Latest news with #non-European
Euronews
2 days ago
- Business
- Euronews
How does Europe's defence spending shape up as Trump pressures allies?
As the NATO summit ended with a commitment to spend 5% of GDP on defence, a Bruegel and Kiel Institute report warns Europe is far from ready to defend itself, at least not by 2030, primarily due to its dependence on foreign production and technology. "Europe needs to shift its political debate from fiscal numbers to actual military capabilities purchased and delivered in the coming years," the report said. Currently, Europe imports a substantial amount of weapons. Imports have increased from approximately $3.4 billion (€2.9 billion) for the period between 2019 and 2021 to $8.5 billion (€7.2 billion) between 2022 and 2024 in EU countries. The US is the main trading partner for military equipment for both the EU and the main European countries, except for France. For instance, around 70% of the non-European purchases from Poland are contracted with US companies, and the remaining deals are mainly struck with South Korean firms. However, the average delivery time of defence equipment manufactured in European countries like Germany, the UK and Poland can reach four years. Europe also lacks some top military technologies, with development timelines often stretching into decades rather than just a few years. "A reduced or even completely missing technological lead in warfare is becoming an increasing concern across Western militaries and is particularly an issue for Europe," the report stated. Developing new technologies New battlefield technologies, such as drones and AI, can be complementary capabilities of a warfighting force. In Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, drones are responsible for between 60% and 70% of damage currently caused to Russian equipment, according to the UK's defence and security think tank, the Royal United Services Institute. For instance, the target for the production of first-person-view (FPV) drones in Ukraine for 2025 is around 4.5 million, while that for Russia is between 3 and 4 million. Speaking from the Hague on the eve of a summit of NATO leaders, the Ukrainian president said the country's defence sector is able to produce much more than it currently does, but is limited by a lack of financing. "Our defence production potential has surpassed $35 billion (€29 billion)," Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the NATO Defence Industry Forum, with a range of over 1,000 types of weapons produced in the country, including artillery, armoured vehicles, drones, and missiles. "But around 40% of this potential lacks proper funding. That's a problem. For example, we can produce over 8 million drones of different types each year, but the financing allows for far fewer." Apart from Ukraine, European armies appear to be further behind on such developments compared to the US. Although there are emerging European start-ups focused on drone manufacturing, the technology is evolving rapidly, so drones older than six months may already see a significant decline in their effectiveness. Meanwhile, both Russia and China have substantially advanced their production capacities as well as technological capabilities.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
New Report Reveals Most European Companies Not Fully Ready for the European Accessibility Act
The company's EAA Readiness Report highlights persistent challenges and underinvestment ahead of the June 28 enforcement deadline PALO ALTO, Calif., June 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) enforcement taking effect this week, Evinced, the leading software company powering accessible web and mobile development, today released its EAA Readiness Report, offering a snapshot of how prepared European companies really are. The results suggest that most European companies are not ready for full compliance, despite having had six years to prepare. Based on a research project with 120 European companies conducted in April and May of 2025, the report reveals that only 27% of companies interviewed consider themselves fully prepared, 45% say they are somewhat prepared, and 28% say they are either somewhat unprepared or not prepared at all. Building Accessibility In A closer look, however, suggests that some of this confidence may be premature, as Evinced also studied how companies prepared for EAA. Even among companies that consider themselves fully prepared, relatively few – just 19% – felt that they have sufficiently transformed their product development processes to prevent future accessibility bugs. That said, 84% do expect to do so this year and to do so using dedicated accessibility teams, tools, and training. Unprepared companies, which are much smaller on average than fully prepared companies, are in a different situation. These companies do not by and large expect to make much progress in 2025 and expect it will be several years to be fully compliant. In the meantime, they will limit most of their efforts to remediation projects and audits and to make what changes they can in their product development process without the use of tools or dedicated accessibility teams. 'Accessibility isn't a check-the-box exercise. At the end of the day, it's about building a company and especially a product development process that takes inclusion to heart,' said Navin Thadani, CEO and co-founder of Evinced. 'The EAA signals a historic commitment to inclusion in the digital economy, and companies faced with the task of compliance will have to find the most efficient way to build accessibility into their workflows without grinding their product delivery to a halt.' EAA Isn't Just About European Companies Evinced studied European companies in this project because it wanted to understand how effective the regulatory environment was at promoting change at the enterprise level. But it's also true that many non-European companies will be affected by the EAA as well. 'This isn't just a localized Act,' Thadani added. 'Companies outside of Europe, including those headquartered in the US and UK with operations or customers in the EU, will also very likely be affected. The companies that invest now in scalable processes, training, and tools will be better positioned to deliver inclusive digital experiences and avoid costly, reactive fixes later. Accessibility isn't just the right thing to do, it's the smart thing to do.' To learn more about how to create inclusive digital experiences at scale, please visit: About Evinced Since launching in 2021, Evinced is the leading software for integrating accessibility into web and mobile development at the world's largest, most accessibility-committed companies. Evinced's powerful suite of tools enables developers, designers, and accessibility professionals to automatically prevent, find, cluster, and track accessibility issues. For companies, this means reducing reliance on manual processes, minimizing risk, and speeding up time to market. Evinced is headquartered in California, with offices across the US, Europe, and Israel, and is backed by leading investors like Insight Partners, M12 (Microsoft's venture arm), BGV, Capital One Ventures, and Engineering Capital. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Evinced
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Your Blood Type Affects Your Risk of an Early Stroke, Study Finds
Research suggests a surprising link between blood type and stroke risk, with people carrying one specific group A blood type facing a higher likelihood of stroke before age 60. This finding, published in 2022, deepens our understanding of how our unique biological makeup can impact our health. You've probably heard of the A, B, AB, and O groups, which refer to the various chemical markers, known as antigens, found on the surface of our red blood cells. Even within these major blood types, there are subtle variations caused by mutations in the genes involved. Related: Researchers analyzed data from 48 genetic studies, which included approximately 17,000 stroke patients and nearly 600,000 non-stroke controls. All participants were between the ages of 18 and 59. Their findings revealed a clear relationship between the gene responsible for the A1 blood subgroup, and early-onset stroke. A genome-wide search revealed two locations strongly associated with an earlier risk of stroke. One coincided with the spot where genes for blood type sit. A second analysis of specific types of blood-type gene then found people whose genome coded for a variation of the A group had a 16 percent higher chance of a stroke before the age 60, compared with a population of other blood types. For those with a gene for group O1, the risk was lower by 12 percent. The researchers noted, however, that the additional risk of stroke in people with type A blood is small, so there is no need for extra vigilance or screening in this group. "We still don't know why blood type A would confer a higher risk," said senior author and vascular neurologist Steven Kittner from the University of Maryland. "But it likely has something to do with blood-clotting factors like platelets and cells that line the blood vessels as well as other circulating proteins, all of which play a role in the development of blood clots." While the study findings may seem alarming – that blood type could change early stroke risk – let's put these results into context. Each year in the US just under 800,000 individuals experience a stroke. Most of these events – around three out of every four – occur in people 65 years and older, with risks doubling every decade after the age of 55. Also, the people included in the study lived in North America, Europe, Japan, Pakistan, and Australia, with people of non-European ancestry only making up 35 percent of participants. Future studies with a more diverse sample could help clarify the significance of the results. "We clearly need more follow-up studies to clarify the mechanisms of increased stroke risk," Kittner said. Another key finding of the study came from comparing people who had a stroke before the age of 60 to those that had a stroke after the age of 60. For this, the researchers used a dataset of about 9,300 people over the age of 60 who had a stroke, and some 25,000 controls over the age of 60 who didn't have a stroke. They found that the increased risk of stroke in the type A blood group became insignificant in the late-onset stroke group, suggesting that strokes that happen early in life may have a different mechanism compared to those that occur later on. Strokes in younger people are less likely to be caused by a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries (a process called atherosclerosis) and more likely to be caused by factors to do with clot formation, the authors said. The study also found that people with type B blood were around 11 percent more likely to have a stroke compared to non-stroke controls regardless of their age. Previous studies suggest that the part of the genome that codes for blood type, called the 'ABO locus', is associated with coronary artery calcification, which restricts blood flow, and heart attack. The genetic sequence for A and B blood types have also been associated with a slightly higher risk of blood clots in veins, called venous thrombosis. This paper was published in Neurology. An earlier version of this article was published in September 2022. Has Dementia Risk Declined Over Generations? Here's The Science. 'Biological Age' Test Kits Are Popular, But They May Not Be Worth The Cost Semen Allergies Aren't Rare After All (And Yes, Men Have Them Too)
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Canada isn't looking to join EU, Carney says, but still wants closer ties
Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada is "looking for a closer partnership" with the European Union — but not to become a member. While speaking from the NATO summit in the Netherlands — where he announced Canada's promise to spend five per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2035 — Carney was asked whether he has given any thought to trying to join the bloc of European nations. "The short answer is no," he said. "That's not the intent. That's not the pathway we're on." WATCH | No plans for EU membership, says Carney: "We co-operate much more clearly and broadly to our mutual benefit," he said. "Not as a member, but along that continuum." Defence partnership These comments come days after Carney took steps to draw Canada closer to Europe. On Monday, he signed a strategic defence and security partnership with the EU — seen as a move toward making Canada less reliant on the United States. A joint EU/Canada statement says the two parties agreed to a "new ambitious and comprehensive partnership" to "promote shared prosperity, democratic values, peace and security" that goes well beyond security co-operation. To do that, the statement says, Canada and the EU launched a process that "will move Canada and the EU closer together" on a number of fronts such as trade, supply chains, aligning regulations, artificial intelligence, climate change, justice and international crisis response on top of security and defence. From the NATO summit, Carney reiterated some of those values that he says make Canada "the most European of non-European nations" — a line he has repeated since becoming prime minister. He highlighted Canada and the EU's shared values of "liberty" and "democracy" as well as the importance the two parties put on "solidarity" and "sustainability." First trip as PM The prime minister made his desire to work more closely with Europe clear from the start of his mandate. Just days after being sworn into office, Carney headed on his first international trip to France and the United Kingdom. WATCH | Carney comments on European allies during first foreign trip: Before a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron during that trip in March, Carney said in French that "it is more important than ever for Canada to strengthen its ties with its reliable allies, such as France." He said France "shares our values and lives them through action, during this age of economic and geopolitical crisis." "We are receiving you and welcoming you as a friend with great joy," Macron said of Canada during Carney's visit, highlighting both countries' ambitions for the "fair trade and protection of the planet." That trip — meant to seek support from two of Canada's oldest allies — came as U.S. President Donald Trump was continuing to attack Canada's sovereignty and economy. The president had already imposed tariffs on some Canadian products and was threatening more — all while repeatedly stating his desire for Canada to become the 51st state. The two countries are currently in negotiations to remove tariffs and counter-tariffs.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and St. Jude Researchers Find Genetic Ancestry Influences How Gene Mutations Impact Cancer Prognosis in Patients With T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Study is the first to explore the impact of genetic ancestry on tumor genomics in T-ALL PHILADELPHIA and MEMPHIS, Tenn., June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Investigators at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (St. Jude), Dana Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI), and the Children's Oncology Group (COG), unveiled for the first time that changes in certain genes affect an aggressive cancer, T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), differently depending on genetic ancestry. The collaborative study, published recently in the journal Blood Cancer Discovery, further reinforces the critical role of personalized medicine in advancing the treatment of pediatric cancers such as T-ALL. Most children in the U.S. newly diagnosed with cancer are treated through clinical trials or with regimens established by earlier trial findings. Increasingly, these frontline trials use prognostic biomarkers to guide treatments related to whether patients have high risk or low risk disease. While previous studies found that genetic ancestry affects how certain gene changes appear in cancer, researchers can now show that these gene changes may also predict outcomes differently depending upon an individual's ancestry. 'Our research demonstrates it is essential to ensure the equitable implementation of genomic biomarkers in treatment decisions or we may introduce disparities,' said David T. Teachey, MD, a lead study author at CHOP and Chair of the Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Disease Committee in the COG. 'Without this critical step, we risk misclassifying patients into the incorrect high- or low-risk groups, potentially causing undertreatment and increased risk of relapse, or overtreatment and unnecessary side effects, especially in populations of non-European descent.' Study participants were enrolled in the COG's multicenter phase 3 randomized clinical trial AALL0434 (NCT04408005) conducted from 2007 to 2014. Of the eligible participants evaluable with T-ALL, researchers analyzed complete sequencing for 1,309 individuals included in this study. They found that 80% had mutations in genes where prognostic impact varied depending on their genetic ancestry. For example, a gene called NOTCH1 was linked to better survival in patients of European ancestry but was not associated with better survival in patients of African ancestry. Importantly, this collaborative study brought together experts in the diagnosis and treatment of T-ALL, leukemia genomics, genetic ancestry and social determinants of health research, including study co-author Kira Bona, MD, MPH from DFCI. 'The study provides another important example of the way in which heritable and tumor-acquired genetic variations interact to determine the features and behavior of leukemia,' said study author Charles Mullighan, MBBS (Hons), MSc, MD, Senior Deputy Director of the St. Jude Comprehensive Cancer Center. The study evaluated tools that group patients into risk categories. One method worked well for everyone, no matter their ancestry. But another tool used, developed mainly from European data, sometimes gave misleading results for people from backgrounds other than European ancestry. The researchers also emphasized that certain genetic ancestries may be associated with more aggressive disease forms or different responses to treatment. 'Our groups have a long-standing interest in how genetic ancestry affects cancer biology in children. This study is another example of the fruitful collaboration with COG that led to the discovery of new genetic basis of racial/ethnic differences in leukemia,' said co-corresponding author Jun J. Yang, PhD, Endowed Chair in Pharmacogenomics of the St. Jude Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. 'The lessons learned from this work should be investigated in other types of cancer in children and adults to improve outcomes for patients of all ancestral backgrounds,' said first author Haley M. Newman, MD, a junior faculty member at CHOP. The research was supported by K12CA076931-24, Gabriella Miller Kids First (X01HD100702), R03CA256550, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Singapore NMRC, Singapore NUHS NCSP, Hyundai Hope on Wheels, (R01CA193776),(U10CA180886), (R01CA264837), (U24CA114766), (U24CA196173), (U10CA180899, Research Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Harrison Willing Memorial Research Fund, The Invisible Prince Foundation, the Aiden Everett Davies Innovation Fund, ALSAC the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude, The St. Jude Chromatin Collaborative, (P30CA021765), (R35CA197695), (U54CA243124) and the Canadian Institute for Health Research. Newman et al. 'Impact of Genetic Ancestry on Genomics and Survival Outcomes in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia.' Blood Cancer Discov. Online May 28, 2025. DOI: 10.1158/ About Children's Hospital of Philadelphia: A non-profit, charitable organization, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was founded in 1855 as the nation's first pediatric hospital. Through its long-standing commitment to providing exceptional patient care, training new generations of pediatric healthcare professionals, and pioneering major research initiatives, the hospital has fostered many discoveries that have benefited children worldwide. Its pediatric research program is among the largest in the country. The institution has a well-established history of providing advanced pediatric care close to home through its CHOP Care Network, which includes more than 50 primary care practices, specialty care and surgical centers, urgent care centers, and community hospital alliances throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. CHOP also operates the Middleman Family Pavilion and its dedicated pediatric emergency department in King of Prussia, the Behavioral Health and Crisis Center (including a 24/7 Crisis Response Center) and the Center for Advanced Behavioral Healthcare, a mental health outpatient facility. Its unique family-centered care and public service programs have brought Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recognition as a leading advocate for children and adolescents. For more information, visit About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and cures childhood cancer, sickle cell disease and other life-threatening disorders. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to 80% since the hospital opened more than 60 years ago. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. To learn more, visit read St. Jude Progress a digital magazine, and follow St. Jude on social media at @stjuderesearch. Contact: Jennifer Lee Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (267) 426-6084 [email protected] Contact: Michael Sheffield St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (901) 379-6072 [email protected] [email protected] View original content: SOURCE Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
