Source: Switzerland – Department of Finance
During its meeting on 7 March 2025, the Federal Council opened the consultation on a new FATCA Agreement. In the future, Switzerland should no longer provide information on financial accounts to the United States on a unilateral basis, but instead also receive information from the United States as part of an automatic exchange of information. The consultation lasts until 14 June 2025.
Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE
Headline: Media campaign marking 100 years of the women’s movement launched in Kyrgyzstan with OSCE support
Women leaders at the press café dedicated to 100 years of the women’s movement in Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, 6 March 2025. (OSCE/Aliia Zhakypova) Photo details
On 6 March 2025, an event marking the centenary of the women’s movement in Kyrgyzstan and highlighting the role of women in societal development took place with the support of the OSCE Programme Office and its partners at the National Historical Museum of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The event brought together representatives from government institutions, the expert community, civil society, and the media. The discussions centred on women’s achievements, their contributions to national progress, and the key challenges that remain on the path to gender equality.
Speakers reflected on the 1920s and 1930s, when Kyrgyz women played a pivotal role in combating illiteracy, establishing the first schools for girls, and expanding labour rights. Today, women in Kyrgyzstan are increasingly taking on leadership roles in politics, the economy, and public life.
A key moment of the event was the presentation of the media campaign “100 Stories of Women for the 100th Anniversary of the Women’s Movement.” The initiative honours outstanding Kyrgyz women who have made significant contributions to society. To date, more than 120 stories of female leaders from diverse fields—including politics, science, culture, and business—have been collected.
“Today’s event underscores the invaluable role women play in the development of Kyrgyzstan. Their stories are not merely a reflection of the past or present but serve as a guiding light for future generations. Women are transforming society, and our duty is to support their aspirations by ensuring equal opportunities in all spheres of life,” remarked Gulmira Okoyeva, a representative of the Ministry of Labour, Social Protection, and Migration of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Participants discussed the necessary steps to further advance gender equality, identifying key challenges such as:
The need to strengthen women’s representation in politics and governance;
The importance of targeted support programmes for female entrepreneurs;
The necessity of engaging young people in fostering a culture of equality.
The event concluded with a ceremony honoring the inspiring women featured in the media campaign and the authors of their stories, presenting them with certificates in recognition of their efforts to promote a society where every girl and woman enjoys equal rights and opportunities.
The press café was organised by the Alliance of Women’s Legislative Initiatives, with technical support from the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the InKoom project, “Promoting the Development of a Fair and Inclusive Society in Kyrgyzstan,” implemented with financial support from the European Union.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Using humanoids to inspire children to get involved in the science and technology of the future.
The Government Office for Science and the Association for Science and Discovery Centres (ASDC) are piloting a programme aimed at getting primary school children excited about science and technology and how it will contribute to solving some of the biggest challenges of our time.
This pilot phase turns analysis done by the Government Office for Science into a fun, futuristic poster that can be used as a starting point for a classroom discussion which introduces the world of humanoid robots and some of the ways they can support us now and in the future.
Government Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Dame Angela McLean said:
The school outreach project is an exciting opportunity to prompt young people to think about important new ideas, how these will affect their lives, and how they can get involved in science and technology for the good of our collective future. I hope it helps to raise the next generation of enthusiastic scientists and engineers!
Chief Executive of ASDC Shaaron Leverment said:
This poster aims to spark curiosity, imagination and aspiration. We’re achieving this by working closely with regional science centres – through their trusted relationships with local schools and teachers, their understanding of regional diversity and close adherence to evidenced approaches to accessible and impactful STEM engagement.
The pilot programme is running in schools in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire and aims to spark interest among Year 5 and 6 children.
As part of the collaboration, the Government Office for Science has designed the poster and background information for teachers to use in sessions on it, while the ASDC has distributed the poster to schools through the network of Science and Discovery Centres and conducted focus groups to gather feedback from teachers and pupils.
The pilot is the first step in what is hoped to be a long-term project that will see more analysis on emerging technologies from the Government Office for Science used to guide discussions.
Published 7 March 2025
Source: City of Birmingham
Birmingham City Council has submitted a planning application to regenerate Druids Heath, which will deliver around 3,500 new energy-efficient homes.
The homes will be built alongside excellent green spaces, new infrastructure and transport links, as well as the revitalisation of commercial and community spaces in Druids Heath.
The council is committed to building around 1,785 affordable homes as part of the scheme, representing 51% of homes on the development.
The planning application details how 400 homes will be built as affordable homes, and the council aims to deliver these homes for social rent.
The remaining affordable homes will be delivered through a partnership agreement with a developer and a Registered Provider.
Work to appoint the developer is well underway, and it is anticipated that the partnership agreement will be signed in early 2027.
Councillor Jayne Francis, cabinet member for housing and homelessness, said:
“I am pleased that we now have a plan in place to deliver a regeneration of Druids Heath and to provide much need new affordable homes to the city.
“For the past two years, we have been working with the community in Druids Heath to develop a plan to regenerate the area, one that meets the needs of the people who live and work there.
“Residents have been vital to ensuring this plan delivers for Druids Heath. The most common comment was that the timescales for the plan were too long, so we have changed the plans to deliver faster.
“This regeneration will build the types of homes we need to tackle climate change, reduce residents fuel bills, and contribute to the city’s net zero ambitions.
“The plans take advantage of the estate’s key strengths – community spirit and abundance of green space – to make a healthier, more sustainable place to live.
“Any regeneration will affect people’s homes and can, therefore, be a significant cause of distress for residents. To help, we will appoint independent advisors to advise homeowners throughout the process to ensure our residents feel supported and informed. We will also hold regular in-person drop-in sessions for people to ask any questions.
“We also understand residents’ concerns about being priced out of the area. For this reason, the council is looking at how we can use different financial models to give residents an opportunity to remain on the estate. We will let residents know more about these models as soon as we are able. It is really important to the council that everyone who wants to stay in Druids Heath can do so.”
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
International Laboratory of Digital Transformation in Public Administration Institute of State and Municipal Administration HSE University announces a competition for the best research papers in the digital sphere. Students, this year’s graduates, postgraduates and young scientists from Russian and foreign universities are invited to participate. The winners will receive a cash prize, and papers will be accepted until August 15, 2025.
The purpose of the competition is to find young talents in the field of studying digitalization processes, digital transformation of the public sector, as well as sectoral public administration and citizen participation in public decision-making processes. The competition accepts works written individually or in co-authorship (no more than 4 co-authors).
Students, graduates of this year, postgraduates, as well as employees holding scientific positions up to 35 years of age in Russian and foreign higher education institutions (young scientists) can take part in the competition.
“HSE has always been a leader in the field of talent recruitment, showing a special interest in allies, experts, scientists, creating a community of like-minded people around itself. We are actually continuing this tradition,” says Evgeny Styrin, head of the Laboratory of Digital Transformation in Public Administration.
He recalled that on February 26, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko presented the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State”, which included 9 areas: orbital Internet, digital platforms in the social sphere, digital public administration, domestic solutions, artificial intelligence (AI), information security, advanced developments, government statistics and personnel for digital transformation.
“Our competition will be able to identify those who are able to offer new solutions and contribute to the digital transformation of the public sector,” Styrin emphasized, adding that for regions where social mobility is not yet so strong, this is a good opportunity to enter the “big” world and make a name for themselves.
You can take part in the competition until August 15, 2025. The winners of the competition who take first, second and third places will be paid a cash prize of 100,000 (one hundred thousand), 50,000 (fifty thousand) and 25,000 (twenty-five thousand) rubles, respectively.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
New chargepoints will power growth, cut emissions and improve lives in the Midlands and beyond.
Drivers across the Midlands will benefit from more than 16,000 new electric vehicle (EV) chargers as the region secures over £40 million in government investment.
Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood has today (7 March 2025), confirmed that 13 local authorities across the Midlands, supported by Midlands Connect, have received £40.8 million from the Local EV Infrastructure (LEVI) Fund to roll out thousands of chargers across the region.
While the charging network continues to grow – with over 10,000 public chargers already available across the Midlands – today’s announcement will provide many more drivers across the Midlands easy access to charging near their home.
The funding comes on top of over £2.3 billion to help industry and consumers make a supported switch to EVs. This is creating high paid jobs, supporting businesses up and down the country and tapping into a multi-billion pound industry to make the UK a clean energy superpower and deliver the Plan for Change.
Future of Roads Minister, Lilian Greenwood, said:
Making charging as seamless and as easy as possible is crucial to making the switch to electric a success and rolling out over 16,000 chargers across the Midlands will make driving an EV cheaper and easier, especially for those without a driveway.
Electric vehicles will power growth, cut emissions and improve lives in the Midlands and beyond as we continue to deliver our Plan for Change.
The new chargepoints will boost charging infrastructure across the Midlands, including in smaller towns and rural areas, ensuring that EV owners and those looking to switch can drive with the confidence they will always be close to a chargepoint, no matter where they live.
The announcement follows a particularly positive week for electric vehicles, with £120 million confirmed to help drivers and businesses buy zero-emission vans, taxis and electric motorcycles Last week, the department also announced it has rolled out more than 1,400 chargepoints at schools and over 59,000 chargers at offices and workplaces across the country, improving access to chargepoints and fitting charging an EV around people’s everyday lives.
The UK’s public chargepoint network continues to grow every day, with over 74,000 public chargers now available across the country and a record of nearly 20,000 added last year alone.
With £200 million announced at 2024 Budget to continue powering the chargepoint rollout and £6 billion of private investment in the pipeline, the UK’s charging network will continue to see hundreds of thousands of chargers added in the coming years, delivering resilient infrastructure so that EV owners can drive with the confidence that they’re always close to a chargepoint.
With over 382,000 EVs sold in 2024 – up a fifth on the previous year – the UK is the largest EV market in Europe. There’s never been a better time to switch to EVs, with one in 3 used electric cars under £20,000 and 21 brand new electric cars RRP under £30,000.
Owning an EV is also becoming increasingly cheaper, with drivers able to save up to £750 a year compared to petrol if they mostly charge at home.
The average range of a new electric car is now 236 miles – that’s about 2 weeks of driving for most people – all the while emitting just one-third of the greenhouse emissions of a petrol car during its lifetime.
With 24/7 helplines, contactless payments, and up-to-date public chargepoint locations, charging has now become easier than ever.
Maria Machancoses, CEO of Midlands Connect, said:
We are delighted that our collaboration with local authorities has resulted in a significant funding boost for electric vehicle infrastructure across the region.
This is a great step in moving towards a reliable electric vehicle charging infrastructure network across the Midlands, which will become increasingly important as we move closer to the 2035 ban on diesel and petrol vehicles.
We will continue to work with local authorities to accelerate the roll-out of electric vehicle infrastructure across the Midlands.
Councillor Marc Bayliss, Worcestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:
I’m pleased that Worcestershire, alongside other local authorities, has been successful in this bid for significant funding towards boosting electric vehicle infrastructure.
It’s hoped, that installing more public charge points , will not only support those who already have an electric vehicle, but also encourage others to make the move towards purchasing one.
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Published 7 March 2025
Source: Scottish Government
Funding for 25,500 new Modern Apprentices, 2,500 Foundation Apprentices.
More than £100 million funding to support Modern and Foundation Apprenticeships in 2025-26 has been confirmed by Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth.
Contracts will now be issued by Skills Development Scotland to employers, training providers and colleges for Modern Apprenticeship starts and learning providers for Foundation Apprenticeship starts.
The Education Secretary made the announcement following a visit to Glenrothes High School to mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week.
Ms Gilruth said:
“Around 400,000 apprenticeship opportunities have been provided to young people across the country since 2008 and our latest funding commitment makes clear they will continue to be a key feature of Scotland’s education and skills system going forward. Apprenticeships provide vital opportunities for young people to acquire key skills and a route into high quality careers, helping the economy and creating sustainable jobs.
“Feedback from employers indicates that there are key skills gaps and we are aiming to focus investment on apprenticeships in sectors facing labour market shortages. I would encourage businesses to consider opportunities available to them, to help them adapt and sustain their operations.
“Supporting apprenticeships is just one part of the £2 billion we are investing each year in colleges, universities and the wider skills system, recognising the vital role they play in education and the economy.”
Chair of Skills Development Scotland Frank Mitchell said:
“Created by employers, for employers, apprenticeships are crucial to unlocking economic opportunity in growth sectors.
“With demand from employers and young people remaining strong, SDS will continue working to maximise apprenticeship starts aligned to industry need within its available budget.
“Apprenticeships foster innovation, economic growth, and new opportunities whilst providing great social return, generating opportunities for many young people from Scotland’s most deprived communities.”
At Glenrothes High School, Ms Gilruth met S6 pupil Demi Short, undertaking a Childcare Foundation Apprenticeship, who said the opportunity had highlighted a potential career path for her.
Demi said:
“Overall, my experience of the Childcare Foundation Apprenticeship is extremely positive, as it has sparked my desire to work within the primary education course.
“The placement has sparked my love and passion within this career. I will always be thankful for my placement, and the experience.”
Jack Mellis, also in S6, is undertaking a Creative and Digital Foundation Apprenticeship, and spoke about the practical skills he had gained.
Jack said:
“The creative and digital course teaches you anything digital in the creative industry, including making videos for social media, designing posters for anything requested, creating sound and working rigging equipment for this purpose. You learn how to read a creative brief and how to respond, what software to use and so on.
“I am currently on my work placement in technical theatre, where I can use the skills I gathered during my course. I have no doubt that the skills I have learnt from my course and work placement will allow me to get a job in many different places, such as marketing teams for companies, radio or movie studios, or even my own video making company.”
Headteacher of Glenrothes High School, Avril McNeill, said:
“Anyone considering a Foundation Apprenticeship in school should go for it – there’s a huge range of Foundation Apprenticeships on offer, from childcare, to legal services, to lab skills. No matter what your chosen career path is, there is something for everyone.
“Foundation Apprenticeships offer young people the opportunity to mix their school career with college – they can try courses they may be interested in doing and determine whether that is for them or not. This is combined with some hands-on, practical work experience that they could use in the workplace or for personal statements for college or university applications.
“We have got a very varied curricular offering, and were an early adopter of Foundation Apprenticeships and offer national certificates in school as well. This creates a flexible package of traditional qualifications integrated with Foundation Apprenticeships, where young people might be part time in school and at college, and do some work experience as part of that.”
Background
Funding for Modern and Foundation Apprenticeship starts is part of the £202.3 million provided to SDS in the 2025-26 budget, approved by the Scottish Parliament on 25 February 2025. Around £102.5 million of this will be deployed to maintain the existing numbers of apprentices of approximately 25,500 Modern Apprenticeship starts and around 2,500 Foundation Apprenticeship starts. This is in addition to a further 2,500 Foundation Apprenticeships and around 1,200 Graduate Apprenticeships funded through the Scottish Funding Council. This will ensure that as much demand as possible for Modern Apprenticeships is met from within the SDS budget.
In total, the Scottish Government will provide £185 million investment to deliver apprenticeships to SDS, Scottish Funding Council and SAAS in 2025-26.
Ministers will work with SDS on ensuring appropriate sectoral coverage to help address evidenced skills gaps.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
Dame Andrea, who was the Minister for Start for Life until last July and responsible for rolling out the Family Hub and Start for Life programme across England, has recently established The Leadsom Foundation which aims to provide grant funding to charities that provide support services to new families in Family Hubs across England and, eventually, across the UK, alongside commissioning academic research into what works best in the early years sector and advocating around the world for the vital importance of the 1001 Critical Days (pregnancy to age 2).
Bingley Family Hub, one of nine family hubs across the city, is a place where children, young people and their families can go when they need support, help and intervention. Hubs support families from pregnancy right up until their child is 19, or up until 25 for SEND cases. Every family is welcome.
The visit included meeting with the charities and voluntary services which provide support at Bingley Family Hub to get a full picture on the support offered, including help for new and expectant dads, new and expectant mothers when breastfeeding and how the local community are encouraged to take up the services on offer.
Denise Williams, Service Manager, Family Hubs for City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “It was fantastic to be able to welcome Dame Leadsom to Bingley Family Hub and highlight the outstanding work being done there by our staff. We were very pleased to show what goes on at the Hub to support local families.
“There were representatives on the day from our support group for fathers, Proud Parents for parents from the LGBTQ community along with First Abide CIC, a mental health and emotional wellbeing support service tailored to support parents and carers at all stages of their parenting journey which delivers interactive parent support workshops designed to empower parents and caregivers in a supportive environment where they can share experiences, learn practical strategies, and build confidence in navigating family life in collaboration with Friendly Faces CIC, a disability services and support organisation dedicated to empowering disabled individuals, families and carers.
“Also present were representatives from Aspiring Futures, an award winning, women led social enterprise which helps women to have the confidence, skills and courage to follow their aspirations and I Hear You, a recipient of the Family Hubs Small Grant scheme, which will provide, parenting, health and wellbeing and therapeutic support from April 2025.”
Following the visit, The Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom DBE, said: “It was wonderful to see the huge commitment and passion of the staff and volunteers in the Hub. I met some of the parents with their gorgeous babies and heard how much they value the help and support they receive. I would encourage every Wolverhampton family to visit their local Family Hub!”
Source: Anglia Ruskin University
Battery technology could benefit from the development of new materials through AI
By Domenico Vicinanza, Anglia Ruskin University
From the bronze age to the Industrial Revolution and beyond, the discovery and development of new materials has been a driving force in human history. These novel materials have helped advance technology and shape civilisations.
Today, we are at the beginning of a new era, where artificial intelligence (AI) seems to be in the perfect position to transform the search for useful materials. This looks set to completely change the approach to their investigation, creation and testing.
In ancient times, human civilisations experimented with natural resources to create tools and artifacts. The bronze age, in the mid-4th millennium BC, was a significant milestone. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, led to the development of stronger tools and weapons, as well as advancements in agriculture and construction.
Bronze is often referred to as the first “new material” created by humans. We took different elements and created something new, with better properties than either ingredient and unique qualities. The invention of glass in ancient Mesopotamia around 3,500BC was another groundbreaking moment.
Fast forward to the 20th century and the discovery of plastic polymers, ceramics and superconductors opened new frontiers in technology. Ceramics, known for their durability and heat resistance, became a staple in industries from aerospace to electronics.
Superconductors, materials that can conduct electricity with zero electrical resistance, are already used in maglevs (magnetic levitation trains), particle accelerators and medical devices.
Searching for new materials that could help drive the development of the next groundbreaking technologies has previously been a long and expensive process. This has been due to the complexity of many materials at the atomic and molecular levels. Traditional methods are essentially based on trial and error and need specialised equipment and resources.
The inherent uncertainty and risk in material discovery further complicates and lengthens the process. However, advancements in AI, including in a subset of AI called machine learning, are beginning to transform the whole landscape, enabling more efficient and targeted approaches. In machine learning, mathematical rules called algorithms learn from data to improve at tasks without human intervention.
The main shift is a new methodology based on “generative” AI systems, which can create new content. AI systems can now directly produce novel materials when provided with desired properties and constraints.
Earlier this year, a team at Microsoft published a paper in Nature that introduced a pair of AI tools for the design of inorganic materials (those not based around the element carbon).
These tools play complementary roles in materials discovery. They are called MatterGen and MatterSim. The first one creates new candidate materials, and the second filters and validates them – to ensure they could be made in the real world.
The specific desired properties that can be incorporated through MatterGen include a specific symmetry, or mechanical, electronic and magnetic properties.
Unlike traditional methods that mostly rely on intuition (along with extensive and tedious experimentation), MatterGen can generate thousands of potential materials with specific desired properties in a fraction of the time.
This AI-led approach accelerates the initial stages of material design. It allows researchers to explore a broader range of possibilities and focus on the most promising candidates.
MatterSim applies rigorous computer analysis to predict the stability and viability of these proposed materials. This predictive capability helps filter out theoretical possibilities from physically feasible ones. This ensures that only stable materials move forward in the discovery process.
At this point, we might wonder, what does a new material, identified through this process, look like? MatterSim is mostly focusing on crystals, or more appropriately unique crystalline structures with a specific arrangement of atoms.
These structures are tailored to meet precise property constraints, making them suitable for various applications. These include high energy batteries, flexible electronics, displays, solar panels or advanced medical implants.
Microsoft’s powerful duo, however, is not alone in its quest. Google DeepMind’s Graph Networks for Materials Exploration (Gnome) is another tool promising to dramatically speed up the discovery process. Gnome uses a form of AI that’s inspired by the human brain called deep learning. It predicts the stability of new materials, significantly shortening the exploration and discovery phase.
In a paper published in 2023, researchers from Google DeepMind demonstrated that their AI model could identify 2.2 million new stable materials. Some 736 of these have already been experimentally realised. This is a tenfold increase over previous methods. These materials, many of which were previously unknown to human chemists, have potential applications in clean energy, electronics, and more.
Even if both Google’s Gnome and Microsoft’s MatterGen are AI-based, they differ in their approaches and, in some ways, provide complementary methodologies. Gnome predicts the stability of new materials by creating variations on existing structures, and it focuses on identifying stable crystalline materials.
MatterGen, on the other hand, employs a generative AI model to directly engineer novel materials based on specific design requirements. It creates material structures by changing elements, positions and periodic lattices (a repeating structure in three dimensions).
The implications of AI-driven material discovery are vast. They could potentially lead to innovations in fields such as energy storage and environmental sustainability. One of the most promising applications is the development of new batteries.
As the world makes the transition to renewable energy sources, the demand for efficient, long lasting batteries has grown and will continue to do so. AI tools can help researchers design and identify new materials able to support higher energy densities, faster charging times and longer lifespans.
Beyond energy storage, new materials can be used to design new medical devices, implants and even drug delivery systems. This could improve patient outcomes and advance medical treatments.
In aerospace, lightweight, durable materials could enhance the performance and safety of aircraft and spacecraft. Meanwhile, new materials for water purification, carbon capture, and waste management could address pressing environmental challenges.
Domenico Vicinanza, Associate Professor of Intelligent Systems and Data Science, Anglia Ruskin University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The opinions expressed in VIEWPOINT articles are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARU.
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Source: City of Leeds
Over two hundred guests joined the Lord Mayor of Leeds and the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, at Leeds Civic Hall’s Banqueting Suite for a fast-breaking iftar meal on Wednesday 5 March.
The iftar meal is only the third of its kind to be held at the Civic Hall and was jointly hosted by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, and the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Professor Adeeba Malik CBE DL, in support of the Lord Mayor’s chosen charity, the Leeds Community Foundation.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims worldwide fast (sawm) during the hours of daylight, abstaining from all food and drink. Iftar is the second meal of the day for those participating in Ramadan, and it ends the day’s fast, which starts immediately after the pre-dawn meal of suhur. The start of iftar is signalled by the call to evening prayer, the time of which alters daily to account for the lengthening days.
Joining the Lord Mayor and High Sheriff at the meal were notable dignitaries from across the region including the Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, Ed Anderson CBE, the Lord Lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Professor Dame Hilary Chapman DBE, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, the Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis, and the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, John Robins. Others in attendance included the Lord Mayors of Bradford, Wakefield, and Calderdale, as well as a cross-section of faith representatives from other communities.
Qari Asim MBE from Makkah Mosque led the call to prayer which signalled the start of iftar as the sun set. As is traditional, the fast was broken with the eating of dates and drinking of water before guests enjoyed a buffet-style meal.
Speakers at the iftar meal included the former Children’s Mayor, Mohammed Hussein and the Leeds Children’s Mayor finalist (2024/2025), Zoha Ahmed, who both spoke about what Ramadan means to them. The children’s thoughts add to speeches by the Lord Mayor, the High Sheriff, the Lord-Lieutenant, and the Leader of Leeds City Council, Councillor James Lewis.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Abigail Marshall Katung, said: “It was a great honour to jointly host an iftar meal at the Civic Hall, together with the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire, Adeeba Malik.
“The holy month of Ramadan is not only a time of abstinence. It is a time of reflection and the coming together of communities. I hope that by sharing this meal, we brought our multi-faith communities in Leeds a little closer together and that it acts as a prompt for us all to reflect on how we can, in our own way, make the world a better place.”
Councillor James Lewis, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “I was pleased to attend the iftar and take the opportunity to underline the Council’s full commitment to doing all we can to tackle anti-Muslim prejudice in Leeds. This includes our adoption in 2022 of the Anti-Muslim Prejudice definition as something that is direct or indirect hatred and discrimination against anyone of Islamic faith on grounds of their belief and practice.
“We undertake regular engagement work with various groups in communities across Leeds, and we run awareness raising campaigns on how to report Islamophobic hate and the support available to victims; as well as to highlight the many positive contributions British Muslims make every day to life in Leeds.
“This year we are also supporting the ‘Fasting in Solidarity” campaign for Ramadan 2025; and we plan to launch new hate crime and social cohesion strategies for the city.”
Source: City of Coventry
After a successful first year, the second Coventry Primary Aspirations Week took place this week, running from Monday 3 March to Friday 7 March.
Coventry City Council worked with partners across the city to bring the event back bigger and better for 2025.
Primary Aspirations week coincides with National Careers Week, which aims to raise young people’s awareness of future career pathways. Primary Aspirations Week aims to encourage primary school-aged children to think about possible career choices in the future, and how to develop some of the skills they might need to get there.
Over 1000 children in schools across Coventry took part in in-person events during Primary Aspirations Week 2025, hearing from a wide range of businesses and organisations in the city and beyond. Even more pupils (over 2500) engaged in an online learning session on Monday 3 March!
The children, aged between 7-11, were given the opportunity to learn about things in a fun way. For example, National Grid gave an insight into their world of work using an interactive app “Now Press Play” which provided a really engaging way of getting children to live the experience of a National Grid employee.
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire also hosted a session on giving the children the chance to see who is involved in the care industry when somebody needs medical help. Children asked questions and talked about this could be a possible future career choices for them.
Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “It’s really great to see how Primary Aspirations Week has expanded so much for this year. Once again, the feedback we’ve received from schools and children has been nothing but positive.
“We really wanted to give more children an opportunity to think about their futures and imagine the types of careers they might want to pursue. We know that children’s aspirations are shaped by their life experiences, so we wanted to create an event that gave children an insight into what they could go onto do after school.”
Jo Stanley, the headteacher at Little Heath Primary School, which played host one of the events, said: “It was a fabulous opportunity for primary children to hear from external speakers who brought their own experiences and skillset to inspire the children. The morning had an immediate impact on the children to think about their own skills and future aspirations outside of the classroom too. Providing opportunities for children to see and hear that they can set goals for their future career, and they do come true, is invaluable for all Coventry pupils.”
Organisations that took part in the event included: E.ON, Sky Blues in the Community, National Grid, West Midland’s Fire Service, Coventry Building Society, Ascension Dance Company, NHS Coventry and Warwickshire, Jaguar Land Rover, Severn Trent, Transport for West Midlands, the University of Warwick, Siemens Electrical, Lioncourt Homes, West Midlands Police, NFU, Canal & River Trust, Pet-xi, Sense, Leamington Spa Art Gallery & Museum, Coventry Careers Hub and Coventry City Council.
Some comments from children at Little Heath were:
“Listening to the architects about building homes, I now want to become a builder when I grow up.” – Aroosh.
“It was great fun learning from the visitors.” – Sieanna
“I enjoyed aspiration day because we got to learn and explore different jobs we can do when we grow up.” – Zuzanna
“I really enjoyed learning about lots of jobs that helped my everyday life, opening more opportunities.” – Abanoub.
To keep up to date with the latest news, sign up for our Your Coventry email newsletter or follow the Council on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
Source: City of Derby
Derby LIVE and Little Wolf Entertainment’s 2024 record-breaker, Cinderella, has been nominated in two categories at The UK Pantomime Association’s Pantomime Awards.
Cinderella at Derby Arena was Derby’s highest grossing panto ever, as well as the best-attended panto in the arena’s history.
The classic fairytale starred Morgan Brind and Roddy Peters as the Ugly Sisters, alongside Mina Anwar as the Fairy Godmother. The cast was completed by Kristian Cunningham as Buttons, Nicola Martinus-Smith as Dandini, Lucy Munden as Cinderella, Marisa Harris as the Stepmother and Charles Ruhrmund as Prince Charming.
The Pantomime Awards see hundreds of productions judged each year with all of them hoping to win awards in twenty-two different categories.
Cinderella has receiving nominations for:
Carmen Silvera award for best magical being – Mina Anwar (Fairy Godmother)
Best sisters – Morgan Brind and Roddy Peters
Little Wolf received five further nominations, including Best Pantomime (500-900 seats) for Snow White at Loughborough Town Hall.
Morgan Brind and Alan Bowles from Derby-based Little Wolf Entertainment said:
We’re so delighted to be nominated for these awards! We had such a wonderful time bringing Cinderella to so many people and it’s rewarding to see the team’s efforts recognised nationally.
We’re already hard at work, making Dick Whittington a truly magical experience. We can’t believe how fast tickets are selling, so make sure you grab yours now!
Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Cabinet Member for City Centre, Regeneration, Culture & Tourism said:
The brilliant Derby LIVE team and Little Wolf Entertainment really excelled last year with the record-breaking panto Cinderella. I’m incredibly proud that their talent and dedication.
Our annual pantomime is the highlight of our festive season, and it’s wonderful to see it celebrated nationally with these nominations. It’s a fantastic achievement, and a well-deserved tribute to everyone’s hard work.
The awards are staged in partnership with sponsors Trafalgar Entertainment and ATG Entertainment. The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony on April 13 at Woking’s New Victoria Theatre.
Simon Sladen, Chair of the UK Pantomime Association said:
Congratulations to all the nominees for The Pantomime Awards 2025. These shortlists demonstrate the pantomime industry’s exciting array of talent across the country.
Tickets for this year’s panto Dick Whittington are on sale at derbylive.co.uk or by calling 01332 255800. The show will be at Derby Arena from Friday 5 Dec until Wednesday 31 Dec 2025. Tickets are priced from £20-£35 with concessions available.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
Students at the State University of Management are sending out alarming signals, they suspect fraudulent actions against them – and they are absolutely right!
We describe a new scheme of criminals. Students receive calls allegedly from the dean’s office with information about the introduction of a new assessment system. For its testing, 50 students were allegedly selected, who must register on a special platform and pass 10 tests there. To “help” with registration, the attackers ask to turn on a screen demonstration, after which they gain access to the victim’s personal data.
These are scammers! Do not engage in such conversations under any circumstances. The State University of Management currently has no plans to create a new evaluation system. They are trying to deceive you.
We would like to thank our vigilant students who approached the university administration with this problem. It is very gratifying that the university’s active work in spreading financial literacy benefits everyone.
However, remain extremely vigilant!
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/07/2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: US Department of Energy
PLAQUEMINES PARRISH, LOUISIANA—U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, both leaders of the National Energy Dominance Council (NEDC), today joined more than a thousand American energy workers at Venture Global’s Plaquemine LNG Export facility to highlight the impacts of President Trump’s energy agenda. The secretaries joined Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry and Venture Global CEO Mike Sabel in delivering remarks before touring the facility and speaking to the press.
Thanks to President Trump’s commitment to restoring American energy dominance and day one reversal of the Biden-Harris LNG export permit ban, Sabel announced today that Venture Global would be making an additional $18 billion expansion to the Plaquemine LNG Export facility – making the facility the largest in the United States.
Less than 50 days into the Trump administration, American energy companies are producing more energy here in the U.S. – lowering prices, providing good-paying jobs, strengthening local communities, and bolstering America’s national security.
In case you missed it, remarks from Secretary Wright and Burgum are below:
Secretary Wright:
America is back.
You, all of you here today, are bringing America back, making us greater and making us stronger. I could not be more humbled and proud to stand among you today. God bless what you do today and what you do every day.
I want to also thank President Trump. He worked tirelessly, even putting his own life at risk to go back to Washington to become our president again, to bring commonsense back to Washington, DC. It all left the city. He brought back common sense with a simple agenda unleash American energy, unleash American business, and unleash the American spirit.
And I see it here today with all of you. He’s from the East Coast. He’s a real estate developer. But instinctually he gets energy. He knows that energy is not one sector of the economy. It’s the sector of the economy that enables everything else, everything else.
I want to thank the governor of Louisiana. Giant projects like this, they’re not getting built in California, where I lived many years. They’re not getting built in a lot of places. This takes leadership and boldness. This governor of Louisiana has allowed a flourishing in the Louisiana Gulf Coast and across the state. Louisiana today exports more LNG than every state in the United States. This is number one.
That that that bar is going to be raised even higher because in the next several years, Louisiana will become a larger exporter of liquefied natural gas than any nation on Earth. You could be your own country and be number one.
Venture global, as we heard from Mike Sable, the great, bold founding CEO, has taken huge risk. They raised money from all across America, from American like us, to build this business and make a bet. Make a bet on American energy production.
The United States 15 years ago was the largest importer of natural gas in the world. And with bold entrepreneurs and leadership like President Trump, our governor in Louisiana, and Venture Global, today, the United States is the largest net exporter of natural gas in the world and growing strong, growing strong.
What’s the fastest growing source of energy on the planet by far is natural gas. I looked at this over the last 15 years. Nothing else is close. Oil is second, by the way. The fastest growing sense source of energy in the planet is natural gas. The largest producer of natural gas on the planet is the United States.
And so hence we’re growing our exports because of your work, because of your efforts, we’re going to increase the prosperity of America, increase the strength of America, increase the opportunities for Americans and for the citizens of the world.
Where does this gas go? What’s this gas going to do? It’s going to make fertilizer so farmers can grow more food and feed everyone. It’s by far the largest source of electricity in the United States. Natural gas is. It’s to make petrochemicals. All the clothes were wearing the toys. Our cars are our computers. Our phones. Those are all made of natural gas.
All the uses of natural gas, you can say. In short, they make our lives possible. They allow us to have a modern world and live these wonderful lives we live.
But that doesn’t fall from heaven. That doesn’t just fall on earth. It has to be made, produced and delivered. And that only happens with hard working people like you. You are changing the world. You are changing people’s lives.
I’ll end there. I just am humbled to be among you. I’m proud to be among you. I cannot overstate how important what you’re doing is and how aligned it is with the agenda of President Donald Trump. This guy wants America to be great. He wants America to be strong. He wants to lower our cost and expand opportunities for Americans.
A strong, energized, empowered America is not just good for Americans. It’s good for the world. God bless you. God bless America and God bless President Trump.
Secretary Burgum:
What a gorgeous day we have here today. And today is a day of gratitude. And it’s a day of celebration.
You’ve heard from the great speakers up here, my friend, Governor Jeff Landry. We’ve got two amazing entrepreneurs, Mike and Bob and the amazing Chris Wright. But we’re celebrating today American innovation, American entrepreneurship, and American workers. I stand here before you humbled because I can’t think of anything more patriotic.
There’s no place I’d rather be than here looking at all of you standing here among this, this creation that you’ve built. And it started with two guys that said, hey, maybe we can do something that’s never been done before. Maybe we can invent a new way to think about how we want to process natural gas. Maybe we can figure out that the U.S., instead of being a net importer, is going to be a net exporter.
And it was a couple of guys just sitting around a table that came up with the idea of Venture Global. Then you hear, it’s like when only in America, now is going to be one of the most important and influential energy companies in the world. That happens in our country only when we get the government out of the way.
It happens when we cut red tape. One of our pathways to energy dominance is just unleashing the incredible resources that we have in this country. Getting the red tape, getting the federal government off the back of the worker, off the back of companies, and so that everybody can do the amazing work and build projects like this.
And so, we’re celebrating that today. But I also said today is a day of gratitude. And I want to bring a message from President Trump to all of you, because President Trump fights for all of you every day. This guy I know everybody here, you work hard, you put in a long day, you go home, you get up and you do it the next day. He respects that. And you know what? He does that too.
This guy didn’t take a day off for the last 90 days before the election. Then the next day he got up and he didn’t. He didn’t take a day off. He just started jamming all the way through to January 20th. And then since January 20th, he’s gotten more done than any president in the history of the United States ever has in their first month and a half.
And somebody asked me, what’s it like working for the president? And I said, well said, you guys, you watch football. And they said, yeah, I watch football. I said, well, think about this. Think about the best football team ever assembled. The President Trump is the team owner and he’s the manager, and he’s the head coach, and he’s playing quarterback and he’s running a no huddle offense. And everybody that’s working for him has got to scramble back to the line for the next play, because we’re just going that fast every single day. And the change that he’s driving, the red tape that he’s cutting, it’s absolutely incredible. And one of the things that we’re here today, the announcement today is happening.
The prior administration had a full-on attack against U.S. energy. They literally were stopping the permitting, killing jobs, killing capital formation, the money to come together to build something like this. And you know what that did that hurt every American and it helped our adversaries. President Trump is fighting for you every day. And he’s fighting because he believes in the we have U.S. energy dominance. It does two things. It builds American prosperity, and it brings peace abroad.
We’re in two proxy wars right now. And both of our adversaries in those wars, Russia and Iran, Iran funding 24 terrorist groups. They’re funding those wars against us with energy production. With a facility like this where we can sell LNG around the world, we’re literally going to stop war.
So, when you guys go to work every day, tell yourselves you’re just not doing a job building the most amazing, most technological plant in the planet. The biggest construction project in North America. You’re also building world peace. And the other thing you’re also doing is you’re building prosperity here at home for everybody that’s here.
And it all starts with one thing, and that’s American energy. And you’re going to say it with me because with energy dominance part of our job is to cut red tape. And the other is we got to get more things flowing through those pipes heading towards Louisiana. And how are we going to do that?
You know, how we are going to do it is three words. What are we going to do. We’re going to drill, baby drill one more time. What are we going to do. We’re going to drill, baby drill. And when we do that, we’re also going to mine baby, mine. We’re going to get critical minerals going. So, we’re stop buying critical minerals from China. We’re going to map baby, map, and we get the US Geological Survey going back and actually discovering all the resources we have on America’s balance sheet.
People talk about America’s debt, $36 trillion in debt. Our assets could be 3 to 5 times more than that. But we don’t even know that because we’ve stopped looking for all the resource assets in this country. And we’re going to become an energy powerhouse. And with that, we’re going to bring inflation down for you and your families. And here at home, prosperity in America and world peace abroad.
That’s what you’re working on every day. How exciting is it to be here with all of you? And again, a message of gratitude for President Trump to you. Nothing more patriotic than American worker that’s working to build energy dominance for this country. Your impact? It carries far and wide. It touches people all over the world. And it certainly helps your kids and your grandkids, and it helps our country reduce our debt, do everything that we’re doing.
So, a big thank you from President Trump and a big thank you to the innovators and entrepreneurs that built this place and came up with the idea. And none of it happens without all of you. But let’s go. And what’s at the end? I want to say, I will say one thing when you’re doing when we’re doing this today, what are we doing together?
We’re making America great again. One more time. What are we doing? Making America great again. Thank you. Way to go, venture global. Thank you all.
Source: Switzerland – Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport
At its meeting on 7 March, the Federal Council introduced a reporting obligation for cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, which will come into force on 1 April. Operators of critical infrastructure will be required to report cyberattacks to the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) within 24 hours of discovery. These reports will enable the NCSC to assist victims of cyberattacks and alert operators of critical infrastructure.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Cao Tianlan, a deputy to the 14th NPC, poses for a photo outside the Great Hall of the People, Beijing, March 5, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
Cao Tianlan, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC), stressed during the “two sessions” that China must leverage collaborative innovation across industrial chains, digital transformation and Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partnerships to propel its equipment manufacturing industry toward higher-end, greener and smarter development.
“China has maintained its position as the world’s largest manufacturing hub for many years, but there remains a gap in transitioning from a manufacturing giant to a manufacturing powerhouse,” Cao explained to China.org.cn. She called for technological innovation and industrial upgrading to drive this critical leap.
In Cao’s view, collaborative innovation along industrial chains is pivotal for China’s equipment manufacturing sector to achieve leapfrog development. It strengthens cooperation among upstream and downstream enterprises, expands production scale, enhances efficiency and bolsters risk resilience and global competitiveness. She cited the development of China’s first self-developed F-class 50 MW heavy-duty gas turbine (G50) as a prime example. This breakthrough involved collaboration between over 300 upstream and downstream enterprises. Cao highlighted that the G50’s journey from R&D to deployment exemplifies the success of China’s new system for mobilizing resources nationwide to make key technological breakthroughs.
She further noted that in 2024, China established its first small and medium-sized gas turbine industrial chain alliance to jointly explore “Chinese solutions” to gas turbine development.
Cao also emphasized that manufacturing digitization is integral to building a modern industrial system. At Dongfang Electric Corp, where she serves as deputy chief engineer, milestones include China’s first unmanned blade processing workshop, a green high-efficiency welding digital workshop, and an industrial internet platform with intellectual property rights enabling full data interconnectivity. “Moving forward, we will deepen the integration of the digital and real economies through smart technologies and digital upgrades, as well as AI Plus initiatives,” she added.
Regarding international expansion, Cao acknowledged the achievements of China’s high-end equipment in global markets while underscoring that BRI partner countries have become a focal point for global manufacturing competition. She highlighted landmark projects by Dongfang Electric, cooperated with a power plant in Belarus, and Jirau hydropower station in Brazil, and PV projects in Uzbekistan. These projects have not only upgraded local energy infrastructure but also generated employment and stimulated economic growth. “They have enhanced the global competitiveness of ‘Made in China’ while strengthening mutual trust and cooperation with BRI countries,” she remarked.
In addition, Cao proposed a standardization strengthening initiative for high-end equipment manufacturing, advocating for a comprehensive industrial chain standards system to promote the global adoption of Chinese standards. She urged active participation in international standardization organizations to boost the competitiveness of China’s high-end energy equipment on the world stage.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Innovative UK-made tech will help the military monitor space following a new £65 million deal agreed today, in British Science Week.
UK Space Command Operations
The Borealis command, control and data processing system will help the UK military the UK Space Agency to better monitor and protect satellites, through new software which compiles and processes data from multiple sources, more quickly, to monitor space.
The £65 million deal with CGI UK, an IT systems integration specialist, will support around 100 skilled jobs in Leatherhead, Reading and Bristol, boosting the UK’s space capabilities and delivering on the Government’s Plan for Change.
The new technology will provide UK military with a better understanding of the Space Domain, improving military commanders decision-making process and supporting operations, both at home and overseas.
Under the five-year contract, Borealis will provide software for the National Space Operations Centre, which develops and operates the UK’s space surveillance and protection capabilities. It will be a unique, UK-made system which support military operations around the world.
This new deal delivers for our national security by enhancing protection for our satellite technology that millions rely on, while boosting jobs and growth at home.
This Government continues to work swiftly to develop the new Defence Industrial Strategy. This announcement will support hundreds of highly skilled jobs, unlocking defence as an engine for growth and driving forward this government’s Plan for Change.
Borealis will enhance the UK’s ability to monitor and protect crucial space assets, which underpin the UK’s security and prosperity, enabling us to navigate the oceans, keep our military personnel safe, monitor the climate, and forecast the weather. Other key benefits which Borealis provides includes:
Space Domain Awareness: The ability to understand and analyse what is happening in space around the Earth. This includes space weather – the environmental conditions in space around Earth – and monitoring objects in space, including space debris and active satellites.
Protection of UK space assets: Borealis will provide a single, bespoke system, which will compile all data related to UK satellites. This enhanced awareness of what is happening in space will enable UK Space Command to better protect critical UK space systems.
Integrated C2 System: Borealis will provide timely decision-quality information to government and military commanders through an interoperable system, across different tiers of security classification.
The use of space is crucial for our economy, prosperity, security, and defence, but assured access to space is becoming increasingly contested by adversaries and congested by users and debris. Therefore, it is imperative that we know what is happening in space.
Borealis is an innovative system that draws together multiple inputs to enhance the UK government’s understanding of the wide-ranging activity on orbit, allowing the UK to protect not just our own space assets, but those of our allies and partners as well.
CGI is one of the world’s leading providers of independent IT services to international defence customers including the UK, Australia, Canada and the USA. CGI will work alongside a network of partner organisations hand-picked for their expertise to deliver the programme.
We’re proud to support UK Space Command and the UK Space Agency through delivery of BOREALIS. We believe this is a strategic step towards establishing a more holistic approach to the UK’s national space data architecture, with BOREALIS and the National Space Operations Centre (NSpOC) at its heart.
Published 7 March 2025
Source: City of Wolverhampton
Inspectors visited the school at the end of January and, in their report published this week, identified many strengths including teaching, curriculum, standards, leadership and provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
They found that pupils fully reflect the school values of ‘happiness, achieve, respect and teamwork’ in how they conduct themselves. Children ‘listen carefully, show determination, and support each other’, and leave Year 6 ‘as knowledgeable and considerate individuals who are well prepared for secondary school’.
The school, in partnership with the Manor Multi Academy Trust, has designed an ambitious curriculum which identifies the important knowledge, skills and vocabulary pupils need to learn in each subject, with achievement in reading ‘particularly strong’.
Staff identify the needs of pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) quickly, and work with external specialists to ensure they get the help they require.
Pupils have a ‘well developed understanding’ of values such as democracy and equality and ‘demonstrate a mature understanding’ of mental health, benefitting from initiatives that help them to talk about and manage their emotions.
Pupils develop their leadership skills by serving on the junior leadership committee or by taking on the roles of head girl and boy. They can also develop their communication skills by taking part in the ‘Have Hill Got News For You’ project, presenting the latest news and interviewing teachers and classmates, while a range of clubs develop and nurture their musical, artistic and sporting interests.
School leaders, trust leaders and trustees ‘make decisions in the best interests of pupils’, and benefit from an accurate picture of the school because of ‘robust quality assurance systems’. Meanwhile, staff appreciate the strategies in place to reduce their workload, and value professional development opportunities they are given.
Inspectors concluded that Hill Avenue Academy has taken effective action to maintain the Outstanding standards identified at its last inspection in 2019.
Dan Steventon, Head of School, said: “I am very proud to lead this school and I am very proud of what all of our children are achieving.”
Manor Multi Academy Trust Chief Executive Officer Hayley Guest and Chief Executive Advisor Anita Cliff added: “We would like to thank all staff and directors for their dedication and hard work over the past few years that has enabled Hill Avenue to continue to be a great school for our children. We are privileged to work with such a talented team.
“We would also like to thank the City of Wolverhampton Council for its commitment to the expansion programme which has not only improved our environment for our children but has enabled more children from our community to be able to attend our school.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, said: “This is an outstanding report in every respect, and I would like to congratulate everyone at Hill Avenue on their continuing success.
“As a council, we are also delighted to have been able to work closely with Hill Avenue with its expansion plans which means that even more local children can benefit from the outstanding education it provides.”
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Representatives of the State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, headed by Deputy Director General for Human Resources Tatyana Terentyeva, visited the Polytechnic University on a working visit. The company is interested in expanding cooperation with the Polytechnic in many areas, especially in the field of personnel training and employment of graduates at its enterprises. These topics were discussed at a meeting with the Polytechnic leadership and during an acquaintance with its research base.
The visit began with a ceremonial presentation of Rosatom awards to the polytechnicians.
“The Polytechnic University and the State Corporation Rosatom have developed not just business-like, but warm and friendly relations,” Vitaly Sergeev, First Vice-Rector of SPbPU, greeted the guests. “Of course, this is our strategic partner, with whom we work in many areas, both scientific and educational. And it is especially pleasant to begin our meeting with the ceremonial part, with the presentation of awards from the state corporation.”
Before the ceremony, Tatyana Terentyeva addressed the Polytechnic representatives: Rosatom is a global participant in the world energy market. We have big common tasks – both the formation of fourth-generation nuclear energy, increasing the share of nuclear energy in Russia to 25 percent, and the preparation of the future nuclear elite for our international partners. So the program of our further strategic cooperation will be expanded.
After welcoming remarks, Tatyana Anatolyevna presented awards to the Polytechnic University teachers and staff. For significant personal contribution to the development of international scientific and educational cooperation and training of personnel for the nuclear industry, the Director of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering Alexander Kalyutik was awarded the 2nd degree “Academician I. V. Kurchatov” badge of distinction.
Honorary certificates of the Rosatom State Corporation were awarded to: Vice-Rector for International Activities Dmitry Arsenyev, Director of the Higher School of Power Engineering of the Institute of Power Engineering Alena Aleshina, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering Irina Paramonova and Head of the International Education Department Evgeniya Satalkina.
The following received gratitude from the Director General of Rosatom: Associate Professor of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering Irina Anikin, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Technosphere Safety of the Civil Engineering Institute Anton Byzov, Associate Professor of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering Yaroslav Vladimirov, Leading Specialist of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy of the Institute of Power Engineering Natalia Donmez, Professor of the Higher School of Power Engineering of the Institute of Power Engineering Alexander Zharkovsky and Leading Specialist of the Higher School of Advanced Digital Technologies of the PIS “Digital Engineering” Maxim Konyushin.
Having congratulated his colleagues on their well-deserved awards, Vitaly Sergeev proposed discussing further cooperation between the university and the state corporation, handing over the floor to vice-rectors Alexey Borovkov and Dmitry Arsenyev, as well as institute directors Anatoly Popovich and Viktor Barskov.
Vice-Rector for Digital Transformation of SPbPU, Head of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering” Alexey Borovkov presented the results of cooperation with the State Corporation Rosatom. He noted the scale of cooperation, covering about 20 years, and highlighted the key achievements, events and developments implemented jointly with the corporation’s enterprises and organizations.
The Rosatom State Corporation is a strategic partner of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”. It is important to emphasize that out of 22 high-tech partner companies of the school, seven Rosatom divisions supported the creation and development of the SPbPU Advanced Engineering School program with letters of guarantee for co-financing at the start of the federal project, – noted Alexey Borovkov.
Alexey Ivanovich also spoke about systemic interaction with Rosatom divisions. Joint projects with the corporation’s organizations and enterprises are aimed at solving urgent engineering problems of the nuclear industry and industry of Russia, training a new generation of engineers with world-class competencies, as well as developing scientific, technological and educational infrastructure.
Every year, the structural divisions of the SPbPU Ecosystem of Technological Development carry out dozens of orders for Rosatom enterprises, including: Centrotech-Engineering, TVEL, TsKBM, NIKIET, NIIgrafit, PO Mayak, Prepreg-SKM, ITER-Center, Proryv, RFNC-VNIIEF, OKBM Afrikantov, etc. The total cost of the completed research and development work exceeds 660 million rubles.
The speaker noted that training engineering personnel in the interests of Rosatom is one of the key areas of activity of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”. As part of cooperation with the state corporation, the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU implements educational programs aimed at developing students’ competencies that meet the modern challenges of the nuclear industry. Among the master’s programs created in the interests of the enterprises of the leading nuclear industry are “Digital Engineering in Nuclear and Fusion Energy” (program partners: JSC Atomstroyexport (management company of the engineering division of the State Corporation Rosatom), JSC NIKIET (an enterprise of the State Corporation Rosatom), A.F. Ioffe Physical-Technical Institute, Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences), “Digital Engineering of the Main Technological Equipment of Hydrogen Technologies and New-Generation Energy Systems” (program partner: JSC TsKBM, part of the mechanical engineering division of Rosatom), “System Digital Engineering in Nuclear Engineering” (program partner: TVEL Fuel Company of the State Corporation Rosatom).
For students and engineers of the Advanced Engineering School of SPbPU “Digital Engineering”, a scientific and technological educational infrastructure is being actively created together with industrial partners of the nuclear industry: the “TVEL – SPbPU” space, the engineering center for the design of pumping equipment “TsKBM – Polytech”, the laboratories of “Polymer Composite Materials” (Composite Division of Rosatom) and complex developments of the main equipment of chemical-technological and energy systems of the new generation – in cooperation with JSC “TsKBM”. These initiatives allow students and young professionals to work on modern equipment, participate in real projects and research, and develop the skills necessary for successful work in high-tech industries.
Vice-Rector for International Affairs Dmitry Arsenyev focused on the issues of training personnel for the energy sector of foreign countries. Polytechnic has been teaching foreign students for over 60 years. Currently, 5,000 people from 107 countries are studying in the main educational programs. Dmitry Germanovich noted that 54 educational programs relate to the profile of Rosatom, including 10 in English.
“We started cooperating with Rosatom to train personnel for foreign countries in 2013,” said Dmitry Arsenyev. “The largest project is the graduation of specialists for the Turkish nuclear power plant Akkuyu Nuclear. From 2015 to 2023, we trained 96 people, including 72 masters. We actively participate in the state corporation’s programs for teaching the Russian language.”
Dmitry Arsenyev noted the interesting train-the-trainers supplementary education program, which has already been completed by 63 people, mentioned winter and summer schools and presented the experience of the Polytechnic University as a coordinator Russian-African Network University.
Dmitry Germanovich proposed to continue developing the train-the-trainers program, to intensify the targeted admission of foreign students to study at SPbPU through the State Corporation Rosatom, to create a representative office of SPbPU on the territory of ObninskTech to develop network interaction, to develop international educational programs for African countries taking into account the needs of Rosatom and to involve RAFU in their promotion.
Director of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Anatoly Popovich structured his report in such a way as to draw attention to the target setting for technological leadership.
“When we talk about technological leadership, we must not forget that these are technologies of the future,” he emphasized. “We have chosen additive technologies. The Polytechnic University has created an end-to-end cycle – from obtaining powders to quality control of products. The Polytechnic University was the first of Russia’s technical universities to switch to low-tonnage, science-intensive production of complex objects.”
Anatoly Anatolyevich named the main achievements of IMMiT in the field of additive technologies, presented the results of the implementation of technologies in combination with equipment, and spoke about what engineers manufacture according to orders from enterprises, including Rosatom. For example, in 2020, Polytechnic University won a mega-grant from Rosatom State Corporation to create new materials and products based on shape memory alloys with a controlled structure and piezoelectric ceramics using additive 4D technologies for the state corporation.
The director of the Institute, Viktor Barskov, spoke about the interaction of the Institute of Power Engineering, the State Corporation Rosatom and the Rosenergoatom Concern. He listed the specialists and areas in which the Polytechnic prepares for the thermal and electric power industry, covering almost all the needs of the industry. At the same time, Viktor Valentinovich noted that there is a need to change the approach to the existing education model so that Rostec is properly represented in SPbPU.
“For the modern education model, when we talk about engineers, designers, constructors, a special approach is needed. The labor market is overheated, if the enterprise wants to receive highly qualified personnel ready to work without additional retraining and investments, it is necessary to change the model of interaction with universities and students,” says Viktor Valentinovich. “We have a basic department of the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant “Nuclear Energy”, it operates according to the old scheme: students do practical training at the Leningrad Nuclear Power Plant, and the company’s specialists give lectures at the university. However, now students are very demanding, it is necessary to have a close connection with the enterprise, so that familiarization with production begins not with practical training in the third year, but directly from school, so that already interested schoolchildren enter the Polytechnic. In addition to practical training and lectures, students from the first year must study in specialized classrooms, engage in creativity in coworkings, use the company’s software, that is, absorb information about it in the process of learning and student life. It is necessary to restart and reformat the basic department of “Nuclear Energy” so that work with students is carried out more intensively.”
Viktor Barskov also proposed expanding scholarship programs.
The speech was concluded by the head of the Rosatom student community at SPbPU, a 5th-year student majoring in Nuclear Reactors and Materials, Victoria Chernova. She said that their cell has 45 activists who work with schoolchildren and applicants, participate in fairs for first-year students and youth career forums, strategy sessions, and visit Rosatom enterprises. In 2025, they plan to participate in events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the nuclear industry.
In the TVN building of the Higher School of Nuclear and Thermal Energy, Rosatom representatives visited the branded information space of Rosenergoatom Concern (LNPP) and the software and hardware complex “Virtual Power Unit of the NPP”, which will be launched into the educational process in September. The simulator was developed by Atomenergoproekt, it can be used to simulate various operating modes of the power unit, including emergency ones, and to perform calculations for scientific research.
The guests got acquainted with the capabilities of some advanced spaces of the SPbPU PISh “Digital Engineering”. Tatyana Terentyeva talked to students who are working on projects in the interests of the Fuel Division inscientific and technological educational space “TVEL – SPbPU”.
In addition, Tatyana Anatolyevna visited laboratory for integrated development of basic equipment for chemical-technological and energy systems new generation, the opening of which took place on February 25, 2025 with the participation of representatives of JSC TsKBM.
The creation of advanced scientific and technological platforms in cooperation with Rosatom enterprises is an important step in training personnel for the nuclear industry. We see how students and young specialists are actively involved in solving complex problems, which allows them not only to gain knowledge, but also to immediately apply it in practice, – emphasized Tatyana Terentyeva.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
Artur Asylguzhin is a Master’s student at the Polytechnic University’s Digital Engineering School and an engineer at the Computer Engineering Center at the SPbPU School. He is studying in the Advanced Digital Technologies in Engine Building program. He has proven himself in many professional and academic events. In March 2023, his team took second place in the final of the student track of the National Technology Olympiad in Advanced Manufacturing Technologies. Artur also won silver at the Rector’s Cup 2023 competition. Last year, he and his peers took part in the Engine Building Engineering Championship in Yekaterinburg. Artur also took part in a student project competition organized by the APM Scientific and Technical Center, a developer of the APM platform for multidisciplinary analysis. We interviewed Arthur for our project “Persona”.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The East Siberian Oil and Gas Company (VSNK, a subsidiary of Rosneft) has summed up the results of a grant competition to support projects of practical importance for the Evenki District of Krasnoyarsk Krai. The program includes grants for the creation of a unique online library on the Ket language, the study of the ichthyofauna of the Podkamennaya Tunguska River, and the assessment of predator populations in the region’s forests.
Evenkia is the territory of residence of the indigenous peoples of the North – Evenks, Keto, Yakuts, Dolgans and Evens. Currently, the languages of the indigenous population are under threat of extinction. The Ket language is the only surviving representative of the Yeniseian language family. According to the latest data, about six percent of the Ket people speak their native language.
As part of the enterprise grant for collecting linguistic and folklore material, experts will conduct surveys of native speakers and digitize the surviving information about the Ket language. Based on the materials received, the first Ket online library and a unique Ket-Russian translator will be created. An important tool for preserving this ancient language will be working with schoolchildren. New information resources will be aimed at student teachers and primary school teachers who will be able to pass on knowledge about the Ket language and culture to schoolchildren.
The second project, which received grant support from the VSNK, is related to the assessment of the state of the ichthyofauna of the Podkamennaya Tunguska River. The study of fish populations is of great importance for the indigenous peoples of the North. Scientists from the Central Siberian State Nature Biosphere Reserve will conduct an analysis of the biological characteristics of fish, a cytogenetic study, and a survey of the local population. The results of the study will allow us to assess the presence and impact of stress factors in the habitat of commercial fish.
More than 20 species of mammals live in the forests of Evenkia. Among them are six large predators. The third grant was allocated to study the state of forests, which affects the species composition of mammals, their numbers and choice of habitats. As part of the project, employees of the Tunguska State Nature Reserve will assess the impact of the state of the forest on the number of bears, wolves, sables, and lynxes, a new species for the region.
Preservation of the national culture of the indigenous peoples of the North and their traditional way of life is one of the key areas of Rosneft’s social policy. The Company’s enterprises implement various projects in support of social, educational and cultural initiatives, and scientific and applied research.
The VSNK grant program makes a significant contribution to the preservation of the unique national culture, identity and traditional way of life of the indigenous population of Evenkia. The enterprise program has been in effect since 2014, during which time the oil workers have supported 32 scientific works, including projects to preserve the Evenki language, the reconstruction of the Ethno-pedagogical center in the village of Tura, and the revival of the endangered breed of the Evenki aboriginal Laika.
Thanks to the grant support of the VNSK, the Red Book of Evenkia was published in 2020, which presents 45 rare and rare animals. In 2024, scientists from the Siberian Federal University updated the list of rare animal species in the region. Over the years of the grant program, support has also been provided to many cultural and ethnographic projects. Linguists have created a manual for schoolchildren on studying the culture and language of the unique Keto people, released an electronic version of the Evenki-Russian dictionary “Evedy-Luchady Tureruk”, and a monograph “New Projects for the Revival of the Evenki Language and Culture”.
Reference:
The East Siberian Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of Rosneft Oil Company, is developing the Yurubcheno-Tokhomskoye oil and gas condensate field in the Evenki municipal district of Krasnoyarsk Krai.
Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft March 7, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
The Met has confirmed conditions remain in place on a long-running protest in Swiss Cottage.
The static protest in Finchley Road, at the junction of Eton Avenue, has been taking place on a weekly basis on Friday’s since October 2023.
From Friday, 28 February the protest, organised by the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network (IJAN), must take place within a designated area in Kings Cross.
The decision to impose these conditions has been made with a view to minimising serious disruption to the community in the Swiss Cottage area.
Superintendent Jack Rowlands, who is responsible for the policing operation across Camden and Islington, said:
“Our role is to ensure all those exercising their right to protest can do so without incident and without causing serious disruption to the lives of the wider community.
“We have imposed conditions under the Public Order Act on when and where this protest can take place. I would ask anyone attending to make themselves aware of these conditions as to breach them, or to incite others to do so, is a criminal offence.”
The conditions state:
– Any person participating in the IJAN protest must remain in the area shaded on the attached map outside Kings Cross Station, Euston Road, London, on the pavement between the bus stop and pedestrian crossing.
– The assembly must finish by 19:30hrs.
Officers will be in attendance and we would encourage people to speak to them if they have concerns. They are there to ensure everyone is kept safe.
If you want to report anything suspicious you can call 101 or 999 in an emergency.
Source: Universities – Science Po in English
Echoing the Stand Up for Science movement, which was organised in the US to defend academic freedom, a call to mobilise in France has been launched for Friday, 7 March. Conferences, rallies and marches are being organised on the initiative of scientists united under the banner of Stand Up for Science France. Sciences Po, along with its partner The Conversation, has been committed from the outset to supporting those who advance research.
March 7 has been recognized as the “Day of the Stand Up for Science Movement”, launched in 2017 in response to the anti-science actions of the first Trump administration. Under the second, attacks on scientists and scientific inquiry have escalated into a systematic assault–tantamount to a coup d’Etat against science itself.
While Donald Trump is often portrayed as erratic, his policies in this area have followed a consistent trajectory. His new administration has once again declared ‘war’ on evidence-based national policymaking and science diplomacy in foreign affairs as evidenced by several early actions. Immediately after taking office, Donald Trump issued executive orders freezing or canceling tens of billions in research funding. All National Science Foundation projects have been halted pending review, while the National Institutes of Health faces suspensions under Health and Human Services directives. The US has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization, alongside a sweeping review of 90% of USAID-funded projects, signaling a major retreat from climate and global health diplomacy. Federal agencies and universities are in turmoil, leaving thousands of research-professors in limbo amid a politically driven funding freeze. The 2025 March simply calls for the restoration of federal research funding and an end to government censorship and political interference in science.
While the Trump administration is not the sole force undermining academia worldwide, its actions are particularly striking coming from the world’s leading scientific superpower. Moreover, the situation is especially concerning because developments in the United States often have a ripple effect, shaping policies in other regions in the years that follow.
Neither of the world’s top two scientific superpowers–Washington and Beijing–is positioned to champion academic freedom. China, having failed a liberal constitutional tradition and academic independence since the 1920s, restricts academic freedom to the confines of one-party rule. Caught between these rival scientific giants–both partners and competitors–the “old” Europe and like-minded coutries remain the only actors capable of setting new standards for academic freedom.
A decisive step toward its legal protection would be formal recognition by the Nobel Committees for Peace and Science of academic freedom’s fundamental role–both in ensuring scientific excellence and as a pillar of free, democratic societies.
For the past decade, the Scholars at Risk association (SAR) has documented a broader global decline in academic freedom in its annual Free to Think Report. The 2024 edition highlights particularly alarming situations in 18 countries and territories (including the United States), which recorded 391 attacks on scholars, students, or institutions across 51 regions in a year. Data from the Academic Freedom Index in Berlin confirm that more than half of the world’s population lives in regions where academic freedom is either entirely or severely restricted. Some of the most concerning conditions are in emerging scientific ecosystems such as Turkey, Brazil, Egypt, South Africa, or Saudi Arabia. The overall trend is deteriorating: only 10 out of 179 countries have improved, while many democratic regimes are increasingly affected.
Academic freedom in the European Union remains relatively high compared to the rest of the world. However, nine EU member states fall below the regional average, and in eight of them, it has declined over the past decade–signaling a gradual erosion of this fundamental value. Hungary ranks the lowest among EU countries, placing in the bottom 20–30% worldwide. Recent laws have further weakened university autonomy across the EU: financial autonomy in Austria, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Slovakia; organizational autonomy in Slovenia, Estonia, and Denmark; staffing autonomy in Croatia and Slovakia; and academic autonomy in Denmark and Estonia. Moreover, the European Parliament’s first report on academic freedom (2023) highlights emerging threats in France–political, educational, and societal–that impact the freedom of research, teaching, and study.
Freedom of expression, a fundamental pillar of academic freedom, has long been established as a human right, overcoming centuries of censorship and authoritarian control. In contrast, academic freedom is a more recent principle, granting scholars–recognized by their peers–the right and responsibility to research and teach freely in pursuit of knowledge. Like press freedom for journalists, it is a right granted to a few for the benefit of all.
Rooted in medieval Europe, academic freedom has evolved from a privilege granted to students in the Quartier Latin to a recognized principle in international rights frameworks. It gained a collective and concrete dimension in the late 18th and early 19th centuries with the rise of the modern university. Wilhelm von Humboldt, founder of the modern public university in Berlin (1810), articulated the concept of ‘freedom of science’ (Wissenschaftsfreiheit), later enshrined in the Weimar Constitution of 1919, which declared that “art, science, and education are free.” The rise of American universities around the same time reshaped the concept, giving rise to “professional academic freedom.” This was formalized in the American Association of University Professors’ 1915 Declaration of Principles on Academic Freedom and Tenure, which affirmed the scholar’s primary duty to seek and establish truth. Though its roots lie in Germany, academic freedom ultimately became a cornerstone of American academic discourse.
In the United States, academic freedom draws from multiple sources, with its protection varying by state laws, customs, institutional practices, and the status of higher education institutions. However, U.S. Supreme Court rulings have gradually reinforced its constitutional foundation, particularly after the McCarthy era, by invoking the First Amendment. Landmark cases such as Adler v. Board of Education (1952), Wieman v. Updegraff (1952), and Sweezy v. New Hampshire (1957) helped establish a constitutional doctrine on academic freedom. Finally, Keyishian v. Board of Regents (1967) extended First Amendment protections to academia, ruling that mandatory loyalty oaths violated both academic freedom and freedom of association.
Interestingly, the American interpretation of academic freedom is currently more restrictive than the German model in certain respects. Article 5(3) of the 1989 Basic Law affirms the “right to adopt public organizational measures essential to protect a space of freedom, fostering independent scientific activity”. In contrast, the U.S. places greater emphasis on prohibitions and prioritizing individual rights over institutional autonomy.
Despite local variations, academic freedom is fundamentally tied to a shared vision of the university that upholds freedom of thought, with rationality and pluralism at its core. It includes the genuine “right to be wrong”–the understanding that a scientific opinion may be incorrect or even proven so does not diminish its protection. This stands in stark contrast to the anti-science, scientistic, or techno-nationalist approach, which views knowledge as a tool of power to serve a predetermined truth and objective of dominance. Authoritarian science, driven by power interests, seeks to diminish critical humanities and social sciences while elevating religion. It tends to reject interdisciplinary work, is exclusively mathematized, and is oriented toward a centralized yet deregulated autocratic tech-utopian state model.
Since 1945, we have operated under the illusion that academic freedom is an indispensable condition for scientific excellence. However, we have recently learned that no systematic link exists between academic freedom and breakthrough scientific innovation in our era of new technologies. Given these circumstances, this proposal advocates for a nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, for the first time in its history, in recognition of academic freedom.
The Nobel Prize Committees for Science and Peace share the responsibility of using their prestigious platforms to uphold fundamental scientific and democratic values. They are uniquely positioned to champion humanist science, reinforcing its importance for scholars, students, and civil societies worldwide. Since the 1950s, around 90% of Nobel Prize laureates in scientific fields have either been US citizens or have studied and worked at Ivy League research institutions.
While some US scientists are contesting actions of the Trump administration in court, academics worldwide should stand in solidarity with their American colleagues in resisting the erosion of science. To strengthen their efforts, they require the support of the Nobel Prize Committees.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Eni and UKAEA launch a research and technological development collaboration for innovative solutions in the field of fusion energy.
Image Credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the UK’s national organisation responsible for the research and delivery of sustainable fusion energy, and Eni, have entered into a collaboration agreement to jointly conduct research and development activities in the field of fusion energy. The collaboration primary starts with the construction of the world’s largest and most advanced tritium fuel cycle facility, a vital fuel for future fusion power stations. The “UKAEA-Eni H3AT (pronounced ‘heat’) Tritium Loop Facility”, located at Culham Campus will be complete in 2028.
Image credit: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority
Tritium recovery and re-use will play a fundamental role in the supply and generation of the fuel in future fusion power plants and will be crucial in making the technology increasingly efficient.
Fusion is a form of energy whereby the power of the Sun is replicated on Earth. The fusion process sees two hydrogen isotopes fuse together under intense heat and pressure to form a helium atom, releasing large amounts of emissions-free energy through a safe, cleaner and virtually inexhaustible process.
Fusion energy could be transformational to contribute to energy security and decarbonisation.
The “UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility” is designed to serve as a world-class facility providing industry and academia the opportunity to study how to process, store and recycle tritium.
UKAEA and Eni will collaborate to develop advanced technological solutions in fusion energy and related technologies, including skills transfer initiatives.
Eni will contribute to the H3AT project with its expertise in managing and developing large-scale projects, helping to de-risk its roadmap. This partnership combines UKAEA’s extensive expertise in fusion research and development with Eni’s established industrial-scale capabilities in plant engineering, commissioning, and operations.
UK Climate Minister, Kerry McCarthy, said:
We are proud to be at the forefront of global innovation in clean energy fusion technologies, and this collaboration with Eni marks a significant step towards unlocking the potential of fusion energy, supporting our missions for economic growth, clean power and energy independence.
The UKAEA-Eni H3AT Tritium Loop Facility will not only position the UK as a leader in the development of fusion fuel technologies but also accelerate progress towards a future of safe, sustainable, and abundant clean energy.
Professor Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of UKAEA, said:
We are delighted to be working with Eni who have shown great commitment to fusion. We believe that fusion energy can contribute to a net zero future, including going beyond the decarbonisation of electricity.
The H3AT demonstration plant will set a new benchmark as the largest and most advanced tritium fuel cycle facility in the world, paving the way for innovative offerings in fusion fuel and demonstrating the UK’s leadership in this crucial area of research and development.
Claudio Descalzi, Eni CEO said:
Fusion energy is meant to revolutionise the global energy transition path, accelerating the decarbonisation of our economic and industrial systems, helping to spread access to energy, and reducing energy dependency ties within a more equitable transition framework. Eni is strongly committed to various areas of research and development of this complex technology, in which it has always firmly believed. Today with our UK partners we are laying the foundations for further progress towards the goal of fusion which—if we consider its enormous scope of technological innovation—is increasingly concrete and not so far off in time. To continue this virtuous development, international system-level technological partnerships like this one are indispensable.
Eni supports a socially fair energy transition with the aim of promoting efficient and progressively more sustainable access to energy resources. Eni places innovation at the centre of its strategic vision and it has transformed the businesses by investing significantly in research, development, and the implementation of technologies to progressively decarbonising its energy mix and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
UKAEA’s mission is to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise the scientific and economic benefit. It aims to solve the challenges of this new energy source, from design through to decommissioning with world-leading science and engineering. UKAEA enables partners to design, deliver, and operate commercial fusion power plants around the globe and fosters the creation of clusters that accelerate innovation and help drive economic growth.
Published 7 March 2025
Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
Photo from personal archive
Anastas Karagadayev, graduate Institute for Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge HSE, achieved high results in his career path while still a student. At that time, he took an active part in the activities Science and Technology Research Laboratories ISSEK and founded his own startup, and is currently working on developing projects within the framework of the Russian-Chinese Center for Innovation Cooperation in Nanjing.
Anastas Karagadayev told the news service “HSE.Glavnoe” about his current and past projects, his studies at HSE, and also gave advice to all students of the university.
— Our center is engaged in supporting joint projects of Russia and China. We work with business organizations, startups, as well as with scientific and educational projects, universities. We work with Chinese organizations at their request, if something needs to be done in Russia, for example, to find a partner or develop a project, as well as with Russian organizations in China. About the latest projects, I can say that we helped several Russian startups enter the Chinese market, actively help young entrepreneurs from Russia develop their projects in China and work with Russian universities, for example, with MISiS.
I am learning Chinese, it turned out to be much more difficult than I thought, and so far there is progress, but not so much that I can speak Chinese fluently. I am very happy with the development of my career, my choice. There are also many difficulties. For example, there is a cultural barrier. We are different nations, we have our own cultural concepts, a language barrier and many other things, traditions that are difficult for us to understand right away due to differences in mentality.
— I apply almost all of my university knowledge in my work one way or another. I found the educational materials, the projects we carried out, and the experience of intercultural communication very useful. In this regard, HSE gave me a lot. My program was entirely in English, with a more international focus. They taught innovation management and policy in this area, how to organize work with innovations, science, and technology in a particular country. I liked my program, the materials, the teachers, everything turned out to be very relevant.
— Since my program included extensive research activities, at some point I became very interested in it all, especially my master’s thesis, I put a lot of effort into it. In parallel with my studies, I started working at the department, there was a task related to artificial intelligence, it was necessary to develop a classification of technologies. We had the widest possible circle of partners. It was interesting, we achieved certain successes.
— The startup was in the field of robotics, it was an educational robot — so that schoolchildren could build their own robot in class or in extracurricular activities, program it and thereby learn robotics, engineering. This idea was born from my own hobbies: even as a child I liked robotics, I participated in various Olympiads, competitions, built something myself. And then I lacked exactly this kind of product, this kind of robot.
Several of my classmates and I had the same line of thought, they were also interested in children’s robotics. And we decided to try our hand at developing this idea within the framework of such a startup project. I helped define the vision of the project, develop it, received grants, applied to accelerators, and two of my friends were engaged in the technical part and the educational program. For three years, we have been actively developing the project in Russia: we have several prototypes of the robot itself, and we have released an online course. At the moment, the project is frozen, the course can still be found on the Internet, about 1,300 people are taking it online, but the robot itself and further development of the project are on hold.
— Participate in activities as often as possible and meet as many different people as possible, be interested in them and what they do, not immediately with some goal, but simply to make new friends, acquaintances. This opened up many opportunities for me.
— For now, I will continue to develop in the current vector, because I see a great need for organizations that support businesses in Russia and China. Organizations of these two countries interact a lot, but it often happens that some kind of push is needed for this, or help, or just some kind of constant support. Russia and China, it seems to me, can interact very well. They are already actively doing this, but in the future they can only build up and strengthen our friendship and mutually beneficial partnership.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
ING to nominate Petri Hofsté and Stuart Graham as members of the Supervisory Board
ING announced today that it will propose to appoint Petri Hofsté and Stuart Graham to the Supervisory Board at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held on 22 April 2025. The proposed appointments are part of the agenda for ING’s 2025 AGM that has been published today. Upon decision by the AGM, the appointments will be effective as of 1 July 2025.
Petri Hofsté (Dutch, 1961) has extensive experience in the financial and corporate sector, including as auditor, controller and CFO. She served as division director of Banking Supervision at De Nederlandsche Bank and held board positions at various financial institutions. Currently she is a member of the supervisory board at Achmea (until 15 April 2025), Royal Friesland Campina and Pon Holdings and is chair of the Nyenrode Foundation. Petri holds a master’s degree in Business Economics, Finance and Accounting from the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, as well as a degree as chartered accountant.
Stuart Graham (British/German, 1967) has more than three decades of experience in the financial sector. He is the co-founder and prior CEO of Autonomous Research, a leading global financial services research firm. Before that, he was a banking analyst at JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch and was regularly ranked as a leading equity research analyst on European banks. He currently is consultant to Trade Republic. Stuart holds a master’s degree in Modern History from Cambridge University.
Karl Guha, chairman of the Supervisory Board of ING said: “The addition of Petri Hofsté and Stuart Graham to our board will allow ING to benefit greatly from their experience and insights as we execute our strategy to be the best European bank by accelerating growth, increasing impact and delivering value. I look forward to working with them.”
The AGM agenda also includes the proposals to reappoint Steven van Rijswijk and Ljiljana Čortan for a term of four years to the Executive Board, and to reappoint Lodewijk Hijmans van den Bergh for a term of four years and Margarete Haase for a term of two years to the Supervisory Board. All four were (re)appointed at the AGM in 2021. All proposed (re)appointments have been approved by the European Central Bank.
It will also be proposed to appoint Deloitte Accountants BV as the external auditor to provide assurance on the Sustainability Statement for a term of four years starting on 1 January 2026. At the 2024 AGM, Deloitte was appointed as external auditor for the audit of the financial statements for a term of four years starting on 1 January 2026.
Full details of all agenda items are included in the proxy materials for our AGM. The proxy materials also include the 2024 Annual Report of ING, including the Annual Accounts and the reports of the Executive Board and the Supervisory Board, as published on 6 March 2025, as well as other information and documents as required by law. The proxy materials, including the agenda for the AGM, are available on our website (ing.com/agm).
Registered shareholders may attend the AGM starting at 2 p.m., either in person at Muziekgebouw aan ’t IJ (Piet Heinkade 1, 1019 BR Amsterdam, the Netherlands) or remotely, by logging on to the electronic platform ‘Evote by ING’, available via ing.com/agm. The supporting materials published today provide further details on how to register, participate and vote. The AGM will also be webcast live via ing.com. Shareholders are advised to check the information on the website regularly for any updates, including details on admission requirements.
Note for editors
For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.
ING PROFILE
ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 100 countries.
ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).
ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell. Society is transitioning to a low-carbon economy. So are our clients, and so is ING. We finance a lot of sustainable activities, but we still finance more that’s not. Follow our progress on ing.com/climate.
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFORMATION
Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’).
ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2024 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.
Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may differ materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) non- compliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the effects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change, diversity, equity and inclusion and other ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting and also including managing the conflicting laws and requirements of governments, regulators and authorities with respect to these topics (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com.
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Attachment
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
The SAP-certified, highly integrated solution meets all the requirements of German and European legislation on electronic invoices.
Ahrensburg/Künzelsau/Köln, Germany – March 7, 2025. The BERNER Group, an innovative manufacturer of chemical products and a leading European trading company for mobility, construction and industry professionals, decided to implement xSuite. The AI-driven solution will be used to automate incoming invoice processing. It will initially be introduced at the B2B specialist’s Benelux entities, followed by successive roll-outs in other European countries.
The central B2B trading partner BERNER Group provides its services to customers 24/7 in 21 countries, delivering an integrated omni-channel shopping experience across five channels. With modern logistics centers in twelve countries and close to 100 depots or craftsman centers in metropolitan areas, the company is one of only two providers in the industry to boast a Europe-wide distribution network.
Procurement and all associated accounting processes depend on a high degree of speed and flexibility. This is why the BERNER Group has decided to replace its previous invoice capture and workflow solution with xSuite. The manufacturer impressed thanks to its comprehensive e-invoicing capabilities for outgoing and incoming invoices, extensive industry experience, excellent support and unrivaled value for money.
Sven Spitz, Head of Finance & HR Solutions at the BERNER Group: “The highly modern xSuite software allows us to standardize and efficiently design our invoicing processes. The solution supports all SAP operating models, so we are set up for years to come. And thanks to artificial intelligence and cloud support, we will be able to significantly reduce our administrative expense.”
The solution will initially go live in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. It will then be introduced in other European subsidiaries of the BERNER Group in stages. The SAP-certified, integrated solution fully complies with the stringent requirements of German and European legislation on electronic invoicing. The data capturing of all incoming invoices is processed via the xSuite cloud service. The solution also draws on AI functions to automatically capture and assign invoices that are not based on a purchase order.
About xSuite Group
xSuite is a software manufacturer of applications for document-based processes and provides standardized, digital solutions worldwide that enable simple, secure, and fast work. We focus mainly on the automation of important work processes in conjunction with end-to-end document management. Our core competence lies in accounts payable (AP) automation in SAP (including e-invoicing), for leading companies worldwide, as well as for public clients. This is supplemented by applications for purchasing and order processes as well as archiving. Delivering everything from a single source (software components and services). xSuite solutions operate in the cloud or in hybrid scenarios. We are proud of the superior quality products we offer, proven by the SAP solutions and deployment environment certifications we regularly receive. With over 300,000 users benefitting from our solutions, xSuite processes more than 80 million documents per year in over 60 countries.
Founded in 1994 and headquartered in Ahrensburg, Germany, xSuite employs about 300 employees across nine locations around the world (in Europe, Asia, and the United States). Our company has an established information security management system that is certified in accordance with ISO 27001:2022.
Contact:
Barbara Wirtz
xSuite Group GmbH
Marketing & PR
Tel. +49 (0)4102/88 38 36
barbara.wirtz@xsuite.com
www.xsuite.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
DENVER, March 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — THSYU, the bold new cryptocurrency exchange, has unleashed a global call-to-action with its ambassador program, drawing crypto pioneers, tech enthusiasts, and visionary investors from every corner of the planet. Offering jaw-dropping token incentives, tiered rewards, and exclusive partnership perks, THSYU isn’t just a platform—it’s a movement. This is your chance to shape the future of crypto finance, and THSYU is proving it’s all-in on rewriting the rules of the game.
A Fortress of Trust Meets Rocket-Fueled Innovation
What powers THSYU’s meteoric rise? An elite squad of blockchain wizards, fintech trailblazers, and cybersecurity titans. This dream team has engineered a platform that’s as impenetrable as a vault and as fast as a lightning strike. With military-grade encryption, multi-layer cold storage, and an AI-driven threat detection system that reacts in milliseconds, THSYU turns the chaos of crypto into a fortress of confidence. Meanwhile, its trading engine—capable of processing 1 million transactions per second—lets users ride every market wave with precision. “It’s like trading on steroids,” said a thrilled Parisian user. “Secure, fast, and unstoppable.”
France Leads, the World Follows: A Crypto Experience Like No Other
THSYU isn’t just playing the global game—it’s rewriting it with a France-first flair. Tailored euro trading pairs, French-language support, and seamless integration with local banks make it a homegrown hero for French investors. But the real kicker? THSYU’s commitment to EU regulatory excellence sets a platinum standard that resonates worldwide. From Tokyo to New York, users get a bespoke trading experience that feels personal, secure, and lightning-quick—no matter their timezone. This isn’t just expansion; it’s a global love letter to crypto fans everywhere.
Powerhouse Partnerships Unlock a World of Wealth
THSYU isn’t going it alone. By teaming up with top-tier global investment firms, the platform secures the firepower to dominate markets while handing users a golden key to untapped opportunities. Whether you’re a high-rolling trader chasing massive gains or a newcomer testing the waters, THSYU bridges borders and bankrolls dreams. Cross-border trades? Done. Access to elite market resources? Yours. From steady wins in Europe to explosive growth in Asia, THSYU delivers the tools to conquer the crypto frontier.
Why THSYU Is the Hottest Ticket in 2025
With Bitcoin’s halving ripples and a global crypto surge heating up, 2025 is primed to be a blockbuster year—and THSYU is stealing the spotlight. France, long a sleeping giant in crypto adoption, now has its wake-up call. THSYU’s unbeatable combo of ironclad security, warp-speed trades, and localized genius positions it as the ultimate launchpad for wealth creation. “This isn’t just a platform—it’s my edge,” said a Lyon-based investor. Will you seize the moment?
The Future Is Now—Are You In?
THSYU isn’t waiting for the crypto world to catch up—it’s blazing the trail. With its relentless focus on user empowerment, world-class tech, and strategic alliances, THSYU promises a trading platform that’s safer, faster, and more lucrative than ever before. Every move it makes pulls users closer to the heart of global finance, making them not just players, but pioneers in the new era of crypto wealth. Visit www.thsyu.com today and ignite your future!
Contact Information：
Jessica Green
Chief Operating Officer
Thsyu CRYPTO GROUP LIMITED
Address:1670 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202, US
Email:jessica.green@thsyu.com
Website: www.thsyu.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a5e96c5-6d5d-442a-9b9e-ea29c7fc7188
Source: Mayor of London
In London, around 4,000 premature deaths per year were previously attributed to toxic air [6]. Air pollution increases the risk of developing asthma, lung cancer, heart disease and stroke, and there is growing evidence that air pollution exposure increases the risk of developing dementia [7].
In April 2019, the Mayor of London launched the world’s first 24-hour Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in central London. The zone was expanded across inner London in 2021, and finally to cover the whole capital In August 2023, bringing the air quality and associated health benefits to the five million people living in outer London.
A new City Hall report, extensively reviewed by an independent advisory group of experts* shows that the ULEZ has led to substantial improvements in air quality in outer London and across the capital. [1]
Particle emissions (PM2.5) from vehicle exhausts are estimated to be 31% lower in outer London in 2024 than they would have been without the ULEZ expansion. Alongside NO2 and PM2.5 reductions, NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions from cars and vans are also estimated to be 14 per cent lower in outer London. [2]
The biggest reductions in NO2 levels have been in central London (54%) but there have also been substantial reductions in inner London (29%) and outer London (24%) [1].
The boroughs that have seen the biggest reductions in NOx emissions due to the ULEZ expansion are Sutton, Merton, Croydon, Harrow and Bromley, where harmful emissions are estimated to be around 15 per cent lower in 2024 than would be expected without the expansion to outer London, which covers a large area of around 1250km2.
Thanks to all phases of the ULEZ, NOx emissions from road transport are estimated to be 36 per cent lower across London in 2024, a saving of around 3400 tonnes – the equivalent of approximately one year of emissions from all passenger car trips in Los Angeles [8].
The report also shows that the ULEZ has led to savings in carbon emissions.
Cumulatively between 2019 and 2024, the equivalent of nearly three million one-way passenger trips between Heathrow and New York has been saved in carbon due to ULEZ as a whole [3].
Deprived communities are seeing some of the biggest benefits. For some of the most deprived communities living near London’s busiest roads, there was an estimated 80 per cent reduction in people exposed to illegal levels of pollution in 2023 – this increases to 82 per cent in outer London, compared to a scenario without the ULEZ [9].
Data from the report [2], alongside independent analysis [10] has found that the ULEZ expansion has not impacted footfall or retail and leisure spending in either outer London or London as a whole [8]. Visitor footfall in outer London increased by almost 2 per cent in the year after the London-wide ULEZ expansion.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “When I was first elected, evidence showed it would take 193 years to bring London’s air pollution within legal limits if the current efforts continued. However, due to our transformative policies we are now close to achieving it this year. Today’s report shows that ULEZ works, driving down levels of pollution, taking old polluting cars off our roads and bringing cleaner air to millions more Londoners.
“The decision to expand the ULEZ was not something I took lightly, but this report shows it was the right one for the health of all Londoners. It has been crucial to protect the health of Londoners, support children’s lung growth, and reduce the risk of people developing asthma, lung cancer and a host of other health issues related to air pollution.
“With boroughs in outer London seeing some of the biggest reductions in harmful emissions and London’s deprived communities also seeing greater benefits, this report shows why expanding ULEZ London-wide was so important.
“Thanks to ULEZ and our other policies, all Londoners are now breathing substantially cleaner air – but there is still more to do, and I promise to keep taking action as we build a greener, fairer London for everyone.”
TfL data also shows that Londoners have continued to upgrade their vehicles to cleaner models with 96.7 per cent of vehicles seen driving in London now ULEZ compliant, up from 91.6 per cent in June 2023 and 39 per cent in February 2017, when changes associated with the ULEZ began. Van compliance in outer London is over 90 per cent for the first time (90.7 per cent). In February 2017, just 12 per cent of vans met the ULEZ standards, demonstrating the schemes’ impact on reducing the number of more polluting older vans driving in London. [2]
The data also shows there were nearly 100,000 fewer non-compliant vehicles detected in London on an average day in September 2024 compared to June 2023, when the Mayor announced his plans to extend the ULEZ to outer London – a 58 per cent reduction in non-compliant vehicles. This has been aided by the Mayor’s scrappage scheme, which provided around £200m to support Londoners to switch to cleaner vehicles. The scrappage schemes that supported the introduction of the ULEZ to central London, and the expansion to inner London, were successful in removing 15,232 older and more polluting vehicles from London’s roads. Over 54,700 further applications were approved before the scheme closed in September 2024, including over 400 vehicles donated to humanitarian and medical efforts in Ukraine. A ULEZ scrappage scheme evaluation report to be published shortly will set out the full impact of the scheme, including the total numbers of vehicles scrapped, replaced and donated.
The ULEZ is the centrepiece of a range of measures the Mayor and TfL is implementing to tackle London’s toxic air, including putting a record number of 1900 zero-emission buses on the roads. Since 2019, air quality has improved in 99 per cent of air quality monitoring sites included in the analysis (8) across London, thanks to these measures and wider transport policies, with 80 per cent of monitoring locations showing average NO2 concentration reductions of more than 10 µg/m3, which is a quarter of the legally permitted annual NO2 concentration.
London’s air quality is improving at a faster rate compared to the rest of England (2017-2024). This is particularly notable in outer London where concentrations have improved more rapidly over recent years and are now similar to the rest of England average, which has historically been lower than London [9].
Dr Maria Neira, Director, Department of Environment, Climate Change and Health at the World Health Organization: “Improving air quality through initiatives like the Ultra Low Emission Zone in London is crucial for protecting public health and reducing the burden of disease. Cleaner air leads to healthier communities, lower rates of respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses, and a better quality of life for all residents. The World Health Organization commends the efforts of cities like London in implementing measures to reduce emissions from vehicles and improve air quality, which ultimately contribute to a healthier and more sustainable urban environment.”
Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, said: “Reducing car traffic is one of our greatest opportunities to address the climate emergency. Under the leadership of Mayor Khan, London is showing us what safer, healthier, and greener communities look like, and the results of London’s clean air zone speaks for itself. I commend Mayor Khan for his commitment, leadership and vision to addressing the climate crisis and protecting the lives and health of city residents. London is demonstrating once again that cities lead the fight against climate change.”
Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE, Global Heath Advocate and Founder of the Ella Roberta Foundation said: “I am delighted that the latest analysis since the expansion of ULEZ to outer London shows that air pollution has reduced. My daughter Ella died from emissions from the South Circular Road close to where we live, and I will not stop until everyone in London can breathe safe, clean air, regardless of where they live in the city. People’s health, particularly children’s, should always be prioritised by society, and I look forward to hearing what further plans the Mayor has to continue to clean up the air for all Londoners. ULEZ was an important step, but there is so much more to do, and I will ensure that politicians and decision-makers are held to account, and do all they can to protect people’s health and clean up the air we breathe.”
Christina Calderato, TfL’s Director of Strategy, said: “Bold and ambitious environmental schemes like the ULEZ are pivotal to making tangible long-term air quality improvements to tackle a public health crisis, as shown in this new report. Everyone in the capital is now breathing cleaner air because of ULEZ. Harmful NO2 concentrations are 27 per cent lower across the city than if there had been no ULEZ. There’s less PM2.5 exhaust emissions and NOx pollutants from cars and vans in outer London – an even greater reduction than reported in the first six months of ULEZ showing the continued success of the scheme.
“It is great to see it making a real difference to the air Londoners breathe, and together with our efforts to decarbonise the public transport network, will see generations to come reaping the benefits of a greener, cleaner London.”
Dr Gary Fuller, Imperial College London, and Chair of the ULEZ Advisory Group, said: “Each phase of the ULEZ has led to clear improvements in the air pollution next to London’s roads. This is good news for the current and future health of Londoners, as well as those who travel to London for work or leisure.
“The analysis in this report benefited from an international advisory group of scientists, all with experience in assessing the impacts of urban clean air policies. We worked with the Mayor’s team to stress-test key parts of the analysis and concluded that the core methodology used in this report, and in previous ULEZ reports, was appropriate and robust. The ULEZ is one of over 300 such schemes across the UK and Europe, and many cities are looking to London’s ULEZ results to inform their own plan.”
Jemima Hartshorn, Director, Mums for Lungs said: “Today is a good day for children, and all of us: Air pollution has been reduced due to the pioneering measures of our Mayor and we are so glad about that. But air pollution across the country and even London remains too high. Hopefully, the national Government will learn from this success and support Mayors and councils in stopping pollution from diesel and wood burning making us sick.”
Larissa Lockwood, Director of Policy and Campaigns at Global Action Plan said: “Clean air is a health and social justice issue. This report shows that bold, pro-environment policies can be successful – both in terms of health benefits and electoral success. We celebrate the air quality improvements from ULEZ, urge the Mayor to continue cleaning up the air in London and hope that other political leaders across the UK and the world will be inspired to implement bold measures to tackle air pollution.”
Izzy Romilly, Sustainable Transport Manager at Possible said: “The largest clean air zone in the world has been a triumph. We’ve slashed pollution, and we’ve protected the lungs of the most vulnerable Londoners, with the biggest benefits being felt in areas of highest deprivation. Now, national government and leaders around the world should learn the lessons of ULEZ and show the same ambition to clean up toxic air. Here in London, these findings should give the Mayor the courage to go further and faster on tackling harmful emissions. We need to see more action on transport and traffic, a serious tax on SUVs, and a diesel phase out by 2030.”
Jane Burston, CEO at Clean Air Fund said: “The new data shows how the ULEZ is making a real difference to the quality of the air Londoners breathe. It’s especially encouraging to see that the communities living near the busiest roads are seeing substantial benefits one year on. London’s progress provides an inspiring blueprint for others, including those in our Breathe Cities initiative, by showing how tackling air pollution can improve lives, boost public health and address the climate crisis.”
Barbara Stoll, Senior Director at Clean Cities Campaign said: “Despite fierce opposition – even from the government of the time – the Mayor stood firm, and the results speak for themselves. The ULEZ shows that when city leaders have vision and determination, they can reduce inequities and transform urban life for the better. We urge the Mayor to continue his leadership in championing healthy, climate-friendly transport and to stay committed to making London the world’s first truly electric-vehicle-ready global city.”
Michael Solomon Williams from Campaign for Better Transport said: “This report shows that clean air zones work and other cities should take encouragement from London’s experience. Reducing the harmful effects of road transport and ensuring there are good public transport, walking and cycling options are key to creating healthier, happier communities.”
Livi Elsmore, Campaign Manager, Healthy Air Coalition said: “Over a year on from the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) in London, we are delighted to see significant progress made in cleaning up the capital’s air to protect the health of everyone who lives and works in the capital, and future generations of Londoners.
“Contributing to as many as 4,000 deaths each year in London, air pollution poses the greatest environmental threat to our health. Measures like the ULEZ are among the most effective tools we have to tackle toxic air and protect public health.
“And the impact of ULEZ is now clear: toxic nitrogen dioxide emissions are 27% lower than they would be without the scheme.
“We call on the Mayor of London to continue showing leadership through building a pathway for London to meet the air pollution levels recommended by the WHO, meet London’s transport targets, and take concerted action on unnecessary wood burning in the capital.”
Henry Gregg, Director of External Affairs, Asthma + Lung UK said: “A year on it’s great to see the ULEZ expansion is having a positive impact on improving the capital’s air quality and helping protect the lung health of millions of people, every day. Expanding ULEZ reduced the number of polluting vehicles on the road and is helping every Londoner, regardless of age, ethnicity or background, breathe cleaner air. Air pollution is a public health emergency that affects us all – particularly the estimated 585,000 people in Greater London who have asthma or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Air pollution can worsen the symptoms of people with existing lung conditions, such as breathlessness, wheezing and coughing, and potentially lead to life-threating asthma attacks or serious flare-ups. In some cases it can lead to hospitalisation and even death – up to 4,000 early deaths a year in the capital are linked to air pollution. Unfairly, it is often those living in the most deprived communities who are affected the most by breathing in toxic air. There are no safe levels of air pollution and the government must commit to an ambitious Clean Air Act, which could protect people, wherever they live, from the dangers of polluted air.”
Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr OBE, Mayor of Freetown and Co-Chair of C40 Cities: “Clean air is not a privilege, it’s a fundamental right. The success of London’s clean air zone serves as a powerful testament to the impact of bold action in protecting public health, especially for our most vulnerable communities. As his fellow Co-Chair of C40 Cities, I am proud to stand alongside him, and I urge leaders everywhere to take note of these transformative policies.”
Giuseppe Sala, Mayor of Milan: “The impact of London’s clean air zone is clear: better air, fewer emissions, and a healthier future for all Londoners. Milan supports and celebrates this achievement, as we work on similar policies to protect the health of our residents and make our cities greener and more liveable for all.”
Martin Lutz, formerly Berlin City Government, and member of the ULEZ Advisory Group, said: “With the latest step of extending the ULEZ to the whole city, London has set a global benchmark for how access restrictions for high emission vehicles can effectively reduce air pollution from cars.
“This one year report makes a very strong case for the success and health benefits of the ULEZ for Londoners, thanks to the wealth of data and measurements that have been painstakingly collected over the years of the zone’s gradual expansion.”
Ludo Vandenthoren, Mutualités Libres (a Belgian mutual health insurance firm), and member of the ULEZ Advisory Group, said: “It was an honour to work on this project alongside experts in the field. The GLA and TfL, with their commitment to the citizens of London, demonstrated great receptiveness to the feedback we provided. We were able to contribute information on the socio-economic aspects and health effects of air quality, offer input on the statistical methodology specific to this topic, and share valuable references for their reports. I am particularly proud that the study from the Belgian Independent Health Insurance Funds on air quality is seen as an inspiring model for their own approach. The London ULEZ is an ambitious initiative that will undoubtedly inspire other cities.”
Professor David Carslaw, University of York, and member of the ULEZ Advisory Group, said: “This report represents a detailed evaluation of the emissions and air quality impacts of the London ULEZ. London and its surrounding areas are fortunate in having one of the world’s most comprehensive air quality networks, which provides a strong basis for the evaluation of the air quality impacts of the ULEZ as it has expanded in recent years. The results show the benefits of the ULEZ are widely distributed and have accelerated the improvement in London’s air quality.”
Dr Chinthika Piyasena, Consultant Neonatologist in London said: “As a Londoner and clinician, I’ve long advocated for bold action on air pollution because the science is clear: toxic air harms babies before they even take their first breath. Nitrogen dioxide exposure has been linked to an increased risk of stillbirth, babies being born too early or too small, and even impacts brain development. So a year after the full expansion of ULEZ, it’s incredible to see real progress in reducing this pollutant. Every step we take towards cleaner air, is a step toward healthier pregnancies, healthier babies and a healthier future for all Londoners.”
Simon Birkett, Founder and Director of Clean Air in London said: “I have campaigned for low emission zones since April 2006 – almost two years before the first phase was implemented in London. I was also the first to call for an inner London low emission zone. It is particularly pleasing therefore that the Mayor’s One-Year report on ULEZ expansion – the ninth phase of low and ultra-low emission zones in London – has shown again that these big solutions work. In fact, together with related measures such as cleaner buses and taxis, they have almost single handedly helped London to slash nitrogen dioxide (“NO2”) concentrations by 2/3 near busy roads, and nearly comply with legal limits and the WHO’s 2005 air quality guideline of 40 micrograms per cubic metre (“mg/m3”) by 2025, probably ahead of smaller UK cities.”
Professor Kevin Fenton, London Regional Director, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and Regional Director of Public Health, NHS London said: “As well as reducing air pollution in outer London, this report also shows that ULEZ and its expansions continue to have a positive impact on air quality across the city. Londoners are now benefiting from improved air quality, and this is particularly true for those communities who live in more deprived areas of London.
“In a city where over 480,000 Londoners have a diagnosis of asthma and are more vulnerable to the impacts of air pollution, a 27% reduction in harmful roadside NO2 concentrations across the whole city will bring about invaluable health benefits. And I’m optimistic that Londoners will continue to benefit from better air quality, and subsequently, better health, due to the ULEZ and its expansions.”
Chris Streather, Medical Director and Chief Clinical Information Officer, NHS England London, said: “It’s encouraging to see that all Londoners have experienced a significant improvement in air quality, and this reduction in pollutants directly contributes to better health outcomes.
“Vital initiatives like the ULEZ create a healthier urban environment, reducing the risks of respiratory conditions such as asthma and lung cancer, and ultimately lessen the burden on our health system.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
The SKYNET 6 programme is working closely with industry to exploit technological advancements to deliver the next generation of military communication satellites.
National Satellite Test Facility. MOD Crown copyright.
SKYNET is the UK Ministry of Defence’s satellite communication (SATCOM) capability. It supports operations to deliver information to UK and allied forces around the world, enabling battlefield information advantage anywhere, anytime.
Representing the single largest government investment in the UK space industry, SKYNET 6 highlights the nation’s commitment to developing its space capabilities and is a programme co-sponsored by Strategic Command and UK Space Command.
The first of the SKYNET 6 assets, 6A, has reached a milestone with the completion of the initial phase of testing at the new UK-government funded National Satellite Test Facility (NSTF) in Harwell, Oxfordshire. The satellite will leverage the latest developments in digital processing and radio frequency spectrum utilisation, offering greater capacity and versatility than previous generations of SKYNET satellites.
The initial testing at the state-of-the-art UK facility ensured the satellite can withstand the harsh conditions of launch and space, including electromagnetic compatibility, extreme temperatures and vibrations. Further testing of the completed SKYNET 6A satellite will be conducted at the facility this year, with Airbus Defence, Space UK and the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) RAL Space working closely together to guarantee the satellite’s long-term functionality and reliability once it’s launched into orbit.
NSTF acoustic chamber. MOD Crown copyright.
Jason Gnaneswaran, Senior Responsible Owner for SKYNET 6, said:
The SKYNET 6 programme will ensure our deployed forces have world-leading communications abilities on demand, whether on the battlefield, onboard a ship, or in the air.
This milestone in testing is a huge achievement for the Ministry of Defence and RAL Space and is a crucial step in guaranteeing the delivery and long-term functionality of SKYNET 6a.
It also highlights the success of the broader SKYNET enterprise and the value of close collaboration with our industry and cross-government partners.
Scheduled for launch in 2026, this cutting-edge satellite will be the first SKYNET military communications satellite to be entirely designed, built, and tested in the UK, marking a significant advancement for the nation’s space industry. It will be a critical asset for the UK’s armed forces and allies, providing secure and reliable communications for at least 15 years and supporting a wide range of military activities across all operational domains.
This project directly sustains 550 highly skilled jobs throughout the country, including in Stevenage, Corsham, and Portsmouth. Whilst the Harwell Campus is already home to over 100 local and international space organisations, the NSTF itself is expected to attract new businesses and investment to the UK space sector, further solidifying the country’s position as a leader in space technology.
SKYNET 6A’s testing campaign is a testament to the UK’s growing expertise in the space sector enabled by direct investment from the programme.
Dr Barbara Ghinelli, Director for the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s Innovation Clusters and for the Harwell Campus, said:
By supporting pioneering projects like SKYNET 6A, the facility is helping to accelerate the UK’s journey towards the commercialisation of space and further strengthening our clusters as global hubs for innovation.
Our unique combination of facilities and expertise supports businesses across the UK, and we are excited to enable more dual-use application of our capabilities through programmes like SKYNET 6 and the Regional Defence and Security Clusters.
SKYNET continues to play a critical role in the UK’s military satellite communication infrastructure, supporting whole force integration which ensures the armed forces remain connected and informed wherever they operate.
The National Satellite Test Facility at Harwell. MOD Crown copyright.
Published 7 March 2025