Source: Mayor of London
As part of London Climate Action Week (21-27 June), the Mayor has written to Londoners in 56,000 basement properties to urgently raise awareness of the increased risk of floods due to climate change and to help people prepare in the event of a flood.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Raven Garvey, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan
Our first meeting was a bit awkward. One of us is an archaeologist who studies how past peoples interacted with their environments. Two of us are geophysicists who investigate interactions between solar activity and Earth’s magnetic field.
When we first got together, we wondered whether our unconventional project, linking space weather and human behavior, could actually bridge such a vast disciplinary divide. Now, two years on, we believe the payoffs – personal, professional and scientific – were well worth the initial discomfort.
Our collaboration, which culminated in a recent paper in the journal Science Advances, began with a single question: What happened to life on Earth when the planet’s magnetic field nearly collapsed roughly 41,000 years ago?
This near-collapse is known as the Laschamps Excursion, a brief but extreme geomagnetic event named for the volcanic fields in France where it was first identified. At the time of the Laschamps Excursion, near the end of the Pleistocene epoch, Earth’s magnetic poles didn’t reverse as they do every few hundred thousand years. Instead, they wandered, erratically and rapidly, over thousands of miles. At the same time, the strength of the magnetic field dropped to less than 10% of its modern day intensity.
So, instead of behaving like a stable bar magnet – a dipole – as it usually does, the Earth’s magnetic field fractured into multiple weak poles across the planet. As a result, the protective force field scientists call the magnetosphere became distorted and leaky.
The magnetosphere normally deflects much of the solar wind and harmful ultraviolet radiation that would otherwise reach Earth’s surface.
So, during the Laschamps Excursion when the magnetosphere broke down, our models suggest a number of near-Earth effects. While there is still work to be done to precisely characterize these effects, we do know they included auroras – normally seen only in skies near the poles as the Northern Lights or Southern Lights – wandering toward the equator, and significantly higher-than-present-day doses of harmful solar radiation.
The skies 41,000 years ago may have been both spectacular and threatening. When we realized this, we two geophysicists wanted to know whether this could have affected people living at the time.
The archaeologist’s answer was absolutely.
For people on the ground at that time, auroras may have been the most immediate and striking effect, perhaps inspiring awe, fear, ritual behavior or something else entirely. But the archaeological record is notoriously limited in its ability to capture these kinds of cognitive or emotional responses.
Researchers are on firmer ground when it comes to the physiological impacts of increased UV radiation. With the weakened magnetic field, more harmful radiation would have reached Earth’s surface, elevating risk of sunburn, eye damage, birth defects, and other health issues.
In response, people may have adopted practical measures: spending more time in caves, producing tailored clothing for better coverage, or applying mineral pigment “sunscreen” made of ochre to their skin. As we describe in our recent paper, the frequency of these behaviors indeed appears to have increased across parts of Europe, where effects of the Laschamps Excursion were pronounced and prolonged.
At this time, both Neanderthals and members of our species, Homo sapiens, were living in Europe, though their geographic distributions likely overlapped only in certain regions. The archaeological record suggests that different populations exhibited distinct approaches to environmental challenges, with some groups perhaps more reliant on shelter or material culture for protection.
Importantly, we’re not suggesting that space weather alone caused an increase in these behaviors or, certainly, that the Laschamps caused Neanderthals to go extinct, which is one misinterpretation of our research. But it could have been a contributing factor – an invisible but powerful force that influenced innovation and adaptability.
Collaborating across such a disciplinary gap was, at first, daunting. But it turned out to be deeply rewarding.
Archaeologists are used to reconstructing now-invisible phenomena like climate. We can’t measure past temperatures or precipitation directly, but they’ve left traces for us to interpret if we know where and how to look.
But even archaeologists who’ve spent years studying the effects of climate on past behaviors and technologies may not have considered the effects of the geomagnetic field and space weather. These effects, too, are invisible, powerful and best understood through indirect evidence and modeling. Archaeologists can treat space weather as a vital component of Earth’s environmental history and future forecasting.
Likewise, geophysicists, who typically work with large datasets, models and simulations, may not always engage with some of the stakes of space weather. Archaeology adds a human dimension to the science. It reminds us that the effects of space weather don’t stop at the ionosphere. They can ripple down into the lived experiences of people on the ground, influencing how they adapt, create and survive.
The Laschamps Excursion wasn’t a fluke or a one-off. Similar disruptions of Earth’s magnetic field have happened before and will happen again. Understanding how ancient humans responded can provide insight into how future events might affect our world – and perhaps even help us prepare.
Our unconventional collaboration has shown us how much we can learn, how our perspective changes, when we cross disciplinary boundaries. Space may be vast, but it connects us all. And sometimes, building a bridge between Earth and space starts with the smallest things, such as ochre, or a coat, or even sunscreen.
Agnit Mukhopadhyay has received funding from NASA Science Mission Directorate and the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School.
Raven Garvey and Sanja Panovska do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Weird space weather seems to have influenced human behavior on Earth 41,000 years ago – our unusual scientific collaboration explores how – https://theconversation.com/weird-space-weather-seems-to-have-influenced-human-behavior-on-earth-41-000-years-ago-our-unusual-scientific-collaboration-explores-how-257216
MIL OSI –
Source: Mayor of London
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today hailed the package of changes announced by the UK Government – including the biggest and longest funding settlement that the capital has ever received for affordable and social housebuilding – as a huge win for all Londoners.
Source: Mayor of London
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “Today we mark 20 years since the horrendous 7 July terror attacks shook our city. We remember the 52 people whose lives were cruelly stolen on that dark day, and our thoughts and prayers remain with all of their loved ones, as well as the more than 700 people who were injured by these cowardly acts of hatred.
“We also pay tribute to those who ran towards danger on that terrible day. From emergency service personnel to transport workers and members of the public, who showed incredible courage and compassion by putting their own safety at risk to help those in need, their bravery and selflessness will never be forgotten.
“Two decades on – as we unite for a day of commemoration – I have a clear message for those who seek to spread division and sow hatred: you will never win. London’s determination to stand together is stronger than ever. We will always choose hope over fear, and unity over division, as we continue building a safer London for everyone.”
Source: Mayor of London
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has launched the Data for London Library, a cutting-edge new platform that will transform how London collects, shares and uses data to improve public services, unlock growth and create a more inclusive, sustainable city.
Launched during the biggest ever London Data Week, the Library is part of the Mayor’s ambitious Data for London programme and marks a major milestone in the evolution of London’s data infrastructure. It will replace the London Datastore, which was first launched in 2010 and at the time was one of the world’s earliest and most innovative open data platforms.
The Library aims to be the definitive catalogue of place data for London – including environment, buildings, and demographics – creating a single, vital resource for researchers and data users seeking rich contextual insight for data services and projects. It takes an innovative approach by connecting, not collecting, datasets held by key London partners starting with Transport for London, the Department of Health and Social Care as well as Barnet, Brent, Camden, and Redbridge councils, and the Office for National Statistics. This collaborative working helps build London’s data infrastructure while acknowledging London’s breadth and large number of organisations that keep the city running.
Over its 15-year history, the previous London Datastore, which the Library will replace, pioneered new ways of making public data accessible and useful to communities, policymakers and innovators. The Data for London Library builds on that legacy, offering more than 5,100 datasets, faster search tools, and improved discoverability to make it easier for everyone – from citizens to researchers to startups – to find and use trusted data that benefits Londoners.
Data from the London Datastore has been used to:
By making it easier to find and use data held across the city, in one place, the Library becomes core infrastructure for the current AI revolution by addressing a key challenge facing innovators – discovering where datasets are. Better access to datasets enables better insights to enable preventative services, new digital or data tools to support public service productivity and opportunities for innovators across public, private, research and civil society. London’s approach to building the new data platform will be made available for other UK cities and regions to adopt.
London is Europe’s largest technology hub – the second largest in the world – and now firmly established as a leading player on the global stage due to the way it uses data to improve services, education, research and innovation to benefit communities across the capital. London is also at the forefront of AI research and top three globally for venture capital investment into this technology.
The recently published London Growth Plan identifies huge opportunities to turbocharge the capital’s economy by harnessing the potential of rapidly growing tech sectors such as AI. The Data for London programme will help to support this by improving city data sharing, increasing collaboration, developing public trust, boosting Londoners’ digital skills and leading modern connectivity.
Theo Blackwell MBE, Chief Digital Officer for London, said: “London is great at collaboration and the new Data for London Library is rooted in partnership. We’ve been working closely with the data community, the London Office of Technology and Innovation, local authorities in London and other data providers in the city to prioritise the features and improve the user experience.”
“This is just the beginning, we are only going one way – there is no global trend towards less data. AI systems of the future are heavily dependent on the quality and quantity of the data they are trained on, so our focus now is to build more data sources into the Data for London Library and to make it easier to navigate complex data sharing agreements to benefit the city’s strategic position as the vanguard of the data and AI revolution. This is how we can build a better, fairer, more prosperous London for everyone.”
Eddie Copeland, Director at the London Office of Technology & Innovation, said: “Successfully tackling many of the biggest issues we face in the capital, from climate change to tackling homelessness, depends on bringing together data from many different sources. The Data for London Library and platform will provide a huge boost for our ability to join up, analyse and act upon data at a truly London scale to benefit Londoners.”
Director of the Open Data Institute and Data for London Advisory Board Member Stuart Coleman said: “At the ODI, we advocate for practical, well-governed data infrastructure that makes it easier for people to access, use and share data. The Data for London Library shows how the public sector can take steps to make datasets more discoverable and usable. By opening up access to data from across the capital, it offers a pragmatic model that others can learn from. As the National Data Library develops, examples like this can help demonstrate what works in practice, particularly when it comes to improving interoperability, making data AI-ready, and building on existing foundations rather than starting from scratch.”
Dr Cosmina Dorobantu, Data for London Advisory Board member and Senior Advisor and Visiting Professor in Practice at the LSE Data Science Institute, said: “As a member of the Mayor’s Data for London Board and someone who is helping to build a world-leading institute for AI and the social sciences here in London, within the London School of Economics and Political Science, I am tremendously excited to see the launch of the Data for London Library. Today’s launch is an important first step towards making the vast amounts of data collected in London more accessible, and towards increasing the data maturity of contributing organisations. The foundations that the team behind the Data for London Library have built are essential for creating the invaluable data resources that businesses, researchers, and policymakers need to build a better, more prosperous, and more equitable city.”
Muniya Barua, Deputy Chief Executive at BusinessLDN, said: “The launch of the new Data for London Library marks a significant milestone in the capital’s ambitious growth plans. It puts a wealth of up-to-the-minute public and private sector data at the fingertips of businesses and policymakers which can be used to drive innovation and transform the lives of Londoners. Having long championed the transformative potential of data sharing, we now look to the Mayor’s spatial strategy, the London Plan, to ensure it supports the development of critical infrastructure – from data centres to improved broadband connectivity – which will enable the benefits of this new platform to be maximised and London to lead the way in AI and other cutting-edge technologies.”
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
MELBOURNE, Fla., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Orion180 Insurance, a leading provider of flexible, customer-centric homeowners and flood insurance solutions, today announced the launch of its FLEX Home Insurance product in nine eastern counties of Massachusetts. FLEX provides fully customizable coverage, allowing homeowners to adjust protections and deductibles to align with their individual risk preferences and financial goals.
Massachusetts homeowners, particularly those in coastal counties, have faced mounting insurance challenges in recent years. Bay State premiums surged 15% between 2022 and 2023, and the State currently ranks fifth in the nation for homeowners insurance non-renewals, according to the U.S. Senate Budget Committee. Orion180’s FLEX product directly addresses these concerns through robust, customizable coverage without coastal restrictions, a rare offering in today’s constrained market.
“Our mission is to bring smarter, more accessible insurance solutions to underserved communities,” said Ken Gregg, CEO of Orion180. “Massachusetts homeowners have faced higher premiums and fewer options due to the increasing threat of weather-related events. FLEX delivers tailored protection, transparent pricing, and peace of mind. Agents and homeowners can feel at ease because we have a 0% state abandonment rate and stand firmly behind the markets we serve.”
Key Benefits of FLEX Home Insurance:
FLEX Home Insurance is available now through select Massachusetts insurance agents in Essex, Plymouth, Middlesex, Barnstable, Suffolk, Dukes, Norfolk, Nantucket, and Bristol counties.
To learn more about Orion180 FLEX Home Insurance, visit https://orion180.com/flex/.
About Orion180 Insurance
Orion180 Insurance is a technology-driven and customer-centric insurance brand that combines proprietary technology, real-time data, and straightforward underwriting practices to provide a seamless and premier insurance experience. Orion180 operates through Orion180 Insurance Co., a surplus lines insurance company serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, Colorado (Flood only), Tennessee (Flood only), Illinois (Flood only) and Arizona, and Orion180 Select Insurance Co., an admitted insurance company offering coverage in Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Indiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Ohio. With its proprietary MY180 platform and third-party integrations, Orion180 offers unmatched efficiency and innovation, fulfilling its vision of becoming the global leader in insurance solutions while maintaining its mission to deliver superior customer experiences and a comprehensive suite of products. Connect with Orion180 on X, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TruthSocial, and YouTube. For more information, visit www.Orion180.com.
Media Contact:
Ross Blume
Fusion PR
Orion180@fusionpr.com
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
MELBOURNE, Australia and BORDEAUX, France and RADEVORMWALD, Germany, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Semitech Semiconductor, Occitaline, and Safesquare today jointly announced the availability of the Babi-LON platform, an integrated hardware and software solution for LonWorks power line communication (PLC) networks built on Semitech’s advanced SM2400 multi-mode PLC transceiver with full EIA-709.2 protocol support.
The EIA-709.2 protocol – part of the LonWorks suite defining the physical layer for PLC – is a cornerstone technology in building automation, smart lighting, transportation, and industrial control systems worldwide. With the phase-out of legacy solutions like the widely deployed PL3120 transceiver (originally developed by Echelon), OEMs and system integrators are actively seeking reliable long-term alternatives to keep supporting existing networks and future projects.
The SM2400 has already been widely adopted by tier-one OEMs across smart metering, industrial automation, and transportation markets for its proven reliability, advanced modulation techniques, and robust performance under demanding noise conditions. With full EIA-709.2 support, it serves as a direct, high-performance, backward-compatible, long-term replacement for legacy EIA-709.2 transceivers, ensuring a secure long-term supply path for LonWorks-based systems.
Built around the SM2400, the new Babi-LON platform offers both a development environment and turnkey solution for LonWorks devices. It simplifies migration by providing open familiar interfaces and proven protocol stacks, allowing OEMs and system integrators to sustain and evolve their LonWorks-based systems with minimal redesign.
“We’re excited to partner with Occitaline and Safesquare to accelerate the transition to next-generation LonWorks PLC,” said Zeev Collin, CEO of Semitech Semiconductor. “The Babi-LON platform enables customers to seamlessly replace obsolete components, maintain their existing networks, and take advantage of the advanced capabilities of the SM2400.”
Occitaline and Safesquare, both recognized leaders in LonWorks and industrial automation solutions, have integrated the SM2400 into their expanded Babi-LON offering, delivering software stacks and reference designs that dramatically simplify migration and new product development.
“By incorporating the SM2400, we’re able to offer a modern, fully supported EIA-709.2 platform with long-term availability and outstanding performance,” said Daniel Zotti, CEO of Occitaline. “This gives our customers a clear, confident path to upgrade legacy products and sustain mission-critical networks.”
Martin Mentzel, CEO of Safesquare, added: “Our customers can now continue building LonWorks-based power line networks with the assurance of a next-generation, multi-protocol foundation. The Babi-LON platform with the SM2400 is essential for preserving large installed bases and preparing for future expansions.”
Key benefits of the new Babi-LON platform:
Availability
SM2400 samples and evaluation kits with EIA-709.2 support are available immediately through Semitech and its authorized sales partners. For more information, please visit www.semitechsemi.com.
The expanded Babi-LON platform and design-in support for customer projects from Occitaline and Safesquare will be available starting in September. For more information, please visit www.babi-lon.com.
About Occitaline
Occitaline is a technology company with over 20 years of expertise in Building Management Systems (BMS) and Smart City solutions. Specializing in the design and manufacture of open, multi-protocol network infrastructure products, Occitaline simplifies the integration of diverse equipment within buildings. Its multi-protocol routers and secure network equipment enable seamless communication and enhanced cybersecurity for smart, sustainable spaces. Occitaline also provides technical training to help professionals master BMS communication protocols. Learn more at www.occitaline.com.
About Safesquare
Safesquare is a technology development partner and system integrator specializing in open, standardized industrial communication and system integration. Safesquare is focused on creating scalable, decentralized networks with intelligent nodes and manufacturer-independent IoT capabilities. Offerings include “spega e.control” for building automation and “Babi-LON” for networked IoT solutions, alongside expertise in wired/wireless IoT and medical device development. Learn more at www.safesquare.eu.
About Semitech Semiconductor
Semitech Semiconductor is an innovative provider of robust, high-performance wireless and power line communication (PLC) solutions for the smart grid, automotive and industrial IoT markets. Semitech provides the most adaptable, yet cost effective, multi-modal communication solutions wirelessly and over power lines to address the diverse requirements of these markets, while avoiding the cost and complexity of additional wiring. Learn more at www.semitechsemi.com or follow the company on LinkedIn and X.
Media Contact:
Stephanie Olsen
Lages & Associates
(949) 453-8080
stephanie@lages.com
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be losing patience with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, voicing disappointment on Monday just hours after threatening “severe tariffs” against Russia.
“I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him. But I’m disappointed in him,” Trump told BBC in an interview.
A few hours earlier, during a meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump warned, “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs” if a ceasefire agreement on Ukraine is not reached within 50 days.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick clarified later that Trump actually meant “economic sanctions” when he threatened “secondary tariffs” against Russia, The Washington Times reported.
Trump also told Rutte that the United States would supply weapons to Ukraine through NATO, including Patriot missile systems, with deliveries starting soon.
In a post on X following a phone call with Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude for Trump’s “willingness to support Ukraine” and hailed their strong relationship.
This is not the first time Trump has expressed disappointment with Putin over the Ukraine crisis, despite claiming he has a good relationship with the Russian leader. In early July, after a phone conversation with Putin, Trump told reporters, “I didn’t make any progress with him today at all,” adding, “I’m not happy about that.”
Trump, who promised during his campaign to end the conflict in Ukraine within 24 hours, has held several conversations with Putin since taking office. However, his efforts to pressure the Russian leader have yet to yield a ceasefire.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Following the driest spring in 132 years, Environment Agency steps up operational response.
EA officers rescuing fish from a dried up River Redlake in Shropshire
The Environment Agency has declared drought status for the West Midlands and East Midlands following the driest spring in 132 years.
The Environment Agency announced the change in status today, 15th July 2025. Following declining river flows and groundwater levels with some river flows in the regions at their lowest for June since 1976.
The decision sees the regulator stepping up its operational response in the West Midlands and the East Midlands. While making sure water companies deliver the actions agreed in their drought plans.
The announcement comes as the National Drought Group meets to discuss next steps, with people being asked to play their part and use water wisely.
West Midlands and East Midlands follow other regions that have moved into drought recently, including the north-west of England and Yorkshire.
Matt Gable, Regional Incident Lead at the Environment Agency, said:
Against a backdrop of a changing climate, this change of status recognises the impact prolonged dry weather is having on water resources and the environment.
In the Midlands, we are taking action to reduce that impact and to oversee the actions water companies need to take to secure public water supplies.
We are also encouraging people to play their part through the rest of the summer period by noting the small steps we can all take to save water.
In the Midlands, river levels are already low with some river flows in the region at their lowest for June since 1976. The River Severn catchment received only two-thirds of the rainfall it normally does in June, while the Trent catchment fared worse, with only 37% of its long-term average for June.
Teams are out on the ground actively monitoring river levels, with staff working with the water sector to ensure there is enough water for the people and the environment. Staff are also supporting farmers and abstractors with advice on how to manage abstraction during prolonged dry weather and low flows. Fisheries teams are responding where necessary to protect fish which are struggling due to reduced oxygen or moving them if the river has dried up.
The Environment Agency expects and will ensure that water companies follow their drought management plans. Water companies need to step up their work to fix leaks and adjust their operations to conserve water.
The public is being asked to think about how they use water at home and in the garden, and to comply with any local restrictions. The less water you use at the home, the more water there is in your local environment. Recreational water users are being asked to remain vigilant and report any environmental issues they see, such as fish in distress, acting as important eyes and ears on the ground.
Read more about how the Environment Agency is responding to dry weather in the Midlands here: Managing the impacts of drought in the Midlands – Creating a better place
Read more about drought here: Drought explained – Creating a better place.
A decision to declare drought is taken based on reservoir levels, river flows, groundwater levels, how dry soils are, environmental incidents and water resources position along with consideration of the long-term weather forecasts. These are based on Environment Agency Area classifications.
Temporary Use Bans (TUBs) are a decision for the water companies and must be made in line with their drought plans. Read more here: Why do we have hosepipe bans?
Map of Environment Agency areas
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
LEWISVILLE, Ark., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE.A: SLI) and Equinor, is pleased to announce that it has completed sampling from its newest exploration well, the Lester well, in the South West Arkansas (SWA) Project area, and has recorded the highest lithium concentration reported to date from the SWA Project area; 616 mg/L lithium in brine.
The Lester well was completed in the second quarter of this year and concludes all sub-surface exploration activities for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. The location of the Lester well in relation to the SWA Phase 1 Project is shown in Figure 1 below, and an aerial photograph of the Lester well and associated pad is shown in Figure 2.
Sampling of brines from the upper Smackover Formation was completed by the Company, and subsequent analysis of the brine by an independent third-party certified laboratory demonstrated significantly higher than expected lithium concentrations in the Lester brine, marking the highest lithium grade reported for the SWA Project. The summarized lithium brine analyses are provided in Table 1 below which highlights the average lithium concentration from three brine samples was 582 mg/L.
Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium stated, “The Smackover Lithium team has now completed all the fieldwork and testing required for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. We completed this final well in a part of the project area where we expected the lithium concentration to be approximately 500 mg/L, so we’re encouraged with these latest sampling results that show the highest lithium concentrations in the whole SWA Project area (maximum 616 mg/L), demonstrating a marked improvement from levels in the existing world-class lithium brine resource.
With all of the fieldwork complete, the joint Smackover Lithium team is working to complete the FEED study, with a Definitive Feasibility Study expected later in the third quarter of this year. The completion of these studies will represent a significant milestone as the team rapidly advances Phase 1 of the SWA Project through off-take negotiations and project finance towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by year-end 2025.”
Figure 1: SWA Project, Phase 1 Reynolds Unit and Location of Lester Well
Table 1: Lester Well Lithium Brine Analyses in SWA Phase 1 Project Area
| Sample Name [1] | Lithium mg/L |
| Lester 2 #1 | 559 |
| Lester 2 #2 | 571 |
| Lester 2 #5 | 616 |
| Average Concentration [2] | 582 |
Notes: Analyses conducted at WETLAB (Western Environmental Testing Laboratory) – 475 E Greg St, Suite 119, Sparks NV 89431.
[1] Sample names are as reported by the independent third party laboratory. Samples #3 and #4 were a blank sample and a synthetic spike sample, used for laboratory data verification and QA/QC purposes. They are omitted here for clarity.
[2] A simple average concentration is provided from the Lester well for illustrative purposes of the general lithium brine quality in the Lester well. Porosity-weighted averages will be used in future resource quality estimates.
Figure 2: Aerial Photo of Lester Well in SWA Phase 1 Project
Notes: Photograph is taken looking approximately northeast across the Lester well-pad.
Qualified Person
Steve Ross, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Ross is a consultant to the Company.
About Smackover Lithium
Smackover Lithium is a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor. Formed in May 2024, Smackover Lithium is developing two Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) Project Companies in southwest Arkansas and east Texas. Standard Lithium owns a 55% interest and Equinor holds the remaining 45% interest in the two Project Companies, with Standard Lithium maintaining operatorship.
About Standard Lithium Ltd.
Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas.
Standard Lithium trades on both the TSXV and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.
About Equinor
Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and has offices in more than 20 countries worldwide. Equinor’s partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on its broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.
For more information on Equinor in the US, please visit: Equinor in the US – Equinor
Investor Inquiries
Dan Rosen
Standard Lithium Ltd.
+1 604 409 8154
investors@standardlithium.com
Media Inquiries
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, the timeline for completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the SWA Project, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
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Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
LEWISVILLE, Ark., July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV: SLI) (NYSE.A: SLI) and Equinor, is pleased to announce that it has completed sampling from its newest exploration well, the Lester well, in the South West Arkansas (SWA) Project area, and has recorded the highest lithium concentration reported to date from the SWA Project area; 616 mg/L lithium in brine.
The Lester well was completed in the second quarter of this year and concludes all sub-surface exploration activities for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. The location of the Lester well in relation to the SWA Phase 1 Project is shown in Figure 1 below, and an aerial photograph of the Lester well and associated pad is shown in Figure 2.
Sampling of brines from the upper Smackover Formation was completed by the Company, and subsequent analysis of the brine by an independent third-party certified laboratory demonstrated significantly higher than expected lithium concentrations in the Lester brine, marking the highest lithium grade reported for the SWA Project. The summarized lithium brine analyses are provided in Table 1 below which highlights the average lithium concentration from three brine samples was 582 mg/L.
Dr. Andy Robinson, President and COO of Standard Lithium stated, “The Smackover Lithium team has now completed all the fieldwork and testing required for Phase 1 of the SWA Project. We completed this final well in a part of the project area where we expected the lithium concentration to be approximately 500 mg/L, so we’re encouraged with these latest sampling results that show the highest lithium concentrations in the whole SWA Project area (maximum 616 mg/L), demonstrating a marked improvement from levels in the existing world-class lithium brine resource.
With all of the fieldwork complete, the joint Smackover Lithium team is working to complete the FEED study, with a Definitive Feasibility Study expected later in the third quarter of this year. The completion of these studies will represent a significant milestone as the team rapidly advances Phase 1 of the SWA Project through off-take negotiations and project finance towards a Final Investment Decision targeted by year-end 2025.”
Figure 1: SWA Project, Phase 1 Reynolds Unit and Location of Lester Well
Table 1: Lester Well Lithium Brine Analyses in SWA Phase 1 Project Area
| Sample Name [1] | Lithium mg/L |
| Lester 2 #1 | 559 |
| Lester 2 #2 | 571 |
| Lester 2 #5 | 616 |
| Average Concentration [2] | 582 |
Notes: Analyses conducted at WETLAB (Western Environmental Testing Laboratory) – 475 E Greg St, Suite 119, Sparks NV 89431.
[1] Sample names are as reported by the independent third party laboratory. Samples #3 and #4 were a blank sample and a synthetic spike sample, used for laboratory data verification and QA/QC purposes. They are omitted here for clarity.
[2] A simple average concentration is provided from the Lester well for illustrative purposes of the general lithium brine quality in the Lester well. Porosity-weighted averages will be used in future resource quality estimates.
Figure 2: Aerial Photo of Lester Well in SWA Phase 1 Project
Notes: Photograph is taken looking approximately northeast across the Lester well-pad.
Qualified Person
Steve Ross, P.Geol., a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release. Mr. Ross is a consultant to the Company.
About Smackover Lithium
Smackover Lithium is a joint venture between Standard Lithium and Equinor. Formed in May 2024, Smackover Lithium is developing two Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) Project Companies in southwest Arkansas and east Texas. Standard Lithium owns a 55% interest and Equinor holds the remaining 45% interest in the two Project Companies, with Standard Lithium maintaining operatorship.
About Standard Lithium Ltd.
Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by high-grade resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated Direct Lithium Extraction and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor ASA, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas.
Standard Lithium trades on both the TSXV and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.
About Equinor
Equinor is an international energy company committed to long-term value creation in a low-carbon future. Equinor’s portfolio of projects encompasses oil and gas, renewables and low-carbon solutions, with an ambition of becoming a net-zero energy company by 2050. Headquartered in Norway, Equinor is the leading operator on the Norwegian continental shelf and has offices in more than 20 countries worldwide. Equinor’s partnership with Standard Lithium to mature DLE projects builds on its broad US energy portfolio of oil and gas, offshore wind, low carbon solutions and battery storage projects.
For more information on Equinor in the US, please visit: Equinor in the US – Equinor
Investor Inquiries
Dan Rosen
Standard Lithium Ltd.
+1 604 409 8154
investors@standardlithium.com
Media Inquiries
Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain certain “Forward-Looking Statements” within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “target”, “plan”, “forecast”, “may”, “schedule” and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to intended development timelines, the timeline for completion of a Definitive Feasibility Study for the SWA Project, future prices of commodities, accuracy of mineral or resource exploration activity, reserves or resources, regulatory or government requirements or approvals, the reliability of third party information, continued access to mineral properties or infrastructure, fluctuations in the market for lithium and its derivatives, changes in exploration costs and government regulation in Canada and the United States, and other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:
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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 15 (Xinhua) — Two special trains on the China-Europe international rail freight route arrived one after another at the Multimodal Transport Center of the China-SCO Regional Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Zone (hereinafter referred to as the China-SCO Demonstration Zone), delivering more than 3,100 tons of feed wheat flour from Kazakhstan to Shandong Province, east China. After unloading, the goods were stored in a warehouse in the national logistics hub park for China-Europe trains in Qingdao, east China, marking the official opening of the warehouse-shipment-trade integrated service for goods transported along the aforementioned China-Europe routes.
According to the Qingdao Daily newspaper, the “warehouse-transportation-trade” format in the context of international China-Europe rail freight transportation implies the close integration of three links – warehousing, transportation and trade – into a single, highly efficient and coordinated trade and logistics ecosystem within the framework of the operation of the aforementioned trains. Such an integrated service allows for the optimization of resource allocation, reduction of intermediate links and significant improvement of overall operational efficiency.
According to a representative of Shandong Hi-Speed Group, the company has currently developed a comprehensive solution for the entire process in the format of “warehouse-transportation-trade” for a customer of feed wheat flour from Kazakhstan, taking into account customer needs.
Zang Yuanqi, an official with the China-SCO Demonstration Zone Management Committee, said the zone will give full play to its public good character, accelerate the construction of the Qingdao hub, and develop and strengthen new business models such as the integration of transportation and trade to accurately and efficiently serve the country’s foreign trade enterprises. -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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Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
Helsinki, July 15, 2025 – Virtune, the Swedish regulated crypto asset manager, announces the listing of its latest exchange-traded product, the Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP, on Nasdaq Helsinki traded in EUR. This listing marks a major milestone for Virtune’s continued growth in the Finnish market and reinforces its position as a leading issuer of regulated, physically backed crypto ETPs in the Nordics.
The product is now available to Finnish investors via brokers and banks such as Nordnet.
Virtune has worked closely with Coinbase since its inception, collaborating across all key areas – staking, trading, and custody. The launch of the Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP marks the next step in strengthening this partnership. It is the world’s first exchange-traded product to track the Coinbase 50 Europe Index – a broadly diversified benchmark of up to 50 leading crypto assets. The index is developed by Coinbase and administered by MarketVector Indexes™. The ETP currently holds 21 crypto assets, with the target to expand to all 50 assets pending regulatory and exchange approvals.
The Coinbase 50 Europe Index aims to provide investors with representative exposure to the most significant and relevant digital assets in the market. The product is tailored for both institutional and retail investors seeking regulated, transparent, and professional exposure to the crypto market.
Allocation as of 14th of July 2025:
https://www.virtune.com/product/vcoin50
Christopher Kock, CEO of Virtune:
“Listing our Coinbase 50 Index ETP on Nasdaq Helsinki marks a significant milestone in our mission to provide secure and regulated access to digital assets investments in Finland. We are thrilled to bring this flagship product to the Finnish market, allowing investors to trade it in EUR on Nasdaq Helsinki.”
The Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP is 100% physically backed by the underlying crypto assets, securely stored in cold-storage with Coinbase, and carries a competitive annual management fee of 0.95%.
Learn more about the product here: www.virtune.com/product/vcoin50
About Coinbase:
Crypto creates economic freedom by ensuring that people can participate fairly in the economy, and Coinbase (NASDAQ: COIN) is on a mission to increase economic freedom for more than 1 billion people. We’re updating the century-old financial system by providing a trusted platform that makes it easy for people and institutions to engage with crypto assets, including trading, staking, safekeeping, spending, and fast, free global transfers. We also provide critical infrastructure for onchain activity and support builders who share our vision that onchain is the new online. And together with the crypto community, we advocate for responsible rules to make the benefits of crypto available around the world.
Brett Tejpaul, Head of Coinbase Institutional:
“With the launch of the Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP in Nordics, we’re making one of the most comprehensive benchmarks for the crypto market directly accessible to investors across the Nordics. This marks a major step forward in our mission to expand global access to digital assets and provide institutional-grade tools for navigating this evolving asset class. The introduction of this ETP reinforces our commitment to bridging traditional financial infrastructure with the growing demand for regulated, secure exposure to the digital economy.”
About MarketVector:
MarketVector IndexesTM (“MarketVector”) is a regulated Benchmark Administrator in Europe, incorporated in Germany and registered with the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). MarketVector maintains indexes under the MarketVectorTM, MVIS®, and BlueStar® names. With a mission to accelerate index innovation globally, MarketVector is best known for its broad suite of Thematic indexes, a long-running expertise in Hard Asset-linked Equity indexes, and its pioneering Digital Asset index family. MarketVector is proud to be in partnership with more than 25 Exchange-Traded Product (ETP) issuers and index fund managers in markets throughout the world, with more than USD 57 billion in assets under management.
Martin Leinweber, Director, Digital Asset Research and Strategy, MarketVector:
“The Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP marks a significant step forward for crypto investment in Europe, offering broad, institutional-grade exposure to digital assets through a single, efficient product. This milestone combines MarketVector’s index expertise, Coinbase’s market infrastructure, and Virtune’s transparent, regulated approach. We’re proud to deepen our partnership with Virtune by becoming the index provider for their entire range of crypto ETPs across Europe. Together, we’re delivering the tools institutional and retail investors need to navigate the digital asset landscape with greater confidence and clarity.”
Key Information about the Product:
In addition to the Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP, Virtune already has the following physically backed crypto ETPs listed on Nasdaq Helsinki:
For inquiries, please contact:
Christopher Kock, CEO & Member of the Board of Directors
+46 70 073 45 64
christopher@virtune.com
About Virtune AB (Publ):
Virtune, headquartered in Stockholm, is a regulated Swedish digital asset manager and issuer of crypto exchange-traded products on regulated European exchanges. Through regulatory compliance, strategic partnerships, and a highly experienced team, Virtune empowers global investors to access innovative and professional investment products aligned with the evolving global crypto market.
Crypto investments involve high risk. Virtune does not provide investment advice; investments are made at your own risk. The value of securities may rise or fall, and there is no guarantee of recovering invested capital. Please read the prospectus, KID, and terms at virtune.com. The Coinbase 50 Europe Index (“Index”) is the exclusive property of MarketVector Indexes GmbH (“MarketVector”) and its Licensors and has been licensed for use by Virtune AB (Publ) (“Licensee”).
MarketVector has contracted with CC Data Limited to maintain and calculate the Index. CC Data Limited uses its best efforts to ensure that the Index is calculated correctly. Irrespective of its obligations towards MarketVector, CC Data Limited has no obligation to point out errors in the Index to third parties. In particular, MarketVector is not responsible for the Licensee and/or for Licensee’s legality or suitability and/or for Licensee’s business offerings. Offerings by Licensee, may they be based on the Virtune Coinbase 50 Europe ETP (“Product”) or not, are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by MarketVector and any of its affiliates, and MarketVector and any of its affiliates make no representation regarding the advisability of investing in Licensee and/or in Licensee’s business offerings. MARKETVECTOR AND ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES AND ANY OF ITS LICENSORS MAKE NO WARRANTIES AND BEAR NO LIABILITY WITH RESPECT TO LICENSEE.
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 15 (Xinhua) — The China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Interregional Economic and Trade Cooperation will be held in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, on July 17-18, according to the Commerce Department of East China’s Shandong Province.
The event, hosted by the Shandong Provincial Government and supported by the Qingdao City Government, is held under the theme of “Jointly Seeking Regional Cooperation, Together for Innovative Development.” Its aim is to strengthen the platform for economic and trade cooperation between Shandong and the regions of the SCO countries.
As it became known, four dialogue meetings on international cooperation in the areas of logistics and transport, new energy, mechanical engineering technologies and digital economy are planned within the framework of the forum. These platforms are designed to ensure practical interaction between the participants.
At present, the SCO Secretary General and the heads of 9 regions/provinces, regions, cities/countries of the organization have confirmed their participation in the forum. Minsk/Belarus/ will act as the main guest region and will hold a special presentation within the framework of the event. In addition, the forum will be attended by heads of ministries and state committees of the PRC, representatives of leading Chinese enterprises and research institutes.
As part of the business program, the Shandong Provincial Commerce Department and the Qingdao Government will jointly organize a series of related events, including the 4th SCO International Trade and Investment Fair.
The holding of this forum will contribute to deepening cooperation between Shandong and the SCO countries in the economic, trade and industrial spheres, giving new impetus to the economic development of the region. -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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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 15 (Xinhua) — The China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Forum on Interregional Economic and Trade Cooperation will be held in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong Province, on July 17-18, according to the Commerce Department of East China’s Shandong Province.
The event, hosted by the Shandong Provincial Government and supported by the Qingdao City Government, is held under the theme of “Jointly Seeking Regional Cooperation, Together for Innovative Development.” Its aim is to strengthen the platform for economic and trade cooperation between Shandong and the regions of the SCO countries.
As it became known, four dialogue meetings on international cooperation in the areas of logistics and transport, new energy, mechanical engineering technologies and digital economy are planned within the framework of the forum. These platforms are designed to ensure practical interaction between the participants.
At present, the SCO Secretary General and the heads of 9 regions/provinces, regions, cities/countries of the organization have confirmed their participation in the forum. Minsk/Belarus/ will act as the main guest region and will hold a special presentation within the framework of the event. In addition, the forum will be attended by heads of ministries and state committees of the PRC, representatives of leading Chinese enterprises and research institutes.
As part of the business program, the Shandong Provincial Commerce Department and the Qingdao Government will jointly organize a series of related events, including the 4th SCO International Trade and Investment Fair.
The holding of this forum will contribute to deepening cooperation between Shandong and the SCO countries in the economic, trade and industrial spheres, giving new impetus to the economic development of the region. -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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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
WASHINGTON, July 15 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to be losing patience with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, expressing frustration on Monday just hours after threatening to impose “harsh tariffs” on Russia.
“I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him. But I’m disappointed in him,” Trump said in an interview with the BBC.
Hours earlier, during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, the US president warned that the US would impose very tough tariffs if a ceasefire agreement in Ukraine was not reached within 50 days.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later clarified that Trump actually meant “economic sanctions” when he threatened “secondary tariffs” against Russia, The Washington Times reports.
After a telephone conversation with D. Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed gratitude to the US President on the X social network for his “willingness to support Ukraine” and welcomed their strong relations. –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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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
DAMASCUS, July 15 (Xinhua) — Syrian authorities on Tuesday declared a complete ceasefire in the southern province of As-Suwayda after days of deadly clashes between local Druze armed groups, Bedouin tribes and forces loyal to the Damascus regime, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said. –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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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
DAMASCUS, July 15 (Xinhua) — Syrian authorities on Tuesday declared a complete ceasefire in the southern province of As-Suwayda after days of deadly clashes between local Druze armed groups, Bedouin tribes and forces loyal to the Damascus regime, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra said.
In a statement published on the X social network, M. Abu Kasra said: “We have ordered a complete ceasefire for all units operating in the city of As-Suwayda after reaching an agreement with local elders and senior officials.”
He said Damascus-controlled forces would only respond to active sources of fire, adding that strict instructions had been given to protect civilians, maintain public order and protect public and private property.
The events come amid a sharp rise in violence over the weekend. At least 99 people have been killed and nearly 200 wounded in the past two days, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The dead include 60 Druze civilians, including two women and two children, 18 Bedouins, 14 soldiers loyal to the regime in Damascus and seven unidentified men in military uniform. –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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Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
An exhibition of archival photographs opened in the passage between the Savelovskaya stations of the Big Circle and Serpukhovsko-Timiryazevskaya lines.
“As part of the 90th anniversary of the Moscow metro, together with the Russian news agency TASS, we opened a new exhibition of archival photographs. We invite passengers to immerse themselves in the past and learn more about the history of the capital’s main transport. We continue to develop the capital’s metro as a cultural space on behalf of Sergei Sobyanin,” said Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry
The exhibits include a unique photo of the first test train before a test run from Komsomolskaya to Sokolniki, taken in 1934. Visitors will see a photo of Crown Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands and her husband Claus von Amsberg at the Kitay-Gorod metro station in 1973.
In addition, at the exhibition you can see what Moscow metro stations looked like in different years, and see photographs of metro builders, employees, and passengers.
The exhibition will run until August 15 inclusive.
The Moscow metro today is not only one of the main modes of transport in the capital, but also a cultural space. Exhibitions dedicated to holidays, significant dates and historical events have become a tradition for the stations.
Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.
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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Source: The Conversation – USA – By Raven Garvey, Associate Professor of Anthropology, University of Michigan
Our first meeting was a bit awkward. One of us is an archaeologist who studies how past peoples interacted with their environments. Two of us are geophysicists who investigate interactions between solar activity and Earth’s magnetic field.
When we first got together, we wondered whether our unconventional project, linking space weather and human behavior, could actually bridge such a vast disciplinary divide. Now, two years on, we believe the payoffs – personal, professional and scientific – were well worth the initial discomfort.
Our collaboration, which culminated in a recent paper in the journal Science Advances, began with a single question: What happened to life on Earth when the planet’s magnetic field nearly collapsed roughly 41,000 years ago?
This near-collapse is known as the Laschamps Excursion, a brief but extreme geomagnetic event named for the volcanic fields in France where it was first identified. At the time of the Laschamps Excursion, near the end of the Pleistocene epoch, Earth’s magnetic poles didn’t reverse as they do every few hundred thousand years. Instead, they wandered, erratically and rapidly, over thousands of miles. At the same time, the strength of the magnetic field dropped to less than 10% of its modern day intensity.
So, instead of behaving like a stable bar magnet – a dipole – as it usually does, the Earth’s magnetic field fractured into multiple weak poles across the planet. As a result, the protective force field scientists call the magnetosphere became distorted and leaky.
The magnetosphere normally deflects much of the solar wind and harmful ultraviolet radiation that would otherwise reach Earth’s surface.
So, during the Laschamps Excursion when the magnetosphere broke down, our models suggest a number of near-Earth effects. While there is still work to be done to precisely characterize these effects, we do know they included auroras – normally seen only in skies near the poles as the Northern Lights or Southern Lights – wandering toward the equator, and significantly higher-than-present-day doses of harmful solar radiation.
The skies 41,000 years ago may have been both spectacular and threatening. When we realized this, we two geophysicists wanted to know whether this could have affected people living at the time.
The archaeologist’s answer was absolutely.
For people on the ground at that time, auroras may have been the most immediate and striking effect, perhaps inspiring awe, fear, ritual behavior or something else entirely. But the archaeological record is notoriously limited in its ability to capture these kinds of cognitive or emotional responses.
Researchers are on firmer ground when it comes to the physiological impacts of increased UV radiation. With the weakened magnetic field, more harmful radiation would have reached Earth’s surface, elevating risk of sunburn, eye damage, birth defects, and other health issues.
In response, people may have adopted practical measures: spending more time in caves, producing tailored clothing for better coverage, or applying mineral pigment “sunscreen” made of ochre to their skin. As we describe in our recent paper, the frequency of these behaviors indeed appears to have increased across parts of Europe, where effects of the Laschamps Excursion were pronounced and prolonged.
At this time, both Neanderthals and members of our species, Homo sapiens, were living in Europe, though their geographic distributions likely overlapped only in certain regions. The archaeological record suggests that different populations exhibited distinct approaches to environmental challenges, with some groups perhaps more reliant on shelter or material culture for protection.
Importantly, we’re not suggesting that space weather alone caused an increase in these behaviors or, certainly, that the Laschamps caused Neanderthals to go extinct, which is one misinterpretation of our research. But it could have been a contributing factor – an invisible but powerful force that influenced innovation and adaptability.
Collaborating across such a disciplinary gap was, at first, daunting. But it turned out to be deeply rewarding.
Archaeologists are used to reconstructing now-invisible phenomena like climate. We can’t measure past temperatures or precipitation directly, but they’ve left traces for us to interpret if we know where and how to look.
But even archaeologists who’ve spent years studying the effects of climate on past behaviors and technologies may not have considered the effects of the geomagnetic field and space weather. These effects, too, are invisible, powerful and best understood through indirect evidence and modeling. Archaeologists can treat space weather as a vital component of Earth’s environmental history and future forecasting.
Likewise, geophysicists, who typically work with large datasets, models and simulations, may not always engage with some of the stakes of space weather. Archaeology adds a human dimension to the science. It reminds us that the effects of space weather don’t stop at the ionosphere. They can ripple down into the lived experiences of people on the ground, influencing how they adapt, create and survive.
The Laschamps Excursion wasn’t a fluke or a one-off. Similar disruptions of Earth’s magnetic field have happened before and will happen again. Understanding how ancient humans responded can provide insight into how future events might affect our world – and perhaps even help us prepare.
Our unconventional collaboration has shown us how much we can learn, how our perspective changes, when we cross disciplinary boundaries. Space may be vast, but it connects us all. And sometimes, building a bridge between Earth and space starts with the smallest things, such as ochre, or a coat, or even sunscreen.
Agnit Mukhopadhyay has received funding from NASA Science Mission Directorate and the University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School.
Raven Garvey and Sanja Panovska do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Weird space weather seems to have influenced human behavior on Earth 41,000 years ago – our unusual scientific collaboration explores how – https://theconversation.com/weird-space-weather-seems-to-have-influenced-human-behavior-on-earth-41-000-years-ago-our-unusual-scientific-collaboration-explores-how-257216
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Government publishes final statutory relationships, sex and health education guidance for schools.
Children and young people will be better protected from the scourge of misogynism, deepfake porn and unhealthy attitudes to consent, power and control through new Relationships, Sex and Health Education guidance for schools being published today (Tuesday 15 July).
The statutory guidance has a new focus on helping boys identify positive role models, and challenge myths about women and relationships that are spread online in the ‘manosphere’ – without stigmatising boys for being boys.
Secondary schools will also now include lessons on incel culture, including how a piece of content online can impact a person’s understanding of sexual ethics and behaviour, as well as increasing awareness of AI, deepfakes and how pornography links to misogyny.
It comes as new data published today shows misogynistic attitudes have reached epidemic scale by the end of secondary school. When asked to think about just the past week, over a third (37%) of pupils aged 11-19 had heard comments that made them concerned about the safety of girls, and over half (54%) said they had witnessed comments they would describe as misogynistic.
Other additions to the curriculum include spiking and methanol poisoning, increased focus on resilience and coping, a strengthened health syllabus so children are equipped with necessary knowledge on women’s health such as endometriosis and fertility.
The guidance builds on the government’s commitment to give every school child access to a mental health professional, delivering on the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change, and comes ahead of the Violence Against Women and Girls strategy due to be published in the autumn.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said:
Before I was elected to Parliament, I managed a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic violence, so I have seen first-hand the devastating impact when we don’t foster healthy attitudes from the youngest age.
I want our children to be equipped to defy the malign forces that exist online. Schools and parents alike have a vital role to play, helping children identify positive role models and resist the manipulation too often used online to groom impressionable young minds.
Whether it’s helping deliver on our Plan for Change mission to halve violence against women and girls or growing a more just and equal society, there can be no more basic mission for a government then making sure our children grow up to become decent, respectful adults, prepared for the modern world.
Children will start to build positive attitudes to relationships between friends and family in primary school, followed by new dedicated content in secondary school that helps boys identify positive male role models, and all children to expect consent and kindness when they get ready for more intimate relationships.
Additional new content for secondary schools includes:
A strong new emphasis on age-appropriate and sequenced teaching, differentiated between primary and secondary school, will mean children don’t get taught things they are too young for, without proscribing specific ages to each individual topic.
The clear dividing line between what can be taught in primary and secondary school remains unchanged.
This will allow teachers to sensitively respond to topics that children might have seen online or heard from their friends – making sure children are kept safe and parents are informed.
Research shows over one in five (22%) of girls aged 7 to 10 had seen ‘rude images online’, and the average age for exposure to pornography is 13. This is also an issue the sector has regularly raised concerns about, with 3 out of 4 teachers surveyed worrying about the influence of online misogyny over their pupils.
That’s why, starting in early 2026, schools will be able to apply for an RSHE training grant, empowering the workforce to take on these challenges.
Oak National Academy, the publicly-funded provider of curriculum and teaching resources for schools, has released a set of online safety lessons reflecting this part of the guidance that will warn teenagers of the dangers of incel ideology and other forms of misogyny they encounter on the internet.
Jason Elsom, Chief Executive of Parentkind, the UK’s largest parent charity, said:
Transparency is critical for parents and there should be an unambiguous right for parents to see what their children are being taught before they are taught it. This guidance makes it clear that is what should happen.
Where parents have been able to view RSHE materials, they are four times as likely to say they are happy with the content of RSHE lessons. Transparency is the word that should be written through every school’s approach to RSHE.
Parents rightly have high expectations of schools around the teaching of sensitive subjects and doing this in a way that works with parents rather than keeping parents in the dark.
John Roberts, Interim CEO of Oak National Academy, said:
Teachers have an important role to play in helping children stay safe online and enabling them to identify harms such as incel ideology and misogyny.
But it’s a delicate topic to cover, and schools need to feel confident they are getting it right.
These free, optional Oak resources offer age-appropriate lessons that help teachers start honest conversations and guide pupils towards healthier digital habits and safer online experiences.
The guidance is absolutely clear that parents should be able to view all RSHE curriculum materials on request and that schools should not agree to any contractual restrictions on showing parents any content that the school will use.
To further support children to feel able to take on challenges and risks, they will be taught the importance of grit and resilience and to recognise that anxiety and low mood can be a normal of managing every day mental health.
With suicide being the biggest killer of under 35s, the guidance has made clear that secondary schools should work closely with mental health professionals on how to discuss suicide prevention in an age-appropriate way.
Andy, Mike and Tim of 3 Dads Walking said:
We welcome this vital step forward. Giving schools permission to talk about suicide prevention means more young people can be supported to open up about difficult feelings and know where to find help.
We know, from painful personal experience, how much this matters. This change will save lives. We’re grateful to have played a part in helping bring it about.
Schools can begin following the guidance from the new school year and it must be followed from September 2026.
Margaret Mulholland, SEND and inclusion specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, said:
Sadly, boys are often exposed to harmful and toxic misogynistic content online, which can impact on their behaviour in the real world. The focus of this updated guidance on tackling these issues is timely and welcome.
It is important that we don’t simply tell boys what is wrong but that we also talk to them about positive male role models – and we are pleased that this is recognised in the guidance.
Social media companies must also do more to police their platforms to remove harmful material and in particular protect children and young people from malign influences. We all have a responsibility to uphold values of decency and respect.
DfE media enquiries
Central newsdesk – for journalists 020 7783 8300
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Brian P. McCullough, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Michigan
When the FIFA World Cup hits North America in June 2026, 48 teams and millions of soccer fans will be traveling to and from venues spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It’s a dramatic expansion – 16 more teams will be playing than in recent years, with a jump from 64 to 104 matches. The tournament is projected to bring in over US$10 billion in revenue. But the expansion will also mean a lot more travel and other activities that contribute to climate change.
The environmental impacts of giant sporting events like the World Cup create a complex paradox for an industry grappling with its future in a warming world.
Sports are undeniably experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures are putting athletes’ health at risk during summer heat waves and shortening winter sports seasons. Many of the 2026 World Cup venues often see heat waves in June and early July, when the tournament is scheduled.
There is a divide over how sports should respond.
Some athletes are speaking out for more sustainable choices and have called on lawmakers to take steps to limit climate-warming emissions. At the same time, the sport industry is growing and facing a constant push to increase revenue. The NCAA is also considering expanding its March Madness basketball tournaments from 68 teams currently to as many as 76.
Estimates for the 2026 World Cup show what large tournament expansions can mean for the climate. A report from Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that the expanded World Cup could generate over 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly double the average of the past four World Cups.
This massive increase – and the increase that would come if the NCAA basketball tournaments also expand – would primarily be driven by air travel as fans and players fly among event cities that are thousands of miles apart.
Sports are big business, and adding more matches to events like the World Cup and NCAA tournaments will likely lead to larger media rights contracts and greater gate receipts from more fans attending the events, boosting revenues. These are powerful financial incentives.
In the NCAA’s case, there is another reason to consider a larger tournament: The House v. NCAA settlement opened the door for college athletic departments to share revenue with athletes, which will significantly increase costs for many college programs. More teams would mean more television revenue and, crucially, more revenue to be distributed to member NCAA institutions and their athletic conferences.
The inherent conflict between maximizing profit through growth and minimizing environmental footprint presents a dilemma for sports.
Several sport organizations have promised to reduce their impact on the climate, including signing up for initiatives like the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
However, as sports tournaments and exhibition games expand, it can become increasingly hard for sports organizations to meet their climate commitments. In some cases, groups making sustainability commitments have been accused of greenwashing, suggesting the goals are more about public relations than making genuine, measurable changes.
For example, FIFA’s early claims that it would hold a “fully carbon-neutral” World Cup in Qatar in 2022 were challenged by a group of European countries that accused soccer’s world governing body of underestimating emissions. The Swiss Fairness Commission, which monitors fairness in advertising, considered the complaints and determined that FIFA’s claims could not be substantiated.
Aviation is often the biggest driver of emissions. A study that colleagues and I conducted on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament found about 80% of its emissions were connected to travel. And that was after the NCAA began using the pod system, which is designed to keep teams closer to home for the first and second rounds.
Some academics, observing the rising emissions trend, have called for radical solutions like the end of commercialized sports or drastically limiting who can attend sporting events, with a focus on fans from the region.
These solutions are frankly not practical, in my view, nor do they align with other positive developments. The growing popularity of women’s sports shows the challenge in limiting sports events – more games expands participation but adds to the industry’s overall footprint.
Further compounding the challenges of reducing environmental impact is the amount of fan travel, which is outside the direct control of the sports organization or event organizers.
Many fans will follow their teams long distances, especially for mega-events like the World Cup or the NCAA tournament. During the men’s World Cup in Russia in 2018, more than 840,000 fans traveled from other countries. The top countries by number of fans, after Russia, were China, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.
There is an argument that distributed sporting events like March Madness or the World Cup can be better in some ways for local environments because they don’t overwhelm a single city. However, merely spreading the impact does not necessarily reduce it, particularly when considering the effects on climate change.
Sport organizations and event planners can take steps to be more sustainable and also encourage more sustainable choices among fans. Fans can reduce their environmental impact in a variety of ways. For example:
Avoid taking airplanes for shorter distances, such as between FIFA venues in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and carpool or take Amtrak instead. Planes can be more efficient for long distances, but air travel is still a major contributing factor to emissions.
While in a host city, use mass transit or rent electric vehicles or bicycles for local travel.
Consider sustainable accommodations, such as short-term rentals that might have a smaller environmental footprint than a hotel. Or stay at a certified green hotel that makes an effort to be more efficient in its use of water and energy.
Engage in sustainable pregame and postgame activities, such as choosing local, sustainable food options, and minimize waste.
You can also pay to offset carbon emissions for attending different sporting events, much like concertgoers do when they attend musical festivals. While critics question offsets’ true environmental benefit, they do represent people’s growing awareness of their environmental footprint.
Through all these options, it’s clear that sports face a significant challenge in addressing their environmental impacts and encouraging fans to be more sustainable, while simultaneously trying to meet ambitious business and environmental targets.
In my view, a sustainable path forward will require strategic, yet genuine, commitment by the sports industry and its fans, and a willingness to prioritize long-term planetary health alongside economic gains – balancing the sport and sustainability.
Brian P. McCullough does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. When big sports events like FIFA World Cup expand, their climate footprint expands too – https://theconversation.com/when-big-sports-events-like-fifa-world-cup-expand-their-climate-footprint-expands-too-259437
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Brian P. McCullough, Associate Professor of Sport Management, University of Michigan
When the FIFA World Cup hits North America in June 2026, 48 teams and millions of soccer fans will be traveling to and from venues spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
It’s a dramatic expansion – 16 more teams will be playing than in recent years, with a jump from 64 to 104 matches. The tournament is projected to bring in over US$10 billion in revenue. But the expansion will also mean a lot more travel and other activities that contribute to climate change.
The environmental impacts of giant sporting events like the World Cup create a complex paradox for an industry grappling with its future in a warming world.
Sports are undeniably experiencing the effects of climate change. Rising global temperatures are putting athletes’ health at risk during summer heat waves and shortening winter sports seasons. Many of the 2026 World Cup venues often see heat waves in June and early July, when the tournament is scheduled.
There is a divide over how sports should respond.
Some athletes are speaking out for more sustainable choices and have called on lawmakers to take steps to limit climate-warming emissions. At the same time, the sport industry is growing and facing a constant push to increase revenue. The NCAA is also considering expanding its March Madness basketball tournaments from 68 teams currently to as many as 76.
Estimates for the 2026 World Cup show what large tournament expansions can mean for the climate. A report from Scientists for Global Responsibility estimates that the expanded World Cup could generate over 9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, nearly double the average of the past four World Cups.
This massive increase – and the increase that would come if the NCAA basketball tournaments also expand – would primarily be driven by air travel as fans and players fly among event cities that are thousands of miles apart.
Sports are big business, and adding more matches to events like the World Cup and NCAA tournaments will likely lead to larger media rights contracts and greater gate receipts from more fans attending the events, boosting revenues. These are powerful financial incentives.
In the NCAA’s case, there is another reason to consider a larger tournament: The House v. NCAA settlement opened the door for college athletic departments to share revenue with athletes, which will significantly increase costs for many college programs. More teams would mean more television revenue and, crucially, more revenue to be distributed to member NCAA institutions and their athletic conferences.
The inherent conflict between maximizing profit through growth and minimizing environmental footprint presents a dilemma for sports.
Several sport organizations have promised to reduce their impact on the climate, including signing up for initiatives like the United Nations Sports for Climate Action Framework.
However, as sports tournaments and exhibition games expand, it can become increasingly hard for sports organizations to meet their climate commitments. In some cases, groups making sustainability commitments have been accused of greenwashing, suggesting the goals are more about public relations than making genuine, measurable changes.
For example, FIFA’s early claims that it would hold a “fully carbon-neutral” World Cup in Qatar in 2022 were challenged by a group of European countries that accused soccer’s world governing body of underestimating emissions. The Swiss Fairness Commission, which monitors fairness in advertising, considered the complaints and determined that FIFA’s claims could not be substantiated.
Aviation is often the biggest driver of emissions. A study that colleagues and I conducted on the NCAA men’s basketball tournament found about 80% of its emissions were connected to travel. And that was after the NCAA began using the pod system, which is designed to keep teams closer to home for the first and second rounds.
Some academics, observing the rising emissions trend, have called for radical solutions like the end of commercialized sports or drastically limiting who can attend sporting events, with a focus on fans from the region.
These solutions are frankly not practical, in my view, nor do they align with other positive developments. The growing popularity of women’s sports shows the challenge in limiting sports events – more games expands participation but adds to the industry’s overall footprint.
Further compounding the challenges of reducing environmental impact is the amount of fan travel, which is outside the direct control of the sports organization or event organizers.
Many fans will follow their teams long distances, especially for mega-events like the World Cup or the NCAA tournament. During the men’s World Cup in Russia in 2018, more than 840,000 fans traveled from other countries. The top countries by number of fans, after Russia, were China, the U.S., Mexico and Argentina.
There is an argument that distributed sporting events like March Madness or the World Cup can be better in some ways for local environments because they don’t overwhelm a single city. However, merely spreading the impact does not necessarily reduce it, particularly when considering the effects on climate change.
Sport organizations and event planners can take steps to be more sustainable and also encourage more sustainable choices among fans. Fans can reduce their environmental impact in a variety of ways. For example:
Avoid taking airplanes for shorter distances, such as between FIFA venues in Philadelphia, New York and Boston, and carpool or take Amtrak instead. Planes can be more efficient for long distances, but air travel is still a major contributing factor to emissions.
While in a host city, use mass transit or rent electric vehicles or bicycles for local travel.
Consider sustainable accommodations, such as short-term rentals that might have a smaller environmental footprint than a hotel. Or stay at a certified green hotel that makes an effort to be more efficient in its use of water and energy.
Engage in sustainable pregame and postgame activities, such as choosing local, sustainable food options, and minimize waste.
You can also pay to offset carbon emissions for attending different sporting events, much like concertgoers do when they attend musical festivals. While critics question offsets’ true environmental benefit, they do represent people’s growing awareness of their environmental footprint.
Through all these options, it’s clear that sports face a significant challenge in addressing their environmental impacts and encouraging fans to be more sustainable, while simultaneously trying to meet ambitious business and environmental targets.
In my view, a sustainable path forward will require strategic, yet genuine, commitment by the sports industry and its fans, and a willingness to prioritize long-term planetary health alongside economic gains – balancing the sport and sustainability.
Brian P. McCullough does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. When big sports events like FIFA World Cup expand, their climate footprint expands too – https://theconversation.com/when-big-sports-events-like-fifa-world-cup-expand-their-climate-footprint-expands-too-259437
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
In Moscow, thousands of improvement projects are implemented annually in different areas – most of the objects are located outside the center.
“This year, specialists are putting in order about
700 streets. Among them are the outbound highways: Profsoyuznaya Street with 60th Anniversary of October Avenue, Shchyolkovskoye Highway with Krasnoprudnaya and Bolshaya Cherkizovskaya Streets. On Volgogradsky Prospekt, one of the city’s largest outbound highways, work is underway on the section from the Garden Ring to the Moscow Ring Road with a total length of 12.5 kilometers. The project also includes Marxist Street. The area will become even more comfortable for residents, while the transport function of the highway will be preserved,” the Moscow Mayor said in on your telegram channel.
Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin
Volgogradsky Prospekt is one of the largest outbound highways in Moscow. More than 860 thousand people live in the houses located next to it. More than 110 thousand cars drive along this avenue per day, and the passenger flow of 24 city transport routes is 120 thousand people daily.
The comprehensive improvement of Volgogradsky Prospekt and Marxistskaya Street began in April 2025. Work is being carried out on the section from the Garden Ring to the Moscow Ring Road. Its total length is 12.5 kilometers.
The main objective is to make the urban environment more functional and comfortable for local residents, while maintaining the transport purpose of the highway.
Instead of the outdated stops along the avenue, 30 modern pavilions will be installed. Thanks to the infrastructure upgrade, as well as due to the adjustment of traffic lights and the provision of priority to city transport, its speed will increase by 20 percent.
About 490 benches and trash bins will be placed on sidewalks and in other suitable places. 26 informational steles will help to find your way around.
It will be lighter and safer in the evening and at night thanks to the installation of more than a thousand energy-saving lamps. In addition, 1055 old gas-discharge lamps will be replaced with LED ones. Contrast lighting poles will be installed at unregulated pedestrian crossings.
Volgogradsky Prospekt will become much greener: previously lost lawns will be restored here. More than 1,300 large trees will be planted along the highway, including in the area of the exit to the Moscow Ring Road. Four green islands with decorative compositions of coniferous plants will be arranged on the scenic sections of the highway.
To improve the appearance of the avenue, decorative fencing with an individual pattern will be installed along industrial enterprises and garage complexes. Ventilation shafts and other engineering structures will receive decorative cladding. In addition, the dog walking area near house 187/16 will be updated.
Specialists will replace the pavement surfaces (about 105.3 thousand square meters) and roads (111.4 thousand square meters). Overhead cable lines will be moved underground and an additional drainage system will be installed.
Over 380 people and over 70 units of equipment are involved in the work. The improvement of Volgogradsky Prospekt with Marxistskaya Street is planned to be completed this fall.
More than 700 streets in Moscow will be improved by the end of the yearSergei Sobyanin announced plans for the development of the Moscow tram network
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.
.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
From July 4 to 24, in the center of St. Petersburg, on Bolshaya Morskaya Street, No. 1 (the Arch of the General Staff Building on Palace Square), a photo exhibition dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the All-Russian Mutual Aid Campaign is taking place
One of the exhibition’s heroines was the director of the Volunteer Projects Center “Harmony” of SPbPU Tatiana NamUnder her leadership, the Center joined the work of the regional headquarters in the spring of 2020 and is still one of the most active in the country.
Promotion
The Harmony Center has been actively involved in the work from the very beginning and has become a point of attraction for good initiatives. Over five years, hundreds of events have been organized: concerts and master classes in military hospitals, collection of humanitarian aid, support for families of SVO participants, educational courses for new volunteers.
«
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.
.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
From July 4 to 24, in the center of St. Petersburg, on Bolshaya Morskaya Street, No. 1 (the Arch of the General Staff Building on Palace Square), a photo exhibition dedicated to the 5th anniversary of the All-Russian Mutual Aid Campaign is taking place
One of the exhibition’s heroines was the director of the Volunteer Projects Center “Harmony” of SPbPU Tatiana NamUnder her leadership, the Center joined the work of the regional headquarters in the spring of 2020 and is still one of the most active in the country.
Promotion
The Harmony Center has been actively involved in the work from the very beginning and has become a point of attraction for good initiatives. Over five years, hundreds of events have been organized: concerts and master classes in military hospitals, collection of humanitarian aid, support for families of SVO participants, educational courses for new volunteers.
«
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.
.
Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Lima (Agenzia Fides) – A delegation from the Argentine Bishops’ Conference, sent to Peru on behalf of the National Team of the Amazon Project, aims to support the proclamation of the Gospel, provide assistance in addressing material and spiritual challenges, and accompany the local missionary community. The delegation is composed of lay missionary Silvana Medina and priest Carlos Salomone, who collaborate with the permanent pastoral mission in the southern region of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro river valleys in Peru, which is being carried out in the districts of Kimbiri, Manitea, Cielo Punko, Villa Kintiarina, and Villa Virgen, in continuity with the missionary work already begun in these areas.”Argentine Church, the Amazon is your mission” is the project that has supported the pastoral work of the parish of San Juan Bautista in the Kimbiri district, part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Maldonado, since 2022. The Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Maldonado, Bishop David Martínez de Aguirre Guinea, supports the initiative, which aims to renew the missionary spirit and strengthen the bond between the local Church and the teams sent.There are more than 150 settlements of various types in the area, from groups concentrated in urban centers to indigenous communities of the Asháninka and Machiguenga ethnic groups, who live a path of faith and fraternity in their daily lives. The missionaries aim to accompany the growth of the ecclesial spirit of a vibrant parish, animated by a strong sense of synodal co-responsibility and attentive to the needs of all. Currently, four Argentine missionaries live in the parish: a religious, a consecrated lay woman, and two lay missionaries. A married couple will join them in August. During her stay in Lima, Silvana Medina was also warmly welcomed by Father José Hipólito, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Peru, and his collaborators. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 15/7/2025)
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Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Lima (Agenzia Fides) – A delegation from the Argentine Bishops’ Conference, sent to Peru on behalf of the National Team of the Amazon Project, aims to support the proclamation of the Gospel, provide assistance in addressing material and spiritual challenges, and accompany the local missionary community. The delegation is composed of lay missionary Silvana Medina and priest Carlos Salomone, who collaborate with the permanent pastoral mission in the southern region of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro river valleys in Peru, which is being carried out in the districts of Kimbiri, Manitea, Cielo Punko, Villa Kintiarina, and Villa Virgen, in continuity with the missionary work already begun in these areas.”Argentine Church, the Amazon is your mission” is the project that has supported the pastoral work of the parish of San Juan Bautista in the Kimbiri district, part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Maldonado, since 2022. The Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Maldonado, Bishop David Martínez de Aguirre Guinea, supports the initiative, which aims to renew the missionary spirit and strengthen the bond between the local Church and the teams sent.There are more than 150 settlements of various types in the area, from groups concentrated in urban centers to indigenous communities of the Asháninka and Machiguenga ethnic groups, who live a path of faith and fraternity in their daily lives. The missionaries aim to accompany the growth of the ecclesial spirit of a vibrant parish, animated by a strong sense of synodal co-responsibility and attentive to the needs of all. Currently, four Argentine missionaries live in the parish: a religious, a consecrated lay woman, and two lay missionaries. A married couple will join them in August. During her stay in Lima, Silvana Medina was also warmly welcomed by Father José Hipólito, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Peru, and his collaborators. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 15/7/2025)
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Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Lima (Agenzia Fides) – A delegation from the Argentine Bishops’ Conference, sent to Peru on behalf of the National Team of the Amazon Project, aims to support the proclamation of the Gospel, provide assistance in addressing material and spiritual challenges, and accompany the local missionary community. The delegation is composed of lay missionary Silvana Medina and priest Carlos Salomone, who collaborate with the permanent pastoral mission in the southern region of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro river valleys in Peru, which is being carried out in the districts of Kimbiri, Manitea, Cielo Punko, Villa Kintiarina, and Villa Virgen, in continuity with the missionary work already begun in these areas.”Argentine Church, the Amazon is your mission” is the project that has supported the pastoral work of the parish of San Juan Bautista in the Kimbiri district, part of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Maldonado, since 2022. The Apostolic Vicar of Puerto Maldonado, Bishop David Martínez de Aguirre Guinea, supports the initiative, which aims to renew the missionary spirit and strengthen the bond between the local Church and the teams sent.There are more than 150 settlements of various types in the area, from groups concentrated in urban centers to indigenous communities of the Asháninka and Machiguenga ethnic groups, who live a path of faith and fraternity in their daily lives. The missionaries aim to accompany the growth of the ecclesial spirit of a vibrant parish, animated by a strong sense of synodal co-responsibility and attentive to the needs of all. Currently, four Argentine missionaries live in the parish: a religious, a consecrated lay woman, and two lay missionaries. A married couple will join them in August. During her stay in Lima, Silvana Medina was also warmly welcomed by Father José Hipólito, National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in Peru, and his collaborators. (EG) (Agenzia Fides, 15/7/2025)
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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 15 (Xinhua) — Two tourist charters from Khabarovsk and Vladivostok landed safely in Yantai City, east China’s Shandong Province, on July 12.
According to the Yantai City Culture and Tourism Administration, after the planes landed at Penglai International Airport, a welcoming ceremony was held for the Russian tourists who had planned to spend their summer vacation in the Chinese city.
The new Vladivostok-Yantai charter route is the second direct tourist airline with Russia opened by the city after the launch of the Khabarovsk-Yantai flight in 2024.
It is reported that 20 inbound tourism charter flights are planned between Khabarovsk/Vladivostok and Yantai from July 12 to September 13, 2025, which will not only provide Russian tourists with more convenient transportation options, but also give new impetus to the Yantai inbound tourism market, deepening cultural and tourism exchanges and cooperation between China and Russia.
The launch of the airlines has become an important achievement for Yantai in using the visa-free transit policy and actively expanding the international tourism market. The new charter flights not only provide Russian guests with a rich holiday on the Chinese coast, but also create new opportunities to improve Yantai’s global rating and promote high-quality development of the local cultural and tourism industry. -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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