Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
Click the image above to watch the CBS Mornings segment.
Click here to download audio. Click here to download video.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined ‘CBS Mornings’ to discuss their bipartisan bill, the She Develops Regulations in Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act.
The legislation will modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available—including a female crash test dummy—and updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.
The bill was introduced in January, passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in February, and now awaits full Senate consideration. It is supported by Drive US Forward, Women Drive Too, and the National Safety Council. On the She DRIVES Act:
Fischer: “Whether driving or as passengers, we want to make sure that women are safe when they get in a vehicle.” Duckworth: “We’re taking the next step. And let’s see if we can’t remedy the situation.”
Fischer: “And make it safer. …”
Duckworth:“So that all those moms and daughters and sisters and best friends come home.”
Background:
Multiple studies have shown that women die and are seriously injured at much higher rates than men in crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,300 women die every year who would have otherwise lived if female death and injury rates were comparable to that of males.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined the deficiencies in crash testing program, and NHTSA has missed multiple self-declared deadlines on dummy deployment. While NHTSA has long acknowledged that a family of crash test dummies is needed for accurate crash tests, the agency has yet to deploy dummies or tests that represent females, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
Source: United States Senator for Nebraska Deb Fischer
Click the image above to watch the CBS Mornings segment.
Click here to download audio. Click here to download video.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) joined ‘CBS Mornings’ to discuss their bipartisan bill, the She Develops Regulations in Vehicle Equality and Safety (She DRIVES) Act.
The legislation will modernize vehicle safety tests by requiring the use of the most advanced testing devices available—including a female crash test dummy—and updating U.S. crashworthiness testing procedures.
The bill was introduced in January, passed the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee in February, and now awaits full Senate consideration. It is supported by Drive US Forward, Women Drive Too, and the National Safety Council. On the She DRIVES Act:
Fischer: “Whether driving or as passengers, we want to make sure that women are safe when they get in a vehicle.” Duckworth: “We’re taking the next step. And let’s see if we can’t remedy the situation.”
Fischer: “And make it safer. …”
Duckworth:“So that all those moms and daughters and sisters and best friends come home.”
Background:
Multiple studies have shown that women die and are seriously injured at much higher rates than men in crashes. According to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 1,300 women die every year who would have otherwise lived if female death and injury rates were comparable to that of males.
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report outlined the deficiencies in crash testing program, and NHTSA has missed multiple self-declared deadlines on dummy deployment. While NHTSA has long acknowledged that a family of crash test dummies is needed for accurate crash tests, the agency has yet to deploy dummies or tests that represent females, the elderly, and other vulnerable groups.
When we think about what sets humans apart from other animals, language often comes to mind. Language is more than words – it also relies on the ability to build shared understanding through conversation.
At the heart of conversation is turn-taking: the ability to coordinate interaction in time. This means alternating speaking roles, where one person speaks and the other listens, and responding in ways that keep the exchange moving forward.
As primatologists and biologists, we are interested in the evolutionary origins and driving forces behind human communication and cognition.
One animal behaviour that’s been said to involve features resembling human communication is grooming – combing through or licking each other’s fur. It’s one of the ways that some animals connect and bond with one another.
Grooming is a central part of the daily lives of chimpanzees, a species that together with bonobos represent humans’ closest living relatives. Chimpanzees engage in grooming to build relationships, reduce stress, and strengthen their friendships. While we know why they groom, and whom they prefer to groom, we do not know much about how it is organised. Does grooming happen randomly, or do chimpanzees take turns? And might things like age, their position in the group, family ties, or friendships influence the interaction? There may be another layer to grooming, shaped by social decisions made in the moment.
To answer this, we looked at whether grooming interactions involve turn-taking. We found that chimpanzees living in their natural environments do take turns, using a range of signals and movements to engage each other within the interaction. We then went on to check whether age, social standing, family ties and friendships affected the exchange of turns.
We found that especially age and social standing shaped how individuals accommodated their partners. This is in line with Communication Accommodation Theory, which is the idea that individuals adapt their communication according to the characteristics of recipients. Our findings open a new window on chimpanzee social cognition and provide perspectives on the evolutionary foundations of human communication.
Grooming coordination in the wild
To investigate how chimpanzees coordinate their grooming interactions, we studied male eastern chimpanzees at the Ngogo field site, in Uganda’s Kibale National Park. Over the course of ten months, we observed and filmed grooming interactions among 42 males in their natural environment using a digital camera.
As chimpanzee grooming is not just a simple back-and-forth where one chimpanzee grooms and then gets groomed in return, we paid close attention to gestures and additional actions. Gestures are bodily movements used to get another chimpanzee’s attention or to ask for something, such as raising an arm to invite more grooming. Actions, on the other hand, are things one chimpanzee does to another, such as grooming, approaching or leaving.
Based on these, we identified four types of turn exchanges:
action–action
action–gesture
gesture–action
gesture–gesture.
Mulligan (left) and Carter (right) members of the Ngogo chimpanzee community in Kibale National Park, Uganda.Kayla Kolff, Author provided (no reuse)
We observed that chimpanzees actively managed the interaction, using actions and gestures to start, invite, or respond to their partner’s participation.
What shapes participation in these exchanges?
Some chimpanzees were more likely than others to take turns during grooming. A closer look revealed that age and social status played a key role. Older males, who in chimpanzee societies tend to hold more dominant positions, were more likely to get responses from others. Younger males, especially adolescents, were more likely to take a turn in response to others than to have others take a turn in response to them – suggesting they were more often responding than being responded to.
That makes a lot of sense when you think about chimpanzee social life. Younger individuals are still figuring out their place in the group, and grooming can be a way to build and nurture relationships and to learn the social ropes and finesses. Older males already have stable and strong friendships; they often receive grooming from others and tend to give less in return.
Surprisingly, friendships and family ties did not influence the chances of turn-taking, although these are important aspects of chimpanzee lives. What mattered more were age and social standing. Think of it like choosing a lunch seat at school: you might choose to sit near an older student or someone popular, even if it meant not sitting with your friends or family.
Grooming interaction between Gus (a subadult male) and Jackson (an adult male and the alpha), both of whom also appear in the Netflix documentary Chimp Empire.
When we looked more closely at different types of turn-taking, one stood out: gesture–gesture exchanges. These looked a lot like social negotiations, where both chimpanzees gestured to each other before any grooming happened. These kinds of exchanges were more common when a chimpanzee interacted with an older individual, who may be more experienced in handling social situations and better at getting what they want, whether that means “groom me” or “keep going in grooming me”.
This study suggests that chimpanzees take turns as a strategic social tool to achieve goals like being groomed instead of doing the grooming themselves. Who you are, who you are interacting with, and what you might stand to gain from the exchange all shape how things unfold.
What this tells us
Our findings reveal that chimpanzee grooming is a complex behaviour, organised through structured exchanges of gestures and actions, shaped by strategies for engaging with others. It’s about more than the grooming itself.
This ability to coordinate action and respond to others suggests a basic foundation that may have helped lay the groundwork for the evolution of human communication.
– Whose turn is it? The question is at the heart of language and chimpanzees ask it too – https://theconversation.com/whose-turn-is-it-the-question-is-at-the-heart-of-language-and-chimpanzees-ask-it-too-258736
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A working meeting was held at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University between SPbPU Rector Andrey Rudskoy, the Minister of Science, Higher Education and Technological Development of the Arkhangelsk Region Alexey Aksenov and the Acting Rector of the Northern (Arctic) Federal University named after M.V. Lomonosov Mikhail Danilov.
The main topic of discussion was the creation of the “Competence Center for the Application of Laser Welding and Additive Technologies in Shipbuilding”. The initiative is aimed at developing joint scientific research, accelerating the implementation of innovative technologies and strengthening the country’s technological sovereignty in key industries.
The meeting was attended by the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy, the vice-rector for research work of SPbPU Yuri Fomin, the head of the Research Laboratory “Laser and Additive Technologies” of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport Mikhail Kuznetsov, and professor of the Higher School of Physics and Materials Technology of IMMiT Sergey Parshin.
“Polytechnic has always been and remains a forge of engineering personnel capable of not only working in the current conditions, but also shaping the technological agenda of tomorrow. Today, we are betting on the development of advanced technologies in the field of materials science, laser and additive processes, digital engineering – those areas that are already determining the appearance of the industry of the future. Cooperation with colleagues from the Arctic region opens up new horizons: we combine fundamental science, engineering schools and real production tasks. I am confident that this synergy will become the basis for comprehensive solutions that can change the infrastructure of the North and become an example for other regions of the country,” Andrey Rudskoy emphasized.
It is worth noting that over the course of three years of close cooperation with the Scientific and Educational Center “Russian Arctic” of NArFU, specialists of the Scientific and Research Laboratory “Laser and Additive Technologies” of IMMiT SPbPU have completed several projects on direct laser growth and laser welding of thin metals. Now the polytechnicians are faced with the task of developing a technology for hybrid laser-arc welding of samples with a blunting thickness of at least 30 mm. In the future, joint interests include the creation of a technological complex and the introduction of laser technologies into the production of city-forming enterprises.
At the meeting, the guests voiced a proposal to create a center, discussed the levels of interaction and upcoming stages of joint work.
“For the Arkhangelsk Region, the development of advanced production technologies capable of ensuring reliable and efficient operation in the conditions of the North and the Arctic is especially important. Joint scientific projects and the creation of a competence center are a step towards a real technological breakthrough. We are counting on practical results and are ready for systematic work on the implementation of new solutions in shipbuilding and related industries,” noted Alexey Aksenov.
During the visit, a tour of the university campus and research laboratories of the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU took place. The guests examined the equipment of the Laser and Additive Technologies Research Laboratory in most detail. They were interested in the robotic technological complexes and exhibits manufactured as part of joint projects with the Russian Arctic Research and Education Center of NArFU.
“In recent years, within the framework of cooperation with the Scientific and Educational Center “Russian Arctic” of NArFU, we have successfully implemented several projects using direct laser growth and laser welding technologies. We see great interest in laser technologies from the Arctic region and are confident that the next stage of cooperation will allow us to move from pilot solutions to large-scale integration of technologies into production,” said Mikhail Kuznetsov, Director of the Russian-German Center for Laser Technologies.
Alexey Aksenov and Mikhail Danilov showed keen interest in the scientific developments of the Polytechnic University and expressed readiness for further cooperation. Following the meeting, a decision was made to hold a series of working meetings for a more detailed discussion of the project.
The visit of the delegation from the Arkhangelsk region became an important step towards strengthening interregional scientific and technical cooperation. SPbPU and NArFU intend to develop a strategic partnership aimed at the technological development of the shipbuilding industry and the Arctic region.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
On the second day of a visit to Beijing, Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today called on State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) Executive Deputy Director Xu Qifang and other officials.
Miss Mak briefed Mr Xu on the work of the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), including ongoing initiatives on district governance, youth development and women’s affairs. She also thanked the HKMAO for its support and guidance.
Miss Mak also called on Communist Party of China Central Committee Society Work Department Vice Minister He Zhiliang to exchange views on grassroots governance.
The HYAB highlighted that district governance in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has entered a new phase, with executive-led governance being fully implemented. It said that the District Councils, “the three district committees” and Care Teams form a troika, co-operating to serve citizens, under the leadership of District Officers.
The HYAB and the Home Affairs Department also conduct training to enhance District Council (DC) members’ capabilities in discharging their duties. Last year, this included arranging visits to Shanghai and Zhejiang for them to learn about grassroots governance on the Mainland.
Miss Mak said the HYAB will continue to unite district forces and enhance service efficiency to increase the public’s happiness and contentment.
She then met State Administration for Religious Affairs Vice Minister Wang Zhigang to exchange views on religious affairs.
Stressing that the Hong Kong SAR Government maintains close communication with religious groups in Hong Kong, she described the harmonious relationships between different religious groups, adding that in addition delivering teachings they provide education, medical and welfare services, making significant contributions to the community.
In the afternoon, Miss Mak attended an inauguration ceremony for a Youth Internship Programme at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
She highlighted that the six-week programme is an important co-operation project co-organised by the HYAB and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and gives Hong Kong youth high-end scientific research internship opportunities during the summer vacation every year.
Miss Mak congratulated the 20 young Hongkongers who made it through a highly competitive selection process.
Speaking at the ceremony, she commented the National 14th Five-Year Plan has driven Hong Kong’s development as an international innovation and technology centre.
She also outlined that the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to nurturing scientific research talent.
Miss Mak expressed her hope that the programme will nurture students’ passion for scientific research and serve as the starting point for their contributions to Hong Kong’s innovation and technology development and to the country.
I have worked in the women’s emergency shelter system in Hamilton, Ont., since 2012. I have met many women who have been navigating homelessness for years — with no permanent solution to their housing crisis. For my PhD in social work, I interviewed 21 women who had experienced homelessness for a year or longer in Hamilton. I asked them about their experiences, and through art-based activities, about their ideas for housing and support.
What I learned in the interviews, combined with existing research, highlights a hidden crisis. Within our current system resides a profound human cost that manages, instead of resolves, homelessness.
Among the women I spoke with, more than half had been experiencing homelessness for 10 years or longer. Six of the the women said they have never had a safe place of their own to live for the entirety of their adult lives.
All of the women who participated in this project accessed the services offered by the homeless serving sector, including shelters and outreach workers, designed to resolve their homelessness. Yet none of these women were able to have their housing and support needs met.
This means their experience of homelessness has persisted for years, and even decades.
Homelessness often starts in their teens
More than half of the participants I spoke with first experienced homelessness before they turned 18. Their primary route into youth homelessness was gender-based violence. They ran away from home when they were teenaged girls to escape violence and became caught in a cycle of events that include: hospitalization, incarceration, staying in youth shelters, living in group homes and unsafe places.
The women in my study described a frustrating and exhausting cycle of going among institutions such as hospitals, jails, emergency shelters, drop-in programs and transitional housing programs. They had all spent periods of time living outdoors, in encampments, in motels, with unsafe people and in other precarious and temporary housing arrangements. This phenomena is well-documented in existing Canadian research.
Better definitions, better data
The Canadian government defines those who have been homeless and using shelters for more than 180 days a year as experiencing “acute chronicity.”
Another term used by the federal government for individuals who have accessed shelters at least once in each of the last three years is “prolonged instability.”
People who meet one or both of these criteria are considered to have the highest housing needs in the country.
According to recent federal data, women and gender-diverse people across Canada experience slightly higher rates of acute chronicity than men (13.4 per cent for men, 15.4 per cent for women, and 13.9 per cent for gender-diverse people). But the real numbers for women are likely much higher due to under-reporting.
Research shows women remain invisible to official systems during periods of homelessness. For example, the available data relies solely on information about emergency shelter usage. It does not capture experiences of homelessness that occur outside of the shelter system.
For the women I spoke with, the official 180 days or three years that makes someone officially chronically homeless in Canada does not even begin to describe the length and complexity of their experiences of homelessness.
The current measurements from the government of Canada fall short of capturing the complexity of the homeless experience for many Canadian women.
Government officials must therefore not only rethink their definitions of those in the most housing need, they must develop responsive housing solutions to meet the needs of women who have been homeless for many years.
Mary Vaccaro consults for YWCA Hamilton. She receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
WESTWOOD, Mass., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helo Revolution (Helo), the fintech platform helping users build smarter money habits through behavioral science and automation, has signed a groundbreaking Affiliate Program Agreement with Barrett Financial Group, one of the nation’s leading mortgage loan providers.
This strategic partnership will provide Barrett’s networkof over 2,000 loan officers and their clients with access to Helo’s powerful financial wellness platform. In turn, Barrett gains a new revenue stream, deeper client engagement, and access to promote Helo to their audience of high-intent home loan contacts, with potential for much broader integration in the near future.
A New Era of Financial Empowerment After the Mortgage Closes
Helo’s premium platform, which launches publicly in Q4 2025, offers automated tools that support homebuyers well beyond the closing date, including automated loan payments, debt optimization strategies, cash flow management, and long-term financial goal tracking. With both free and premium plans, it provides a genuine solution for post-mortgage financial stability, particularly in today’s volatile economic climate. Try Helo’s freemium app today before the premium version is available.
At its core, Helo is an all-in-one, done-for-you system that combines powerful money management, investment tracking, smart goal planning, and a full-service banking suite, including checking and savings accounts, unlike anything most consumers have ever seen. It’s built to simplify financial life while accelerating long-term wealth.
“This is a massive opportunity,” said Ariel Dangelo, Founder of Helo. “Buying a home is often the biggest purchase of someone’s life. Through this partnership, we’re not just helping people buy a home — we’re helping them stay financially healthy, pay down mortgages faster, and build long-term wealth confidently. With Barrett’s trusted loan officers introducing Helo, the ripple effect could be life-changing for thousands of families across America.”
Revenue Alignment and Mutual Growth
Under the Affiliate Program Agreement:
The two companies will collaborate on targeted email campaigns, personalized direct mail, and co-branded digital promotions to drive adoption.
Barrett and Helo have also agreed to explore a Joint Venture opportunity if volume milestones are hit.
“This is about more than fintech,” said Trevor Barrett, CEO of Barrett Financial Group. “It’s about giving our clients real tools to thrive financially. Partnering with Helo means we’re helping our borrowers navigate their mortgage and beyond, not just with great rates, but with real, ongoing support.”
Strategic Timing with Market Momentum
The partnership comes at a moment when fintech adoption is accelerating and consumer demand for better post-purchase financial support is at an all-time high.
Helo’s behavioral-first approach differentiates it from budgeting apps and traditional banks, offering an “automated discipline solution” that helps users stay on track without micromanaging their finances.
With a combined marketing push and built-in trust from Barrett’s advisors, this partnership is expected to significantly expand Helo’s user base and brand visibility, while helping Barrett provide long-term value to its clients beyond closing day.
About Helo Helo is a smart money platform designed to help everyday people master their finances using cashflow automation, habit-building behavioral tools, and personalized planning. Founded on the principle of “people over profit,” Helo empowers users to make better financial decisions, from spending and saving to debt reduction and investing. Learn more at www.gohelo.com
About Barrett Financial Group Barrett Financial Group, LLC is one of the top-rated mortgage brokerages in the U.S., known for offering tailored home loan solutions through a nationwide network of experienced loan officers. By pricing out multiple lenders and programs, Barrett helps clients secure the best possible mortgage options, including FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, Reverse Mortgages, and more. Learn more at www.barrettfinancial.com
WESTWOOD, Mass., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Helo Revolution (Helo), the fintech platform helping users build smarter money habits through behavioral science and automation, has signed a groundbreaking Affiliate Program Agreement with Barrett Financial Group, one of the nation’s leading mortgage loan providers.
This strategic partnership will provide Barrett’s networkof over 2,000 loan officers and their clients with access to Helo’s powerful financial wellness platform. In turn, Barrett gains a new revenue stream, deeper client engagement, and access to promote Helo to their audience of high-intent home loan contacts, with potential for much broader integration in the near future.
A New Era of Financial Empowerment After the Mortgage Closes
Helo’s premium platform, which launches publicly in Q4 2025, offers automated tools that support homebuyers well beyond the closing date, including automated loan payments, debt optimization strategies, cash flow management, and long-term financial goal tracking. With both free and premium plans, it provides a genuine solution for post-mortgage financial stability, particularly in today’s volatile economic climate. Try Helo’s freemium app today before the premium version is available.
At its core, Helo is an all-in-one, done-for-you system that combines powerful money management, investment tracking, smart goal planning, and a full-service banking suite, including checking and savings accounts, unlike anything most consumers have ever seen. It’s built to simplify financial life while accelerating long-term wealth.
“This is a massive opportunity,” said Ariel Dangelo, Founder of Helo. “Buying a home is often the biggest purchase of someone’s life. Through this partnership, we’re not just helping people buy a home — we’re helping them stay financially healthy, pay down mortgages faster, and build long-term wealth confidently. With Barrett’s trusted loan officers introducing Helo, the ripple effect could be life-changing for thousands of families across America.”
Revenue Alignment and Mutual Growth
Under the Affiliate Program Agreement:
The two companies will collaborate on targeted email campaigns, personalized direct mail, and co-branded digital promotions to drive adoption.
Barrett and Helo have also agreed to explore a Joint Venture opportunity if volume milestones are hit.
“This is about more than fintech,” said Trevor Barrett, CEO of Barrett Financial Group. “It’s about giving our clients real tools to thrive financially. Partnering with Helo means we’re helping our borrowers navigate their mortgage and beyond, not just with great rates, but with real, ongoing support.”
Strategic Timing with Market Momentum
The partnership comes at a moment when fintech adoption is accelerating and consumer demand for better post-purchase financial support is at an all-time high.
Helo’s behavioral-first approach differentiates it from budgeting apps and traditional banks, offering an “automated discipline solution” that helps users stay on track without micromanaging their finances.
With a combined marketing push and built-in trust from Barrett’s advisors, this partnership is expected to significantly expand Helo’s user base and brand visibility, while helping Barrett provide long-term value to its clients beyond closing day.
About Helo Helo is a smart money platform designed to help everyday people master their finances using cashflow automation, habit-building behavioral tools, and personalized planning. Founded on the principle of “people over profit,” Helo empowers users to make better financial decisions, from spending and saving to debt reduction and investing. Learn more at www.gohelo.com
About Barrett Financial Group Barrett Financial Group, LLC is one of the top-rated mortgage brokerages in the U.S., known for offering tailored home loan solutions through a nationwide network of experienced loan officers. By pricing out multiple lenders and programs, Barrett helps clients secure the best possible mortgage options, including FHA, VA, USDA, Jumbo, Reverse Mortgages, and more. Learn more at www.barrettfinancial.com
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
overnor Kathy Hochul today announced $1 million in grants to 16 veterans organizations across New York State through the third round of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program. These grants will support capital improvements to facilities that serve the state’s veterans, service members and their families.
“Our veterans, who have courageously served to protect our country, need and deserve to have access to safe, quality facilities to gather with family and loved ones,” Governor Hochul said. “This investment will not only allow for critical infrastructure upgrades, but it will also allow veterans to come together and bond with their community and families.”
The grants, administered by the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York (DASNY) in partnership with the Department of Veterans’ Services, provide reimbursement for capital improvement projects ranging from $25,000 to $75,000. Veterans organizations will use the funding for critical infrastructure upgrades including new roofs, HVAC systems, electrical improvements, ADA-compliant modifications and renovations to kitchens and common areas.
Recipients are located across six regions: Capital Region (4), Central New York (1), Finger Lakes (4), Long Island (2), Mid-Hudson (1) and Western New York (4). Projects include roof replacements, parking lot reconstruction, generator installations and facility accessibility improvements. A list of awards is located here.
Dormitory Authority of the State of New York President and CEO Robert J. Rodriguez said, “DASNY is proud to administer this program alongside our partners at the Department of Veterans’ Services, delivering on Governor Hochul’s continued commitment to supporting veterans. These capital improvements will help ensure that veterans have access to safe, modern facilities where they can gather, receive services, and maintain the important connections forged through their service to our nation.”
New York State Department of Veterans’ Services General Counsel Jonathan Fishbein said, “Round three of the Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program was one of our strongest to date, both in the quality of applications received and in the range of services supported across the state. These grants are making a real difference on the ground. DVS remains deeply committed to ensuring that Veterans, Service Members, and Military Families in every corner of New York have access to strong, stable, and growing networks of support. Governor Hochul continues to deliver much-needed support for all who served.”
The Veterans’ Nonprofit Capital Program provides funding for architecture, design, engineering, construction, reconstruction, rehabilitation or expansion of eligible facilities, and purchase of eligible furnishings or equipment. Since its inception, the program has awarded $4.6 million to veterans organizations statewide.
About the NYS Department of Veterans’ Services
The New York State Department of Veterans’ Services proudly serves New York’s Veterans, Service Members and Military Families, connecting them with benefits, services and support. All who served should contact the Department at 888-838-7697 or via its website — veterans.ny.gov — to meet in-person or virtually with an accredited Veterans Benefits Advisor to receive the benefits they have earned. Follow DVS on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn.
About DASNY
Founded in 1944, DASNY is New York State’s capital project development authority. It finances and constructs sustainable and resilient science, health and education institutions that help New York thrive. It is one of the largest issuers of tax-exempt bonds in the nation with an outstanding bond portfolio of approximately $60.1 billion as of March 31, 2025. DASNY is also a prolific public builder with a construction pipeline of approximately 1,000 projects valued at more than $13 billion as of March 31, 2025. To learn more about DASNY, visit www.dasny.org.
AUSTIN, Texas, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — SoftServe, a premier IT consulting and digital services provider, today announced it has signed a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) with Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), with plans to amplify enterprise AI adoption for real-world applications through heightened integration of AWS services and cloud-native modernization.
The newly signed SCA is a multi-year, innovative agreement encompassing co-developed solutions, enhanced investments, and strategic alignment to AWS priorities and client benefits, including:
Joint Go-To-Market (GTM) Strategies: Collaborating on GTM initiatives to bring these solutions to market faster and at a higher volume
Cloud-Native Transformation: Helping enterprises modernize legacy systems and migrate to AWS with greater speed, security, and efficiency using SAMP, or SoftServe’s Adaptive Modernization Platform (formerly SoftServe Application Modernization Platform), a proven accelerator that reduces timelines for cloud modernization projects through reusable AWS-native modules and Agentic AI to improve scalability, reliability, and developer velocity
Customer-Centric Innovation: Customizing scalable, AI-enabled solutions that address real-world challenges, such as helping ISVs accelerate SaaS adoption on AWS by automating multi-tenant provisioning and compliance readiness through AI-powered application modernization
Global Reach & Impact: Expanding delivery capabilities, expert access and certifications, and digital collaboration across North America and EMEA
“Within our alliance with AWS, we deploy a differentiated approach that unifies migration, modernization, and AI adoption into a repeatable, scalable strategy,” said Volodymyr Semenyshyn, SoftServe’s Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). “This collaboration signals next-level advancement for key offerings like our highly customized self-service platform SAMP, which paves the way for reaching more measurable outcomes and faster time-to-value for our clients.”
“This new cooperation unlocks a new level of joint execution between SoftServe and AWS,” said Darrin Griggy, SVP of Partnerships & Alliances at SoftServe. “Our aligned go-to-market strategies will accelerate solution delivery, expand market reach, and empower organizations to achieve complex migrations, optimize workloads, and operationalize AI with greater efficiency and security.”
With more than 700 AWS-certified experts, including two of the 274 AWS Ambassadors acclaimed worldwide, SoftServe enables clients to achieve business outcomes through cloud modernization, data platforms, and AI/ML transformation. For more information please visit this website.
ABOUT SOFTSERVE SoftServe is a premier IT consulting and digital services provider. We expand the horizon of new technologies to solve today’s complex business challenges and achieve meaningful outcomes for our clients. Our boundless curiosity drives us to explore and reimagine the art of the possible. Clients confidently rely on SoftServe to architect and execute mature and innovative capabilities, such as digital engineering, data and analytics, cloud, and AI/ML.
Our global reputation is gained from more than 30 years of experience delivering superior digital solutions at exceptional speed by top-tier engineering talent to enterprise industries, including high tech, financial services, healthcare, life sciences, retail, energy, and manufacturing. Visit our website, blog, LinkedIn, Facebook, and X (Twitter) pages for more information.
I have worked in the women’s emergency shelter system in Hamilton, Ont., since 2012. I have met many women who have been navigating homelessness for years — with no permanent solution to their housing crisis. For my PhD in social work, I interviewed 21 women who had experienced homelessness for a year or longer in Hamilton. I asked them about their experiences, and through art-based activities, about their ideas for housing and support.
What I learned in the interviews, combined with existing research, highlights a hidden crisis. Within our current system resides a profound human cost that manages, instead of resolves, homelessness.
Among the women I spoke with, more than half had been experiencing homelessness for 10 years or longer. Six of the the women said they have never had a safe place of their own to live for the entirety of their adult lives.
All of the women who participated in this project accessed the services offered by the homeless serving sector, including shelters and outreach workers, designed to resolve their homelessness. Yet none of these women were able to have their housing and support needs met.
This means their experience of homelessness has persisted for years, and even decades.
Homelessness often starts in their teens
More than half of the participants I spoke with first experienced homelessness before they turned 18. Their primary route into youth homelessness was gender-based violence. They ran away from home when they were teenaged girls to escape violence and became caught in a cycle of events that include: hospitalization, incarceration, staying in youth shelters, living in group homes and unsafe places.
The women in my study described a frustrating and exhausting cycle of going among institutions such as hospitals, jails, emergency shelters, drop-in programs and transitional housing programs. They had all spent periods of time living outdoors, in encampments, in motels, with unsafe people and in other precarious and temporary housing arrangements. This phenomena is well-documented in existing Canadian research.
Better definitions, better data
The Canadian government defines those who have been homeless and using shelters for more than 180 days a year as experiencing “acute chronicity.”
Another term used by the federal government for individuals who have accessed shelters at least once in each of the last three years is “prolonged instability.”
People who meet one or both of these criteria are considered to have the highest housing needs in the country.
According to recent federal data, women and gender-diverse people across Canada experience slightly higher rates of acute chronicity than men (13.4 per cent for men, 15.4 per cent for women, and 13.9 per cent for gender-diverse people). But the real numbers for women are likely much higher due to under-reporting.
Research shows women remain invisible to official systems during periods of homelessness. For example, the available data relies solely on information about emergency shelter usage. It does not capture experiences of homelessness that occur outside of the shelter system.
For the women I spoke with, the official 180 days or three years that makes someone officially chronically homeless in Canada does not even begin to describe the length and complexity of their experiences of homelessness.
The current measurements from the government of Canada fall short of capturing the complexity of the homeless experience for many Canadian women.
Government officials must therefore not only rethink their definitions of those in the most housing need, they must develop responsive housing solutions to meet the needs of women who have been homeless for many years.
Mary Vaccaro consults for YWCA Hamilton. She receives funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
The Select Committee on Education, Sciences and Creative Industries has noted the Policy Framework on Internationalisation of universities as presented by the Department of Higher Education and Training on Tuesday.
The Chairperson of the committee, Mr Makhi Feni, called on the department to provide updated statistical information, that will help the committee to act from an informed perspective on issues in the sector. He said: “We appreciate this initiative but we call on the department to ensure that it empowers black South Africans, the previously disadvantaged and other vulnerable groups.
“Keeping up with international standards is ideal but such move must empower South Africans. We must not be swallowed up in convenient phrases, but we want South Africans to equally influence the world through research output that does not regurgitate international models.”
Minister Nobuhle Nkabane led the departmental delegation in the meeting with the committee this morning. She informed the committee that the policy will serve as a guideline to South Africa’s institutions of higher education.
Mr Feni said the policy is urgent and that in the era of indigenous knowledge systems and decolonised knowledge, we should be able to make conditions conducive for black South African scholars at home and abroad. “But in the absence of relevant and reliable information, we are unable to do anything. Even the swirling complaints about foreign nationals uprooting Black South Africans from their system will continue,” Mr Feni said.
Mr Feni said the development of a policy framework must not be delayed as Black South Africans legitimately feel they are being substituted by foreign nationals. “There will be claims of xenophobia, when in fact this was something that could have easily been avoided.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)
Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the Cool Corridors Act of 2025. The bipartisan legislation focuses on mitigating extreme heat in urban areas by investing in tree canopies and shade infrastructure along transit corridors, sidewalks, bus stops, school zones, and underserved neighborhoods.
“As temperatures climb and heatwaves become more severe, we must ensure our communities are equipped to stay cool, safe, and livable,” said Strickland. “My bill promotes smart investments to improve public health, improve our infrastructure, make our communities more walkable and resilient.”
“In the Lower Hudson Valley, extreme heat causes serious damage to our roads, sidewalks, and public spaces, impacting families’ daily routines and expenses during the hottest months of the year. This bill will cool down our streets and transit corridors, helping protect our infrastructure and create safer, more comfortable neighborhoods for everyone. By investing in public works projects now, we will save taxpayers’ money in the long run and improve the quality of life for our communities,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Co-Chair of the Extreme Heat Caucus.
“At Trust for Public Land, we know that access to nature isn’t a luxury — it’s a lifeline. That’s why we support this effort to reauthorize the Healthy Streets Program,” said Dr. Carrie Besnette Hauser, President and CEO of Trust for Public Land. “Through our work with communities across the country, we’ve witnessed the transformative power of trees, and how planting them in urban and rural neighborhoods alike results in added shade along with cleaner air, improved health outcomes, more local jobs, and documented protection from extreme temperatures and climate events.”
“Extreme heat is now the deadliest weather-related hazard in the U.S., and it’s only getting worse. Trees are one of our most effective defenses—especially in the places where people are most exposed, like sidewalks, transit corridors, and bus stops. The Cool Corridors Act delivers smart, science-based investments in shade where people need it most. It’s a practical, proven way to protect public health and create safer, more connected neighborhoods. Led by Representatives Strickland and Rep. Lawler, this is bipartisan leadership turning down the temperature on extreme heat. We thank them for the coolest legislation of the summer and for championing life-saving, locally driven solutions that communities urgently need,” said Joel Pannell, Vice President of Urban Policy, American Forests.
The Cool Corridors Act aims to improve public health outcomes by addressing urban heat islands, reducing air and noise pollution, and decreasing stormwater runoff. Additionally, it promotes local workforce development through urban forestry job training, preserves existing roadside vegetation, and strengthens long-term maintenance and climate resilience strategies.
The bill also calls for interagency coordination across the Departments of Transportation, Energy, Agriculture, Housing and Urban Development, and the Environmental Protection Agency. It ensures accountability through community engagement and robust data reporting on environmental and public health outcomes.
House Co-Sponsors include: Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Rep. Alma Adams (NC-12), Rep. Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rep. Dina Titus (NV-01), Rep. Doris Matsui (CA-07), Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Rep. Steven Cohen (TN-09), Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04), Rep. Yassamin Ansari (AZ-03), Rep. Sylvia Garcia (TX-29), Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-25), Rep. Timothy Kennedy (NY-26), Josh Harder (CA-09).
You can read the full legislation here.
Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10)serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.
Sadiq is first Mayor of London to lead trade mission to Africa
Mayor will visit Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa to boost trade and growth and further develop cultural links
Mayor to visit four cities in five days – Lagos, Accra, Johannesburg and Cape Town
Trade between UK and Africa worth £50bn
The Mayor says that over the next decade there are ‘huge opportunities’ to deepen partnerships between London and African nations.
Sadiq Khan will this week become the first Mayor of London to lead a trade mission to Africa, banging the drum for the capital as a place to invest and strengthening ties with countries across the continent.
Sadiq will visit Lagos in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Africa – four cities in five days – to boost trade links with London and build on extensive connections between the region and the capital’s growing African diaspora.
Alongside the visit, the Mayor’s growth agency London & Partners will host a trade delegation of 27 London-based companies that are looking to grow their business and access opportunities in this dynamic and important region of the world.
The bilateral trade relationship between Africa and London has shown consistent growth over recent years, despite global challenges. More businesses from London expand into Africa than from any other city globally and the UK stands as one of Africa’s significant trading partners. With trade between the UK and Africa worth £50bn in 2024* and UK exports up six per cent year on year, the Mayor is hoping that his visit will contribute to future economic growth both in London and the cities he visits.
The visit also helps to celebrate London’s cultural links and history with the African continent. Londoners of African heritage have played, and continue to play, a huge part of life in the capital, from food and music, to art and culture and sport. Nigeria is the eighth most common country of birth for Londoners, with the country among the top 10 fastest growing populations in London, and Ghana in the top 30 fastest growing between 2001 and 2021. Last month London hosted the football Unity Cup, which saw Ghana and Nigeria go head-to-head in a semi-final at Brentford’s stadium.
New analysis from Dealroom has ranked Lagos as the world’s top emerging tech hub.** In Lagos, the Mayor will attend a flagship tech event hosted by London and Partners, the growth agency for London, where he will encourage Nigerian tech businesses to invest in London.
Just last week, Guaranty Trust Holding Company Plc (GTCO) became the first Nigerian banking entity to list all of its shares directly on the London Stock Exchange, highlighting the close economic ties that already exist between London and the African continent.
Africa’s Creative Vibrancy Index ranks Lagos as the top city for creative economy performance and the Mayor will also host a major culture and creative industries reception to celebrate the status of Lagos and London as cultural and creative industry powerhouses. This will also look to encourage even greater ties between the creative industry ecosystems in both cities – from the arts to music and film.
Trade between the UK and Ghana stood at around £1.4 billion in 2024. In Accra, the Mayor will deliver a speech on innovation and entrepreneurship to students at the University of Ghana, hosted by Imperial College London. Imperial is the first UK university to have a permanent base solely focused on science and technology in Africa, building on the rapid increase in the number of scientific advancements and breakthroughs by researchers from Imperial working with scientists in Ghana in recent years. He will also launch the British High Commission’s new business campaign that will promote trade between the two cities.
In Johannesburg, the Mayor will commemorate Mandela Day – an annual international day in honour of Nelson Mandela, celebrated each year on 18 July, Mandela’s birthday. Nelson Mandela made a number of visits to London during his lifetime, including a state visit in 1996 by invitation of Queen Elizabeth II, and speaking in Trafalgar Square in 2005 in support of the Make Poverty History Campaign. His impact on South Africa, the UK and the wider world is celebrated by a statue in Parliament Square, and last year the Mayor provided funding to support the first cultural centre and museum dedicated to the history of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in Britain.
Finally, the Mayor will visit Cape Town where he will join London businesses from his trade delegation who are seeking new opportunities in Africa. He will attend London & Partners’ London x Cape Town Tech Summit, which will bring together London and South Africa’s dynamic tech sectors, developing opportunities for collaboration between the two cities in driving innovation, attracting investment and scaling transformative technologies. He will also take part in events marking the huge role sport can play in supporting communities, both in London and in Africa.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I am delighted to be visiting Africa this week – the first visit of its kind by a Mayor of London – to bang the drum for the capital and further develop the strong ties between our countries.
“Africa has the world’s fastest growing populations, and is seeing major economic growth across many of its economies. Over the next decade there are huge opportunities to deepen partnerships with London. I will be working tirelessly throughout this visit to drive trade and investment across critical sectors including finance, education, health, tech creative and sustainability.
“Londoners of African heritage have played, and continue to play, a huge role in making London the greatest city in the world, and this trip is an opportunity to celebrate our shared heritage, history and culture with the African continent – as we build a better and fairer city for everyone.”
Laura Citron, CEO of London & Partners, said: “London is one of the best places in the world to build a business. But it doesn’t thrive in isolation. Its strength comes from global connections. Markets like Nigeria, South Africa and Kenya offer real opportunities for growth. These trade missions focus on building strong partnerships between London and some of the most important emerging business hubs in the region. London is home to important African diaspora communities, which are a great strength in our diverse city.”
Lord Collins of Highbury, UK Minister for Africa said: “Sir Sadiq’s visit marks an exciting moment for the UK’s relationship with countries across Africa, and is a strong demonstration of our commitment to deepening our ties with the continent.
“Strengthening our trade, investment, and cultural ties is not only vital for shared economic growth, but also for fostering long-term partnerships that are rooted in respect and open up opportunities for all.”
Dr Lloyd Anderson, the Acting Regional Director for Sub Saharan at the British Council, said: “On behalf of the British Council in Sub Saharan Africa, I am delighted to welcome Mayor Sadiq Khan on his historic trade mission to this vibrant continent. The visit will not only strengthen the bonds between London and Africa, but showcase the immense potential for trade, investment and cultural programmes.
“Given Africa’s dynamic economies and diverse cultures, there are precedented opportunities for collaborations that celebrate our shared heritage and drive innovation across sectors such as creative industries and education. I look forward to witnessing the fruitful partnerships that will emerge from this mission, enhancing not only economic ties but also the cultural connections that enrich both London and Africa.”
Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, said: “The Mayor of London’s visit underscores the UK Government’s commitment to strengthening economic and cultural ties with Nigeria. From trade to fintech and fashion, our collaboration is driving innovation and growth.
“Through the UK-Nigeria Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership, we’re committed to unlocking new opportunities that benefit both our economies, and this visit is a powerful step forward in that journey of inclusive growth.”
Antony Phillipson, British High Commissioner to South Africa, said: “The Mayor of London’s visit marks a significant moment in deepening the economic ties between South Africa and London, with a focus on trade, innovation, and cultural links. His engagements in Cape Town show the tangible benefits of collaboration to drive inclusive, sustainable growth for both our economies.”
Orla Browne, Head of Insights at Dealroom, said: “Lagos is the world’s top emerging tech hub in our 2025 ‘Rising Stars’ ranking — and for good reason. Its tech ecosystem has grown 11-fold in enterprise value since 2017 to $15B, produced five unicorns like Flutterwave and OPay, and attracted significant foreign investment. In the context of a low-income national economy, Lagos shows how tech can be a powerful driver of economic growth.”
Tom Attenborough, Head of International Primary Markets, London Stock Exchange Group, said; “The London Stock Exchange has been a consistent funding partner – both to Governments and to the wider African economy – with more than 90% of the bonds issued by African Sovereigns currently listed on our markets and more than 100 companies from 20 African countries with a market capitalisation of $110bn listed here. London’s capital markets continue to play actively in directing financing to opportunities that support economic development across Africa.”
Olu Alake, CEO of The Africa Centre, London UK, said: “The Africa Centre warmly welcomes The Mayor of London’s trade mission to Nigeria, Ghana and South Africa as part of his office’s focus on Africa. For over 60 years, we have had the pleasure of fostering meaningful engagements and innovative partnerships between the United Kingdom and the African continent. Mayor Khan’s visit represents a timely and strategic opportunity to deepen economic, cultural and innovation ties with the continent in a spirit of genuine partnership. We stand ready to support all efforts that will advance inclusive growth and mutual prosperity.”
London-based businesses in Africa as part of London & Partners trade delegation include fintech company Abound who specialise in AI-powered lending.
Michelle He, Co-Founder and COO of Abound said: “We’re excited to take part in this historic trade mission to Africa. We’ve already partnered with one African unicorn, LemFi, and are excited to continue to grow our presence in what is becoming such an important fintech hub.”
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The heat is on: real summer has arrived in St. Petersburg, and applicants have just over a week to apply for admission to a university. There are many opportunities, but it is difficult to make the right choice. Not all graduates leave school with a clear understanding of where exactly they will go to get higher education. Sometimes a strong emotion becomes a turning point for making a decision. For example, many students stay to study at the Polytechnic University under the impression of the beauty of its buildings and park. But first, they need to get there. Potential students will be helped by… superheroes of the Polytechnic Universe.
Now you can see them on light boxes in the vestibules and on the escalators of eleven stations of the St. Petersburg metro, and they will definitely not let you go astray. If you get on the wrong line, change to the red one. If you hear in the train: “The next station is Politekhnicheskaya”, get off, this is where you need to go. Go up the escalator, the superheroes will wave their hand in greeting – and now you are outside, and you are greeted by the snow-white main building of the Polytechnic and a green park with a 46-meter old tower. You must admit, there is no better place for student life.
“This year we have kept the slogan of the previous admissions campaign, “You are the main hero!” It has proven itself well,” said Dmitry Voronov, Head of the Department for Promotion of Educational Programs at SPbPU. “The corporate style with comic book characters was created by the Visual Communications Department of the Public Relations Office, and the advertising layouts were prepared by the Department for Promotion of Educational Programs.”
Let us recall that in 2024, almost 145 thousand applications were submitted for budget places in the bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs at the Polytechnic University – this is 70% more than in 2023. It is too early to sum up the results of the 2025 admissions campaign, but by July 15, 108,126 applications had already been submitted for all forms of study in the bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs. The largest number – 26,000 applications – were received by the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity, in second place (25,000) – the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, in third (12,000) – the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport.
Among the areas of training, the most popular are “Software Engineering”, “Construction”, “Information Systems and Technologies”.
The admissions committee notes the continued high demand of applicants for all areas of the IT sphere and the growing interest in such areas of training as: “Nuclear Power Engineering and Thermal Physics”, “Thermal Power Engineering and Thermal Engineering”, “Automation of Technological Processes and Production”, “Biotechnology”.
The acceptance of documents continues. The rules of the admission campaign and its progress can be found aton our website.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The heat is on: real summer has arrived in St. Petersburg, and applicants have just over a week to apply for admission to a university. There are many opportunities, but it is difficult to make the right choice. Not all graduates leave school with a clear understanding of where exactly they will go to get higher education. Sometimes a strong emotion becomes a turning point for making a decision. For example, many students stay to study at the Polytechnic University under the impression of the beauty of its buildings and park. But first, they need to get there. Potential students will be helped by… superheroes of the Polytechnic Universe.
Now you can see them on light boxes in the vestibules and on the escalators of eleven stations of the St. Petersburg metro, and they will definitely not let you go astray. If you get on the wrong line, change to the red one. If you hear in the train: “The next station is Politekhnicheskaya”, get off, this is where you need to go. Go up the escalator, the superheroes will wave their hand in greeting – and now you are outside, and you are greeted by the snow-white main building of the Polytechnic and a green park with a 46-meter old tower. You must admit, there is no better place for student life.
“This year we have kept the slogan of the previous admissions campaign, “You are the main hero!” It has proven itself well,” said Dmitry Voronov, Head of the Department for Promotion of Educational Programs at SPbPU. “The corporate style with comic book characters was created by the Visual Communications Department of the Public Relations Office, and the advertising layouts were prepared by the Department for Promotion of Educational Programs.”
Let us recall that in 2024, almost 145 thousand applications were submitted for budget places in the bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs at the Polytechnic University – this is 70% more than in 2023. It is too early to sum up the results of the 2025 admissions campaign, but by July 15, 108,126 applications had already been submitted for all forms of study in the bachelor’s and specialist’s degree programs. The largest number – 26,000 applications – were received by the Institute of Computer Science and Cybersecurity, in second place (25,000) – the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade, in third (12,000) – the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport.
Among the areas of training, the most popular are “Software Engineering”, “Construction”, “Information Systems and Technologies”.
The admissions committee notes the continued high demand of applicants for all areas of the IT sphere and the growing interest in such areas of training as: “Nuclear Power Engineering and Thermal Physics”, “Thermal Power Engineering and Thermal Engineering”, “Automation of Technological Processes and Production”, “Biotechnology”.
The acceptance of documents continues. The rules of the admission campaign and its progress can be found aton our website.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Merck Foundation (www.Merck-Foundation.com), the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany together with First Ladies of Africa who are also their Ambassadors, Ministries of Health, Education, Communication & Gender, mark ‘International Women’s Day 2025’, through their impactful development programs, continuing their 13-year legacy of empowering women and girls.
Senator, Dr. Rasha Kelej, CEO of Merck Foundation and One of the Most Influential African Women for Six Consecutive Years (2019 – 2024) expressed, “Happy International Women’s Day to all the remarkable women and girls around the world!
Empowering girls and women is at the core of all our initiatives and programs at Merck Foundation. I recognize the immense potential of women to thrive, succeed and excel in any domain they choose, yet they often lack the conducive environment to fully realize their capabilities, especially in underserved communities.
Therefore, together with our Ambassadors, The First Ladies of Africa, we mark International Women’s Day every day since the last 13 years through our development programs and initiatives such as ‘More Than a Mother’, ‘Merck Foundation Capacity Advancement’, ‘Educating Linda’, and ‘STEM Program’.”
“Merck Foundation More Than a Mother” is a strong movement that aims to empower infertile and childless women through access to information, education and change of mindset.
“I am thrilled to share that out of the 2,282 scholarships awarded across 52 countries in 44 critical and underserved specialties, 1046 scholarships, that is nearly 50% have been granted to female medical graduates, empowering them to become future healthcare experts and leaders.
I am especially proud that we have awarded over 680 scholarships to young doctors, dedicated to advancing women’s health by strengthening reproductive, sexual health, and fertility care capacity.”
Merck Foundation CEO strongly believes that Education is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment.
“I am happy to share that through our “Educating Linda” Program, together with my dear sisters, our Ambassadors, we are contributing to the future of over 700girls by providing scholarships to continue their education and also providing essential school items for thousands of schoolgirls in many African countries such as Botswana, Burundi, Malawi, The Gambia, Nigeria, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, Namibia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cabo Verde and more.
Moreover, we have benefitted thousands of girls through our awareness campaign through many initiates like the release of inspiring songs, children’s storybooks, animation films, TV Program and awards for best media, song, film & fashion designs, all aimed at promoting girl education today for women’s empowerment tomorrow”, emphasized Senator Rasha Kelej.
Merck Foundation also actively empowers women in Science and Technology through its STEM Program and the annual Merck Foundation Africa Research Summit (MARS) Awards that recognize and celebrate the Best African Women Researchers and Best Young African Researchers, fostering research excellence.
“Our goal is to empower women and young African researchers, enhance their research capacity, and promote their contributions to STEM,” emphasized Dr. Kelej.
Watch the Episodes of “Our Africa by Merck Foundation” TV program on Supporting Girl Education:
Listen to Merck Foundation song about Supporting Girl Education here:
Watch, share & subscribe to the “Girl Can” song here, sung by two famous singers, Irene and Cwezi from Liberia and Ghana respectively: https://apo-opa.co/4eWbPm8
Watch, share & subscribe the “Like Them” song here, sung by Kenneth, a famous singer from Uganda: https://apo-opa.co/4lo4Wfy
Watch, share & subscribe “Take me to School” song here, sung by Wezi, Afro-soul singer from Zambia, to support girls’ education: https://apo-opa.co/4ePQxWU
Watch share & subscribe “Tu Podes Sim” Portuguese song, which means “Yes, You Can” in English by Blaze and Tamyris Moiane, singers from Mozambique in English here: https://apo-opa.co/46GXwPY
Watch, share & subscribe “Brighter day” song by Sean K and Cwesi Oteng from Namibia and Ghana respectively: https://apo-opa.co/3GInicb
Watch the Merck Foundation Animation Films to Support Girl Education :
About Merck Foundation: The Merck Foundation, established in 2017, is the philanthropic arm of Merck KGaA Germany, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of people and advance their lives through science and technology. Our efforts are primarily focused on improving access to quality & equitable healthcare solutions in underserved communities, building healthcare & scientific research capacity, empowering girls in education and empowering people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) with a special focus on women and youth. All Merck Foundation press releases are distributed by e-mail at the same time they become available on the Merck Foundation Website. Please visit www.Merck-Foundation.com to read more. Follow the social media of Merck Foundation: Facebook (https://apo-opa.co/4lZ2dt8), X (https://apo-opa.co/44O0H5M), Instagram (https://apo-opa.co/466ZGIB), YouTube (https://apo-opa.co/4lFl8sQ), Threads (https://apo-opa.co/4lXSrqZ) and Flickr (https://apo-opa.co/4f9GJaN).
The Merck Foundation is dedicated to improving social and health outcomes for communities in need. While it collaborates with various partners, including governments to achieve its humanitarian goals, the foundation remains strictly neutral in political matters. It does not engage in or support any political activities, elections, or regimes, focusing solely on its mission to elevate humanity and enhance well-being while maintaining a strict non-political stance in all of its endeavors.
When we first got together, we wondered whether our unconventional project, linking space weather and human behavior, could actually bridge such a vast disciplinary divide. Now, two years on, we believe the payoffs – personal, professional and scientific – were well worth the initial discomfort.
Our collaboration, which culminated in a recent paper in the journal Science Advances, began with a single question: What happened to life on Earth when the planet’s magnetic field nearly collapsed roughly 41,000 years ago?
Weirdness when Earth’s magnetic shield falters
This near-collapse is known as the Laschamps Excursion, a brief but extreme geomagnetic event named for the volcanic fields in France where it was first identified. At the time of the Laschamps Excursion, near the end of the Pleistocene epoch, Earth’s magnetic poles didn’t reverse as they do every few hundred thousand years. Instead, they wandered, erratically and rapidly, over thousands of miles. At the same time, the strength of the magnetic field dropped to less than 10% of its modern day intensity.
So, instead of behaving like a stable bar magnet – a dipole – as it usually does, the Earth’s magnetic field fractured into multiple weak poles across the planet. As a result, the protective force field scientists call the magnetosphere became distorted and leaky.
The magnetosphere normally deflects much of the solar wind and harmful ultraviolet radiation that would otherwise reach Earth’s surface.
So, during the Laschamps Excursion when the magnetosphere broke down, our models suggest a number of near-Earth effects. While there is still work to be done to precisely characterize these effects, we do know they included auroras – normally seen only in skies near the poles as the Northern Lights or Southern Lights – wandering toward the equator, and significantly higher-than-present-day doses of harmful solar radiation.
The skies 41,000 years ago may have been both spectacular and threatening. When we realized this, we two geophysicists wanted to know whether this could have affected people living at the time.
The archaeologist’s answer was absolutely.
Human responses to ancient space weather
For people on the ground at that time, auroras may have been the most immediate and striking effect, perhaps inspiring awe, fear, ritual behavior or something else entirely. But the archaeological record is notoriously limited in its ability to capture these kinds of cognitive or emotional responses.
In response, people may have adopted practical measures: spending more time in caves, producing tailored clothing for better coverage, or applying mineral pigment “sunscreen” made of ochre to their skin. As we describe in our recent paper, the frequency of these behaviors indeed appears to have increased across parts of Europe, where effects of the Laschamps Excursion were pronounced and prolonged.
Naturally occurring ochre can act as a protective sunscreen if applied to skin. Museo Egizio di Torino
At this time, both Neanderthals and members of our species, Homo sapiens, were living in Europe, though their geographic distributions likely overlapped only in certain regions. The archaeological record suggests that different populations exhibited distinct approaches to environmental challenges, with some groups perhaps more reliant on shelter or material culture for protection.
Importantly, we’re not suggesting that space weather alone caused an increase in these behaviors or, certainly, that the Laschamps caused Neanderthals to go extinct, which is one misinterpretation of our research. But it could have been a contributing factor – an invisible but powerful force that influenced innovation and adaptability.
Cross-discipline collaboration
Collaborating across such a disciplinary gap was, at first, daunting. But it turned out to be deeply rewarding.
Archaeologists are used to reconstructing now-invisible phenomena like climate. We can’t measure past temperatures or precipitation directly, but they’ve left traces for us to interpret if we know where and how to look.
An artistic rendering of how far into lower latitudes the aurora might have been visible during the Laschamps Excursion. Maximilian Schanner (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany)
But even archaeologists who’ve spent years studying the effects of climate on past behaviors and technologies may not have considered the effects of the geomagnetic field and space weather. These effects, too, are invisible, powerful and best understood through indirect evidence and modeling. Archaeologists can treat space weather as a vital component of Earth’s environmental history and future forecasting.
Likewise, geophysicists, who typically work with large datasets, models and simulations, may not always engage with some of the stakes of space weather. Archaeology adds a human dimension to the science. It reminds us that the effects of space weather don’t stop at the ionosphere. They can ripple down into the lived experiences of people on the ground, influencing how they adapt, create and survive.
The Laschamps Excursion wasn’t a fluke or a one-off. Similar disruptions of Earth’s magnetic field have happened before and will happen again. Understanding how ancient humans responded can provide insight into how future events might affect our world – and perhaps even help us prepare.
Our unconventional collaboration has shown us how much we can learn, how our perspective changes, when we cross disciplinary boundaries. Space may be vast, but it connects us all. And sometimes, building a bridge between Earth and space starts with the smallest things, such as ochre, or a coat, or even sunscreen.
Agnit Mukhopadhyay has received funding from NASA Science Mission Directorate and the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School.
Raven Garvey and Sanja Panovska do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Mayor of London launches new cutting-edge Data for London Library to make it easier to use data to benefit Londoners and London and power smarter AI-enabled public services
The Library is a key step in improving data sharing across the city – which is essential to the AI, data and infrastructure London will need to power the next generation of public services – by connecting datasets held by organisations across the capital
Launched during London Data Week, a 50+ festival delivered by the Greater London Authority, London Councils and the Alan Turing Institute, this delivers a manifesto commitment to bring forward new data services that support city priorities and ensure the digital and AI revolution serves Londoners and their needs
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched the Data for London Library, a cutting-edge new platform that will transform how London collects, shares and uses data to improve public services, unlock growth and create a more inclusive, sustainable city.
Launched during the biggest ever London Data Week, the Library is part of the Mayor’s ambitious Data for London programme and marks a major milestone in the evolution of London’s data infrastructure. It will replace the London Datastore, which was first launched in 2010 and at the time was one of the world’s earliest and most innovative open data platforms.
The Library aims to be the definitive catalogue of place data for London – including environment, buildings, and demographics – creating a single, vital resource for researchers and data users seeking rich contextual insight for data services and projects. It takes an innovative approach by connecting, not collecting, datasets held by key London partners starting with Transport for London, the Department of Health and Social Care as well as Barnet, Brent, Camden, and Redbridge councils, and the Office for National Statistics. This collaborative working helps build London’s data infrastructure while acknowledging London’s breadth and large number of organisations that keep the city running.
Over its 15-year history, the previous London Datastore, which the Library will replace, pioneered new ways of making public data accessible and useful to communities, policymakers and innovators. The Data for London Library builds on that legacy, offering more than 5,100 datasets, faster search tools, and improved discoverability to make it easier for everyone – from citizens to researchers to startups – to find and use trusted data that benefits Londoners.
Data from the London Datastore has been used to:
Improve air quality by collating data from air quality sensors across London to help map and predict air pollution episodes. This enables us to issue pollution alerts for Londoners, helping people with health conditions sensitive to pollution live healthier lives as part of the Breath London project.
Support Net Zero by providing energy efficiency data for all London homes in a transparent, shareable way through the London Building Stock Model. This helps councils to identify and prioritise homes that need retrofitting and is a key tool to support the delivery of the Mayor’s Warmer Homes London programme with London Councils.
Tackle rough sleeping by publishing quarterly and annual CHAIN reports based on data collected by outreach teams and services across London. These reports provide strategic insights into rough sleeping trends, supporting public understanding and helping the Mayor, councils, and charities work toward the goal of ending rough sleeping in London by 2030.
By making it easier to find and use data held across the city, in one place, the Library becomes core infrastructure for the current AI revolution by addressing a key challenge facing innovators – discovering where datasets are. Better access to datasets enables better insights to enable preventative services, new digital or data tools to support public service productivity and opportunities for innovators across public, private, research and civil society. London’s approach to building the new data platform will be made available for other UK cities and regions to adopt.
London is Europe’s largest technology hub – the second largest in the world – and now firmly established as a leading player on the global stage due to the way it uses data to improve services, education, research and innovation to benefit communities across the capital. London is also at the forefront of AI research and top three globally for venture capital investment into this technology.
The recently published London Growth Plan identifies huge opportunities to turbocharge the capital’s economy by harnessing the potential of rapidly growing tech sectors such as AI. The Data for London programme will help to support this by improving city data sharing, increasing collaboration, developing public trust, boosting Londoners’ digital skills and leading modern connectivity.
Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer for London, said: “London is great at collaboration and the new Data for London Library is rooted in partnership. We’ve been working closely with the data community, the London Office of Technology and Innovation, local authorities in London and other data providers in the city to prioritise the features and improve the user experience.”
“This is just the beginning, we are only going one way – there is no global trend towards less data. AI systems of the future are heavily dependent on the quality and quantity of the data they are trained on, so our focus now is to build more data sources into the Data for London Library and to make it easier to navigate complex data sharing agreements to benefit the city’s strategic position as the vanguard of the data and AI revolution. This is how we can build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Eddie Copeland, Director at the London Office of Technology & Innovation, said: “Successfully tackling many of the biggest issues we face in the capital, from climate change to tackling homelessness, depends on bringing together data from many different sources. The Data for London Library and platform will provide a huge boost for our ability to join up, analyse and act upon data at a truly London scale to benefit Londoners.”
Director of the Open Data Institute and Data for London Advisory Board Member Stuart Coleman said: “At the ODI, we advocate for practical, well-governed data infrastructure that makes it easier for people to access, use and share data. The Data for London Library shows how the public sector can take steps to make datasets more discoverable and usable. By opening up access to data from across the capital, it offers a pragmatic model that others can learn from. As the National Data Library develops, examples like this can help demonstrate what works in practice, particularly when it comes to improving interoperability, making data AI-ready, and building on existing foundations rather than starting from scratch.”
Dr Cosmina Dorobantu, Data for London Advisory Board member and Senior Advisor and Visiting Professor in Practice at the LSE Data Science Institute, said: “As a member of the Mayor’s Data for London Board and someone who is helping to build a world-leading institute for AI and the social sciences here in London, within the London School of Economics and Political Science, I am tremendously excited to see the launch of the Data for London Library. Today’s launch is an important first step towards making the vast amounts of data collected in London more accessible, and towards increasing the data maturity of contributing organisations. The foundations that the team behind the Data for London Library have built are essential for creating the invaluable data resources that businesses, researchers, and policymakers need to build a better, more prosperous, and more equitable city.”
Muniya Barua, Deputy Chief Executive at BusinessLDN, said: “The launch of the new Data for London Library marks a significant milestone in the capital’s ambitious growth plans. It puts a wealth of up-to-the-minute public and private sector data at the fingertips of businesses and policymakers which can be used to drive innovation and transform the lives of Londoners. Having long championed the transformative potential of data sharing, we now look to the Mayor’s spatial strategy, the London Plan, to ensure it supports the development of critical infrastructure – from data centres to improved broadband connectivity – which will enable the benefits of this new platform to be maximised and London to lead the way in AI and other cutting-edge technologies.”
DAVIDSON, N.C., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE: IR), a global provider of mission-critical flow creation and life sciences and industrial solutions, today announced the appointment of Aurobind Satpathy to its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Satpathy currently serves as a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm. During his nearly 30-year career with McKinsey & Company, Satpathy led multi-billion-dollar mergers, guided companies through public-to-private transitions, and architected growth strategies that resulted in increases in market capitalization. In addition, Satpathy led global technology-enablement efforts within McKinsey’s Operations practice and held leadership roles across several offices, practices, and global committees.
“Aurobind’s leadership in high-impact engagements across diverse industries demonstrates his deep expertise in aligning strategy with execution,” said Vicente Reynal, chairman and chief executive officer of Ingersoll Rand. “We look forward to leveraging his strategic mindset, and his ability to unlock value through bold, data-driven insights will be a welcome addition to our Board.”
This appointment underscores Ingersoll Rand’s ongoing commitment to maintaining a robust and dynamic Board of Directors focused on innovation, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.
About Ingersoll Rand Inc. Ingersoll Rand Inc. (NYSE: IR), driven by an entrepreneurial spirit and ownership mindset, is dedicated to Making Life Better for our employees, customers, shareholders, and planet. Customers lean on us for exceptional performance and durability in mission-critical flow creation and life sciences and industrial solutions. Supported by over 80+ respected brands, our products and services excel in the most complex and harsh conditions. Our employees develop customers for life through their daily commitment to expertise, productivity, and efficiency. For more information, visit www.IRCO.com.
Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements related to Ingersoll Rand Inc.’s (the “Company” or “Ingersoll Rand”) expectations regarding the performance of its business, its financial results, its liquidity and capital resources and other non-historical statements. These forward-looking statements generally are identified by the words “believe,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “outlook,” “target,” “endeavor,” “seek,” “predict,” “intend,” “strategy,” “plan,” “may,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “would,” “will be,” “on track to,” “will continue,” “will likely result,” “guidance” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based on Ingersoll Rand’s current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, which may cause actual results to differ materially from these current expectations. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. The inclusion of such statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans, estimates, or expectations will be achieved. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations include, among others, (1) adverse impact on our operations and financial performance due to natural disaster, catastrophe, global pandemics (including COVID-19), geopolitical tensions, cyber events, or other events outside of our control; (2) unexpected costs, charges, or expenses resulting from completed and proposed business combinations; (3) uncertainty of the expected financial performance of the Company; (4) failure to realize the anticipated benefits of completed and proposed business combinations; (5) the ability of the Company to implement its business strategy; (6) difficulties and delays in achieving revenue and cost synergies; (7) inability of the Company to retain and hire key personnel; (8) evolving legal, regulatory, and tax regimes; (9) changes in general economic and/or industry specific conditions; (10) actions by third parties, including government agencies; and (11) other risk factors detailed in Ingersoll Rand’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such factors may be updated from time to time in its periodic filings with the SEC, which are available on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. The foregoing list of important factors is not exclusive.
Any forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. Ingersoll Rand undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or development, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements.
Pro-Palestinian supporters march outside Columbia University in September 2024.AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
In spring 2024, pro-Palestinian student encampments that began at Columbia and Harvard spread to university campuses throughout the U.S. as Israel invaded Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack. At least 100 campuses had encampments for at least a few days during this period.
In spring 2024, Ohio State University’s College Impact Laboratory, where we all work, surveyed universities to learn more about whether their campuses experienced protests, what happened and how they handled them. Part of our goal was to understand how spiritual leaders played a role, if any, in managing the protests. We’ve been analyzing the data ever since. The results from those who responded point to several lessons universities could learn from to avoid violence in future protests.
Often, these protests reflect broader societal tensions, and how universities respond has played a significant role in shaping their outcomes.
Historically, protests have been most likely to escalate when students feel unheard. In contrast, institutions that adopt proactive strategies, such as facilitating conversations or including students in decision-making, often experience better outcomes.
A George Washington University student carries a Palestinian flag at a student encampment protesting the Israel-Hamas war in May 2024. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Snapshot of the pro-Palestinian protests
As our survey data shows, the pro-Palestinian protests illustrate this dynamic.
To gather data, the College Impact Laboratory sent questionnaires to administrators at the 329 universities that participate in our Interfaith Spiritual, Religious and Secular Campus Climate Index, also known as the INSPIRES Index, as well as hundreds of colleges and universities in our recruitment database.
In all, 35 schools responded to our 23-question survey. Of those, we found that most protests were led by students, half lasted less than a week, and the vast majority were nonviolent. Fifteen did not have protests, while the rest did. While the number of institutions that participated in this survey is relatively small, it does give us key insights into what schools were thinking.
Half of the campuses with protests reported law enforcement involvement – either campus police or city officers – with 20% experiencing physical altercations between protesters and police. Other disruptive actions such as academic interruptions, vandalism, physical violence and doxxing were reported with varying frequencies.
Protests at campuses that participated in our survey peaked during April and May 2024, with 70% of them experiencing demonstrations in these months.
Here are three takeaways from the survey, suggesting steps universities can take before and during future protests to avoid escalation:
1. Involve students in guidelines for engagement – early
At every surveyed institution that reported protests, students were at the forefront of organizing and leading these efforts.
Yet, despite this clear student leadership, about one-third of institutions said they didn’t consult with students to establish guidelines for engagement. Those that did invited representatives from student organizations or student government officers into the policymaking process to determine what protocols would be followed to manage protests and keep them peaceful.
On campuses where administrators didn’t engage with student leaders, tensions tended to escalate, and protests disrupted the institutions for weeks, often after police were called in or curfews were imposed.
While many of the protests lasted only one to seven days, we found that institutions that opened lines of communication early between administration and student protest leaders were more likely to deescalate tensions quickly. In contrast, campuses where administrators did not engage early on saw protests lasting weeks or involving greater disruptions.
Also, institutions that engaged early with student leaders were less likely to face stronger demands, such as calls for administrators to be fired, divestment from Israeli companies or calls to defund the campus police.
Our survey results suggest it’s important for administrators to engage with students early to establish clear guidelines to make it less likely future protests spiral into violence.
2. Communicate openly, often and before protests
Discussion of difficult topics, such as the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, shouldn’t wait until protests break out to begin. We found that every school in our survey that proactively supported dialogue between Jews and Muslims – before the war broke out – didn’t see violence result from the protests.
Dialogue isn’t just a strategy for preventing protests from spiraling out of control; it is fundamental to intergroup learning in higher education. These events create safe spaces for students − whether Arab, Jewish, Palestinian or members of different ethnic or religious groups − to engage with classmates with different points of view.
But even once protests begin, dialogue can help. When institutions engaged in dialogue, during or as a result of a protest, the protests were less likely to involve violence. At half of the campuses that participated in our survey and experienced protests, protests were ended peacefully through dialogue.
Brown, for example, modeled the power of institutional listening in its response to its April 2024 encampment. Rather than escalating tensions, university leaders engaged directly with student activists, resulting in a peaceful resolution and a commitment to bring the students’ divestment proposal to a formal vote in October. It ultimately failed to pass the board of directors.
Demonstrators unfurl a banner on a lawn after an encampment protesting the Israel-Hamas war was taken down at Brown University on April 30, 2024, in Providence, R.I. AP Photo/David Goldman
3. Involve relevant groups in decision-making
Most administrators in our survey, as they considered how to engage with protesters, reached out to relevant student groups such as those that focus on Jewish and Muslim students to better understand their perspectives.
However, only 28% consulted a religious or spiritual life office staff member on campus.
Religious or spiritual life staff are present on both private and public campuses and may include university-employed multifaith chaplains, interfaith coordinators or directors of spiritual life. Unlike student-led religious groups, these professionals often serve as liaisons to the religious and nonreligious communities represented on campus.
The focus of such roles on serving students from all worldviews positions them as key resources for deescalation through community outreach, support and two-way communication. Additionally, these professionals have valuable expertise in religious pluralism and community relationships. This experience helps them to advise administrators on policy and potential courses of action in times of tension.
Consulting with university staff with a focus on religion or spiritual life makes particular sense given the nature of the protests and how religion is intertwined, but our data suggests they may be underutilized more broadly for their expertise in navigating tensions related to competing worldviews.
Proactive engagement with these leaders not only helps campuses navigate an immediate crisis but demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and respect for different groups’ perspectives.
Leading by example
Put another way, our research suggests institutions can avoid the negative outcomes of protests by embodying the traits commonly associated with universities, such as showing mutual respect, fostering democratic debate and engaging in critical thinking even on divisive issues. Engaging from a mindset of goodwill with student leaders shows administrators value student voices and are willing to work collaboratively toward solutions.
But when campuses ignore peaceful protests or refuse to engage with student leaders, they risk turning manageable situations into prolonged crises.
At a time when divisions run deep, we believe campuses that lead by example by embracing dialogue and engaging student activists before, during and after protests take place are not only likely to see less violence, but are likely to help heal America’s great divides.
Matthew J. Mayhew receives grant funding for various research projects from the National Science Foundation, the ECMC Foundation, the Templeton Religion Trust, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and Pew Charitable Trusts. Currently, Dr. Mayhew leads the College Impact Laboratory at The Ohio State University. He is the Principal Investigator for the INSPIRES Index project and is the current editor of the Digest of Recent Research.
Renee L. Bowling works for the College Impact Lab at The Ohio State University that produces the INSPIRES Index and serves as Chair of NASPA’s Spirituality and Religion in Higher Education Knowledge Community.
Hind Haddad does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Trump administration detained former Columbia University student and pro-Palestinian protest leader Mahmoud Khalil, center, for more than two months and is seeking to revoke his lawful permanent resident status.Kena Betancur/AFP via Getty Images
Since the 1950s, Congress has removed some of this sprawling federal law’s most discriminatory features, such as racist national origins quotas. But other key provisions remain on the books. Now they are the primary legal basis for some of President Donald Trump’s most controversial immigration crackdowns.
Author and reporter Clay Risen discusses parallels between anticommunist fears in the 1950s and the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant policies.
Foreign policy trumps free speech
In March 2025, the White House invoked the McCarran-Walter Act to justify arresting and deporting Mahmoud Khalil, a legal permanent resident who had participated in pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University. Officials pointed to Section 237(a)(4)(C) of the law, which states that any “alien whose presence or activities in the United States the Secretary of State has reasonable ground to believe would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States is deportable.”
The Trump administration cited the same provision to justify detaining Tufts University doctoral student Rumeysa Ozturk in March. Ozturk came under government scrutiny because she co-authored an op-ed in the Tufts student newspaper criticizing the university’s position on the Israel-Gaza war.
Surveillance footage of a terrified Ozturk being arrested by masked Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents on a street in Somerville, Massachusetts, drew criticism from government officials and civil liberties advocates. In response, Secretary of State Marco Rubio alleged that Ozturk had harmed U.S. interests by supporting “movements that are involved in doing things like vandalizing universities, harassing students, taking over buildings, creating a ruckus.”
Khalil and Ozturk both were released after weeks in detention, pending final resolution of their cases. Their lawyers argue that their clients’ treatment violates free speech protections and that the defendants were punished for expressing their political beliefs.
On Jan. 20, 2025, Trump issued an executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to enforce an “alien registration requirement.” The agency issued a final rule in April requiring all noncitizens over the age of 14 to register and be fingerprinted. Parents or guardians must register noncitizen children under age 14. The rule also requires adult noncitizens to carry “evidence of registration” at all times.
Such policies aren’t new. Noncitizen registration was codified in the Alien Registration Act of 1940, on the eve of U.S. entry into World War II. The law was designed to regulate the foreign-born population and encourage eligible noncitizens to join the U.S. armed forces. Its requirements were written into the McCarran-Walter Act.
After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Bush administration created the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, which targeted noncitizen males age 16 or older from 25 Muslim-majority countries. It required registrants to submit biometric information, check in regularly with immigration authorities and use specific ports of entry for travel.
The Trump administration says it will strictly enforce a long-standing requirement for immigrants in the country more than 30 days to register with the federal government.
During his first term, Trump invoked these sections of the law to justify a travel ban on seven predominantly Muslim countries. The U.S. Supreme Court ultimately upheld this action in 2018 by a 5-4 vote in Trump v. Hawaii. Writing for the majority, Chief Justice John Roberts stated that the travel ban was well within broad powers over immigration granted to the president under the McCarran-Walter Act. He added that the court had “no view on the soundness of the policy.”
Trump’s new ban is more carefully crafted than earlier versions and more likely to withstand legal challenges. But his efforts to use the McCarren-Walter Act to ban international students from attending Harvard University face stiff legal headwinds.
On May 22, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem notified Harvard officials that the agency was revoking the school’s certification to participate in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which grants visas to international students to come to the U.S. In a June 4 proclamation, the White House claimed that foreign students at Harvard had behaved in ways that threatened U.S. national security.
A federal judge in Boston quickly blocked the revocation, holding that it violated core constitutional free speech rights. “The government’s misplaced efforts to control a reputable academic institution and squelch diverse viewpoints seemingly because they are, in some instances, opposed to this administration’s own views, threaten these rights,” wrote Judge Allison D. Burroughs.
The latest step came on July 9, when the Trump administration subpoenaed Harvard for information on its foreign students, including their disciplinary records and involvement in campus protests.
Broad power over noncitizens
Ironically, congressional sponsors of the McCarran-Walter Act were at odds with the White House when the law was enacted in 1952. They overrode a veto by President Harry S. Truman, who thought the law’s nativist ideas were unfitting for a nation of immigrants and global defender of democracy.
However, the expansive executive powers created by this law have endured largely unaltered over time, through waves of immigration reform.
Now they are a boon to the Trump administration’s ambitious immigration crackdown. It’s a telling reminder that repressive old laws can come back to life – even when they don’t reflect the current views of many Americans.
Daniel Tichenor does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
When we first got together, we wondered whether our unconventional project, linking space weather and human behavior, could actually bridge such a vast disciplinary divide. Now, two years on, we believe the payoffs – personal, professional and scientific – were well worth the initial discomfort.
Our collaboration, which culminated in a recent paper in the journal Science Advances, began with a single question: What happened to life on Earth when the planet’s magnetic field nearly collapsed roughly 41,000 years ago?
Weirdness when Earth’s magnetic shield falters
This near-collapse is known as the Laschamps Excursion, a brief but extreme geomagnetic event named for the volcanic fields in France where it was first identified. At the time of the Laschamps Excursion, near the end of the Pleistocene epoch, Earth’s magnetic poles didn’t reverse as they do every few hundred thousand years. Instead, they wandered, erratically and rapidly, over thousands of miles. At the same time, the strength of the magnetic field dropped to less than 10% of its modern day intensity.
So, instead of behaving like a stable bar magnet – a dipole – as it usually does, the Earth’s magnetic field fractured into multiple weak poles across the planet. As a result, the protective force field scientists call the magnetosphere became distorted and leaky.
The magnetosphere normally deflects much of the solar wind and harmful ultraviolet radiation that would otherwise reach Earth’s surface.
So, during the Laschamps Excursion when the magnetosphere broke down, our models suggest a number of near-Earth effects. While there is still work to be done to precisely characterize these effects, we do know they included auroras – normally seen only in skies near the poles as the Northern Lights or Southern Lights – wandering toward the equator, and significantly higher-than-present-day doses of harmful solar radiation.
The skies 41,000 years ago may have been both spectacular and threatening. When we realized this, we two geophysicists wanted to know whether this could have affected people living at the time.
The archaeologist’s answer was absolutely.
Human responses to ancient space weather
For people on the ground at that time, auroras may have been the most immediate and striking effect, perhaps inspiring awe, fear, ritual behavior or something else entirely. But the archaeological record is notoriously limited in its ability to capture these kinds of cognitive or emotional responses.
In response, people may have adopted practical measures: spending more time in caves, producing tailored clothing for better coverage, or applying mineral pigment “sunscreen” made of ochre to their skin. As we describe in our recent paper, the frequency of these behaviors indeed appears to have increased across parts of Europe, where effects of the Laschamps Excursion were pronounced and prolonged.
Naturally occurring ochre can act as a protective sunscreen if applied to skin. Museo Egizio di Torino
At this time, both Neanderthals and members of our species, Homo sapiens, were living in Europe, though their geographic distributions likely overlapped only in certain regions. The archaeological record suggests that different populations exhibited distinct approaches to environmental challenges, with some groups perhaps more reliant on shelter or material culture for protection.
Importantly, we’re not suggesting that space weather alone caused an increase in these behaviors or, certainly, that the Laschamps caused Neanderthals to go extinct, which is one misinterpretation of our research. But it could have been a contributing factor – an invisible but powerful force that influenced innovation and adaptability.
Cross-discipline collaboration
Collaborating across such a disciplinary gap was, at first, daunting. But it turned out to be deeply rewarding.
Archaeologists are used to reconstructing now-invisible phenomena like climate. We can’t measure past temperatures or precipitation directly, but they’ve left traces for us to interpret if we know where and how to look.
An artistic rendering of how far into lower latitudes the aurora might have been visible during the Laschamps Excursion. Maximilian Schanner (GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences, Potsdam, Germany)
But even archaeologists who’ve spent years studying the effects of climate on past behaviors and technologies may not have considered the effects of the geomagnetic field and space weather. These effects, too, are invisible, powerful and best understood through indirect evidence and modeling. Archaeologists can treat space weather as a vital component of Earth’s environmental history and future forecasting.
Likewise, geophysicists, who typically work with large datasets, models and simulations, may not always engage with some of the stakes of space weather. Archaeology adds a human dimension to the science. It reminds us that the effects of space weather don’t stop at the ionosphere. They can ripple down into the lived experiences of people on the ground, influencing how they adapt, create and survive.
The Laschamps Excursion wasn’t a fluke or a one-off. Similar disruptions of Earth’s magnetic field have happened before and will happen again. Understanding how ancient humans responded can provide insight into how future events might affect our world – and perhaps even help us prepare.
Our unconventional collaboration has shown us how much we can learn, how our perspective changes, when we cross disciplinary boundaries. Space may be vast, but it connects us all. And sometimes, building a bridge between Earth and space starts with the smallest things, such as ochre, or a coat, or even sunscreen.
Agnit Mukhopadhyay has received funding from NASA Science Mission Directorate and the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School.
Raven Garvey and Sanja Panovska do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
This image of the Sculptor galaxy will give astronomers detailed information on a variety of stars, nebulae and galactic regions. European Southern Observatory
If you happen to find yourself in the Southern Hemisphere with binoculars and a good view of the night sky on a dark and clear summer night, you might just be able to spot the Sculptor galaxy. And if your eyes were prisms that could separate light into the thousands of colors making it up, then congratulations: After hours of staring, you could have recreated the newest image of one of the nearest neighbors to our Milky Way galaxy.
This is not just another stunningly gorgeous picture of a nearby galaxy. Because it reveals the type of light coming from each location in the galaxy, this image of the Sculptor galaxy is a treasure trove of information that astronomers around the world cannot wait to pick apart.
As an astronomy Ph.D. student at Ohio State University, I (Rebecca) am one of the lucky people who gets to stare at this image for hours every day, alongside my adviser (Adam), discovering meaning behind the beauty everyone can appreciate.
Creating the image
The Sculptor galaxy lies 11 million light-years from the Milky Way. This may sound unfathomably far, but it actually makes Sculptor one of the closest galaxies to Earth.
For this reason, Sculptor has been the primary target for many observations. In 2022, an international team of scientists observed Sculptor with the Multi-Unit Spectroscopic Explorer, MUSE, on the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile, and publicly released the data this June.
Most astronomical observations obtain either an image of a single color of light – for example, red or blue – or a spectrum, which splits the light coming from the whole galaxy into many different colors.
MUSE, conveniently, does both, producing a spectrum at every location it observes. One observation creates thousands of images in thousands of colors, each tracing the critical components that make up the galaxy: stars, dust and gas.
It may look like only one picture, but this image of Sculptor is actually over 100 individual observations and 8 million individual spectra, painstakingly stitched together to reveal millions of stars all in one cohesive galaxy.
Scientific significance
The light associated with the stars in Sculptor is colored white, and gas made up of charged particles is colored red. The largest concentration of both is found in the spiral arms. At the very center of the galaxy is a nuclear starburst: a region of extreme star formation that is blowing material out of the galaxy.
There is even information in the absence of light. Dust obscures light emitted from behind it, creating a shadow effect called dust lanes. Tracing these dust lanes reveals the cold, dense material that exists between stars. Scientists believe this dark material is the fuel that will form the next generation of stars.
Complex gaseous nebulae (red) surround young and massive stars (white) in this zoom-in of a cluster of star-forming regions. European Southern Observatory/VLT/MUSE
There is a lot to look at in this image, but the subject of my work and what I find most interesting is the gas illuminated in red. In these star-forming regions, young and massive stars excite the gas around them, which then glows with a specific color to reveal the chemical makeup and physical conditions of the gas.
This image represents one of the first times that astronomers have obtained images of thousands of star-forming regions at this impressive level of detail. A component of our team’s research uses the data from MUSE to understand how these regions are structured and how they interact with the surrounding galaxy.
By meticulously piecing all of this information together, astronomers can use this image to learn more about the formation and evolution of stars across the universe.
Rebecca McClain receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
Adam Leroy receives funding from NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute that supports research related to the survey of NGC 253 discussed in this article.
Pro-Palestinian supporters march outside Columbia University in September 2024.AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura
In spring 2024, pro-Palestinian student encampments that began at Columbia and Harvard spread to university campuses throughout the U.S. as Israel invaded Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, surprise attack. At least 100 campuses had encampments for at least a few days during this period.
In spring 2024, Ohio State University’s College Impact Laboratory, where we all work, surveyed universities to learn more about whether their campuses experienced protests, what happened and how they handled them. Part of our goal was to understand how spiritual leaders played a role, if any, in managing the protests. We’ve been analyzing the data ever since. The results from those who responded point to several lessons universities could learn from to avoid violence in future protests.
Often, these protests reflect broader societal tensions, and how universities respond has played a significant role in shaping their outcomes.
Historically, protests have been most likely to escalate when students feel unheard. In contrast, institutions that adopt proactive strategies, such as facilitating conversations or including students in decision-making, often experience better outcomes.
A George Washington University student carries a Palestinian flag at a student encampment protesting the Israel-Hamas war in May 2024. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana
Snapshot of the pro-Palestinian protests
As our survey data shows, the pro-Palestinian protests illustrate this dynamic.
To gather data, the College Impact Laboratory sent questionnaires to administrators at the 329 universities that participate in our Interfaith Spiritual, Religious and Secular Campus Climate Index, also known as the INSPIRES Index, as well as hundreds of colleges and universities in our recruitment database.
In all, 35 schools responded to our 23-question survey. Of those, we found that most protests were led by students, half lasted less than a week, and the vast majority were nonviolent. Fifteen did not have protests, while the rest did. While the number of institutions that participated in this survey is relatively small, it does give us key insights into what schools were thinking.
Half of the campuses with protests reported law enforcement involvement – either campus police or city officers – with 20% experiencing physical altercations between protesters and police. Other disruptive actions such as academic interruptions, vandalism, physical violence and doxxing were reported with varying frequencies.
Protests at campuses that participated in our survey peaked during April and May 2024, with 70% of them experiencing demonstrations in these months.
Here are three takeaways from the survey, suggesting steps universities can take before and during future protests to avoid escalation:
1. Involve students in guidelines for engagement – early
At every surveyed institution that reported protests, students were at the forefront of organizing and leading these efforts.
Yet, despite this clear student leadership, about one-third of institutions said they didn’t consult with students to establish guidelines for engagement. Those that did invited representatives from student organizations or student government officers into the policymaking process to determine what protocols would be followed to manage protests and keep them peaceful.
On campuses where administrators didn’t engage with student leaders, tensions tended to escalate, and protests disrupted the institutions for weeks, often after police were called in or curfews were imposed.
While many of the protests lasted only one to seven days, we found that institutions that opened lines of communication early between administration and student protest leaders were more likely to deescalate tensions quickly. In contrast, campuses where administrators did not engage early on saw protests lasting weeks or involving greater disruptions.
Also, institutions that engaged early with student leaders were less likely to face stronger demands, such as calls for administrators to be fired, divestment from Israeli companies or calls to defund the campus police.
Our survey results suggest it’s important for administrators to engage with students early to establish clear guidelines to make it less likely future protests spiral into violence.
2. Communicate openly, often and before protests
Discussion of difficult topics, such as the conflict between Israel and Palestinians, shouldn’t wait until protests break out to begin. We found that every school in our survey that proactively supported dialogue between Jews and Muslims – before the war broke out – didn’t see violence result from the protests.
Dialogue isn’t just a strategy for preventing protests from spiraling out of control; it is fundamental to intergroup learning in higher education. These events create safe spaces for students − whether Arab, Jewish, Palestinian or members of different ethnic or religious groups − to engage with classmates with different points of view.
But even once protests begin, dialogue can help. When institutions engaged in dialogue, during or as a result of a protest, the protests were less likely to involve violence. At half of the campuses that participated in our survey and experienced protests, protests were ended peacefully through dialogue.
Brown, for example, modeled the power of institutional listening in its response to its April 2024 encampment. Rather than escalating tensions, university leaders engaged directly with student activists, resulting in a peaceful resolution and a commitment to bring the students’ divestment proposal to a formal vote in October. It ultimately failed to pass the board of directors.
Demonstrators unfurl a banner on a lawn after an encampment protesting the Israel-Hamas war was taken down at Brown University on April 30, 2024, in Providence, R.I. AP Photo/David Goldman
3. Involve relevant groups in decision-making
Most administrators in our survey, as they considered how to engage with protesters, reached out to relevant student groups such as those that focus on Jewish and Muslim students to better understand their perspectives.
However, only 28% consulted a religious or spiritual life office staff member on campus.
Religious or spiritual life staff are present on both private and public campuses and may include university-employed multifaith chaplains, interfaith coordinators or directors of spiritual life. Unlike student-led religious groups, these professionals often serve as liaisons to the religious and nonreligious communities represented on campus.
The focus of such roles on serving students from all worldviews positions them as key resources for deescalation through community outreach, support and two-way communication. Additionally, these professionals have valuable expertise in religious pluralism and community relationships. This experience helps them to advise administrators on policy and potential courses of action in times of tension.
Consulting with university staff with a focus on religion or spiritual life makes particular sense given the nature of the protests and how religion is intertwined, but our data suggests they may be underutilized more broadly for their expertise in navigating tensions related to competing worldviews.
Proactive engagement with these leaders not only helps campuses navigate an immediate crisis but demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and respect for different groups’ perspectives.
Leading by example
Put another way, our research suggests institutions can avoid the negative outcomes of protests by embodying the traits commonly associated with universities, such as showing mutual respect, fostering democratic debate and engaging in critical thinking even on divisive issues. Engaging from a mindset of goodwill with student leaders shows administrators value student voices and are willing to work collaboratively toward solutions.
But when campuses ignore peaceful protests or refuse to engage with student leaders, they risk turning manageable situations into prolonged crises.
At a time when divisions run deep, we believe campuses that lead by example by embracing dialogue and engaging student activists before, during and after protests take place are not only likely to see less violence, but are likely to help heal America’s great divides.
Matthew J. Mayhew receives grant funding for various research projects from the National Science Foundation, the ECMC Foundation, the Templeton Religion Trust, the Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, and Pew Charitable Trusts. Currently, Dr. Mayhew leads the College Impact Laboratory at The Ohio State University. He is the Principal Investigator for the INSPIRES Index project and is the current editor of the Digest of Recent Research.
Renee L. Bowling works for the College Impact Lab at The Ohio State University that produces the INSPIRES Index and serves as Chair of NASPA’s Spirituality and Religion in Higher Education Knowledge Community.
Hind Haddad does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
When the FIFA World Cup hits North America in June 2026, 48 teams and millions of soccer fans will be traveling to and from venues spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It’s a dramatic expansion – 16 more teams will be playing than in recent years, with a jump from 64 to 104 matches. The tournament is projected to bring in over US$10 billion in revenue. But the expansion will also mean a lot more travel and other activities that contribute to climate change.
The environmental impacts of giant sporting events like the World Cup create a complex paradox for an industry grappling with its future in a warming world.
A sustainability conundrum
Sports are undeniably experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures are putting athletes’ health at risk during summer heat waves and shortening winter sports seasons. Many of the 2026 World Cup venues often see heat waves in June and early July, when the tournament is scheduled.
Some athletes are speaking out for more sustainable choices and have called on lawmakers to take steps to limit climate-warming emissions. At the same time, the sport industry is growing and facing a constant push to increase revenue. The NCAA is also considering expanding its March Madness basketball tournaments from 68 teams currently to as many as 76.
Park Yong-woo of team Al Ain from Abu Dhabi tries to cool off during a Club World Cup match on June 26, 2025, in Washington, D.C., which was in the midst of a heat wave. Some players have raised concerns about likely high temperatures during the 2026 World Cup, with matches scheduled June 11 to July 19. AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
Estimates for the 2026 World Cup show what large tournament expansions can mean for the climate. A report from Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that the expanded World Cup could generate over 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly double the average of the past four World Cups.
This massive increase – and the increase that would come if the NCAA basketball tournaments also expand – would primarily be driven by air travel as fans and players fly among event cities that are thousands of miles apart.
A lot of money is at stake, but so is the climate
Sports are big business, and adding more matches to events like the World Cup and NCAA tournaments will likely lead to larger media rights contracts and greater gate receipts from more fans attending the events, boosting revenues. These are powerful financial incentives.
In the NCAA’s case, there is another reason to consider a larger tournament: The House v. NCAA settlement opened the door for college athletic departments to share revenue with athletes, which will significantly increase costs for many college programs. More teams would mean more television revenue and, crucially, more revenue to be distributed to member NCAA institutions and their athletic conferences.
When climate promises become greenwashing
The inherent conflict between maximizing profit through growth and minimizing environmental footprint presents a dilemma for sports.
Several sport organizations have promised to reduce their impact on the climate, including signing up for initiatives like the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
However, as sports tournaments and exhibition games expand, it can become increasingly hard for sports organizations to meet their climate commitments. In some cases, groups making sustainability commitments have been accused of greenwashing, suggesting the goals are more about public relations than making genuine, measurable changes.
For example, FIFA’s early claims that it would hold a “fully carbon-neutral” World Cup in Qatar in 2022 were challenged by a group of European countries that accused soccer’s world governing body of underestimating emissions. The Swiss Fairness Commission, which monitors fairness in advertising, considered the complaints and determined that FIFA’s claims could not be substantiated.
Alessandro Bastoni, of Inter Milan and Italy’s national team, prepares to board a flight from Milan to Rome with his team. Mattia Ozbot-Inter/Inter via Getty Images
Aviation is often the biggest driver of emissions. A study that colleagues and I conducted on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament found about 80% of its emissions were connected to travel. And that was after the NCAA began using the pod system, which is designed to keep teams closer to home for the first and second rounds.
These solutions are frankly not practical, in my view, nor do they align with other positive developments. The growing popularity of women’s sports shows the challenge in limiting sports events – more games expands participation but adds to the industry’s overall footprint.
Further compounding the challenges of reducing environmental impact is the amount of fan travel, which is outside the direct control of the sports organization or event organizers.
Many fans will follow their teams long distances, especially for mega-events like the World Cup or the NCAA tournament. During the men’s World Cup in Russia in 2018, more than 840,000 fans traveled from other countries. The top countries by number of fans, after Russia, were China, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.
There is an argument that distributed sporting events like March Madness or the World Cup can be better in some ways for local environments because they don’t overwhelm a single city. However, merely spreading the impact does not necessarily reduce it, particularly when considering the effects on climate change.
How fans can cut their environmental footprint
Sport organizations and event planners can take steps to be more sustainable and also encourage more sustainable choices among fans. Fans can reduce their environmental impact in a variety of ways. For example:
Avoid taking airplanes for shorter distances, such as between FIFA venues in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and carpool or take Amtrak instead. Planes can be more efficient for long distances, but air travel is still a major contributing factor to emissions.
While in a host city, use mass transit or rent electric vehicles or bicycles for local travel.
Consider sustainable accommodations, such as short-term rentals that might have a smaller environmental footprint than a hotel. Or stay at a certified green hotel that makes an effort to be more efficient in its use of water and energy.
Engage in sustainable pregame and postgame activities, such as choosing local, sustainable food options, and minimize waste.
You can also pay to offset carbon emissions for attending different sporting events, much like concertgoers do when they attend musical festivals. While critics question offsets’ true environmental benefit, they do represent people’s growing awareness of their environmental footprint.
Through all these options, it’s clear that sports face a significant challenge in addressing their environmental impacts and encouraging fans to be more sustainable, while simultaneously trying to meet ambitious business and environmental targets.
In my view, a sustainable path forward will require strategic, yet genuine, commitment by the sports industry and its fans, and a willingness to prioritize long-term planetary health alongside economic gains – balancing the sport and sustainability.
Brian P. McCullough does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
