The success of Netflix drama Adolescence, along with concerns about misogynistic influencers such as Andrew Tate, has brought the “manosphere” into public discussion.
Many parents, particularly of young boys, may fear they don’t know enough about what their children are exposed to online. I research radical misogyny online, and the pathways by which young people encounter these spaces. Here is what parents should know about this content.
What is the manosphere?
The manosphere is a network of communities that create, consume and distribute content online aimed at men and boys. It includes multiple groups that differ in their aims and focus, but are all largely anti-feminist.
These groups discuss masculinity, but also topics such as health, gaming, politics and finance. They trivialise hateful rhetoric through memes, comedy and trolling (provocation or bullying for amusement) by framing it as self-help, entertainment and tools for financial success. This can make it difficult for parents to identify and for children to realise the extreme messages they are being exposed to.
Manosphere content is promoted by various influencers on popular social media platforms. These influencers often showcase unattainable wealth and status, selling the illusion that followers can achieve success by adopting their teachings.
The most notable manosphere influencer is Andrew Tate, who rose to fame in 2022. He and his brother Tristan are currently under investigation in Romania for charges of rape, human trafficking and money laundering, and in the UK for rape and human trafficking. However, he is not the only influencer out there.
In recent years, there have been a number of incidents of violence that have been linked to manosphere content. The extent of real-world effects is difficult to measure, and not everyone who engages with the manosphere will go on to commit violence. But it’s clear that these communities can promote violence or spread harmful ideas about women and girls.
It is important to note, however, that this content also harms men and young boys. The manosphere promotes unrealistic expectations and extreme measures which can lead to poor self-esteem, mental health problems and, in some cases, suicide. This content preys on vulnerabilities and insecurities of boys and young men, especially related to social isolation and sexual rejection.
Misinformation and pseudoscience
Much of the content that spreads in the manosphere is based on disinformation or pseudoscientific theories. These provide an easy framework for men to assess and improve their status while framing women and feminism as the problem.
For example, the “80/20 rule” refers to the pseudoscientific theory that 80% of women are only attracted to the top 20% of men. In the manosphere, this rule is used to blame women for mens’ feelings of sexual or romantic rejection.
Influencers and community members promote step-by-step instructions that people can follow to improve their social standing. Many of these guides involve extreme or harmful physical transformations in a phenomenon known as “looksmaxxing”, which can even involve facial surgery in a bid to increase their sexual “value”.
The manosphere has an expansive lexicon which is used to incite hatred towards women and fuel rivalry between men. Common terms include:
Red pill: TRP, the manosphere’s core philosophy, derived from the Matrix, frames the red pill as an awakening to feminism’s oppression of men. The blue pill represents ignorance, and the black pill, used by incels, as accepting their “terminal” celibacy status.
Amog (alpha male of the group), Alpha, Gamma, Omega, Sigma, Sub-5 – These terms categorise and compare men and their social status. While sigma and alpha males or Amogs are considered the top of the hierarchy, the terms gamma, omega, and sub-5 denigrate men perceived to be of a lower status.
White Knight, Soyboy: Derogatory terms describe men who are viewed as being subservient to women.
Awalt (All women are like that), Foid/Femoid (female humanoid), Becky, Carousel: Terms used to denigrate and dehumanise women.
Parents should not panic if they hear their children using manosphere terms. They may not fully understand their meanings and may have encountered them innocently. However, changes in how boys talk about women and girls, withdrawal from family and friends, and frequent use of these terms can be an indication that they are being influenced by the manosphere.
Supporting your child
Most adolescents will come across manosphere content at some point. A recent survey found that 59% of boys accessed manosphere content through innocent and unrelated searches. This doesn’t necessarily mean that they endorse the misogynistic values spread by these groups.
Here are some steps you can take to support your child.
1. Explore online together
Research commissioned by media regulator Ofcom found that children were more likely to come across harmful content if their parents are less engaged in what they are doing. Watching content that relates to your children’s hobbies, and sending them content you think they would like, can help train algorithms to promote more moderate content and open up an avenue for discussion.
Engaging online with your child can be a natural way to start conversations about what they are exposed to. It is important that you are not trying to intervene or critique, but rather understand why they enjoy watching certain influencers or content.
2. Encourage reflection and media literacy
Research suggests that teaching children to be sceptical about what they see online can inoculate them against mis- and disinformation.
The most obvious disinformation they are most likely to come across in the manosphere may be in the form of statistics, summaries of “academic” reports, and news articles about instances of female aggression or false rape allegations. They may also come across misleading content in educational or self-help posts, about improving their appearance or how to be successful.
Ask your children why they trust certain influencers and where they think their friends get their information. These kinds of questions can help them develop their own fact-checking skills without it seeming like a lesson.
3. Ask open-ended questions
Asking children about what they consume or what slang they use online can feel cringe. The best way to get around this is to ask simple open-ended questions such as “How do boys in your class talk about girls?” or “Have you ever heard of…?”
What you hear may be shocking, but approach it with curiosity and without judgment or dismissal to let them know they can share things with you.
If you are concerned about your child’s behaviour, you can also get support from resources such as Young Minds mental health support, the Center for Countering Digital Hate’s free parents guide or the government’s radicalisation helpline ACT Early. Getting support from government services is not a punishment. It won’t go on a person’s criminal record, but can provide access to governmental services like Prevent.
Annabel Hoare, PhD Student in Gender-Based Political Violence, Anglia Ruskin University
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
Faculty of Computer Science HSE, together with the Russian IT company Avito, announces the launch of a new Master’s program in Machine Learning (ML) in Digital Product. The program is aimed at training specialists who will be able to apply advanced machine learning technologies to solve real business problems and create products used by millions of users. A total of 35 people will be able to undergo training in the first wave, the training of 30 of them will be fully financed by Avito.
The program is suitable for graduates of a bachelor’s degree in mathematical, technical or economic specialties who want to deepen their knowledge in the field of machine learning. Avito expects that future students can program in Python and write understandable code for analysts and engineers, know standard algorithms and data structures, as well as the basics of ML and SQL, have basic knowledge in the field of linear algebra, probability theory, mathematical statistics and mathematical analysis.
The full-time master’s program lasts two years and includes both mandatory and optional courses, allowing students to create an individual educational track. Mandatory subjects include probability theory, mathematical statistics, recommender systems, deep learning, MLOps, Python algorithms, backend development, and GPU computing. Elective courses include the basics of micro- and macroeconomics, mechanism design, auction theory, LLM (Large Language Models), deep learning in audio and video processing, dynamic pricing, etc.
Students will be able to get a paid internship in one of Avito’s DS teams already during their studies — the company will launch several waves of selection during the training period. During the internship, students will be able to use the practical knowledge they have gained when writing term papers and theses under the guidance of a mentor from the team.
The development of the master’s program was carried out jointly with experts from the HSE Faculty of Computer Science and data scientists from Avito. The teachers are leading specialists in the field of machine learning, such as Anna Markova, Ruslan Gilyazev, Anastasia Rysmyatova, Mikhail Kamenshchikov and Alexander Ledovsky, who have both teaching experience and experience working on large Avito projects, including the development of platforms for predicting ad parameters, monetization and algorithms for ranking paid ads.
To be admitted, you must pass a portfolio competition and an interview with Avito experts. The selection starts on June 20 and will last until the end of August.
“Our Master’s program is an opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of machine learning and learn how to solve real business problems. Students will master the full cycle of working with ML – from design to implementation, solving cases based on Avito data. This is a unique chance to gain practical experience in a large IT company. We strive to make education accessible to talented students, so Avito fully covers the cost of tuition for 30 program participants. Classes are held in the evenings and on Saturdays, which allows students not only to study, but also to immediately apply knowledge in practice, building a career in parallel with their studies,” shared Ilya Nikitin, academic director of the educational program “Machine Learning in a Digital Product”, a lecturer at the Faculty of Computer Science at the Higher School of Economics.
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.
(COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is leading a coalition of 22 state attorneys general in commending U.S. Senator Tim Scott’s newly introduced legislation: the Financial Integrity and Regulation Management Act (“FIRM Act”). The bill is aimed at curbing the politically motivated denial of financial services—commonly known as de-banking.
“We commend Senator Scott for taking a bold stand against de-banking, a practice that threatens free speech, religious liberty, and equal access to financial services,” said Attorney General Wilson. “No law-abiding American should be denied banking access based on their beliefs or political affiliation.” All Americans, regardless of ideology, deserve equal treatment by financial institutions.
The coalition warns that de-banking efforts, once focused on firearms manufacturers and payday lenders, have expanded to include religious organizations, conservative tech leaders, and even former President Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. The letter also criticizes proxy advisory firms for pressuring shareholders to oppose reforms that would eliminate politically driven banking discrimination.
“These politically charged attacks are fundamentally un-American and may also violate state laws,” Wilson continued. “This legislation gives us another tool to push back and protect citizens’ rights.”
The letter is also joined by attorneys general from North Dakota, Georgia, Ohio, Florida, Montana, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Idaho, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Nebraska, West Virginia, Tennessee, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia, Mississippi, Missouri, Kansas, and Pennsylvania.
The UK government has announced £65 million in funding for a new system called Borealis which is intended to help the UK military defend its satellites against threats. Borealis is a software system that collates and processes data to strengthen the UK military’s ability to monitor what’s going on in space.
The government’s investment, announced on March 7, underlines the increasingly critical role played by space systems in the modern world. Space services play a key role in managing critical infrastructure such as the energy grid, transport systems and communications networks.
For example, SpaceX’s Starlink system has been vitally important for communication on the battlefield during Ukraine’s war with Russia. It is just one example of the game changing potential of satellite based services.
The investment in Borealis also shows that the UK government is taking the threat to space systems increasingly seriously. From as long ago as 2019, senior US officials have warned that space is no longer considered a “benign environment”.
In 2021, a US general claimed that states were constantly conducting attacks on satellites, including jamming and cyber-attacks. Announcing the Borealis system in 2025, Major General Paul Tedman, the commander of UK Space Command, characterised space as “increasingly contested”.
As the international order is coming under increasing pressure, nations are engaging in more combative behaviour, not just in space, but in cyberspace, and under the seas.
A space system is composed of four parts – traditionally called segments. These include the space segment (satellites and other spacecraft), the ground segment (ground stations, control rooms), and the user segment (a signal receiver, for example). Communications between these parts of the system form what’s called the link segment.
In addition to intentional attacks, satellites can also experience problems because of physical collisions with orbiting debris, from cosmic radiation, and activity on the Sun, which can interfere with onboard systems. For satellites, security against attacks has often been a secondary consideration. It was hard enough to build a system which could survive in space without introducing the additional costs and challenges of securing it against attacks from adversaries.
Addressing threats to assets in space will require an all-encompassing approach, as I have argued in a recent report. First, security needs to cover all four segments of space infrastructure. The easiest way to interrupt a space system might be to target the ground or the user segment, rather than trying to interfere directly with a satellite.
Starlink has been vitally important in Ukraine during the war with Russia. LanKS / Shutterstock
Second, security needs to be considered across the life cycle of the system, from design and construction, through launch, to operations and application. Consider, for example, if the detailed specifications of a satellite have already been leaked to a malicious party. That might provide them with an in-depth understanding of how to attack the spacecraft – and in such a way that may be difficult to defend against without going back to redesign it.
This type of issue was less of a problem when satellites were developed almost entirely by government agencies and large aerospace companies. ongoing expansion of the commercial space sector, start-ups and new entrants to the sector may not have the same approach to security as more seasoned organisations.
Third, security needs to include the whole range of threats facing space infrastructure, of which a satellite is just one part. We must therefore consider the physical security of hardware, information security, cybersecurity, the personnel working on the project, and supply chain security.
Vulnerable to sabotage
The range of threats facing space systems parallels those facing other critical systems, such as underwater telecommunications cables. There have been several recent incidents of subsea cables being cut in the Baltic Sea, for example. There is also at least one reported instance of hackers burrowing deep inside core telecommunications networks.
It is becoming painfully clear that much of the infrastructure underpinning the economy and our daily lives is fundamentally insecure. Determined attackers are increasingly operating across both the physical world and cyberspace.
Retrofitting security onto space systems is technically challenging and hugely expensive. There are also tough policy questions here. Governments simply do not have the resources or the legal powers to act alone on this issue. Neither is it clear that the private sector will voluntarily commit to higher security standards and a vast programme of investment in existing infrastructure.
Another issue is the global nature of space systems: differing security regulations make it challenging to ensure a coordinated approach to infrastructure across states.
This underscores the importance of raising public awareness around the scale and scope of threats to space systems – and making clear what the impact would be on the public if this infrastructure ceased to operate. If governments are going to invest more in securing space systems, then people will need to understand why this is critical.
However, the challenge of reverse engineering security into the complex and rapidly expanding network of space systems may ultimately be beyond the resources and appetites of governments and companies.
If that is the case, then in addition to raising awareness around security risks, governments and other organisations should also consider efforts to increase the resilience of space systems to attacks. In addition to thinking about how to better secure our space infrastructure, it may be prudent to consider how we might live without it.
Jessie Hamill-Stewart does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Dr Neil Ashdown contributed to this article. He is the head of research at Tyburn St Raphael.
For many people in the UK work is changing: how we work, what we do and where we do it. The change is faster for some than it is for others – and it’s not always changing for the better.
A new national survey — organised and managed by my colleagues and I — paints a mixed picture of UK working life. What makes the Skills and Employment Survey 2024 unique is that it the eighth in of a series that stretches back to the mid-1980s .
The survey focuses on people’s working lives: what skills they use, how and where they work, and what they think of their job. The data series consists of interviews with nearly 35,000 workers with around 5,500 taking part in 2024.
Some people have good things to say about the way their working lives have changed. Other people’s work lives are not improving. For many of us, it’s a bit of both.
Good news
One piece of good news is that very few workers regard their jobs as having no value. Contrary to estimates by some scholars that around 40% of people “find themselves labouring at tasks which they consider pointless”, our survey suggests that only 5% of respondents think that their job is meaningless and has no value.
So-called “bullshit jobs” are rare. Instead, nearly 70% reported their jobs gave them a sense of achievement either always or most of the time, while 76% said that their work was useful.
Work is becoming more skilled too. In 2024, 46% of workers reported that they would need a graduate level qualification if they were to apply for their current job today. This is up from 20% in 1986.
A further piece of good news is that the rate of over-qualification has declined. In 2024 35% of workers reported that they held qualifications that were higher than those currently required for their jobs compared to 39% in 2006.
The job quality gender gap is narrowing. The pay gap has fallen steadily, but the gap in the physical environment of work – in working time quality, and in job skills – has also narrowed. For example, the proportion of men who reported that their health or safety was at risk from their work declined from 38% in 2001 to 21% in 2024, while among women it has remained stable at 22%.
Bad news
However, all not is well in the world of work. Workplace abuse is common – 14% of UK workers experienced bullying, violence or sexual harassment at work. The risk of abuse is much higher for women, LGBTQ+ workers, nurses, teachers and those who work at night.
One of the most striking findings of our survey is the large fall in the ability of employees to take decisions about their immediate job tasks. In 2024, 34% of employees said they had “a great deal of influence” over which tasks they did, how they did them and how hard they worked. This is down from 44% in 2012 and 62% in 1992.
The mechanisms for greater worker control have grown over time, but this has not translated into greater control at an individual level.
Mixed news
Another striking, if not unsurprising, finding is the growth in the number of people woking from home. But the long-running nature of the shift may come as a surprise. The survey shows that the growth of hybrid working started back in 2006, well before the term became fashionable.
The survey also sheds light on where within the home people work. It shows that 45% can insulate themselves from others in the household by creating a home office. The rest must make do with the kitchen table, the sofa or the corner of a room.
After years of declining trade union membership, the survey shows that the tide may eventually have turned. Membership levels have plateaued, and rates of union presence in the workplace and union influence over pay increased between 2017 and 2024.
A rising proportion of trade union members also say their union has a great or fair amount of influence over how work is organised – up from 42% in 2001 to 51% in 2024.
Technological change brings opportunities as well as benefits. The survey found that digital technology played a role in nearly all jobs, with 78% of workers considering computers “essential” or “very important” in their jobs, up from 45% in 1997.
The share of AI users surged during the period of data collection, indicating its rapid adoption. But there are few signs that it is displacing workers, at least for the time being.
Regular monitoring of all the issues raised here – and many besides – is only possible if regular and robust surveys such as the Skills and Employment Survey are carried out. These are invaluable components of our knowledge infrastructure which must be treasured, protected and supported if we are to accurately assess how the world of work is changing.
Alan Felstead receives funding from a range of organisations. The Skills and Employment Survey 2024 is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, the Department for Education, and the Advisory and Conciliation and Arbitration Service with additional funding from the Department for the Economy to extend the survey to Northern Ireland (ES/X007987/1)
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2
Press release
Government invests more than £45 million in groundbreaking technologies to boost Britain’s food security
More funding for farmers to increase profits, boost food production and protect nature
New inventions and technologies to increase profits, boost food production and help protect nature have been handed a major cash injection, the government has announced today (14 April).
From robots carrying out delicate fruit picking, to health monitors for cows and sheep, right through to variable irrigation systems to maximise water usage on crops – these grants support the development of wide-range projects and products which will help a large number of farmers.
The three special funds, worth a combined £45.6 million, will support multiple projects across the research and development (R&D) lifecycle, from early-stage concepts to on-farm trials.
They will help bring cutting-edge technologies into real-world use with a particular focus on reducing on-farm emissions and capitalising on new opportunities made possible by the Precision Breeding Act, which could supercharge food production by increase crop yields, reduce pesticides and enhance disease resistance.
These funds will help to strengthen food security, increase farmers’ profits and protect nature as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said:
This government is serious about delivering its Plan for Change.
That is why I’m delighted to see money getting out the door to British farmers. This £45m will support them with technology to boost food production, profits and the rural economy.
From 28 April, applications will open for the new Accelerating Development of Practices and Technologies (ADOPT) competition, which will commit up to £20.6 million of funding in 25/26. This grant will support farmers looking to test new technologies on their own farms and bridge the gap between innovation and real-world application.
Farmers can access tailored advice and apply for a £2,500 support grant at the ADOPT Support Hub to help them through the application and trial process.
From 5 May, two further competitions will open under the Farming Innovation Programme (FIP):
The first £12.5 million to support collaborative research into ways to reduce on-farm emissions, helping farms to become more sustainable and climate-resilient.
The second £12.5 million competition will fund R&D using precision-bred crops to improve yield, reduce chemical inputs and enhance disease resistance. This builds on the new opportunities enabled by the Genetic Technology (Precision Breeding) Act 2023.
FIP, Defra’s flagship innovation programme, is delivered by Innovate UK, as part of UKRI, and forms part of the government’s wider commitment to food production and security, farm productivity and nature.
1 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL3 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Best NCO: Staff Sgt. Alesando Sinicropi, 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL4 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –The 2025 Best Pen: Pvt. 1st Class Zion Smith, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL5 / 5Show Caption +Hide Caption –Top Shot: Sgt. Brad Simon, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Illustration by Brenadine C. Humphrey) VIEW ORIGINAL
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U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)
VICENZA, Italy – Paratroopers assigned to the 173rd Brigade Support Battalion (173rd BSB), 173rd Airborne Brigade were announced as the winners of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition at Caserma Del Din, Vicenza, Italy on April 11, 2025.
“It feels great to win. We put our hearts and souls into this competition,” said Sgt. Travis Dionne, a combat medic assigned to the 173rd BSB. “The competition really validates your skills, and it proves that you are able to accomplish your goals and become the greatest version of yourself.”
1 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –From left to right, U.S. Army Sgt. Travis Dionne, Sgt. Dominic Savio, Spc. Juan Rodriguez, Spc. Michael Andress, and Spc. Gavin Hale, assigned to 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, pose for a photo after winning the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 11, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado)
The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:
Best Squad: Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado)
VIEW ORIGINAL
2 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, pose for a photo after winning the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 11, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado)
The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:
Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado)
VIEW ORIGINAL
3 / 3Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Sgt. Brad Simon, assigned to 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, receives an award from Col. Chad Froelic, U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), chief of staff, at the SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition (BSC) closing ceremony at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 11, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado)
The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:
Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Best Soldier: Pvt. 1st Class Maxwell Eskew, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado)
VIEW ORIGINAL
Dionne emphasized the importance of competition in the military—it makes the individual Soldier and the squad better. Preparing for competitions like Best Squad reinforce unit and team cohesion, while also developing the individual skills of each competitor.
Each team is composed of five Soldiers: the squad leader, a sergeant first class or staff sergeant; a team leader, a sergeant or corporal; and three squad members in the ranks of specialist or below. The three-day long competition tested their physical strength, mental fortitude, technical proficiency and ability to work as a team.
1 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Spc. Nathan Newton, assigned to 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (Airborne), simulates movement under fire in the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 9, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Jamaries Casado) (Photo Credit: Pfc. Jamaries Casado) VIEW ORIGINAL2 / 2Show Caption +Hide Caption –U.S. Army Pfc. Marquese Higgins, 4th Battalion, 319th Field Artillery Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, climbs over an obstacle during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, April 8, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) VIEW ORIGINAL
“I think I can say for the entire team, it shows our dedication to each other,” said Specialist Gavin Hale, 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. “This competition shows the best of a unit and to bring out the best cohesion in a team. I am really confident that my team will win in Germany for the U.S. Army Europe and Africa competition.”
The first day of this year’s Best Squad Competition was a physical and mental gut-check consisting of an Army Combat Fitness Test, then an obstacle course event, followed by a stress-shoot and a written essay.
U.S. Army Sgt. Cristhian Gonzalez, 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, fires an M4A1 carbine during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, on April 8, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Christopher Sanchez) VIEW ORIGINAL
Day two tested their knowledge and proficiency of warrior tasks and skills. Each team was graded on their ability to execute patrolling tasks, such as buddy-team bounding, squad movements testing their ability to move, shoot and communicate cohesively. The squads were also tested on their application of tactical combat casuatly care. Each team had to assess a casualty, provide aid and conduct medical evacuation on a simulated casualty.
Day three ended the competition with a 12-mile ruck march, weapons familiarity test and a formal board. The compressed timeline of these events tests each Soldiers’ ability to push through exhaustion and still excel at encompassing the Full-Soldier Concept, having the ability to stay professional and also be ready to execute warrior tasks and drills.
U.S. Soldiers assigned to Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade, conduct the 12-mile ruck march during the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) Best Squad Competition (BSC) at Caserma Del Din, Italy, on April 10, 2025. The three-day SETAF-AF BSC assesses each squad on their technical and tactical proficiency, as well as their ability to work as a disciplined and cohesive team. The top squads will represent SETAF-AF in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa BSC. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Kylejian Francia) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Kylejian Francia)VIEW ORIGINAL
The winners of this year’s SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition will represent the command in the U.S. Army Europe and Africa Command’s competition to take place August 20-28 in Hohenfels, Germany.
Additionally, this year’s Best Squad awarded four individual awards. Best Pen goes to the best essay written, Top Shot for the most accurate marksmanship during the stress shoot, Best Noncommissioned Officer, awarded for the most individual points for a Noncommisioned officer and Best Soldier, awarded for the highest individual points for any Soldier in the competition.
The 2025 SETAF-AF Best Squad Competition Awardees:
Best Squad: 173rd Brigade Support Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade
Madame Chair, President of the General Assembly, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, Dear young people,
I greet you in peace, always of concern for African people all over the world and the noble pursuit of the United Nations.
It is an honor for me to join you at this esteemed Forum. Since its establishment four years ago, UNFPA has been present at every session, a testament to our unflinching support for the crucial mandate of this Forum.
As a people, we have come to learn through history – our shared African history – that progress comes when we rise and demand long overdue justice. Referencing the great Frederick Douglass:
“If there is no struggle, there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet deprecate agitation, want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightning, they want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters.”
And so the struggle for full freedom carries on, in this generation spearheaded by the African Union, including its sixth region, its proud diaspora.
For UNFPA, that means carrying on with our important work to uphold the dignity and rights of women and girls of African descent, who continually face multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination and oppression, yet still contributing massively to shaping economies, cultures and scientific developments, including robotics, artificial intelligence, mathematics, populations studies, and so much more.
UNFPA is assisting countries to disaggregate population data by race and ethnicity to help us lift the cloak of invisibility off groups too often left behind. Why? Because you cannot change what you cannot see.
With UNFPA’s support, 22 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean now include race and ethnic self-identification in their censuses, which is essential in devising policies to end inequality and discrimination.
UNFPA addresses disparities in reproductive health, because as we know all too well, it is Black women and adolescent girls who are at a much higher risk of maternal mortality and the consequences of adolescent pregnancy. This must change and it should not take five, ten or twenty years for that change to manifest.
In partnership with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), and with the generous support of Luxembourg, UNFPA recently launched the Global Maternal Health Coalition for People of African Descent. The first technical workshop of this Coalition is due to take place later this year.
We are also pleased to partner on targeted interventions for the implementation of Recommendation Number 5 of the Committee of Experts for the Belém do Pará Convention. It calls on countries to end gender-based violence against women of African descent.
Gender-based violence is an ugly, troubling epidemic now exacerbated by online toxicity directed at women and girls of African descent. This Forum has a role to play in insisting that racism and sexism have no place in public dialogue, including in the digital space.
Let us take heart from last year’s first-ever commemoration of the International Day for Women and Girls of African Descent on July 25th, led by the Governments of Brazil and Colombia. This is another important step towards uplifting people of African descent and advancing gender equality.
The beauty of Black women is undeniable and it is our business to instill in every young girl an appreciation of her inner beauty and her inherent strength.
Excellencies, dear partners,
Stony the road we trod Bitter the chastening rod Felt in the days when hope unborn had died Yet with a steady beat Have not our weary feet Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
Yes we have arrived to this place, yet am I wrong to say that the road ahead is uncertain? We cannot wait to act to protect the hard-won gains that began from the moment of abduction from Africa, through the Middle Passage, up until today.
Already, there is heightened pushback on progress that intended to level the playing field and improve the everyday lives of Black people in areas such as education, health and employment.
Already, we have seen attacks on innocent migrants whose only desire was to make a better life for themselves and their children.
Meanwhile, on the African continent conflict and war are having repercussions far and wide.
Now is the time to recommit to our quest for peace and equality. Now is the time for recognition. Now is the time to raise the demand for justice for all people of African descent.
Excellencies, dear partners,
“I am my mother’s daughter, and the drums of Africa still beat in my heart.”
These are words of educator and activist Mary McLeod Bethune.
That drum invites us to dialogue.
I am delighted to invite all of you to an extraordinary moment that will take place outside this afternoon at 1:15pm at the Ark of Return memorial dedicated to the victims of enslavement, which is marking 10 years since it was unveiled. It is there that you will be able to hear the sounds and rhythms of drums – drums that will connect us and guide our common heartbeats as we work together towards building a peaceful, equal, healthy and just world for people of African descent, and for all.
Source: United Kingdom – Prime Minister’s Office 10 Downing Street
Transparency data
Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’s schedule of taxable sources of income and gains 2023/24
Summary and explanation of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer’s tax affairs from 2023 to 2024.
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Summary and explanation of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer’s tax affairs from 2023 to 2024. These cover their periods as Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.
The EU has paused its countermeasures on unjustified US trade tariffs to allow time and space for EU-US negotiations. This puts on hold for up to 90 days the planned countermeasures against US tariffs on EU steel and aluminium imports, in response to the US delaying its so-called reciprocal tariffs.
On Tuesday, 15 April 2025, the NATO Secretary General, Mr Mark Rutte, will meet with the Chair and members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ms Željka Cvijanović, Mr Željko Komšić and Mr Denis Bećirović at NATO Headquarters, in Brussels.
Media advisory
9:15 (CEST) Joint remarks by the Secretary General with representatives of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Media coverage
Media representatives with annual accreditation to NATO can attend the event in person.
The pool of visual media covering the joint remarks will meet in front of the Press Shop at NATO HQ, at 08:45.
The remarks will be streamed live on the NATO website and on X @NATOPress. A transcript of the Secretary General’s remarks, as well as photographs, will be on the NATO website.
Lily Vittayarukskul was a college grad at 14 on track to become a NASA aerospace engineer. However, an aunt’s cancer battle upended those plans, wreaking havoc on her family and their finances. The experience inspired her to launch the AI-powered startup Waterlily, helping people better predict expenses for getting older, including eldercare or assisted living, costs most don’t realize aren’t fully covered by either health insurance or Medicare. In this talk, Lily wades through the mounting data showing how super-ageing societies will struggle to meet and afford long-term care needs She also shares the tough lessons her personal story taught her and what others can do to prepare for an aging economy.
This interview was recorded January 2025 at the Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland
About this episode
Waterlily: https://www.waterlily.com/
Related World Economic Forum Initiatives:
Waterlily is an Uplink Innovator
About Uplink: https://uplink.weforum.org/uplink/s/
About the Uplink / Manulife – Prosperity in Longevity Challenge
https://uplink.weforum.org/uplink/s/uplink-issue/a00TE000003HcDrYAK/prospering-in-longevity-challenge
World Economic Forum Longevity Economy Initiative: https://initiatives.weforum.org/financial-resilience-for-every-generation/home
Related Reports:
Future-Proofing the Longevity Economy: Innovations and Key Trends: https://www.weforum.org/publications/future-proofing-the-longevity-economy-innovations-and-key-trends/
Global Risks report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025/digest/
Related Podcasts:
Meet The Leader – Adam Grant: Future leaders won’t succeed without this key trait https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buVVIpttzUA
Meet The Leader – How leaders can prepare teams for the future of work: ADP’s Chief Economist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShvNPomJ4mE&t=508s
The World Economic Forum is the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation. The Forum engages the foremost political, business, cultural and other leaders of society to shape global, regional and industry agendas. We believe that progress happens by bringing together people from all walks of life who have the drive and the influence to make positive change.
Around 12% of Europe’s population live near rivers prone to flooding. Find out more about an EU project that is helping to protect communities in Slovakia and Poland from flash floods by installing smart sensors to monitor water levels, soil conditions and atmospheric factors in real time.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK sends multi-million pound military equipment loan to Ukraine
The UK makes second £752 million payment to Ukraine through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine scheme.
A £752 million payment has today (14 April) been sent to Ukraine through the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine scheme. The funding will support Ukraine to procure vital military equipment, including urgently needed air defence. This comes as Russia continues its air assault on Ukraine, striking the city of Sumy.
The loan, which will be paid for through the profits of sanctioned Russian sovereign assets in the EU, forms part of a wider £2.26 billion loan agreed between the Chancellor and Minister Marchenko on 1 March.
The payment highlights the UK’s steadfast support to Ukraine whilst building on the Chancellor’s Spring Statement pledge to go further and faster to protect our national security and maximise the economic growth potential of the UK defence sector. The equipment support and maintenance elements will be mainly spent in the UK, boosting the UK economy and skilled jobs.
Rachel Reeves, Chancellor of the Exchequer said:
The world is changing before our eyes, reshaped by global instability, including Russian aggression in Ukraine.
A strong Ukraine is vital to UK national security and this second tranche of funding will help put them in the strongest possible position, and contribute towards our collective security.
Defence Secretary, John Healey MP said:
2025 is the critical year for Ukraine and this is the critical moment. This is the moment for our defence industries to step up, and they are; a moment for our militaries to step up, and they are; a moment for our Governments to step up, and we are.
This new tranche of funds is part of our £4.5 billion of military support this year – more than ever before – and will be used to buy urgently needed air defence, artillery, and parts to help repair vehicles and equipment to get them back into the fight.
We are stepping up support for Ukraine to deter Russian aggression and bolster Britain’s national security as the foundation of our Plan for Change.
Today’s payment forms the second part of the UK’s £2.26 billion loan, which has been spaced into three separate tranches to give Ukraine more flexibility and allow them to swiftly adapt to the ever-changing battlefield. The first payment was made on 6 March, with the final payment to follow in 2026.
The multi-billion payment forms part of the UK’s contribution to the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration Loans for Ukraine scheme, which is a G7 commitment to collectively support Ukraine through a total of $50 billion.
It follows a £450 million surge in military support that was announced by the UK last week, which includes £350 million from this year’s record £4.5 billion military support funding for Ukraine. Further funding is being provided by Norway, via the UK-led International Fund for Ukraine.
In addition to providing financial support, the Ministry of Defence will also support Ukraine to procure the equipment needed to fight Russia’s invasion. This will include a new ‘close fight’ military aid package – with funding for radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones – worth more than £250 million, using funding from the UK and Norway.
The government’s Plan for Change will see UK defence spending increased to 2.5% of GDP by 2027. The UK’s world-leading defence sector is vital to the economy, supporting 430,000 high-skilled, high-paid jobs across the UK and strengthening our security. 68% of defence spending is outside of London and the South East, benefitting every nation and region of the UK.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine looks at CT scans and lifetime cancer risk in the USA.
Lynda Johnson, Professional Officer for Clinical Imaging and Radiation Protection, The Society and College of Radiographers, said:
“The Society and College of Radiographers (SoR) welcomes research into the harmful effects of ionising radiation and recognises the importance of balancing benefit and risk information to patients and the public.
“This paper articulates the complexities of large-scale dose estimation and acknowledges the many variables which influence an individual’s likelihood of developing cancer at some point in their lifetime. In the UK, the use of ionising radiation is governed by The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2017 (The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2018). Central to the legislation and UK radiographic practice, as this paper rightly concludes, are the principles of justification and optimisation. Justification means that any exposures to ionising radiation for medical purposes must be demonstrated to provide a greater benefit than risk to the individual. Once justified, the exposure must be optimised, meaning that it is as low as reasonably practicable to provide the intended outcome, or answer the clinical question.
“Computed Tomography (CT) scans are undertaken by highly trained radiographers and nuclear medicine technologists who have met the educational and professional standards required to ensure all CT scans are appropriately justified and optimised. Considering the increased use of CT as an invaluable diagnostic tool, it is imperative that the risk of harm from potential misuse, poor quality referrals, or inappropriate exposure parameters continues to be managed effectively. This is achieved by safeguarding standards of education, training and practical experience, compliance with the regulations, and applying best practice quality standards such as The Quality Standard for Imaging.
“It is particularly important to recognise, as this paper highlights, the increased risk to children from unjustified CT exposures. Staff are trained to give special consideration to the justification and optimisation of CT scans for children and will assess the benefits and risks of using CT against alternative techniques that do not involve ionising radiation such as MRI and Ultrasound.
“Accurate communication around the benefits and risks of CT is essential to protect the public from harm. Focussing on risk alone is not helpful and, in some cases, might prevent a person from attending a scan that could provide early diagnosis of cancer. Anyone undergoing a CT scan must be provided with balanced, accurate and relevant information to enable them to understand what it means to them as an individual in terms of their diagnosis, treatment and potential long-term care.
“The UK Health Security Agency is responsible for undertaking dose audits and producing National Diagnostic Reference levels (NDRLs) for computed tomography. These inform local practices and employers must ensure their organisational doses do not consistently exceed the NDRLs. They are publicly available here alongside helpful dose comparisons here and benefit and risk information for patients here.”
Dr Doreen Lau, Lecturer in Inflammation, Ageing and Cancer Biology at Brunel University of London, said:
“This is a well-conducted modelling study using robust data from US hospitals and established methods for estimating cancer risk from radiation exposure. It provides a timely reminder that while CT scans are often life-saving and essential for diagnosis, they do come with a small but real potential risk of contributing to cancer over a lifetime, especially when used repeatedly, in younger patients, or when not clinically necessary.
“The findings don’t mean that people should avoid CT scans when recommended by a doctor. In most cases, the benefit of detecting or ruling out serious illness far outweighs the very small risk of harm. What this research highlights is the need to minimise unnecessary imaging and use the lowest dose possible, particularly in settings where CT usage is high. Where appropriate, clinicians may also consider alternative imaging methods that do not involve ionising radiation, such as MRI or ultrasound—especially for younger patients or when repeat imaging is anticipated.
“CT scan rates are much higher in the US than in the UK, where imaging is used more conservatively and with stricter clinical justification. That means the estimated risks in this study are likely to be much lower in the UK context, though the message about appropriate use still holds.
“Importantly, this study models estimated cancer risk from radiation exposure. It does not show a direct causal link between specific CT scans and individual cancer cases. These are projections based on population-level data and assumptions about radiation risk, not observed cancer rates. Although the model estimates a small increased risk with each scan, it does not prove that any one scan causes cancer. Other factors such as underlying health issues and clinical decision-making, may also influence who gets scanned and how often.”
Prof Stephen Duffy, Emeritus Professor of Cancer Screening, Centre for Cancer Screening, Prevention and Early Diagnosis, Queen Mary University of London, said:
“This paper reports on a very high quality numerical modelling exercise, estimating the likely number of cancers occurring in the USA as a result of 93 million CT examinations. The authors estimate that just over 100,000 cancers are predicted to occur as a result of radiation from these CT examinations. This amounts to around a 0.1% increase in cancer risk over the patients lifetime per CT examination. When we consider that the lifetime risk of cancer in the general population is around 50%, the additional risk is small. Doctors do not order CT examinations unless they are necessary, and it seems to me that the likely benefit in diagnosis and subsequent treatment of disease outweighs the very small increase in cancer risk.
“I would also remark that the estimates, while based on the best models available to the authors, are indirect, so there is considerable uncertainty about the estimates.
“Thus I would say to patients that if you are recommended to have a CT scan, it would be wise to do so.”
Dr Giles Roditi, Consultant Cardiovascular Radiologist and Honorary Clinical Associate Professor of Radiology, University of Glasgow, said:
“CT scanning is a powerful diagnostic tool and has become a bedrock of modern radiology departments, particularly for emergency department imaging. However, the paper by Smith-Bindman et al. is a timely reminder that with great power comes great responsibility. The paper makes the case that the rise in the utilisation of CT scanning is now at such a scale that its projected use could lead to scenario in which CT-associated cancer eventually accounts for 5% of all new cancer diagnoses annually in the USA. What should we do with this information and how does this translate to and inform practise in the UK ?
“Firstly, the evidence base is sound and there is little new as regards the basic assumptions that the paper is based upon but the authors have updated this with more modern dose estimates and data on the utilisation of CT scanning not only across different age groups but also stratified by gender and the exposure of different organs that have different sensitivities to ionising radiation induced damage. The authors are to be congratulated in the detailed breakdown of CT utilisation across these categories and how lifetime risk of cancer impacts across age and gender etc. as well as the modern dosimetric approach used plus accounting for multiphase CT examinations that inevitably entail higher dose.
“With all medical endeavours there is an element of risk. Risk is generally defined as a situation involving exposure to danger or the possibility that something unpleasant will occur. Furthermore, the use of the word risk often implies an element of chance, uncertainty or unpredictability. However, risk can often be well defined in any particular context as – Risk = (probability of an event) x (impact of event)
“Risk is thus different for ‘well’ versus ‘sick’ patients with the latter deriving greater benefit. This paper helps us better define risk at a population level by updating knowledge on the probable incidence of later CT-associated cancer. A potential limitation that could be levelled at the paper is that not all the risks associated with CT are included, only those related to later development of cancer diagnoses. For example, other relevant factors as a demerit to CT scanning could include the very small risks of anaphylaxis related to the use of contrast medium, used now in a large proportion of scans in Western medicine. Similarly, the small but potential other risks such as cataract acceleration are not mentioned.
“On the other hand, while the authors mention that ‘CT is frequently lifesaving’ they have not in my opinion really put the information in full relevant context. The authors context is that this is approximately 5% of new cancer diagnoses could be attributable to CT i.e. a figure of 100,000 cancers in the USA is where there were 1,777,566 new cancer cases reported in 2021 and 608,366 people died of cancer in 2022 (the latest CDC data available). This is because the natural incidence of cancer induction is 1 in 2 for adults. Hence, an alternative way of looking at this would be that although the figure of 100,000 cancers is alarming this is only a small additional risk over and above an individual’s lifetime risk of developing cancer i.e. a risk rising from about 50% to 52.5%. The authors also do not address how many of these cancer will be fatal although we presume based upon CD data it would be approximately one third.
“The main issue, however, is that the benefits of CT scanning are not more explicitly stated. This is likely because the benefits of most medical imaging in terms of morbidity & mortality have been very difficult to quantify with surprisingly little published in the literature. This is mainly because imaging has too often only been part of an overall therapeutic strategy where the main treatment outcomes depend critically upon the imaging but the imaging itself is not tested (e.g. treatments for stroke and cancer). However, there have been recent trials that provide some context, for example SCOT-HEART was probably the first major trial in which diagnostic CT was shown to save lives. In SCOT-THEART the patients were randomised to a conventional treatment pathway without CT scan or an investigative arm in which the standard care pathway was simply supplemented by a CT scan of the coronary arteries. This trial showed clear benefit for those patients that had CT with a significantly lower mortality rate and this has been shown to persist now up to 10 years following the end of the trial. Similarly trials of lung cancer screening have now shown positive benefit from CT scanning in the detection of early, treatable stage lung cancer in high risk patients.
“So how does this translate into the situation in the UK ? Firstly, there are significant differences in practise due to both cultural and legislative environments. In the UK we operate under the precepts of the Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations last updated in 2017 which mandates that we apply the ALARA/ALARP principles and should opt for diagnostic imaging tests with the lowest radiation dose, or preferably an imaging test with no ionising radiation exposure (e.g. ultrasound or MRI) where this answers the clinical question. Culturally in the UK we also regard all requests for imaging as just that, requests that can be questioned through discussion. In the USA clinicians order scans and radiology departments have little room to manoeuvre when it comes to not performing or changing these orders, particularly since the imaging fees that accompany the scanning activity are the lifeblood of the department. Another issue in the USA in addition to the overuse of CT mentioned in the paper is the repeat imaging that is often performed in a fragmented healthcare system where it is easier (and more profitable) for an institution to simply repeat a scan on a patient referred in from elsewhere rather than seek out and transfer the original scans.
“In the NHS we have systems that allow image transfer between institutions and of course unlike the USA we are very capacity limited and often have long waiting times for scans. One side effect of this is that it tends to reduce demand such that tests unlikely to influence clinical decision-making are less likely to be requested. On the downside is that the CT scanner base in the UK is aging and we know that older scanners inevitably expose patients to higher radiation doses than modern systems for the same type of scan, often with less good image quality. Indeed, on modern generation systems with advanced iterative reconstruction algorithms and AI enhancements in the imaging chain then CT scans can be acquired at doses similar to (or little more than) conventional x-rays. These advances have largely been spurred by the drive to reduce dose in coronary CT scans but the benefits potentially reduce doses across all CT scanning. The paper by Smith-Bindman et al. reminds us that we must advocate more strongly to upgrade our CT scanners for the benefit of our patients.
“So what would I say to a UK patient scheduled to have a CT scan and worried by this paper ? In general terms I would strongly advise them not to worry as they are highly likely to benefit from a well indicated scan, this is particularly so in those who are unwell and in older patients (those > 55 years). For younger patients, particularly those of child-bearing age where the breasts and/or reproductive organs would be included and for those who are physically well then if concerned they can always ask to discuss the merits of alternative scans such as ultrasound and MRI. For example, in our own practise we image all our altruistic potential living kidney donors with MRI rather than CT since our own (unpublished) estimates indicate that if we used CT then 1 in 526 of these well people would have a fatal induced cancer, a risk eliminated by using MRI.”
Prof Richard Wakeford, Honorary Professor in Epidemiology, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health (COEH), University of Manchester, said:
“Although it is not unreasonable to reiterate guidance on the potential risks to health arising from exposures to low levels of ionising radiation, such as the x-ray doses received from CT scans, considerable caution is required in providing quantitative estimates of the effects produced by such exposures. This is largely because of the substantial assumptions that must be made in applying risk models derived from epidemiological studies of populations briefly exposed to moderate and high doses, primarily the Japanese survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, to low-level exposure circumstances. For example, for the purposes of radiological protection, it is prudent to assume that the size of the additional risk is directly proportional to the dose received, with no threshold dose below which the risk is zero, and this is the assumption made by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) in making its recommendations. However, ICRP notes that these assumptions “conceal large biological and statistical uncertainties”, and cautions against risk projections based on large numbers of people receiving low doses.
“The direct epidemiological investigation of cancer incidence among patients who have been examined by CT is a worthwhile exercise, but substantial care is required in the interpretation of results – as with all medical diagnostic procedures, people are examined because they are ill, have been ill, or are suspected of being ill, and such selection for exposure leads to difficulties in obtaining reliable conclusions about the effects of radiation exposure from these studies.
“The “bottom line” of the paper is that ~103,000 cases of cancer (which does not include cases of non-melanoma skin cancer, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma) are estimated to result from CT scans conducted in the USA in 2023, an estimate that must be viewed with circumspection. This estimate of ~103,000 cases of cancer is, on the face of it, rather alarming, but it is also uncertain, to an extent that extends (well) beyond the uncertainty limits presented in the paper. ICRP emphasises that all medical exposures must be justified as doing more good than harm, and the potential risk from radiation exposure during a diagnostic examination clearly needs to be factored into clinical judgement about the need for a specific diagnostic procedure. The level of potential risk posed by exposure to low doses of radiation should be taken into account in reaching a balanced decision on whether or not a CT scan is clinically desirable, but this judgement should not be unduly influenced by large, but uncertain, projected numbers of cancers.”
‘Projected Lifetime Cancer Risks From Current Computed Tomography Imaging’ by Rebecca Smith-Bindman et al. was published in JAMA Internal Medicine at 16:00 UK time on Monday 14 April 2025.
DOI: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2025.0505
Declared interests
Prof Stephen Duffy: I have no conflict of interest.
Dr Giles Roditi: Prof Roditi is a Past-President of the British Society of Cardiovascular Imaging/Cardiovascular CT, a Past President of the Society of Magnetic Resonance Angiography and a member of the SCOT-HEART investigators.
Prof Richard Wakeford: “I am, or was, a member of a number of national and international expert committees addressing radiation risks, such as ICRP, UNSCEAR and (previously) COMARE, SAGE, etc.. Details can be found at: https://research.manchester.ac.uk/en/persons/richard.wakeford
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A meta analysis published in Nature Human Behaviour looks at technology use and cognitive aging.
Dr Davide Bruno, Reader in Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, said:
“A lot of variables are controlled for in this study, and the results are promising, but a lot of our cognitive resilience may well be genetically determined, which could also lead to greater ease with using technology. The authors do an excellent job of pointing out the limits of their study and acknowledging that there is more work to do. For example, what type of digital activities are better for our brain? This is a well-done study tackling a timely issue. The authors are careful in their conclusions.”
Dr Leah Mursaleen, Head of Clinical Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK says:
“This large-scale analysis reviewed over 50 published studies from around the world to try to unravel the link between use of digital tech and cognitive ability. This study challenges previous research that has suggested digital technology could reduce cognitive function as we age and instead suggests that use of technology may be linked to lower rates of cognitive decline in older adults.
“With technology now embedded in our daily lives, it’s encouraging to see that using digital tools like computers, smart phones and the internet could be linked to better brain health in later life. However, it’s important to note that this analysis could not include measures of physical changes happening in the brain or consider the age that people were first exposed to digital tech.
“Although the authors explore possible reasons as to why the use of digital tech may promote better cognitive function, more research is needed to understand the relationship further especially in people who are the first generation to grow up with these advances”.
A meta-analysis of technology use and cognitive aging’ byJared F. Bengeet al.was published inNature Human Behaviourat 16:00 UK time on Monday 14th April.
DOI: 10.1038/s41562-025-02159-9
Declared interests
Dr Davide Bruno: None
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
The EU has announced a €1.6 billion programme to help support the Palestinian people. Over 2 years, it will assist the Palestinian authority in continuing to provide services to the people, support economic recovery and resilience in the West Bank and Gaza, and invest in the private sector.
A man has been charged with murder following a death in Lewisham.
Hai Van Nguyen, 41 (29.04.1983) of Hatfield Close, Lewisham was charged on Monday, 14 April with the murder of his wife, Hien Thi Vu, 45.
Nguyen was remanded in custody and is due to appear at Bromley Magistrates’ Court this afternoon. His next hearing will be at a court and on a date that is yet to be decided.
At 06:41hrs on Sunday, 13 April London Ambulance Service alerted police to a seriously injured woman in Hatfield Close, SE14.
First responding officers were immediately deployed along with London’s Air Ambulance. Despite the emergency services best efforts, she was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
Shortly after, at 06:52hrs, a 44-year-old man self-presented at Lewisham Police Station in connection to the incident. He was arrested and charged with murder.
Hien Vu’s next-of-kin have been informed and continue to be supported by specialist officers.
A post-mortem examination will take place in due course.
Dr Martin McMahon, a leading expert in 3D printing, has been selected by the Royal Society as one of its Entrepreneurs in Residence.
Dr McMahon, who will lead the cutting-edge Additive Anglia project at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), is one of just 15 business leaders, entrepreneurs and scientists from across the UK to have been selected for the prestigious scheme.
The Royal Society’s Entrepreneur in Residence programme aims to embed industry expertise within universities, improving awareness of the latest research and development advances while also addressing some of the scientific challenges faced by businesses.
In addition to his role at ARU, Dr McMahon is an independent consultant specialising in additive manufacturing, which is commonly referred to as 3D printing.
ARU’s new Additive Anglia project will be integrating 3D printing technologies into the university curriculum and establishing a 3D printing hub in the East of England.
The initiative involves forming a network with other universities in the region to allow easier access to these technologies for both academic and industry partners. The project also aims to enhance the quality of 3D printed parts, accelerate build rates, and minimise scrap rates.
“I’m honoured to receive the Entrepreneur in Residence award from the Royal Society. ARU’s Additive Manufacturing facilities are exceptional, and I intend to expand their use, raise awareness of the possibilities of 3D printing right across the university, and strengthen our connections with local industries and other universities.
“Over the past five years, 3D printing has become much more widely recognised and is now firmly in the public consciousness. The Additive Anglia project will establish ARU as a true centre of excellence for 3D printing, opening up this technology to various sectors and scales of business, including small and medium sized enterprises.”
Dr Martin McMahon
“I am delighted to welcome Martin to the University and am excited about how we can apply additive manufacturing across so many different disciplines. Crucially, ARU’s engineering students will also be graduating with the latest knowledge and skills needed by industry, meaning they continue to be employment-ready.”
Mark Tree, Head of the School of Engineering and the Built Environment, ARU
Mayor’s ‘One Big Weekend, One Big Cause’ set to rock Derry
14 April 2025
An incredible weekend of sensational music, supercars, and entertainment will have Derry rocking as Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr marks the end of her year in office with a massive fundraising extravaganza in aid of the Bud Club, a life-changing organisation for young people with additional needs.
The ‘One Big Weekend, One Big Cause – Revved Up and Ready to Rock for Bud Club’ extravaganza which will take place on the Bank Holiday weekend of May 24th and 25th features three incredible events designed to appeal to all ages and interests.
Car enthusiasts across the city and district are in for a treat as the Mayor’s popular Supercar Saturday roars into Guildhall Square and Harbour Square on Saturday 24th May from 12-5pm. Local car enthusiasts Gary and Stephen McCaul will showcase approximately 35 luxury vehicles including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Porsche, McLaren and Maserati for public viewing.
Popular local entertainer Micky Doherty will lead this family-friendly event which offers children and big kids the chance to get up close with one of Ireland’s finest collections of supercars. Adding to the festive atmosphere, DJ Lui and DJ Richie Rich will keep the music flowing throughout the day. A mobile gaming truck will provide additional entertainment for younger attendees, while local food vendors will be on site serving delicious refreshments.
As the sun sets that evening the iconic Guildhall will host a star-studded night of music and comedy featuring outstanding performers from various genres. The night will begin with local favourite Ritchie Remo, the talented musician has a wide repertoire of tunes and is guaranteed to have the crowd on their feet. Next up funnyman Black Paddy will bring his own unique blend of comedy to the event – expect a high-octane performance and laughs aplenty.
Bringing this incredible evening to an end will be The Mindbenders with The Ultimate Yacht Rock Show. Featuring some of the greatest artists to come out of the 70s and 80s it’s time to immerse yourself in tunes from The Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Hall and Oates, Toto, Christopher Cross and many more. When the curtain comes down on this epic Saturday you will certainly leave the Guildhall with a smile on your face and a tune in your heart.
The weekend concludes with the ultimate club night at St Columb’s Hall featuring the best in Afrobeat, house, and dance music. Afrobeat, with its roots in West Africa, blends traditional rhythms with jazz, funk, R&B and electronic beats, creating infectious grooves and high-energy vibes. This celebration of culture, rhythm, and unity will bring together music lovers from all backgrounds for a night of non-stop dancing.
“I am absolutely thrilled to invite everyone to join us for what promises to be an unforgettable weekend,” said Mayor Lilian Seenoi Barr. “These events represent everything I’ve tried to champion during my time in office – bringing our community together through shared experiences while supporting those who need it most. Bud Club does extraordinary work supporting young people with additional needs, and I can’t think of a better way to cap off my term than by raising funds for this incredible organisation. My thanks are extended to the Garvan O’Doherty Group for sponsorship of the Afrobeats evening. Your support allows even more funds to go towards supporting Bud Club and is very much appreciated.
“From luxury cars to live music and dancing, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. So make sure you have ‘One Big Weekend, One Big Cause – Revved Up and Ready to Rock for Bud Club’ in your calendar, bring your family and friends, and let’s make this a weekend to remember while supporting a cause that makes a real difference in young people’s lives!”
All proceeds from the weekend’s events will directly benefit the Bud Club charity.
For more information and to purchase tickets to the Guildhall concert and Afrobeats night go to www.derrystrabane.com/OneWeekend. You can also keep up to date with everything that is happening on What’s On Derry Strabane and Council’s social channels.
Ideas to speed up bus journeys and increase bus reliability could be taken to public consultation soon
At a meeting later this month (22 April) the council’s Executive Member for Transport will be asked to agree to publicly consult on a series of potential measures on the Rougier Street – Micklegate – Tower Street corridor, an area which has been long discussed for bus priority.
As well as better bus reliability, any proposals would look to improve infrastructure for pedestrians, wheelchair users, people who use mobility aids and cyclists whilst maintaining vehicle access to all parking bays in this city centre area for everyone at all times. The expectation is that this could bring benefits far beyond the city centre with buses from villages and beyond the city boundaries also benefiting from the improvements on this route with quicker and more reliable journeys.
In 2023 the council carried out extensive engagement through ‘Our Big Transport Conversation’. In it people shared how bus reliability was an issue affecting their lives and that they wanted to see this improved. When asked whether they agreed or disagreed with the introduction of dedicated priority routes for buses and sustainable transport 72% agreed or strongly agreed.
Councillor Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport said:
“Bus reliability is something residents and businesses clearly told us they wanted to see improve.
“Alongside the many bus operators we share people’s frustrations regarding bus reliability. This is because many of our local and regional buses get stuck in the heavy congestion in the city centre. Delayed buses erode people’s confidence in using public transport and push people towards travelling by private car instead – adding to the traffic jams in the city. We need to reverse this negative trend and make bus travel a reliable and convenient way to travel.
“One option would be a bus filter, something which people told us they were supportive of in ‘Our Big Transport Conversation’. No decisions have been made yet and we are committed to listening to everyone’s views via extensive public consultation before implementation of any scheme.”
If the report is approved the council will go out to public consultation in the coming months with further details around design options and operation shared at that point. The council will involve residents and businesses across the city and ask them to have their say with feedback collated and published before any decision is made.
In April 2022, the Department for Transport (DfT) made an indicative funding award of £17.3m to City of York Council in respect of its Bus ;Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). York’s BSIP sets out a new vision to help improve York’s bus network, aiming to make it more inclusive, accessible, attractive and welcoming – becoming a source of pride for the city and its residents. If the project progresses it is proposed that £2M of the BSIP funding would be used for this.
The report will be considered at a decision session for the Executive Member for Transport on Tuesday 22 April. View the meeting papers online. The meeting will be available to view live or on demand.
Children, young people and families in York are continuing to benefit from activities and healthy meals during the Easter holidays thanks to an extension of the Government’s HAF programme for 2025.
The programme provides free school holiday activities and nutritious meals for targeted children.
In York, the sessions include a variety of fun activities, including sports, music, arts and other exciting opportunities to learn and develop skills.
York’s HAF scheme has provided over 6,200 activity sessions across the city in 36 locations with a wide range of activities to appeal to all.
Families who are eligible to receive the HAF offer receive their vouchers from their child’s school. Parents and carers will receive a voucher for each child, sent individually from their child’s school.
Cllr Bob Webb, the council’s Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, said:
“The holiday sessions are a source of great support and enjoyment to many children and young people and I’m pleased that families across the city are benefiting from them once again during the Easter holidays.”
People are being invited to see the latest exciting plans for the redevelopment of Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens at two drop-in events next week.
Ambitious plans for the museum’s multi-million pound transformation have evolved with the help and support of the community since the City Council first secured funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund in 2022 to progress its initial ideas for the much-loved visitor attraction’s redevelopment.
The drop-in events, which are taking place at the museum on the afternoon of Thursday 24 April and morning of Friday 25 April, will be the first opportunity for people to come along and have a look at the proposals and find out all about what’s being planned.
As well as getting the chance to review the architectural and building designs and learn about engagement activities, people will also be able to speak to the architects, exhibition designers and engagement specialists and share their thoughts with the team.
Councillor Beth Jones, Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture and Tourism at Sunderland City Council, said: “Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens has long been one of our city’s favourite spaces and we’re really excited to be sharing our plans for its transformation as they continue to take shape.
“The proposals have evolved with the help and support of the community and are very much in line with what our residents and visitors have told us they want to see.
“We’re especially excited about plans for creating a better connection between the museum and Mowbray Park and community garden which is all about recognising the importance of the natural environment.
“We hope people will take the time to come along to see the plans for themselves and we’d really love to hear their views.”
The two drop in sessions are taking place at Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens on:
Thursday 24 April – 1pm – 4pm
Friday 25 April – 10am – 3pm
Sunderland City Council secured £299,425 development funding, made possible by National Lottery players, from The National Heritage Lottery Fund, in 2022.
This has allowed the City Council to progress its plans to the point where it is working towards submitting its bid for a full National Lottery Heritage Fund grant at the end of May.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Digital service users may need to update browsers
Users of HM Land Registry’s digital services may need to update their web browsers or operating systems.
innni/Shutterstock.com
As part of routine security maintenance, users of the HM Land Registry portal, Sign your mortgage deed, or Local Land Charges’s (LLC) Maintain service may face an error message when visiting the page for the first time. Most users will be unaffected as their systems and browsers will automatically update to ensure the latest public root CA (certificate authority) certificates are installed.
The SSL (secure sockets layer) security certificates are being updated for all HM Land Registry domains to ensure services remain current and secure.
If the user’s web browser is up to date but the issue continues, more guidance is available on our service maintenance page.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK sanctions Iranian organised crime network
The UK has announced further sanctions to tackle the domestic threat posed by the Iranian regime by sanctioning Iranian-backed, Swedish-based Foxtrot criminal Network and its leader, Rawa Majid, for their role in attacks against targets across Europe.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:
Today, the UK has announced sanctions against the notorious criminal Foxtrot Network and its leadership.
The Iranian regime uses criminal gangs across the world to threaten people. The UK has targeted this criminal network and its leader, Rawa Majid, due to their involvement in violence against Jewish and Israeli targets in Europe on behalf of the Iranian regime. The UK will not tolerate these threats.
This forms part of the UK Government’s ongoing response to Iranian hostilities in Europe. Last month, we announced that Iran will be placed on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) and to date, the UK has sanctioned more than 450 Iranian individuals and entities, in response to the regime’s human rights violations, nuclear weapons programme and malign influence internationally.
The UK Government will continue to hold the Iranian regime and criminals acting on its behalf to account.
Background
The Individual that is subject to a UK travel ban, asset freeze and director disqualification:
Rawa Majid, Head of the Foxtrot Network
The following organisation is also being sanctioned by the UK and is subject to an asset freeze and director disqualification:
Foxtrot Network
Since the start of 2022, the UK has responded to more than 20 Iran-backed plots, presenting potentially lethal threats to British citizens and UK residents.
Today’s designations were made under the 2023 Iran Sanctions Regulations, which came into force in December 2023 : [Iran sanctions: guidance – GOV.UK](Iran sanctions: guidance – GOV.UK
On 4 March 2025 the Security Minister’s statement to Parliament confirmed Iran would be specified on the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS), and that the government will work with our allies to better understand, expose, and condemn Iranian actions; and bring Iranian-linked criminals to justice wherever in the world they may be – Protecting national security – GOV.UK
The US designated Majid and the Foxtrot Network in March 2025.
Definitions:
Asset freeze: an asset freeze prevents any UK citizen, or any business in the UK, from dealing with any funds or economic resources which are owned, held or controlled by the designated person. It also prevents funds or economic resources being provided to or for the benefit of the designated person. UK financial sanctions apply to all persons within the territory and territorial sea of the UK and to all UK persons, wherever they are in the world.
Travel ban: a travel ban means that the designated person must be refused leave to enter or to remain in the United Kingdom, as the individual is an excluded person under section 8B of the Immigration Act 1971.
Director disqualification: Where director disqualification sanctions apply, it is an offence for a person designated for the purpose of those sanctions to act as a director of a UK company, or a foreign company that is sufficiently-connected to the UK, or to take part in the management, formation or promotion of a company.
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – The Bridge of the Pobediteley
As part of the international competition “Macaroni Builder”, students studied the theory, made calculations, designed and built towers and bridges from macaroni products. The competition was held at SPbGASU for the fifteenth time, and 26 teams from six Russian regions, as well as from Armenia and the Republic of Belarus, took part in it.
Every year the competition is gaining more and more popularity, and its participants demonstrate a high level of skill, which is understandable: in this way, the contestants develop practical skills in construction mechanics, architecture and other professional disciplines, exchange experience, ideas and knowledge, and develop creative abilities.
The competition was attended by teams from the National University of Architecture and Construction of Armenia, Polotsk State University named after Euphrosyne of Polotsk (Republic of Belarus), Astrakhan State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Tyumen Industrial University, Nizhny Novgorod State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Belgorod State Technological University named after V.G. Shukhov, Tver State Technical University, Emperor Alexander I Petersburg State Transport University, SPbGASU, Lyceum No. 387 named after N.V. Belousov, School No. 518 of Vyborg District, Schools No. 106, No. 246 of Primorsky District, School No. 69 of Kalininsky District, School No. 87 of Petrogradsky District of St. Petersburg.
“The rather rich history of the competition confirms that it is possible to successfully create structures from pasta and develop the competencies that are necessary in the professional activities of future architects and builders. Participants understand from their own practice which structure works and which does not, see their mistakes, and remember successful examples. That is why not only victory is important, but also participation,” said Andrey Nikulin, Dean of the Construction Faculty of SPbGASU.
The competition includes two nominations: “The tallest structure. Towers” and “Structure with the largest span”. For the base of the towers, participants are provided with 100×100 cm stretchers, and tables are used as supports for the bridges. In addition to pasta, sculptural plasticine is used. Four hours of evening time are allocated for the construction of the structures. The structures must stand until 9 am the following day. The jury also took into account constructiveness, expressiveness, and rational use of materials.
Team of Belgorod State Technological University
The anniversary competition was marked by a unique event: for the first time in its history, one team became the winner in both nominations. The team from the Belgorod State Technological University named after V. G. Shukhov (Veronika Smulyarova, Aleksey Dmitriev, Ivan Pakhomov, Aleksandr Barelsky, Anna Migulina) was recognized as the champions twice.
“We participated in the competition for the third time and gained good experience. In addition, we trained hard to become professionals in our field. This victory is the result of many years of work. This year, we built a copy of the Chinese Guangzhou TV tower. It is built in the shape of an hourglass, erected in an interesting way, which attracted us. Our bridge is a cable-stayed suspension bridge dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War. On one side, we installed paper numbers 1945, on the other – 2025. Each structure used 800 grams of pasta – this is a rational use of materials,” said Alexander Barelsky.
The team from Tyumen Industrial University (Dmitry Bakunin, Artemy Vasiliev, Ilya Moskaev, Nikita Leskov, Arseny Naidanov) also achieved double success, taking second place in both nominations.
In the nomination “Structure with the largest span”, the third place went to the team of the National Institute of Architecture and Construction of Armenia (Vladimir Safiridi, Movses Hakobyan, Gevorg Yusisyan, Tigran Tevosyan, Nikolay Harutyunyan).
“First of all, I would like to thank the organizers of the “Macaroni Builder”. Such competitions are one of the types of training for students, when students assemble what they designed with their own hands and see in practice how this structure works and for what reasons it falls. It is a useful thing to see how structures work. The competition encourages students to new achievements. We built a railway bridge on the bypass of the branch from the city of Dilijan to the city of Vanadzor. The guys assembled the model and the bridge span correctly, making a close copy of the real structure. In addition, they got acquainted with the design experience of other students. We will try to take into account the first experience we have gained in the next competition, which we would like to attend,” said the team leader, head of the Department of Roads and Bridges of the National Institute of Architecture and Construction of Armenia Artashes Sargsyan.
In the nomination “The tallest structure. Towers” the third place was taken by the team of the Astrakhan State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (Olga Kupetskova, Yulia Yudina, Ekaterina Nesterova, Roman Mukhatov, Daria Yakovleva).
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.
SAVANNAH, Ga. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced the capture of a fugitive wanted for murder who escaped custody twice in the Caribbean. Orville Andrew Pernell, a 32-year-old Jamaican citizen was apprehended by ICE Homeland Security Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agents in Savannah, Georgia following an extensive investigation and multinational manhunt April 4.
Pernell, is accused of committing a brutal murder in St Lucia in 2020 and had been a fugitive for several years. He escaped from custody in St Lucia during his murder trial and fled to Jamaica. In 2021, he was arrested in Jamaica and escaped from custody there as well. U.S. Border Patrol agents encountered Pernell on Dec. 7, 2022, near San Ysidro, California, after he attempted to enter the United States using a fake identity. He was paroled into the country and given a notice to appear.
In July of 2023, Pernell was arrested by the Clayton County Sheriff in Clayton County, Georgia for the possession of a stolen motorcycle and attempting to evade arrest. During the arrest, police discovered a stolen 9mm handgun.
“We are committed to tracking down fugitives who pose a serious threat to public safety, no matter where they may try to hide,” said ICE HSI Special Agent in Charge Atlanta Steven N. Schrank, who also covers Georgia and Alabama. “This operation highlights our ongoing work to dismantle criminal networks and bring violent individuals to justice. We are thankful for our local, state, and international law enforcement partners who helped us secure this arrest.”
ICE HSI, working alongside the ATF, located and arrested Pernell after their investigation led them to the Savannah area. He was taken was taken into custody without incident. Pernell faces charges for being an alien in possession of weapon and after he is extradited back to St Lucia he will stand trial for murder.
ICE HSI Caribbean, Bridgetown and Kingston provided significant contributions to the investigation and were instrumental in the success of the operation. ICE HSI prioritizes the apprehension of fugitives involved in violent crimes, particularly those who have fled to the U.S. to evade justice.
The public is encouraged to report any information regarding fugitives or illegal activity to the ICE Tip Line by dialing 1-866-DHS-2-ICE (1-866-347-2423) or completing the online tip form.
This image overlays over 100 fireball images recorded between 2016 and 2020. The streaks are fireballs; the dots are star positions at different times.Desert Fireball Network
Much of what scientists know about the early solar system comes from meteorites – ancient rocks that travel through space and survive a fiery plunge through Earth’s atmosphere. Among meteorites, one type – called carbonaceous chondrites – stands out as the most primitive and provides a unique glimpse into the solar system’s infancy.
The carbonaceous chondrites are rich in water, carbon and organic compounds. They’re “hydrated,” which means they contain water bound within minerals in the rock. The components of the water are locked into crystal structures. Many researchers believe these ancient rocks played a crucial role in delivering water to early Earth.
Before hitting the Earth, rocks traveling through space are generally referred to as asteroids, meteoroids or comets, depending on their size and composition. If a piece of one of these objects makes it all the way to Earth, it becomes a “meteorite.”
From observing asteroids with telescopes, scientists know that most asteroids have water-rich, carbonaceous compositions. Models predict that most meteorites – over half – should also be carbonaceous. But less than 4% of all the meteorites found on Earth are carbonaceous. So why is there such a mismatch?
In a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy on April 14, 2025, my planetary scientist colleagues and I tried to answer an age-old question: Where are all the carbonaceous chondrites?
Sample-return missions
Scientists’ desire to study these ancient rocks has driven recent sample-return space missions. NASA’s OSIRIS‑REx and JAXA’s Hayabusa2 missions have transformed what researchers know about primitive, carbon‑rich asteroids.
Meteorites found sitting on the ground are exposed to rain, snow and plants, which can significantly change them and make analysis more difficult. So, the OSIRIS‑REx mission ventured to the asteroid Bennu to retrieve an unaltered sample. Retrieving this sample allowed scientists to examine the asteroid’s composition in detail.
Similarly, Hayabusa2’s journey to the asteroid Ryugu provided pristine samples of another, similarly water-rich asteroid.
Together these missions have let planetary scientists like me study pristine, fragile carbonaceous material from asteroids. These asteroids are a direct window into the building blocks of our solar system and the origins of life.
The carbonaceous chondrite puzzle
For a long time, scientists assumed that the Earth’s atmosphere filtered out carbonaceous debris.
When an object hits Earth’s atmosphere, it has to survive significant pressures and high temperatures. Carbonaceous chondrites tend to be weaker and more crumbly than other meteorites, so these objects just don’t stand as much of a chance.
Meteorites usually start their journey when two asteroids collide. These collisions create a bunch of centimeter- to meter-size rock fragments. These cosmic crumbs streak through the solar system and can, eventually, fall to Earth. When they’re smaller than a meter, scientists call them meteoroids.
Meteoroids are far too small for researchers to see with a telescope, unless they’re about to hit the Earth, and astronomers get lucky.
But there is another way scientists can study this population, and, in turn, understand why meteorites have such different compositions.
Meteor and fireball observation networks
Our research team used the Earth’s atmosphere as our detector.
A fireball observed by the FRIPON network in Normandy, France, in 2019.
Today, digital cameras have rendered round-the-clock observations of the night sky both practical and affordable. Low-cost, high-sensitivity sensors and automated detection software allow researchers to monitor large sections of the night sky for bright flashes, which signal a meteoroid hitting the atmosphere.
Research teams can sift through these real-time observations using automated analysis techniques – or a very dedicated Ph.D. student – to find invaluable information.
Our team manages two global systems: FRIPON, a French-led network with stations in 15 countries; and the Global Fireball Observatory, a collaboration started by the team behind the Desert Fireball Network in Australia. Together with other open-access datasets, my colleagues and I used the trajectories of nearly 8,000 impacts observed by 19 observation networks spread across 39 countries.
By comparing all meteoroid impacts recorded in Earth’s atmosphere with those that successfully reach the surface as meteorites, we can pinpoint which asteroids produce fragments that are strong enough to survive the journey. Or, conversely, we can also pinpoint which asteroids produce weak material that do not show up as often on Earth as meteorites.
The Sun is baking the rocks too much
Surprisingly, we found that many asteroid pieces don’t even make it to Earth. Something starts removing the weak stuff while the fragment is still in space. The carbonaceous material, which isn’t very durable, likely gets broken down through heat stress when its orbit takes it close to the Sun.
As carbonaceous chondrites orbit close, and then away from the Sun, the temperature swings form cracks in their material. This process effectively fragments and removes weak, hydrated boulders from the population of objects near the Earth. Anything left over after this thermal cracking then has to survive the atmosphere.
Only 30%-50% of the remaining objects survive the atmospheric passage and become meteorites. The debris pieces whose orbits bring them closer to the Sun tend to be significantly more durable, making them far more likely to survive the difficult passage through Earth’s atmosphere. We call this a survival bias.
For decades, scientists have presumed that Earth’s atmosphere alone explains the scarcity of carbonaceous meteorites, but our work indicates that much of the removal occurs beforehand in space.
Going forward, new scientific advances can help confirm these findings and better identify meteoroid compositions. Scientists need to get better at using telescopes to detect objects right before they hit the Earth. More detailed modeling of how these objects break up in the atmosphere can also help researchers study them.
Lastly, future studies can come up with better methods to identify what these fireballs are made of using the colors of the meteors.
Patrick M. Shober received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 945298. Patrick M. Shober currently receives funding from the NASA Postdoctoral Program.
National Booking System opens for COVID-19 vaccinations spring/summer 2025
NHS offers COVID-19 vaccines to people who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus – including those aged 75 and over (by 17 June 2025)
Residents of care homes for older adults, and those with a weakened immune system urged to top up protection
The vaccine has saved countless lives, prevented thousands from needing to go to hospital and helped us to live with the virus without fear or restrictions.
Top up your protection against COVID-19 by getting vaccinated this spring if you are eligible. Those at increased risk from severe illness can get the vaccine, including those aged 75 or over (on 17 June 2025), people with a weakened immune system or who live in an older adult care home. Those eligible will be able book from 25 March, for appointments from 1 April.
If eligible, you do not need to wait for an invitation to book your vaccine. To book, please visit the NHS App, the NHS website or call 119 for free. You may also be able to visit a walk-in site which does not require a booking.
Don’t get caught out. If you or your child are eligible, make sure you get any extra protection you need this spring. Get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Councillor John Merry, Lead Member for Social Care and Mental Health at Salford City Council said:
“Long COVID-19 can still be very dangerous and even life threatening, particularly for older people and those with a weakened immune system. The COVID-19 vaccines provide good protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and can protect those most vulnerable from death.
“The vaccine has saved countless lives in Salford, prevented thousands from needing to go to hospital and helped us to live with the virus without fear or restrictions. The NHS will be sending out invitations, but you do not need to be invited to book your COVID-19 spring vaccine so please do take up the offer when you receive it.”
How to get the COVID-19 vaccine
There are several ways you can get you COVID jab.
If you’re eligible for the spring COVID-19 vaccine, you can:
You do not need to wait for an invitation before booking an appointment.
Programme for Government must have climate at its heart.
More in Climate
Responding to the announcement that the SNP’s next Programme for Government will be presented in May, the Scottish Greens have called for plans for serious and sustained climate action.
It is less than two weeks since Ministers watered down the Heat in Buildings Bill, undermining any chance that Scotland has of hitting climate targets.
“The First Minister has promised a year of delivery, and our climate has to be at the heart of it.
“With bills soaring and stretching households and families to their limits, it is vital that we move away from fossil fuels and support people in making green choices.
“That means acting to cut the eye watering prices that people are being forced to pay for public transport, and providing far more support for green energy and insulating homes.
“Yet, at a time when our climate needs us, the SNP has watered down its Heat in Buildings plan, a move that will only tie more people to costly and damaging fossil fuels.
“The next Programme for Government must show more ambition if it is really to be a year of delivery.
“We have a lot of skilled engineers and workers in our country, and they can be at the heart of a green transition if there is a political will for it.
“The wildfires we have seen over recent days and weeks underline how important it is that we take serious and sustained climate action. Anything less will see our communities paying the price.”