Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A drone photo shows Chen Lin (R) operating at a construction site in Minfeng County, of Hotan Prefecture, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, July 13, 2025. China has finished construction of a 4,197-km extra-high voltage power transmission loop around the Tarim Basin, home to the country’s largest desert, marking a major infrastructure milestone in southern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
The final section of the 750-kilovolt (kV) loop, now the country’s largest of its kind, was connected on Sunday, capping a 15-year project involving nine substations and nearly 10,000 steel towers, according to a subsidiary of State Grid Xinjiang Electric Power Co., Ltd., which constructed the project.
The transmission line passes through extreme terrain, from the shifting sands of the desert to the high altitudes of the Kunlun Mountains.
Chen Lin arrived in March this year at the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert, where he, side by side with over 40 colleagues, accomplished part of the transmission line construction work despite sandy gusts and scorching temperature. (Photo by Zhang Limin/Xinhua)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China and the United States are accelerating efforts to implement outcomes from the framework reached during the economic and trade talks in London, an official with the General Administration of Customs (GAC) said Monday.
Following positive progress in recent economic and trade talks in Geneva and London, trade between the two countries recovered to over 350 billion yuan (about 49 billion U.S. dollars) last month from less than 300 billion yuan in May, Wang Lingjun, deputy head of the GAC, told a press conference.
Wang said China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation was mutually beneficial in nature, and that it represents the irreversible trend of globalization, the need for deeper industrial chain integration, and the demands for collaboration on innovation between enterprises of the two countries and improvement of the well-being of the two peoples.
Describing the consensus reached in Geneva and the framework established in London as “hard-won,” he said China hopes the United States will work with China to make cooperation the main theme of bilateral economic and trade ties, steer the global trade system back to a fair and open track, and contribute to the recovery and growth of the global economy.
Nigeria’s former president, Muhammadu Buhari, who led Africa’s most populous country from 2015 to 2023 and was the first Nigerian president to oust an incumbent through the ballot box, died in London on Sunday, a presidential spokesperson said.
“President Buhari died today in London at about 4:30 p.m. (1530 GMT), following a prolonged illness,” President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson said Tinubu had directed Vice President Kashim Shettima and his chief of staff to travel to London to collect and accompany Buhari’s body back to Nigeria for burial.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over Buhari’s demise.
In a post on X, PM Modi said, “Deeply saddened by the passing of former President of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari. I fondly recall our meetings and conversations on various occasions. His wisdom, warmth and unwavering commitment to India–Nigeria friendship stood out. I join the 1.4 billion people of India in extending our heartfelt condolences to his family, the people and the government of Nigeria.
A Muslim, Buhari was expected to be buried according to Muslim rites in his home state of northwestern Katsina, government officials said.
Buhari, 82, first led the country as a military ruler after a coup in the 1980s. He earned a devoted following for his brand of anti-corruption conviction politics.
He referred to himself as a “converted democrat” and swapped his military uniform for kaftans and prayer caps.
“I belong to everybody and I belong to nobody,” was a constant refrain Buhari told supporters and critics alike.
Buhari defeated Goodluck Jonathan in 2015 in what was judged to be Nigeria’s fairest election to date. Many hoped the retired major general would crack down on armed groups, just as he had as the country’s military head of state.
Instead, violence that had mostly been confined to the northeast spread. That left swathes of Nigeria outside the control of its security forces as gunmen in the northwest, armed separatists and gangs in the southeast roamed unchecked.
Much of his appeal lay in the anti-corruption ethos that was a central plank of his agenda both as a military and civilian ruler. He said endemic corruption in Nigeria’s political culture was holding people back.
‘BABA GO SLOW’
But Buhari quickly disappointed after his 2015 win.
He took power as Nigeria was reeling from jihadist group Boko Haram’s kidnapping of nearly 300 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Chibok.
He took six months to name his cabinet. During that time, the oil-dependent economy was hobbled by low crude prices, prompting people to call him “Baba Go Slow”.
He retained his popularity in poor, largely Muslim northern Nigeria, where voters propelled him to his second victory in 2019, despite his first term being blighted by Nigeria’s first recession in a generation, militant attacks on oilfields, and repeated hospital stays for an undisclosed illness.
On the economy, Buhari applied the same approach that failed when he was in power in the 1980s – keeping the currency artificially high, as a matter of national pride. Just as in his first stint in power, the president ignored the IMF’s advice to devalue the naira.
In 2022 the production of oil – by far Nigeria’s greatest export – fell to its lowest level in more than two decades due to crude theft in the Niger Delta.
His anti-corruption crackdown also ran into criticism and failed to yield high-profile convictions.
Rights groups said Buhari never let go of his autocratic tendencies. In a major flashpoint, unarmed demonstrators protesting against police brutality were gunned down in 2020. Nationwide street violence followed, marking some of the most widespread civil unrest since military rule ended in 1999.
KIDNAP PLOT
Born on December 17, 1942, in Daura, Katsina State, Buhari enrolled in the army at 19. He would eventually rise to the rank of major-general.
He seized power in 1983 as a military ruler, promising to revitalise a mismanaged country. He took a tough line on everything from the conditions sought by the International Monetary Fund to unruliness in bus queues.
In 1984, his administration attempted to kidnap a former minister and vocal critic living in Britain. The plot failed when London airport officials opened the crate containing the abducted politician.
His first stint in power was short-lived. He was removed after only 18 months by another military officer, Ibrahim Babangida.
Buhari spent much of the following 30 years in fringe political parties and trying to run for president until his eventual victory over Jonathan in 2015.
Buhari said he aimed to improve the lives of Nigerians through social welfare programmes, the construction of train lines, roads, dams, airports and power infrastructure.
The infrastructure projects laid the foundation for a strong Nigerian economy, he said.
India is currently in the midst of an active monsoon phase, with widespread rainfall and dynamic weather conditions affecting large parts of the northern and central regions on Monday.
According to the Regional Meteorological Centre in New Delhi, the past 24 hours witnessed significant precipitation across several states, notably Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Isolated pockets in Uttar Pradesh recorded very heavy rainfall, with Mahroni in Lalitpur receiving 163 mm, Lalitpur 147 mm, and Fatehpur Tehsil (Banki) 140 mm.
Additional heavy showers were reported in Banda, Bijnor, and Varanasi, with Beberu in Banda district recording 110 mm of rainfall.
In Rajasthan, Manoharthana in Jhalawar received 115 mm, Sallopat in Banswara 95 mm, and Jaswantpura in Jalour 78 mm. In Himachal Pradesh, Murari Devi registered 126 mm, while Manethi in Haryana saw 82.3 mm. Thunderstorms and lightning were reported across eastern Uttar Pradesh and various parts of Northwest India, except Haryana.
Isolated hailstorms were observed in Jammu and Kashmir, while gusty winds swept through Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh.
The seven-day forecast indicates sustained rainfall across the region. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and eastern Uttar Pradesh are expected to experience fairly widespread to widespread showers through July 19.
Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh are likely to see scattered to fairly widespread rainfall, while Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi may witness scattered showers, which are expected to taper off to isolated activity later in the week.
Rajasthan is likely to receive moderate rainfall, with eastern Rajasthan likely to see more consistent precipitation compared to the western parts.
Maximum temperatures across the plains of northwest India are expected to remain stable over the next five days.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) advises residents to stay updated via the MAUSAM app for location-specific forecasts, the Meghdoot app for agricultural advisories, and the Damini app for lightning alerts.
The ongoing Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via the Nathu La route is drawing widespread praise from pilgrims and officials alike, with many describing the journey as both spiritually uplifting and exceptionally well-managed. Pilgrims returning from the sacred pilgrimage have expressed deep gratitude for the arrangements made by Indian authorities, particularly the Sikkim Tourism Development Corporation (STDC).
Rajendra Chettri, Chief Executive Officer of STDC, lauded the success of this year’s Yatra, noting the overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants. According to Chettri, the fourth batch of pilgrims has successfully completed the Yatra and is currently en route to Lhasa, while the fifth batch is stationed at Sherathang, preparing to cross into Tibet. Chettri is scheduled to visit Nathu La on Monday to personally oversee arrangements for the group’s movement into the Tibetan region.
“The Yatris are extremely happy with the facilities provided by STDC,” he said. “At any given time, two batches are in the Tibetan region—one entering and one returning.” Most of the batches comprise 45 to 48 pilgrims and are accompanied by two Liaison Officers deputed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The final batch is expected to depart on August 7, cross into Tibet by August 12, and return by August 23. All pilgrims are scheduled to head home by August 24.
Chettri highlighted the improvements made since the last Yatra in 2019, especially in hygiene and accommodation. He also acknowledged the cooperation of Chinese authorities, calling their support “welcoming and encouraging.”
Pilgrims have described the Yatra as deeply emotional and spiritually fulfilling. A female pilgrim, who undertook the journey with her husband, called it a divine experience. “It is by the grace of God that we were chosen for this Yatra. Everything was managed so well that we never felt any discomfort. The welcome was overwhelming—Yogi ji himself greeted us and offered gifts, marking a spiritual start to our journey.”
Reflecting on her visit to Mount Kailash, she added, “Even now, I get goosebumps recalling the moment. Our journey was not only smooth but truly divine. I am grateful to everyone—the Indian and Chinese authorities and the countless people working behind the scenes.”
Ravi Verma, a pilgrim from Pune, described the experience as both physically and spiritually uplifting. “Despite the long trek and high altitude, I didn’t feel any of my usual knee or muscle pains. That itself felt miraculous.” He recounted his trek through Yamadwar, Deraphuk, and Dolma Pass—one of the most physically demanding segments of the Yatra. “Even Dolma Pass, with its low oxygen and steep climb, felt safe and manageable. Collecting water from Gaurikund was a special moment.”
Verma also shared a personal connection to the Yatra, revealing that his parents had completed the journey on foot in 1997, covering nearly 500 kilometres. “Their dedication inspired me. Though I walked only 40 kilometres, the experience was equally divine. I believe all my success in life is a blessing from Mount Kailash.”
Devendra Tiwari, a pilgrim from Bhopal, echoed similar sentiments. He praised the discipline among fellow pilgrims and credited the Government of India, MEA, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), and STDC for their seamless coordination. “Not even rain or clouds came in our way. We completed darshan and puja peacefully. I truly feel blessed.”
Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling itself “MechaHitler” and producing pro-Nazi remarks.
The developers have apologised for the “inappropriate posts” and “taken action to ban hate speech” from Grok’s posts on X. Debates about AI bias have been revived too.
But the latest Grok controversy is revealing not for the extremist outputs, but for how it exposes a fundamental dishonesty in AI development. Musk claims to be building a “truth-seeking” AI free from bias, yet the technical implementation reveals systemic ideological programming.
This amounts to an accidental case study in how AI systems embed their creators’ values, with Musk’s unfiltered public presence making visible what other companies typically obscure.
So how do developers imbue an AI with such values and shape chatbot behaviour? Today’s chatbots are built using large language models (LLMs), which offer several levers developers can lean on.
What makes an AI ‘behave’ this way?
Pre-training
First, developers curate the data used during pre-training – the first step in building a chatbot. This involves not just filtering unwanted content, but also emphasising desired material.
We don’t know if these data were used, or what quality-control measures were applied.
Fine-tuning
The second step, fine-tuning, adjusts LLM behaviour using feedback. Developers create detailed manuals outlining their preferred ethical stances, which either human reviewers or AI systems then use as a rubric to evaluate and improve the chatbot’s responses, effectively coding these values into the machine.
A Business Insider investigation revealed xAI’s instructions to human
“AI tutors” instructed them to look for “woke ideology” and “cancel culture”. While the onboarding documents said Grok shouldn’t “impose an opinion that confirms or denies a user’s bias”, they also stated it should avoid responses that claim both sides of a debate have merit when they do not.
System prompts
The system prompt – instructions provided before every conversation – guides behaviour once the model is deployed.
To its credit, xAI publishes Grok’s system prompts. Its instructions to “assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased” and “not shy away from making claims which are politically incorrect, as long as they are well substantiated” were likely key factors in the latest controversy.
These prompts are being updated daily at the time of writing, and their evolution is a fascinating case study in itself.
Guardrails
Finally, developers can also add guardrails – filters that block certain requests or responses. OpenAI claims it doesn’t permit ChatGPT “to generate hateful, harassing, violent or adult content”. Meanwhile, the Chinese model DeepSeek censors discussion of Tianamen Square.
Ad-hoc testing when writing this article suggests Grok is much less restrained in this regard than competitor products.
The transparency paradox
Grok’s Nazi controversy highlights a deeper ethical issue: would we prefer AI companies to be explicitly ideological and honest about it, or maintain the fiction of neutrality while secretly embedding their values?
Every major AI system reflects its creator’s worldview – from Microsoft Copilot’s risk-averse corporate perspective to Anthropic Claude’s safety-focused ethos. The difference is transparency.
Musk’s public statements make it easy to trace Grok’s behaviours back to Musk’s stated beliefs about “woke ideology” and media bias. Meanwhile, when other platformsmisfirespectacularly, we’re left guessing whether this reflects leadership views, corporate risk aversion, regulatory pressure, or accident.
But there’s a crucial difference. Tay’s racism emerged from user manipulation and poor safeguards – an unintended consequence. Grok’s behaviour appears to stem at least partially from its design.
The real lesson from Grok is about honesty in AI development. As these systems become more powerful and widespread (Grok support in Tesla vehicles was just announced), the question isn’t whether AI will reflect human values. It’s whether companies will be transparent about whose values they’re encoding and why.
Musk’s approach is simultaneously more honest (we can see his influence) and more deceptive (claiming objectivity while programming subjectivity) than his competitors.
In an industry built on the myth of neutral algorithms, Grok reveals what’s been true all along: there’s no such thing as unbiased AI – only AI whose biases we can see with varying degrees of clarity.
Aaron J. Snoswell previously received research funding from OpenAI in 2024–2025 to develop new evaluation frameworks for measuring moral competence in AI agents.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s economic development zones to further facilitate new quality productive forces
BEIJING, July 14 — China’s national economic development zones will continue to play a role in fostering new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, according to an official speaking on the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, the all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency.
In doing so, efforts will focus on fostering synergy between sci-tech and industrial innovation, said Ji Xiaofeng, an official with China’s commerce ministry.
China’s national-level economic development zones currently host over 700 national incubators and maker spaces as well as more than 18 percent of the country’s high-tech enterprises, she said at the roundtable.
“We will strive to set up more industrial innovation platforms while building a complete chain for product certification, large-scale production and testing to accelerate technological innovation and application of such advances in national economic development zones,” said Ji.
She said China will support national economic development zones in carrying out major technological upgrades and large-scale equipment renewals to accelerate the transformation and upgrades of traditional industries.
National economic development zones will also develop strategic emerging industries such as biomedicine, new energy, new materials and aerospace, and make forward-looking planning for future industries, according to Ji.
In one of the latest policy pushes, China unveiled a work plan earlier this year encouraging national economic development zones to foster new quality productive forces in light of local conditions by establishing more industrial innovation platforms and computing power infrastructure, among other approaches.
China established its first national-level economic development zone in the northeastern city of Dalian in 1984. In 2024, the number of such zones reached 232, generating a regional GDP of 16.9 trillion yuan (about 2.36 trillion U.S. dollars).
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s national economic development zones foster coordinated regional development
BEIJING, July 14 — China’s national economic development zones serve as powerful engines for regional growth, driving industrial advancement across both prosperous and less-developed regions, according to a guest speaker on the latest episode of the China Economic Roundtable, the all-media talk show hosted by Xinhua News Agency.
The zones play a leading role in their respective provinces or regions. Specializing in core industries, the zones extend developed areas’ economic influence and accelerate development in less-developed regions, said Ji Xiaofeng, an official from the Ministry of Commerce’s Department of Foreign Investment Administration.
Ji noted that the zones function not only as platforms for global openness but also as hubs for orderly cross-regional industrial transfers. While strengthening clustered development of competitive and leading industries, the ministry fully leverages the zones’ radiating effects on their host regions, she added.
For example, the Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area has proactively expanded its production and supply chains to neighboring areas, enabling local businesses to benefit from its flagship enterprises and achieve mutual growth.
The ministry also prioritizes deepening ties between regional industry leaders through the interaction between eastern and western development zones, Ji said.
China established its first national-level economic development zone in the northeastern city of Dalian in 1984. By 2024, the number of such zones reached 232, generating a regional GDP of 16.9 trillion yuan (about 2.36 trillion U.S. dollars).
Tel-Aviv, Israel, July 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EllomayCapital Ltd.(NYSE American; TASE: ELLO) (“Ellomay” or the “Company”), a renewable energy and power generator and developer of renewable energy and power projects in Europe, USA and Israel, today announced that it received and accepted, following the approval of its Board of Directors, commitments from several Israeli institutional and classified investors to buy 926,000 ordinary shares of the Company in a private placement (the “Private Placement”). As a result of the Private Placement, an affiliate of Menora Mivtachim Holdings Ltd. (one of Israel’s largest institutional investors), which holds securities for the benefit of members of provident funds or pension funds, is expected to become an interested party in the Company, holding approximately 6% of the Company’s outstanding shares.
The price per share in the Private Placement was set at NIS 54 (approximately $16.3) and the gross proceeds to the Company are expected to be approximately NIS 50 million. The price per share was determined on July 9, 2025. The closing price per share on July 8, 2025 and July 9, 2025 on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange was NIS 56.88 and NIS 58.53, respectively. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes.
The closing of the Private Placement is subject to the receipt of regulatory approvals, which are expected to be obtained during July 2025.
The Private Placement described in this report, if made, will be made in Israel only and not to U.S. persons. The ordinary shares, if sold, will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and will not be offered or sold in the United States without registration or applicable exemption from the registration requirements according to the U.S. Securities Act of 1933. Nothing in this press release constitutes a public offering or an invitation to purchase the Company’s securities.
AboutEllomayCapital Ltd.
Ellomay is an Israeli based company whose shares are registered with the NYSE American and with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “ELLO”. Since 2009, Ellomay focuses its business in the renewable energy and power sectors in Europe, USA and Israel.
To date, Ellomay has evaluated numerous opportunities and invested significant funds in the renewable, clean energy and natural resources industries in Israel, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands and Texas, USA, including:
Approximately 335.9 MW of operating solar power plants in Spain (including a 300 MW solar plant in owned by Talasol, which is 51% owned by the Company) and 51% of approximately 38 MW of operating solar power plants in Italy;
9.375% indirect interest in Dorad Energy Ltd., which owns and operates one of Israel’s largest private power plants with production capacity of approximately 850MW, representing about 6%-8% of Israel’s total current electricity consumption;
Groen Gas Goor B.V., Groen Gas Oude-Tonge B.V. and Groen Gas Gelderland B.V., project companies operating anaerobic digestion plants in the Netherlands, with a green gas production capacity of approximately 3 million, 3.8 million and 9.5 million Nm3 per year, respectively;
83.333% of Ellomay Pumped Storage (2014) Ltd., which is involved in a project to construct a 156 MW pumped storage hydro power plant in the Manara Cliff, Israel;
51% of solar projects in Italy with an aggregate capacity of 160 MW that commenced construction processes;
Solar projects in Italy with an aggregate capacity of 134 MW that have reached “ready to build” status; and
Solar projects in the Dallas Metropolitan area, Texas, USA with an aggregate capacity of approximately 27 MW that are connected to the grid and additional 22 MW that are awaiting connection to the grid.
Information Relating to Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including statements that are based on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company’s management. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release regarding the Company’s plans and objectives, expectations and assumptions of management are forward-looking statements. The use of certain words, including the words “estimate,” “project,” “intend,” “expect,” “believe” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company may not actually achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements and you should not place undue reliance on the Company’s forward-looking statements. Various important factors could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those that may be expressed or implied by the Company’s forward-looking statements, including inability to receive regulatory approvals, changes in electricity prices and demand, regulatory changes increases in interest rates and inflation, changes in the supply and prices of resources required for the operation of the Company’s facilities (such as waste and natural gas) and in the price of oil, the impact of the war and hostilities in Israel and Gaza and between Israel and Iran, the impact of the continued military conflict between Russia and Ukraine, technical and other disruptions in the operations or construction of the power plants owned by the Company, inability to obtain the financing required for the development and construction of projects, inability to advance the expansion of Dorad, increases in interest rates and inflation, changes in exchange rates, delays in development, construction, or commencement of operation of the projects under development, failure to obtain permits – whether within the set time frame or at all, climate change, and general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates, including Israel, Spain, Italy and the United States. and general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates, including Israel, Spain, Italy and the United States. These and other risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business are described in greater detail in the filings the Company makes from time to time with Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 20-F. The forward-looking statements are made as of this date and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Today the Minister for Vocational Education announced that EIT is one of the Polytechnics which will be standing up as independent institution from January 2026. This is great news for the Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti regions as EIT will have the autonomy once again to make decisions that are best for ākonga and the diverse communities we serve.
For the past three years, EIT has been a business division of Te Pūkenga, which was an amalgamation of 16 Polytechnics and 9 industry training organisations.
This year, EIT proudly celebrates 50 years of providing education and training to the community. What was originally the Hawke’s Bay Community College first opened its doors in 1975. EIT consolidated itself as the preeminent educational provider on the East Coast when it merged with Tairāwhiti Polytechnic in Gisborne in 2011. EIT has thrived over the last 50 years, now offering more than 160 postgraduate, degree, diploma and certificate-level programmes.
Glen Harkness, Acting Operations Lead for EIT, is thrilled by the announcement
“We are focused on ensuring we are an institution that is financially viable, academically rigorous, founded on strong and enduring industry engagement and community connections within our region. We will do this by making sure our EIT values are at the heart of what we do. This is to ensure we are fit for purpose in a modern, digital age where our ākonga learn in different ways and have expectations around what we deliver and how we do this. I want to acknowledge our kaimahi who have been through so much change over the past few years and have stuck at it due to their commitment and passion for our ākonga and communities,” he said.
“We are currently going through a consultation process with kaimahi (staff) to ensure that we are financially viable and can have a long, bright future as an independent organisation. This may mean some roles are disestablished in the process; however, we are still going through feedback, and no decisions have yet been made”, notes Glen.
“Nothing changes in terms of us continuing to provide quality education and training to our communities. We are looking forward to engaging even more closely with Iwi, Industry, Employers, Schools and other partners as we look towards a bright future as an institution that supports our regions with their workforce needs.”
Hastings mayor Sandra Hazlehurst welcomed the announcement, after what has been an incredibly difficult few years for the institution.
“Our region’s leaders have met with the Minister to highlight the importance of EIT to our region. As our only tertiary provider, it has had a strong, functioning model with good governance, and the Te Pūkenga reform process has been very challenging.
“It’s extremely important for our region to have a local provider that gives our people accessible and affordable training opportunities, saving them the costs involved with studying outside the region, while at the same time helping develop a skilled workforce that meets the needs of multiple sectors in our community.
“We look forward to EIT having further opportunities to build on its local leadership in our region.”
Doug Jones, Trust Tairāwhiti Chief Executive, welcomed the announcement.
“It’s positive news that the Government has backed EIT to operate independently and continue delivering quality education and training opportunities,” he said.
“As the regional Economic Development Agency, Trust Tairāwhiti understands the importance of EIT to our region and people in supporting workforce development and addressing future skills challenges. The local institute is also incredibly valuable to our young people, enabling them to stay in the region while completing tertiary training.”
Karla Lee, Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce CEO, said the decision builds on EIT’s strong regional track record.
“EIT has long played a key role in developing a skilled workforce for our region. Returning to local governance strengthens that connection and gives EIT even more flexibility to work alongside businesses, respond to sector needs, and support economic growth across Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti.”
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN July 14, 2025. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) today announces that its portfolio company Modus Therapeutics has completed patient enrollment on schedule to part 1 of its ongoing clinical phase 2a study with sevuparin, which is being evaluated as a treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease with anemia.
Modus Therapeutics, listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market, has successfully completed the patient enrollment for the initial part of its clinical phase 2a study. This part aims to evaluate the safety and established dosing levels of sevuparin in both patients with chronic kidney disease (stage 3-5) and healthy volunteers. The study, conducted across two leading nephrology centers in Italy, will guide optimal dosing for the next part of the phase 2a study, a proof-of-concept study set to evaluate the therapeutic potential following repeated dosing.
“Reaching this milestone on schedule positions Modus well for the next important step in validating the therapeutic potential of sevuparin. We’re pleased to continue supporting them as they advance into the proof-of-concept part, representing a critical value inflection point for the program,” says Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development.
Karolinska Development’s ownership in Modus Therapeutics amounts to 66 percent.
For further information, please contact:
Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com
Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The Company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients’ lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.
Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.
Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.
The Company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.
STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN July 14, 2025. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) today announces that its portfolio company Modus Therapeutics has completed patient enrollment on schedule to part 1 of its ongoing clinical phase 2a study with sevuparin, which is being evaluated as a treatment for patients with chronic kidney disease with anemia.
Modus Therapeutics, listed on Nasdaq First North Growth Market, has successfully completed the patient enrollment for the initial part of its clinical phase 2a study. This part aims to evaluate the safety and established dosing levels of sevuparin in both patients with chronic kidney disease (stage 3-5) and healthy volunteers. The study, conducted across two leading nephrology centers in Italy, will guide optimal dosing for the next part of the phase 2a study, a proof-of-concept study set to evaluate the therapeutic potential following repeated dosing.
“Reaching this milestone on schedule positions Modus well for the next important step in validating the therapeutic potential of sevuparin. We’re pleased to continue supporting them as they advance into the proof-of-concept part, representing a critical value inflection point for the program,” says Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development.
Karolinska Development’s ownership in Modus Therapeutics amounts to 66 percent.
For further information, please contact:
Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com
Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The Company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients’ lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.
Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.
Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.
The Company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.
INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, the leading private equity fund in the Baltics, has completed the investment in Pehart Group, a leading producer of household and industrial paper products in Romania. The consortium of International Finance Corporation (IFC), Banca Transilvania and ING Bank Romania provided an over EUR 150 million financing package with a significant sustainable linked component to fund the transaction and further development of Pehart Group.
The transaction with Abris Capital Partners, the independent private equity fund that previously held Pehart Group, was completed on 11th July.
Vytautas Plunksnis, Partner at INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, said: “We are excited to back Pehart Group management team in bringing the company to the next level and we will support significant investments into expansion of Pehart’s manufacturing capacities and add-on acquisitions in the region strengthening Pehart Group’s market leadership and driving its next phase of growth.”
Gabriel Stanciu, CEO Pehart Group, commented: ”With the completion of the transaction with INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, we are honoured to join the leading private equity fund in the Baltics and benefit from its vision and expertise. We see this partnership as an opportunity to accelerate our development plans and strengthen Pehart Group’s position as a regional leader in the paper products industry. We will continue to invest in cutting edge technologies, diversify our product portfolio and expand our presence in international markets. We thank our previous partners, Abris Capital Partners, for their support in achieving our growth objectives in the past years. We look confidently to the future and are ready to capitalize on new opportunities together with INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund.”
“The closing of this transaction is the culmination of a successful partnership with Pehart Group and its management team, whom we thank for the excellent collaboration over the past years. Together, we have succeeded in transforming Pehart into a strong regional player. We are proud of the progress of the company and the values built over this time and are confident that Pehart will continue to grow at an accelerated pace alongside its new partner. This transaction stands for Abris’ commitment to supporting high-potential businesses and ambitious management teams that can deliver sustainable performance in strategic sectors for the Central and Eastern European economy”, said Adrian Stănculescu, Partner and Head of Romania at Abris Capital Partners.
Equity for the deal was provided by the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund and some of its investors co-investing via INVL BSGF Co-Invest Fund II.
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has led syndication of overt EUR 150 million financing package for Pehart Group.
“This investment underscores IFC’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth while addressing Romania’s energy challenges,” said Marcelo Castellanos, IFC`s Senior Country Manager for Southeastern Europe. “By supporting Pehart, we are advancing the country’s green transition, promoting job creation in underserved regions, and demonstrating the key role of private capital in achieving climate goals.”
“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to support our clients’ strategic plans and to provide smart financial solutions, tailored to their needs in a strategic sector. Thus, we are proud to support Pehart in their plan for sustainable growth and to consolidate their position as a leading player on the regional market”, said Cosmin Călin, Senior Executive Director of Large Corporate Clients, Structured Finance and Factoring Banca Transilvania.
“ING has a long partnership with Abris in Romania, including Pehart. We are proud to continue supporting a local business in growing further and pursuing regional ambitions, as we are a solid supporter for the expansion of the Romanian economy. We thank Abris and Pehart for the partnership built along these years and wish many successes to Invalda INVL Group and Pehart going forward” said Raluca Tintoiu, Head of Wholesale Banking and deputy CEO at ING Romania.
Deimantė Korsakaitė, Managing Partner at INVL Private Equity Fund II and INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, commented: “Finalizing the acquisition of Pehart Group marks a key milestone for the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, completing a value-driven portfolio of ten companies across the Baltics, Poland and Romania, with one already successfully exited. With the launch of its successor INVL Private Equity Fund II earlier this year, which surpassed the target and reached EUR 305 million at first close, we are well-positioned to continue our investment strategy and supporting ambitious businesses across the Baltics, CEE region and the broader EU.”
With a 187-year tradition, Pehart Group is one of the largest paper manufacturers in Southeast Europe with a portfolio ranging from toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and other hygiene paper products to jumbo rolls, used in the converting process into paper products for household and industrial use. In 2024, Pehart Group succeeded in strengthening its leading position on the market through production efficiency and strategic investments. The focus on diversifying the product portfolio led to new launches, such as the SOVIO brand, targeting the Away-from-Home sector, as well as expansion into international markets. In 2024, the Pehart Group generated revenues of EUR 165 million and employed more than 550 people across its companies.
Pehart Group is defined by continuous evolution, efficiency, respect for the planet’s resources and for the people who build its story every day. It continuously optimizes its products and services by creating a sustainable and equitable environment for a renewable future. Pufina, one of the most popular tissue paper brands in Romania, Alint, Altessa and SOVIO, the Away-from-Home products division, are part of the Pehart Group portfolio.
About the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund
With a fund size of EUR 165 million, the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund is the leading private equity fund in the Baltics. Its anchor investor is the European Investment Fund (EIF), which is a part of the European Investment Bank, and committed EUR 30 million with the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (a key element of the Investment Plan for Europe, or the Junker Plan) while also allocating resources from the Baltic Innovation Fund (a “fund of funds” initiative developed in cooperation with the governments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to increase capital investment in high-growth potential small and medium-sized enterprises in the Baltics). The fund is managed by the leading asset management group in the Baltics Invalda INVL group, which companies manage or have under supervision over EUR 1.9 billion of assets.
Contact person for further information: Vytautas Plunksnis, Head of Private Equity at INVL Asset Management, Vytautas.Plunksnis@invl.com
INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, the leading private equity fund in the Baltics, has completed the investment in Pehart Group, a leading producer of household and industrial paper products in Romania. The consortium of International Finance Corporation (IFC), Banca Transilvania and ING Bank Romania provided an over EUR 150 million financing package with a significant sustainable linked component to fund the transaction and further development of Pehart Group.
The transaction with Abris Capital Partners, the independent private equity fund that previously held Pehart Group, was completed on 11th July.
Vytautas Plunksnis, Partner at INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, said: “We are excited to back Pehart Group management team in bringing the company to the next level and we will support significant investments into expansion of Pehart’s manufacturing capacities and add-on acquisitions in the region strengthening Pehart Group’s market leadership and driving its next phase of growth.”
Gabriel Stanciu, CEO Pehart Group, commented: ”With the completion of the transaction with INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, we are honoured to join the leading private equity fund in the Baltics and benefit from its vision and expertise. We see this partnership as an opportunity to accelerate our development plans and strengthen Pehart Group’s position as a regional leader in the paper products industry. We will continue to invest in cutting edge technologies, diversify our product portfolio and expand our presence in international markets. We thank our previous partners, Abris Capital Partners, for their support in achieving our growth objectives in the past years. We look confidently to the future and are ready to capitalize on new opportunities together with INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund.”
“The closing of this transaction is the culmination of a successful partnership with Pehart Group and its management team, whom we thank for the excellent collaboration over the past years. Together, we have succeeded in transforming Pehart into a strong regional player. We are proud of the progress of the company and the values built over this time and are confident that Pehart will continue to grow at an accelerated pace alongside its new partner. This transaction stands for Abris’ commitment to supporting high-potential businesses and ambitious management teams that can deliver sustainable performance in strategic sectors for the Central and Eastern European economy”, said Adrian Stănculescu, Partner and Head of Romania at Abris Capital Partners.
Equity for the deal was provided by the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund and some of its investors co-investing via INVL BSGF Co-Invest Fund II.
International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has led syndication of overt EUR 150 million financing package for Pehart Group.
“This investment underscores IFC’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth while addressing Romania’s energy challenges,” said Marcelo Castellanos, IFC`s Senior Country Manager for Southeastern Europe. “By supporting Pehart, we are advancing the country’s green transition, promoting job creation in underserved regions, and demonstrating the key role of private capital in achieving climate goals.”
“This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to support our clients’ strategic plans and to provide smart financial solutions, tailored to their needs in a strategic sector. Thus, we are proud to support Pehart in their plan for sustainable growth and to consolidate their position as a leading player on the regional market”, said Cosmin Călin, Senior Executive Director of Large Corporate Clients, Structured Finance and Factoring Banca Transilvania.
“ING has a long partnership with Abris in Romania, including Pehart. We are proud to continue supporting a local business in growing further and pursuing regional ambitions, as we are a solid supporter for the expansion of the Romanian economy. We thank Abris and Pehart for the partnership built along these years and wish many successes to Invalda INVL Group and Pehart going forward” said Raluca Tintoiu, Head of Wholesale Banking and deputy CEO at ING Romania.
Deimantė Korsakaitė, Managing Partner at INVL Private Equity Fund II and INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, commented: “Finalizing the acquisition of Pehart Group marks a key milestone for the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund, completing a value-driven portfolio of ten companies across the Baltics, Poland and Romania, with one already successfully exited. With the launch of its successor INVL Private Equity Fund II earlier this year, which surpassed the target and reached EUR 305 million at first close, we are well-positioned to continue our investment strategy and supporting ambitious businesses across the Baltics, CEE region and the broader EU.”
With a 187-year tradition, Pehart Group is one of the largest paper manufacturers in Southeast Europe with a portfolio ranging from toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and other hygiene paper products to jumbo rolls, used in the converting process into paper products for household and industrial use. In 2024, Pehart Group succeeded in strengthening its leading position on the market through production efficiency and strategic investments. The focus on diversifying the product portfolio led to new launches, such as the SOVIO brand, targeting the Away-from-Home sector, as well as expansion into international markets. In 2024, the Pehart Group generated revenues of EUR 165 million and employed more than 550 people across its companies.
Pehart Group is defined by continuous evolution, efficiency, respect for the planet’s resources and for the people who build its story every day. It continuously optimizes its products and services by creating a sustainable and equitable environment for a renewable future. Pufina, one of the most popular tissue paper brands in Romania, Alint, Altessa and SOVIO, the Away-from-Home products division, are part of the Pehart Group portfolio.
About the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund
With a fund size of EUR 165 million, the INVL Baltic Sea Growth Fund is the leading private equity fund in the Baltics. Its anchor investor is the European Investment Fund (EIF), which is a part of the European Investment Bank, and committed EUR 30 million with the support of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (a key element of the Investment Plan for Europe, or the Junker Plan) while also allocating resources from the Baltic Innovation Fund (a “fund of funds” initiative developed in cooperation with the governments of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, to increase capital investment in high-growth potential small and medium-sized enterprises in the Baltics). The fund is managed by the leading asset management group in the Baltics Invalda INVL group, which companies manage or have under supervision over EUR 1.9 billion of assets.
Contact person for further information: Vytautas Plunksnis, Head of Private Equity at INVL Asset Management, Vytautas.Plunksnis@invl.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Oak Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited Company Administrator Attn: Nicole Barnes Tel: +44 1481 723450
Eurocastle Announces Posting of 2025 Annual General Meeting Notice
Guernsey, 14 July 2025 – Eurocastle Investment Limited (Euronext Amsterdam: ECT) (“Eurocastle” or the “Company”) today announces that notice of its Annual General Meeting containing the full text of the proposed resolutions and a proxy statement has been mailed out to all holders on record as of Thursday, 10 July 2024. In addition, the Company has posted the Annual General Meeting notice on its website under Periodic Reports and Shareholder Communications in the Investor Relations Section.
As previously announced, Eurocastle will hold its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, at the Company’s registered office at 3:00 pm Guernsey time (4:00 pm CET).
ABOUT EUROCASTLE
Eurocastle Investment Limited (“Eurocastle” or the “Company”) is a publicly traded closed-ended investment company. On 8 July 2022, the Company announced the relaunch of its investment activity and is currently in the early stages of pursuing its new strategy by initially focusing on opportunistic real estate in Greece with a plan to expand across Southern Europe. For more information regarding Eurocastle Investment Limited and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.eurocastleinv.com.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Oak Fund Services (Guernsey) Limited Company Administrator Attn: Nicole Barnes Tel: +44 1481 723450
Eurocastle Announces Posting of 2025 Annual General Meeting Notice
Guernsey, 14 July 2025 – Eurocastle Investment Limited (Euronext Amsterdam: ECT) (“Eurocastle” or the “Company”) today announces that notice of its Annual General Meeting containing the full text of the proposed resolutions and a proxy statement has been mailed out to all holders on record as of Thursday, 10 July 2024. In addition, the Company has posted the Annual General Meeting notice on its website under Periodic Reports and Shareholder Communications in the Investor Relations Section.
As previously announced, Eurocastle will hold its Annual General Meeting on Tuesday, 5 August 2025, at the Company’s registered office at 3:00 pm Guernsey time (4:00 pm CET).
ABOUT EUROCASTLE
Eurocastle Investment Limited (“Eurocastle” or the “Company”) is a publicly traded closed-ended investment company. On 8 July 2022, the Company announced the relaunch of its investment activity and is currently in the early stages of pursuing its new strategy by initially focusing on opportunistic real estate in Greece with a plan to expand across Southern Europe. For more information regarding Eurocastle Investment Limited and to be added to our email distribution list, please visit www.eurocastleinv.com.
Another Stellar IP60 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo
And
2025 Drilling Campaign Commences
14 July 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce that Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“SS-2H ST1”) achieved an average 60-day initial production (“IP60”) flow rate of 6.8 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”) over 1,671-metres (5,483-foot) across a 35 stage stimulated horizontal within the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia, making it the highest IP60 result in the Beetaloo to date.
Points to note:
The average flow rate of 12.4 MMcf/d over a normalized 10,000-foot horizontal section remains in-line with an average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period. The results demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Beetaloo Sub-basin to the Australian domestic East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States.
The exit rate maintains a steady, low-declining curve at 6.4 MMcf/d with a flowing wellhead pressure of ~720 psi and has exhibited less decline than that of the Shenandoah South 1H well (“SS-1H”) over the last 30 days of testing.
For further details on the SS-2H ST1 flow test including a table, and charts please refer to Appendix A.
Drilling Campaign Gets Underway
The 2025 drilling campaign has now commenced targeting up to three 10,000-foot horizontal wells to be drilled back-to-back over the next few months. This will complete the drilling phase of the five well Shenandoah South pilot program.
As previously announced, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (“Falcon Australia”) has no cost exposure to the drilling of these three wells as it opted to reduce its participating interest in the three wells to 0%.
Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:
“The IP60 flow rate results announced today of 6.8 MMcf/d are truly stellar and mark another major data point in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, again demonstrating that it compares to the best shale wells in the United States. These results, coupled with the average 30-day initial productionexceeding Falcon’s pre-drill commercial threshold of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres, all point towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo.
The commencement of the 2025 three well drilling campaign, which is the largest drilling campaign in the Beetaloo to date, will hopefully provide further evidence of the real commercial potential of the Beetaloo.
We look forward to updating the market as soon as these drilling results become available.”
Ends.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
+353 1 676 8702
Philip O’Quigley, CEO
+353 87 814 7042
Anne Flynn, CFO
+353 1 676 9162
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
Neil McDonald / Adam Rae
+44 131 220 9771
This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gábor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd’s Technical Advisor. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eötvös L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG.
About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia)
22.5%
Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited (“Tamboran”)
77.5%
Total
100.0%
Shenandoah South Pilot Project -2 Drilling Space Units – 46,080 acres1
Company
Interest
Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia)
5.0%
Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited
95.0%
Total
100.0%
1Subject to the completion of SS–4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.
About Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited Tamboran (B1) Pty Limited (“Tamboran B1”) is the 100% holder of Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, with Tamboran B1 being a 50:50 joint venture between Tamboran Resources Corporation and Daly Waters Energy, LP.
Tamboran Resources Corporation is a natural gas company listed on the NYSE (TBN) and ASX (TBN). Tamboran is focused on playing a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future, by developing the significant low CO2 gas resource within the Beetaloo Sub-basin through cutting-edge drilling and completion design technology as well as management’s experience in successfully commercialising unconventional shale in North America.
Bryan Sheffield of Daly Waters Energy, LP is a highly successful investor and has made significant returns in the US unconventional energy sector in the past. He was Founder of Parsley Energy Inc. (“PE”), an independent unconventional oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin, Texas and previously served as its Chairman and CEO. PE was acquired for over US$7 billion by Pioneer Natural Resources Company.
Appendix A – SS-2H ST1 Flow Test Details
Note to reader: Please refer to the PDF attachment included at the end of this press release for further details including a table and charts related to the SS-2H ST1 flow test results.
Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “anticipated”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the IP60 flow test results of SS-2H ST1 including assumptions that the results are in line with average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period and that they demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Australian Domestic East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States; consistency of the results of SS-2H ST1 with SS-1H; belief the average 30-day initial production of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres is a commercial threshold and coupled with the IP60 flow rate points towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo; and details on the 2025 three well drilling campaign which has commenced.
This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and/or their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.com, including under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form.
Any references in this news release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for Falcon. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Another Stellar IP60 Flow Test Result in the Beetaloo
And
2025 Drilling Campaign Commences
14 July 2025 – Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. (TSXV: FO, AIM: FOG) is pleased to announce that Shenandoah S2-2H ST1 (“SS-2H ST1”) achieved an average 60-day initial production (“IP60”) flow rate of 6.8 million cubic feet per day (“MMcf/d”) over 1,671-metres (5,483-foot) across a 35 stage stimulated horizontal within the Amungee Member B-Shale in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, Northern Territory, Australia, making it the highest IP60 result in the Beetaloo to date.
Points to note:
The average flow rate of 12.4 MMcf/d over a normalized 10,000-foot horizontal section remains in-line with an average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period. The results demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Beetaloo Sub-basin to the Australian domestic East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States.
The exit rate maintains a steady, low-declining curve at 6.4 MMcf/d with a flowing wellhead pressure of ~720 psi and has exhibited less decline than that of the Shenandoah South 1H well (“SS-1H”) over the last 30 days of testing.
For further details on the SS-2H ST1 flow test including a table, and charts please refer to Appendix A.
Drilling Campaign Gets Underway
The 2025 drilling campaign has now commenced targeting up to three 10,000-foot horizontal wells to be drilled back-to-back over the next few months. This will complete the drilling phase of the five well Shenandoah South pilot program.
As previously announced, Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (“Falcon Australia”) has no cost exposure to the drilling of these three wells as it opted to reduce its participating interest in the three wells to 0%.
Philip O’Quigley, CEO of Falcon commented:
“The IP60 flow rate results announced today of 6.8 MMcf/d are truly stellar and mark another major data point in the Beetaloo Sub-basin, again demonstrating that it compares to the best shale wells in the United States. These results, coupled with the average 30-day initial productionexceeding Falcon’s pre-drill commercial threshold of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres, all point towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo.
The commencement of the 2025 three well drilling campaign, which is the largest drilling campaign in the Beetaloo to date, will hopefully provide further evidence of the real commercial potential of the Beetaloo.
We look forward to updating the market as soon as these drilling results become available.”
Ends.
CONTACT DETAILS:
Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
+353 1 676 8702
Philip O’Quigley, CEO
+353 87 814 7042
Anne Flynn, CFO
+353 1 676 9162
Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (NOMAD & Broker)
Neil McDonald / Adam Rae
+44 131 220 9771
This announcement has been reviewed by Dr. Gábor Bada, Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd’s Technical Advisor. Dr. Bada obtained his geology degree at the Eötvös L. University in Budapest, Hungary and his PhD at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He is a member of AAPG.
About Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is an international oil & gas company engaged in the exploration and development of unconventional oil and gas assets, with the current portfolio focused in Australia. Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada and headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.
Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited is a c. 98% subsidiary of Falcon Oil & Gas Ltd.
Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia)
22.5%
Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited (“Tamboran”)
77.5%
Total
100.0%
Shenandoah South Pilot Project -2 Drilling Space Units – 46,080 acres1
Company
Interest
Falcon Oil & Gas Australia Limited (Falcon Australia)
5.0%
Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited
95.0%
Total
100.0%
1Subject to the completion of SS–4H wells on the Shenandoah South pad 2.
About Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited Tamboran (B1) Pty Limited (“Tamboran B1”) is the 100% holder of Tamboran (B2) Pty Limited, with Tamboran B1 being a 50:50 joint venture between Tamboran Resources Corporation and Daly Waters Energy, LP.
Tamboran Resources Corporation is a natural gas company listed on the NYSE (TBN) and ASX (TBN). Tamboran is focused on playing a constructive role in the global energy transition towards a lower carbon future, by developing the significant low CO2 gas resource within the Beetaloo Sub-basin through cutting-edge drilling and completion design technology as well as management’s experience in successfully commercialising unconventional shale in North America.
Bryan Sheffield of Daly Waters Energy, LP is a highly successful investor and has made significant returns in the US unconventional energy sector in the past. He was Founder of Parsley Energy Inc. (“PE”), an independent unconventional oil and gas producer in the Permian Basin, Texas and previously served as its Chairman and CEO. PE was acquired for over US$7 billion by Pioneer Natural Resources Company.
Appendix A – SS-2H ST1 Flow Test Details
Note to reader: Please refer to the PDF attachment included at the end of this press release for further details including a table and charts related to the SS-2H ST1 flow test results.
Advisory regarding forward-looking statements
Certain information in this press release may constitute forward-looking information. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking information. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “projects”, “dependent”, “consider” “potential”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “anticipated”, “outlook”, “budget”, “hope”, “suggest”, “support” “planned”, “approximately”, “potential” or the negative of those terms or similar words suggesting future outcomes. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, details on the IP60 flow test results of SS-2H ST1 including assumptions that the results are in line with average of more than 11,000 wells in the Marcellus Shale dry gas area on production over a 12-month period and that they demonstrate the commercial deliverability of gas from the Beetaloo Sub-basin in the Australian Domestic East Coast gas market that typically sells at a premium to Henry Hub in the United States; consistency of the results of SS-2H ST1 with SS-1H; belief the average 30-day initial production of a normalised flow rate of 3 MMcf/d per 1,000 metres is a commercial threshold and coupled with the IP60 flow rate points towards the significant resource potential of the Beetaloo; and details on the 2025 three well drilling campaign which has commenced.
This information is based on current expectations that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. The risks, assumptions and other factors that could influence actual results include risks associated with fluctuations in market prices for shale gas; risks related to the exploration, development and production of shale gas reserves; general economic, market and business conditions; substantial capital requirements; uncertainties inherent in estimating quantities of reserves and resources; extent of, and cost of compliance with, government laws and regulations and the effect of changes in such laws and regulations; the need to obtain regulatory approvals before development commences; environmental risks and hazards and the cost of compliance with environmental regulations; aboriginal claims; inherent risks and hazards with operations such as mechanical or pipe failure, cratering and other dangerous conditions; potential cost overruns, drilling wells is speculative, often involving significant costs that may be more than estimated and may not result in any discoveries; variations in foreign exchange rates; competition for capital, equipment, new leases, pipeline capacity and skilled personnel; the failure of the holder of licenses, leases and permits to meet requirements of such; changes in royalty regimes; failure to accurately estimate abandonment and reclamation costs; inaccurate estimates and assumptions by management and/or their joint venture partners; effectiveness of internal controls; the potential lack of available drilling equipment; failure to obtain or keep key personnel; title deficiencies; geo-political risks; and risk of litigation.
Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of important factors is not exhaustive and that these factors and risks are difficult to predict. Actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. Falcon assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements unless and until required by securities laws applicable to Falcon. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in Falcon’s filings with the Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedarplus.com, including under “Risk Factors” in the Annual Information Form.
Any references in this news release to initial production rates are useful in confirming the presence of hydrocarbons; however, such rates are not determinative of the rates at which such wells will continue production and decline thereafter and are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery. While encouraging, readers are cautioned not to place reliance on such rates in calculating the aggregate production for Falcon. Such rates are based on field estimates and may be based on limited data available at this time.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
A journalist who was on the Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap last night condemned France for its “callous” attack of an environmental ship, saying “we haven’t forgotten, or forgiven this outrage”.
David Robie, the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, said at the launch that the consequences of almost 300 US and French nuclear tests – many of them “dirty bombs” — were still impacting on indigenous Pacific peoples 40 years after the bombing of the ship.
French saboteurs had killed “our shipmate Fernando Pereira” on 10 July 1985 in what the New Zealand prime minister at the time, David Lange, called a “sordid act of international state-backed terrorism”.
Although relations with France had perhaps mellowed over time, four decades ago there was a lot of hostility towards the country, Dr Robie said.
“And that act of mindless sabotage still rankles very deeply in our psyche,” he said at the launch in Auckland Central’s Ellen Melville Centre on the anniversary of July 10.
About 100 people gathered in the centre’s Pioneer Women’s Hall for the book launch as Dr Robie reflected on the case of state terrorism after Greenpeace earlier in the day held a memorial ceremony on board Rainbow Warrior III.
“One of the celebrated French newspapers, Le Monde, played a critical role in the investigation into the Rainbow Warrior affair — what I brand as ‘Blundergate’, in view of all the follies of the bumbling DGSE spy team,” he said.
Plantu cartoon “And one of the cartoons in that newspaper, by Plantu, who is a sort of French equivalent to Michael Leunig, caught my eye.
“You will notice it in the background slide show behind me. It shows François Mitterrand, the president of the French republic at the time, dressed in a frogman’s wetsuit lecturing to school children during a history lesson.
“President Mitterrand says, in French, ‘At that time, only presidents had the right to carry out terrorism!’
Tahitian advocate Ena Manurevia . . . the background Plantu cartoon is the one mentioned by the author. Image: Asia Pacific Report
He noticed that in the Mitterrand cartoon there was a “classmate” sitting in the back of the room with a moustache. This was none other than Edwy Plenel, the police reporter for Le Monde at the time, who scooped the world with hard evidence of Mitterrand and the French government’s role at the highest level in the Rainbow Warrior sabotage.
Dr Robie said that Plenel now published the investigative website Mediapart, which had played a key role in 2015 revealing the identity of the bomber that night, “the man who had planted the limpet mines on the Rainbow Warrior — sinking a peace and environmental ship, and killing Fernando Pereira.”
Jean-Luc Kister, a retired French colonel and DGSE secret agent, had confessed to his role and “apologised”, claiming the sabotage operation was “disproportionate and a mistake”.
“Was he sincere? Was it a genuine attempt to come to terms with his conscience. Who knows?” Dr Robie said, adding that he was unconvinced.
Hilari Anderson (right on stage), one of the speakers, with Del Abcede and MC Antony Phillips (obscured) . . . the background image shows Helen Clark meeting Fernando Pereira’s daughter Marelle in 2005. Image: Greenpeace
French perspective Dr Robie said he had asked Plenel for his reflections from a French perspective 40 years on. Plenel cited three main take ways.
“First, the vital necessity of independent journalism. Independent of all powers, whether state, economic or ideological. Journalism that serves the public interest, the right to know, and factual truths.
“Impactful journalism whose revelations restore confidence in democracy, in the possibility of improving it, and in the usefulness of counterbalancing powers, particularly journalism.”
Secondly, this attack had been carried out by France in an “allied country”, New Zealand, against a civil society organisation. This demonstrated that “the thirst for power is a downfall that leads nations astray when they succumb to it.
“Nuclear weapons epitomise this madness, this catastrophe of power.”
Finally, Plenel expressed the “infinite sadness” for a French citizen that after his revelations in Le Monde — which led to the resignations of the defence minister and the head of the secret services — nothing else happened.
“Nothing at all. No parliamentary inquiry, no questioning of François Mitterrand about his responsibility, no institutional reform of the absolute power of the president in a French republic that is, in reality, an elective monarchy.”
‘Elective monarchy’ trend Dr Robie compared the French outcome with the rapid trend in US today, “a president who thinks he is a monarch, a king – another elective monarchy.”
He also bemoaned that “catastrophe of power” that “reigns everywhere today – from the horrendous Israeli genocide in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, from Trump to Putin to Netanyahu, and so many others.”
The continuous Gaza massacres were a shameful indictment of the West that had allowed it to happen for more than 21 months.
Dr Robie thanked many collaborators for their help and support, including drama teacher Hilari Anderson, an original crew member of the Rainbow Warrior, and photographer John Miller, “who have been with me all the way on this waka journey”.
He thanked his wife, Del, and family members for their unstinting “patience and support”, and also publisher Tony Murrow of Little Island Press.
Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior . . . published 10 July 2025. Image: David Robie/Little Island Press
Launching the book, Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director Niamh O’Flynn said one thing that had stood out for her was how the legacy of the Rainbow Warrior had continued despite the attempt by the French government to shut it down 40 years ago.
“We said then that ‘you can’t sink a rainbow’, and we went on to prove it.
“When the Rainbow Warrior was bombed in Auckland harbour, it was getting ready to set sail to Moruroa Atoll, to enter the test exclusion zone and confront French nuclear testing head-on.”
So threatened The French government had felt so threatened by that action that it had engaged in a state-sanctioned terror attack to prevent the mission from going ahead.
“But we rebuilt, and the Rainbow Warrior II carried on with that mission, travelling to Moruroa three times before the French finally stopped nuclear testing in the Pacific.
“That spirit and tenacity is what makes Greenpeace and what makes the Rainbow Warrior so special to everyone who has sailed on her,” she said.
“It was the final voyage of the Rainbow Warrior to Rongelap before the bombing that is the focus of David Robie’s book, and in many ways, it was an incredibly unique experience for Greenpeace — not just here in Aotearoa, but internationally.
“And of course David was a key part in that.”
O’Flynn said that as someone who had not even been born yet when the Rainbow Warrior was bombed, “I am so grateful that the generation of nuclear-free activists took the time to pass on their knowledge and to build our organisation into what it is today.
“Just as David has by writing down his story and leaving us with such a rich legacy.”
Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director Niamh O’Flynn . . . “That spirit and tenacity is what makes Greenpeace and what makes the Rainbow Warrior so special to everyone who has sailed on her.” Image: APR
Other speakers Among other speakers at the book launch were teacher Hilari Anderson, publisher Tony Murrow of Little Island Press, Ena Manuireva, a Mangarevian scholar and cultural adviser, and MC Antony Phillips of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
Anderson spoke of the Warrior’s early campaigns and acknowledged the crews of 1978 and 1985.
“I have been reflecting what these first and last crews of the original Rainbow Warrior had in common, realising that both gave their collective, mostly youthful energy — to transformation.
“This has involved the bonding of crews by working hands-on together. Touching surfaces, by hammer and paint, created a physical connection to this beloved boat.”
She paid special tribute to two powerful women, Denise Bell, who tracked down the marine research vessel in Aberdeen that became the Rainbow Warrior, and the indomitable Susi Newborn, who “contributed to naming the ship and mustering a crew”.
Manuireva spoke about his nuclear colonial experience and that of his family as natives of Mangareva atoll, about 400 km from Muroroa atoll, where France conducted most of its 30 years of tests ending in 1995.
He also spoke of Tahitian leader Oscar Temaru’s pioneering role in the Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement, and played haunting Tahitian songs on his guitar.
A journalist who was on the Rainbow Warrior voyage to Rongelap last night condemned France for its “callous” attack of an environmental ship, saying “we haven’t forgotten, or forgiven this outrage”.
David Robie, the author of Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, said at the launch that the consequences of almost 300 US and French nuclear tests – many of them “dirty bombs” — were still impacting on indigenous Pacific peoples 40 years after the bombing of the ship.
French saboteurs had killed “our shipmate Fernando Pereira” on 10 July 1985 in what the New Zealand prime minister at the time, David Lange, called a “sordid act of international state-backed terrorism”.
Although relations with France had perhaps mellowed over time, four decades ago there was a lot of hostility towards the country, Dr Robie said.
“And that act of mindless sabotage still rankles very deeply in our psyche,” he said at the launch in Auckland Central’s Ellen Melville Centre on the anniversary of July 10.
About 100 people gathered in the centre’s Pioneer Women’s Hall for the book launch as Dr Robie reflected on the case of state terrorism after Greenpeace earlier in the day held a memorial ceremony on board Rainbow Warrior III.
“One of the celebrated French newspapers, Le Monde, played a critical role in the investigation into the Rainbow Warrior affair — what I brand as ‘Blundergate’, in view of all the follies of the bumbling DGSE spy team,” he said.
Plantu cartoon “And one of the cartoons in that newspaper, by Plantu, who is a sort of French equivalent to Michael Leunig, caught my eye.
“You will notice it in the background slide show behind me. It shows François Mitterrand, the president of the French republic at the time, dressed in a frogman’s wetsuit lecturing to school children during a history lesson.
“President Mitterrand says, in French, ‘At that time, only presidents had the right to carry out terrorism!’
Tahitian advocate Ena Manurevia . . . the background Plantu cartoon is the one mentioned by the author. Image: Asia Pacific Report
He noticed that in the Mitterrand cartoon there was a “classmate” sitting in the back of the room with a moustache. This was none other than Edwy Plenel, the police reporter for Le Monde at the time, who scooped the world with hard evidence of Mitterrand and the French government’s role at the highest level in the Rainbow Warrior sabotage.
Dr Robie said that Plenel now published the investigative website Mediapart, which had played a key role in 2015 revealing the identity of the bomber that night, “the man who had planted the limpet mines on the Rainbow Warrior — sinking a peace and environmental ship, and killing Fernando Pereira.”
Jean-Luc Kister, a retired French colonel and DGSE secret agent, had confessed to his role and “apologised”, claiming the sabotage operation was “disproportionate and a mistake”.
“Was he sincere? Was it a genuine attempt to come to terms with his conscience. Who knows?” Dr Robie said, adding that he was unconvinced.
Hilari Anderson (right on stage), one of the speakers, with Del Abcede and MC Antony Phillips (obscured) . . . the background image shows Helen Clark meeting Fernando Pereira’s daughter Marelle in 2005. Image: Greenpeace
French perspective Dr Robie said he had asked Plenel for his reflections from a French perspective 40 years on. Plenel cited three main take ways.
“First, the vital necessity of independent journalism. Independent of all powers, whether state, economic or ideological. Journalism that serves the public interest, the right to know, and factual truths.
“Impactful journalism whose revelations restore confidence in democracy, in the possibility of improving it, and in the usefulness of counterbalancing powers, particularly journalism.”
Secondly, this attack had been carried out by France in an “allied country”, New Zealand, against a civil society organisation. This demonstrated that “the thirst for power is a downfall that leads nations astray when they succumb to it.
“Nuclear weapons epitomise this madness, this catastrophe of power.”
Finally, Plenel expressed the “infinite sadness” for a French citizen that after his revelations in Le Monde — which led to the resignations of the defence minister and the head of the secret services — nothing else happened.
“Nothing at all. No parliamentary inquiry, no questioning of François Mitterrand about his responsibility, no institutional reform of the absolute power of the president in a French republic that is, in reality, an elective monarchy.”
‘Elective monarchy’ trend Dr Robie compared the French outcome with the rapid trend in US today, “a president who thinks he is a monarch, a king – another elective monarchy.”
He also bemoaned that “catastrophe of power” that “reigns everywhere today – from the horrendous Israeli genocide in Gaza to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, from Trump to Putin to Netanyahu, and so many others.”
The continuous Gaza massacres were a shameful indictment of the West that had allowed it to happen for more than 21 months.
Dr Robie thanked many collaborators for their help and support, including drama teacher Hilari Anderson, an original crew member of the Rainbow Warrior, and photographer John Miller, “who have been with me all the way on this waka journey”.
He thanked his wife, Del, and family members for their unstinting “patience and support”, and also publisher Tony Murrow of Little Island Press.
Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior . . . published 10 July 2025. Image: David Robie/Little Island Press
Launching the book, Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director Niamh O’Flynn said one thing that had stood out for her was how the legacy of the Rainbow Warrior had continued despite the attempt by the French government to shut it down 40 years ago.
“We said then that ‘you can’t sink a rainbow’, and we went on to prove it.
“When the Rainbow Warrior was bombed in Auckland harbour, it was getting ready to set sail to Moruroa Atoll, to enter the test exclusion zone and confront French nuclear testing head-on.”
So threatened The French government had felt so threatened by that action that it had engaged in a state-sanctioned terror attack to prevent the mission from going ahead.
“But we rebuilt, and the Rainbow Warrior II carried on with that mission, travelling to Moruroa three times before the French finally stopped nuclear testing in the Pacific.
“That spirit and tenacity is what makes Greenpeace and what makes the Rainbow Warrior so special to everyone who has sailed on her,” she said.
“It was the final voyage of the Rainbow Warrior to Rongelap before the bombing that is the focus of David Robie’s book, and in many ways, it was an incredibly unique experience for Greenpeace — not just here in Aotearoa, but internationally.
“And of course David was a key part in that.”
O’Flynn said that as someone who had not even been born yet when the Rainbow Warrior was bombed, “I am so grateful that the generation of nuclear-free activists took the time to pass on their knowledge and to build our organisation into what it is today.
“Just as David has by writing down his story and leaving us with such a rich legacy.”
Greenpeace Aotearoa programme director Niamh O’Flynn . . . “That spirit and tenacity is what makes Greenpeace and what makes the Rainbow Warrior so special to everyone who has sailed on her.” Image: APR
Other speakers Among other speakers at the book launch were teacher Hilari Anderson, publisher Tony Murrow of Little Island Press, Ena Manuireva, a Mangarevian scholar and cultural adviser, and MC Antony Phillips of Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
Anderson spoke of the Warrior’s early campaigns and acknowledged the crews of 1978 and 1985.
“I have been reflecting what these first and last crews of the original Rainbow Warrior had in common, realising that both gave their collective, mostly youthful energy — to transformation.
“This has involved the bonding of crews by working hands-on together. Touching surfaces, by hammer and paint, created a physical connection to this beloved boat.”
She paid special tribute to two powerful women, Denise Bell, who tracked down the marine research vessel in Aberdeen that became the Rainbow Warrior, and the indomitable Susi Newborn, who “contributed to naming the ship and mustering a crew”.
Manuireva spoke about his nuclear colonial experience and that of his family as natives of Mangareva atoll, about 400 km from Muroroa atoll, where France conducted most of its 30 years of tests ending in 1995.
He also spoke of Tahitian leader Oscar Temaru’s pioneering role in the Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement, and played haunting Tahitian songs on his guitar.
Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling itself “MechaHitler” and producing pro-Nazi remarks.
The developers have apologised for the “inappropriate posts” and “taken action to ban hate speech” from Grok’s posts on X. Debates about AI bias have been revived too.
But the latest Grok controversy is revealing not for the extremist outputs, but for how it exposes a fundamental dishonesty in AI development. Musk claims to be building a “truth-seeking” AI free from bias, yet the technical implementation reveals systemic ideological programming.
This amounts to an accidental case study in how AI systems embed their creators’ values, with Musk’s unfiltered public presence making visible what other companies typically obscure.
So how do developers imbue an AI with such values and shape chatbot behaviour? Today’s chatbots are built using large language models (LLMs), which offer several levers developers can lean on.
What makes an AI ‘behave’ this way?
Pre-training
First, developers curate the data used during pre-training – the first step in building a chatbot. This involves not just filtering unwanted content, but also emphasising desired material.
We don’t know if these data were used, or what quality-control measures were applied.
Fine-tuning
The second step, fine-tuning, adjusts LLM behaviour using feedback. Developers create detailed manuals outlining their preferred ethical stances, which either human reviewers or AI systems then use as a rubric to evaluate and improve the chatbot’s responses, effectively coding these values into the machine.
A Business Insider investigation revealed xAI’s instructions to human
“AI tutors” instructed them to look for “woke ideology” and “cancel culture”. While the onboarding documents said Grok shouldn’t “impose an opinion that confirms or denies a user’s bias”, they also stated it should avoid responses that claim both sides of a debate have merit when they do not.
System prompts
The system prompt – instructions provided before every conversation – guides behaviour once the model is deployed.
To its credit, xAI publishes Grok’s system prompts. Its instructions to “assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased” and “not shy away from making claims which are politically incorrect, as long as they are well substantiated” were likely key factors in the latest controversy.
These prompts are being updated daily at the time of writing, and their evolution is a fascinating case study in itself.
Guardrails
Finally, developers can also add guardrails – filters that block certain requests or responses. OpenAI claims it doesn’t permit ChatGPT “to generate hateful, harassing, violent or adult content”. Meanwhile, the Chinese model DeepSeek censors discussion of Tianamen Square.
Ad-hoc testing when writing this article suggests Grok is much less restrained in this regard than competitor products.
The transparency paradox
Grok’s Nazi controversy highlights a deeper ethical issue: would we prefer AI companies to be explicitly ideological and honest about it, or maintain the fiction of neutrality while secretly embedding their values?
Every major AI system reflects its creator’s worldview – from Microsoft Copilot’s risk-averse corporate perspective to Anthropic Claude’s safety-focused ethos. The difference is transparency.
Musk’s public statements make it easy to trace Grok’s behaviours back to Musk’s stated beliefs about “woke ideology” and media bias. Meanwhile, when other platformsmisfirespectacularly, we’re left guessing whether this reflects leadership views, corporate risk aversion, regulatory pressure, or accident.
But there’s a crucial difference. Tay’s racism emerged from user manipulation and poor safeguards – an unintended consequence. Grok’s behaviour appears to stem at least partially from its design.
The real lesson from Grok is about honesty in AI development. As these systems become more powerful and widespread (Grok support in Tesla vehicles was just announced), the question isn’t whether AI will reflect human values. It’s whether companies will be transparent about whose values they’re encoding and why.
Musk’s approach is simultaneously more honest (we can see his influence) and more deceptive (claiming objectivity while programming subjectivity) than his competitors.
In an industry built on the myth of neutral algorithms, Grok reveals what’s been true all along: there’s no such thing as unbiased AI – only AI whose biases we can see with varying degrees of clarity.
Aaron J. Snoswell previously received research funding from OpenAI in 2024–2025 to develop new evaluation frameworks for measuring moral competence in AI agents.
Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling itself “MechaHitler” and producing pro-Nazi remarks.
The developers have apologised for the “inappropriate posts” and “taken action to ban hate speech” from Grok’s posts on X. Debates about AI bias have been revived too.
But the latest Grok controversy is revealing not for the extremist outputs, but for how it exposes a fundamental dishonesty in AI development. Musk claims to be building a “truth-seeking” AI free from bias, yet the technical implementation reveals systemic ideological programming.
This amounts to an accidental case study in how AI systems embed their creators’ values, with Musk’s unfiltered public presence making visible what other companies typically obscure.
So how do developers imbue an AI with such values and shape chatbot behaviour? Today’s chatbots are built using large language models (LLMs), which offer several levers developers can lean on.
What makes an AI ‘behave’ this way?
Pre-training
First, developers curate the data used during pre-training – the first step in building a chatbot. This involves not just filtering unwanted content, but also emphasising desired material.
We don’t know if these data were used, or what quality-control measures were applied.
Fine-tuning
The second step, fine-tuning, adjusts LLM behaviour using feedback. Developers create detailed manuals outlining their preferred ethical stances, which either human reviewers or AI systems then use as a rubric to evaluate and improve the chatbot’s responses, effectively coding these values into the machine.
A Business Insider investigation revealed xAI’s instructions to human
“AI tutors” instructed them to look for “woke ideology” and “cancel culture”. While the onboarding documents said Grok shouldn’t “impose an opinion that confirms or denies a user’s bias”, they also stated it should avoid responses that claim both sides of a debate have merit when they do not.
System prompts
The system prompt – instructions provided before every conversation – guides behaviour once the model is deployed.
To its credit, xAI publishes Grok’s system prompts. Its instructions to “assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased” and “not shy away from making claims which are politically incorrect, as long as they are well substantiated” were likely key factors in the latest controversy.
These prompts are being updated daily at the time of writing, and their evolution is a fascinating case study in itself.
Guardrails
Finally, developers can also add guardrails – filters that block certain requests or responses. OpenAI claims it doesn’t permit ChatGPT “to generate hateful, harassing, violent or adult content”. Meanwhile, the Chinese model DeepSeek censors discussion of Tianamen Square.
Ad-hoc testing when writing this article suggests Grok is much less restrained in this regard than competitor products.
The transparency paradox
Grok’s Nazi controversy highlights a deeper ethical issue: would we prefer AI companies to be explicitly ideological and honest about it, or maintain the fiction of neutrality while secretly embedding their values?
Every major AI system reflects its creator’s worldview – from Microsoft Copilot’s risk-averse corporate perspective to Anthropic Claude’s safety-focused ethos. The difference is transparency.
Musk’s public statements make it easy to trace Grok’s behaviours back to Musk’s stated beliefs about “woke ideology” and media bias. Meanwhile, when other platformsmisfirespectacularly, we’re left guessing whether this reflects leadership views, corporate risk aversion, regulatory pressure, or accident.
But there’s a crucial difference. Tay’s racism emerged from user manipulation and poor safeguards – an unintended consequence. Grok’s behaviour appears to stem at least partially from its design.
The real lesson from Grok is about honesty in AI development. As these systems become more powerful and widespread (Grok support in Tesla vehicles was just announced), the question isn’t whether AI will reflect human values. It’s whether companies will be transparent about whose values they’re encoding and why.
Musk’s approach is simultaneously more honest (we can see his influence) and more deceptive (claiming objectivity while programming subjectivity) than his competitors.
In an industry built on the myth of neutral algorithms, Grok reveals what’s been true all along: there’s no such thing as unbiased AI – only AI whose biases we can see with varying degrees of clarity.
Aaron J. Snoswell previously received research funding from OpenAI in 2024–2025 to develop new evaluation frameworks for measuring moral competence in AI agents.
Grok, the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot embedded in X (formerly Twitter) and built by Elon Musk’s company xAI, is back in the headlines after calling itself “MechaHitler” and producing pro-Nazi remarks.
The developers have apologised for the “inappropriate posts” and “taken action to ban hate speech” from Grok’s posts on X. Debates about AI bias have been revived too.
But the latest Grok controversy is revealing not for the extremist outputs, but for how it exposes a fundamental dishonesty in AI development. Musk claims to be building a “truth-seeking” AI free from bias, yet the technical implementation reveals systemic ideological programming.
This amounts to an accidental case study in how AI systems embed their creators’ values, with Musk’s unfiltered public presence making visible what other companies typically obscure.
So how do developers imbue an AI with such values and shape chatbot behaviour? Today’s chatbots are built using large language models (LLMs), which offer several levers developers can lean on.
What makes an AI ‘behave’ this way?
Pre-training
First, developers curate the data used during pre-training – the first step in building a chatbot. This involves not just filtering unwanted content, but also emphasising desired material.
We don’t know if these data were used, or what quality-control measures were applied.
Fine-tuning
The second step, fine-tuning, adjusts LLM behaviour using feedback. Developers create detailed manuals outlining their preferred ethical stances, which either human reviewers or AI systems then use as a rubric to evaluate and improve the chatbot’s responses, effectively coding these values into the machine.
A Business Insider investigation revealed xAI’s instructions to human
“AI tutors” instructed them to look for “woke ideology” and “cancel culture”. While the onboarding documents said Grok shouldn’t “impose an opinion that confirms or denies a user’s bias”, they also stated it should avoid responses that claim both sides of a debate have merit when they do not.
System prompts
The system prompt – instructions provided before every conversation – guides behaviour once the model is deployed.
To its credit, xAI publishes Grok’s system prompts. Its instructions to “assume subjective viewpoints sourced from the media are biased” and “not shy away from making claims which are politically incorrect, as long as they are well substantiated” were likely key factors in the latest controversy.
These prompts are being updated daily at the time of writing, and their evolution is a fascinating case study in itself.
Guardrails
Finally, developers can also add guardrails – filters that block certain requests or responses. OpenAI claims it doesn’t permit ChatGPT “to generate hateful, harassing, violent or adult content”. Meanwhile, the Chinese model DeepSeek censors discussion of Tianamen Square.
Ad-hoc testing when writing this article suggests Grok is much less restrained in this regard than competitor products.
The transparency paradox
Grok’s Nazi controversy highlights a deeper ethical issue: would we prefer AI companies to be explicitly ideological and honest about it, or maintain the fiction of neutrality while secretly embedding their values?
Every major AI system reflects its creator’s worldview – from Microsoft Copilot’s risk-averse corporate perspective to Anthropic Claude’s safety-focused ethos. The difference is transparency.
Musk’s public statements make it easy to trace Grok’s behaviours back to Musk’s stated beliefs about “woke ideology” and media bias. Meanwhile, when other platformsmisfirespectacularly, we’re left guessing whether this reflects leadership views, corporate risk aversion, regulatory pressure, or accident.
But there’s a crucial difference. Tay’s racism emerged from user manipulation and poor safeguards – an unintended consequence. Grok’s behaviour appears to stem at least partially from its design.
The real lesson from Grok is about honesty in AI development. As these systems become more powerful and widespread (Grok support in Tesla vehicles was just announced), the question isn’t whether AI will reflect human values. It’s whether companies will be transparent about whose values they’re encoding and why.
Musk’s approach is simultaneously more honest (we can see his influence) and more deceptive (claiming objectivity while programming subjectivity) than his competitors.
In an industry built on the myth of neutral algorithms, Grok reveals what’s been true all along: there’s no such thing as unbiased AI – only AI whose biases we can see with varying degrees of clarity.
Aaron J. Snoswell previously received research funding from OpenAI in 2024–2025 to develop new evaluation frameworks for measuring moral competence in AI agents.
Source: United States Senator for New York Charles E Schumer
Trump’s DHS Abruptly Cut Funding For NY’s Mesonet Program, Based At UAlbany, Which Covers Storm Tracking For Every County In NY & Plays Critical Role In Storm Data Gathering For Emergency Response & Safety Across The State
After Devastating Flooding In Texas, Schumer Says We Need More – Not Less – Investment In Weather Tracking To Warn And To Mitigate Damage When Disaster Strikes; Senator Slams Dangerous Cuts That Risk Ongoing Project To Improve Storm Monitoring
Schumer: Cutting Funding For NY Weather Tracking Is A Recipe For Disaster
After Trump abruptly canceled a $3 million grant project for New York State’s advanced regional weather early warning systems program, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer slammed the unexplained cuts and demanded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reverse this harmful decision, which will weaken New York State’s ability to track and monitor extreme weather. As New York faces more extreme weather than ever, and in the wake of devastating flooding in Texas, Schumer said the federal government should invest more, not less, in systems that keep regions like Upstate NY safe and prepared for extreme storms.
“Cutting funding for New York’s weather tracking system is a recipe for disaster. With a record-breaking tornado season last summer and New York seeing more extreme weather than ever, we can’t afford to rip away resources for the program that tells us when a storm is going to hit and how bad it’s going to be,” said Senator Schumer. “Our state-of-the-art network of weather observation stations gathers real-time hyper-local data that keeps New Yorkers across the state safe and informed. We need to make sure New Yorkers are prepared for whatever punches Mother Nature delivers, to hinder their advancement. I’m calling on Secretary Noem to immediately reverse these cruel unexplained cuts to keep New Yorkers safe when the next storm comes.”
Schumer explained University at Albany’s Mesonet program was awarded a $3 million grant program in 2023 to support its Exploitation of Mesonets for Emergency Preparedness and Response in Weather Extremes (EMPOWER) program. The EMPOWER program is a partnership between researchers, higher education, emergency managers, and the federal government. This program works to upgrade technology to produce better, more accurate weather hazard impact warning and emergency response capabilities to keep New Yorkers—and ultimately the nation—safe.
Schumer explained the University at Albany hosts NYS’s Mesonet Program, a network of weather observation stations which unlock key data from the clouds using advanced instruments at 127 sites around New York, with at least one station located in each of New York’s 62 counties, and laser technology to monitor the atmosphere. Schumer said amid record-breaking extreme weather, including devastating flooding in Texas, we need sharper forecasts to better understand storms as they develop and approach communities. Schumer warned that without upgrades or with delayed investment in NY’s system, local forecasting ability could be hampered by deferred systems maintenance and decreased federal operations support, which could impact both storm prediction and public safety. These are not the first cuts to weather forecasting in NY under the Trump Administration, earlier this year it was revealed that firings and staff reductions at the National Weather Service offices in Albany would mean they would not be able to fly all their weather balloons, among other cuts.
According to the University at Albany, data from the NYS Mesonet informs forecasters and emergency managers (including those at the NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services) to help mitigate the harmful effects from high-impact, extreme weather-related disasters. The NYS Mesonet provides real-time data to operational forecasters and emergency managers from across the state with updates every five minutes and an average station spacing of about 19 miles. These data points are combined with data from other surface networks, weather radars, and satellites to provide real-time weather information and to improve numerical weather prediction models for even greater accuracy and precision than ever before, giving emergency managers, first responders, and forecasters much greater confidence in their warning products and in subsequent protective action.
Schumer’s letter can to DHS Secretary Noem can be found HERE or below:
Dear Secretary Noem:
I write to urge you to swiftly reinstate the $3 million Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant supporting the Exploiting Mesonets for Emergency Preparedness and Response to Weather Extremes (EMPOWER) project. DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) has partnered with the University at Albany (UAlbany) since 2023 to build out a better, more accurate weather hazard impact warning and emergency response capability to keep New Yorkers—and ultimately the nation—safe. Until yesterday, the project focused on extreme weather, such as rapid and severe flooding, similar to what communities in Central Texas are tragically dealing with today, and any funding that is rescinded or stalled could put lives at risk.
Just last week, you acknowledged in remarks that “everybody wants more warning time, and that’s why we’re working to upgrade the technologies that have been neglected for far too long, to make sure that families have as much advanced notice as possible.” This project – a regional pilot with the potential to be deployed nationwide – does just that. It has been considered highly successful by DHS S&T, already having significant operational impact. Co-developed with the NY Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (among many other engaged end-users), the EMPOWER prototype extreme weather decision support dashboard is currently operational within the New York State Office of Emergency Management Watch Center. Furthermore, the project has brought direct access to high fidelity, real-time weather data covering all of New York State to the FEMA Geospatial Response Office for the first time.
The New York State Mesonet is a network of 127 weather stations across the state that supplement National Weather Service modeling and observations to provide more accurate and real-time weather information, helping improve forecasts and inform weather alerts. The EMPOWER project utilizes the Mesonet’s real-time data to develop cutting-edge tools designed specifically for emergency managers and first responders. In a world with increasingly frequent and unpredictable severe weather, these new tools will provide our community safety professionals with unparalleled information to make the fastest, most well-informed decisions when disasters strike, helping to alert communities of imminent threats and better protect lives and property.
The EMPOWER program exemplifies a successful partnership between researchers, higher education, emergency managers, and the Federal government. This program has tangible outcomes – emergency alert systems greatly benefit the public and upgrading our technology is necessary to mitigate risk and loss of life when disaster strikes. I cannot underline how important this program is to New York’s emergency response, as well as to the entire Nation. As our researchers better develop emergency management technology, we can count on the implementation of this technology across America in the near future to save lives. Not only does the public benefit, but improved emergency warning system technology and data about weather events helps our first responders, who put their lives on the line for their communities, better determine the risk to the area they serve. This $3 million grant is essential to supporting the completion of this vital work.
In the wake of the devastating flooding in Texas we have a responsibility to do everything we can to mitigate the risks of extreme weather and ensure that tragedies like this never happen again. The federal government should be investing in better technologies to improve hazard impact warning systems and provide emergency managers more timely and accurate information to ensure they can put out emergency alerts and evacuation orders to save lives and take other crucial actions to protect community lifelines. Cancelling this grant does exactly the opposite, and stifles emerging tools and technologies that have the potential to save lives.
I urge you to reinstate the $3 million DHS EMPOWER grant to support the project and its researchers so they can deliver groundbreaking technology to save Americans from avoidable weather-related harm. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. Please do not hesitate to contact my staff if you have any questions.
The European Union has already prepared a list of tariffs worth 21 billion euros ($24.52 billion) on U.S. goods if the two countries fail to reach a trade deal, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a newspaper interview on Monday.
President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the EU starting on Aug. 1, after weeks of negotiations with major U.S. trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive deal.
Tajani also told daily Il Messaggero that to help the euro zone economy the European Central Bank should consider a new “quantitative easing” bond-buying-programme, and more interest rate cuts.
The European Union said on Sunday it would extend its suspension of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement.
Tajani said the 21-billion-euro package of tariffs the EU has already prepared could be followed by a second set if a deal with the U.S proves impossible. He added, however, that he was confident that progress could be made in negotiations.
“Tariffs hurt every one, starting with the United States,” he said. “If stock markets fall that puts at risk the pensions and the savings of the Americans.”
He said the goal should be “zero tariffs” and an open market among Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday he would work intensively with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resolve the escalating trade war with the United States.
The European Union has already prepared a list of tariffs worth 21 billion euros ($24.52 billion) on U.S. goods if the two countries fail to reach a trade deal, Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in a newspaper interview on Monday.
President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the EU starting on Aug. 1, after weeks of negotiations with major U.S. trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive deal.
Tajani also told daily Il Messaggero that to help the euro zone economy the European Central Bank should consider a new “quantitative easing” bond-buying-programme, and more interest rate cuts.
The European Union said on Sunday it would extend its suspension of countermeasures to U.S. tariffs until early August and continue to press for a negotiated settlement.
Tajani said the 21-billion-euro package of tariffs the EU has already prepared could be followed by a second set if a deal with the U.S proves impossible. He added, however, that he was confident that progress could be made in negotiations.
“Tariffs hurt every one, starting with the United States,” he said. “If stock markets fall that puts at risk the pensions and the savings of the Americans.”
He said the goal should be “zero tariffs” and an open market among Canada, the United States, Mexico and Europe.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Sunday he would work intensively with French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to resolve the escalating trade war with the United States.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse inaugurated the final round of the “Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt Season 5” on Sunday at Jyothis Central School in Thiruvananthapuram.
Organised by the Global Givers Foundation in collaboration with Mera Yuva Bharat (MyBharat), Kerala, the talent hunt aims to inspire students by encouraging them to engage with the themes and messages shared in the Prime Minister’s monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat. The initiative is designed to identify and nurture diverse talents, while also promoting national pride and youth-led development.
In her address, the minister highlighted the transformative role of the Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt in empowering young minds. “This platform connects our youth with the nation’s heartbeat, cultivates critical thinking, and enhances communication skills. Through engaging with Mann Ki Baat, students not only learn about India but also grow into informed and responsible citizens ready to contribute to a developed India,” she said.
The competitions eatured participants from high schools, higher secondary schools, and colleges, showcasing their skills in formats such as radio jockeying, debates, reel creation, and project presentations. Each activity drew inspiration from themes and ideas discussed in Mann Ki Baat broadcasts.
The radio programme itself, aired on All India Radio, is among the world’s most widely broadcast and listened-to shows. It covers a broad range of topics including Indian traditions, culture, history, the freedom struggle, and citizen-led initiatives. The talent hunt leverages this content to motivate youth to engage with India’s rich heritage and ongoing progress.
As with previous seasons, winners of Season 5 will be given the opportunity to visit Delhi during the 2025 Independence Day celebrations, where they will witness national events and interact with leaders, gaining invaluable exposure and inspiration.
Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sports Raksha Nikhil Khadse inaugurated the final round of the “Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt Season 5” on Sunday at Jyothis Central School in Thiruvananthapuram.
Organised by the Global Givers Foundation in collaboration with Mera Yuva Bharat (MyBharat), Kerala, the talent hunt aims to inspire students by encouraging them to engage with the themes and messages shared in the Prime Minister’s monthly radio address, Mann Ki Baat. The initiative is designed to identify and nurture diverse talents, while also promoting national pride and youth-led development.
In her address, the minister highlighted the transformative role of the Mann Ki Baat Talent Hunt in empowering young minds. “This platform connects our youth with the nation’s heartbeat, cultivates critical thinking, and enhances communication skills. Through engaging with Mann Ki Baat, students not only learn about India but also grow into informed and responsible citizens ready to contribute to a developed India,” she said.
The competitions eatured participants from high schools, higher secondary schools, and colleges, showcasing their skills in formats such as radio jockeying, debates, reel creation, and project presentations. Each activity drew inspiration from themes and ideas discussed in Mann Ki Baat broadcasts.
The radio programme itself, aired on All India Radio, is among the world’s most widely broadcast and listened-to shows. It covers a broad range of topics including Indian traditions, culture, history, the freedom struggle, and citizen-led initiatives. The talent hunt leverages this content to motivate youth to engage with India’s rich heritage and ongoing progress.
As with previous seasons, winners of Season 5 will be given the opportunity to visit Delhi during the 2025 Independence Day celebrations, where they will witness national events and interact with leaders, gaining invaluable exposure and inspiration.
An official Taxi Fleet Licence has been issued to SynCab Taxi (mixed fleet), operated by SynCab Service, in accordance with the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations for a period of five years, with the fleet starting services, including online hailing services, today.
The Transport Department said it has approved the taxi livery design and markings of the fleet which has to display fleet taxi plates at the front and rear as well as a fleet taxi certificate on the windscreen.
Fleet taxis may customise fares for pre-arranged journeys, charging a booking fee on top of the metered fare or charging a lump sum fare before the journey starts. Both must be agreed with the hirer in advance.
The fares of fleet taxis may vary for pre-arranged journeys, depending on the time of booking and the types of taxis the passengers request. Higher fares may be charged during peak hours or when the passenger requests a premium taxi.
For street-hailing trips, fleet taxis shall charge according to the same fare schedule as general taxis. The department has set up a website, providing information on the taxi fleet service.
There are about 80 designated fleet taxi stopping places at 13 locations such as the airport, certain boundary control points and Airport Express stations, Hong Kong West Kowloon Station of Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong Express Rail Link, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Information plates will be installed at these locations. The department will put up signage and display panels at some of the locations, and display online hailing QR codes via leaflets and posters for the public and tourists to make their bookings.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — China’s total import and export volume of goods stood at 21.79 trillion yuan (about 3.05 trillion U.S. dollars) in the first half of 2025, up 2.9 percent from a year earlier, data released by the General Administration of Customs showed Monday.
According to the agency, the growth rate of foreign trade in goods accelerated from 2.5 percent, which was recorded in January-May of this year.
In the first half of the year, exports grew by 7.2 percent, while imports fell by 2.7 percent. -0-
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