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 10 (Xinhua) — Eighty works by each side were recently selected for the “Colorful World” oil painting exhibition featuring works by young artists from China and Russia and will be displayed in Beijing soon, according to a post on the official Wechat account of the Beijing People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
The exhibition, organized by the Beijing People’s Society for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing and other institutions on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, will be held from August 7 to 16 at the museum complex at the Zhonghua Centennial Monument in the Chinese capital.
The competition, which started in April this year, involved 427 works by artists from both countries. Based on the results of the selection, 80 artists became laureates and prize winners, of whom 15 people received first-degree awards, 25 – second-degree awards, and 40 – third-degree awards.
Having highly praised the selected works, the expert jury stated that these paintings, dedicated to the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, are the quintessence of mutual learning between Chinese and Russian cultures, call for peace and friendship, and also reflect the historical and practical significance of their leitmotifs.
It is planned to award artists from China and Russia directly at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
ASB is welcoming the launch of a comprehensive Anti-Scam Alliance which it says is a positive move in the fight against fraud and scams.
Chief Executive Vittoria Shortt says while the banking sector has invested significantly in fraud and scam prevention, detection and awareness for many years, having a formal alliance between Government, police, consumer groups and a range of impacted industries will make a real difference.
“Banks and telcos have been working very hard, both individually and together, for some time, to tackle fraud and scams. We’ve partnered with others in the industry like consumer groups and police, but the real power comes in a true all of ecosystem approach, as Minister Simpson has announced today.
“We’re pleased to see digital and social media companies join the charge. Each member of the alliance brings unique skills and experience which will improve our collective ability to fight fraud and scams. The formal involvement of Government will also enable stronger collaboration and commitment and more resource and expertise so we can continue to work together to keep New Zealanders safe.”
ASB has spent around $140 million fighting fraud, scams, financial crime and cybercrime this financial year, and has invested in a number of customer initiatives. This includes tools such as Caller Check, which was launched in March and combats bank impersonation scams, and ASB’s 24/7 fraud line, which has received more than 21,000 calls outside of regular bank hours since it was launched in February.
The industry has also been working closely together on Confirmation of Payee and increasing information sharing to better target money mules as part of ongoing collaborative work.
“We know there is still more to be done, but today’s announcement is another step forward and we will continue to build on the work we’re already doing in this space,” says Shortt.
HONOLULU – The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) returned to Honolulu Wednesday following a 73-day patrol in support of Coast Guard Oceania District’s Operation Blue Pacific.
For breaking news follow us on twitter @USCGHawaiiPac
Trifork and Deloitte selected for Swiss Federal Office of Public Health’s DigiSanté framework agreement
Zurich – 10 July 2025
Trifork Switzerland has been selected as subcontractor to Deloitte Switzerland on the framework agreement for the lot “Expertise in the field of standards (author and developer) in the healthcare sector” under the DigiSanté program, led by the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH/BAG).
This lot is part of the broader “DigiSanté – Health Business, Standards, Data Science, IT- and Data Security” framework, designed to strengthen the Swiss digital health infrastructure through standards-based development, secure data architecture, and modern health IT practices.
The agreement covers up to 144,000 hours over nine years across five awarded consortia, amounting to CHF 27.7 to 38.8 million. Specific tasks will be awarded through mini-tenders. While the total scope will depend on these future mini-tenders, this framework positions Deloitte and Trifork to contribute to high-impact healthcare digitalisation projects throughout the contract period.
“We are pleased to support the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health with our combined expertise in standards, interoperability, and healthcare system architecture. The DigiSanté framework is a cornerstone in the continued digital transformation of the Swiss healthcare system, and we look forward to collaborating closely with Trifork and health authorities.” — Rolf Brügger, Partner, Government & Public Services Industry Leader of Deloitte Switzerland
Trifork brings deep experience from regulated health software development, including CE-marked applications, shared care platforms, and interoperability services across European markets. In Switzerland, the company is actively involved in supporting nationwide initiatives such as the electronic patient dossier (EPD) and broader healthcare ecosystem projects. This builds on Trifork’s growing local presence through digital health partnerships and strategic investments.
“This collaboration is a natural extension of our commitment to digital health in Switzerland, and we’re excited to collaborate with Deloitte in this fascinating task. Our experience in standards implementation and healthcare-specific technology complements Deloitte’s strategic expertise, positioning us well to support FOPH’s long-term goals.” — Fabio Vena, CSO Trifork Switzerland
Press contact Frederik Svanholm, Group Investment Director, Head of IR & PR frsv@trifork.com, +41 79 357 7317
About the Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH / BAG) (bag.admin.ch) The Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH), part of the Swiss Federal Department of Home Affairs, is responsible for public health in Switzerland. The FOPH develops and implements national healthcare policy, ensures access to affordable, high-quality healthcare, and promotes the health and well-being of Switzerland’s population. As the lead authority behind the DigiSanté program, FOPH plays a key role in advancing Switzerland’s digital health infrastructure, setting standards for health data, and enabling secure, efficient and patient-centred health services across the country.
About Deloitte Switzerland (deloitte.ch) Deloitte offers integrated services that include Audit & Assurance, Tax & Legal, Strategy, Risk & Transaction Advisory, and Technology & Transformation. Its approach combines insight and innovation from multiple disciplines with business and industry knowledge to help clients excel anywhere in the world. With around 2,700 employees at six locations in Basel, Berne, Geneva, Lausanne, Lugano and Zurich (headquarters), Deloitte serves companies and organisations of all legal forms and sizes in all industry sectors. Deloitte AG is an affiliate of Deloitte North South Europe (NSE), a member firm of the global network of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) comprising around 460,000 employees in more than 150 countries.
About Trifork (trifork.com) Trifork (Nasdaq Copenhagen: TRIFOR) is a pioneering global technology company, empowering enterprise and public sector customers with innovative digital products and solutions. With 1,215 professionals across 71 business units in 16 countries, Trifork specializes in designing, building, and operating advanced software across sectors such as public administration, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics, energy, financial services, retail, and real estate. In Switzerland, Trifork is deeply involved in the healthcare tech ecosystem. The Group’s R&D arm, Trifork Labs, drives innovation by investing in and developing synergistic, high-potential technology companies.
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SPC AC 100600
Day 2 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 0100 AM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025
Valid 111200Z – 121200Z
…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS FROM NORTHEAST KANSAS TO NORTHWEST ILLINOIS…
…SUMMARY… Scattered severe thunderstorms are possible, mainly late afternoon and evening on Friday, from northeast Kansas to eastern Iowa and northwest Illinois.
… Central Great Plains to Midwest …
A positive-tilt trough will be moving across the northern Plains through the forecast period. To the south, a low-amplitude short-wave trough will be moving through the central Great Plains. At the same time, a diffuse/weak surface cold front will push east/southeast through the Plains.
At the start of the forecast period one or more decaying MCSs should be ongoing across portions of Iowa perhaps into northern Illinois to perhaps as far east as lower Michigan. These MCSs could pose a residual risk for at least isolated wind damage through the morning.
During the mid-to-late afternoon, additional thunderstorms are expected to develop in the wake of the morning convection. At this time guidance supports multiple initiation points across the area, the precise locations of which will be strongly influenced by the evolution of the morning convection.
At this time, the most likely scenario is for initial thunderstorms to develop across southeast Iowa or northern Missouri along the residual outflow boundary from the morning convection. A second area of initiation is likely farther to the west along the diffuse surface cold front in Nebraska or northeast Kansas, perhaps extending northward into Minnesota. In both areas, strong instability may result in rapid thunderstorm development capable of producing strong wind and large hail. Given the degree of instability and an existing boundary, a tornado or two may also be possible, especially with initial thunderstorm development.
With time, expectation is that these convective clusters will grow upscale as they move east and the primary severe threat should transition to severe wind gusts.
… High Plains …
Thunderstorms are expected to develop in the late afternoon. These storms will eventually grow upscale and move southeast toward the Great Plains. An isolated severe wind threat will be possible with any of these storms.
… Eastern US …
A warm, moist, weakly capped airmass will be in place across much of the east. Despite the absence of pronounced foci for initiation, widely scattered to scattered thunderstorms should develop during the late morning into the afternoon hours. Deep-layer shear should remain weak and precipitable water values will be lower than in preceding days. However, the potential will exist for scattered water-loaded downbursts capable of producing isolated wind damage.
..Marsh.. 07/10/2025
CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT
NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1730Z
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
SPC AC 100553
Day 1 Convective Outlook NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK 1253 AM CDT Thu Jul 10 2025
Valid 101200Z – 111200Z
…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO TONIGHT ACROSS PARTS OF WESTERN AND CENTRAL KANSAS…CENTRAL AND EASTERN NEBRASKA…WESTERN IOWA AND PARTS OF SOUTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA…
…SUMMARY… Strong thunderstorms posing a risk for severe hail, damaging wind gusts and perhaps a couple of tornadoes are possible late this afternoon into tonight across parts of the central Great Plains into mid Missouri Valley.
…Discussion… Stronger westerlies will remain confined to the higher latitudes through this period, with one significant short wave perturbation forecast to accelerate from eastern portions of the Canadian Northwest Territories through areas northeast of Hudson Bay, accompanied by a deepening surface cyclone. It appears that the leading edge of cooler, drier air in the wake of this cyclone will advance south of the international border into the northern Rockies and through adjacent portions of the northern U.S. Great Plains, trailed by another notable mid-level short wave impulse, which models indicate will dig near/east of the Canadian through northern U.S. Rockies. As this occurs, mid-level troughing within weaker flow in lower latitudes is forecast to slowly dig from the northern Great Basin toward the central Great Plains, suppressing stronger ridging in the subtropical to southern mid-latitudes, initially centered over the Southwest.
This will be preceded by a couple of convectively generated or augmented perturbations migrating across the mid Missouri Valley and Upper Midwest, a modest mid-level trough slowly turning east-northeast of the lower Great Lakes vicinity, and several weak perturbations progressing through broad, weak cyclonic flow across the Southeast through southern Atlantic Seaboard.
…Great Plains into Midwest… Uncertainties remain concerning potential convective evolution through this period. Models suggest that surface boundaries may remain relatively diffuse, but residual seasonably moist boundary-layer air may become characterized by sizable CAPE with daytime heating, beneath steep lower/mid-tropospheric lapse rates, including warm elevated mixed layer air.
There does appear at least a somewhat consistent signal within various convection allowing guidance that an MCV associated with ongoing convection across parts of the middle Missouri Valley could provide a focus for strong thunderstorm development later today across parts of the Upper Midwest. Otherwise, in advance of the digging upstream troughing, models indicate that a modest belt of southwesterly low-level flow (including 20-30+ kt in the 850-700 mb layer) will generally persist through the day east of the lee surface trough, from the Texas Panhandle/South Plains into the middle Missouri Valley. It appears that this will coincide with a corridor of stronger heating/deeper boundary-layer mixing across the higher plains, where thunderstorm activity initiating during the late afternoon may pose a risk for damaging wind gusts.
Within the more moist low-level environment across eastern Nebraska into western Iowa, the wind fields, aided by veering with height, might become at least marginally conducive to a couple of supercells, in the presence of sizable CAPE, before forcing for ascent associated with the approaching mid-level trough tends to support upscale growing clusters this evening.
…Upper Ohio Valley into portions of New England… Near the southern periphery of the mid-level troughing shifting east or east-northeast of the lower Great Lakes region, models indicate that scattered thunderstorm development is probable during peak afternoon heating, in the presence of moderate CAPE (1000-2000+ J/kg) and shear enhanced at least somewhat by a belt of 20-30 kt westerly mid-level flow. This environment may become conducive to small hail and potentially damaging wind gusts, before activity weakens this evening.
…Southeast/Southern Atlantic Seaboard… Aided by forcing for ascent associated with the mid-level perturbations, in the presence of weak mid-level inhibition, one or two upscale growing clusters of storms may overspread the southern Atlantic Piedmont and coastal plain late this afternoon and evening. Forecast soundings indicate that a seasonably moist environment may become characterized by moderate CAPE, with perhaps a sufficient degree of sub-saturation to allow for evaporative cooling in downdrafts to contribute to modest surface cold pool development. In the presence of weak deep-layer southwesterly mean flow on the order of 10-15 kt, the potential for development of sufficiently strong rear inflow to support surface gusts in excess of 50 kt appears low, but even with peak gusts generally on the order of 35-50 kt, sporadic damage will still be possible.
..Kerr/Weinman.. 07/10/2025
CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT
NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1300Z
Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated: Thu Jul 10 06:16:05 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid
Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.
Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services
The Northern Territory Police Force has arrested a 41-year-old male in relation to a domestic violence incident in the Darwin CBD yesterday.
About 11:50pm, police received reports of a female being assaulted by a male.
Darwin general duties officers attended, and the male fled by foot before climbing up a tree, about 12 metres high, on the Esplanade. The offender allegedly threw sticks at the officers while up in the tree.
Police negotiators were called out after members were unable to take the male into custody. The negotiators attended, resulting in the male surrendering to police and being arrested without incident.
He is expected to be charged at a later date.
If you or someone you know are experiencing difficulties due to domestic violence, support services are available, including, but not limited to, 1800RESPECT (1800737732) or Lifeline 131 114.
Australia’s drug approval system is under fire, with critics in the United States claiming it is too slow to approve life-saving medicines.
Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration balances speed with a rigorous assessment of safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness.
So does Australia really lag behind the US Food and Drug Administration? And do we need to change how we approve medicines?
The drug development pipeline
Drug development usually begins when something new is discovered about a disease. This usually involves identifying either a change in an important protein or finding a new protein involved in the disease.
When scientists know the shape of the protein, they can design a drug that can block or activate it.
Scientists will then undertake laboratory, petri dish-type, experiments to see if the drug works on the protein in the way they designed. If it passes those tests, they will then move onto animal testing and formulation.
Formulation is the step where scientists decide what form the medicine will take, such as a tablet, injection or patch. There are more than 150 different pharmaceutical dosage forms to choose from.
The final steps are human testing. This requires the completion of three types of clinical trials. Each seeks to answer different specific questions about the drug:
Phase I trials: is the drug safe? What are its side effects?
Phase II trials: does the drug work?
Phase III trials: is the drug better than currently available medicines?
At the end of the trials, a company can apply to the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for approval to market and sell the drug.
Getting a drug to market is time-consuming and costly. It takes around 15 years from the initial concept and design to government approval and costs more than A$3.5 billion.
But the failure rate is high: more than 90% of drugs that undergo development never gain government approval.
How are drugs approved in Australia?
The decision to approve new medicines for sale in Australia is made based on safety and efficacy evidence provided by the sponsoring company.
Listing a medicine on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a separate process from approval, and is based on financial considerations and a cost-benefit analysis, rather than safety and efficacy.
The TGA typically takes 240 to 260 working days (around a full calendar year) from receiving a new medicine application to an approval decision. This is longer than it takes the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – 180 to 300 days.
Where there is a pressing need, the approval process can be faster. The first COVID treatment was approved in Australia just two weeks after it was submitted for consideration.
Then why do Americans often get medicines first?
There can be several reasons why a drug approval can be delayed in Australia when it has already been approved overseas.
First, with a population of 27 million out of 8 billion world-wide, Australia is a relatively small market. So it is not always a high priority for companies to apply for approval here. Regions with large populations such as China, India and Europe are a bigger focus for companies. This can therefore delay when they submit to Australia.
Other reasons for delays can be that the TGA requires additional safety or efficacy evidence other regions did not request, or because new information about the drug has come to light since the drug was approved overseas.
What about delays getting drugs onto the PBS?
When a drug is listed on the PBS, Australians can access the medicine for $31.60 (or $7.70 concession) instead of the cost of a private prescription which might be hundreds or even thousands of dollars.
The time it takes for medicines to be approved on the PBS has also been a focus of criticism.
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC), which makes PBS listing recommendations to the Federal Minister of Health, only sits three to six times per year.
US Chamber of Commerce vice president John Murphy claims the PBAC takes, on average, 32 months to make a recommendation about listing a drug after an application has been submitted.
Once a recommendation is made, the minister usually takes a minimum of five months to make a final decision.
To speed up the process, the TGA does allow parallel applications for drug approval and PBS listing.
The time taken to make a PBS listing decision is reasonable, given the scheme’s overall cost. In 2023–24, the total cost of the PBS to the government was $17.7 billion. So a decision to list can’t be made lightly.
So should Australia change how it approves medicines?
Criticising the time it takes to get regulatory approvals appears to be part of a wider plan of attack by the US government. It is putting pressure on Australia to open its market to higher prices for medicines made by US pharmaceutical companies.
Australia has a world-class regulatory agency in the TGA which ensures medicines that are approved are both safe and effective. And the PBS scheme is a key part of our public health care system and the envy of the world.
The Australian government should resist any changes to the regulatory approval processes that come from the US.
Nial Wheate in the past has received funding from the ACT Cancer Council, Tenovus Scotland, Medical Research Scotland, Scottish Crucible, and the Scottish Universities Life Sciences Alliance. He is a fellow of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Nial is the chief scientific officer of Vaihea Skincare LLC, a director of SetDose Pty Ltd (a medical device company) and was previously a Standards Australia panel member for sunscreen agents. He is a member of the Haleon Australia Pty Ltd Pain Advisory Board. Nial regularly consults to industry on issues to do with medicine risk assessments, manufacturing, design and testing.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has formally nominated United States President Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. He says the president is “forging peace as we speak, in one country, in one region after the other”.
Trump, who has craved the award for years, sees himself as a global peacemaker in a raft of conflicts from Israel and Iran, to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
With the conflict in Gaza still raging, we ask five experts – could Trump be rewarded with the world’s most prestigious peace prize?
Emma Shortis
Adjunct Senior Fellow, School of Global, Urban and Social Studies, RMIT University
Nominating Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize is like entering a hyena in a dog show.
Of course Trump does not deserve it. That we’re being forced to take this question seriously is yet another indication – as if we needed one – of his extraordinary ability to set and reset the terms of our politics.
There is no peace in Gaza. Even if Trump announced another ceasefire tomorrow, it would not last. And it would not build genuine peace and security.
Trump has neither the interest nor the attention span required to build long term peace. His administration is not willing to bear any of the costs or investments that come with genuine, lasting diplomacy. And he is not anti-war.
There is no peace in Iran. Trump’s bombing of Iran simply exacerbates his decision in 2018 to end nuclear negotiations with Tehran. It pushes the world closer to, not further from, nuclear catastrophe.
Under the Trump administration, there will be no peace in the Middle East. Both the US and Israeli governments’ approach to “security” puts the region on a perpetual war footing. This approach assumes it is possible to bomb your way to peace – a “peace” which both Trump and Netanyahu understand as total dominance and violent oppression.
The Trump administration is deliberately undermining the institutions and principles of international and domestic law.
He has deployed the military against American citizens. He is threatening the United States’ traditional allies with trade wars and annexation. His administration’s dismantling of USAID will result, according to one study, in the deaths of 14 million people, including 4.5 million children, by 2030.
Indulging Trump’s embarrassing desire for trophies might appease him for a short time. It would also strip the Nobel Peace Prize of any and all credibility, while endorsing Trump’s trashing of the international rule of law.
What kind of peace is that?
Ali Mamouri
Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University
The nomination of Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize by a man who is facing charges of war crimes is an unprecedented and deeply dark irony that cannot be overlooked.
Trump’s role in brokering the Abraham Accords was hailed as a diplomatic breakthrough. It led to the normalisation of relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
But this achievement came at a significant cost. The accords deliberately sidelined the Palestinian issue, long recognised as the core of regional instability, and disregarded decades of international consensus on a two-state solution.
Israeli soldiers guarding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank. Dom Zaran/Shutterstock
His silence in the face of a growing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza was equally telling. Perhaps most disturbing was the tacit or explicit endorsement of proposals to forcibly relocate Palestinians to neighbouring Arab countries, a position that evokes ethnic cleansing and fundamentally undermines principles of justice, dignity and international law.
In addition, there is Trump’s unconditional support for Israel’s military campaigns across the region, including his authorisation of attacks on Iranian civilian, military and nuclear infrastructure. The strikes lacked any clear legal basis, contributed further to regional instability and, according to Tehran, killed more than a thousand civilians.
His broader disregard for international norms shattered decades of post-second world war diplomatic order and increased the risk of sustained and expanded conflict.
Against this backdrop, any serious consideration of Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize seems fundamentally at odds with its stated mission: to honour efforts that reduce conflict, uphold human rights and promote lasting peace.
Whatever short-term diplomatic gains emerged from Trump’s tenure are eclipsed by the legal, ethical and humanitarian consequences of his actions.
Ian Parmeter
Research Scholar, Middle East Studies, Australian National University
Netanyahu’s nomination of Donald Trump for one of the world’s most coveted awards was clearly aimed at flattering the president.
Trump is clearly angling for the laurel, which his first term predecessor, Barack Obama, won in his first year in office.
Obama was awarded the prize in 2009 for promotion of nuclear non-proliferation and fostering a “new climate” in international relations, particularly in reaching out to the Muslim world.
Given neither of these ambitions have since borne fruit, what claims might Trump reasonably make at this stage of his second term?
Trump has claimed credit for resolving two conflicts this year: the brief India–Pakistan clash that erupted after Pakistani militants killed 25 Indian tourists in Kashmir in May; and the long-running dispute between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi disputes Trump brokered peace. He says the issue was resolved by negotiations between the two countries’ militaries.
With regards to the Rwanda–DRC conflict, the countries signed a peace agreement in the Oval Office in June. But critics argue Qatar played a significant role
which the Trump administration has airbrushed out.
Trump can legitimately argue his pressure on Israel and Iran forced a ceasefire in their 12-day war in June.
But his big test is the Gaza war. For Trump to add this to his Nobel claim, he will need more than a ceasefire.
The Biden administration brokered two ceasefires that enabled the release of significant numbers of hostages, but did not end the conflict.
Trump would have to use his undoubted influence with Netanyahu to achieve more than a temporary pause. He would have to end the war definitively and effect the release of all Israeli hostages.
Beyond that, if Trump could persuade Netanyahu
to take serious steps towards negotiating a two-state solution, that would be a genuine Nobel-worthy achievement.
Trump isn’t there yet.
Jasmine-Kim Westendorf
Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict and Co-Director of the Initiative for Peacebuilding, The University of Melbourne
Although controversial or politicised awards are not new, awardees are generally individuals or groups who’ve made
significant contributions to a range of peace initiatives.
They include reducing armed conflict, enhancing international cooperation, and human rights efforts that contribute to peace.
Inspiring examples include anti-nuclear proliferation organisations and phenomenal women peacemakers. And Nadia Murad and Denis Mukwege, who won in 2011 for their work trying to end the use of sexual violence as a weapon of war.
Trump has declared his “proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier”. But he is neither.
There has been a concerning trend towards using the Nobel Peace Prize to encourage certain political directions, rather than reward achievements.
Barack Obama’s 2008 Prize helped motivate his moves toward diplomacy and cooperation after the presidency of George W. Bush.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s 2018 award was for efforts to resolve the 20-year war with Eritrea. The peace prize encouraged Ahmed to fulfill his promise of democratic elections in 2020. Embarrassingly, within a year Ahmed launched a civil war that killed over 600,000 people and displaced 3 million more.
This week’s nomination follows efforts by global leaders to flatter Trump in order – they hope – to secure his goodwill.
These motivations explain why Netanyahu has put forward Trump’s name to the Nobel Committee. It comes at the very moment securing Trump’s ongoing support during ceasefire negotiations is critical for Netanyahu’s political survival.
They will never give me a Nobel Peace Prize […] It’s too bad. I deserve it, but they will never give it to me.
Prizes to genuine peacemakers amplify their work and impact.
1984 winner Desmond Tutu said: “One day no one was listening. The next, I was an oracle.” A Nobel can be a powerful force for peace.
Trump is no peacemaker, he doesn’t deserve one.
Shahram Akbarzadeh
Director, Middle East Studies Forum (MESF), Deakin University
Benjamin Netanyahu would have us believe Donald Trump is a peacemaker.
Nothing could be further from the truth. His record is stained with blood and misery. The fact Trump believes himself to be worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize only attests to his illusions of grandeur in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
The war in Gaza has gone into its 20th month because Trump did not use the levers at his control to bring the senseless war to a close.
Some estimates put the true Gaza death toll at 100,000 people, and counting. They have been killed by American-made bombs Israel is dropping across the densely populated strip; from starvation because Israel has enforced a blockade of the Gaza Strip and prevented UN food delivery with the blessings of America; and from gunshots at food distribution centres, set up with US private security.
All under Trump’s watch.
Trump could do something about this. Israel is the largest recipient of US aid, most of it military support.
This has multiplied since Israel commenced its attack on Gaza in response to Hamas terrorism on October 7 2023. Trump has approved the transfer of US military hardware to Israel, knowing full well it was being used against a trapped and helpless population.
This is not the act of a peacemaker.
Now the Israeli government is planning to “facilitate” population transfer of Gazans to other countries – a euphemism for ethnic cleansing.
This is the textbook definition of genocide: deliberate and systematic killing or persecution of people. Trump legitimised this travesty of decency and international law by promising a Gaza Riviera.
The outlandish extent of Trump’s ideas would be laughable if their consequences were not so devastating.
When Israel attacked Iran in the middle of nuclear talks, Trump had a momentary pause, before jumping to Netanyahu’s aid and bombing Iran. He then claimed his action paved the way for peace.
Trump’s idea of peace is the peace of the graveyard.
Emma Shortis is Director of International and Security Affairs at The Australia Institute, an independent think tank.
Jasmine-Kim Westendorf has received funding from the Australian Research Council.
Shahram Akbarzadeh receives funding from Australia Research Council.
Ali Mamouri and Ian Parmeter do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
The Indian benchmark indices opened flat on Thursday amid mixed global cues, with selling pressure seen in the auto and IT sectors during early trade.
At around 9:29 am, the Sensex was trading 40.96 points or 0.05 per cent lower at 83,495.12, while the Nifty declined 17.70 points or 0.07 per cent to 25,458.40.
Nifty Bank was up 29.50 points or 0.05 per cent at 57,243.05 in early trade. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 59,448, adding 108.40 points or 0.18 per cent. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index stood at 19,057.75, up by 50.35 points or 0.26 per cent.
According to analysts, with trade and tariff news becoming more routine, the market is now focusing on the upcoming earnings season.
“The big banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo, will start reporting next Tuesday. As of now, analysts expect 5.8 per cent earnings growth for the S&P 500 in the second quarter,” said Vikram Kasat, Head-Advisory, PL Capital.
Expectations from the IT sector remain muted; however, midcap IT companies are likely to post good results along with positive commentary, experts added.
“Banks, despite strong balance sheets and ample liquidity, are struggling with low credit growth. Outperformers in the banking segment will be those that report healthy credit growth. In autos, M&M and Eicher have the potential to outperform,” they noted.
Among Sensex constituents, Tata Steel, Axis Bank, Power Grid, Bajaj Finance, M&M, ICICI Bank, and Titan were the top gainers. On the other hand, Tata Motors, Infosys, Sun Pharma, Bharti Airtel, TCS, Asian Paints, NTPC, and HDFC Bank were among the top losers.
On the institutional front, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers of equities worth Rs 77 crore on July 9, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were also net buyers, investing Rs 920 crore on the same day.
In Asian markets, Hong Kong, Seoul, China, and Jakarta were trading in the green, while Japan was trading in the red.
In the previous session, the Dow Jones in the US closed at 44,458.30, up 217.54 points or 0.49 per cent. The S&P 500 gained 37.74 points or 0.61 per cent to end at 6,263.26, while the Nasdaq closed at 20,611.34, up 192.87 points or 0.94 per cent.
India has strongly reiterated its commitment to maritime safety and gender equality during the 134th session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council, currently being held from 07 to 11 July in London. The Indian delegation at the session is led by T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways.
On the opening day of deliberations, India delivered a resolute statement in response to recent maritime incidents involving foreign-flagged container vessels operating in Indian waters. These incidents—linked to undeclared hazardous cargo and structural and stability deficiencies—have triggered growing concern about the safety protocols surrounding global container shipping operations.
Calling for urgent action, India urged the IMO to initiate a comprehensive investigation and global review of such incidents. The delegation highlighted the critical role of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard in safeguarding life at sea and emphasized the pressing need to strengthen international safety frameworks. Particular attention was drawn to improving global standards around the packaging, declaration, stowage, and monitoring of lithium-ion batteries and other dangerous goods categorized under the International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) Code.
As part of its proposal, India advocated for the establishment of IMO-led investigations into container ship accidents. According to the Indian delegation, such efforts would foster the development of global best practices, improve standardisation, and reinforce operational protocols for safer and more secure maritime activities.
In addition to addressing maritime safety, India took an active role in the session’s discussions on gender equality, aligning its efforts with the IMO’s Gender Inclusion Strategy. The delegation showcased the national initiative “Sagar Mein Samman” (Honour at Sea)—launched on November 25, 2024, by the Directorate General of Shipping. This landmark programme is designed to cultivate a safe, respectful, and inclusive maritime environment, enabling women to participate and advance across all levels of the industry, from seafaring roles to executive leadership.
India also highlighted a notable success: a 650% rise in the number of Indian women seafarers, demonstrating its strong commitment to building an equitable maritime workforce and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
India vice captain Rishabh Pant said the Dukes balls being used in the current test series against England are losing their shape very quickly and cannot be good for the game.
India captain Shubman Gill was the first to criticise the balls after his team levelled the five-match series with a comprehensive victory in the second test at Edgbaston.
“I feel it’s a big problem because the ball is getting out of shape,” Pant told reporters on the eve of the third test at Lord’s beginning on Thursday.
“When you see the ball, you can see it’s de-shaped but the rules are such … it’s not up to the players.”
India, despite having rested pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, took 20 wickets at Edgbaston where they racked up 587 in the first innings and declared their second on 427-6.
Pant could not recall another series where the ball lost its shape so quickly.
“It’s definitely irritating for the players because every ball plays differently,” said the 27-year-old.
“When it becomes softer it’s not doing much but as soon as they change the ball it starts to do enough.
“As a batsman, you keep adjusting to it but at the same time, I feel it’s not good for cricket eventually.”
India will take a late decision on whether to play left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav at Lord’s but Bumrah’s return is a major boost for the tourists.
Asked for his view on what made Bumrah, arguably the best all-format bowler of his generation, so special, Pant said, “I think everything – how accurate he is and the way his mind works. He’s just amazing.”
While batting against Bumrah is a tricky task, keeping to him is not a cakewalk either, Pant said.
“I think it’s more difficult for the wicketkeeper behind the wicket than for a batsman, especially in England,” Pant said referring to the late movement that Bumrah regularly generates.
The deadly flood in Nepal’s Bhote Koshi River that killed at least nine people and left more than two dozen missing this week was triggered by the draining of a supraglacial lake in the Tibet region of China, a regional climate monitoring body said on Wednesday.
At least 19 people, including six Chinese workers at the Beijing-aided Inland Container Depot, remain missing in Nepal after Tuesday’s floods that also washed away the ‘Friendship Bridge’ that links Nepal and China.
China’s official Xinhua news agency has said 11 people were unaccounted for on the Chinese side of the mountainous border region.
The Kathmandu-based International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) said satellite imagery showed the flood originated from the draining of the lake north of Nepal’s Langtang Himal range.
“This is based on the preliminary analysis based on the available satellite images,” Sudan Maharjan, a remote sensing analyst and expert of glaciers at ICIMOD, told Reuters.
A supraglacial lake is formed on the surface of glaciers, particularly in debris-covered areas. It often begins as small meltwater ponds that gradually expand and sometimes merge to form a larger supraglacial lake, experts say.
Saswata Sanyal, another ICIMOD official, said such events were increasing at an “unprecedented” pace in the Hindu Kush mountains that are spread across Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Pakistan.
“We need to delve deeper into the triggers that are resulting in cascading impacts,” Sanyal said.
The June-September monsoon causes massive floods and landslides in mountainous Nepal which, officials and experts say, is vulnerable to effects of climate change like extreme weather patterns, inconsistent rainfall, flash floods, landslides and glacial lake outburst floods.
This year’s early monsoon rains have inflicted deadly damage elsewhere in Nepal where at least 38 people have been killed or are missing since May 29, according to data from the government’s National Disaster Relief, Reduction and Management Authority.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a global leader in cryptocurrency trading, is proud to announce the launch of Season 5 of the DEX+ Super Fest, featuring an upgraded four-tier reward structure and a total prize pool of 200,000 USDT. All rewards will be distributed in the form of USDT, ensuring participants receive real, immediately usable incentives. This event is designed to provide users worldwide with a low-barrier, high-reward decentralized trading experience, empowering both beginners and experienced traders to seize on-chain opportunities.
Since it first launched, the DEX+ Super Fest has received overwhelming support from users around the world. Season 4 saw over 25,000 registrations, more than 12,000 wallet connection tasks completed, 4,500 new user tasks fulfilled, and 11,000 friend invitations sent. With Season 5, MEXC is taking the experience to the next level, offering more generous rewards and a smoother, more accessible trading journey.
Four-Tier Reward System Designed to Meet Diverse Trading Needs
Season 5 of the MEXC DEX+ Super Fest introduces a four-tier reward mechanism, covering new users, consecutive trading, referral bonuses, and team competitions. The team competition prize pool alone reaches up to 100,000 USDT, with all rewards distributed in tokens. Season 5 event details are as follows:
New User Reward: Newly signed up users who complete an on-chain deposit of at least 100 USDT within 7 days of their first deposit and make their first trade on MEXC through DEX+ will receive 20 USDT in SOL.
Trading Streak Reward: Those who trade for 3 consecutive days with a total volume ≥ 50 USDT are eligible to receive 5 USDT, while those who trade for 7 consecutive days with a total volume ≥ 200 USDT will receive an additional 10 USDT.
Referral Reward: Invite friends and earn 10 USDT for each qualified referee, plus 40% trading fee commissions. The maximum reward per user is 500 USDT.
Team Competition Reward: Form a team of at least 3 members, and team leaders can earn up to 840 USDT. Rewards are based on the number of recruits and new DEX+ user contributions, as follows:
Recruit 10 members (incl. 4 new DEX+ users): 60 USDT
Recruit 15 members (incl. 4 new DEX+ users): 60 USDT
Recruit 20 members (incl. 3 new DEX+ users): 100 USDT
Recruit 25 members (incl. 3 new DEX+ users): 140 USDT
Recruit 30 members (incl. 2 new DEX+ users): 180 USDT
Special Bonus: Recruit 40 new DEX+ users to unlock a team token reward of up to 300 USDT
As blockchain technology continues to advance and global regulatory frameworks become more defined, DeFi is rapidly emerging as a key avenue for innovation in crypto asset development and trading. MEXC DEX+, with its efficient, secure, and user-friendly trading experience, empowers users to stay ahead in this fast-evolving market. As a global leader in cryptocurrency trading, MEXC remains committed to lowering entry barriers through innovative products and diverse reward mechanisms, enabling users worldwide to fully engage in the DeFi movement. Please visit MEXC to learn more about the event.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto.” Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, everyday airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding.
EfTEN Real Estate Fund AS earned consolidated rental income of EUR 2,650 thousand in June 2025, an increase of EUR 7 thousand compared to May. The increase was supported by higher turnover-based rent in shopping centers and a lower vacancy rate in office premises. Property management and marketing expenses decreased by EUR 77 thousand compared to the previous month. The Fund’s consolidated EBITDA for June amounted to EUR 2,310 thousand, growing by EUR 81 thousand month-over-month.
During the first six months of 2025, the Fund earned EUR 15.58 million in rental income, which is 1.6% more than in the same period last year. Consolidated EBITDA amounted to EUR 12.9 million, a decrease of 1.3% year-over-year. The decrease was primarily driven by the sale of the Tähesaju Hortes gardening centre and increased vacancy in the office segment, especially in the Menulio office building in Vilnius and the office building at Pärnu mnt 102 in Tallinn. On the other hand, EBITDA increase was supported by the addition of the Härgmäe and Paemurru logistics centres as well as newly acquired and developed elderly care homes. The total office vacancy rate decreased in June from 17.0% to 16.2%, i.e. from 10.2 thousand m² to 9.7 thousand m². Based on lease agreements already signed, an additional 1.1 thousand m² of office space will be transferred to tenants in July and August, further decreasing office vacancies. The overall vacancy rate in the Fund’s property portfolio stood at 3.7% at the end of June.
The regular semi-annual property revaluation carried out by Colliers International did not result in any significant changes. The revaluation resulted in a gain of EUR 546 thousand and increased the fair value of the property portfolio by 0.15%. In the valuation models, discount rates decreased on average by 0.1–0.2 percentage points, supported by the decrease in EURIBOR, while exit yields remained at the same level as at the end of last year. Forecasts for office cash flows were slightly more conservative compared to year-end 2024, while cash flow outlooks for other segments were slightly more optimistic.
Prior to the Midsummer holidays, the Fund’s subsidiary EfTEN SPV12 OÜ, which owns the Rautakesko property at Tammsaare tee 49 and the logistics centre property at Kuuli 10 in Tallinn, entered into an interest rate swap agreement with Swedbank. Under the agreement, the 1-month EURIBOR was fixed at 1.995%. The swap, which follows the repayment schedule of the underlying loan, was signed for a three-year term. As at the end of June, the fair value of the derivative was negative EUR 41 thousand, and the notional value of the swap agreement was EUR 11.6 million, accounting for 7.4% of the Fund’s consolidated loan portfolio.
The Fund’s weighted average loan interest rate was at 3.95% at the end of June, compared to 5.65% a year earlier. Consolidated interest expenses for the first half of the year amounted to EUR 3.5 million, which is EUR 973 thousand less than in the same period of 2024.
As at 30 June 2025, the Fund’s net asset value (NAV) per share was EUR 19.979 and EPRA NRV was EUR 20.8523 per share, both increasing by 1.0% during the month.
VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is set to burn 30,001,053.1 BGB (2.56% of total supply) tokens for the second quarter of 2025, equivalent to approximately $138 million based on the Q2 2025 average price. This brings the total burn for the first half of the year to over 5% of the total supply of the BGB token, based on Bitget’s strategy of growing the native ecosystem token.
BGB has emerged as one of the top-performing centralized exchange tokens of 2025, consistently ranking high in terms of trading volume and market capitalization. Since its initial launch, BGB has had several strategic upgrades, evolving into a core asset within the Bitget ecosystem. Its growing popularity is fueled by increasing demand for its utility across various platform features, including staking, fee discounts, Launchpad access, and exclusive campaign eligibility. With over 120 million users in the Bitget ecosystem, BGB runs the infrastructure, as the pillar of support for users incentivization and liquidity across various products.
The quarterly BGB burn mechanism is an automated, pre-disclosed program that removes a portion of circulating tokens based on revenue performance and BGB usage on the platform. This structured approach shows both the exchange’s growth trajectory and the increasing transactional demand for BGB. As Bitget continues expanding into new regions and product verticals, from AI-powered trading to Launchpool innovations, the utility of BGB keeps increasing across the platform.
“BGB has become one of the most attractive and best-performing CEX tokens,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “Its utility and growth have been indicators of its potential. With every burn, we invest in BGB’s future that’s driven by its strong community and growth.”
The recent token burn reduces total supply and builds long-term holder confidence by decreasing inflationary pressure. This creates a more favorable environment for price support and ecosystem maturity. As Bitget grows, the corresponding burn volumes are expected to increase in scale, further increasing the deflationary dynamics that support BGB’s valuation.
With a focus on platform growth and product innovation, Bitget continues to drive strategic alignment with the token ecosystem. The Q2 burn represents confidence in BGB’s long-term position as a strong utility token within the cryptospace.
About Bitget
Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.
Bitget is at the forefront of driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency.
Risk Warning:Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to ourTerms of Use.
Israel and Hamas may be able to reach a Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal within one or two weeks but such an agreement is not likely to be secured in just a day’s time, a senior Israeli official said on Wednesday.
Speaking during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, the official said that if the two sides agree to a proposed 60-day ceasefire, Israel would use that time to offer a permanent ceasefire that would require the Palestinian militant group to disarm.
If Hamas refuses, “we’ll proceed” with military operations in Gaza, the official said on condition of anonymity.
Trump met Netanyahu on Tuesday for the second time in two days to discuss the situation in Gaza, with the president’s Middle East envoy indicating that Israel and Hamas were nearing an agreement on a U.S.-brokered ceasefire proposal after 21 months of war.
Trump had previously predicted that a deal could be reached this week, raising speculation about a possible announcement before Netanyahu leaves for Israel on Thursday.
On Wednesday, however, Trump appeared to extend the timeframe somewhat, telling reporters that while an agreement was “very close,” it could happen this week or even next – though “not definitely.”
A source familiar with Hamas’ thinking said four days of indirect talks with Israel in Qatar did not produce any breakthroughs on main sticking points.
The Israeli official, who briefed reporters in Washington, declined to provide details on the negotiations.
Trump’s Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff told reporters at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that the anticipated agreement would involve the release of 10 living and nine deceased hostages.
Netanyahu’s visit came just over two weeks after the president ordered the bombing of Iranian nuclear sites in support of Israeli air strikes. Trump then helped arrange a ceasefire in the 12-day Israel-Iran war.
Trump and his aides have tried to seize on any momentum created by the weakening of Iran, which backs Hamas, to push both sides for a breakthrough to end the Gaza war.
The Gaza conflict began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel in October 2023 that killed approximately 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken, according to Israeli figures. Around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with 20 believed to be alive.
Israel’s retaliatory war has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry says, and reduced much of Gaza to rubble.
Netanyahu has used his U.S. visit to publicly thank Trump for joining with Israel in striking Iran.
Trump has repeatedly declared that the U.S. bombing of three of Iran’s nuclear sites had “obliterated” them, though some experts have questioned the extent of the damage and raised the possibility that Iran had secreted away part of its enriched uranium stockpile before the strikes.
The Israel official said Israeli intelligence indicated that Iran’s enriched uranium remained at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan, the sites that the U.S. hit last month, and had not been moved.
The official suggested, however, that the Iranians might still be able to gain access to Isfahan but it would be hard to remove any of the material there.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Modern Railways 2025 exhibition at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, July 8, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The Modern Railways 2025 exhibition wraps up Thursday at the China National Convention Center and National Railway Test Center, having drawn 521 enterprises from 14 countries and regions since opening Monday.
Spanning nearly 40,000 square meters, the exhibition has featured leading companies such as China Railway (CR), CRRC, Siemens and Huawei.
The CR450 EMU prototype on display at the National Railway Test Center in Beijing, July 9, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
A highlight of the exhibition has been the display of 30 advanced trains and locomotives at the National Railway Test Center, including the CR450 EMU prototype, designed to be the world’s fastest high-speed train, with a test speed of 450 kph and an operating speed of 400 kph.
Visitors have also toured six key laboratories, such as the Braking System Laboratory, the High-Speed Railway Pantograph-Catenary Relationship Laboratory and the Railway 5G Innovation Laboratory.
Juergen Model, CEO of Siemens Mobility Greater China, speaks with reporters at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, July 8, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
At the China National Convention Center, the exhibition has featured displays in 10 areas, covering rolling stock, engineering construction, communication and signaling, information technology, passenger and freight transport, traction power supply, safety, maintenance, energy saving and environmental protection.
Novak Djokovic’s pursuit of yet more career milestones continued unabated as he reached a record 14th Wimbledon semi-final and a showdown with world number one Jannik Sinner on Wednesday.
The 38-year-old Serb recovered from a set down to beat Flavio Cobolli 6-7(6) 6-2 7-5 6-4 and is now only two victories away from an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title.
Blocking his path next is a rather more formidable Italian in the form of Sinner who eased any worries about an elbow injury to beat American powerhouse Ben Shelton 7-6(2) 6-4 6-4.
In the women’s quarter-finals, Poland’s claycourt specialist Iga Swiatek broke new ground by reaching her first Wimbledon semi-final, beating Liudmila Samsonova 6-2 7-5.
The eighth seed will face Switzerland’s unseeded Belinda Bencic who edged out Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 7-6(3) 7-6(2) to also reach her first semi-final at the grasscourt slam.
By reaching a record-extending 52nd Grand Slam semi, Djokovic also kept alive his hopes of equalling Roger Federer’s men’s record eight Wimbledon singles titles.
It remains a tall order even for a player widely regarded as the greatest of all time, especially with top seed Sinner and Spain’s holder Carlos Alcaraz, the two new powers in men’s tennis, most people’s bet to contest the final on July 13.
But no one should be writing off Djokovic who has won 44 of his last 46 matches at the All England Club and seems to know every single blade of grass on the historic Centre Court.
“It means the world to me that at 38 I am able to play in the final stages of Wimbledon,” Djokovic, who suffered a nasty slip on match point but appeared unscathed, said.
“Competing with youngsters makes me feel young, like Cobolli today. I enjoy running and sliding around the court. Speaking of the young guys, I will have Sinner in the next round so I look forward to that. That is going to be a great match-up.”
SINNER INJURY
Sinner may well have been back home in Italy had Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov not damaged his right pectoral muscle and retired with a two-set lead in the fourth round on Monday.
The three-times Grand Slam champion also sustained an elbow injury early on in that match and there was some doubt about his physical state ahead of his clash with 10th seed Shelton.
But he produced a clinical performance, reeling off seven successive points to win the first-set tiebreak and then pouncing in the 10th game of the next two sets to match his run to the semi-final two years ago when he lost to Djokovic.
Sinner, bidding to become the first Italian to win a Wimbledon singles title, wore a protective sleeve on his right arm but was rock solid against the big-serving Shelton.
“I had quite good feelings in the warm-up today,” Sinner, who dropped only six points on his first serve, said.
“I put into my mind that I’m going to play today. So the concerns were not that big if I would play or not.
“It was just a matter of what my percentage is. Today was very high, so I’m happy.”
Swiatek appears to have finally overcome her grass court demons and the four-times French Open champion could not hide her delight at reaching the semi-final at the sixth attempt.
“Honestly, it feels great. I have goosebumps after this win. I am super happy and super proud of myself and I will keep going. I worked really hard to progress here on this surface.”
Former Olympic champion Bencic became the first Swiss woman to reach the semis since Martina Hingis in 1998 after stunning 18-year-old seventh seed Andreeva on Centre Court.
“It’s crazy, it’s unbelievable. It’s a dream come true,” the 28-year-old mother said. “I’m just speechless.”
Bencic will face Swiatek on Thursday after top seed Aryna Sabalenka takes on 13th-seeded American Amanda Anisimova.
The first silverware of this year’s tournament will also be decided on Thursday when Dutchman Sem Verbeek and Czech Katerina Siniakova face Britain’s Joe Salisbury and Brazil’s Luisa Stefani in the mixed doubles final on Centre Court.
France produced a dominant display to thrash Wales 4-1 and go top of Group D at Euro 2025 on Wednesday, outclassing their opponents who scored their first goal at a major championship.
After England beat the Netherlands 4-0 earlier in the day, France went top of the group on six points, followed by the English and the Dutch on three points each.
Wales, who face England in their final group game on Sunday, have yet to register a point but still have a mathematical chance of going through to the knockouts. France face the Netherlands in their last group game.
Clara Mateo was at the centre of much of France’s attacking play and lashed them into an early lead, controlling a flick-on from a corner on her chest and firing a volley into the net in the eighth minute.
The moment thousands of Wales fans had been waiting for came five minutes later when Ceri Holland broke down the left and though her first attempt to find Jess Fishlock was blocked, she managed to steer the ball to the 38-year-old, who poked home Wales’ maiden goal at the women’s European Championship finals.
That was as good as it got for Wales, who looked set to go into the break level only for Holland to chop down Mateo in the box and Kadidiatou Diani’s spot kick crept over the line after striking the foot of keeper Safia Middleton-Patel.
Middleton-Patel was at fault just after the break as she lost control of the ball in the box, allowing Mateo to tee up Amel Majri, who thumped it into the net.
After that the Welsh wilted as the French dominated, with Grace Geyoro scoring their fourth in the 63rd minute, steering home a ball from the right following an extended period of possession to crown a convincing win.
“We’ve got six points after two matches and that’s what we need to remember. It won’t be an easy (next) game because the Netherlands will have no choice but to attack and score goals,” France coach Laurent Bonadei said.
Mateo was impressed with how her side bounced back from Fishlock’s equalising goal and how they went on to dominate.
“We had a bit of a scare at the start of the game but we had confidence in ourselves. It was a great evening, there are different strikers and that’s important for everyone’s confidence,” she said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Thursday morning after concluding a five-nation tour that spanned July 2 to 9, covering Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. The visit also included his participation in the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro under Brazil’s chairmanship.
The Prime Minister began his tour with a visit to Ghana on July 2-3- the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the West African nation in over three decades. In Accra, he held bilateral talks with President John Mahama to review the existing partnership and explore new areas of cooperation in economic development, defence, maritime security, energy, and critical minerals. Both leaders agreed to elevate ties to a Comprehensive Partnership. President Mahama also conferred on PM Modi The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, the country’s highest civilian award.
On July 3-4, PM Modi travelled to Trinidad and Tobago– the first Prime Ministerial visit since 1999. He met Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and addressed the Parliament. During the visit, India announced that Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) cards will now be issued to the sixth generation of the Indian diaspora in the Caribbean nation. PM Modi was also honoured with The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the nation’s highest civilian honour.
The third leg of the tour took PM Modi to Argentina on July 4-5- the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the South American country in nearly six decades. He held discussions with President Javier Milei to strengthen cooperation in defence, agriculture, mining, energy, trade, and investment. Describing the visit as productive, PM Modi said the talks would help deepen India-Argentina ties. He was also presented with the Key to the City of Buenos Aires by the city’s Chief, Jorge Macri.
In the fourth leg of his visit, Prime Minister Modi attended the 17th BRICS Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from July 6 to 7. He then travelled to Brasília, the capital of Brazil, for a State Visit and held bilateral talks with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The two leaders discussed ways to expand the Strategic Partnership between India and Brazil in areas such as trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health, and people-to-people exchanges. During the visit, President Lula conferred on Prime Minister Modi Brazil’s highest civilian honour, The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross.
In the final leg of his tour on July 9, Prime Minister Modi visited Namibia – marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 27 years. He addressed the Namibian Parliament, where he received a standing ovation from the members. During the visit, President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah conferred upon him The Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, Namibia’s highest civilian honour.
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol returned to a solitary jail cell on Thursday after a court approved a warrant sought by prosecutors investigating his attempt to impose martial law last year.
The Seoul Central District Court’s decision bolstered the special counsel investigation into allegations that Yoon’s move in December represented obstruction of justice and abuse of power.
The court said in a statement it granted the request because of concerns Yoon could seek to destroy evidence, returning him to confinement at the Seoul Detention Center where he spent 52 days earlier in the year before being released four months ago on technical grounds.
He moved back with his wife and his 11 dogs and cats to their 164 square metre (1,765 square feet) apartment in an upscale district of Seoul. The couple’s net worth is estimated at 7.5 billion won ($5.47 million), according to a government filing.
But Yoon will now be housed in a 10 square-metre solitary cell and sleeping on a foldable mattress on the floor without an air conditioner, an official at the detention centre and media reports said.
With a heat wave gripping the country, Yoon will have to rely on a small electric fan that switches off at night, Park Jie-won, an opposition lawmaker who had been incarcerated there, said on a YouTube talk show.
The detention facility served a breakfast of steamed potatoes and mini cheese breads for inmates on Thursday, another official said.
The conservative politician faces criminal charges of insurrection over his martial law decree, which could carry a sentence of life in prison or death.
YOON SKIPS COURT HEARING
Hours after he ended up in jail, the court held a hearing on Thursday morning for his insurrection trial, but Yoon did not attend.
His lawyers told the court that he was unable to go to the hearing due to health issues, the Yonhap News Agency reported.
The Constitutional Court ousted Yoon as president in April, upholding parliament’s impeachment for the martial law bid, which shocked South Koreans and triggered months of political turmoil.
The special prosecution team launched its investigation after new leader Lee Jae Myung was elected in June, and it has been looking into additional charges against Yoon.
The special counsel team is now expected to speed up its probe into allegations, including whether Yoon hurt South Korea’s interests by intentionally inflaming tensions with North Korea.
The team plans to question Yoon on Friday, informing his wife and lawyers about his detention via letters, Park Ji-young, a deputy to the special counsel, told reporters on Thursday.
Yoon attended the court hearing on Wednesday on the detention warrant, wearing a dark navy suit and a red tie, but did not answer questions from reporters.
His lawyers have denied the allegations against him and called the detention request an unreasonable move in a hasty investigation.
More than 1,000 supporters rallied near the court on Wednesday, local media reported, waving flags and signs and chanting Yoon’s name in searing 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit) heat.
In their warrant request, prosecutors said Yoon poses a flight risk, local media reported.
The Israeli military said on Thursday that a missile launched from Yemen was intercepted after air raid sirens sounded in several areas across the country.
The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have been firing at Israel and attacking shipping lanes.
Houthis have repeatedly said that their attacks are an act of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel’s military assault since late 2023 has killed more than 57,000 people, Gaza authorities say.
Most of the dozens of missiles and drones they have launched have been intercepted or fallen short. Israel has carried out a series of retaliatory strikes.
Police are investigating after a body was located at O’Sullivan Beach this morning.
Just before 10.30am on Thursday 10 July, police and paramedics were called to the O’Sullivan Beach boat ramp after a person was seen floating in the water.
The 29-year-old Christie Downs man was brought to shore but sadly could not be revived.
The death is not being treated as suspicious, and police are preparing a report for the Coroner.
An organised crime group who supplied cocaine across the UK have been jailed for more than 65 years following an extensive investigation from the Metropolitan Police and the National Crime Agency
A joint Met and National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation has led to an organised crime group being jailed for their role in the supply of cocaine across the capital and the United Kingdom. Their efforts signify officers’ efforts to crack down on drug supply and associated anti-social behaviour and violence, which causes misery to Londoners and those beyond.
The investigation unveiled that Redon Bushi, 32, (27.04.1993), of Cherry Crescent, Brentford, was operating in the leading role of this enterprise over a number of years, with multiple importers and couriers working with him.
He pleaded guilty at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court on Monday, 10 July 2024 to –
two counts of conspiracy to supply Class A drugs,
conspiracy to transfer criminal property,
possessing criminal property.
He was sentenced to a total of 24 years’ and 10 months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
Encrypted messaging services EncroChat and Signal revealed Bushi had conspired to supply a minimum of 832kg of cocaine, with a street value of up to £81,640,000, across London and the entirety of the UK. Once the Encrochat messages had been discovered, a targeted operation followed and Met detectives started work to dismantle the illegal drug-dealing operation.
The investigation
Met detectives discovered Bushi was using Encrochat under the username of ‘Sealvermouth’ after the platform was cracked by international law enforcement, supported by the NCA.
Their investigation showed that Bushi took precautions to attempt to protect his wider criminal network. His couriers would only be provided post codes, times, and a loose description of the individual they would be providing to.
However, his efforts were combatted by the tenacity of Met officers, who were able to uncover the group’s lines of communication. They thoroughly reviewed each and every device and chat pertaining to the group. They also trawled through hours’ worth of CCTV and were able to piece together the inner mechanics of the criminal operation.
Using this material, officers stopped one of the vehicles belonging to Bushi’s couriers, Ahmad Jabarkhill in June 2020 and found nearly £700,000 on him.
The Met and NCA officers also used covert tactics and intelligence to identify three more of Bushi’s couriers – Arline Sida, Luke Ferguson and Kelvin Hoxha, gathering evidence to show the scale of the enterprise.
In addition to the chats, which were found between the group, fake identity cards were also found, as well as a van with a sophisticated concealment. There was also a camera set up at the location where drugs were being stored so it could be remotely monitored.
Acting on this information, Sida and Hoxha were both arrested in Brentford in August 2023. Searches were carried out at the address and they were found in possession of six kilograms of cocaine.
Luke Ferguson, another member of the criminal enterprise, was then arrested at a ‘safe house’ in Brentford and found in possession of 72kg of cocaine, worth an estimated street value of £6.24 million.
Police and the NCA then launched a manhunt for Bushi after his team were arrested. He stayed in a series of hotels to evade officers, bought a new phone, clothing, and had more than £3,000 in cash. Whilst the manhunt was ongoing, Bushi directed others to check cameras at various addresses to identify any police attendance or surveillance.
He was arrested in Reading in the following days.
Detective Constable David Leitner, who led the investigation on behalf of the Met,said:
“This case demonstrates our relentlessness in pursuing organised crime, while utilising the unprecedented opportunity that Encrochat represent to its fullest effect.
“Bushi clearly believed that these messaging platforms protected him from law enforcement, but they only served to provide us the very evidence to convict him and his associates.
“This shows the Met’s commitment to tackling offenders who are instrumental in supplying drugs to the streets of London.”
The wider criminal enterprise
Ahmad Jabarkhill, 32, (01.01.1993) pleaded guilty to the possession of criminal property at Isleworth Crown Court on Wednesday, 22 July 2020 and was sentenced on the same date to two years and three months’ imprisonment.
Arline Sida, 23 (16.02.2002), of London Road West, Amersham, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Wednesday, 17 January 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 12 years’ 9 months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
Kelvin Hoxha, 23, (15.04.2002), of Field Lane, Brentford pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs and driving while disqualified on Saturday, 26 October 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 11 years’ 8 Months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
Luke Ferguson, 32 (14.04.1993), of Becklow Road, Shepherd’s Bush, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to supply Class A drugs on Thursday, 21 November 2024 at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court and was sentenced to 14 years’ 5 months imprisonment on Wednesday, 9 July at Kingston-upon-Thames Crown Court.
If you watched any of the 2025 Wimbledon womens’ matches, you’ll have noticed many players donning a skort: a garment in which shorts are concealed under a skirt, or a front panel resembling a skirt.
You may even remember skorts from your schooling days, as they’re commonly offered in girls’ uniforms throughout Australia.
The skort (a portmanteau of skirt and shorts) has played a truly unique role in the history of women’s clothing. They were once a progressive item of clothing, as they afforded women the opportunity to partake in activities that would have been difficult in a skirt or dress.
Their role in contemporary society, however, is a bit more complicated.
Rebellious beginnings
The first garments resembling skorts were developed in the 1890s so women could ride bicycles without their skirt getting caught in the chains. While the puffy “bloomers” had already been invented a few decades earlier, women who wore them often faced ridicule.
Skorts were considered revolutionary at a time when men both figuratively and literally wore the pants.
Back then, they were usually a pair of loose pants under a front panel resembling a skirt. The aim was to retain the wearer’s femininity, and not offend those who thought pants were a purely masculine article of clothing.
A drawing from an 1896 patent of a ‘cycling skirt’.
The skort as we know it today, and as is seen across the sporting world, was popularised in the 1960s by American fashion designer Leon Levin.
This skirt was said to offer “the freedom of shorts and soft lines of a skirt”. The underlying message: even as women participate in traditionally “masculine” activities, they should be careful not to look too masculine.
Sport management academic M. Katie Flanagan argues women may be convinced that exercising in a skort achieves an acceptable gender performance. In other words, they are socialised to think they have to “perform” their gender by wearing the “correct” clothing.
Skorts in sport and school
In the sporting world, skorts are deliberately designed to be trendy and attractive, rather than purely functional.
One study on women golfers found they were more satisfied with their uniforms if they were happy with both the comfort and attractiveness, indicating women’s sportswear isn’t just about fit and practicality.
Skorts have historically also had class associations. As recently as ten years ago, sport skorts were an expensive item reserved for those from the middle and upper classes. Women from lower economic classes also tended to not have the time and/or resources to engage in the activities skorts were designed for, namely tennis and golf.
More recently, however, discount stores have made skorts accessible to those on a budget.
School skorts, a topic of my ongoing research, are particularly affordable at discount stores. A generic discount store skort may cost about A$10, compared to A$20–40 for one purchased directly from a school.
Some schools offer skorts to girls as the equivalent of sports shorts or as part of the everyday uniform. Other schools seem to prefer culottes as an alternative to a dress or skirt – shorts that are loose enough to resemble a skirt.
Many schools still don’t offer shorts to girls as part of the everyday uniform. Whether or not girls are allowed to wear the “boys’” shorts comes down to the individual school.
From rebellion to restriction
One 2019 review of school uniform policies in South Australia found 98.6% of public schools included shorts as a uniform option for girls, compared to just 26.4% of private schools.
Researchers Sarah Cohen-Woods and Rachel Laattoe found girls in private schools were often restricted in their choices, having to choose between skorts and culottes as an alternative to a skirt or dress.
Across Australia, all state and territory education policies – most of which came into effect between 2017 and 2019 – mandate public schools must offer girls the option of wearing shorts and pants.
However, the wordings of these policies differ widely. While New South Wales, Victoria and Norther Territory specifically mention shorts and pants must be offered to girls, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania specify schools must offer unisex or gender neutral items to all students.
South Australia’s and Australian Capital Territory’s policies further state uniform items should be categorised by type of clothing, or in non-gender specific terms.
However, in some states, including New South Wales, schools are free to interpret the policy as they wish, which is why some only offer culottes or skorts to girls. There is generally no oversight or enforcement of policies to force schools to offer actual shorts to girls.
A similar debate is happening in women’s sports. Ireland’s Camogie Association only ended the compulsory skorts policy in May, after years of complaints by players. Dublin captain Aisling Maher said she was “sick of being forced to wear a skort that is uncomfortable and unfit for purpose”.
“In no other facet of my life does someone dictate that I have to wear something resembling a skirt because I am a girl. Why is it happening in my sport?” Maher said.
A camogie team pictured in Waterford, Ireland, 1915. The Irish stick-and-ball team sport is played by women. Wikimedia
A garment for the male gaze
In recent years, many stores have advertised skorts for fashion. Target, for instance, currently sells a tailored skort described as a “must have for any trendsetter looking to stand out in a crowd”.
There are conflicting arguments about whether skorts are progressive or regressive. On one hand, they allow women and girls to move freely during physical activities, without having to worry about their underwear being visible.
On the other, they set a precedent in regards to how women and girls ought to perform their gender, by avoiding looking too “masculine” – which makes them somewhat misogynistic.
The skort is an object of dual meanings: at once a skirt and a pair of shorts – at once progressive and regressive.
Jennifer E. Cheng does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Delhi and several parts of the National Capital Region (NCR) have been experiencing continuous rainfall since Wednesday night, bringing relief from the recent spell of high temperatures and intense humidity.
The downpour, which began on Wednesday evening, led to overcast skies across the region and brought much-needed respite to residents. However, the incessant rainfall also triggered widespread waterlogging in various parts of Gurugram, causing severe traffic disruptions. Vehicles were seen navigating through waterlogged roads as the city struggled with drainage issues.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi is likely to witness a “generally cloudy sky with moderate rain” over the coming days. The IMD has also forecast thunderstorms accompanied by rain for the national capital over the next three days. The Regional Meteorological Centre in Chandigarh has predicted similar conditions for Gurugram, with cloudy skies and intermittent spells of rain or thundershowers expected to continue for at least two more days.
In Haryana, Ambala city also received a fresh spell of rainfall. The weather department has predicted that the region will continue to experience a generally cloudy sky with a few spells of rain or thundershowers until tomorrow.
Rajasthan’s Ajmer district has similarly been affected by heavy rainfall, with reports of waterlogging emerging from several areas of the city. The IMD has forecast thunderstorms with rain to persist in Ajmer until July 13.
The IMD earlier confirmed that active monsoon conditions are expected to continue across the central parts of the country for the next four to five days, potentially impacting several states with heavy rainfall.
In Himachal Pradesh, the monsoon season has turned devastating. According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), a total of 85 lives have been lost so far. Of these, 54 deaths were directly attributed to rain-related disasters, while 31 others were caused by road accidents during poor weather conditions.
The SDMA’s cumulative report reveals that landslides, flash floods, cloudbursts, and drowning incidents account for the majority of fatalities. Mandi district has emerged as the worst-hit area, with 17 rain-related deaths. Other severely affected districts include Kangra, Hamirpur , and several others such as Kullu, Chamba, Shimla, Sirmaur, Una, Bilaspur, and Kinnaur, which have reported lower but still significant numbers. The report also notes 129 injuries and 34 people currently missing in connection with these natural calamities.
As heavy rains continue to lash North India, authorities remain on high alert, especially in vulnerable districts, to mitigate further loss of life and damage to infrastructure.
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
LONDON, July 10 (Xinhua) — British Prime Minister Keir Starmer met with French President Emmanuel Macron at his Downing Street residence on Wednesday, vowing to work together to combat illegal migration.
“The leaders agreed that tackling the threat of illegal migration and small boat crossings is a shared priority that requires joint solutions,” said a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office.
“Both leaders agreed on the need to move forward and make progress in developing new and innovative solutions, including new deterrents to disrupt the business model of these gangs,” the statement said.
Despite joint funding and collaboration, more than 20,000 people have arrived in the UK from France on small boats across the English Channel this year, a 50 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Both leaders are under enormous pressure in their countries over a surge in far-right and anti-immigration political sentiment. In a speech to the British parliament on Tuesday, Mr Macron called the issue a “burden” for both countries. It remains unclear whether the two sides will reach a new deal to combat illegal migration during the French president’s three-day visit.
During their meeting on Wednesday, the leaders also discussed joint efforts to further deepen the partnership, from strengthening defense cooperation to increasing bilateral trade and investment.
A British-French summit is planned for Thursday, at which both sides aim to make concrete progress in these areas, the statement said.
Macron began a state visit to the UK on Tuesday, the first such visit by a French president since 2008. Macron is also the first head of state from the European Union to visit the UK on a state visit since Brexit. –0–
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