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Category: Europe

  • MIL-OSI: Virtune launches Virtune Bitcoin Prime ETP and Virtune Staked Solana ETP on Deutsche Börse Xetra in Germany

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Frankfurt, 17th July 2025 – Swedish regulated crypto asset manager Virtune launches Virtune Bitcoin Prime ETP and Virtune Staked Solana ETP in Germany on Deutsche Börse Xetra, expanding its offering of physically backed crypto exchange-trade products in the German market. The products are also being listed on other German exchanges including gettex.

    Virtune, a Swedish digital asset manager and issuer of physically backed crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs), has earned the trust of over 140,000 investors across the Nordics since its launch just over two years ago. With more than $430 million in assets under management (AUM), Virtune continues to strengthen its position as one of the leading issuers of regulated crypto investment products across Europe.

    Following the successful German launch of the Virtune XRP ETP (ticker: VRTX, WKN: A4AKW5) and the Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP (ticker: VRTC, WKN: A4A5D4), a unique product launched in partnership with Coinbase, tracking the Coinbase 50 Europe Index, Virtune is now expanding its German offering with two new listings that are now available for investors through German brokers and banks:

    Virtune Bitcoin Prime ETP (VRTB) – a cost-efficient way to gain exposure to Bitcoin with an annual management fee of just 0.25%.

    Virtune Staked Solana ETP (VRTS) – providing investors with exposure to Solana combined with staking rewards for enhanced annual returns.

    These new listings reflect Virtune’s commitment to offering German investors secure, transparent, and regulated investment opportunities to the digital asset market.

    Coinbase serves as the crypto custodian for all of Virtune’s ETPs, providing institutional-grade security with the underlying crypto assets held in cold storage.

    Christopher Kock, CEO of Virtune:

    “We are excited to further strengthen our presence in the German market with the launch of Virtune Bitcoin Prime ETP and Virtune Staked Solana ETP on Xetra. Following our previous listings, this expansion highlights our continued commitment to making institutional-grade crypto investment products accessible to investors across Europe”

    Virtune Bitcoin Prime ETP – Key Product Information

    • Exposure to Bitcoin
    • 100% physically backed by Bitcoin being stored in cold-storage with Coinbase
    • 0.25% annual management fee
    • First Day of Trading: Wednesday, 16th of July 2025
    • Xetra Exchange Ticker: VRTB
    • ISIN: SE0025012032
    • WKN: A4AN8F
    • Trading currency: EUR

    Virtune Staked Solana ETP – Key Product Information

    • Exposure to Solana
    • 3% increased annual return through staking rewards
    • 0.95% annual management fee
    • First Day of Trading: Wednesday, 16th of July 2025
    • Xetra Exchange Ticker: VRTS
    • ISIN: SE0021309754
    • WKN: A4AGZQ
    • Trading currency: EUR

    For further inquiries, please contact:
    Christopher Kock, CEO & Member of the Board of Directors
    Mobile: +46 70 073 45 64
    Email: christopher@virtune.com

    About Virtune AB (Publ):

    Virtune with its headquarters in Stockholm is a regulated Swedish digital asset manager and issuer of crypto exchange traded products on regulated European exchanges.

    With regulatory compliance, strategic collaborations with industry leaders and our proficient team, we empower investors on a global level to access innovative and sophisticated investment products that are aligned with the evolving landscape of the global crypto market.

    Cryptocurrency investments are associated with high risk. Virtune does not provide investment advice. Investments are made at your own risk. Securities may increase or decrease in value, and there is no guarantee that you will recover your invested capital. Please read the prospectus, KID, terms at www.virtune.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa: Committee on Health Receives Inputs on Tobacco Bill from Lesedi Black Business Forum and World Vapers Alliance

    Source: APO


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    The Portfolio Committee on Health has received briefings from the Lesedi Black Business Forum (LBBF) and the World Vapers Alliance (WVA) on the Tobacco and Electronic Delivery System Control Bill.

    The LBBF supported the objectives of the Bill but called for a balance between public health and economic considerations. It said it has interacted with the Department of Health, via an online workshop organised by the department in 2020 but the LBBF is disappointed that the issues it raised in that workshop are not reflected in the final draft Bill submitted to Parliament.

    On regulation, it said it supports efforts to reduce smoking in South Africa. Mr Lobi of the LBBF said a smarter, more practical approach is required to achieve the Bill’s goal while avoiding harm to communities and businesses in the process. He urged the government to focus more on stopping the out-of-control illicit tobacco trade, which harms young people and the poor the most.

    The LBBF said the government should work on preventing young people from smoking by using behavioural and educational programmes, as was done in the past with HIV/Aids awareness campaigns, for instance. These programmes are key to finding a lasting solution to reducing smoking.

    Mr Lobi said: “We have a problem with the criminalisation of smokers. Treating smokers as criminals is unfair and ineffective, and we encourage a more supportive approach to help them quit.”

    The LBBF emphasised that in their local municipality, tobacco manufacturing is an anchor industry but it is being jeopardised by the Bill, should it be adopted as it is. Mr Lobi added: “Beyond specific Lesedi consideration, the Bill fails to account for the commercial interests of small traders that dot the South African landscape due to lack of employment opportunities.”

    The WVA is concerned that the Bill equates vaping with smoking. Provisions such as flavour bans, advertising restrictions, plain packaging and public use bans exacerbate the situation. Overregulation may drive consumers back to smoking or the illicit market. Notably, WVA said the Bill fails to acknowledge vaping as a tool for harm reduction. The WVA in its briefing submitted evidence from Sweden, demonstrating a remarkable 55% decline in smoking rates over the past decade.

    Committee chairperson Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said inputs made during the public engagement process will be taken into consideration and applied when the committee starts its deliberation on the Bill after consultations with the public are completed.

    The objective of the Bill is to strengthen public health protection measures, align South African tobacco control law with the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, and repeal the Tobacco Control Act of 1993 and its amendments.

    Key provisions in the Bill include the introduction of 100 percent smoke-free indoor public places and certain outdoor areas; a ban on the sale of cigarettes through vending machines; the implementation of plain packaging with graphic health warnings; a ban on the display of products at points of sale; and the regulation and control of electronic nicotine delivery systems and non-nicotine delivery systems.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: How Africa’s First Group of Twenty (G20) is Mainstreaming Gender

    Source: APO


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    The G20 is a global economic forum with the potential to transform lives for women and girls globally. Here’s why South Africa’s leadership in 2025 represents a pivotal moment. We asked UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office Programme Analyst Neo Mofokeng how South Africa’s 2025 presidency could advance gender equality.

    What is the G20, and why should women care?

    The Group of Twenty (G20) is an international forum for governments and central bank governors from 19 countries, the European Union, and the African Union. It was established in 1999 to bring together the world’s major economies to discuss and promote international financial stability and sustainable economic growth. It brings together the world’s largest economies, representing 67 per cent of the global population and 85 per cent of global GDP. When G20 countries make decisions, they don’t just affect stock markets; they directly impact whether women can access credit to start businesses, find decent jobs, or receive social protection during crises. From climate financing to digital transformation, the G20’s policies ripple through national economies, determining whether women are empowered or excluded from economic opportunities. When these countries and regional entities commit to gender-responsive policies, the effects are systemic, not symbolic.

    What makes South Africa’s G20 presidency historic?

    South Africa’s G20 presidency in 2025 marks a critical moment as it is the first time an African country has led the forum. This leadership comes just five years before the 2030 deadline for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), bringing renewed urgency to accelerate progress on SDGs, particularly SDG 5: Gender Equality. Under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability”, South Africa’s presidency directly aligns with the global agenda for gender equality and women’s empowerment. It is worth noting that South Africa has prioritized debt sustainability for low-income countries – a key gender justice issue, as debt crises often trigger austerity measures that disproportionately affect women and girls by reducing access to healthcare, education, and social protection.

    What does gender mainstreaming mean in the G20 context?

    While the G20 includes a dedicated Working Group on Women’s Empowerment, true progress requires gender mainstreaming, which is the embedding of gender perspectives across all working groups, not just the one explicitly focused on women’s issues. This means finance ministers considering how monetary policies affect women differently, infrastructure discussions evaluating women’s mobility and safety, and trade negotiations assessing impacts on women entrepreneurs. There is no such thing as gender-neutral economic policy – all decisions have differentiated impacts on women and men.

    What are the priorities for gender mainstreaming for this year’s G20?

    To carry forward the Global South priorities from the previous G20 presidencies of Indonesia, India, and Brazil, the following priorities were adopted as the focus areas for gender mainstreaming into this G20 presidency. The first priority is to shift policy perspectives on the care economy around paid and unpaid care work and household responsibilities. The second is to promote financial inclusion of and for women, and the third priority is to address gender-based violence and femicide, which threaten the lives and livelihoods of women.

    How is progress on gender equality measured in the G20?

    Despite the growing recognition of the importance of gender equality, tracking progress remains challenging. The most prominent commitment is the 2014 “25×25 goal”, reducing the gender gap in labour force participation by 25 per cent by 2025. As this deadline approaches, it serves as a critical test case for G20 accountability. However, other dimensions like unpaid care work, gender-based violence, and women’s leadership receive less attention. Gender-related commitments sometimes appear in one year’s declaration but vanish in the next, making long-term progress difficult to track. This is another reason why mainstreaming gender in the G20 is so important.

    What makes the G20’s influence on gender equality so significant?

    In a world of countless international forums, the G20’s influence is unmatched. When G20 countries commit to closing gender gaps in labour force participation or expanding women’s access to finance, the ripple effects shift global economic patterns and influence international norms far beyond G20 borders. The G20 serves as a strategic lever with the capacity to drive policy coherence by integrating gender equality across economic, climate, and digital agendas, foster shared accountability through joint monitoring, and mobilize financing with intent, ensuring gender equality is resourced, not just referenced.

    What is UN Women’s role in the G20 process?

    UN Women plays a pivotal role by advocating for gender mainstreaming across all G20 policy areas, providing technical expertise and data to working groups, and engaging with key stakeholders like the Women 20 (W20) engagement group. The organization works to ensure that gender perspectives are systematically mainstreamed into G20 discussions, communiqués, and policy frameworks, with a strong focus on women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion, and ending violence against women and girls.

    How has UN Women supported South Africa’s G20 presidency?

    UN Women, through its South Africa Multi-Country Office, has provided comprehensive technical and financial support to the South African Government, made possible by backing from The Ford Foundation, the Government of Ireland, and the UN Women Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office. This support has been crucial in advancing gender equality within South Africa’s G20 agenda.

    • Youth Engagement: In February 2025, UN Women partnered with the South African Institute of International Affairs youth division to organize the “Bridging the Gap for Global Impact” workshop in Johannesburg, bringing together 150 young leaders aged 18-25. The workshop provided tools for effectively engaging decision-makers and included panel discussions on gender advocacy, enabling participants to develop strategies for promoting gender equality.
    • Transforming Patriarchal Masculinities: In March 2025, UN Women hosted a dialogue on “Transforming Patriarchal Masculinities for a Gender-Equal World” in Pretoria, bringing together 150 students from universities, technical and vocational education and training institutions, and high schools. This dialogue compiled youth recommendations for the Women’s Empowerment Ministerial Working Group meeting.
    • Technical Working Group Support: UN Women provided crucial support to all three Empowerment of Women Working Group meetings throughout 2025. The February virtual meeting focused on setting the priorities of the care economy, financial inclusion, and gender-based violence. The May meeting in Sun City emphasized advancing financial inclusion and developing a Guidelines Framework for mainstreaming women’s priorities in global financial systems. The July meeting at Kruger National Park concentrated on the care economy – recognizing, reducing, and redistributing care work.
    • Private Sector Engagement: UN Women supported a groundbreaking Private Sector Breakfast in May, bringing together corporate leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to align business practices with G20 gender equality goals. Grounded in the Women’s Empowerment Principles, this initiative moved beyond symbolic participation to actionable commitments.
    • Disability Inclusion: Additionally, UN Women supported disability inclusion initiatives and the W20 inception meeting, demonstrating comprehensive engagement across all aspects of South Africa’s gender equality agenda.

    What does success look like for gender equality in the G20?

    Success in 2025 means moving beyond rhetoric to gender-transformative policies with robust accountability mechanisms. It requires recognizing gender as intersectional, addressing the diverse experiences of all women and gender-diverse individuals across lines of race, class, disability, and age. At the current pace, it will take over 123 years to close gender gaps globally. The G20 has the power to change this trajectory, but only if gender equality becomes a lived reality, not just a shared goal.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of UN Women – Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Jordan Evacuates 35 Sick Children from Gaza

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    AMMAN, July 17 (Xinhua) — The Jordanian Armed Forces on Wednesday evacuated the seventh batch of sick children from the Gaza Strip as part of the Jordan Medical Corridor initiative, the military said in a statement.

    The group included 35 children, accompanied by 72 family members, who were transported to Jordan for treatment at local hospitals via the King Hussein Causeway.

    The evacuation was carried out in coordination with the Jordanian Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization and in accordance with strict medical and safety procedures.

    According to the statement, this is the largest group of evacuees since the initiative was launched in March.

    To date, a total of 112 children and 241 family members have been transported to Jordan for medical care.

    In February, Jordan’s King Abdullah II announced the country’s readiness to accept up to 2,000 Palestinian children from Gaza for treatment. –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The share of inventions implemented in production is increasing in China

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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 17 (Xinhua) — The proportion of China’s patent-protected corporate inventions put into production rose to 53.3 percent in 2024 from 44.9 percent in 2020, Shen Changyu, director of the National Intellectual Property Administration, said Thursday.

    At a press conference held by the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, the head of the department presented the country’s achievements in the field of intellectual property during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) and answered journalists’ questions on the matter. -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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China publishes study guide for Xi Jinping’s important ideas on strengthening and improving work on ethnic issues in five ethnic minority languages

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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 17 (Xinhua) — A study guide for important thoughts on strengthening and improving work on ethnic issues by General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Xi Jinping has been published in five ethnic minority languages.

    This book, prepared by the United Front Department of the CPC Central Committee and the National Ethnic Affairs Commission of the PRC, was published by Minzu Chubanshe Publishing House in the languages of the Mongolian, Tibetan, Uyghur, Kazakh and Korean nationalities.

    The book is available at Xinhua bookstores nationwide. -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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Delegation of businessmen from Tajikistan visited the new campus of NSU

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    A delegation of businessmen from the Republic of Tajikistan, representing the financial and insurance sectors, visited the new campus of NSU, which is being built within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”. During the visit, a meeting was held with the management Faculty of Economics to discuss the development of cooperation with the Central Asian republic.

    The businessmen appreciated the high level of infrastructure being created on the university campus. The delegation attended lectures in large auditoriums and were impressed by the scale and high level of organization of the educational process.

    — This is not just a modern building — it is a real world-class scientific center. I was particularly impressed by the high quality of the infrastructure, comfortable classrooms and an atmosphere conducive to learning and scientific activity. Such campuses create not just an educational environment, but a space for the formation of future leaders of science and technology, — emphasized Ayubjon Nasirov, founder and current head of the insurance organization Eskhata Sugurta.

    During the meeting with the leadership of the Faculty of Economics, cooperation between universities of Tajikistan and NSU was discussed in several key areas:

    · Training and retraining of personnel in technical and economic specialties.

    · Joint scientific research, in particular in the field of information technology, digital transformation of business and medicine.

    · Internships and student exchanges, which are especially important for practical training and international experience.

    — We would like to pay special attention to the development of the Olympiad movement and work with gifted children. We are very interested in the Physics and Mathematics School (SUNC NSU), which has been successfully working with talented schoolchildren for many years. Many of our schoolchildren — winners of republican Olympiads — studied and successfully graduated from your university. It is important not only to preserve this tradition, but also to develop it, expanding the access of talented youth of Tajikistan to your educational programs, — explained Ayubjon Nasirov.

    Thus, the deputy dean of the economics department of NSU Naimdzhon Ibragimov at one time got to the university through the PhMS. In 1981, he won the republican Olympiad in mathematics in Tajikistan, after which he was offered to enroll in the summer school at the PhMS. In 1983, he graduated from the physics and mathematics school and entered the EF NSU.

    As noted by businessmen, NSU is distinguished by a high level of academic and scientific training, powerful infrastructure, as well as deep integration of science, education and innovation. Also, the trend of recent years is the strengthening of cooperation between the university and companies and enterprises from various industries.

    — In Tajikistan, we are also actively developing the higher education system, but here, at NSU, we saw an example of how a university can become a center for technological and economic development in a region. We were especially impressed by the close connection between the university and business, which allows us to quickly adapt educational programs to the needs of the labor market and ensure that graduates are in demand, — added Ayubjon Nasirov.

    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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: A 7.2 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of the US state of Alaska

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    NEW YORK, July 17 (Xinhua) — A 7.2-magnitude earthquake jolted 87 km south of Sand Point in the U.S. state of Alaska at 20:37 GMT on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

    According to preliminary data, the epicenter of the tremors was located at a point with coordinates 54.55 degrees north latitude and 160.34 degrees west longitude. The hypocenter was located at a depth of 36 km. –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xinjiang Opens 28th Civil Airport

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    URUMQI, July 17 (Xinhua) — The 28th civil airport has opened in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, cementing Xinjiang’s status as the provincial-level region with the most airports in the country.

    The opening of the Barkul Dahe Airport, the second high-altitude airport in Xinjiang, took place on July 15. The airport, located in Barkul Kazakh Autonomous County (Hami City), cost 692.84 million yuan (about 97 million US dollars) to build and has a design capacity of 300,000 passengers and 700 tons of cargo per year.

    Currently, Barkul Dahe Airport serves two flights, one from Chengdu to Barkul with a stop in Zhengzhou and another from Chongqing to Barkul. There are also plans to launch a flight to Beijing.

    According to Xinjiang Airport Group, the new airport will promote the development of the local economy and industries with local characteristics, play a role in implementing the strategy of “Rising Xinjiang through Tourism” and achieving rural development in Barkul and surrounding areas. -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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese cartoon “Nezha 2” premiered in UAE

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    DUBAI, July 17 (Xinhua) — Chinese animated film “Nezha 2” premiered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Tuesday evening. About a hundred spectators, including local cultural figures, bloggers and movie buffs, gathered at the Cinemacity cinema in Dubai Mall.

    The 2.5-hour cartoon, shown in Chinese with Arabic and English subtitles, captivated viewers with its rich animation and dynamic plot.

    “The film really touched me,” said Dubai student Mohammad. “It’s not just animation – it’s a film about family, responsibility and growing up. Nezha may be a mythological figure, but his internal struggles and choices felt very real to me,” he added.

    Nezha 2 hits major UAE cinemas from Thursday. –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Drone strikes US-controlled Iraqi oil field for second time in one day

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    BAGHDAD, July 17 (Xinhua) — A bomb-laden drone carried out the second strike of the day on a U.S.-run oil field in northern Iraq’s Kurdish Autonomous Region on Wednesday evening, the Kurdistan Regional Government’s Ministry of Natural Resources said.

    The attack took place at 19:10 local time. The drone hit an oil field operated by a US firm in the Baadre area southeast of the city of Dohuk, the statement said.

    The shelling caused material damage, but there were no casualties. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.

    The regional government strongly condemned the attacks, saying they threatened energy infrastructure and civilian lives. Local authorities called on Iraq’s federal government to take action to stop the attacks. –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Pakistan: 124 killed in three weeks of monsoons

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    ISLAMABAD, July 17 (Xinhua) — Heavy monsoon rains and related incidents have killed at least 124 people in Pakistan in the past three weeks and injured 264 others, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Wednesday.

    According to him, the deaths were recorded from June 26 to July 16. Over the past 24 hours, eight new deaths and 11 injuries were registered.

    The eastern province of Punjab was the worst hit, with 49 people killed and 158 injured, followed by the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where 38 people died and 57 were injured. The southern province of Sindh reported 20 deaths and 40 injuries. The southwestern province of Balochistan reported 16 deaths and four injuries.

    There was one death and five injuries in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. There were no casualties in Gilgit-Baltistan or the Islamabad Capital Territory. –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UK inflation rises 3.6 percent in June

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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 17 (Xinhua) — Britain’s annual consumer price inflation rose 3.6 percent in June, the highest since January 2024, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said on Wednesday.

    The ONS said the rate stood at 3.4 per cent in May. It attributed the rise mainly to higher prices for motor fuel, air and rail travel, and food.

    Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rose 4.5 percent year-on-year, the highest since February 2024.

    Core inflation excluding energy, food, alcohol and tobacco rose by 3.7 percent in June, up from 3.5 percent in May. Services inflation, a key indicator of domestic price pressure, was unchanged in June at 4.7 percent.

    Previous data from the ONS showed that UK real GDP contracted by 0.1% in May 2025, the second month in a row, following a 0.3% decline in April.

    In mid-June, the Bank of England decided to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 4.25%, citing persistent inflationary pressures and heightened global uncertainty.

    June inflation remains well above the 2 percent target, and the base rate is expected to be cut in August.

    Market analysts believe that in 2025 the regulator will lower the rate at least twice more, which could reach 3.75 percent by the end of the year. –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.

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    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Ethiopia Takes Bold Strides on Health Taxes to Drive Universal Health Coverage

    Source: APO – Report:

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    In a landmark show of political will and multisectoral collaboration, the Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives (HPR), the Ministry of Health, and partners are spearheading one of Africa’s most promising health financing reforms. By embracing health taxes as a strategic tool, Ethiopia has started strengthening its national health system, curbing the rise of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), and advancing its journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

    This momentous collaboration was showcased during a high-level training workshop held from 13 to 14 June 2025 in Adama, Ethiopia. The forum was jointly organized by WHO Ethiopia and the Ministry of Health, in partnership with the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), and with generous financial support from the Government of Norway.

    The two-day event brought together 63 MPs and parliamentary staff as well as 13 senior officials of the Ministry of Health, reaffirming the critical role of legislative bodies in shaping public health through economic policy.

    The workshop focused on consolidating the capacity of lawmakers to further understand and champion health taxes—specifically excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages. These taxes are globally recognized for their dual impact: they discourage the use of harmful products while generating sustainable revenue to fund essential health services.

    In her opening remarks, H.E. Lomi Bedo, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, emphasized the transformative power of Ethiopia’s 2020 excise tax law. “By raising taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful products, Ethiopia has taken a critical step toward safeguarding public health and promoting healthier communities,” she stated. “Increasing prices on unhealthy commodities remains one of the most effective strategies to reduce their consumption and associated health risks, including addiction and premature death.”

    Her remarks echoed the growing recognition of Parliament’s proactive legislative stance—one that aligns with the nation’s development vision and its commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Ethiopian State Minister of Health H.E. Dr. Dereje Duguma on his part warned that misleading narratives from the tobacco industry persist—particularly claims that more than 50% of the tobacco market has turned illicit post-legislation. He stressed the importance of evidence-based policymaking and pledged the Ministry’s continued collaboration with Parliament, WHO, and all development partners to strengthen tax administration and uphold Ethiopia’s progress toward UHC and NCD control.

    Delivering a keynote address, Dr. Owen Laws Kaluwa, WHO Representative to Ethiopia, praised Ethiopia’s leadership in adopting bold and effective non-traditional mechanisms to raise additional funds for the country. “Stronger health systems enable countries to allocate scarce resources to their most pressing priorities,” Dr. Kaluwa said. “The 2020 excise tax legislation remains one of the most impactful policy tools for reducing the consumption of harmful products while boosting domestic revenue.”

    Dr. Kaluwa highlighted that WHO’s support to Ethiopia is part of a multi-year project on health taxes implemented in collaboration with IPU and funded by the Norwegian Government. As a priority country in this initiative, Ethiopia is receiving targeted technical assistance for policy analysis, tax implementation, and improved access to NCD treatment and care.

    Throughout the workshop, MPs and parliamentary technical staff deliberated on the latest global and national evidence on the effectiveness of health taxes. Participants engaged in hands-on sessions using updated policy briefs, data, and technical tools designed to inform legislative decisions and sustain tax implementation in the long term.

    Key discussions focused on the importance of Parliament’s role in maintaining robust tax systems, supporting annual adjustments, and shielding policy development from industry interference. Participants reaffirmed their commitment to advancing fiscal policies that prioritize public health and social equity.

    Health taxes have gained wider recognition globally as part of a broader push to combat NCDs—conditions such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses that account for more than 70% of global deaths and disproportionately affect low- and middle-income countries. Ethiopia’s approach—grounded in science, backed by policy, and supported by partners—demonstrates how strategic legislation can serve both public health and economic resilience.

    Looking ahead, WHO Ethiopia reaffirmed its dedication to working alongside Parliament, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, and other stakeholders to reinforce Ethiopia’s health financing landscape. This includes ensuring that health taxes are not only implemented but effective, efficient, and accountable public financial management systems are necessary for the additional revenues to reach and be accountable for expenditure objectives.

    “Health taxes are not just a revenue tool—they are a health-saving, life-preserving measure,” Dr. Kaluwa concluded. “Ethiopia’s continued leadership in this space is not only commendable but also offers a blueprint for the region and beyond.”

    As the country continues its path toward UHC, Ethiopia’s experience highlights the power of political commitment, intersectoral collaboration, and strategic investment in health. The success of its health tax policy and administration illustrates how even modest fiscal interventions can yield transformative outcomes—saving lives, strengthening systems, and building a healthier future for all.

    – on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Ethiopia.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI: Announcement of Q2 2025 Financial Results on Thursday, July 31, after market close

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Paris, France – July 17, 2025

    Q2 2025 financial results and conference call

    Viridien will announce its second quarter 2025 results on Thursday, July 31, after market close.

    • The press release and presentation will be made available on www.viridiengroup.com at 5.45 pm (CET)
    • An English-language conference call is scheduled at 6.00 pm (CET) on the same day

    Participants must register for the conference call by clicking here to receive a dial-in number and PIN code. Participants may also join the live webcast by clicking here.

    A replay of the conference call will be available starting the following day, for a period of 12 months, in audio format on the Company’s website www.viridiengroup.com.

    About Viridien:

    Viridien (www.viridiengroup.com) is an advanced technology, digital and Earth data company that pushes the boundaries of science for a more prosperous and sustainable future. With our ingenuity, drive and deep curiosity we discover new insights, innovations, and solutions that efficiently and responsibly resolve complex natural resources, digital, energy transition and infrastructure challenges. Viridien employs around 3,400 people worldwide and is listed as VIRI on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: FR001400PVN6).

    Contacts

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Kenya kick starts a UNESCO NFiT project on Safeguarding Kenya Lake System’s Unique Ecological Gem

    Source: UNESCO World Heritage Centre

    UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, in collaboration with the National Museums of Kenya and the Kenya Wildlife Service, officially held the first inception meeting on the project titled “safeguarding Kenya Lake System’s Unique Ecological Gem,” in Nairobi on 20 January 2025. The meeting had representatives from the Government of Kenya County Government of Baringo, County Government of Nakuru, the Embassy of the kingdom of the Netherlands, wardens from the Lake system, Community members and other stakeholders. Funded by the Government of the Netherlands within the Netherlands Funds in Trust, this project will take place at the Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley in 2025.

    The Kenya Lake System in the Great Rift Valley is a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2011.  The site is a natural property of outstanding beauty, comprises three inter-linked relatively shallow lakes (Lake Bogoria, Lake Nakuru and Lake Elementaita) in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya that covers a total area of 32,034 hectares. The property is home to 13 globally threatened bird species1 and some of the highest bird diversities in the world. It is the single most important foraging site for the Lesser flamingo in the world with about 1.5 million individuals moving from one lake to the other. The property contains all of the key habitats and features that contribute to its Outstanding Universal Value.

    The project seeks to promote sustainable resource management through community engagement, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility among local populations. By integrating scientific research with Indigenous Knowledge, the initiative aims to develop conservation strategies that align with the needs of both biodiversity and the local communities dependent on the lake system. Ultimately, the project aspires to ensure the ecological integrity and long-term sustainability of this unique natural heritage site while contributing to global biodiversity goals.

    The inception meeting was instrumental in bringing together key stakeholders to address the project’s primary objective of tackling critical environmental challenges to safeguard the Kenya Lake System. The initiative focuses on the discussion on how to conserve migratory waterbirds, including the Lesser Flamingo, while promoting sustainable resource management. Additionally, the meeting contributed to enhancing community engagement and increasing awareness of pressing environmental issues. All levels of the stakeholder’s participation from the outset of the project contributed to ensuring a comprehensive approach to the conservation of this vital ecosystem.

    Speaking at the inception, Mr Hoseah Wanderi, Head of World Heritage Sites at National Museums of Kenya,  highlighted that the project aligns with key international frameworks and decisions to guide its implementation. It responds directly to the World Heritage Committee Decision 45 COM 7B.7, which calls for urgent measures to address deforestation, land degradation, and uncontrolled developments in sensitive buffer zones around the lake system. Additionally, the project adheres to the principles of the East Asian-Australasian Flyway Partnership (EAWA), focusing on protecting migratory waterbirds by mitigating threats from agriculture, aquaculture, and other human activities impacting critical habitats. 

    Mr Pim van der Male, Deputy Head of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, emphasized the critical need for coordination and alignment of ongoing efforts to safeguard the Rift Valley Lakes. He highlighted the dynamic nature of these lakes and the increasing pressures from urbanization, climate change, and land-use changes. Pim underscored the importance of institutional frameworks, particularly at the basin level, to ensure sustainable water management.

    We stand ready to share our experiences and foster partnerships to unlock the lakes’ potential sustainability while preserving their beauty for future generations…Preserving the Great Rift Valley lakes is not just an environmental duty but an investment in cultural heritage, tourism, and livelihoods.

    Two experts were officially introduced as the primary specialists who will lead the project, in close cooperation with all stakeholders involved, to ensure the success of the project. The Wildlife Expert, an authority in wildlife conservation, will spearhead initiatives aimed at preserving the unique flora and fauna surrounding the Kenya Lake System. Their expertise will be crucial in identifying effective conservation strategies to protect endangered species and ensure the sustainability of biodiversity in the region. Meanwhile, the Environmental Experts, with their extensive knowledge in environmental management and ecosystem preservation, will focus on developing strategies to address environmental threats such as pollution and climate change. Their work will ensure a balanced approach to safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Kenya Lake System. Both experts will play pivotal roles in driving the project’s implementation, ensuring that conservation efforts are grounded in sound scientific and environmental principles.

    As threats to biodiversity intensify, this initiative marks a critical step in safeguarding the Kenya Lake System, ensuring it remains a thriving ecosystem and a beacon of conservation excellence. Reflecting UNESCO’s commitment to global environmental stewardship, the project underscores the importance of collaboration as a cornerstone for effective conservation.

    The meeting was concluded with the participants’ confirmation of their cooperation towards the successful implementation of the project.

    This project has come at the right time. Through the various collaborations and working together with local communities and referencing to multilateral environmental agreements ensures long-term success for wetland ecosystems.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Health – ProCare welcomes fast-tracked registration for overseas doctors

    Source: ProCare

    ProCare welcomes the Medical Council’s decision to recognise overseas-trained doctors from Chile, Croatia, and Luxembourg as part of the “Comparable Health System pathway”. Alongside the fast-track registration for GPs from the USA, Canada, and Singapore, this will deliver a much-needed boost to general practices across Aotearoa who are facing a significant GP shortage.

    The decision means ProCare will be better placed to support its primary care network to recruit offshore GPs; further helping to ease workforce pressure and improve access to care for communities.

    Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at ProCare, says the organisation is ready to support practices to take full advantage of the change.

    “We know our practices are under pressure and this change gives us a practical way to bring in skilled clinicians faster,” says Norwell.

    Under the changes, GPs from the United States, Canada and Singapore will have their registration applications processed within two months, while specialists from countries such as the UK, Ireland and Australia will benefit from a fast-tracked 20-day assessment process. Japan and South Korea were added to the list in February 2025.

    “At ProCare, we are deeply committed to investing in the primary care workforce. We’ve long advocated for practical solutions that support our network and improve health outcomes for our communities. This announcement aligns with that vision.”

    Earlier this month, ProCare became an Immigration NZ Accredited Employer, allowing it to directly support practices with international recruitment and immigration processes.

    “We’re actively investing in solutions for primary care that make a difference,” says Norwell. “Our investment includes tailored support for general practice teams, leadership development, and tools to improve retention and resilience. We’re committed to building a strong, sustainable workforce that delivers better health outcomes for all New Zealanders.”

    ProCare will continue working closely with its network and partners to ensure overseas-trained doctors are welcomed, supported, and integrated into the communities where they’re needed most.

    Learn about ProCare’s Investment in Workforce: https://www.procare.co.nz/about-us/investment-in-workforce/

    About ProCare

    ProCare is a leading healthcare provider that aims to deliver the most progressive, pro-active and equitable health and wellbeing services in Aotearoa. We do this through our clinical support services, mental health and wellness services, virtual/tele health, mobile health, smoking cessation and by taking a population health and equity approach to our mahi. As New Zealand’s largest Primary Health Organisation, we represent a network of general practice teams and healthcare professionals who provide care to more than 830,000 people across Auckland and Northland. These practices serve the largest Pacific and South Asian populations enrolled in general practice and the largest Māori population in Tāmaki Makaurau. For more information go to www.procare.co.nz

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The President of Ukraine nominated D. Shmyhal for the post of Minister of Defense

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    KYIV, July 17 (Xinhua) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday proposed to parliament to appoint former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal as the new defense minister.

    “Today I have already signed documents to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine regarding Denis Shmyhal as the new Minister of Defense,” V. Zelensky said on the Telegram channel.

    If approved by parliament, D. Shmyhal will replace Rustem Umerov in this post.

    V. Zelensky also announced that former Minister for Strategic Industries German Smetanin will head the state defense concern Ukroboronprom.

    Earlier on Wednesday, parliament accepted the resignation of D. Shmyhal, which, in accordance with Ukrainian law, entailed the resignation of the entire government.

    The outgoing cabinet will continue to serve until a new government is formed. –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.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China Strengthens Global IP Ties with Over 80 Partners

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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 17 (Xinhua) — China has established partnerships with more than 80 countries and regions in the field of intellectual property (IP), Shen Changyu, director of the State Intellectual Property Administration (SIPA), said Thursday.

    The head of the State Administration of Intellectual Property made this statement at a press conference dedicated to China’s achievements in the field of IP during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025). -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.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • G20 finance chiefs to meet under tariff cloud in South Africa

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    G20 finance chiefs will meet in South Africa on Thursday under the shadow of President Donald Trump’s tariff threats and questions over their ability to tackle global challenges together.

    The club, which came to fore as a forum for international cooperation to combat the global financial crisis, has for years been hobbled by disputes among key players exacerbated by Russia’s war in Ukraine and Western sanctions on Moscow.

    Host South Africa, under its presidency motto “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability,” has aimed to promote an African agenda, with topics including the high cost of capital and funding for climate change action.

    The G20 aims to coordinate policies but its agreements are non-binding.

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will not attend the two-day meeting of finance ministers and central bank governors in the coastal city of Durban, marking his second absence from a G20 event in South Africa this year.

    Bessent also skipped February’s Cape Town gathering, where several officials from China, Japan and Canada were also absent, even though Washington is due to assume the G20 rotating presidency at the end of the year.

    Michael Kaplan, U.S. acting undersecretary for international affairs, will represent Washington at the meetings.

    A G20 delegate, who asked not to be named, said Bessent’s absence was not ideal but that the United States was engaging in discussions on trade, the global economy and climate language.

    Finance ministers from India, France and Russia are also set to miss the Durban meeting.

    South Africa’s central bank governor Lesetja Kganyago said that representation was what mattered most.

    “What matters is, is there somebody with a mandate sitting behind the flag and are all countries represented with somebody sitting behind the flag?” Kganyago told Reuters.

    U.S. officials have said little publicly about their plans for the presidency next year, but one source familiar with the plans said Washington would reduce the number of non-financial working groups, and streamline the summit schedule.

    Brad Setser, a former U.S. official now at the Council on Foreign Relations, said he expected it to be “kind of a scaled-back G20 with less expectation of substantive outcomes.”

    ‘TURBULENT TIMES’

    Trump’s tariff policies have torn up the global trade rule book. With baseline levies of 10% on all U.S. imports and targeted rates as high as 50% on steel and aluminium, 25% on autos and potential levies on pharmaceuticals, extra tariffs on more than 20 countries are slated to take effect on August 1.

    His threat to impose further 10% tariffs on BRICS nations — of which eight are G20 members — has raised fears of fragmentation within global forums.

    German finance ministry sources said on Tuesday that the Durban meeting would seek to deepen global relationships in “turbulent times”.

    South Africa’s Treasury Director General Duncan Pieterse said the group nonetheless hoped to issue the first communique under the South African G20 presidency by the end of the meetings.

    The G20 was last able to take a mutually agreed stance to issue a communique in July of 2024, agreeing on the need to resist protectionism but making no mention of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI: Lightchain AI Confirms Late July 2025 Mainnet Launch to Advance AI-Powered Blockchain Infrastructure

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SHREWSBURY, United Kingdom, July 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lightchain AI has officially announced that its mainnet will go live in late July 2025. This upcoming launch introduces a next-generation decentralized platform purpose-built to execute artificial intelligence tasks across a scalable, transparent, and community-driven blockchain network.

    Lightchain AI’s infrastructure is centered around two key components: the Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM) and the Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism. Together, these features allow participating nodes to process AI model training and inference tasks in real time, rewarding them with native tokens based on verifiable contributions.

    By repurposing blockchain energy use toward useful, privacy-preserving computations, the protocol sets a new precedent for how decentralized networks can support intelligent applications while maintaining sustainability and performance.

    “We’re proud to confirm the late July mainnet launch of Lightchain AI,” said a project spokesperson. “This marks a major milestone toward building a decentralized framework where AI execution is both efficient and secure, and where developers can bring meaningful use cases to life.”

    Key components of the Lightchain AI ecosystem include:

    • Proof of Intelligence (PoI): A new consensus model that verifies and rewards AI-based computations
    • Artificial Intelligence Virtual Machine (AIVM): Executes decentralized AI tasks using federated learning and zero-knowledge proofs
    • Gas Optimization: Dynamically adjusts fees based on task complexity and network activity
    • Developer Resources: APIs, SDKs, and a public GitHub repository (to be released post-launch)
    • Scalability Solutions: Native support for sharding and Layer 2 integrations
    • Incentive Program: $150,000 grant fund to support development of oracles, data tools, and dApps

    Lightchain AI completed 15 presale stages and raised $21.1 million in early participation. A Bonus Round remains active at a fixed price of $0.007, available through the official platform using ETH or USDT.

    Following the mainnet launch, the team will begin onboarding validators and contributors, while continuing to expand technical documentation and community governance resources. The roadmap also includes support for cross-chain integrations, additional performance enhancements, and ecosystem partnerships aimed at increasing adoption across AI and Web3 communities.

    The upcoming launch invites developers, researchers, and early adopters to participate in shaping the future of decentralized AI and explore new applications powered by transparent infrastructure.

    For more details and to join the Bonus Round:

    For more information and ongoing updates, visit:
    https://lightchain.ai
    Whitepaper
    Twitter/X
    Telegram

    Contact:
    SHAJAN SKARIA
    media@lightchain.ai

    Disclaimer: This content is provided by Lightchain AI. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.

    Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an “as-is” basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e84d2723-061e-4f7c-9253-2ef3537ee495

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australia got off on a technicality for its climate inaction. But there are plenty more judgement days to come

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney

    This week, the Federal Court found the Australian government has no legal duty to protect Torres Strait Islanders from climate change. The ruling was disappointing, but it’s not the end of the matter.

    The plaintiffs, Uncle Paul Kabai and Uncle Pabai Pabai, hail from the low-lying islands of Saibai and Boigu, near Papua New Guinea. They argued the Commonwealth was negligent for failing to take strong action on climate change.

    While the judge accepted the devastating effects climate change has wrought on the Torres Strait Islands, he found the Uncles did not prove their case of negligence.

    However, the judge found previous Australian governments had not taken the best available science into account when setting emissions reduction targets. The finding tightens the screws on the Albanese government, which is due to announce Australia’s long-awaited targets to cut emissions out to 2035.

    To protect communities in the Torres Strait, and across Australia, the government must set a 2035 target that is in line with the science.

    And the court finding is unlikely to stem the tide of litigation seeking greater government accountability for climate change – especially for those most vulnerable to its harms.

    Limitations of Australian law

    The Uncles’ case did not fail because there was no merit in their allegations. It failed because Justice Michael Wigney ruled negligence law was not the appropriate vehicle to deal with climate change policy.

    Justice Wigney found the Torres Strait Islanders proved much of their case, including that Australia’s emissions targets set in 2015, 2020 and 2021 were not consistent with the best available science. That science dictates national governments should set emissions reduction targets in line with international efforts to hold global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

    The Coalition was in power during the period in question. Justice Wigney found the government of the day “did not engage with or give real or genuine consideration to the best available science” when setting its targets.

    Looking ahead to our 2035 targets

    The Labor government is currently weighing its 2035 emissions reduction target. The Climate Change Authority, which provides independent advice to government on climate policy, is expected to recommend a target between 65% and 75%.

    But evidence suggests this may not be in line with the best available science.

    For example, according to some scientists, emissions reduction of 90% by 2035, based on 2005 levels, would be required to stay in line with the 1.5°C goal.

    Australia’s 2035 targets are not just crucial to the global effort to tackle climate change. They will also affect our standing in the Pacific at a time of deepening geostrategic competition.

    Australia is bidding to host the UN climate talks next year in partnership with Pacific island countries. Our climate policy for the decade ahead will be a powerful signal to our Pacific neighbours about our commitment to the region, and to climate justice.

    A shifting legal landscape

    Tuesday’s court finding left open the possibility an appeal court may revisit the state of the law, and recognise the duty of care claimed by the Uncles.

    This would require an appeal to the full court of the Federal Court. Wigney was a single judge and considered himself bound by past precedent set by the full court.

    Around the world, courts and human rights bodies are holding governments accountable for climate inaction. It is possible for Australian law to do the same.

    International courts and human rights bodies are holding governments accountable for climate inaction.
    Sjoerd van der Wal/Getty Images

    Courts in the Netherlands and Belgium, for example, have recognised government duties to heed the science to address foreseeable harms of climate change.

    Next week, the International Court of Justice – the world’s highest court – will issue an historic legal opinion on the obligations of nations to tackle climate change.

    This opinion will clarify the obligations of countries to prevent human rights harms caused by climate change, and to limit pollution of the Earth’s oceans and climate system. The opinion will be non-binding, but could influence future climate litigation.

    What’s more, attribution science is improving all the time. This field of science examines how greenhouse gas emissions affect a particular weather event or climate pattern.

    Clearer attribution science will provide courts an ever-stronger basis to consider how government policy decisions on emissions cause climate impacts – and resulting harms to people.

    As the legal responsibilities of governments are clarified, further strategic litigation in Australia is likely.

    Change is coming

    In his judgement, Justice Michael Wigney said the law currently “provides no real or effective legal avenue” for people or communities to seek legal recourse for government inaction on climate change. That will remain the case until the law changes, he said.

    To remain legitimate, legal norms must reflect changing social expectations. History shows laws can adapt when they are challenged repeatedly by those who are harmed by the status quo. Eventually, the dam wall breaks, and law is reinterpreted.

    A clear example is the Mabo case of 1992. The High Court of Australia acknowledged the obvious fact that Indigenous peoples have lived on this continent for tens of thousands of years, and that the “terra nullius” (land belonging to no-one) concept was a legal myth.

    The Mabo decision allowed common law to recognise native title. It was a departure from previous rulings which relied on the terra nullius concept to reject native title claims.

    Australia’s legal norms largely pre-date the scientific consensus on climate change. They must evolve to better recognise climate impacts that are harming Australians. While this week might not have been the time, change is inevitable.

    As Justice Wigney said, until the law adapts, the key avenue for change is public advocacy, protest and voter action at the ballot box.

    Wesley Morgan is a fellow with the Climate Council.

    Riona Moodley 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.

    – ref. Australia got off on a technicality for its climate inaction. But there are plenty more judgement days to come – https://theconversation.com/australia-got-off-on-a-technicality-for-its-climate-inaction-but-there-are-plenty-more-judgement-days-to-come-261305

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: NSU student creates app for recognition, digitization and analysis of classical Tibetan texts using machine learning

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    A system for automatic recognition and transliteration of texts in classical Tibetan, focused on old printed documents made using Tibetan syllabic writing, which goes back to the ancient Indian Brahmi script, was created by a student of the Fundamental and Applied Linguistics program working at the Institute of Mathematics and Mathematical Geophysics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Humanitarian Institute of Novosibirsk State University Anna Murashkina. In her research, she used images of pages of classical Tibetan texts from the 18th-20th centuries from the archive of the Center for Oriental Manuscripts and Xylographs of the Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

    — The relevance of my work is due to the need to preserve and make digitally accessible the Tibetan cultural heritage, presented in the form of many historical manuscripts. Old printed documents, manuscripts and xylographs contain unique information about philosophy, religion, medicine, history and art, playing a key role in the study of the cultural traditions of the region. This knowledge is passed down from generation to generation in Tibet. However, over time, under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, paper media are subject to physical destruction, which leads to the loss of priceless information and limits access to these unique materials. Currently, the Tibetan Fund of the Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences contains up to 70 thousand units of chronicles that are at risk of being lost. One of the most reliable ways to preserve and systematize historical documents is to digitize them, — said Anna Murashkina.

    The young researcher set herself the task of using machine learning to build a model that would recognize Tibetan alphabet symbols from images, translate them into machine-readable form, and at the same time show greater accuracy than existing open solutions, including Tesseract.

    — To do this, I manually performed linguistic markup of Tibetan text lines from the IMBT SB RAS collection. Then, taking into account the specifics of Tibetan graphics, I developed a system for assessing the quality of optical character recognition (OCR). Then I compared existing architectures and chose a convolutional neural network model, which required additional training, — explained Anna Murashkina.

    She implemented additional training of the model on a marked corpus of documents, and as a result, a complete modular OCR algorithm was created, including the stages of pre-processing, segmentation, recognition and post-processing.

    — For me, the value of the project is that I helped digitize an archive that stores history — documents created by people of the past who wanted to pass on their knowledge to future generations. I am glad that I am helping to transfer this knowledge through time, preserve it and make it available to a wider audience. My development will be used by employees of the Institute of Mongolian, Buddhist and Tibetan Studies of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The possibility of cooperation with the Buddhist Center for Digital Technologies, which digitizes the archives of temples and monasteries, is also being discussed. In cooperation with this organization, we will expand the possibilities of digitizing Tibetan manuscripts using open resources developed jointly with researchers from organizations in different countries, so that later everyone can touch this priceless heritage and get acquainted with the documents that are in temples and archive repositories, — said Anna Murashkina.

    Material prepared by: Elena Panfilo, NSU press service

    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.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: FISU World University Games open in Duisburg

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    The 2025 Rhine-Ruhr World University Games opened Wednesday at the Schauinsland Reisen Arena, the exact same stadium where the Duisburg 1989 Universiade’s opening ceremony was celebrated.

    Barbel Bas, German federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, officially opened the 32nd FISU Summer Universiade, which is co-hosted by six cities in Germany, including Berlin, Essen, Duisburg, Bochum, Mulheim an der Ruhr and Hagen, mainly from the Rhine-Ruhr region.

    The opening ceremony began at 8:15 p.m. and ended at 11:00 p.m., starting with the overture “Now and Together”. The composition, created by Jan Loechel for the 2025 FISU World University Games, was performed by the WDR Funkhaus Orchestra.

    Leonz Eder, President of FISU, delivered an opening speech. “I wish you very success at the competitions, which will be unforgettable experiences and relished wealth in your life,” he said.

    The ceremony opted to underline the festival’s character, combining classical music, big board sound, and modern band performance in an impressive scenography with the defining, central element being music.

    Recalling the Ruhr area’s industrial history was a fundamental conceptual thread of the ceremony. The stage was surrounded by six huge chimney-shaped LED towers on the pitch, functioning as the cornerstones of the arena.

    The ceremony managed to create a connection between the Ruhr region’s industrial past and its future. Approximately 500 people, composed of retired miners and school choirs, sang in chorus the “Steigerlied”, the German miners’ folk song.

    The spectators gave rhythmic hand-clapping throughout the athletes’ parading as volunteers made the leading group heading into the stadium, holding banners saying “no Games without U”.

    Hendrik Wust, Minister-president of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, gave a welcome speech, saying “University Games are a celebration of respect, tolerance and friendship. I hope this theory spreads around the world driven by your experiences. Each and every one of you is invited to be an ambassador of friendship and peace.”

    The big screen had a brief look back at the flag-handover performance for the 2025 Games during the closing ceremony in Chengdu in 2023.

    The flame arrived at the stadium in the hands of Heide Ecker-Rosendahl, the long jump gold medalist at the 1972 Munich Olympics. She passed it on to six other athletes, who proceeded to and approached the LED towers.

    The flames slowly rose virtually, accompanied by the anthem “Now and Together.” At the climax of Jan Loechet’s song, real flames are ignited on the six towers, representing all the competing cities of the Rhine-Ruhr University Games.

    At the end of the ceremony, the flames on the towers were transferred into six mining lamps.

    The Rhine-Ruhr 2025 Games will see over 9,200 participants from more than 150 countries and regions compete from July 16 to 27.

    Host Germany is represented by its largest delegation ever: 305 athletes and 177 team officials.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Poland appoint Jan Urban as new manager

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Jan Urban became the new coach of the Poland men’s football team, the Polish Football Association (PZPN) announced on Wednesday.

    The 63-year-old replaced Michal Probierz, who resigned after the 2-1 defeat to Finland in Helsinki in the FIFA World Cup qualifier.

    “I’m very happy that I have a chance to work in the national team. Every coach has his own style and ideas. The most important thing is to use the maximum potential of the team,” Urban was quoted as saying by the official site of the PZPN.

    “Our goal is to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. I wish the coach every success and assure him he can count on our full support,” said the PZPN president Cezary Kulesza.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China lose to France in Men’s Volleyball Nations League

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    China lost to France in four sets 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 in the final week of the FIVB Men’s Volleyball Nations League preliminary phase in Gdansk, Poland on Wednesday.

    Opposite Theo Faure was the gamen’s top scorer with 20 points, while outside hitters Trevor Clevenot and Yacine Louati contributed 15 points each for France. Wen Zihua scored 13 points for China, including 11 kills, one block, and one ace. Middle blocker Rao Shuhan and outside hitter Wang Bin added seven points each.

    France, the Olympic champion, aimed to start the third and final week of the preliminary phase with a victory. However, China surprised the favorite in the opening set, as Andrea Giani’s team struggled to establish an advantage but then China shifted the pace.

    Two effective spikes by veteran Ji Daoshuai put China ahead 22-20. Shortly after, Wang Bin delivered an ace to extend China’s lead. France fought until the end but couldn’t turn the set in their favor. A key center attack by Li Yongzhen secured China’s set win.

    France opened the second set with several powerful serves from Louati, took an early 6-1 lead and controlled the set throughout, with Clevenot scoring six points in the latter part of the set. Wen Zihua’s effective block helped China close the gap to 22-24, but Faure’s attack sealed it a 25-22 set win for France.

    In the third set, Francois Huetz replaced Nicolas Le Goff and made a significant impact for France, earning seven points during his service to help France take a 12-9 lead. Despite nine service errors committed in this set, France ended it 25-23 with Faure’s powerful spike.

    Giani’s team demonstrated their quality in the fourth set, claiming a 25-17 set win and sealing the match victory.

    Also on the day, Cuba edged Bulgaria in a five-set thriller 23-25, 25-16, 23-25, 27-25, 15-13. Outside hitter Marlon Yant Herrera scored 23 points for Cuba, equaling Aleksandar Nikolov’s tally for Bulgaria.

    Later, host Poland defeated Iran in five sets 25-19, 23-25, 25-18, 21-25, 15-8. Outside hitter Kamil Semeniuk scored 21 points for Poland, while opposite Amin Esmaeilnezhad contributed 19 for Iran. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Intonation” Sets Beijing on Fire: How Russian Musicians Conquered the Chinese Public

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    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

    The Russian Cultural Center in Beijing hosted a concert that became a true celebration of friendship and music. The group “Intonation” did not just perform – it created the magic of unity, blurring the boundaries between the stage and the audience, between Russia and China.

    From the very first minutes, the artists captured the attention of the audience, but the real sensation was caused by a surprise – a song in Chinese. The sincere performance touched the audience to the depths of their souls: the applause did not subside, and after the concert, many came up to thank the musicians for respecting their culture.

    But the surprises did not end there. The musicians descended into the hall, inviting the audience to dance in a circle, involving everyone in improvised dances and joint singing. It seemed that for several hours the cultural center turned into a big friendly party, where there is no place for shyness – only joy, laughter and music.

    This concert became more than just a performance. It was a dialogue of two cultures, where Russian warmth met Chinese hospitality. The musicians of “Intonation” proved that art knows no language barriers. When hearts burn on stage, the audience responds in kind – and then a real miracle is born.

    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.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: I created a Vivaldi-inspired sound artwork for the Venice Biennale. The star of the show is an endangered bush-cricket

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miriama Young, Associate Professor Music Composition, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne

    Marco Zorzanello

    It was late January when I got the call. I’m asked to bring my sound art to a collaborative ecology and design project, Song of the Cricket, for the Venice Biennale of Architecture. When such as invitation arrives, you have no choice but to jump in.

    I see an image of the site for the project: the Gaggiandre at the Arsenale – a medieval shipyard that serviced the Venetian military at its imperial peak.

    Once a resplendent hive of industry, it is even detailed by Dante Alighieri in The Divine Comedy:

    As in the arsenal of the Venetians,
    all winter long a stew of sticky pitch
    boils up to patch their sick and tattered ships
    that cannot sail (instead of voyaging,
    some build new keels, some tow and tar the ribs
    of hulls worn out by too much journeying;
    some hammer at the prow, some at the stern,
    and some make oars, and some braid ropes and cords;
    one mends the jib, another, the mainsail)

    The Gaggiandre is a cavernous, church-like space flanked by stone colonnades, wooden roof beams, and situated, in true Venetian style, on a bed of water. With long reverberation times, music in this space would need to be slowly unfolding, drawing the listener in and inviting them to meditate.

    It is a place of reflection, both metaphorically and physically. To a sound artist, creating for the Gaggiandre is a dream.

    Art and the Anthropocene

    The Song of the Cricket exhibit has been on display at the Biennale since May. Its purpose is to bridge ecological research with sound art to raise awareness for our fragile biodiversity, with a focus on the critically endangered Adriatic bush-cricket, Zeuneriana marmorata.

    Zeuneriana marmorata is a rare species found in wetlands in north-eastern Italy and Slovenia.
    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    What better place than Venice – a city slowly sinking – to reflect on where we stand in this moment of environmental collapse?

    The exhibit was created by a large team of collaborators. It features several mobile habitats populated with Zeuneriana. Some of these habitats sit on the Arsenale lawn, while other symbolic habitats float on the water as life rafts. Alongside the enclosures, my pre-composed “sound garden” plays through speakers onto the lawn.

    At the end of the Biennale, the team, led by landscape architect and ecologist Alex Felson, intends to use the life rafts to ceremonially transport incubated eggs to a new home on the mainland.

    The installation features mobile cricket habitats on the lawn, as well as symbolic life rafts on the water.
    Miriama Young

    Sounds of nature and Vivaldi

    On the lawn, the chirrup of live courting bush-crickets blends with pre-recorded sounds of their ancestors. These ancestral sounds might double as a lullaby for newly orphaned eggs, as adults only live a few months.

    The accompanying sound garden is richly diverse, created from an array of fauna sounds drawn from Northern Italian wetland environments, including the Eurasian reed warbler, the cuckoo and, my personal favourite, the green toad.

    My intention is for the soundscape to transport audiences to a different time and place: to a future where these species thrive in a healthy ecology.

    Excerpt from the Song of Crickets sound installation.
    Miriama Young and Monica Lim1.73 MB (download)

    There is a second element to the sound installation, created with support from sound technologist Monica Lim. Informed by the music of Antonio Vivaldi, this element serves to further activate the untapped airspace and enhance visitors’ experience of the site.

    Born in Venice in 1678, Vivaldi is a ubiquitous and avoidable cliché for locals. Yet his music was the perfect inspiration for this project, as it encodes a hidden ecological story.

    Vivaldi incorporated the literal sounds of nature into The Four Seasons (1723), with particular species’ songs annotated onto the score.

    The Song of the Cricket borrows elements from Vivaldi’s Summer: Allegro non Molto. In the short section I drew from, the cuckoo, turtledove and goldfinch are all musically described and credited by Vivaldi.

    And although they are not expressly mentioned, I imagine bush-crickets also pervade Vivaldi’s Summer movement, as we know they were once prolific in the Venice lagoon, and would have filled the summer air during his lifetime. You might hear them in the rapidly repeating (tremolo) string gestures.

    The cricket’s song serves as a indicator of an ecosystem’s health. But the sound of crickets in Venice today is largely missing.

    Our take on Vivaldi is slowed down 30 times, magnified and fragmented, voiced through synthesizers, and piped into the Gaggiandre through five speakers – creating an immersive experience that feels at once futuristic and Baroque.

    Mobile habitats awaiting the Zeuneriana marmorata eggs float on the water.
    Marco Zorzanello

    Bridging the past and an imagined future

    The decision to borrow from music of the Western historical canon (in this case Vivaldi) fits into a burgeoning movement that composer Valentin Silvestrov coined “eschatophony”.

    This is presumably a portmanteau of “eschatology”, the study of the end of the world, and “phony”, which in this case relates to sound (such as symphony). Here, we are left only to wrestle with and re-contextualise our musical past, to create “echoes of history”.

    The inclusion of sound is still a novelty at the architecture Biennale. Of the 300 exhibits this year, I can count on one hand the projects that incorporated sound. All of them were special.

    Sound creates a remarkable theatre, both through its immediacy, as well as its capacity to elevate a project beyond the prosaic, into the poetic.

    Venice is a city where history pervades at every turn. The Song of the Cricket invites listeners in, offering them space to reflect, and to imagine a future where ecosystems might once again thrive.

    This article is part of Making Art Work, our series on what inspires artists and the process of their work.

    Miriama Young 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.

    – ref. I created a Vivaldi-inspired sound artwork for the Venice Biennale. The star of the show is an endangered bush-cricket – https://theconversation.com/i-created-a-vivaldi-inspired-sound-artwork-for-the-venice-biennale-the-star-of-the-show-is-an-endangered-bush-cricket-259681

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: I created a Vivaldi-inspired sound artwork for the Venice Biennale. The star of the show is an endangered bush-cricket

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miriama Young, Associate Professor Music Composition, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne

    Marco Zorzanello

    It was late January when I got the call. I’m asked to bring my sound art to a collaborative ecology and design project, Song of the Cricket, for the Venice Biennale of Architecture. When such as invitation arrives, you have no choice but to jump in.

    I see an image of the site for the project: the Gaggiandre at the Arsenale – a medieval shipyard that serviced the Venetian military at its imperial peak.

    Once a resplendent hive of industry, it is even detailed by Dante Alighieri in The Divine Comedy:

    As in the arsenal of the Venetians,
    all winter long a stew of sticky pitch
    boils up to patch their sick and tattered ships
    that cannot sail (instead of voyaging,
    some build new keels, some tow and tar the ribs
    of hulls worn out by too much journeying;
    some hammer at the prow, some at the stern,
    and some make oars, and some braid ropes and cords;
    one mends the jib, another, the mainsail)

    The Gaggiandre is a cavernous, church-like space flanked by stone colonnades, wooden roof beams, and situated, in true Venetian style, on a bed of water. With long reverberation times, music in this space would need to be slowly unfolding, drawing the listener in and inviting them to meditate.

    It is a place of reflection, both metaphorically and physically. To a sound artist, creating for the Gaggiandre is a dream.

    Art and the Anthropocene

    The Song of the Cricket exhibit has been on display at the Biennale since May. Its purpose is to bridge ecological research with sound art to raise awareness for our fragile biodiversity, with a focus on the critically endangered Adriatic bush-cricket, Zeuneriana marmorata.

    Zeuneriana marmorata is a rare species found in wetlands in north-eastern Italy and Slovenia.
    Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

    What better place than Venice – a city slowly sinking – to reflect on where we stand in this moment of environmental collapse?

    The exhibit was created by a large team of collaborators. It features several mobile habitats populated with Zeuneriana. Some of these habitats sit on the Arsenale lawn, while other symbolic habitats float on the water as life rafts. Alongside the enclosures, my pre-composed “sound garden” plays through speakers onto the lawn.

    At the end of the Biennale, the team, led by landscape architect and ecologist Alex Felson, intends to use the life rafts to ceremonially transport incubated eggs to a new home on the mainland.

    The installation features mobile cricket habitats on the lawn, as well as symbolic life rafts on the water.
    Miriama Young

    Sounds of nature and Vivaldi

    On the lawn, the chirrup of live courting bush-crickets blends with pre-recorded sounds of their ancestors. These ancestral sounds might double as a lullaby for newly orphaned eggs, as adults only live a few months.

    The accompanying sound garden is richly diverse, created from an array of fauna sounds drawn from Northern Italian wetland environments, including the Eurasian reed warbler, the cuckoo and, my personal favourite, the green toad.

    My intention is for the soundscape to transport audiences to a different time and place: to a future where these species thrive in a healthy ecology.

    Excerpt from the Song of Crickets sound installation.
    Miriama Young and Monica Lim1.73 MB (download)

    There is a second element to the sound installation, created with support from sound technologist Monica Lim. Informed by the music of Antonio Vivaldi, this element serves to further activate the untapped airspace and enhance visitors’ experience of the site.

    Born in Venice in 1678, Vivaldi is a ubiquitous and avoidable cliché for locals. Yet his music was the perfect inspiration for this project, as it encodes a hidden ecological story.

    Vivaldi incorporated the literal sounds of nature into The Four Seasons (1723), with particular species’ songs annotated onto the score.

    The Song of the Cricket borrows elements from Vivaldi’s Summer: Allegro non Molto. In the short section I drew from, the cuckoo, turtledove and goldfinch are all musically described and credited by Vivaldi.

    And although they are not expressly mentioned, I imagine bush-crickets also pervade Vivaldi’s Summer movement, as we know they were once prolific in the Venice lagoon, and would have filled the summer air during his lifetime. You might hear them in the rapidly repeating (tremolo) string gestures.

    The cricket’s song serves as a indicator of an ecosystem’s health. But the sound of crickets in Venice today is largely missing.

    Our take on Vivaldi is slowed down 30 times, magnified and fragmented, voiced through synthesizers, and piped into the Gaggiandre through five speakers – creating an immersive experience that feels at once futuristic and Baroque.

    Mobile habitats awaiting the Zeuneriana marmorata eggs float on the water.
    Marco Zorzanello

    Bridging the past and an imagined future

    The decision to borrow from music of the Western historical canon (in this case Vivaldi) fits into a burgeoning movement that composer Valentin Silvestrov coined “eschatophony”.

    This is presumably a portmanteau of “eschatology”, the study of the end of the world, and “phony”, which in this case relates to sound (such as symphony). Here, we are left only to wrestle with and re-contextualise our musical past, to create “echoes of history”.

    The inclusion of sound is still a novelty at the architecture Biennale. Of the 300 exhibits this year, I can count on one hand the projects that incorporated sound. All of them were special.

    Sound creates a remarkable theatre, both through its immediacy, as well as its capacity to elevate a project beyond the prosaic, into the poetic.

    Venice is a city where history pervades at every turn. The Song of the Cricket invites listeners in, offering them space to reflect, and to imagine a future where ecosystems might once again thrive.

    This article is part of Making Art Work, our series on what inspires artists and the process of their work.

    Miriama Young 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.

    – ref. I created a Vivaldi-inspired sound artwork for the Venice Biennale. The star of the show is an endangered bush-cricket – https://theconversation.com/i-created-a-vivaldi-inspired-sound-artwork-for-the-venice-biennale-the-star-of-the-show-is-an-endangered-bush-cricket-259681

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xinjiang opens new civil airport

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Passengers board flight CZ5091 of China Southern Airlines, which is bound for Yerevan of Armenia, at Urumqi Diwopu International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Sept. 3, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    The Barkol Dahe Airport officially began operations on Tuesday, bringing the total number of civil airports in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to 28, the highest among all provincial-level regions in China.

    As the second high-altitude airport in Xinjiang, Barkol Dahe Airport is located in the Kazak Autonomous County of Barkol, Hami City. With a total investment of 692.84 million yuan (96.87 million U.S. dollars), the airport has an annual capacity to handle 300,000 passengers and 700 tonnes of cargo.

    Currently, two air routes have been launched at Barkol Dahe Airport — one from Chengdu to Barkol, with a stopover in Zhengzhou, and the other from Chongqing to Barkol. Future plans include an air route connecting Beijing.

    According to Xinjiang Airport Group, the new airport will play a significant role in promoting regional economic development, supporting local specialty industries, boosting tourism, and advancing rural revitalization efforts in Barkol and its surrounding areas.

    As the core area of the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang has been working hard to accelerate airport construction. The number of airports, both operational and under-construction, is expected to reach 33 in Xinjiang by the end of 2025.

    MIL OSI China News –