UK: The UK government has announced Euro58.2m-worth of funding to support infrastructure spending, targeting innovation and technology projects. This will include a scoping study into developing a CO₂ storage testbed that will look at carbon capture and storage on an industrial scale. Other projects include a new radio telescope network, laboratories and Euro18.8m-worth of new digital research infrastructure. The government says that the new infrastructure aims to provide ‘strategic direction’ in the use of science and technology to overcome societal challenges and increase global prosperity. It said that the upgrade will secure the UK’s position as a ‘science superpower’ globally.

Fiji: The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a price control order for cement with effect from 22 June 2021. It applies to the ex-factory, wholesale and retail supply of cement products in all qualities, quantities, grades and classes, according to the Fiji Times newspaper.

Israel: Archaeologists have identified a new precursor species of humans dated to 130,000 years ago among discoveries from a quarry run by Nesher-Israel Cement Enterprises site at Ramla. Called Homo Nesher Ramla, the species’ antiquity and proximity to Homo Neanderthalensis suggest it as a possible ancestor of Neanderthals, according to Reuters. This would contradict previous theories of European origins of our sister species. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University say that Homo Nesher Ramla may have lived alongside Homo Sapiens for hundreds of years at the important junction of Africa and Eurasia now occupied by modern Israel, and could have interbred with our own ancestors.

Guyana: Vas Energy subsidiary Georgetown Cement Company has broken ground on construction of its upcoming La Resource, Essequibo Coast cement plant. The Guyana Chronicle newspaper has reported that the company plans to spend US$100m in establishing the plant.  When commissioned in mid-2022, it will supply all of Guyana with the possibility of export to neighbouring countries. This will reduce the cost of imported cement by 30%. Georgetown Cement Company plans to employ 180 – 200 people at the plant.