Following Donald Trump’s return to office, Australian academics are increasingly cancelling US trips due to concerns about border control policies. These concerns stem from reports of increased scrutiny of travelers, including those with disabilities or from marginalized communities, leading to denials of entry or detention. The Society for Social Studies of Science (4S) responded by making its conference hybrid to mitigate these risks. Consequently, significant disruptions to research collaborations and funding are occurring, impacting the global academic community.
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Canada recently committed an additional $34.8 million CAD to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, bringing its total contribution to over $41 million CAD. This funding, alongside a previously disbursed $1.7 billion loan secured from frozen Russian assets, will aid in repairing critical energy infrastructure damaged by Russian attacks. The contribution will specifically support the restoration of energy facilities, ensuring stable energy operations, and bolstering the healthcare sector through solar energy development. International collaboration, including contributions from countries like Iceland and Italy, remains vital in sustaining Ukraine’s energy sector.
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Three Chinese astronauts have safely returned to Earth after a six-month stay on the Tiangong space station, as part of the country’s efforts to lead in space exploration. China, which has previously brought back moon rocks and landed a rover on Mars, aims to put a person on the moon by 2030. Meanwhile, a three-person crew is carrying out a six-month mission to conduct experiments and protect the station from space debris on the Tiangong station, which was completed two years ago. China has been in negotiations to train astronauts from other nations for space missions, in its quest to become a space science research leader by 2050. China is excluded from the International Space Station program due to US concern about the Chinese military’s role in the country’s space program.
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John Q. Hosedrinker