don’t offer shorts to girls as part of the everyday uniform. Whether or not girls are allowed to wear the “boys’” shorts comes down to the individual school.
From rebellion to restriction
One 2019 review of school uniform policies in South Australia found 98.6% of public schools included shorts as a uniform option for girls, compared to just 26.4% of private schools.
Researchers Sarah Cohen-Woods and Rachel Laattoe found girls in private schools were often restricted in their choices, having to choose between skorts and culottes as an alternative to a skirt or dress.
Across Australia, all state and territory education policies – most of which came into effect between 2017 and 2019 – mandate public schools must offer girls the option of wearing shorts and pants.
However, the wordings of these policies differ widely. While New South Wales, Victoria and Norther Territory specifically mention shorts and pants must be offered to girls, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania specify schools must offer unisex or gender neutral items to all students.
South Australia’s and Australian Capital Territory’s policies further state uniform items should be categorised by type of clothing, or in non-gender specific terms.
However, in some states, including New South Wales, schools are free to interpret the policy as they wish, which is why some only offer culottes or skorts to girls. There is generally no oversight or enforcement of policies to force schools to offer actual shorts to girls.
A similar debate is happening in women’s sports. Ireland’s Camogie Association only ended the compulsory skorts policy in May, after years of complaints by players. Dublin captain Aisling Maher said she was “sick of being forced to wear a skort that is uncomfortable and unfit for purpose”.
“In no other facet of my life does someone dictate that I have to wear something resembling a skirt because I am a girl. Why is it happening in my sport?” Maher said.
A camogie team pictured in Waterford, Ireland, 1915. The Irish stick-and-ball team sport is played by women. Wikimedia
A garment for the male gaze
In recent years, many stores have advertised skorts for fashion. Target, for instance, currently sells a tailored skort described as a “must have for any trendsetter looking to stand out in a crowd”.
There are conflicting arguments about whether skorts are progressive or regressive. On one hand, they allow women and girls to move freely during physical activities, without having to worry about their underwear being visible.
On the other, they set a precedent in regards to how women and girls ought to perform their gender, by avoiding looking too “masculine” – which makes them somewhat misogynistic.
The skort is an object of dual meanings: at once a skirt and a pair of shorts – at once progressive and regressive.
Jennifer E. Cheng does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology is sponsoring a one-and-a-half-day workshop bringing together international experts from industry, academia, and government organizations to identify key optical metrology needs for extreme pulsed lasers (high peak power Terawatt to Petawatt class or high pulse energies).
Goals:
Develop a list of key optical measurements for these pulsed lasers including achievable measurement uncertainty.
Identify the roadblocks preventing researchers from being able to report trusted error bars for these measurements.
Outline next steps to improving these measurement capabilities.
Generate a publicly available report from the information gathered above.
Format: A series of invited talks on extreme pulsed laser metrology needs along with break-out groups to generate recommendations. All talks are “Invited” with an emphasis on discussion. In this true workshop format the attendees will be as important as the speakers. Attendance is limited to 30-50 participants.
Workshop program committee:
Luis Miaja-Avila (Co-chair, NIST)
Paul Williams (Co-chair, NIST)
David Garand (Sydor Technologies)
Bryan Holtsberry (U.S. Army)
Hiromitsu Kiriyama (QST)
Daniel Kramer (ELI Beamlines)
Mike Litos (University of Colorado)
Marco Lopez (PTB)
Daniel Short (U.S. Army)
Boulder Courtyard by Marriott 4710 Pearl E Cir, Boulder, CO 80301 Room Block for Pulse laser Metrology Workshop
Courtyard Boulder for 173.00 USD per night – Last Day to Book : Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Please use this link to book your room
Link: Book your group rate for NIST Pulsed Lase Metrology Wkshp
Note: for questions regarding your reservation please reach out to Jennifer Ford | jennifer.g.ford [at] marriott.com(jennifer[dot]g[dot]ford[at]marriott[dot]com)
The 31st annual Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS) “School on Methods and Applications of Neutron Spectroscopy” will be held from Monday, July 28 to Friday, August 1, 2025. This year’s summer school is devoted to methods and applications of neutron spectroscopy. Please note that neutron reflectometry and small angle scattering techniques will not be covered in this school.
The school is targeted at those with little or no previous experience with neutron scattering methods. The combination of introductory lectures and training in scattering techniques will provide participants with a unique opportunity to become familiar with neutron scattering methods and their application to current research topics.
Attendance for the summer school is limited to up to 37 students and to people affiliated with North American universities and US industry.
The Summer School is sponsored by the NCNR and by the National Science Foundation under the Center for High Resolution Neutron Scattering (CHRNS) cooperative agreement number DMR-2010792.
PALO ALTO, Calif., July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DeepBrain AI, a global leader in generative AI video technology, announced the official release of the Android mobile app for its flagship platform, AI Studios.
AI Studios, initially launched as a web-based service, enables users to generate high-quality AI avatar videos simply by entering text. With over 3 million users worldwide, the platform has rapidly grown and earned strong industry recognition, including a 4.9 rating on Product Hunt and being named one of G2’s Top 50 Software Products of 2025.
The newly released mobile app allows users to create professional-grade videos anytime, anywhere—no production skills or equipment needed. It is designed for a diverse range of creators, educators, marketers, and business professionals who require scalable video content on the go.
Key Features at a Glance
Text-to-Video Creation
Simply input a script, and the app generates a complete video with voice narration and an AI avatar—no editing skills required. It’s ideal for marketing content, tutorials, onboarding videos, and more. The app also supports cinematic-style video generation directly from text prompts, enabling users to produce more polished and visually engaging content with ease.
Over 2,000 Generative AI Avatars
Choose from over 2,000 avatars representing different styles, genders, and professions, or upload a custom avatar to match your brand identity.
Support for 150+ Languages and Voice Tones
AI Studios offers natural-sounding voices with customizable tone, pace, and emotion. With support for over 150 languages and dialects, plus AI dubbing capabilities, it’s perfect for scalable, localized content creation.
7,000+ Professional Templates
Prebuilt templates tailored to business, education, commerce, and more help users create polished, purpose-driven videos in minutes.
Expanding the Global Reach of Generative AI Video
The mobile app was built with a global-first mindset—featuring multilingual support, intuitive UX, and scalable output for diverse industries. According to DeepBrain AI, the release marks a key step in its mission to make AI video creation accessible and practical for everyone.
An iOS version of the app is currently in development and is scheduled for release in the second half of 2025.
DeepBrain AI is a global leader in generative AI, specializing in video creation, speech synthesis, and digital humans. Its platform, AI Studios, lets users create high-quality videos from text without the need for cameras or editing tools.
With a strategic presence in Silicon Valley and clients across North America, Europe, and Asia, the company supports industries such as media, finance, education, and e-commerce. DeepBrain AI helps creators and businesses streamline video production and expand global communication through AI.
Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the DeepBrain AI. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release.
The government’s Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism, Jillian Segal, has recommended universities that fail to properly deal with the issue should have government funding terminated.
In her Plan to Combat Antisemitism, launched Thursday, Segal says she will prepare a report card “assessing each university’s implementation of effective practices and standards”.
This would cover complaints systems and whether the campus and online environment “is conducive to Jewish students and staff participating actively and equally in university life”.
“Should significant problems remain at universities by the start of the 2026 academic year, as assessed by the Envoy’s report card, a dedicated judicial inquiry should be undertaken to address systemic issues,” the Envoy’s report says.
That should include “investigation of foreign sources of funding for antisemitic activities and academics at universities”.
“Universities must embrace cultural change to end their tolerance for anti-semitic conduct,” the Segal report says.
It says the envoy will work with government to enable funding “to be withheld, where possible, from universities, programs or individuals within universities that facilitate, enable or fail to act against antisemitism”.
The envoy also wants public grants to university centres, academics or researchers to be subject to termination if the recipient engages in antisemitic or other hateful speech or actions.
In the wake of the October 2023 Hamas attacks on Israelis, and Israel’s military response in Gaza, a number of Australian universities saw big pro-Palestinian protests, including encampments. At some universities Jewish students and staff felt unsafe going to classes or to their offices.
More generally, antisemitism has been rife since the October attacks, with most recently a spate of incidents in Melbourne in the last week. These included setting fire to the door of a synagogue and protesters rampaging through a restaurant that is part of an Israeli chain.
The envoy’s report was launched at a joint press conference attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, and Segal.
The ambitious plan is broad, also covering security, law enforcement, and online regulation among other areas.
But it is unclear how much of it the government will take up.
Asked whether the government was committed to the plan “in full”, Albanese was noncommittal.
“We welcome the plan, to be very clear. Some of the plan requires a long-term approach, some of it requires action by state governments, some of it requires action by society.
“What we will do is work constructively with the envoy,” he said.
“This isn’t something that is okay on the 10th of July, done, tick, and we move on. This will be a process.”
The plan includes embedding Holocaust and antisemitism education in school curricula.
Research the envoy commissioned found a substantial difference between the attitudes of Australians under 35 and those older. These reflected differences between the generations in media consumption and perceptions younger people have of the Middle East the the Jewish community.
“There also appears to be generational differences in the understanding of the Holocaust and its impacts on society,” the report says.
The envoy flags her intention, with the support of government, to “review, and where appropriate strengthen federal, state and territory legislation addressing antisemitism and other hateful or intimidatory conduct”.
Among the recommendations is the removal of tax deduction status from any charitable institution which promotes speakers or engages in conduct that promotes antisemitism.
The report says that from October 2023 to September 2024 antisemitic incidents increased by 316%, with more than 2,000 cases reported. These included threats, assaults, vandalism and intimidation.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Greens had a poor election. They lost three of their four lower house seats including that of their leader Adam Bandt. This despite their overall vote remaining mostly steady. But they did retain all their Senate spots – though later they lost a senator through her defection to Labor – and they now effectively have the sole balance of power in the Senate.
The Greens last term played hard ball on various pieces of legislation like the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF), wanting to gain more concessions from the government. They prioritised issues such as the difficulties facing renters as well as the war in Gaza.
With the government’s big win at the election, how hard will the Greens push on legislation this term, and how will the party fare under new leadership?
To answer these questions and to tell us about her plans, the greens new leader, Larissa Waters, joins the podcast.
On what drives her Waters says,
I’ve certainly spent my working life trying to empower the community, to protect the planet. And I’m a really proud feminist and I’ve been really excited by the work that I’ve been able to do on gender equality and women’s safety for the last 10 years in that portfolio. But I’m a really strong advocate for a fairer society.
On reforms she wants to get done in parliament, Waters says the focus should be on delivery,
I would like for the parliament to not just spend its time as a kind of peacocking about, talking about ourselves, and actually spend its time delivering for people. I think that’s the least people could expect is that the collective focus of the parliament be about how we can help community members and nature.
We remain willing to work on reforms that will help people and will help the planet. And I think there’s a lot of people who are waiting to see how this parliament works and who are really hoping that with such an overwhelming number of seats […] the Labor Party will use their numbers in the parliament to do good things. And I think there’ll be a lot of broken hearts if they don’t find the courage to do what’s needed.
Asked about the recent antisemitic attacks in Melbourne and the broader issue of pro-Palestine protests, Waters explains where she stands.
Well firstly, can I say that the places of worship should always be off-limits for protest activity and I think that’s not a controversial statement. But can I also say that a lot of people feel really strongly about human rights and Gaza and Palestine and the Greens are really proud that we have always stood to end the genocide. And we think that Australia should play a stronger role in terms of sanctioning [Benjamin Netanyahu’s] war cabinet and that regime and for there to be a lasting peace in that region.
On AUKUS and the US alliance more broadly Water’s isn’t shy with her criticism,
We are wasting A$370 billion on nuclear submarines that actually may never even eventuate and that the US is now reconsidering their provision to us anyway. The whole thing is speculative and a massive waste of money, importantly, that makes us less safe. I think hitching our wagon to the increasingly unstable US administration under particularly the current president, is not how we make ourselves safe. And I certainly don’t think we should be taking any lectures from Donald Trump about how much money we should spending on defence.
We remain of the view, as we have been for decades, that Australia deserves an independent foreign policy, one that shamelessly puts our own interests at heart and front and centre, and is not just when the US says jump we say how high, that doesn’t make the world safer.
Michelle Grattan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
This follows the US company’s recreation of a “dire wolf”, which was essentially a genetically engineered grey wolf. But that project was probably easy compared to the latest plan to resurrect the moa.
I think it’s a pipe dream and there are several reasons why.
Firstly, birds are harder to “de-extinct” than placental mammals. One would need a surrogate egg to bring chicks to term, and for many moa species there are no eggs from living birds big enough to house a developing chick. In this case, artificial eggs would need to be developed.
Then there is evolutionary history. From my own work and the research of others, we know the moa is most closely related to the tinamou, a small flying bird in South America.
To get to the common ancestor of the moa and tinamou, you’d have to go back some 60 million years of evolution. That’s a lot of time for mutations to evolve in genes controlling how moa look, that would need to be re-engineered to bring back moa traits.
The evolutionary history of the palaeognath group is even deeper. Formerly known as ratites, this group includes the tinamou and lineages of living flightless birds (emu, kiwi, cassowary, rhea, ostrich) and extinct ones (New Zealand’s moa and Madagascar’s elephant birds).
Genetically engineering a tinamou or any other birds in this group to create a moa hybrid would be challenging given this deep evolutionary timescale – certainly much harder than genetically engineering a grey wolf. And in any case, this would not recreate a moa, but merely something that may look like a moa. As one critic put it, it would not have the mauri (life force) of a moa.
There are no living analogues of moa within the palaeongath group. We don’t know whether birds created through de-extinction methods would function like a moa in the ecosystem.
Moa are unique, even among other flightless birds, in that they had no wings – all other flightless birds still have remnant wings. As a start, any genetic engineering would need to target regions of the genome that control the expression of genes for wing formation. This could have unintended consequences.
Working with moa ethically
I’m involved in an ongoing project to sequence high-quality genomes of several species of moa in New Zealand to study their evolutionary history.
In our conversations with tangata whenua around the country, there has been no support for de-extinction. Iwi (tribes) also want moa bone samples and all DNA extracts and sequence data to stay in New Zealand.
A major question is whether Colossal has undertaken wider engagement. Ngāi Tahu is a very large iwi with lots of individual rūnanga (tribal councils) throughout the South Island.
My research team has engaged with individual rūnanga, and we know they are opposed to de-extinction. I would like Colossal, Canterbury Museum and the Ngāi Tahu Research Center to disclose how widely they consulted across Ngāi Tahu.
The numerous iwi at the top of the South Island are also against the de-extinction of the giant moa (or any moa) which also lived in their rohe (region). De-extinction of a giant moa would really need a South Island-wide or even national consensus before going ahead.
Ecological concerns with de-extinction
Māori have expressed longstanding concerns about not being involved in discussions about genetic engineering and the potential of bone samples or genetic material going offshore.
With this announcement, it’s encouraging to see the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre is driving the project and that there are discussions around the need to restore habitat that would be suitable for moa.
This is a challenge in its own right as there is little left. Parts of the eastern South Island were once covered in mosaics of open forest shrubland that were dominated by kowhai and lancewood, which have no analogue today.
Even if we were to bring back an extinct species and kept individuals in a game reserve, we would need to produce enough (at least 500) to avoid inbreeding and genetic drift (random loss or retention of genes in a population).
The birds would require sufficient funding for their ongoing conservation. This raises worries that money could be pulled from efforts to save living endangered species, pushing them closer to extinction.
It’s undeniable the genetic engineering technology Colossal is developing could have real benefits to the conservation of New Zealand’s endangered species. Let’s say we could genetically engineer a kākāpō so it becomes resistant to a disease. That’s perhaps a project worth doing if there was widespread community support.
Investing the money that goes into this project in the conservation of New Zealand’s currently endangered biodiversity would, in my view, be better than bringing back moa as an ecotourism venture.
Nic Rawlence receives funding from Te Apārangi Royal Society of New Zealand Marsden Fund.
Director General David Cheng-Wei Wu warmly welcomed the organizers of TW Runners, including President Ming-Jen Chang of the National Chengchi University Alumni Association of Sydney, along with co-organizer Charles Lin, President-Elect of the Distinguished Citizens Society NSW, and team member Frederick Liao. They discussed preparations and showcased exquisite Taiwan-Australia themed gifts prepared for TW Runners participants. TW Runners, officially registered for City2Surf, is included in the “National Day Cup Marathon” as part of the “National Day in Motion” series of three sports events organized by the 114th Double Tenth National Day Celebration Committee in Sydney. Join the World’s largest fun run, combining health and charity—don’t miss out!
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended heartfelt greetings on Thursday on the occasion of Guru Purnima, a festival dedicated to expressing reverence for spiritual and academic mentors. The day, deeply rooted in Indian tradition, honours the pivotal role played by gurus in guiding individuals from ignorance to enlightenment.
Taking to X, PM Modi wrote, “Best wishes to everyone on the special occasion of Guru Purnima.” Union Home Minister Amit Shah also greeted citizens on the auspicious day, highlighting the enduring significance of the guru-disciple bond in Indian culture.
“On the auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, I pay my respects to all teachers. In Indian culture, the guru-disciple relationship is not only a medium of education and initiation but also a lifelong guide,” he wrote on X.
“Throughout our history, gurus have always worked to instil moral values, knowledge, conduct, culture, and a sense of loyalty towards the motherland in their disciples. On this occasion, I extend my best wishes to all teachers contributing to nation-building,” Shah added.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also extended his greetings and reflected on the spiritual importance of the day. “By the grace of the Guru, the disciple progresses from ignorance to self-realisation, from darkness to light,” he posted on X.
“With heartfelt reverence, we honour the great Gurus who shape the disciple’s personality with values, service, and truth, connecting them to the highest ideals of life on the sacred occasion of Guru Purnima!” he added.
CM Yogi also paid tribute at the ‘samadhis’ of his revered gurus, Mahant Avaidyanath and Mahant Digvijaynath.
Celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, Guru Purnima is also known as Vyasa Purnima, marking the birth anniversary of sage Veda Vyasa, the author of the Mahabharata and compiler of the Vedas.
Across the country, the day is being observed with spiritual activities, including Guru puja, prayers, and teachings. Devotees are visiting temples to offer their prayers and express gratitude to their spiritual and academic mentors for their guidance and wisdom. (IANS)
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
As is known, SKIF is a mega-science facility that has become the first in Russia and the most powerful source of fourth-generation synchrotron radiation in the world. This complex opens up the broadest possibilities for research in a variety of fields – from materials science to medicine. Due to the high brightness and coherence of the radiation, SKIF allows you to literally “look inside” a substance, obtain ultra-precise data on its structure and behavior. The implementation of such projects significantly strengthens Russia’s position in international scientific cooperation and creates a technological base for breakthrough developments in science-intensive industries.
The program created by Vladislav is a configuration database. It stores information about the accelerator devices and allows it to be automatically transferred to the control systems.
— Essentially, this is a description of a number of parameters of SKIF devices, which is then transferred to the control software. That is, my program provides other programs with up-to-date data for working with the accelerator hardware, — says Vladislav Rodyakin, a bachelor’s degree graduate Physics Department of NSU.
The work on the program became Vladislav’s final qualification work. He did it as part of a team of employees of the Institute of Nuclear Physics SB RAS, which is responsible for the automation of processes in the SKIF project and other Russian accelerators. The software was developed from October to May and took about 20 hours a week for several months. Now Vladislav continues to support and improve his system based on requests received during operation.
— I especially liked that working at INP gave me real independence. I went through the whole cycle — from database design to creating an interface, web application and integration into the management system. This is a unique experience: in the business industry, novice programmers often get routine tasks, but here I worked like a one-man band, — he notes.
Close cooperation between the scientific institutes of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Novosibirsk State University has continued throughout the history of the university. This approach allows students to get involved in real research and engineering projects already at the stage of study. And the project completed by Vladislav is a vivid confirmation of this.
— Our program at the NSU Physics Department specifically prepares students to work with scientific installations and write software for them. In my third year of study, I took a course whose teacher was working on software for SKIF — he invited me to join the team. That’s how I ended up in a large scientific project, — says Vladislav.
Today, Vladislav Rodyakin continues his studies in the Master’s program and works at the Institute of Nuclear Physics. His experience shows that a university can be not only a place of study, but also a launching pad for participation in advanced projects of national and international scale.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
From July 7 to 21, the summer school “Cryptography and Information Security” is taking place at the Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation. It is a traditional event organized by the Cryptographic Center (Novosibirsk) and the International Mathematical Center in Akademgorodok.
More than 200 teachers and students, postgraduates and schoolchildren from 35 cities of Russia took part in the summer school dedicated to the issues of modern cryptography and information security. Participants will have 15 days of work and interesting communication at the Boiling Point of GUAP: 40 hour-long lectures from leading experts from the scientific field and business, unique offers from the event partners, excursions around St. Petersburg and key enterprises of the city, training and sports games. School schedule — on the website.
The organizers and partners of the summer school are the Cryptographic Center (Novosibirsk), the International Mathematical Center in Akademgorodok, the Saint Petersburg State University of Aerospace Instrumentation, the Southern Federal University, Special Technology Center LLC, Practical Security Systems LLC, Infotex JSC, Perspective Monitoring JSC, NeoQUEST and Enseukripto-lab LLC.
The head of the summer school is Natalia Tokareva, director of the Cryptographic Center (Novosibirsk). The co-head of the summer school is GUAP professor Sergey Bezzateev.
At the opening of the summer school, GUAP Rector Yulia Antokhina wished the participants fruitful work, interesting lectures and vivid impressions
“During the two weeks of participation in the summer school, you will learn a lot of new things in the field of your chosen specialty, meet your peers, gain invaluable experience in teamwork on projects and see the sights of our beautiful city,” noted Yulia Anatolyevna.
Participants were welcomed by representatives of the event partners.
— The direction you have chosen for your future professional activity is very much in demand today. And we are interested in your support, in developing your competencies, — noted Svetlana, a representative of the company “Special Technology Center”.
— The summer school can become the beginning of such a long journey for you, immersion in such an interesting science as cryptography, such an important field of activity as information security. New professional personnel in these areas are very important, — said Elena Mareeva, Deputy General Director of the company “Systems of Practical Security”.
— This summer school has attracted a record number of participants. They are all active and interested. Our goal as organizers is to give students from many regions of the country the opportunity to try themselves as researchers and open up prospects for their professional growth. We are doing everything for this, — noted the head of the summer school Natalia Tokareva, head of the cryptography laboratory of the NSU MMC.
The students were presented with research projects that they will work on during the summer school. Participants listen to lectures, go on excursions and participate in sports activities. The topics of the projects touch upon various issues of modern cryptography and information security: algorithms of symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, issues of constructing cryptographic protocols for solving authentication, identification, key transfer, and message exchange problems.
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