Edinburgh Napier University

• GLASGOW, Scotland, Nov. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A Scottish company, Jomarg Innovation Ltd, has just launched an Indiegogo Campaign this month, featuring its one-of-a-kind, patented, foot exercise and strengthening system.
• The Novabow System, is a ground-breaking device packed with innovative technology that allows the foot muscles to be strengthened and foot tissues mobilized, in ways that have not been possible before now.
• Astonishingly, a recent study showed that strengthening the foot can reduce the risk of running injuries by more than half.
• The foot has 26 bones, and these must be able to move relative to each other for the foot to work properly.

• Samarkand Group plc, the cross-border eCommerce technology solution provider, is delighted to have won silver for the "Best Cross-border Campaign" at the recent eCommerce Awards 2023.
• The awards recognise excellence in the world of eCommerce, celebrating market leading initiatives in the online retail space.
• David Hampstead, Chief Executive Officer of Samarkand Group, commented: “I am proud of the adaptability the Group has shown in the midst of an unpredictable trading environment in China.
• The growth of Napiers in this market is testament to our expert team and we are delighted to have received recognition of our recent livestreaming initiative at the eCommerce awards.”

• As we have previously noted here, Victory Day parades are a big deal for Vladimir Putin.
• Presumably Russia needs all its military hardware at the front as it prepares for a spring offensive that is expected to begin any day now.
• You can also subscribe to our fortnightly recap of expert analysis of the conflict in Ukraine.
• Read more:
  I've just returned from Kyiv where they are expecting a long war and want more help from the west

Russian masculinity

• The Russian Duma recently rubberstamped legislation that will make it significantly harder for young Russian men to avoid the call-up.
• Russians have been treated to a blitz of advertising appealing to the Russian male’s sense of their “warrior masculinity”.
• Marina Yusupova of Edinburgh Napier University is an expert in expressions of masculinity – particularly in Russia – and has researched Russian men’s views on the army and military service.
• Read more:
  Russia’s appeal to 'warrior masculinity' is unlikely to encourage men to enlist in the army

  Muscovites got a nasty shock one night last week when two drones exploded close to the Kremlin itself.

China syndrome

• As Stefan Wolff notes, there’s a lot at stake for China – whatever the outcomes.
• On the other, various senior EU representatives have made it clear that Beijing’s stance on the war will significantly influence the future of Europe’s relationship with China.
• Read more:
  Ukraine war: what China gains from acting as peacemaker

Nowhere to hide for Putin?

• This follows the successful completion of an extensive testing program and registration of the bus service by Stagecoach, the UK’s largest bus and coach operator.
• CAVForth is a joint project of Fusion Processing Ltd, Stagecoach, Alexander Dennis, Transport Scotland, Edinburgh Napier University and Bristol Robotics Lab which is part funded by the UK Government's Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles.
• It is one of the most complex projects of its kind worldwide and will be the first registered service in the UK to use full-sized autonomous buses.
• A fleet of five Alexander Dennis Enviro200AV vehicles will cover a 14-mile route, in mixed traffic, at up to 50 mph across the iconic Forth Road Bridge near Edinburgh.