AGP Executive Report

Energy Storage in the Indian Ocean Region: France’s energy regulator CRE picked five Corsica storage projects totaling about 48 MW (29.1 MW pumped hydro plus 19 MW batteries), with service expected in 2029–2030; CRE says battery costs are falling fast, and the build should cut solar curtailment (modeled near 15% by 2038 without storage). EU Ocean Monitoring Push: The EU is funding OceanEye with €92M to expand ocean monitoring using drones and ocean-focused satellites, aiming to guide climate and ecosystem protection as the US signals major cuts to its ocean sensor network. Medical Research (Neuro/Metabolism): A new US study reports a supervised ketogenic diet intervention may be feasible and safe for some patients with treatment-resistant anorexia, with most completing the 14-week program and many meeting recovery targets. Wildlife Science: Researchers report the first clearly confirmed permanent split in a wild chimpanzee community in Uganda, followed by deadly attacks—suggesting social ties alone can drive polarization. Heritage Across the Indian Ocean: Mauritius hosted a workshop to strengthen preservation and documentation of indentured labour heritage across the region, linking communities and building a roadmap with UNESCO and ICOMOS.

Ocean science funding: The EU is launching OceanEye, a €92M push to expand ocean monitoring with underwater drones and satellites, as the US signals cuts to its Ocean Observatories network. Health research: A new US study reports a supervised ketogenic diet could be a viable, safe option for some hard-to-treat anorexia patients, with many reaching recovery targets and improved depression scores. Indian Ocean heritage: Mauritius hosted a workshop to strengthen preservation and documentation of indentured labour heritage across the region, building a roadmap with UNESCO and heritage groups. Tech & society: Ticketmaster paused Céline Dion’s Paris ticket sale after “suspicious activity,” leaving fans stuck in queues while teams worked to restart access. Politics in France: Jean-Luc Mélenchon campaigned in Saint-Denis to block a far-right win, warning against “digital technology” used for divisive politics. Sports climate link: NOAA says El Niño is likely to emerge during May–July, raising questions about what it could mean for the 2026 World Cup season.

Ocean Monitoring Boost: The EU is launching OceanEye, a €92M push using ocean-focused satellites and underwater drones to expand sea monitoring as climate change intensifies storms and heat. Public Health Hope: A new UC San Diego pilot study reports a supervised ketogenic diet may be feasible and safe for some people with treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa, with many reaching recovery targets. Wildlife Science: Researchers say Uganda’s largest wild chimp community in Kibale National Park has permanently split into two groups, followed by deadly attacks—an example of how social dynamics can fuel polarization. Heritage & Memory: Mauritius hosted a workshop to strengthen preservation and documentation of indentured labour heritage across the Indian Ocean, linking communities through shared migration histories. Cultural Tech Bridges: A BRICS+ intermuseum festival in Moscow highlighted how museums can connect generations and technologies through deeper, two-way cross-cultural collaboration. Ticketing Tech Glitch: Ticketmaster paused Céline Dion’s Paris ticket queue after “suspicious activity,” leaving fans stuck while teams worked to restart sales.

EU Ocean Monitoring Push: The EU is investing €92M in “OceanEye” to expand ocean monitoring with drones and satellites, aiming to guide climate and ecosystem protection as the US plans major cuts to its ocean sensor network. Health Research (Réunion-relevant): A UC San Diego preliminary study reports that a supervised ketogenic diet may be feasible and safe for some people with treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa, with many meeting recovery standards and improved depression scores. Wildlife Science: A long-term study in Uganda finds the world’s largest known wild chimp community split into two permanent groups, followed by deadly attacks—suggesting social ties alone can’t prevent polarization. Heritage & Memory (Indian Ocean): Mauritius hosted a workshop to strengthen preservation and promotion of indentured labour heritage across the Indian Ocean, building a regional roadmap with UNESCO and heritage experts. Politics in Saint-Denis: Jean-Luc Mélenchon campaigned in Saint-Denis, arguing he’s the best bet to block the far-right National Rally, while citing “digital technology” in the party’s divisive approach.

Ocean Science & Policy: The EU is funding a new OceanEye monitoring push with 92 million euros to expand ocean observation via drones and satellites, as the US signals cuts to its ocean sensor network. Health Research: A new study in Communications Medicine reports a supervised ketogenic diet could be a viable, generally safe option for some patients with treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa, with many reaching recovery targets and improved depression scores. Heritage & Memory: Mauritius hosted a regional workshop with UNESCO and ICOMOS to build a roadmap for preserving indentured labour heritage across the Indian Ocean, linking communities through shared migration histories. Reunion & Community Funding: Saint Mary’s College publicly launched its $200 million “Ring Out Ring True” capital campaign, moving from a quiet phase into a louder public push aimed at boosting research and facilities. Culture & Media: Fantasia’s 30th edition in Montreal announced a second wave of premieres, including the big-screen “Cape Fear” series finale.

Climate Watch: NOAA says El Niño is likely to emerge in the May–July window, but the World Cup’s June–July schedule may not line up neatly with the pattern’s usual winter impacts. Ocean Monitoring: The EU is investing €92M in OceanEye to expand ocean monitoring with underwater drones and satellites, while the US signals major cuts to its ocean sensor network. Health Research: A new early study in Communications Medicine reports a supervised ketogenic diet could be feasible and safe for some hard-to-treat patients with anorexia nervosa, with many meeting recovery targets and improved depression scores. Wildlife Science: Researchers report the largest known wild chimp community in Uganda has permanently split into two groups, followed by deadly attacks—an example of how social dynamics can escalate conflict. Tech & Society (Reunion angle): A Reunion Island–linked chef profile highlights how global food trends are reaching local audiences, showing science-and-culture crossover through culinary careers.

Ocean Science & Policy: The EU is funding a new OceanEye monitoring push with underwater drones and ocean satellites, investing €92M as climate change intensifies storms and heat over seas—especially while the US signals cuts to its ocean sensor network. Health Research: UC San Diego researchers report early results that a supervised ketogenic diet may be feasible and safe for some patients with treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa, with many reaching recovery targets and improved depression scores. Wildlife Science: A long-studied chimp community in Uganda has permanently split into two groups, followed by deadly attacks—highlighting how social dynamics can drive polarization. Sports Tech & Travel: Airline partnerships are being framed as real operational “safety nets” during airspace disruptions, helping carriers reroute and keep long-haul routes profitable. Reunion Island Angle: Réunion-linked content this week was limited, but the digest’s science and tech focus is covered by the ocean, health, and wildlife updates above.

Ocean Science & Policy: The EU is launching OceanEye, a €92M ocean monitoring push using underwater drones and satellites, as the US signals major cuts to its ocean sensor network. Health & Research: UC San Diego researchers report a supervised ketogenic diet intervention may be feasible and safe for some people with treatment-resistant anorexia nervosa, with most participants meeting recovery targets and improved depression scores. Wildlife Science: A long-studied chimp community in Uganda has permanently split into two groups, followed by deadly attacks—researchers say social ties alone can drive polarization. History & Archives: A rediscovered Anglo-Saxon “Saint-Denis” royal seal, long listed as missing, has been re-identified in France’s national archives, shedding new light on early medieval administration. Culture & Tech-Adjacent Media: Fantasia’s 30th edition in Montreal adds a second wave of titles, including the big-screen finale of Apple TV’s “Cape Fear.” Reunion Tech Digest Note: Most other items this week skew entertainment or sports rather than science/tech.

Ocean Monitoring Push: The EU is investing €92M to expand ocean monitoring with underwater drones and satellites, as the US signals major cuts to its ocean sensor network—aiming to track climate-driven heat and storm impacts. Health Research: A new UC San Diego preliminary study reports a supervised ketogenic diet may be feasible and safe for some people with hard-to-treat anorexia nervosa, with many participants meeting recovery targets. Wildlife Science: Researchers report the largest known wild chimpanzee community in Uganda has permanently split into two groups, followed by deadly attacks—highlighting how social dynamics can fuel violence. Culture & Tech Crossover: Fantasia’s 30th edition in Montreal unveils a second wave of premieres, including the big-screen finale of Apple TV’s “Cape Fear,” plus other genre titles. Local Tech Angle: Reunion Island’s culinary and cultural links show up indirectly via coverage of Korean food growth in SF and global heritage food trends, but no direct Reunion tech updates surfaced this week.

Ocean Monitoring Push: The EU is funding a new OceanEye network with €92M for ocean drones and satellites as climate change intensifies storms and heat, while the US signals major cuts to its ocean sensor program. Health Research: UC San Diego reports a small, supervised 14-week keto diet trial for hard-to-treat anorexia, finding no major BMI drop and strong improvements in eating-disorder and depression scores for most completers. Wildlife Science: A long-studied wild chimp community in Uganda permanently split into two groups, with researchers linking the division to later deadly attacks and showing how social dynamics can fuel polarization. Heritage & History: A rediscovered Anglo-Saxon “Saint-Denis” royal seal from France-linked archives sheds new light on medieval royal identity and record-keeping. Reunion Tech Angle: France’s Réunion ties into broader Indian Ocean strategy coverage, highlighting why the region matters for stability and science-driven governance.

Indian Ocean Strategy: A new focus on the south-western Indian Ocean highlights why France’s Réunion and Mayotte matter to stability around the Mozambique Channel, tying local interests to wider Indo-Pacific security. Urban Greening: A Spanish botanist’s vertical “living wall” projects draw on field work in places including Réunion to cool cities, cut pollution, and boost biodiversity. Wildlife Science: Long-term research in Uganda reports the first clearly confirmed permanent split in a wild chimpanzee community, followed by deadly intergroup violence. History & Heritage: The Saint-Denis royal seal tied to Anglo-Saxon Edward the Confessor has resurfaced after decades missing, offering fresh clues for medieval historians. Culture & Food: UNESCO’s intangible list spotlights iconic dishes, while a Réunion-born chef profile points to how island roots keep reshaping global Korean dining scenes.

UNESCO Food Heritage: Italy’s cuisine has just been added to UNESCO’s intangible list, spotlighting iconic dishes and where to find them—an instant bucket list for food lovers. Wildlife Research: A long-studied chimp community in Uganda’s Kibale National Park has permanently split into two groups, with researchers linking the break to shifting social dynamics and deadly intergroup violence. Security & Justice: A Belgian court authorized multiple 36-hour prison furloughs for Mohamed Bakkali, convicted over the 2015 Paris attacks, raising fresh outrage as he moves toward potential early release. Urban Climate Tech: A Spanish botanist is scaling “vertical forest” living walls across cities, using plant ecosystems on building surfaces to cool areas, cut pollution, and boost biodiversity. Science Policy (Indian Ocean): A new analysis argues France’s Réunion and other territories make the south-west Indian Ocean central to its Indo-Pacific strategy and regional stability. Local Talent & Culture: A Reunion-born chef in San Francisco is helping drive a Korean food renaissance, blending tradition with local influence.

Wildlife Research: A long-term study in Uganda reports the first clearly confirmed permanent split in wild chimpanzees, with deadly violence following growing division between Western and Central groups. History & Archives: England’s “Saint-Denis” royal seal—once thought lost—has been rediscovered, offering fresh clues about 11th-century Anglo-Saxon royal imagery and how artifacts get separated from their documents. Public Safety & Justice: A Belgian court authorized multiple 36-hour prison furloughs for Mohamed Bakkali, convicted over the 2015 Paris attacks, raising fresh outrage ahead of possible conditional release. Science & Society: Researchers discuss “why we crave company,” linking loneliness to basic needs in animals and humans, and highlighting how social balance varies by species and even by individual. Indian Ocean Strategy: A new analysis argues the south-western Indian Ocean (including Réunion) deserves more attention in France’s Indo-Pacific planning, tying regional stability to the interests of India and France. Urban Climate Tech: A Spanish botanist is scaling vertical gardens across Europe and Latin America, using living walls to cool cities, cut pollution, and boost biodiversity.

Wildlife Research: Uganda’s Ngogo chimpanzees split into two permanent communities, with deadly attacks following a shift in male dominance and social ties—an unsettling look at how group relationships can fuel polarization. Security & Justice: A Belgian court authorized multiple 36-hour furloughs for Mohamed Bakkali, convicted over the 2015 Paris attacks, raising fresh outrage as he edges toward release. Music & Culture: Stewart Copeland discusses his musical roots and what he’s doing this summer beyond the usual speaking-tour playbook. Social Science: A piece on loneliness argues it’s not just human—animals may have real needs for social contact, with brain and behavior shaped by how much togetherness they get. Local Tech/Climate Angle: A Spanish botanist is expanding vertical gardens across cities, using living walls to cool areas, cut pollution, and boost biodiversity. Indian Ocean Strategy (Réunion link): Analysis highlights how the south-west Indian Ocean—home to France’s Réunion and Mayotte—matters more as maritime security and regional competition intensify. Science in the French Overseas: France’s slavery and colonial past is still being fought over in ports and museums, as the country tries to make history visible.

Indian Ocean Strategy: India and France are doubling down on the south-western Indian Ocean as China’s footprint grows and Middle East spillovers raise maritime-security stakes, with Réunion highlighted as a key French foothold. Urban Heat Solutions: Spanish botanist Ignacio Solano is scaling vertical gardens across Europe and Latin America to cool cities, cut pollution, and boost biodiversity. Local Climate Tech in Action: Vertical forests are turning concrete walls into living ecosystems, using plant-support systems and irrigation to make buildings work like habitats. Science & Society: A French report on technical-school graduates in Saint-Denis shows how some students face deportation orders instead of job offers, raising alarms about education-to-work pathways. Space/Science History Tie-In: Roland Garros is named after Réunion-born aviation pioneer Roland Garros, linking the island to early flight history. Food Culture (Réunion Connection): A profile of chefs Mickaël and Gaël Tourteaux traces Mediterranean cuisine back to childhood across Guadeloupe and Réunion.

Social Science: Researchers argue loneliness isn’t just a human mood, but a basic need for social contact—shown in lab observations of mice reuniting after isolation. Food & Culture: Korean cuisine keeps spreading beyond pop culture, with chefs and bar owners highlighting how tradition and experimentation are reshaping what “Korean food” means. Public History & Identity: France’s ports and cities are still wrestling with how to publicly face slavery and colonialism, as national debates over plaques and monuments intensify. Indian Ocean Strategy: A new look at the south-western Indian Ocean frames Réunion and other French territories as key to France–India security planning as regional competition shifts. Urban Climate Tech: A Spanish botanist’s vertical forests push living walls to cool cities, cut pollution, and boost biodiversity—drawing on research from places including Réunion. Local Tech/Science Angle: A French Open naming explainer notes Roland Garros was an aviation pioneer born on Réunion, linking the island to early flight history.