Chicago, July 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ripple (XRP) has applied for a national trust bank license. As the digital asset ecosystem accelerates its integration, Ripple (XRP) is moving towards the mainstream at an unprecedented speed. As the world’s leading green cloud computing platform, Mint Miner took the lead in responding to market trends and officially launched a mobile cloud mining app, supporting cloud computing services activated with one click using XRP, bringing convenient, efficient and secure passive income solutions to users around the world.
A new choice for XRP holders: not only holding coins, but also making profits XRP has become one of the preferred digital assets for institutions and users with its high transaction volume, low handling fees and strong liquidity. Mint Miner breaks through traditional barriers and realizes XRP direct payment mining contracts – eliminating exchange costs and complex settings to release the maximum value of held assets.
Mint Miner App Features Highlights ✅ One-click cloud computing: no need to buy mining machines, no need to deploy, the system runs automatically ✅ Daily visual income: income is settled daily, and historical data is transparent and traceable ✅ Global multi-language support: built-in English, French, Spanish and other multi-language systems, suitable for users in multiple countries ✅ Green data center network: connects clean energy mines in Eastern Europe, North America, Australia and other regions, environmentally friendly and sustainable
How to start mining with XRP? 1. Register an account on the official website of Mint Miner and receive a $15 new member bonus 2. Deposit XRP into your Mint Miner account, select and purchase a suitable cloud computing power contract The following is a list of some cloud mining contracts: [New User Experience Contract]: Investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, maturity income: $100 + $10 [WhatsMiner M50S]: Investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, maturity income: $500 + $30.5 [Bitcoin Miner S19 XP+ Hyd]: Investment amount: $1,500, contract period: 9 days, maturity income: $1,500 + $178.2 [ETC Miner E11]: Investment amount: $3,000, contract period: 15 days, maturity income: $3,000 + $630 [Antminer L7 ]: Investment amount: $5,200, contract period: 20 days, maturity income: $5,200 + $1,612 [Bitcoin MinerS21+ Hyd]: Investment amount: $10,000, contract period: 28 days, maturity income: $10,000 + $4,760 For a complete list of contracts, please visit the Mint Miner platform 3. After the contract is activated, the system will immediately start mining for you, and the daily income will be automatically credited to your account 4. You can withdraw funds at any time, and withdraw your account funds into XRP or other currencies and send them to your wallet address
Users can track income, renew contracts or withdraw income at any time through the App. The operation is simple and intuitive, and the experience is comparable to financial-level financial management applications.
Build a professional, safe and continuous passive income system At a time when global macro uncertainty is increasing, building a continuous and volatile digital income channel has become a key strategy for investors. Mint Miner’s computing power platform based on real mining machines, transparent contracts, and green energy is providing a stable and reliable asset appreciation path for more and more XRP holders.
Through the Mint Miner App, every user can use the simplest way to activate cloud computing power to obtain income, so that XRP is no longer just an investment tool, but also a daily continuous appreciation income.
Join Mint Miner App now, start your smart mining journey with XRP, and let your wealth grow steadily in your hands.
The Sevilla meeting ended with a strong call to action: to urgently address the massive $4 trillion annual shortfall in financing needed to achieve the SDGs. It also highlighted the pressing need for greater investment and deep reform of the global financial system.
Held under the auspices of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), the forum will take place from 14 to 23 July at UN Headquarters in New York.
Here are five key things to know about this year’s forum:
1. It’s all about accelerating action
The HLPF is the United Nations’ main platform for tracking global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. It meets each year to review countries’ efforts, share solutions, and push for faster action to meet the 2030 targets
Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals leaving no one behind.
This reflects a growing sense of urgency. With the 2030 deadline fast approaching, the forum will emphasise practical, data-driven strategies to close implementation gaps– particularly in the face of intersecting global crisis including climate change, inequality, and economic instability.
The 17 Sustainable Development Goals are all interconnected, for instance progress on SDG 2 to end hunger is closely tied to advances in health and education.
These Goals span a wide range of issues – from public health and gender equity to economic resilience and marine conservation.
SDG 17, which is reviewed annually, highlights the importance of revitalising global partnerships and enhancing means of implementation – including financing, which nations committed to just last month in Sevilla.
3. Countries will share their progress, voluntarily
A hallmark of the HLPF is the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) – self-assessments by Member States on their progress toward the SDGs. In 2025, dozens of countries are expected to present their VNRs, offering insights into both achievements and persistent challenges.
These reviews foster transparency, peer learning, and accountability. They also provide a platform for civil society and other stakeholders to engage directly with governments on development priorities.
VNR Labs – interactive sessions focused on national reviews – create space for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration
4. It’s not just governments
While the HLPF is a UN intergovernmental platform, it brings together a diverse range of voices, including youth groups, local authorities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, academics, the private sector, and UN system agencies.
A rich programme of side events, exhibitions, and roundtable-discussions. This inclusive approach reflects the spirit of the 2030 Agenda, which recognises sustainable development is a universal, shared endeavour.
UN Photo/Manuel Elías
A wide view of the opening of the 2023 High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), held in the General Assembly Hall.
5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 The Final Countdown
With only five years left to deliver on the 2030 Agenda, the 2025 HLPF marks a critical inflection point.
It is more than a yearly check-in. This year’s session comes at a time when science, solidarity, and urgent action must converge. It will help set the tone for the next Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2027, where world leaders will take stock of collective progress and determine the final push toward 2030.
What happens now – at this two-thirds deadline moment – will shape whether the SDGs will realise a global promise or become a missed opportunity.
Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 in a high-octane final to claim his maiden Wimbledon trophy and fourth Grand Slam crown on Sunday, avenging his loss to the Spaniard in last month’s epic French Open final.
The hard-fought win over the two-times defending champion on the famous lawns of London ensured that Sinner became the first Italian to secure a Wimbledon singles title.
“I would like to start with Carlos. An amazing tournament, but mostly thank you for the player you are,” Sinner said.
“It’s so difficult to play against you, but we have an amazing relationship off the court and on the court … keep going, keep pushing.”
The 23-year-old Sinner drew first blood in the first Wimbledon men’s final contested by a pair born in the 2000s, breaking for a 3-2 lead, but Alcaraz clawed back before hitting a spectacular return at full stretch to wrap up the opening set and he celebrated by cupping his ear and soaking up the cheers.
Sinner was gained a break in the opening game of next set and he let out a rare yell of “Let’s go” after winning a point en route to holding in a tight game before surging ahead 3-1 after a brief interruption when a champagne cork flew from the stands and landed on Centre Court.
The top seed shrugged off the distraction and hit a running crosscourt winner to take the second set, before tightening his grip on the contest by unleashing a superb volley at the net to break for 5-4 and then holding in the next game to seal the third set with minimum fuss.
With shadows drifting across the main showcourt that had basked in bright sunshine, Sinner wheeled away to a 3-1 lead in the fourth set as Alcaraz began to display the smallest signs of dejection, and the monk-like world number one held firm from there to complete a famous victory.
“It’s amazing to be in this position,” added Sinner.
“We were talking actually before the match; we would never have thought to be in this position. Back in the days when I was young, this was only a dream, because it was so far away from where I’m from. So I’m just living my dream, it’s amazing.
“I’d like to thank my team and everyone who came here for this special day. It means so much. You give me so much emotion on and off the court and we try to keep pushing and trying to become a better tennis player, but mostly a better person.”
There was to be no Roland Garros-like resurrection for Alcaraz, who fought back from three match-points down in the Paris finale just 35 days ago, as the Spaniard’s bid to claim three successive All England Club titles was extinguished.
“I’m just really happy and really proud about everything I’m doing,” the 22-year-old Alcaraz said.
“At the beginning of the season, I struggled a little bit on the court, but then suddenly I started to bring joy on the court again and that excitement I have every time I step on the court.
“It’s a great journey so far, which I’m really proud of.”
Tomorrow marks 40 years since the bombing and sinking of the Rainbow Warrior — a moment that changed the course of New Zealand’s history and reshaped how we saw ourselves on the world stage.
Two French agents planted two explosives on the ship, then just before midnight, explosions ripped through the hull killing photographer, Fernando Pereira and sinking the 47m ex-fishing trawler.
The attack sparked outrage across the country and the world, straining diplomatic ties between New Zealand and France and cementing the country’s anti-nuclear stance.
Few people are more closely linked to the ship than author and journalist Dr David Robie, who spent eleven weeks on board during its final voyage through the Pacific, and wrote the book, Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, which is being published tomorrow. He joins Emile Donovan.
Tomorrow marks 40 years since the bombing and sinking of the Rainbow Warrior — a moment that changed the course of New Zealand’s history and reshaped how we saw ourselves on the world stage.
Two French agents planted two explosives on the ship, then just before midnight, explosions ripped through the hull killing photographer, Fernando Pereira and sinking the 47m ex-fishing trawler.
The attack sparked outrage across the country and the world, straining diplomatic ties between New Zealand and France and cementing the country’s anti-nuclear stance.
Few people are more closely linked to the ship than author and journalist Dr David Robie, who spent eleven weeks on board during its final voyage through the Pacific, and wrote the book, Eyes of Fire: The Last Voyage and Legacy of the Rainbow Warrior, which is being published tomorrow. He joins Emile Donovan.
Sweden made the most of Germany defender Carlotta Wamser’s expulsion to sweep to a 4-1 win and secure top spot in their Group C clash on Saturday, with their opponents also going through to the quarter-finals as runners-up.
The Swedes finished top of the group with a perfect nine points from three games and will take on the runners-up in Group D, which features France, England, Netherlands and Wales.
The Germans will face the winners of Group D.
Friday’s encounter was the first time the Germans conceded four goals at a Women’s Euros and the Swedes were good value for their win, punishing virtually every mistake the Germans made.
Germany got off to a flying start, slicing Sweden open through the middle as Wamser slid the ball into the path of Jule Brand, who managed to slip it past Jennifer Falk despite the Swedish keeper getting a touch.
The Swedes struck back within five minutes, striker Stina Blackstenius expertly timing her run behind the defence and latching on to Kosovare Asllani’s ball before flashing a shot past Ann-Katrin Berger to level.
Though the Germans looked dangerous every time they crossed the halfway line, it was the Swedes who took the lead through Smilla Holmberg in the 25th minute, the fullback marauding into the box before losing control and then steering an attempted clearance into the net from a tight angle.
RED CARD
Germany’s challenge fell apart in the 32nd minute when Wamser was shown a straight red card for a deliberate handball to block a goal, and Fridolina Rolfo scored from the spot to make it 3-1 in her 100th international.
“The red card was decisive,” Germany coach Christian Wueck said. “We couldn’t fight back into the game with one less player on the pitch.”
Though the Germans made the odd dangerous foray in the second half, the Swedes exploited their numerical advantage and substitute Lina Hurtig put the game beyond reach with a close-range finish in the 80th minute.
“It’s very important to build on a good feeling and gain confidence, now we can look forward,” goalscorer Blackstenius said.
The Germans were disappointed with how the game turned out after such a good start.
“We started the game very well. We were fully in it and the better team,” Klara Buhl said.
“We then give the game away in 10 minutes, that’s incredibly bitter. We have to put that behind us as quickly as possible.”
The Swedes play their quarter-final in Zurich next Thursday, while the Germans will have two extra days of rest before playing their game in Basel on Saturday.
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 13 (Xinhua) — A total of 131,000 standard containers of cargo were shipped from east China’s Zhejiang Province via the Yixinou (Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe) route on China-Europe international rail freight services in the first half of 2025, up 11.1 percent year on year, according to data from Hangzhou Customs.
According to the official website of the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China, there are currently 26 regular cross-border routes within the framework of China-Europe rail freight transportation, linking Zhejiang Province with more than 160 cities in more than 50 countries on the Eurasian continent. The volume of goods sent by China-Europe trains maintains stable growth.
In order to ensure the steady growth of the range and quantity of goods transported along Yixinou routes, Hangzhou Customs has taken a series of measures to simplify customs clearance, such as opening a “green corridor” for China-Europe trains and pre-registration for customs clearance of goods on a 24/7 basis /24 hours a day, 7 days a week/.
The Yiwu-Xinjiang-Europe international freight railway route was officially launched in November 2014. It starts in Yiwu, known as the “world supermarket,” passes through Xinjiang to Kazakhstan, crosses the territories of Russia, Belarus, Poland, Germany, France and ends in Madrid, Spain. The total length of the line is more than 13 thousand km. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The European Union said on Saturday it was ready to retaliate to defend its interests if the United States pressed ahead with imposing a 30% tariff on European goods from August 1.
U.S. President Donald Trump latest salvo surprised the bloc, the United States’ largest trading partner, which had hoped to avoid an escalating trade war after intense negotiations and increasingly warm words from the White House.
Ursula von der Leyen, head of the EU executive which handles trade policy for the 27 member states, said the bloc was ready to keep working towards an agreement before August 1,but was willing to stand firm.
“We will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required,” she said of possible retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods entering Europe.
EU ambassadors will discuss next steps on Sunday, before trade ministers meet in Brussels on Monday for an extraordinary meeting. They will need to decide whether to impose tariffs on 21 billion euros of U.S. imports in retaliation against separate U.S. tariffs against steel and aluminium, or extend a suspension which lasts until the end of Monday.
The EU has so far held back from retaliating against the U.S., although it has readied two packages that could hit a combined 93 billion euros of U.S. goods
European capitals swiftly backed von der Leyen’s position.
German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche called for a “pragmatic outcome to the negotiations”.
Trump’s proposed tariffs”would hit European exporting companies hard. At the same time, they would also have a strong impact on the economy and consumers on the other side of the Atlantic,” she said.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on X that the European Commission needed more than ever to “assert the Union’s determination to defend European interests resolutely”.
Retaliation might need to include so-called anti-coercion instruments if Trump did not back down, Macron said.
The tool, drawn up during Trump’s first term and used against China, allows the EU to go beyond traditional tariffs on goods and impose restrictions on trade in services, if it deems that a country is using tariffs to force a change in policy.
Spain’s Economy Ministry backed further negotiations but added that Spain and others in the EU were ready to take “proportionate countermeasures if necessary”.
Trump has periodically railed against the European Union, saying in February it was “formed to screw the United States”.
His biggest grievance is the U.S. merchandise trade deficit with the EU, which in 2024 amounted to $235 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. The EU has repeatedly pointed to a U.S. surplus in services, arguing it in part redresses the balance.
RETALIATION
Combining goods, services and investment, the EU and the United States are each other’s largest trading partners by far. The American Chamber of Commerce to the EU said in March the trade dispute could jeopardise $9.5 trillion of business in the world’s most important commercial relationship.
Bernd Lange, head of the European Parliament’s trade committee said he was now convinced the first stage of countermeasures should come into force on Monday, followed quickly by the second package.
Trump has said he would mirror any retaliatory moves.
Still, Trump has repeatedly announced sweeping tariffs in recent months, only to row back or suspend them before his own self-imposed deadlines. The expectation that he will again relent has led to increasingly muted responses on financial markets, which have recovered since plunging after his initial “Liberation Day” announcement of big global tariffs in April.
Three EU officials who spoke on condition on anonymity said they saw Trump’s latest threats as a negotiating ploy.
Carsten Brzeski, global head of macro at ING, said Trump’s move suggested that months of negotiations remained deadlocked and that the situation was inching towards a make-or-break moment for the transatlantic trade relationship.
“The EU will now have to decide whether to budge or to play hardball,” he said. “This will bring market volatility and even more uncertainty.”
Cyrus de la Rubia, chief economist at Hamburg Commercial Bank, noted that the brunt of the U.S. tariffs, if implemented, would be felt by U.S. consumers.
However, there would also be clear repercussions for the euro area economy, already struggling with weak growth.
The European Central Bank had used a 10% tariff on EU exports to the United States as the baseline in its latest economic projections, which put output growth in the euro area at 0.9% this year, 1.1% in 2026 and 1.3% in 2027.
It said a 20% U.S. tariff would curb growth by 1 percentage point over the same period and also pull down inflation to 1.8% in 2027, from 2.0% in the baseline scenario. It did not even offer an estimate for the possibility of a 30% tariff.
Iga Swiatek took another stride towards tennis greatness by ruthlessly tearing apart American 13th seed Amanda Anisimova 6-0 6-0 and lifting her first Wimbledon trophy on Saturday.
The big occasion turned into a nightmare for Anisimova who became the first woman to lose a Wimbledon final by that painful scoreline since 1911 and the first to do so at any major since Steffi Graf routed Natasha Zvereva at the 1988 French Open.
Already a U.S. Open champion and a four-times French Open winner, Swiatek’s demolition job at the All England Club meant that she became the youngest woman since a 20-year-old Serena Williams in 2002 to lift major titles on all three surfaces.
Her superb display on the sun-drenched lawns of London also ensured that she emerged as the first player since Monica Seles in 1992 to win her first six major finals.
“It’s something that is just surreal. I feel like tennis keeps surprising me, and I keep surprising myself,” Swiatek told reporters after hoisting the gilded Venus Rosewater Dish.
“I’m really happy with the whole process, how it looked like from the first day we stepped on a grasscourt. Yeah, I feel like we did everything for it to go in that direction without expecting it, just working really hard.
“It means a lot, and it gives me a lot of experience. Yeah, I don’t even know. I’m just happy.”
Swiatek’s triumph ended a barren 13-month run for the Polish 24-year-old, who served a short suspension late last year after an inadvertent doping violation linked to contaminated sleep medication melatonin.
“I want to thank my coach (Wim Fissette). With the ups and downs now, we showed everybody it’s working,” Swiatek added.
SCORCHING START
On another warm afternoon on Centre Court, Swiatek got off to a scorching start by breaking a nervous Anisimova three times en route to dishing out the first bagel, prompting some spectators to get behind the shell-shocked American.
A frustrated Anisimova shrieked and desperately looked to her team in the stands for any kind of guidance after conceding yet another break point early in the second set and it was not long before her machine-like opponent pulled away further.
Anisimova continued to disappointingly crack under pressure, before Swiatek completed the brutal mauling in 57 minutes with a backhand winner on her second match point to become the first Wimbledon champion from Poland.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk celebrated with a picture of himself watching a post-match interview while holding a bowl of pasta and strawberries, Swiatek’s cheat meal at Wimbledon, while President Andrzej Duda was effusive in his praise.
“Iga! Today, on the grasscourts of Wimbledon, you wrote history – not only for Polish sport, but also for Polish pride. On behalf of the Republic of Poland – thank you,” Duda wrote.
Victory took Swiatek to 100 wins from 120 matches at the majors, making her the quickest to get to there since Williams in 2004, and denied Anisimova the chance to become the first American to win the title since her compatriot in 2016.
Swiatek jumped for joy on court before running towards her team in the stands to celebrate her triumph. The Friends fan was equally delighted to receive a congratulatory hug from American actress Courteney Cox, who was among the spectators.
All this while, Anisimova was left to wonder what could have been as she sat in her seat, before the tears began to flow during her on-court interview.
Few would have envisioned the American to hit the heights she did in the last fortnight after she fell outside the top 400 following her mental health break two years ago.
“I didn’t have enough today,” said Anisimova, who began the tournament with a 6-0 6-0 win over Yulia Putintseva but admitted to running out of gas in the final.
“I’m going to keep putting in the work, and I always believe in myself. I hope to be back again one day.”
It was bitter disappointment for U.S. fans hoping for an “American Slam” this year after Madison Keys won the Australian Open at the start of the year and Coco Gauff triumphed at the French Open last month.
Iran plans to cooperate with the U.N. nuclear watchdog despite restrictions imposed by its parliament, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday, while stressing that access to its bombed nuclear sites posed security and safety issues.
A new law passed in Iran following last month’s Israeli and U.S. bombing campaign stipulates that inspection of Iran’s nuclear sites by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) needs approval by the Supreme National Security Council, Iran’s top security body.
The Israeli and U.S. strikes targeted a nuclear programme which Western countries have long said was aimed at building an atomic weapon. Iran has long said its nuclear programme is purely peaceful.
Any negotiations over Iran’s future nuclear programme are likely to require its cooperation with the IAEA, which angered Iran last month by declaring on the eve of the Israeli strikes that Tehran was violating non-proliferation treaty commitments.
“The risk of spreading radioactive materials and the risk of exploding leftover munitions … are serious,” state media cited Araqchi as saying. “For us, IAEA inspectors approaching nuclear sites has both a security aspect … and the safety of the inspectors themselves is a matter that must be examined.”
While Iran’s cooperation with the nuclear watchdog has not stopped, it will take a new form and will be guided and managed through the Supreme National Security Council, Araqchi told Tehran-based diplomats.
“The IAEA’s requests for continued monitoring in Iran will be … decided on a case-by-case basis by the Council with consideration to safety and security issues,” Araqchi said.
Iran will not agree to any nuclear deal that does not allow it to enrich uranium, Araqchi reiterated. Iran would only agree to talks limited to its nuclear programme and not encompassing defence issues such as its missiles.
Axios cited sources on Saturday as saying Russian President Vladimir Putin had voiced support for the idea of an accord in which Tehran would bebarred from enriching uranium. Iran’s semi-official news agency Tasnim quoted an “informed source” as saying Putin had not sent any such message to Iran.
Speaking to the state news agency IRNA, Araqchi said Iran was carefully considering the details of any renewed nuclear talks with the U.S. and seeking assurances that Washington would not again resort to military force. “We are in no hurry to enter into unconsidered negotiations,” he added.
Araqchi also said any move by Britain, France and Germany to reimpose international sanctions on Iran through a so-called “snapback” mechanism under an earlier nuclear deal would “end Europe’s role” in Iran’s nuclear issue.
Under the terms of a U.N. resolution ratifying a 2015 nuclear pact, the three European powers could reimpose United Nations sanctions against Tehran by October 18, 2025.
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 13 (Xinhua) — China has made a major breakthrough in clean energy technology with the launch of the world’s most powerful floating direct-drive wind turbine.
The 17-megawatt turbine, jointly developed by state-owned enterprises China Huaneng Group (CHG) and Dongfang Electric Corporation, officially rolled off the production line on Thursday in the coastal city of Fuqing, east China’s Fujian Province, CHG confirmed to Xinhua News Agency on Saturday.
One of its power units can generate 68 million kWh of environmentally friendly electricity per year, which will be enough to supply electricity to approximately 40 thousand households.
According to CHG, the demonstration test of the wind turbine will take place in waters near the city of Yangjiang in southern China’s Guangdong Province.
The giant machine, with an operational availability of over 99 percent, has a record rotor diameter of 262 meters, and the blade capture area during rotation is about 53 thousand square meters, which is equivalent to 7.5 standard football fields. At the same time, the height of the central hub of 152 meters is comparable to a 50-story residential building.
This wind turbine can withstand extreme marine conditions, including waves over 24 meters high and typhoons of force 17. Unique stabilization technology allows continuous power generation even when the floating platform is tilted at extreme angles.
Liu Xin, director of the offshore wind energy department at China Huaneng Alternative Energy Technology Research Institute, highlighted the turbine’s adaptability, noting that its integrated intelligent sensing system provides holistic stability control for safe and efficient operation in the complex and variable deep-sea environment.
A team of researchers has made a technological breakthrough in floating wind energy system coupling modeling technology and high-fidelity model testing technology.
Notably, all major components, including blades, generators and transformers, are made in China, and the design includes, for the first time, Chinese-made large-diameter main shaft bearings.
This technological breakthrough opens the door to exploiting China’s vast deep-sea wind resources. According to the Energy Research Institute of the National Development and Reform Commission of China, the depth of China’s coastal waters ranges from 5 to 50 meters, where the country has about 500 GW of electricity from wind energy resources, while similar resources on the deep-sea shelf are about 3 to 4 times larger.
Data from the World Wind Energy Council (GWEC) highlights the global importance of these resources, showing that more than 80 percent of the world’s offshore wind resources are located in waters deeper than 60 meters.
Floating wind technologies and solutions will further unlock the potential of deepwater offshore wind energy in the future, GWEC data shows.
According to GWEC, the global installed capacity of floating wind turbines is estimated to reach 278 MW by the end of 2024, with Norway, the UK, China and France leading the four largest markets in this field. -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.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Chen Yi continued her giant-killing spree, defeating more favored teammate Kuai Man to reach the women’s singles final in the WTT US Smash in Las Vegas on Saturday.
The unseeded 20-year-old from the southeastern province of Zhejiang, who had eliminated China’s world No. 1 and world champion Sun Yingsha and Japan’s ninth seed Hina Hayata, outlasted fifth-seeded Kuai 4-3 (6-11, 11-3, 3-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-1, 11-9) to set up a title clash against former Chinese national team star Zhu Yuling.
“Kuai Man and I know each other very well,” said Chen. “We both know whoever is more determined and decisive would win this game.”
Zhu, a former World Cup winner who now plays for Macao, China, swept seventh-seeded Japanese Mima Ito 4-2 (11-6, 11-9, 6-11, 4-11, 11-6, 11-8) in the other semifinal.
The 30-year-old Zhu previously stepped away from China’s national team to recover from cancer, pursue her studies, and later become a professor at Tianjin University. She joined the Macao team last year.
Earlier in the day, South Korea’s An Jae-hyun/Lim Jong-hoon beat France’s Alexis Lebrun/Felix Lebrun 3-1 to win the men’s doubles title.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 13, 2025.
New Caledonia’s political parties commit to ‘historic’ statehood deal By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s pro-and-anti-independence parties have committed to an “historic” deal over the future political status of the French Pacific territory, which is set to become — for the first time — a “state” within the French realm. The 13-page agreement yesterday, officially entitled “Agreement Project of
Twyford praises NFIP lead, calls for inspired peace and regionalism Asia Pacific Report An opposition Labour Party MP today paid tribute to the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement, saying it should inspire Aotearoa New Zealand to maintain its own independence, embrace a strong regionalism, and be a “voice for peace and demilitarisation”. But Phil Twyford, MP for Te Atatu and spokesperson on disarmament,
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 13, 2025.
New Caledonia’s political parties commit to ‘historic’ statehood deal By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonia’s pro-and-anti-independence parties have committed to an “historic” deal over the future political status of the French Pacific territory, which is set to become — for the first time — a “state” within the French realm. The 13-page agreement yesterday, officially entitled “Agreement Project of
Twyford praises NFIP lead, calls for inspired peace and regionalism Asia Pacific Report An opposition Labour Party MP today paid tribute to the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement, saying it should inspire Aotearoa New Zealand to maintain its own independence, embrace a strong regionalism, and be a “voice for peace and demilitarisation”. But Phil Twyford, MP for Te Atatu and spokesperson on disarmament,
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
U.S. President Donald Trump’s surprise announcement of sweeping 30 percent tariffs on European Union (EU) exports on Saturday has provoked a fierce backlash across the bloc, with officials and industry leaders demanding a strong and united response amid continued trade talks.
The proposed tariffs, set to take effect on Aug. 1, target EU imports and were justified by Trump as a correction of a “far from reciprocal” trade relations.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned on Saturday that the tariffs would “disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.”
While emphasizing the EU’s continued commitment to a negotiated solution, she said the bloc “will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.”
European lawmakers and national leaders voiced growing frustration, with many urging immediate retaliatory steps.
Bernd Lange, chair of the European Parliament’s committee on international trade, said the U.S. letter is “both impertinent and a slap in the face” after weeks of negotiations.
He urged the EU to begin retaliatory measures on Monday as scheduled, stating that “the period of waiting is over.”
European Council President Antonio Costa said the tariffs would drive inflation, fuel uncertainty and stall growth. “The EU remains firm, united and ready to protect our interests,” he said, urging progress toward a “fair agreement” with Washington.
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his “strong disapproval” of the U.S. move, and said the EU must speed up preparing “credible countermeasures” using all tools, including anti-coercion, available if talks fail.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned the move as a “unilateral escalation,” and said the EU is prepared to respond with tough countermeasures if necessary.
“Everyone loses out from an escalated trade conflict, and it will be U.S. consumers who pay the highest price,” he warned.
Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala criticized the U.S. tariffs for negatively impacting transatlantic trade and called for “unity and determination” to protect the EU’s interests.
European industries voiced alarm over the fallout, particularly in sectors tightly integrated with the U.S. market.
Germany’s major industry lobby group, the BDI, called the U.S. move “an alarm signal,” warning that it could derail recovery and undermine innovation on both sides of the Atlantic.
“Tariffs as a means of exerting political pressure lead to higher costs, jeopardize jobs and undermine international competitiveness, both in Europe and in the United States,” said Wolfgang Niedermark, a senior BDI executive.
Isabel Schnabel, a European Central Bank board member, said the tariffs could trigger medium-term inflation and supply chain shocks.
The automotive sector, which is already deeply integrated with the EU and the U.S., is already feeling the pain.
Slovakia, one of Europe’s top car-exporting nations, reported a noticeable drop in orders for the coming third quarter. Economy Minister Denisa Sakova said relocating production to the U.S. was not feasible in the short term and emphasized that the damage had already begun.
The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) said the cost to manufacturers was already in the billions and climbing daily.
“It is regrettable that there is a threat of a further escalation of the trade conflict,” said VDA President Hildegard Mueller.
“The costs for our companies are already in the billions, and the sum is growing every day,” she said, noting that suppliers were also significantly affected by the import duties.
Emanuele Orsini, president of Confindustria, Italy’s major association representing manufacturing and service companies, condemned the U.S. approach as “unpleasant,” while Paolo Mascarino, president of the Italian food and drink industry federation Federalimentare, said the tariffs “exceed any threshold of tolerability” and would trigger significant drops in exports.
Dan O’Brien, chief economist at the Institute of International and European Affairs, said the U.S. move was “provocative” and significantly raised the risk of a wider economic confrontation between the two economies.
New Caledonia’s pro-and-anti-independence parties have committed to an “historic” deal over the future political status of the French Pacific territory, which is set to become — for the first time — a “state” within the French realm.
The 13-page agreement yesterday, officially entitled “Agreement Project of the Future of New Caledonia”, is the result of a solid 10 days of difficult negotiations between both pro and anti-independence parties.
They have stayed under closed doors at a hotel in the small city of Bougival, in the outskirts of Paris.
French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls (centre) shows signatures on the last page of New Caledonia’s new agreement. Image: RNZ Pacific/FB
The talks were convened by French President Emmanuel Macron after an earlier series of talks held between February and May 2025 failed to yield an agreement.
After opening the talks on July 2, Macron handed over them to his Minister for Overseas, Manuel Valls, to oversee. Valls managed to bring together all parties around the same table earlier this year.
In his opening speech earlier this month, Macron insisted on the need to restore New Caledonia’s economy, which was brought to its knees following destructive and deadly riots that erupted in May 2024.
He said France was ready to study any solution, including an “associated state” for New Caledonia.
During the following days, all political players exchanged views under the seal of strict confidentiality.
While the pro-independence movement, and its Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), remained adamant they would settle for no less than “full sovereignty”, the pro-France parties were mostly arguing that three referendums — held between 2018 and 2021 — had already concluded that most New Caledonians wanted New Caledonia to remain part of France.
Those results, they said, dictated that the democratic result of the three consultations be respected.
Group photo of participants at the end of negotiations. Image: Philippe Gomes
With this confrontational context, which resulted in an increasingly radicalised background in New Caledonia, that eventually led to the 2024 riots, the Bougival summit was dubbed the “last chance summit”.
In the early hours of Saturday, just before 7 am (Paris time, 5 pm NZ time), after a sleepless night, the secrecy surrounding the Bougival talks finally ended with an announcement from Valls.
He wrote in a release that all partners taking part in the talks had signed and “committed to present and defend the agreement’s text on New Caledonia’s future.”
Valls said this was a “major commitment resulting from a long work of negotiations during which New Caledonia’s partners made the choice of courage and responsibility”.
The released document, signed by almost 20 politicians, details what the deal would imply for New Caledonia’s future.
In its preamble, the fresh deal underlines that New Caledonia was “once again betting on trust, dialogue and peace”, through “a new political organisation, a more widely shared sovereignty and an economic and social refoundation” for a “reinvented common destiny.”
New Caledonia’s population will be called to approve the agreement in February 2026.
If approved, the text would be the centrepiece of a “special organic law” voted by the local Congress.
It would later have to be endorsed by the French Parliament and enshrined in an article of the French Constitution.
What does the agreement contain? One of the most notable developments in terms of future status for New Caledonia is the notion of a “State of New Caledonia”, under a regime that would maintain it as part of France, but with a dual citizenship — France/New Caledonia.
Another formulation used for the change of status is the often-used “sui generis”, which in legal Latin, describes a unique evolution, comparable to no other.
This would be formalised through a fundamental law to be endorsed by New Caledonia’s Congress by a required majority of three-fifths.
The number of MPs in the Congress would be 56.
The text also envisages a gradual transfer of key powers currently held by France (such as international relations), but would not include portfolios such as defence, currency or justice.
In diplomacy, New Caledonia would be empowered to conduct its own affairs, but “in respect of France’s international commitments and vital interests”.
On defence matters, even though this would remain under France’s powers, it is envisaged that New Caledonia would be “strongly” associated, consulted and kept informed, regarding strategy, goals and actions led by France in the Pacific region.
On police and public order matters, New Caledonia would be entitled to create its own provincial and traditional security forces, in addition to national French law enforcement agencies.
New Caledonia’s sensitive electoral roll The sensitive issue of New Caledonia’s electoral roll and conditions of eligibility to vote at local elections (including for the three Provincial Assemblies) is also mentioned in the agreement.
It was this very issue that was perceived as the main trigger for the May 2024 riots, the pro-independence movement feared at the time that changing the conditions to vote would gradually place the indigenous Kanak community in a position of minority.
It is now agreed that the electoral roll would be partly opened to those people of New Caledonia who were born after 1998.
The roll was frozen in 2007 and restricted to people born before 1998, which is the date the previous major autonomy agreement of Nouméa was signed.
Under the new proposed conditions to access New Caledonia’s “citizenship”, those entitled would include people who already can vote at local elections, but also their children or any person who has resided in New Caledonia for an uninterrupted ten years or who has been married or lived in a civil de facto partnership with a qualified citizen for at least five years.
Provincial elections once again postponed One of the first deadlines on the electoral calendar, the provincial elections, was to take place no later than 30 November 2025.
It will be moved once again — for the third time — to May-June 2026.
A significant part of the political deal is also dedicated to New Caledonia’s economic “refoundation”, with a high priority for the young generations, who have felt left out of the system and disenfranchised for too long.
One of the main goals was to bring New Caledonia’s public debts to a level of sustainability.
In 2024, following the riots, France granted, in the form of loans, over 1 billion euros (NZ $1.9 billion) for New Caledonia’s key institutions to remain afloat.
But some components of the political chessboard criticised the measure, saying this was placing the French territory in a state of excessive and long-term debt.
Group photo of participants at the end of negotiations with the signed agreement. Image: Philippe_Gomes/RNZ Pacific
Strategic nickel A major topic, on the macro-economic side, concerns New Caledonia’s nickel mining industry, after years of decline that has left it (even before 2024) in a state of near-collapse.
Nickel is regarded as the backbone of New Caledonia’s economy.
A nickel “strategic plan” would aim at re-starting New Caledonia nickel’s processing plants, especially in the Northern province, but at the same time facilitating the export of raw nickel.
There was also a will to ensure that all mining sites (many of which have been blocked and its installations damaged since the May 2024 riots) became accessible again.
Meanwhile, France would push the European Union to include New Caledonia’s nickel in its list of strategic resources.
New Caledonia’s nickel industry’s woes are also caused by its lack of competitiveness on the world market — especially compared to Indonesia’s recent rise in prominence in nickel production — because of the high cost of energy.
Swift reactions, mostly positive
New Caledonian politicians Sonia Backès (left to right), Nicolas Metzdorf, Gil Brial and Victor Tutugoro. Image: Nicolas Metzdorf/RNZ Pacific
The announcement yesterday was followed by quick reactions from all sides of New Caledonia’s political spectrum and also from mainland France’s political leaders.
French Prime Minister François Bayrou expressed “pride” to see an agreement “on par with history”, emerge.
“Bravo also to the work and patience of Manuel Valls” and “the decisive implication of Emmanuel Macron,” he wrote on X-Twitter.
From the ranks of New Caledonia’s political players, pro-France Nicolas Metzdorf said he perceived as one of the deal’s main benefits the fact that “we will at last be able to project ourselves in the future, in economic, social and societal reconstruction without any deadline.”
Metzdorf admitted that reaching an agreement required concessions and compromise from both sides.
“But the fact that we are no longer faced with referendums and to reinforce the powers of our provinces, this was our mandate”, he told public broadcaster NC La 1ère.
“We’ve had to accept this change from New Caledonia citizenship to New Caledonian nationality, which remains to be defined by New Caledonia’s Congress. We have also created a completely new status as part of the French Republic, a sui generis State”, he noted.
He said the innovative status kept New Caledonia within France, without going as far as an “associated state” mooted earlier.
“At least, what we have arrived at is that New Caledonians remain French”, pro-France Le Rassemblement-LR prominent leader Virginie Ruffenach commented.
“And those who want to contribute to New Caledonia’s development will be able to do so through a minimum stay of residence, the right to vote and to become citizens and later New Caledonia nationals”
“I’m aware that some could be wary of the concessions we made, but let’s face it: New Caledonia nationality does not make New Caledonia an independent State . . . It does not take away anything from us, neither of us belonging to the French Republic nor our French nationality,” Southern Province pro-France President Sonia Backès wrote on social media.
In a joint release, the two main pro-France parties, Les Loyalistes and Rassemblement-LR, said the deal was no less than “historic” and “perennial” for New Caledonia as a whole, to “offer New Caledonia a future of peace, stability and prosperity” while at the same time considering France’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
From the pro-independence side, one of the negotiators, Victor Tutugoro of UNI-UPM (Progressist Union in Melanesia) said what mattered was that “all of us have placed our bets on intelligence, beyond our respective beliefs, our positions, our postures”.
“We put all of these aside for the good of the country.”
“Of course, by definition, a compromise cannot satisfy anyone 100 percent. But it’s a balanced compromise for everyone,” he said.
“And it allows us to look ahead, to build New Caledonia together, a citizenship and this common destiny everyone’s been talking about for many years.”
Before politicians fly back to New Caledonia to present the deal to their respective bases, President Macron received all delegation members last evening to congratulate them on their achievements.
During the Presidential meeting at the Elysée Palace, FLNKS chief negotiator Emmanuel Tjibaou (whose father Jean-Marie Tjibaou also struck a historic agreement and shook hands with pro-France leader Jacques Lafleur, in 1988), stressed the agreement was one step along the path and it allows to envisage new perspectives for the Kanak people.
A sign of the changing times, but in a striking parallel — 37 years after his father’s historic handshake with Lafleur, Emmanuel Tjibaou (whose father was shot dead in 1989 by a radical pro-independence partisan who felt the independence cause had been betrayed — did not shake hands, but instead fist pumped with pro-France’s Metzdorf.
In a brief message on social networks, the French Head of State hailed the conclusive talks, which he labelled “A State of New Caledonia within the (French) Republic,” a win for a “bet on trust.”
“Now is the time for respect, for stability and for the sum of good wills to build a shared future.”
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Signatures on the last page of New Caledonia’s new agreement. Image: Philippe Dunoyer/RNZ Pacific
President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union starting on August 1, after weeks of negotiations with the key U.S. allies and top trading partners failed to reach a comprehensive trade deal.
In an escalation of the trade war that has angered U.S. allies and rattled investors, Trump announced the latest tariffs in separate letters to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum posted on Truth Social on Saturday.
Both the EU and Mexico responded by calling the tariffs unfair and disruptive while pledging to continue to negotiate with the U.S. for a broader trade deal before the August deadline.
The European Union and Mexico are among the largest U.S. trading partners.
Trump has sent similar letters to 23 other U.S. trading partners this week, including Canada, Japan and Brazil, setting blanket tariff rates ranging from 20% up to 50%, as well as a 50% tariff on copper.
Trump said the 30% tariff rate was “separate from all sectoral tariffs”, which means 50% levies on steel and aluminum imports and a 25% tariff on auto imports would remain at those levels.
The August 1 deadline gives countries targeted by Trump’s letters time to negotiate a trade deal that could lower the threatened tariff levels.
The spate of letters shows Trump has returned to the aggressive trade posture that he took in early April when he announced a slew of reciprocal tariffs against trading partners that sent markets tumbling before the White House delayed implementation.
But with the stock market hitting record highs in recent weeks and a bullish economy, Trump is showing no signs of slowing down his trade war.
Trump promised to use the 90-day pause in April to strike dozens of new trade deals with trading partners, but has only secured framework agreements with Britain, China and Vietnam.
The EU had hoped to reach a comprehensive trade agreement with the U.S. for the 27-country bloc.
Trump’s letter to the EU included a demand that Europe drop its own tariffs, an apparent condition of any future deal.
“The European Union will allow complete, open Market Access to the United States, with no Tariff being charged to us, in an attempt to reduce the large Trade Deficit,” Trump wrote.
EU President von der Leyen said the 30% tariffs “would disrupt essential transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers and patients on both sides of the Atlantic.”
She also said while the EU will continue to work towards a trade agreement, they “will take all necessary steps to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures if required.”
Mexico’s economy ministry said Saturday that it was informed the U.S. would send a letter during a bilateral meeting Friday with U.S. officials.
“We mentioned at the roundtable that it was unfair treatment and that we did not agree,” the ministry’s statement said.
MEXICO’S TARIFF RATE LOWER THAN CANADA’S
Mexico’s proposed tariff level is lower than Canada’s 35% rate, with both letters citing fentanyl flows even though government data shows the amount of the drug seized at the Mexican border was significantly higher than the Canadian border.
“Mexico has been helping me secure the border, BUT, what Mexico has done, is not enough. Mexico still has not stopped the Cartels who are trying to turn all of North America into a Narco-Trafficking Playground,” Trump wrote.
Mexico sends more than 80% of its total exported goods to the U.S. and free trade with its northern neighbor drove Mexico to overtake China as the U.S.’s top trading partner in 2023.
The EU had initially hoped to strike a comprehensive trade agreement but more recently had scaled back its ambitions and shifted toward securing a broader framework deal similar to the one Britain brokered that leaves key details to be negotiated.
The 27-country bloc is under conflicting pressures as powerhouse Germany urged a quick deal to safeguard its industry, while other EU members, such as France, have said EU negotiators should not cave into a one-sided deal on U.S. terms.
Trump’s cascade of tariff orders since returning to the White House has begun generating tens of billions of dollars a month in new revenue for the U.S. government. U.S. customs duties revenue shot past $100 billion in the federal fiscal year through to June, according to U.S. Treasury data on Friday.
The tariffs have also strained security relationships with some of America’s closest partners.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said last week that Japan needed to wean itself from U.S. dependence in key areas. The fight over tariffs has also prompted Canada and some European allies to reexamine their security dependence on the United States, with some looking to purchase non-U.S. weapons systems.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Maxime Vivas (R2) receives the Outstanding Achievement Award at the second Orchid Awards ceremony held in Beijing, July 10, 2025. [Photo courtesy of China International Communications Group]
“In today’s world, where the destinies of all nations are increasingly interconnected, Western countries need to better understand China. We should enhance dialogue across all fields to help more Westerners understand the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and promote the common values of humanity,” said French writer Maxime Vivas at the second Orchid Awards ceremony held on Thursday in Beijing.
The Orchid Awards aim to advance the Global Civilization Initiative and honor international individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to promoting shared human values, fostering dialogue among civilizations, and strengthening the cultural foundations of building a global community with a shared future for mankind. Vivas received the Outstanding Achievement Award for his longstanding commitment to objective and fair reporting on Xinjiang and his exceptional contributions to international communication.
In 2018, Vivas conducted a ten-day field visit to the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC). The experience led to the publication of his book “Uygurs, To Put an End to Fake News,” which gained significant traction in the West. The book sparked widespread discussions in Western media and among the public, igniting what some called a “Xinjiang truth wave.”
During his visit, Vivas explored local neighborhoods and engaged in extensive conversations with people from various ethnic backgrounds. “I saw young people dressed in either fashionable clothes or traditional garments. Some were shopping, others were enjoying coffee in cafés. I chatted casually with locals, and some kids even ran over to take selfies with me. What I witnessed was a peaceful and pleasant daily life — completely different from what is portrayed in Western media,” Vivas recalled.
He was especially impressed by the XPCC’s efforts to improve local livelihoods. “I met a Uygur woman entrepreneur who used to farm at home. With government support, she started her own textile business. Through her hard work, her enterprise gradually grew, her family income rose significantly, and her child was able to study abroad. She also created jobs for other villagers. These real-life encounters helped me truly appreciate the XPCC’s role in helping people from all ethnic backgrounds increase their incomes,” he said.
Vivas also visited newly built housing for villagers. “The homes, built with support from the corps, were located near residents’ original homes and included modern amenities like running water, natural gas, broadband internet, and contemporary appliances. I saw how happy the villagers were to move into their new homes. The XPCC invested substantial resources to improve living conditions and significantly enhanced the well-being of people of all ethnic groups.”
“Xinjiang was once relatively underdeveloped, but the Chinese government implemented targeted support policies — such as encouraging Uygur people to start businesses and helping Uygur students access higher education. The region’s long-standing social stability is closely tied to these effective policies. Western lies about Xinjiang cannot hold up against facts. I hope more Westerners will come see this beautiful place for themselves,” Vivas concluded.
Hosted by China International Communications Group and organized by the Orchid Awards Secretariat, the second Orchid Awards ceremony gathered more than 300 participants, including representatives from central government departments, international organizations, foreign embassies, think tanks, and media outlets.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Top seed Jannik Sinner will take on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final after the Italian ruthlessly dismantled Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Friday.
The victory sent Sinner into a maiden Wimbledon final and set up a re-match of last month’s French Open final, where the world No. 1 squandered three championship points before losing to Alcaraz.
“It’s amazing,” Sinner said in his on-court interview. “I can’t believe it. It’s a tournament I always watched when I was young, and I would never have imagined I could play in the final.”
When asked what he took to beat Djokovic, he said: “I served very well and was moving much better today. We all saw, especially in the third set, he was a bit injured.”
Sinner broke Djokovic five times while the Serb broke only once in the third set, where Sinner remarkably won five games in a row to secure a spot in the final.
Sunday’s final will give Sinner a chance for revenge against Alcaraz, who beat American fifth seed Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8-6) in the other semifinal.
“It’s a huge honor for me to share the court again with Carlos,” Sinner said.
“Hopefully it will be a good match like the last one – I don’t know if it will be better because I don’t know if that’s possible, but we will try – hopefully it will be an enjoyable match,” he added.
At the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Paris, France, the “Maratha Military Landscapes of India” were officially inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. This significant recognition marks India’s 44th World Heritage site and highlights the country’s remarkable historical and architectural heritage, reflecting its enduring cultural legacy on the global stage.
The nomination, submitted for the 2024–25 cycle, highlights a group of twelve strategically located forts that exemplify the Maratha Empire’s military acumen and architectural brilliance between the 17th and 19th centuries CE. The inscription followed a rigorous eighteen-month process that included multiple technical evaluations and an on-site mission by ICOMOS, the International Council on Monuments and Sites.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister of Culture Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis congratulated the nation on this significant achievement, praising the recognition of India’s historical and cultural contributions to global heritage.
The Maratha Military Landscapes comprise forts located across Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. The twelve forts include Salher, Shivneri, Lohgad, Khanderi, Raigad, Rajgad, Pratapgad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, and Sindhudurg in Maharashtra, along with Gingee Fort in Tamil Nadu.
These sites are spread across diverse terrains, from hilltops and dense forests to plateaus and coastal islands. Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Salher, Rajgad, and Gingee are categorized as hill forts. Pratapgad is classified as a hill-forest fort, while Panhala stands on a plateaued hill and is recognized as a hill-plateau fort. Vijaydurg is a notable coastal fort, whereas Khanderi, Suvarnadurg, and Sindhudurg are island forts surrounded by the Arabian Sea.
Eight of these forts—Shivneri, Lohgad, Raigad, Suvarnadurg, Panhala, Vijaydurg, Sindhudurg, and Gingee—are under the protection of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The remaining four—Salher, Rajgad, Khanderi, and Pratapgad—are safeguarded by the Directorate of Archaeology and Museums, Government of Maharashtra.
The inclusion of these forts under UNESCO’s World Heritage List is a result of India’s nomination under criteria (iv) and (vi), which pertain to architectural and technological significance and strong association with living traditions and historical events. The collective ensemble presents a sophisticated understanding of geography, defense strategy, and regional adaptation.
During the committee meeting, 18 out of 20 State Parties supported India’s proposal. The deliberation lasted for 59 minutes, after which the proposal received enthusiastic backing from all member states, UNESCO’s World Heritage Centre, and advisory bodies such as ICOMOS and IUCN.
This global recognition comes on the heels of the Moidams of Charaideo in Assam, which were inscribed at the 46th session held in New Delhi last year. India now ranks sixth globally and second in the Asia-Pacific region for the most number of World Heritage Sites.
India is currently a member of the World Heritage Committee (2021–2025) and continues to promote its cultural and natural legacy through the efforts of the Archaeological Survey of India, the nodal agency for all World Heritage matters. The country also maintains 62 sites on its Tentative List, which serves as a prerequisite for future nominations.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Mike Thompson Representing the 5th District of CALIFORNIA
In a ceremony Wednesday, Congress awarded the highest civilian honor to world-renowned American cyclist
Washington, D.C. – Today Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) joined the Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, former U.S. Representative Tom Graves, Stephen Whisnant, and esteemed guests to formally award cycling legend Greg LeMond with the Congressional Gold Medal. Watch Rep. Thompson’s remarkshere.
“Greg LeMond represents the best of American sportsmanship. One of our greatest athletes, Greg is the only American man to win the Tour de France – a feat he accomplished three times. Throughout his career, Greg repeatedly exemplified the principles of healthy competition, honesty, and selflessness, putting team success ahead of his own.
“More than any other cyclist in our history, Greg was the epitome of the ‘Breaking Away’ culture – a young kid, on a bike, trying to do things no American had ever done.
“In retirement, Greg has dedicated his life to serving and supporting children, veterans, medical research and other causes through his charitable work,” said Thompson. “I was honored to join the ceremony today to finally present Greg with this well-deserved recognition.”
“Cycling changed my life for the better and I’m a firm believer that this sport has the potential to help everyone be healthier and more active, too,” said LeMond. “I didn’t ever expect recognition when I started racing, I just really had a blast. That’s why I am truly humbled to be recognized by the U.S. Congress. I look at the list of previous medal winners and I can’t help but think that I’m in really, really good company.”
BACKGROUND
Greg LeMond is the only American to ever win the Tour de France. After his first win, he faced an uphill battle recovering from a near-fatal accident and later went on to win the Tour two more times. His 8-second victory over Laurent Fignon in the 1989 Tour is considered among the most thrilling moments in cycling history. Mr. LeMond was an early advocate against doping in the sport and he remains a giant in the cycling community to this day.
In his retirement, Mr. LeMond has dedicated himself to giving back to his community. He and his wife, Kathy LeMond, support research into various childhood illnesses He is also a founding board member of 1in6, a nonprofit organization that helps men who were victims of childhood sexual abuse.
Representative Mike Thompson, Co-Chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, was inspired to pursue this award for Greg LeMond after reading about his incredible resiliency in Daniel De Visé’s biography, “The Comeback.” Thompson went on to lead the bipartisan effort in the U.S. House to pass the Greg LeMond Congressional Gold Medal Act. The Congressional Gold Medal is one of the highest civilian awards in our nation and seeks to honor those who have performed an achievement that has an impact on American history and culture that is likely to be recognized as a major achievement in the recipient’s field for generations to come.
These medals are only awarded through Acts of Congress. Legislation must be introduced in both the House and Senate and those bills must be co-sponsored by two thirds of the membership of their respective chamber before being considered for a vote.
Greg LeMond is the first cyclist and only the tenth individual athlete to receive this prestigious medal. Others include Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Jesse Owens, Jack Nicklaus, and Arnold Palmer.
You can click here to read Thompson’s bill honoring Mr. LeMond and outlining his long and celebrated career as a cyclist and activist. Clickhereto download photos from today’s ceremony andhereto watch footage of the event.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Paris prosecutor’s office announced on Friday that the social media platform X is under investigation by French police.
At this stage, X is primarily accused of two offenses — “impairing the operation of an automated data processing system by an organized group,” and “fraudulently extracting data from an automated data processing system by an organized group,” Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said in a press release.
The investigation has been assigned to the Directorate-General of the National Gendarmerie (DGGN), Beccuau added.
In January, the cybercrime unit of the Paris prosecutor’s office received two formal complaints, submitted respectively by a member of the French parliament and a senior official at a French public institution, Beccuau said, adding that both complaints alleged that X’s algorithm had been exploited for the purpose of foreign interference.
The Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed in February that it was examining these complaints, before announcing on Friday that it had opened the investigation “based on verifications, input from French researchers, and information provided by various public institutions.”
Laurent Buanec, CEO of X France, stated on the platform in January that X “has strict, clear, and public rules aimed at protecting the platform from hate speech,” adding that it “fights disinformation” and that its algorithm “is designed to avoid recommending hateful content.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
PARIS, July 11 — China’s Xixia Imperial Tombs were inscribed on the World Heritage List on Friday during UNESCO’s 47th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Paris, France.
With this addition, the total number of World Heritage sites in China has reached 60.
Xixia Imperial Tombs is a group of imperial burial sites from the Xixia Dynasty (Western Xia, 1038-1227), founded by the Tangut people in northwestern China during the 11th to 13th centuries.
Covering an area of nearly 40 square km, the site comprises four types of architectural remains: 9 imperial mausoleums, 271 subordinate tombs, a northern architectural complex covering 0.05 square km, and 32 flood control works.
The Xixia Imperial Tombs are the largest, highest-ranked, and most intact archaeological site from the Xixia period that has survived to the present day.
According to the World Heritage Committee, the site is a testament to the cultural fusion and interactions of diverse traditions. It also bears witness to the unique role of the Xixia Dynasty in cultural and commercial exchanges along the Silk Roads during the 11th to 13th centuries.
The Committee commended the efforts and achievements made by the Chinese government in the protection and management of the cultural heritage of the Xixia Imperial Tombs.
Rao Quan, vice minister of Culture and Tourism of China, said that China will remain steadfast in fulfilling its obligations under the World Heritage Convention, further enhance holistic and systematic protection of cultural and natural heritage, and improve conservation capacity and standards.
A staff member arranges cultural relics at a storehouse of the Xixia Imperial Tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows people visiting the Xixia Imperial Tombs scenic area in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]A drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on Aug. 13, 2024 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on July 5, 2025 shows two Xixia imperial tombs in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]An aerial drone photo taken on July 10, 2025 shows a Xixia imperial tomb in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]This photo taken on July 9, 2025 shows cultural relics discovered from Xixia imperial tombs at the Xixia Imperial Tombs Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China’s Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
Games are part of a four-year pipeline of major events.
The largest event ever hosted in Orkney begins today, as part of four years of international sport in Scotland which are expected to attract tens of thousands of visitors and provide a significant economic boost.
Orkney is welcoming more than 1,600 athletes from 24 island groups for the 20th International Island Games, which run until 18 July. Orkney is the smallest island group to ever host the Games and competitors have come from as far afield as the Falklands, the Cayman Islands, Saaremaa in Estonia and Åland in Finland.
It is the first of a series of high-profile sporting events being hosted in Scotland, which include this weekend’s Genesis Scottish Open, the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the 2027 Grand Départ of the Tour de France, the 2027 Open Championship and the 2028 UEFA European football championships.
The Scottish Government invests in major events to maximise local and national economic benefits. At the end of 2024, it was revealed that the last Open Championship in Scotland added more than £300 million to the economy, highlighting the scale of opportunity for the next four years.
Business Minister Richard Lochhead said:
“The Orkney Island Games represent a significant opportunity to drive economic growth and build a lasting legacy for people and businesses in Orkney and beyond.
“They also provide a taste of what is to come and illustrate our wider ambition to make sure every corner of Scotland benefits from the prestigious events we are increasingly able to attract.
“This is a team effort and the benefits go way beyond the events themselves. The global platform they provide enables us to highlight Scotland to tourists, businesses and potential inward investors across the world.”
Background
Information about the Orkney 2025 International Island Games is available online.
Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council
Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks, delivered by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Executive Director Natalia Kanem, to the UNFPA Award ceremony in New York today:
I am pleased to represent the Secretary-General at this important celebration. I will now read his remarks.
I am honoured to share a message of profound respect and heartfelt congratulations to this year’s laureates of the United Nations Population Award.
The work we celebrate today — from advancing population science to protecting reproductive rights — is central to sustainable development. Because when every person can make informed decisions about their body and their future, we unlock opportunities, strengthen communities and accelerate progress for all.
I thank Dr. Natalia Kanem for her dedication and leadership, as Secretary of the United Nations Population Award Committee and Executive Director of UNFPA. I also salute the Chair, Sidi Mohamed Laghdaf, of Mauritania, along with the committee members, for selecting this year’s honourees.
In the individual category, we celebrate Dr. Varsha Deshpande of India.
In a village in Maharashtra, young girls once faced futures decided for them: child marriage; no education; no choice. But Varsha Deshpande stood up and said no.
For over 30 years, she has been a force for change. Preventing hundreds of child marriages. Providing legal aid to over 10,000 women. And transforming the simple phrase “Lek Ladki Abhiyan”, “the cherished girl child”, into a movement of hope.
Halfway around the world in France, the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population has spent nearly a century bridging the gap between data and dignity.
Every four years, they gather global experts to take a deep look at some of our most pressing population challenges, including migration, ageing societies and climate displacement.
The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population ensures lives are not only counted — but understood and supported.
On behalf of the Secretary-General and the United Nations, congratulations.
We are all inspired by the work of today’s honourees and the future they help to shape. A future of dignity, equality and opportunity, for every woman, every child and every person, everywhere.
Eurojust hosted Prosecutor Generals from six South Partner Countries – Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco and Palestine*- and nine EU Member States – Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands – to discuss the challenges and best practices in fighting cross-border crimes, with a focus on asset recovery and trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling. The EuroMed Prosecutor General Forum also endorsed the multi-annual Strategy 2025-2027 with a roadmap for the project’s objectives and priorities.
The project, funded by the European Commission and implemented by Eurojust, aims at enhancing strategic and operational international criminal justice cooperation. The EuroMed Justice project aims at increased opportunities for dialogue and joint actions between relevant EU Member States and the South Partner Countries, as well as increased opportunities for cross-border cooperation in criminal matters between respective judicial authorities.
The President of Eurojust Michael Schmid opened the Prosecutors General Forum: “It has been a great honour to host the Prosecutors General and senior officials from Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Lebanon, Morocco, and Palestine*. These past days have confirmed the strong potential of our partnerships and a shared commitment to growing our joint casework. With the 2025–2027 EuroMed Justice Strategy now in place, we are eager to expand our network of Liaison Prosecutors at Eurojust and look forward to welcoming representatives from our Southern Partner Countries in the near future. As a first step, we will facilitate study visits to Eurojust to further build mutual trust, deepen understanding, and lay the groundwork for closer cooperation.“
The meeting was chaired by Alexander Van Dam, National Member for the Netherlands, he said: “It is crucial for all countries to work together to combat serious organised crime, through direct exchanges and sharing of best practices.”
The agenda included the project’s results for Year 1 and 2, a presentation from the European Commission on the International Agreements on cooperation with Eurojust, as well as interventions by the Liaison Prosecutors for Serbia and Norway. Participants further exchanged challenges and best practices in judicial cooperation for asset recovery, trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling. In the margins of the event, South Partner officials met with the President of Eurojust. The project team also facilitated ten bilateral meetings between the delegations, representatives of Eurojust and the European Commission.
The Forum marked the adoption of the 2025-2027 multi-annual Strategy of the EuroMed Justice project.
* This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the initial positions of the Member States on this issue.
I am pleased to represent the Secretary-General at this important celebration. I will now read his remarks.
Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Friends,
I am honoured to share a message of profound respect and heartfelt congratulations to this year’s laureates of the United Nations Population Award.
The work we celebrate today – from advancing population science to protecting reproductive rights – is central to sustainable development.
Because when every person can make informed decisions about their body and their future, we unlock opportunities, strengthen communities, and accelerate progress for all.
I thank Dr. Natalia Kanem for her dedication and leadership, as Secretary of the United Nations Population Award Committee and Executive Director of UNFPA.
I also salute the Chair, Ambassador Sidi Mohamed Laghdaf, of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, along with the committee members, for selecting this year’s honourees.
In the individual category, we celebrate Ms. Varsha Deshpande of India.
In a village in Maharashtra, young girls once faced futures decided for them.
Child marriage.
No education.
No choice.
But Varsha Deshpande stood up and said no.
For over 30 years, she has been a force for change.
Preventing hundreds of child marriages.
Providing legal aid to over 10,000 women.
And transforming the simple phrase “Lek Ladki Abhiyan”, “the cherished girl child”, into a movement of hope.
Halfway around the world in France, the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population, has spent nearly a century bridging the gap between data and dignity.
Every four years, they gather global experts to take a deep look at some of our most pressing population challenges, including migration, aging societies, and climate displacement.
The IUSSP ensures lives are not only counted – but understood and supported.
On behalf of the Secretary-General and the United Nations, congratulations.
We are all inspired by the work of today’s honourees and the future they help to shape.
A future of dignity, equality, and opportunity, for every woman, every child, and every person, everywhere.
Heather Browning speaks about animal welfare and ethics as part of the Citizens’ Assembly for Animal Welfare opening event in Birmingham. RSPCA, CC BY-NC-ND
As an animal lover, should you visit zoos? Should you have pets? Should you make your garden friendly for birds, pollinators and other wildlife? Should you try to reduce meat in your diet or avoid consuming all animal products? Should you write to politicians about changing the laws for animals?
As a lecturer in animal ethics and animal welfare science, and someone who’s spent a lot of time working with animals, these are the sorts of questions I think about.
There are lots of ways to be kinder to animals. All have their merits. But the big question is: what sort of future do we want to see for animals in our society?
We live in a time where animals are facing some of their biggest challenges, from the climate crisis to industrial farming. Combined with other social issues such as the cost of living crisis and global conflicts, we as citizens and consumers have many other competing claims on our capacity to care. This can mean less attention for animals and the harms they face.
Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox.Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.
This creates a big problem. Alongside the ethical reasons for improving animals’ lives, good animal welfare can benefit everyone – among other things, care for and connections with animals improves our own mental health, fosters compassion in our communities, and can lead to improvements in our natural environment. We don’t want to lose sight of the progress we’ve made in our thinking about and treatment of animals.
It’s undeniable that there have been many welfare gains for animals over the years, but in the face of how far we still have to go, perhaps new approaches are needed. How can we conceive of new, and perhaps more radical, ways to help animals? And importantly, how do we keep animal welfare on the agenda, both socially and politically?
For over two centuries, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has played a central role in this fight. Alongside their animal rescue work, they have campaigned for changes in over 400 laws, and worked with the public to find ways to improve welfare for pets, farmed animals and wildlife.
This year they are stepping into a new frontier and have commissioned what is possibly the first ever citizens’ assembly focused entirely on animal welfare in the world, delivered with the assistance of experts from the New Citizen Project, a consultancy that specialises in citizen-led engagement. The assembly is part of the RSPCA’s Animal Futures project, which aims to examine what the future may hold for animals by 2050, and most importantly how everyone (citizens, consumers and policymakers) has a role in influencing this.
Citizens’ assemblies are being held to debate animal welfare issues, such as chicken farming for eggs. Dewald Kirsten/Shutterstock
Citizens’ assemblies bring together a randomly selected representative sample of the population, who learn about and debate issues and make recommendations. It’s a form of deliberative democracy, where the people can have their say on important social and political issues.
Assemblies are a means of overcoming some of the current problems with the democratic process, like the exclusion of people who often aren’t heard in politics (such as those with less money or education, or racial and religious minorities) and polarisation between major government parties that can slow down decision-making and action.
Beyond just a focus group asking for existing opinions, citizen’s assemblies provide opportunities for members to learn and shape their thinking, to build expertise on the topics they deliberate.
Assemblies have already been used around the world on issues as diverse as abortion rights, electoral reform and food waste. As they are independently facilitated, they don’t just follow the accepted institutional narratives and can instead encourage organisations and policymakers to envision new directions for thought and action – in line with the realities of what the public believe and value.
There are now several examples of the recommendations coming from such assemblies successfully driving policy change, such as climate change reform in France.
While organisations such as the RSPCA may know a lot about animals, hosting this assembly is an acknowledgement that they don’t have all the answers about what is best for society as a whole, as we consider our interactions with animals. The scope of this problem is far larger than any one organisation can tackle alone, and through initiatives such as the citizens’ assembly, we can gain a greater insight into the possible solutions for the future.
Animal assembly
I recently attended this assembly’s opening session in Birmingham, where members were gathered from all around England and Wales (neatly marked by pins scattered across a map of the country). Looking around the room there was obvious diversity in demographics and backgroun and as I spoke with the members it was also apparent there was a wide range of opinions and beliefs on the topics we discussed.
What everyone shared was a commitment to the process – to learn from the experts who were there to introduce the topics, to deliberate and discuss carefully and thoughtfully – and a desire to contribute and influence the process. Being there felt like being part of an important moment for the future of animal welfare.
In the weeks that followed, the members of the assembly met again several times to absorb and consider huge amounts of information about topics such as farming, responsible pet ownership, wildlife, and nature. Based on this, they will make a series of recommendations that will drive change at the RSPCA.
What they produce will be used to shape its future direction, how it works, and how it lobbies governments. What these assembly members recommend could have a substantial and lasting impact on animal welfare in the UK.
Like many animal welfare experts from academia, industry or charities, I might think I have the answers on what animals need. But successful solutions require public backing to have real impact. Improving the future for animals is something that everyone has a role in and a citizens’ assembly can be a catalyst for positive change.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Heather Browning does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Since figures were first recorded in 2018, more than 170,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats, hoping to claim asylum in the UK. Over 20,000 have crossed this year alone, and many dozens have died.
Over the years, UK governments have tried a number of tactics – returns agreements, increased law enforcement, deportation schemes, and “smashing” organised smuggling gangs – to try and put an end to this dangerous practice. The latest attempt is the government’s new “one in, one out” pilot migration deal with France, which would see the UK accept some asylum seekers with legitimate claims to life in the UK, while sending an equivalent number back to France.
Campaigners, academics and groups that support asylum seekers have long called for the UK to introduce “safe and legal routes”. They argue that this is the only way to reduce demand for unsafe Channel crossings. The logic is that people seeking protection are turning to smugglers and small boats because, for most, there are no other options to enter the UK and claim asylum.
But what are these routes?
Get your news from actual experts, straight to your inbox.Sign up to our daily newsletter to receive all The Conversation UK’s latest coverage of news and research, from politics and business to the arts and sciences.
A safe and legal route is a scheme or journey approved by the UK government that allows people to enter the country without a visa in order to claim asylum. The 1951 refugee convention says that people have the right to claim asylum. But UK law requires someone to be physically present in the country to do so.
A safe and legal route stresses that arriving irregularly – for instance, by crossing the Channel in a small boat – is illegal, even though the UN refugee convention is explicit that refugees should not be penalised for how they arrive to claim refuge.
Most schemes are restricted to certain populations and limited in accessibility. For example, two nationality-specificschemes for Afghans were set up in January 2022, after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. These have resettled roughly 34,000 Afghans in the UK.
The schemes prioritised those who had worked or assisted UK efforts in Afghanistan, as well as assisting vulnerable people such as women and girls at risk, and minority groups. Both routes are now shut.
The UK also has schemes for Ukrainians and Hong Kongers. The Ukrainian schemes (Homes for Ukrainians and the now-closed Ukrainian Family Scheme), established in March 2022, have resettled 217,000 to the UK. The Hong Kong scheme is only eligible for British National Overseas status holders and their dependants. Most of these are not recognised, and nor do they identify, as refugees. Since opening in January 2021, 179,000 have been granted a visa to live in the UK.
There is also the family reunion pathway for those already granted protection in the UK, who can invite spouses or other dependants to join them. This can be viewed as a safe route, but it is specifically for those already with status (refugee or otherwise) in the country. Importantly, those who gain access this way are not given refugee status in their own right, but granted leave to remain that is connected to their family member’s status.
The UK has also worked closely with UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, since March 2021. The UNHCR identifies vulnerable candidates for resettlement direct from regions of conflict, primarily the Middle East and North Africa. This scheme highlights the value of safe and legal routes and the potential for developing a humane asylum route, but at present it is limited in scope, with only 3,798 people granted safe and dignified resettlement in the UK via this route.
The prime minister, Keir Starmer, has stressed that the new pilot with France will be limited to people “who have not tried to enter the UK illegally” and who have a strong case for asylum in the UK – again highlighting the strict access and eligibility for this “safe and legal” route.
If we look at the map of international conflict today, the majority of people in conflict zones would be ineligible for these schemes. Afghans, Eritreans, Syrians, Iranian and Sudanese are some of the top nationalities arriving via the Channel crossing to the UK, but are provided with no safe or legal routes to sanctuary. Yet, in claiming asylum, 68% of small boat arrivals are ultimately granted status.
Conflicts in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan have not led to any bespoke humanitarian refugee protection rights from the UK. In practice, it is legally impossible for most asylum seekers to reach the UK via a safe and legal route as the schemes are so limited in scope.
Smashing the gangs
In January 2025, the Refugee Council, an organisation that supports asylum seekers and refugees in the UK, urged the UK to introduce a safe and legal route – in the form of a limited number of refugee visas – in order to stop deaths in the Channel.
Between 2018 and April 2025, 147 people have died attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, with 2024 being the deadliest year for child migrant deaths.
The UK government’s most recent approach has been to “smash the gangs” to prevent small boat crossings. But evidence shows that a criminal justice approach, while popular, ultimately leads smugglers to change their business practices – often jeopardising people further as they take longer routes or put more people into boats.
More safe and legal routes would, on the other hand, reduce demand for smuggling across the Channel, by giving people another option.
Crucially, even if the UK were to successfully “smash the gangs”, this does not eradicate peoples’ need for protection when fleeing war zones. Safe and legal routes would introduce a compassionate and humane refugee system which adheres with the UK’s obligations under international refugee law.
Gillian McFadyen receives funding from ACE Hub Wales, Public Health Wales for the project ‘A Welsh Pathways to Peace: Digital Storytelling and Forced Migration’ (2025-2026).
When I first watched Girls, I remember marvelling at Lena Dunham’s four twenty-something New Yorkers. Sex and the City it was not. I realised wistfully just how much I wished the series had been around when I was in my twenties.
Dunham’s character Hannah Horvath was like a beacon, illuminating the possibilities of how you could just be yourself in this world – good and bad – without apologising for it. I loved her boldness. Girls was messy, awkward, embarrassing, relatable and real. It was also very funny.
Now Dunham brings her latest, similarly awkward comedy-drama, Too Much, to Netflix. The series follows the trials and tribulations of Jess (the brilliant Megan Stalter) as she flees New York for London with a broken heart.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
An American with a romanticised movie-informed idea of Britain, Jess sees Blighty as some kind of fantasy creation fashioned by Jane Austen with a little help from Richard Curtis.
She spends her days obsessing over her ex-boyfriend’s new girlfriend on Instagram and trying to fit into London life. And then she meets laconic musician Felix (Will Sharpe), who is determined to demolish her romantic notions of a Notting Hill-esque London. Discovering they have an instant connection, Jess is thrust back into dating again, still reeling from the PTSD of her previous relationship.
Too Much charts the tumultuous experience of becoming an adult, as Jess experiences all the thrills and vulnerabilities of meeting someone new. Mirroring her own relocation to London, Dunham mines a rich seam of fish-out-of-water comedy as Megan navigates a new city and different culture.
Reviewer Jane Steventon finds the show is a hopeful paean to womanhood, a declaration that messiness, failure and fear are all part of becoming a woman just as much as joy, love and intimacy.
The idea of intimacy takes on a much darker and more troubling meaning in David Cronenberg’s latest body horror Shrouds in which the protagonist Karsh (Vincent Kassel) finds that technology can help him with the grieving process.
Discovering that a piece of wearable tech within a shroud can allow him to watch his wife’s corpse decompose via a video link, Karsh believes this can help reclaim her from her illness. But as the plot progresses, lines blur between Karsh’s dreams and reality and the film becomes darker and more ominous.
This deeply disturbing premise, says film expert Laura Flanagan, allows Cronenberg to explore issues of technology, control and grief, and is all the more chilling when you learn that he embarked on the film after the death of his own wife.
Musical autobiography
Simone de Beauvoir, the great feminist French philosopher, once opined: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Meaning, it is down to each woman to articulate and determine her own path and transcend any limits of “femininity” imposed by a patriarchal society.
According to our reviewer Lillian Hingley, the New Zealand singer Lorde unveils that process in her latest album Virgin as she musically explores how her body is changed by what she has been through in her life.
Hingley discovers a multi-layered collection of songs and videos that lead us through a piece of performance art examining identity, sexuality and a female reproductive system that comes fully loaded with both jeopardy and joy.
Last week, the Disney musical Hercules opened in London so we sent along Emma Stafford, professor of Greek culture at the University of Leeds to give us her take.
Despite finding Hercules’ trusty steed Pegasus has been written out of the show and Hades has been somewhat toned down, the innovative role of the five muses has been elevated to a spectacular cross between the chorus of a Greek tragedy and a gospel choir. A terrific cast, impressive visuals, slick stagecraft and magical special effects all mean this high-octane production will delight West End audiences.
The book that won this year’s Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, The Story of a Heart by Rachel Clarke, has two children at its centre. One is Max Johnson, a healthy nine-year-old whose heart begins to fail, and the other, nine-year-old Keira Ball, a vibrant, pony-mad little girl who is killed in a car accident. Despite their unimaginable grief, Keira’s parents decide to donate her organs. Her precious heart goes to Max, and in that unbearable gift, one child dies, and another child lives.
Leah McLaughlin, a health services researcher who has spent her career working in the emotionally complex and often obscured world of organ donation, found the book a searingly honest account of the hope and despair of this devastating experience.
