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  • Dual-energy catalysis open new pathways to carbon recycling

    Dual-energy catalysis open new pathways to carbon recycling

    KNOXVILLE, TN, October 22, 2025 /24-7PressRelease/ — Converting carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals using renewable energy is a promising route to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and recycle carbon. Yet the stability of CO2 molecules makes…

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  • Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit

    Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit

    Commenting on the news that inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages stood at 4.5% in September, Chris Jaccarini, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said: “Food price inflation remained above the headline rate, as the impacts of extreme weather at home and abroad continue to feed through to consumers. UK farmers faced one of the worst harvests ever this year [1], following the hottest summer and spring on record. Although weather is only part of the story, climate change is playing a clear role and farmers are worried [2].
     
    “Europe is the fastest warming continent [3], and climate-impacted foods are responsible for around 40% of food price inflation [4], pushing up all our food bills. Extreme weather has driven up the cost of British staples like milk and butter, as well as imports such as coffee, cocoa and olive oil.
     
    “Climate change poses a systemic threat to our health, living standards and food security. Central banks may be tasked with controlling inflation, but they can’t avoid climate-driven food price spikes — only cutting emissions to net zero and restoring climate balance can.” 
     
    Today’s figures come a day after new analysis from the Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) showed that the price of foods hit by extreme weather are rising over four times faster than others in the average shop. The analysis finds that although these items –  butter, beef, milk, coffee and chocolate- make up just 11% of the average shopping basket, they account for nearly 40% of all food price inflation [4]. These items remained the food types with the highest rate of inflation in September, as climate shocks continue to reduce discretionary income.

    ENDS

    Notes to editors: 

    1. https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/england-has-second-worst-harvest-on-record-comment

    2. https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/farmer-confidence-battered-by-climate-change-new-research

    3. https://wmo.int/news/media-centre/european-state-of-climate-extreme-events-warmest-year-record

    4. https://eciu.net/media/press-releases/2025/why-food-prices-are-still-rising-butter-beef-and-milk-to-blame 

    For more information or for interview requests:

    George Smeeton, Head of Communications, ECIU, Tel: 07894 571 153, email: george.smeeton@eciu.net

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  • AI algorithm proves more accurate than experts in glaucoma detection

    AI algorithm proves more accurate than experts in glaucoma detection

    While artificial intelligence (AI)-powered screening has been validated for diabetic retinopathy, applying the technology to glaucoma has proved more challenging because glaucoma is not one disease. A glaucoma diagnosis is based on…

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  • Marta Suffered—But No More Babies Have To: Malaria Vaccine Brings New Hope to Ethiopia’s Children | WHO

    In Turmi Woreda, Southern Ethiopia, Bethelhem Kuma vividly remembers the terrifying moment her baby girl, Marta, fell gravely ill. At just eight months old, Marta was scorching with fever, had vomiting, became restless, and unable to sleep….

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  • FIF – Agri Finance Loan – Khan Bank

    Understanding transition

    Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

    Business opportunities

    For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

    For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

    Tel: +44 20 7338 7168

    Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

    For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

    Tel: +44 20 7338 6794

    Email: procurement@ebrd.com

    General enquiries

    Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

    Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

    The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”.  The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

    More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

    Integrity and compliance

    The EBRD’s Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank’s activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

    OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank’s countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

    Access to Information Policy (AIP)

    The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

    Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

    Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

    If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

    IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

    Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

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  • Scientists question the safety and efficacy of the diet for metabolic health

    Scientists question the safety and efficacy of the diet for metabolic health

    A study published in Science Advances by University of Utah Health researchers sheds light on the long-term effects of the ketogenic diet, raising important questions about its safety and efficacy for improving metabolic…

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  • As the Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance, IRC scales up humanitarian response and calls for sustained peace efforts – ReliefWeb

    1. As the Gaza ceasefire hangs in the balance, IRC scales up humanitarian response and calls for sustained peace efforts  ReliefWeb
    2. WFP says food supplies to Gaza below targets, urges more crossings to open  Al Jazeera
    3. Sustaining Gaza ceasefire…

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  • A giant wave is rippling through the Milky Way, and scientists don’t know why

    A giant wave is rippling through the Milky Way, and scientists don’t know why

    Our Milky Way is constantly in motion: it spins, it tilts, and, as new observations reveal, it ripples. Data collected by the European Space Agency’s Gaia space telescope show that our galaxy is not only rotating and wobbling but also sending out…

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  • Study links child behavior stress and lower self-regulation in parents

    Study links child behavior stress and lower self-regulation in parents

    Any parent will tell you that raising a child isn’t easy. While the experience can be filled with joy and love and fulfillment, emotional, financial, and marital stress will present challenges to any family.

    This can be especially…

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  • Completion of New Production Building in the Philippines

    Completion of New Production Building in the Philippines

    22/10/2025

    Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    President: Norio Nakajima


    Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc. (Batangas, Philippines), a manufacturing subsidiary of Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., has completed a new production building that had been under construction since August 2023, and a ceremony to celebrate its completion was held on Wednesday, October 22. The completion of the new building strengthens our global production capabilities as we respond to the medium to long term increase in demand for multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) driven by the expected future growth of the mobility market.

    Scene from the completion ceremony (October 22, 2025)

     

     

    Overview of the completion ceremony

    Date & Time: Wednesday, October 22, 2025, 11:00 am–1:00 pm
    Location: Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc.
    Lot 2A Phase 1B First Philippine Industrial Park Barangay Pantay Bata, Tanauan City Batangas, Philippines
    Guests: Tereso O. Panga, Director General of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA), Kazuya Endo, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Philippines, and others
    Company representatives:

    Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. President Norio Nakajima, Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc. President Masayoshi Koda, and others 

    Overview of the new production building

    Structure and scale: Reinforced concrete construction; two stories above ground
    Total floor area: 77,981 square meters
    Building area: 32,454 square meters
    Purpose: Manufacturing of multilayer ceramic capacitors
    Total investment: Approx. 11.2 billion yen (building only)

    Philippine Manufacturing Co. of Murata, Inc.

    Location:  Lot 2A Phase 1B First Philippine Industrial Park Barangay Pantay Bata, Tanauan City Batangas, Philippines 
    Established: September 2011
    Capital: 17 billion yen
    Representative: Masayoshi Koda
    Number of employees: 4,395 (as of the end of September 2025)
    Business description: Manufacturing of multilayer ceramic capacitors

    We are building a framework that enables us to respond flexibly to market changes and demand growth by distributing MLCC production bases across Japan, ASEAN, and China to ensure balanced capacity expansion. Below is the schedule for the construction of MLCC-related buildings that were completed, or are planned to be completed, in 2023 and thereafter.

    Subsidiary Purpose Start of work Completion
    Murata Electronics (Thailand), Ltd. Production July 2021 March 2023
    Izumo Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Iwami Plant (Hane) Production March 2022 April 2023
    Wuxi Murata Electronics Co., Ltd. Production November 2022 April 2024
    Fukui Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. R&D December 2023 February 2026 (tentative)
    Izumo Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Production March 2024 March 2026 (tentative)
    Murata Electronics (India) Private Limited Packaging and shipping (Leased building) *Signed a lease agreement for the factory space in February 2025 *Aiming for full-scale operation in FY2026

     


    Murata in Brief

    Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. is a worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and sale of ceramic-based passive electronic components & solutions, communication modules and power supply modules. Murata is committed to the development of advanced electronic materials and leading edge, multi-functional, high-density modules. The company has employees and manufacturing facilities throughout the world.

    For more information, visit Murata’s website

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