AIM Institute

China has introduced 15-year research grants aimed at attracting the world's brightest young scientists, according to the South China Morning Post. The long-term funding scheme signals an effort to draw top international research talent to Chinese institutions and strengthen the country's standing in global science and innovation.

MI5 has issued an unprecedented public warning about a new Chinese espionage threat aimed at British academics. The Security Service says a Chinese institute is secretly attempting to exploit the expertise of UK universities and research bodies to help Beijing develop more powerful technology. The warning urges researchers and institutions to be vigilant about approaches from individuals or organisations linked to the Chinese state.

Piotr Serafin, the EU Commissioner for Budget, Anti-Corruption and Public Administration, said in an interview that EU bonds are AAA-grade safe assets and pitched investment in them as a way to strengthen ties between the European Union and the Republic of Korea. His remarks aim to encourage Korean institutional investors to buy EU debt while deepening bilateral financial and political relations between Brussels and Seoul.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has unveiled new proposals aimed at giving retail investors greater access to private market assets such as private equity and private credit. The move would loosen long-standing barriers that have largely reserved these investments for wealthy and institutional investors. Market watchers are weighing the opportunities for ordinary investors against concerns about disclosure, liquidity and the risks of complex private holdings.

Researchers are turning to wildlife tracking technology to address long-standing gaps in scientific understanding of monarch butterfly migration. The effort aims to map the insects' routes and behaviour more precisely than traditional tagging methods have allowed. Details about the specific technology, the institutions involved and the study's timeline remain limited, but the work targets one of the best-known yet still incompletely understood migrations in the insect world.

The multilateral development banks, working with the International Finance Corporation, have released joint methodologies for measuring private finance mobilised for development. The framework sets common standards for how institutions count and report private capital attracted to development projects. The move aims to make figures on privately financed development comparable and credible across institutions.

The US Department of Energy has announced up to $400 million in funding for basic research aimed at advancing the frontiers of science. The program will support fundamental scientific work in areas overseen by the department's research portfolio. Details on specific projects, recipients and timelines were not included in the initial announcement.

Researchers report a technique for controlling electron motion using three-dimensional sculpted light fields, a physics advance described on EurekAlert. By shaping light in three dimensions, scientists aim to direct electrons with greater precision, with potential implications for ultrafast science and future electronic or photonic technologies. Details of the team, institutions and applications were not provided in the available coverage.

The Cato Institute is drawing attention to an article it says is essential reading for anyone who practices or funds health policy. The libertarian think tank's message is aimed at policymakers and funders, suggesting current approaches to health policy are flawed or under-informed. Details of the article's arguments are not provided in the headline alone.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has put forward amendments aimed at broadening retail investors' access to alternative investments, a category traditionally reserved for accredited or institutional investors. The proposal, reported by planadviser, could reshape how ordinary investors access private assets, and advisers are watching closely for what it would mean for retirement and wealth management products.

A new analysis argues that Americans have little confidence in Congress's willingness or ability to tackle corruption, and lays out proposals for rebuilding that trust. The piece suggests reforms aimed at making lawmakers more accountable and transparent as public faith in the institution remains low.

Applications are open for the NASA Hubble Fellowship Program for 2027, which supports early-career postdoctoral scientists in astrophysics research. The fellowship offers funding for independent research at institutions in the United States, and is aimed at researchers within a few years of completing their PhD. Notices about the opportunity are circulating among the research and nonprofit funding community.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has voted in favor of proposals aimed at widening retail investors' access to private markets. The move would let ordinary investors put money into asset classes such as private equity and venture capital, which have traditionally been reserved for institutional and accredited investors. Supporters frame it as democratizing access, while critics are expected to raise concerns about disclosure and risk protections for less sophisticated investors.

TVW, the Northwest Progressive Institute, and Full Court Press are teaming up to host an event examining this year's Washington State Supreme Court elections. The session is aimed at walking viewers through the candidates, the stakes for the state's highest court, and what the races mean for Washington voters ahead of the election.

Americans United for Separation of Church and State has published a new toolkit aimed at helping people build local support for keeping religion and government separate. The resource is intended to equip community members and organizers with practical guidance for advocacy on church-state issues in their own areas, at a time when debates over religion in public institutions remain active across the United States.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Mathematics Department has announced a new Master of Science program in Mathematics of Data. The degree is aimed at training students in the mathematical foundations underpinning data science and machine learning. Details on curriculum, admissions and start dates have not yet been widely reported, and the announcement is drawing attention from prospective students and academics in the fast-growing data science field.

Duke University's Fuqua School of Business has introduced a new executive education certificate focused on agentic AI, adding to its portfolio of leadership and technology programs. The offering is aimed at working professionals seeking practical training in AI systems that can act autonomously. The move reflects business schools' broader push to build executive programs around rapidly evolving artificial intelligence skills.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have issued an open letter aimed at American voters, an unusual direct appeal to the US public ahead of elections, according to Reuters. The move is drawing attention given the force's designation in Washington and its role in tensions between the two countries, including Iran's nuclear programme. Observers see it as a rare attempt by a hardline Iranian institution to influence American political opinion.

The Fashioning Accountability and Building Real Institutional Change (FABRIC) Act has been reintroduced in the US Congress for a third time. The legislation aims to reform working conditions in the American garment industry, including restrictions on piece-rate pay, while offering incentives such as tax credits to support domestic fashion manufacturing. Industry observers are weighing what its latest passage attempt could mean for fashion brands and manufacturers operating in the United States.

With the incoming administration and Congress signaling closer scrutiny of federal research spending, backers are preparing a lame-duck push to shield National Institutes of Health grantmaking from political interference. The effort aims to lock in protections for how NIH awards biomedical research grants before power shifts in Washington. Details of the legislative vehicle and its prospects remain unclear.