The hearse and accompanying vehicles will slowly make their way down Broad Street from 1pm to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench.
The hearse and accompanying vehicles will slowly make their way down Broad Street from 1pm to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where thousands of fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes in recent days. The cortege will be accompanied by a live brass band performance by local musicians from Bostin’ Brass, bringing a final musical moment to honour the extraordinary life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne.
The event is expected to draw large crowds as fans gather to say goodbye to the man who helped shape the global heavy metal genre and who proudly carried the spirit of Birmingham throughout his career, whilst allowing his family a chance to see the many memories his loyal fans have left alongside flowers and tributes.
Ozzy and his fellow Black Sabbath band members were recently given the Freedom of the City on 28th June 2025.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, JP, said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham. Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral. We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We’re proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves.”
Birmingham City Council has worked at pace with its partners over the weekend to coordinate a respectful and safe public event in collaboration with the Osbourne family, who have kindly funded all of the associated costs. The Council would also like to thank businesses and residents in the Broad Street and wider city centre area for their co-operation, alongside support from West Midlands Metro and West Midlands Police, during this important time for the safety of gathered fans.
Public Information
The cortege will travel down Broad Street from approximately 1pm towards the Black Sabbath Bridge.
Broad Street will be closed to through traffic from 7am and buses and trams will be diverted during this time. Local access will be managed where possible but can not be guaranteed. Broad Street will re-open as soon as possible after the event.
Stewards will be on hand, and visitors are encouraged to arrive early, use public transport, and follow safety guidance on site.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Moscow Innovation Cluster with the support of Moscow Venture Fund opened recruitment for the fourth stream of the program “The Path to IPO”. Legal entities and individual entrepreneurs registered on the i.moscow platform can apply for participation. Applications are open until September 21. link. Training will begin in October of this year.
“The Path to IPO program is not just an educational course. It is a real chance for companies to enter the public market with comprehensive support from the city – from knowledge and mentoring to targeted financing,” she said.
Kristina Kostroma, Head of the Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development of the City of Moscow.
The Path to IPO program helps technology companies prepare for listing on the stock market, from training to raising funding. The fourth stream is being merged with the preferential targeted loans program. Moscow Venture Fundto enter the stock market. This will make it easier for participants to implement an IPO, pre-IPO or bond issue strategy.
What awaits program participants
The program consists of two training modules. At the theoretical stage, participants have access to online lectures by experts, as well as auxiliary materials, checklists and document templates. Students will learn about the requirements, procedures and regulatory aspects of the placement of securities.
As part of the practical module, representatives of the exchange, organizing banks and other experts share their experience of entering the public market. Together with mentors, participants will formulate strategies for bringing their companies to the securities market. The best projects will be able to receive a targeted loan of up to 100 million rubles from the Moscow Venture Fund. This will cover the costs of future issuers to prepare for the placement, including the development and registration of issue documents, consulting services, etc.
From training to implementation
The Moscow Innovation Cluster launched the program in June 2024 and managed to train three streams, in which more than 120 representatives of Moscow companies took part. In total, more than 320 applications were received. As a result of the training, to date, two companies have entered pre-IPO, one company has issued bonds, five are planning to enter pre-IPO within a year, and four are planning to enter IPO within two years.
The third stream of the “Path to IPO” program ended in early July this year. During the training, it was possible to compile a profile of the program participant. These are startup founders, business owners or top managers who are looking for investments for projects in the amount of 300 to 500 million rubles. Most companies are engaged in software development and scientific research. The preferred tool for attracting funds is the pre-IPO round.
Among the successful cases is the engineering company Reinnolts, which placed bonds on the Moscow Exchange during its last cohort of students. The company has been operating since 2012 and specializes in the production of heat exchange equipment and water treatment solutions.
Moscow Innovation Cluster promotes the creation of conditions for the development and implementation of new technologies, ensuring scientific, technical and industrial cooperation, and effective interaction between all participants in the ecosystem. The cluster includes organizations from Moscow and 86 other regions of Russia. On the Moscow Innovation Cluster platform, innovators are offered more than 50 digital services that help develop and implement products, attract investment, find partners and scale up a business. The project is supervised by the capital’s Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development.
Moscow Venture Fund — an institute for innovative development. The fund supports entrepreneurs at all stages of development — from the initial seed stage to the active growth stage, providing the necessary financial resources for successful development. Three main support programs are currently being implemented: grants, preferential loans for project development, and targeted loans for preparation for an IPO. Over the course of its operation, the fund has supported more than 100 companies in the amount of 1.3 billion rubles and helped attract more than 3.5 billion in investments.
The Department implements three regional projects that are part of the national project “Small and Medium Entrepreneurship and Support for Individual Entrepreneurial Initiatives”. These are “Acceleration of Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Entities”, “Creating Favorable Conditions for Self-Employed Citizens to Carry Out Activities” and “Creating Conditions for an Easy Start and Comfortable Running of a Business”, as well as the regional project “Systemic Measures for the Development of International Cooperation and Export”, which is part of the national project “International Cooperation and Export”.
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: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Races, SUP festivals, free training and sports events within the project “Summer in Moscow” — in this warm season in the capital, everyone can find something to do to their liking. The festivals “Moscow Sports Day” and “Moscow Sports Night” gathered almost 365 thousand people, over 150 thousand city residents took part in the Big Running Festival, and almost 100 thousand residents of the capital joined the Moscow Training Marathon. The water festival “Two Rivers” interested 260 thousand fans of SUP boarding and other water sports, and almost 80 thousand people took part in the women’s sports festival.
How to spend the summer actively and what other sporting events have been prepared in the capital – in our article.
Triathlon, SUP boards and extreme sports
Until the end of the summer, the city will host festivals, races, training sessions and other active events. Fans of extreme sports will be interested in the “Moscow Extreme Games”, and for fans of SUP surfing, “YauzaFest” will be organized. The “Moscow Sports Night” festival will also be held twice.
In addition, a large program is being prepared for the Day of Physical Culture. It will be celebrated in the center of the capital and at the Moskvich stadium. And this summer, the Triathlon League competitions will be held
Sports events in Moscow are not only competitions. Active lifestyle enthusiasts attend training sessions and master classes, and fans watch professional athletes perform.
Thus, the capital hosts events of the projects “Chess Square”, “Summer. Beach. Moscow Sport” and “Street Basketball Tour – Moscow”. You can also visit festival of urban sports and family sports games. Also, the Moscow Sport grounds are open to visitors. There, anyone can train, participate in tournaments, and rent the necessary equipment.
Free training and GTO
City residents are also invited to participate in the year-round projects “Sports Weekend” and “My Sports District” of the capital. Department of Sports.
Within the framework “Sports weekend” Free classes in yoga, fitness, barre, fitrock, stretching and other areas are held for Muscovites. The trainings are held in person at more than 50 venues in the capital, as well as online. More than a million people have already joined the project.
In the project “My Sports District”Free training sessions in football, volleyball, basketball, running, wushu and other sports are held for Muscovites. In summer, classes are held at sports and festival venues, on the roofs of the district centers “Mesto Vstrechi” and in parks, and in winter – at skating rinks and ski slopes. This year, training sessions are held at more than 120 venues. They have already been visited by over 60 thousand people. Over the entire period of the project, more than 35 thousand training sessions have been held.
In addition, Muscovites can pass the standards of the All-Russian physical culture and sports complex “Ready for Labor and Defense”. For this purpose, the capital has an annual summer city project “GTO in parks”. With its help, you can pass standards or prepare for a test. More than 25 thousand people have already participated in the project.
Moscow is a leader in the development of sports infrastructure and physical education services for residents. Large-scale events and projects are being implemented in the capital that attract city residents to physical education and make an active lifestyle more popular.
Today, more than six million Muscovites regularly engage in sports. The number of amateur athletes is constantly growing due to improved infrastructure, increased accessibility of training, and improvement of digital services.
Project “Summer in Moscow” — the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. “Summer in Moscow” is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.
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.
Orthodox icons created by a Japanese artist – at first glance, this seems surprising. After all, in order to paint icons, it is believed that it is not enough to simply know and follow the rules and canons – true faith is necessary. Hiroko Kozuki proves by her example that sacred art can exist outside of prejudices and strict religious beliefs. According to Mrs. Kozuki, the icon is the subject of her inspiration and the path to achieving happiness. When in Orthodox churches, she feels the serenity, spirituality and grandeur of these places. And her works are an example of universal spiritual search.
The Path to the Icon
Mrs. Hiroko Kozuki, the wife of the former Japanese ambassador to Russia, lived in our country for many years. An art historian by education, she first studied French medieval art in depth. Once in Russia, Mrs. Kozuki sincerely fell in love with the local culture and immersed herself in the world of icon painting tradition. Getting acquainted with the grandeur of ancient Russian monuments, she visited many museums, monasteries and churches. The starting point for her was the Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius. According to her recollections, upon seeing the monastery, she experienced awe comparable to the feelings of a true pilgrim.
“During the Soviet period, a large number of icons were lost, destroyed and sold to other countries. However, ordinary people continued to keep them at home and pray. This, at first glance, paradoxical situation made me want to learn more about the religion and art of Russian people. And that is why I began to paint icons,” recalls Hiroko Kozuki.
Fate brought her together with the icon painter Sergei Tarasyan, then she created her first icon – the image of the Archangel Michael. Later, Hiroko Kozuki met a member of the Union of Artists of Russia Elena Antonova and under her mentorship began to develop her skills. In more than twenty years, Mrs. Kozuki has reached incredible heights, and today her works are already in several monasteries and churches in Russia. Over these years, she has acquired a recognizable style, in which traditional canons of iconography are subtly intertwined with elements of Japanese aesthetics.
The artist emphasizes that her favorite icon painter is Andrei Rublev. For her, his works are the absolute perfection of beauty. One of the icons presented at the exhibition is “Holy Trinity”, the source of inspiration for the creation of which was, of course, Rublev’s famous “Trinity”. “I always wanted to paint the image of the Holy Trinity, inspired by the most perfect and elegant icon of all time. It reminds me of the captivating final scene of my favorite film by Andrei Tarkovsky “Andrei Rublev”, when the black and white picture suddenly changes to color and a full-screen image of the icon “Trinity” appears,” says Hiroko Kozuki.
Between religions
If you look at Kozuki’s icons from afar and know nothing about the author, it is difficult to even imagine that they were created by a person who grew up in a different culture. When you get closer, you begin to discern details, coloristic features and amazing fineness of lines, which reveal to the experienced eye a slight resemblance to Japanese engravings. Created in strict accordance with the Byzantine and Old Russian canons, Mrs. Kozuki’s icons not only demonstrate the highest mastery of technique, but also contain something elusive – additional depth and a sense of calm (probably that same slight response to Buddhist philosophy).
In Japan, where the artist was born and raised, the traditional religions are Buddhism and Shintoism. Thanks to a certain Japanese “liberalism” in matters of faith, Hiroko Kozuki did not have any serious religious contradictions with her passion: her attitude to Christianity is deeply sincere. She celebrates Christmas along with the New Year, can pray in front of an icon and believes in a guardian angel. She says: “The mission of a guardian angel is to protect a specific person, family, community or country… I am inspired by the idea of having my own icon of a guardian angel as my protector, who guides me in life.”
Space of spiritual unity
At the exhibition in the Alexei Mikhailovich Palace, the works of the Japanese artist are displayed together with 10 beautiful examples of Russian icon painting of the 17th–19th centuries from the collection of the museum-reserve. The curators pursued two goals: on the one hand, to show the sources of inspiration of Hiroko Kozuki, on the other, to create a dialogue between two cultures and demonstrate that spiritual heritage is not limited to one era or tradition. According to the curators, this is a meeting of two worlds, where respect for the canon becomes the basis for mutual enrichment, and beauty and harmony are part of the code of human unity.
The exhibition presents 23 works by the artist. Among them are icons of the Holy Trinity, the Nativity, the Transfiguration, the Annunciation, the Ascension, the Image of the Savior Not Made by Hands, the images of the Virgin Mary “Throne”, “Kazan”, “Leaping of the Child”, St. Nicholas of Myra, Archangel Michael, as well as “The Miracle of the Great Martyr George and the Dragon”. They are supplemented with detailed explications, sometimes with comments by the artist herself, texts about religions in Japan, including Christianity, as well as photographs from Hiroko Kozuki’s travels to Orthodox monasteries and shrines. All this ensures complete immersion in the material and creates a special feeling of a capsule in the three small halls of the exhibition – a closed space of spirituality and beauty beyond time, linguistic, geographical and cultural boundaries.
The exhibition “Treasures of the Divine World: Japanese Icons by Hiroko Kozuki” at the palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich will last until October 26. Tickets can be purchased using the service “Mosbilet”.
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.
NEW YORK/ROME – Gaza faces the grave risk of famine as food consumption and nutrition indicators have reached their worst levels since the conflict began, according to data shared in the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert.
The IPC Alert highlights that two out of the three famine thresholds have now been breached in parts of the territory, with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warning that time is running out to mount a full-scale humanitarian response.
Relentless conflict, the collapse of essential services, and severe limitations on the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance imposed on the UN have led to catastrophic food security conditions for hundreds of thousands of people across the Gaza Strip.
Food consumption – the first core famine indicator – has plummeted in Gaza since the last IPC Update in May 2025. Data shows that more than one in three people (39 per cent) are now going days at a time without eating. More than 500,000 people – nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population – are enduring famine-like conditions, while the remaining population is facing emergency levels of hunger.
Acute malnutrition – the second core famine indicator – inside Gaza has risen at an unprecedented rate. In Gaza City, malnutrition levels among children under five have quadrupled in two months, reaching 16.5 per cent. This signals a critical deterioration in nutritional status and a sharp rise in the risk of death from hunger and malnutrition.
Acute malnutrition and reports of starvation-related deaths – the third core famine indicator – are increasingly common but collecting robust data under current circumstances in Gaza remains very difficult as health systems, already decimated by nearly three years of conflict, are collapsing.
“The unbearable suffering of the people of Gaza is already clear for the world to see. Waiting for official confirmation of famine to provide life-saving food aid they desperately need is unconscionable,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director. “We need to flood Gaza with large-scale food aid, immediately and without obstruction, and keep it flowing each and every day to prevent mass starvation. People are already dying of malnutrition and the longer we wait to act, the higher the death toll will rise.”
As of July 2025, over 320,000 children, the entire population under five in the Gaza Strip, are at risk of acute malnutrition, with thousands suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of undernutrition. Essential nutrition services have collapsed with infants lacking access to safe water, breastmilk substitutes, and therapeutic feeding.
In June, 6,500 children were admitted for treatment for malnutrition, the highest number since the conflict began. July is tracking even higher, with 5,000 children admitted in just the first two weeks. With fewer than 15 percent of essential nutrition treatment services currently functional, the risk of malnutrition-related deaths among infants and young children is higher than ever before.
“Emaciated children and babies are dying from malnutrition in Gaza,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “We need immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian access across Gaza to scale up the delivery of life-saving food, nutrition, water and medicine. Without that, mothers and fathers will continue to face a parent’s worst nightmare, powerless to save a starving child from a condition we are able to prevent.”
Despite a partial reopening of crossings, humanitarian aid entering Gaza is barely a trickle of what a population of over two million people needs every month. Just to cover basic humanitarian food and nutrition assistance needs in Gaza, more than 62,000 tons of life-saving aid is required every month. Restarting commercial food imports are also critical to provide dietary diversity with fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy products, and proteins such as meat and fish.
Additionally, the lack of fuel, water and other vital aid continues to undermine efforts to prevent famine and deaths among children.
The agencies welcome the recent new commitments to improve the operating conditions for humanitarian organizations, including the implementation of humanitarian pauses and hope these measures will allow for a surge in urgently needed food and nutrition assistance to reach hungry people without further delays.
The UN agencies also reiterate their urgent calls for:
• An immediate and sustained ceasefire, to stop the killing, allow for the safe release of hostages and further enable lifesaving humanitarian operations.
• Sustained safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, for the mass influx of assistance via all available crossings, and to deliver food, nutrition supplies, critical water, fuel, and medical assistance to families in need across Gaza.
• Urgent need to get commercial traffic flowing into Gaza by reviving commercial supply chains to restore local markets. The protection of civilians and aid workers, alongside the restoration of essential services, in particular health, water and sewage infrastructures.
• Investment in the recovery of local food systems, including the revitalization of bakeries, markets and rehabilitation of agriculture.
*The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is an innovative multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making. By using the IPC classification and analytical approach, Governments, UN Agencies, NGOs, civil society and other relevant actors, work together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations in a country, according to internationally-recognised scientific standards. Find out more here
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
UNICEF, the United Nations agency for children, works to protect the rights of every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged children and in the toughest places to reach. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we do whatever it takes to help children survive, thrive, and fulfil their potential.
Follow us on X, formerly Twitter, via @wfp_media @unicefmedia
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), of which WHO is a member, today issued a Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Alert for the Gaza Strip. The details are as noted below.
Key highlights
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has issued a stark warning today that the worst-case scenario of Famine is now unfolding in the Gaza Strip. Amid relentless conflict, mass displacement, severely restricted humanitarian access, and the collapse of essential services, including healthcare, the crisis has reached an alarming and deadly turning point.
Mounting evidence shows that widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are driving a rise in hunger-related deaths. Latest data indicates that Famine thresholds have been reached for food consumption in most of the Gaza Strip and for acute malnutrition in Gaza City.
Recommended actions
End hostilities
Ensure humanitarian access
Protect civilians, aid workers, and civilian infrastructure
Restore life-saving and multi-sectoral humanitarian assistance safely and with dignity
Restore the flow of commercial goods and local production capacities.
About the IPC
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) is an innovative multi-partner initiative for improving food security and nutrition analysis and decision-making. By using the IPC classification and analytical approach, governments, UN agencies, nongovernmental organizations, civil society and other relevant actors work together to determine the severity and magnitude of acute and chronic food insecurity, and acute malnutrition situations in a country, according to internationally recognized scientific standards.
The main goal of the IPC is to provide decision-makers with a rigorous, evidence- and consensus-based analysis of food insecurity and acute malnutrition situations, to inform emergency responses as well as medium- and long-term policy and programming.
Mining and investment cooperation between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) intensified in 2025 with the signing of several agreements. As the world’s leading cobalt producer – responsible for over 70% of global output -, a leading tin producer and Africa’s top copper producer, the DRC’s mining value chain is presenting increasingly attractive and strategic investment opportunities for UAE investors.
As the DRC seeks to leverage UAE investments to unlock its $24 trillion-worth of mineral potential, the upcoming African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 will serve as a vital platform for strengthening UAE-DRC partnerships. The event will feature a dedicated Middle East-Africa Roundtable, featuring high-level panel discussions and project showcases, providing UAE investors the opportunity to connect with DRC policymakers and mining stakeholders.
With growing global demand for energy transition and fourth industrial revolution minerals, the UAE is actively expanding its footprint in the DRC to secure mineral supply chains.
UAE Investments in DRC Mining
Congolese mining company Buenassa partnered with UAE-based NG9 Holding to develop the DRC’s first integrated copper-cobalt refinery in mid-July. The facility is set to produce 30,000 tons of copper cathodes and 5,000 tons of cobalt sulphate annually, supporting the DRC’s push for local beneficiation and value addition in its mining sector.
In June 2025, Abu Dhabi’s International Resources Holding (IRH) announced a $366 million acquisition of a majority stake in mining firm Alphamin Resources. The deal provides IRH with access to the DRC’s Bisie Tin Complex – one of the world’s largest and highest-grade tin deposits, responsible for 6% of global supply. IRH’s investment in the project is expected to reinforce the DRC’s role in the global tin market, with demand projected to grow by 20% by 2035. At AMW, a panel titled Cobalt Opportunity: DRC’s Strategic Position in the EV Revolution, will connect UAE investors with opportunities in the DRC’s expanding critical mineral sector.
Beyond mining, UAE investments are also bolstering the DRC’s energy infrastructure. NG9 Holding also signed a deal with Congolese energy company Kipay Energy to develop a 46 MW hydropower facility in Haut-Katanga, which will contribute to a total of 166 MW of electricity – helping to secure stable power supply for mining operations in the region. As UAE interest in the DRC’s mining and energy sectors continues to grow, AMW will catalyze new partnerships, investments and deal signings that will further integrate the two nations’ strategic interests in mineral development.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
About African Mining Week: African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China, during an interview at the Urumqi Grand Theatre, Xinjiang, July 28, 2025. [Photo by Yang Chuanli/China.org.cn]
During an interview at the 7th China Xinjiang International Dance Festival on July 28, Feng Ying, director of the National Ballet of China (NBC), stated: “The Xinjiang International Dance Festival is a platform we are familiar with and feel close to. Every time we come here, we can feel the audience’s enthusiasm for art.”
As an old friend of the dance festival, this is the third time that the NBC has appeared on this stage. This time, the NBC not only brought the original ballet “A Dream of Red Mansions,” which showcases the charm of the classic Chinese novel, but also performed “La Bayadère,” known as the touchstone of classical ballet. In the form of dialogue between Eastern and Western arts, it presented the diverse styles of ballet art to audiences in Xinjiang.
Performers from the National Ballet of China on stage in “A Dream of Red Mansions.” [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
Feng Ying admitted that the enthusiastic response to the performance exceeded their expectations: “The popularity of ‘A Dream of Red Mansions’ in Xinjiang is touching. The audience’s applause always falls precisely on the key plot points. This deep understanding and love have greatly encouraged us.”
Since first setting foot in Xinjiang in the 1970s, the NBC’s artistic connection with the region has lasted more than half a century. The performers not only feel the strong passion for singing and dancing among Xinjiang audiences, but also draw inspiration from exchanges with local art troupes. “The interaction with the Muqam Art Troupe of Xinjiang Art Theater has brought new inspiration to our creation, and cultural and art collision is of great value,” she said.
Performers from the National Ballet of China on stage in “La Bayadère.” [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The ballet “La Bayadère” brought this time is a sincere work by the NBC to pay tribute to the world’s ballet tradition. This classic work, created by Marius Petipa, the “father of classical ballet,” is set in ancient India and tells the tragic story of love, honesty and freedom between the temple dancer (bayadère) Nikia and the warrior Solor. Feng Ying explained: “The charm of ‘La Bayadère’ lies in its concise narrative carrying profound themes, while demonstrating the overall level of the troupe with exquisite dancing skills.”
It is worth noting that while respecting the essence of the original, the NBC has breathed new vitality into classics. “Every generation interprets the roles with their own traits — even in the same court ball scene, different performers bring distinct artistic styles,” Feng noted.
The NBC’s performances in Xinjiang will run through the closing night of July 29, and Feng specifically highlighted that the troupe will feature its youngest dancer, Liu Yuanjin. This rising star, she added, will embody the NBC’s well-established artistic inheritance on the closing night — further proof of how the company nurtures new talent to keep classics alive with fresh energy.
With the opening of modern theaters such as the Urumqi Grand Theatre, more high-level artistic works can be presented here. Feng Ying said: “The fact that works like ‘La Bayadère,’ which have extremely high requirements in terms of the theater conditions, can be staged in Xinjiang confirms the leapfrog development of cultural facilities here.”
In her view, the Xinjiang International Dance Festival has become an important hub for cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries. “We hope that through classics like ‘La Bayadère,’ the audiences can feel the charm of world ballet, and at the same time, convey the profound heritage of Chinese culture through ‘A Dream of Red Mansions,’ and achieve cross-border artistic dialogue on the stage.”
Founded in 1959, the NBC has always placed a strong focus on innovation. While staging world classics such as “Swan Lake” and “La Bayadère,” it has also created original works such as “The Red Detachment of Women” and “A Dream of Red Mansions,” establishing a unique Chinese ballet aesthetic system.
The city of Birmingham is to pay its final respects to one of its most cherished cultural icons Ozzy Osbourne as his cortege and family visit Broad Street in the city that he loved.
The hearse and accompanying vehicles will slowly make their way down Broad Street from 1pm to the Black Sabbath bridge and bench, where thousands of fans have left heartfelt messages and floral tributes in recent days. The cortege will be accompanied by a live brass band performance by local musicians from Bostin’ Brass, bringing a final musical moment to honour the extraordinary life and legacy of Ozzy Osbourne.
The event is expected to draw large crowds as fans gather to say goodbye to the man who helped shape the global heavy metal genre and who proudly carried the spirit of Birmingham throughout his career, whilst allowing his family a chance to see the many memories his loyal fans have left alongside flowers and tributes.
Ozzy and his fellow Black Sabbath band members were recently given the Freedom of the City on 28th June 2025.
The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Zafar Iqbal MBE, JP, said: “Ozzy was more than a music legend – he was a son of Birmingham. Having recently been awarded the Freedom of the City and following his celebrated appearance at the Back to the Beginning concert at Villa Park earlier this month, it was important to the city that we support a fitting, dignified tribute ahead of a private family funeral. We know how much this moment will mean to his fans. We’re proud to host it here with his loving family in the place where it all began, and we are grateful that they have generously offered to pay to enable this to happen and support the city is giving him the farewell he deserves.”
Birmingham City Council has worked at pace with its partners over the weekend to coordinate a respectful and safe public event in collaboration with the Osbourne family, who have kindly funded all of the associated costs. The Council would also like to thank businesses and residents in the Broad Street and wider city centre area for their co-operation, alongside support from West Midlands Metro and West Midlands Police, during this important time for the safety of gathered fans.
Public Information
The cortege will travel down Broad Street from approximately 1pm towards the Black Sabbath Bridge.
Broad Street will be closed to through traffic from 7am and buses and trams will be diverted during this time. Local access will be managed where possible but can not be guaranteed. Broad Street will re-open as soon as possible after the event.
Stewards will be on hand, and visitors are encouraged to arrive early, use public transport, and follow safety guidance on site.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
“City of Ideas” presented an updated topic page in the form of an interactive map called “City of Ideas – City of Dreams”. It shows how Muscovites’ proposals are transforming the capital. Here, users get acquainted with key areas of city life and learn how to interact with the platform in a game format.
The theme page became available in October 2024 to celebrate the platform’s 10th anniversary.
New areas and games
Now new areas have appeared on the map – “Children’s Leisure” and “Sports”, which were opened this year to collect suggestions from city residents in the “Suggest an Idea” section. In the places where these areas are located on the landing page, users will find games. Thus, everyone has a chance to influence the development of the areas and contribute to the creation of a more comfortable urban environment.
New educational games have appeared on the page, each of which will help to understand how exactly Muscovites can influence the development of the capital and how their ideas are implemented. For example, in the game “Ideal Couple” the user will have to select for each idea a suitable city sphere within which the initiative can be implemented.
In the game “My Park” you need to collect combinations of various objects to get objects for the improvement of the virtual public space. For example, by choosing a metal pole and a light bulb, players can make a lantern.
The main task in the game “City Matches” is to connect identical cells with the image of spheres in rows. The variety of cells-spheres will show the wide range of topics that the platform covers “City of Ideas”.
The game “Feel like an expert”, in which participants evaluate the feasibility of implementing ideas, has a second level. Thus, players need to study the map and decide whether it is possible to install a parking lot for scooters next to the park, if across the road there is already one parking lot for such transport and another one for bicycles.
Interaction with new spheres and participation in new games is available to those users who successfully complete the first level games already on the page and reach the second.
Suggest ideas and earn points
Thanks to the thematic page “City of Ideas – City of Dreams”, everyone can feel involved in the capital’s changes and offer new ideas that can make Moscow more comfortable, beautiful and modern.
This can be done either by playing the game “Feel like an expert”, from where it is convenient to go to the form for submitting an idea on the relevant topic, or by clicking on the “City of ideas – city of dreams” logo in the upper left corner of the screen, selecting the area of interest in the “Suggest an idea” section.
For each successfully completed game on the second level, users will be awarded 100 points of the city loyalty program “A Million Prizes”. They can be used to obtain goods and services presented on the program website or donated to charity.
To participate in the games, the user must log in to the platform using Mos ID – an account on the mos.ru portal.
The City of Ideas platform has been operating since 2014. During this time, more than 623 thousand users have joined it. They share suggestions on how to make life in the capital more comfortable. More than 8.8 thousand suggestions have already been implemented. City residents participated in projects dedicated to electronic services, culture, entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, transport and other topics. The platform is being developed by the State Institution New Management Technologies andDepartment of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.
The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.
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: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Five forgotten city traditions are re-entering the life of the modern capital thanks to the festival “Moscow Estates” project “Summer in Moscow”This season, city residents and tourists are offered to attend performances at the open-air summer theatre, learn to play croquet, try writing with a goose quill, create a flower arrangement in the style of the 18th century and attend a costume ball.
Open-air performances
The everyday life of the nobility was strictly regulated by the rules of etiquette – the display of violent emotions was considered indecent. But on the stage – be it a home performance or a production in an estate theater – one could give free rein to feelings: play passion, despair and even cruelty. For high society, bored in their own estates, it was the theater that became a real outlet.
Preparations for such home productions took weeks: plays were selected, roles were assigned, rehearsals took place, sets were made, and costumes were sewn. Although many amateur noblemen had extraordinary talent, the professional stage remained closed to them, because acting was considered an unworthy occupation in high society. However, home performances among family, neighbors, and friends were the order of the day. In wealthy estates, serfs were often involved in productions: gifted peasants played on par with their masters, and sometimes surpassed them in skill.
The Moscow Estates Festival continues the tradition of summer theaters and estate performances, turning them into unique walks that take viewers back to the 19th century. On August 16, the Bauman Garden of the Basmanny estate cluster will host a summer theatrical performance, Walk with the Heroes of the Great Russian Writers’ Novels. Participants will meet actors dressed as Alexander Pushkin, the heroes of the novel Eugene Onegin, and the merchant Stakheev. The latter will tell about the history of the Basmanny District estates. One of the shows will take place at night. Accompanied by professional actors, guests will walk through Moscow at night, and the light of an old lantern will show the way, reminding us of past eras.
History buffs will also be interested in the performance “Cultural and Social Life of the Arbat in the 19th Century.” The show will take place on August 30 on Arbat. The artist in the image of the legendary hussar Denis Davydov will tell about the meaning of the street’s name and its life two centuries ago. This excursion will also take place at night.
A colorful folk game that will captivate even modern youth is burners. The rules are simple: an odd number of players (more than 11) gather on the lawn, choose a driver (who will “burn”), and pair up. The players join hands and line up in pairs behind the burner. The participants sing “Burn, burn brightly, so that it doesn’t go out,” and as soon as they finish singing, the last pair unclasps their hands and runs along the column. When they reach the driver, the pair shouts to him: “One, two, don’t be a crow, run like fire!” and runs on. The main thing is to dodge the burner, stand in front of him and join hands again. If the burner tags a player, he and he form a new pair and stand in front of the column, and the participant who is left alone becomes the driver.
Another popular summer pastime is cerso, or flying ring game. This entertainment was invented in the early 19th century in France, and it was also popular in Russia in the century before last. Two players must throw a light hoop to each other and catch it on wooden swords. It is hard to imagine summer leisure in any noble estate without this game.
At the festival “Moscow Estates” visitors are told about the rules of various ancient games and offered to master them. From August 2 to September 14, guests are offered to play trinkets, croquet, badminton, gorodki in the N.E. Bauman Garden and Lianozovsky Park. Masters will not only tell about these amusements, but also help to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of noble leisure.
Noblewomen were masters of embroidery and miniature painting, often learning these arts from the best masters of their time. Beadwork was especially popular, becoming a kind of encyclopedia of aristocratic life. Russian embroidery reached an incredible level and could become a worthy gift even for a monarch. From an early age, children were taught needlework: they were presented with special boxes with needles, threads and other tools. By the way, men did not disdain handicrafts either.
Everyone is invited to try making something with their own hands at the festival venues. For example, in Lianozovsky Park on August 9, 17, 30 and September 7 there will be a master class “Noble accessories. Fans”. There will also be a master class “Noble accessories. Brooches” on August 2, 10, 23, 31 and September 13.
“Let them talk, but what business is it of ours? Under the mask all ranks are equal…” – perhaps these lines from Lermontov’s famous “Masquerade” best reflect the essence of the costume balls that the Russian nobility loved so much. For the upper class, a masquerade was not just entertainment, but a special game where the impossible became possible. For example, a countess could become a peasant, and an important dignitary could temporarily turn into a jester. The tradition of such balls was established by Peter I, and under Catherine II, masquerades became an integral part of the festivities both in the capital and in family estates.
The main rule of the masquerade was simple: a costume and a mask gave a person the right to enter the world of reincarnation. By trying on a different image, a guest of the ball seemed to be freed from conventions: a young lady could allow herself daring jokes, and an official – confessions unthinkable in ordinary life. Women especially valued this freedom, for whom the masquerade became a space for risky adventures.
For those who can no longer attend the old ball today, there are opportunities to feel the spirit of a bygone era and become a participant in the game of transformations. For example, from August 2 to September 14, a retro studio is open in Lianozovsky Park and the N.E. Bauman Garden: here, anyone can put on a historical costume of a 19th-century nobleman and take a photo in this image as a keepsake.
In the 19th century, post stations were important points of estate life: mailmen stopped here to exchange letters, travelers changed horses, and most importantly, correspondence was sent and received from here. The nobility treated the epistolary genre with reverence: letters were written on special paper with a coat of arms, sealed with sealing wax, and often dried flowers were specially left between the pages, covered in impeccable handwriting. They waited for a reply with trepidation, and took care of each envelope.
The atmosphere of the old post office was recreated at the Moscow Estates festival. Guests can learn to write with a quill pen, master the art of wax seals and even send a postcard in a vintage style. Until September 14, the post office is open at the Vasilchikov Estate (Military Uniform Museum) and the Khrushchev-Seleznev Estate (A.S. Pushkin State Museum). On August 2 and 3, you can send a letter at the Valuevo and Sviblovo estates, and on August 9 and 10, the postman is waiting for everyone at the Lopukhins-Stanitskaya Estate.
The festival “Moscow Estates” corresponds to the initiative “Tourist attractiveness of the country” of the national project “Tourism and Hospitality” and helps residents and visitors to learn about the city’s cultural and historical heritage in a modern format.
Tourism Committee of Moscow forms a sustainable brand of the capital as one of the main tourist destinations in Russia. All year round, Mosturism creates events that unite residents and guests of the city, and replenishes the city’s program with new events. In winter and summer, Muscovites and tourists can immerse themselves in another era at the historical sites of the “Moscow Estates” festival, join the capital’s tea traditions at the “Moscow Tea Party,” or try the “Moscow Breakfast” dishes at one of the hundreds of restaurants participating in the project.
Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.
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: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (July 29) officiated at the 2025 youthfest@HK (festival) Kick-off Ceremony to unveil a series of exciting and diversified youth activities.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Chan remarked that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government released the Youth Development Blueprint in 2022, outlining the policy goals for the healthy growth and diversified development of young people. The Government continues to update the youth initiatives in view of the latest situation of society and young people. Since the release of the Blueprint, the Government has put forward about 250 specific actions and measures to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, to equip them with global perspectives, an aspiring mindset and positive thinking.
The theme of the festival is “Nurture Positive Thinking, Promote Innovation and Inspire Creativity”. Mr Chan said that the festival offered a great opportunity for young people to develop their potential, enhance their knowledge, and share their experiences. Under the tripartite collaboration among the Government, the business sector and the community, the festival has organised more than 400 all-encompassing activities and attracted over 400 000 participants in the past two years. Special appreciation goes to the principal funder, the Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust, for its support. Mr Chan encouraged young people to participate in this year’s various festival activities and appealed to all sectors of the community to support and take part in the festival.
This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory of Chinese people’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression (80A). Mr Chan encouraged youth organisations to organise youth activities to commemorate the 80A as partner events of the festival with a view to deepening young people’s understanding about the historical events of the Mainland and Hong Kong, and foster their sense of patriotism.
Also officiating at the Kick-off Ceremony were the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam; the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung; the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Eric Chan; the Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung; the Convenor of the Action Group on Youth Festival, Youth Development Commission, Mr Victor Pang; and Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Mr Lester Huang. Representatives from various festival participating organisations also attended the event.
Organisations may submit applications for partner events of youthfest@HK for inclusion of their events in the official event calendar and on the official webpage. For the latest updates of the events under the festival programme, please visit the HYAB homepage or the “HKYouth+” mobile application.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
The Transport Complaints Unit (TCU) of the Transport Advisory Committee received 10 536 complaints and suggestions in the first quarter of 2025, with 188 being pure suggestions.
The complaints and suggestions received during the quarter were mostly related to public transport services (89 per cent), enforcement matters (6 per cent) and traffic conditions (5 per cent).
The number of cases on public transport services decreased from 11 316 in the previous quarter to 9 346 this quarter, while that on illegal parking and other enforcement matters increased from 605 to 632. The number of complaints and suggestions on traffic conditions decreased from 900 to 489 and those on road maintenance decreased from 30 to 25.
All the complaints and suggestions received by the TCU in the quarter were referred to the relevant government departments and public transport operators for follow-up action.
During the period under review, investigations into 11 061 cases were completed. Of these, 9 612 cases (87 per cent) were found to be substantiated, five cases (less than 1 per cent) were unsubstantiated, and the remaining 1 444 cases (13 per cent) could not be pursued due to a lack of evidence.
For the substantiated cases, the relevant government departments and public transport operators have taken steps to rectify the situation or are considering possible solutions to the problems identified. Among these cases, 16 drivers were summonsed by the Police.
During the quarter, the relevant government departments and public transport operators took on board 11 suggestions made by the public to enhance public transport services and improve traffic conditions. A summary of the cases is in the Appendix.
Members of the public may make their suggestions or complaints to the TCU by dialling the hotline 2889 9999 (voice mail service is available outside office hours), by fax to 2577 1858, by email to info@tcu.gov.hk or by filling in a form on the TCU website (www.tcu.gov.hk).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
Police today (July 29) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Sai Kung.
Yan Gan, aged 44, went missing after he was last seen at Pak Lap Wan on July 27 noon. Police received the report on the same day.
He is about 1.7 metres tall, 75 kilograms in weight and of medium build. He has a long face with yellow complexion and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-coloured swimming suit with orange life jacket and blue cap.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau today (July 29) announced the application results of the 14th-round funding exercise of the Arts Capacity Development Funding Scheme (ACDFS). A total of 14 successful applications (two for Springboard Grant and 12 for Project Grant) will be funded, involving a total amount of around $38.93 million.
The successful applications of the 14th round are of a high standard, with a diverse representation covering arts education/appreciation/promotion, community arts, dance, media arts, multi-disciplinary arts, music and theatre. The successful applicants (categories and names of organisations in alphabetical order) are as follows:
Name of organisation
Title of proposal
Category
Springboard Grant
Hong Kong Open Printshop Limited
Beyond Ordinary – The Contemporary Book Art
Arts Education/Appreciation/ Promotion
The Hong Kong Virtuoso Chorus Limited
Hong Kong Inter-School Choral Festival 2026
Arts Education/Appreciation/ Promotion
Project Grant
The Conservancy Association x Fragrant Village Creative Limited (joint applicant)
Polishing the Pearl: Shen Zhen Hong Kong Rural Arts Renewal Project at Kat O
Community Arts
H.D. X International Festival Limited
Hong Kong Dance Exchange
Dance
HongkongDance-FLSH Limited
Dynamic Dance Dialogue 2026
Dance
Passoverdance Limited
Fleeting Moments – Stories of Cities and Bodies
Dance
Dimension Plus Limited
Unravelling A.I. Bias with Generative A.I. in Arts
Media Arts
No Discipline Limited
Whatever Wherever Expanded
Multi-disciplinary Arts
King’s Harmonica Quintet Limited
2nd Hong Kong International Chromatic Harmonica Competition
The 2nd edition of the Hong Kong International Shakespeare Festival
Theatre
The 14th-round funding exercise continues to implement the Incentive Matching Sum, an initiative introduced in the 13th round to encourage successful Project Grant applicants to seek non-government sponsorship and/or donations during project implementation, offering each successful applicant an extra matching sum up to a ceiling of $800,000.
Introduced by the Government in 2011, the ACDFS aims to provide funding support for innovative and impactful proposals that contribute to the objectives of capacity development of arts practitioners, arts groups, art forms and/or the arts sector; programme/content development; audience building and arts education. The funding scheme is administered on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Arts Development. Members of the Committee take part in the assessment of applications together with Expert Advisers. A total of 89 applications were assessed in the 14th-round funding exercise.
The financing will back investments from il.lumina, Iberdrola’s project to reconstruct and modernise the power distribution grid affected by devastating floods in 2024.
The project includes the implementation of resilience and digitalisation measures benefiting over 650 000 clients and improving electricity supply security.
The EIB financing is sourced from its own resources and the Regional Resilience Fund put in place by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) has signed two €25 million loans with Iberdrola to finance the reconstruction, redesign, climate change adaptation and digitalisation work that the electricity company is carrying out on the power distribution grid damaged by the devastating floods that hit Valencia in October 2024.
These investments are part of Iberdrola’s il.lumina project to build the power grid of the future. Measures will include rebuilding damaged infrastructure, expanding facility automation, installing smart transformers to improve supply quality, moving overhead power lines underground, and raising and downsizing transformer substations.
These operations are expected to benefit more than 650 000 clients, according to the electric company, improving electricity supply security against a backdrop of extreme weather events and increasing integration of renewable energy production.
The project will strengthen the EIB’s role as the climate bank, one of the eight strategic priorities set out in the EIB Group’s Strategic Roadmap for 2024-2027. The operation is also part of the EIB action plan to support REPowerEU, the programme to increase energy security and speed up the energy transition by reducing the European Union’s dependence on fossil fuel imports.
The financing includes €25 million from EIB own resources and a further €25 million from the Regional Resilience Fund created to facilitate access to NextGenerationEU loans under Spain’s recovery, transformation and resilience plan. The Regional Resilience Fund aims to drive investment and develop projects in eight priority areas: social and affordable housing; urban renewal; transport and sustainable tourism; the energy transition; water and waste management; the care economy; research, development and innovation; and the competitiveness of industry and small and medium companies. The fund is led by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, with the EIB Group as a strategic management partner.
EIB support for power grids
EIB support for energy security and power grids is one of its main priorities to accelerate the green transition, contribute to EU energy autonomy and ensure access to a more secure and sustainable energy supply for all Europeans. In 2024, the EIB Group directed €8.5 billion to financing power grid and storage projects in all of its operational areas, double the 2023 figure. In Spain alone, €1.5 billion went to grid and storage projects in 2024, again doubling 2023 investment. This financing is helping to expand, modernise and digitalise power grids, making them more resilient and enabling greater and better integration of renewable energy.
More information on EIB support for the energy sector is available here.
EIB commitment to those impacted by the DANA
Following the DANA, the EIB moved quickly to make a €1.4 billion package available to the regions impacted (Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha) to help finance reconstruction work and support the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises. The EIB Group has also made contributions to NGOs operating in the area, such as Save the Children, SOS Aldeas Infantiles and Casa Caridad.
il-lumina, Iberdrola’s commitment to Valencia
This financing is part of Iberdrola’s strategy to promote a more robust electricity grid that is better prepared for extreme weather events, while reinforcing its commitment to the energy transition and green financing. With il·lumina, Iberdrola is not only responding to the damage, but also anticipating the future, committing to a safer, more efficient electricity infrastructure that is aligned with European climate objectives.
The il·lumina project involves the renovation of substations, transformer stations and the medium and low voltage network, with the aim of redesigning the electricity network affected by the DANA. The company has created a team of 35 people who are working exclusively on developing the construction plan for the electricity network of the future, coordinating the work of approximately 1,000 operators, most of whom are locally based.
Background information
EIB
The European Investment Bank (ElB) is the long-term lending institution of the European Union, owned by its Member States. Built around eight core priorities, we finance investments that contribute to EU policy objectives by bolstering climate action and the environment, digitalisation and technological innovation, security and defence, cohesion, agriculture and bioeconomy, social infrastructure, high-impact investments outside the European Union, and the capital markets union.
The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), signed nearly €89 billion in new financing for over 900 high-impact projects in 2024, boosting Europe’s competitiveness and security.
All projects financed by the EIB Group are in line with the Paris Climate Agreement, as pledged in our Climate Bank Roadmap. Almost 60% of the EIB Group’s annual financing supports projects directly contributing to climate change mitigation, adaptation, and a healthier environment.
In Spain, the EIB Group signed €12.3 billion of new financing for more than 100 high-impact projects in 2024. This financing is contributing to the country’s green and digital transition, economic growth, competitiveness and improved services for residents.
High-quality, up-to-date photos of our headquarters for media use are available here.
Regional Resilience Fund
The Regional Resilience Fund (RRF) was created to facilitate access to NextGenerationEU loans from the Spanish Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan for the autonomous communities, with the aim of boosting investments and developing projects in eight priority areas: social and affordable housing; urban renewal; transport and sustainable tourism; the energy transition; water and waste management; the care economy; research, development and innovation; and the competitiveness of industry and SMEs.
The fund is led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise, which takes input from the autonomous communities and cities for investment decision-making and looks to the EIB Group as a strategic management partner
The initial phase of the RRF includes the activation of up to €3.4 billion in financing via:
a direct financing mechanism, to co-finance EIB-supported operations in sectors like renewable energy, clean transport and sustainable infrastructure;
an intermediated mechanism managed by financial intermediaries selected by the EIB, to support projects in urban development and sustainable tourism;
two instruments intermediated by the European Investment Fund that will facilitate SME financing for innovation, sustainability and competitiveness.
Iberdrola
With more than 100,000 million euros in capitalisation, Iberdrola is the largest electricity company in Europe and one of the two largest in the world. The Group serves more than 100 million people worldwide and has a workforce of more than 44,000 employees and assets of more than 160,000 million euros. In 2024, Iberdrola recorded revenues of almost 50,000 million euros, a net profit of 5,600 million euros. The company contributes nearly 10,300 million euros in tax contributions in the countries in which it operates and supports more than 500,000 jobs in its suppliers thanks to purchases that exceeded 18,000 million euros in 2024.
Since 2001, Iberdrola has invested more than 175,000 million euros in renewable energies, electricity grids and energy storage to contribute to the creation of an energy model based on electrification. The company has more than 57,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity worldwide, of which more than 45,000 MW are renewable.
AMENDMENTS 004-005 JOINT MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION pursuant to Rules 150(5) and 136(4) of the Rules of Procedure replacing the following motions: B10-0335/2025 (Verts/ALE) B10-0344/2025 (Renew) B10-0345/2025 (ECR) B10-0346/2025 (PPE) B10-0347/2025 (S&D) on the urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria following the recent terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus (2025/2798(RSP)) Sebastião Bugalho, Ingeborg Ter Laak, David McAllister, François-Xavier Bellamy, Andrzej Halicki, Wouter Beke, Željana Zovko, Isabel Wiseler-Lima, Andrey Kovatchev, Tomas Tobé, Ioan-Rareş Bogdan, Tomáš Zdechovský, Davor Ivo Stier, Sander Smit, Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi, Eleonora Meleti, Vangelis Meimarakis, Georgios Aftias, Dimitris Tsiodras, Emmanouil Kefalogiannis, Antonio López-Istúriz White, Matej Tonin, Massimiliano Salini, Łukasz Kohut, Loránt Vincze, Seán Kelly, Mirosława Nykiel, Michał Wawrykiewicz, Inese Vaidere, Michalis Hadjipantela, Miriam Lexmann on behalf of the PPE Group Yannis Maniatis, Francisco Assis, Marco Tarquinio, Hana Jalloul Muro, Evin Incir, Nikos Papandreou on behalf of the S&D Group Adam Bielan, Reinis Pozņaks, Alexandr Vondra, Veronika Vrecionová, Ondřej Krutílek, Guillaume Peltier, Marion Maréchal, Nicolas Bay, Laurence Trochu, Małgorzata Gosiewska, Aurelijus Veryga, Bogdan Rzońca, Arkadiusz Mularczyk, Waldemar Tomaszewski, Assita Kanko, Marlena Maląg, Carlo Fidanza, Alberico Gambino, Joachim Stanisław Brudziński on behalf of the ECR Group Nathalie Loiseau, Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez, Petras Auštrevičius, Malik Azmani, Dan Barna, Engin Eroglu, Svenja Hahn, Karin Karlsbro, Jan-Christoph Oetjen, Urmas Paet, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann, Hilde Vautmans, Lucia Yar on behalf of the Renew Group Hannah Neumann on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group Nikolas Farantouris
Anthony Albanese will recall well when another Labor prime minister was feeling the heat over Palestinian status.
It was 2012 and then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard was forced into a corner over the stand Australia should take on a motion to give Palestine observer status at the United Nations.
Gillard and her foreign minister, Bob Carr, clashed over the matter. Gillard wanted to oppose the motion, siding with the United States and Israel. Carr and others pushed back hard, and eventually Australia abstained.
In his book, Diary of a Foreign Minister, Carr records that in the cabinet debate earlier, “Albanese gave a no-holds-barred robust presentation of the case for voting ‘yes’ or abstaining”.
Now Albanese, in the wake of France having just declared it will recognise Palestine as a state, faces another, albeit different, iteration of the Palestinian status issue. The circumstances are much more direct and acute. On this occasion, he is arguing for time.
Carr is still out there advocating. But a more central voice is former minister Ed Husic (who was around in 2012, too, but still on the backbench). The Labor rank and file are strongly pro-Palestine. They are backed by the ALP platform, which calls for Palestine to be recognised as a state.
Even as a minister in the last parliamentary term, bound by cabinet solidarity, Husic pushed the boundaries when speaking out about the Middle East conflict. Having been dumped from the frontbench in factional manoeuvring after the election, he is free to say bluntly what he thinks. Now he is putting his shoulder to the wheel to advocate recognition.
In a Guardian article on Monday he reminded his Labor peers and betters “that our party has twice agreed at its highest decision-making forum – the National Conference of the Australian Labor party – to recognise the state of Palestine.
“The time to do so is absolutely right now.”
Albanese is caught between his party and his caution.
It is a fair assumption the prime minister, with his long history of being pro-Palestinian, would like to follow the lead of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Equally, however, he would want Australia to move in concert with like-minded countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand. Australia has previously banded with these countries in joint statements about the Middle East conflict.
Albanese said at the weekend Australian recognition of a Palestinian state wasn’t imminent – although last year Foreign Minister Penny Wong opened the way for possible recognition as part of a peace process (rather than only accorded at the end of it).
The prime minister put a context around recognition. “How do you exclude Hamas from any involvement there? How do you ensure that a Palestinian state operates in an appropriate way which does not threaten the existence of Israel? And so we don’t do any decision as a gesture. We will do it as a way forward if the circumstances are met.”
In caucus on Tuesday, Husic pressed his point, asking how long the preconditions for statehood could be expected to take. Albanese essentially went through what he’d said before.
Labor’s Friends of Palestine group is pressing for sanctions, as well as recognition.
The group’s spokesperson Peter Moss says: “Over the past 21 months, Labor members in branches and conferences have repeatedly urged the government to join 147 UN member states and now France in recognising Palestine.
“By making recognition contingent on a non-existent peace process, the government has effectively ruled out delivering on policy that has broad public support.
“We call on the Australian government to implement official platform policy and immediately and unconditionally recognise a Palestinian state on the pre-4 June 1967 borders.”
In recent weeks more than 80 Labor branches and other party units have passed a strong motion calling for sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel.
In the last few days, the group wrote to Wong, seeking a meeting to discuss its calls for sanctions and for the Albanese government “to work with international partners to develop a practical plan for the establishment of a free and independent Palestinian State”. No meeting has yet been arranged.
Michelle Grattan 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.
Several parts of India are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next few days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued intense precipitation over eastern Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh between July 29 and 31, with isolated locations in western MP likely to experience extremely heavy rain on Tuesday.
States in the northeast, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, and Meghalaya, are also expected to witness heavy rainfall over the next seven days, with activity likely to intensify from August 1 onwards. Meanwhile, rainfall is expected to reduce gradually over the southern peninsula over the next six to seven days, and over central India starting August 1.
In the past 24 hours, extremely heavy rainfall (exceeding 21 cm) was recorded in isolated areas of western Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Heavy to very heavy showers were also observed in parts of eastern Rajasthan, Punjab, eastern Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, and Mizoram. Isolated places in the ghat areas of central Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Gangetic West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh also received heavy rain.
Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR
In Delhi-NCR, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy from July 29 to August 1, with light to moderate rain and occasional thunderstorms and lightning.
On Tuesday, Delhi-NCR received heavy rain in the morning which led to improvement in the air quality index (AQI).
In its weather report for Delhi-NCR, IMD predicted at isolated places on Tuesday, with maximum temperatures expected to range between 29°C and 31°C. The following days will see similar weather, with maximum temperatures staying below normal by 2 to 5 degrees Celsius and minimum temperatures hovering between 23°C and 26°C.
By August 1, the capital may experience only very light to light rainfall, with skies turning partly cloudy. Temperatures are projected to rise slightly, with maximums between 33°C and 35°C, though still remaining below the seasonal average. Winds will predominantly be from the southeast, shifting gradually to southwest and northwest directions through the day.
A host of varied events are taking place in support of the Mayor of Winchester’s 2025/6 selected charities.
Tickets are now on sale for the next two events, a talk in Abbey House and a lunchtime Ukrainian classic music concert. Proceeds will benefit the three current Mayoral Charities: Trinity Winchester; Home-Start Winchester; and WinACC (Winchester Action on Climate Crisis).
The talk, which will take place in the Mayor’s official residence Abbey House on Friday 8 August at 7pm, is entitled The French Prisoners of Alresford and the Hampshire Parole Towns.
It will be given by former mayor Russell Gordon-Smith, who will delve into the history of the Alresford tombs of five French officer prisoners of war – four officers and one military wife – who lived for a period of time in the small district town.
Former mayor Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith beside one of the graves
It will also provide some background on the Napoleonic wars and the workings of the ‘parole’ system, including life in the prison hulks and in prison camps.
The classical music concert, which has been organised with the Winchester Ukrainian Cultural Association (WUCA), will take place in The United Church, Jewry Street, on Friday 29 August at 12pm.
The programme includes works by Ukrainian and international composers, performed by Volodymyr Vasylenko (accordion), Liliya Solomonova (piano), Marharyta Dorosh (cello), and Ava Solomonova-Satchwell (vocal).
Events later in the season include: Life in Quizzing – a talk by local champion quizzer – and former Egghead – Kevin Ashman; a Murder Mystery evening; an Agatha Christie evening; a jazz piano concert; Burns Night; the popular annual Quiz Night; a Pie & Mash night; and much more.
The Mayor of Winchester Cllr Sudhakar Achwal: “We have already enjoyed fun events in aid of my selected Mayoral Charities, including a family scavenger hunt, and I am so looking forward to the rest of the programme – it really does have something to offer to everyone.
“The Mayoral Charities each do such excellent work in our local communities and these events are a fantastic way to enjoy yourself whilst also offering valuable support to three wonderful and worthy district charities.”
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The first two certificates of awarding academic degrees were presented at the Dissertation Council for Technical Sciences Faculty of Information Technology, Novosibirsk State University. Both PhD theses are devoted to computational linguistics: Dmitry Morozov developed a system for assessing the complexity of text using machine learning methods on the example of the Russian language, and Davlater Mengliev developed a hybrid algorithm for recognizing named entities in the Uzbek language. In August, another PhD thesis will be defended, which is devoted to the application of mathematical modeling methods in geophysics.
— We note the high demand for the Scientific Council for Technical Sciences created at our faculty. Its requirements for dissertation defenses are less formalized than those of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC), but it sets higher requirements for the quality of publications. Due to these circumstances, our Council will be in demand by a number of employees of both scientific organizations and high-tech companies, for whom the procedure for defending dissertations established by us will be more convenient, but one should not assume that it is simple. This can be confirmed by our first two applicants, who submitted all the necessary documents to the Council and successfully completed all the established and strictly regulated procedures, spoke several times at seminars in front of the scientific community, received high marks for the quality of their work from specially created commissions with the involvement of experts from our Dissertation Council and external experts from several regions of our country and neighboring countries. We are glad that Dmitry Morozov and Davlater Mengliev successfully passed all these tests and their PhD diplomas have the same status as diplomas issued by the Higher Attestation Commission, said Mikhail Lavrentyev, Dean of the NSU Institute of Information Technologies and Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Head of the Department of Mathematical Modeling of the Faculty of Mechanics and Mathematics of NSU, Professor of the Department of Informatics Systems and the Department of General Informatics of the Faculty of Information Technologies of NSU, Doctor of Technical Sciences Vladimir Barakhnin noted that it is no coincidence that the first two defenses of dissertations for the degree of candidate of sciences are related to computer linguistics – this is evidence of the relevance of this topic.
— As neural networks and large language models develop, so-called glitches become more and more apparent. The abundance of information loaded onto them inevitably generates a wider range of fake information, and these models are simply no longer able to assess the truth of the information. Therefore, direct or combined methods of information processing that contain classical direct approaches remain important. It is they, as many specialists believe, that will be able to correct the work of large language models. These approaches were used in their works by Dmitry Morozov and Davlater Mengliev. In order for the development of neural networks and large language models not to reach a dead end, it is necessary to involve classical methods of computational linguistics, which uses knowledge of language. In this context, this knowledge is the modeling of human thinking. Neural networks model neural connections in the human brain, but not thinking, and thus implement a purely mechanistic approach to the process of information processing, which is unthinkable without human participation, because humans are both the producer and the end consumer of any information. Therefore, language processing should include an understanding of how it is structured, and not be a mechanical collection of information into large language models, explained Vladimir Barakhnin, the scientific supervisor of both degree candidates.
Dmitry Morozov’s research is particularly relevant because it aims to establish a correspondence between the text and its potential reader. As Vladimir Barakhnin explained, there is currently a large gap between generations: many words in texts that seem quite understandable to representatives of the older generation turn out to be completely unperceivable for young people. In most cases, these are obsolete words, and in order to understand them, schoolchildren have to turn to dictionaries. The algorithms developed by Dmitry Morozov are aimed at ensuring that the information consumer receives information adequate to his level of education. Then his development and enrichment of his vocabulary will occur gradually. The importance of these algorithms lies in their real adaptation to the properties of the information consumer and taking into account his capabilities. The expert’s assessment is mostly subjective, and therefore not very reliable, and the methods of objective control developed in Dmitry Morozov’s dissertation allow for a more thorough educational process in the humanities.
— The topic of my dissertation is “Text Complexity Assessment Using Machine Learning Methods on the Russian Language.” It is devoted to assessing how well the text will be understood by the reader or how well the reader should be prepared to understand what is written. This is necessary to assess the complexity of various instructions. Such texts should be understandable to people without special education and training. But there is a problem: they are created by people who have special knowledge about the subject of the narrative, and therefore much of what is incomprehensible to outsiders seems obvious to them. It is difficult for them to objectively assess the text they are creating. On the other hand, a person who does not have this knowledge, assessing the complexity of the text, must fully familiarize himself with it and give his own assessment. This takes a lot of time. Therefore, a vast field for automating the process is being formed in this area. We have a variety of pre-trained large language models that can be used within the framework of different algorithmic approaches and assess the complexity of the text automatically. My dissertation details how to use them to construct a description of a text, so that the resulting description can then be converted into an assessment of linguistic complexity, said Dmitry Morozov.
The young scientist’s development will find application in compiling instructions for complex products. It is also proposed to use this complex to create a collection of texts that would be understandable to schoolchildren of different ages. This is necessary so that linguists can further study their vocabulary, because the various texts read by schoolchildren become an important source of new words in their vocabulary. In this way, they will be able to create different collections of words and predict which of them are known to schoolchildren and which are not, relying not on subjective experience, but on objective data.
The research of the second candidate for the academic degree Davlater Mengliev, according to his scientific supervisor Vladimir Barakhnin, is a pioneering one for Uzbek computer linguistics, which began to develop relatively recently. According to him, at present, an entire scientific school has begun to take shape at NSU and several postgraduate students from the Republic of Uzbekistan are working on the development of this topic.
— I devoted my PhD thesis to the development of a hybrid algorithm for recognizing named entities in the Uzbek language. This algorithm allows extracting key information from the text and recognizing it. Similar developments already exist for other languages, but for Uzbek, as well as for all Turkic languages in general, such work has not yet been done. The use of a hybrid approach, which involves the use of not only modern neural networks, but also traditional rule-oriented algorithms, which, together with several architectures, contributed to achieving good results, gives additional relevance to my work. At the moment, my development has been implemented in various organizations of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in particular, in the reception office of the governor of the Khorezm region. With the help of this algorithm, key information is extracted from requests and applications received by the institution and sent to the relevant divisions and departments. Since there are many dialects in the Uzbek language, my work in this direction is not yet complete, — explained Davlater Mengliev.
Secretary of the scientific seminar of the NSU FIT, within the framework of which pre-defenses of dissertations are held, Alexander Vlasov is confident that the first two defenses of candidate dissertations are the beginning of a long journey both within the faculty and NSU and the Akademgorodok as a whole.
Material prepared by: Elena Panfilo, NSU press service
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
There are never too many graduations. When the ceremonies at the universities were over, more than 450 active, goal-oriented graduates of 2025 who had distinguished themselves in their studies, social activities and creativity met at the National Center “Russia” in Moscow to once again celebrate this important event in their lives.
Polytechnic University was represented at the All-Russian student festival by Elizaveta Kuznetsova, a graduate of the Higher School of Linguistics and Pedagogy of the Humanitarian Institute, and Kristina Shakhova, a graduate of the Higher School of Public Administration of the Institute of Industrial Management, Economics and Trade.
“I learned about the All-Russian Student Graduation and immediately decided to apply to try my hand,” said Elizaveta. “I wrote that I graduated from the university with honors, indicated the publication of scientific articles and volunteer work in the student association TutorForces. In this organization, I was lucky enough to become the deputy head of the SMM department, volunteer in the Unified Center for Registration of Foreign Citizens of SPbPU, participate in organizing events for foreign students and much more! I think that’s why I was invited to the All-Russian Student Graduation.”
“I became the owner of a unique invitation to the All-Russian Student Graduation!” shared Kristina. “I sent an application, where I noted my achievements in scientific activities: participation in Olympiads, competitions, scientific conferences, publication of articles, defense of competition works in other cities, case championships. I got into the Science section. It was a real celebration, which combined education, creativity and the energy of youth! Honorary speakers spoke, shared valuable knowledge and inspiring stories. Each of us had the opportunity to ask questions and get answers from experts in various fields. In addition to lectures, there was a rich concert program. And at the end of the evening, I received a diploma from the Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of Russia, which was a bright end to this unforgettable event.”
The “Your Graduation” celebration included many activities: several educational sessions, meetings with mentors and speakers, master classes, the “Letter to a First-Year Student” campaign, and the opening of the “Russian Student Faces” art object. The guests were treated to a performance by musicians Zhenya Trofimov and Roma Rudyka from the “Room of Culture” group, winners of the 2025 Muz-TV award in the “Breakthrough of the Year” nomination.
The organizers of the All-Russian Student Graduation in 2025 were the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the Federal Agency for Youth Affairs “Rosmolodezh”, the All-Russian student project “Your Move”, the Presidential Platform “Russia – the Land of Opportunities”, the Russian Society “Knowledge” with the support of the National Center “Russia” and the All-Russian public and state movement of children and youth “Movement of the First”.
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.
PANAMA CITY, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Gate, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, and World Liberty Financial (WLFI), the developer of a pioneering DeFi protocol and governance platform inspired by President Donald J. Trump, jointly announced a major milestone in the growing adoption of USD1, a USD-backed stablecoin issued by WLFI. According to on-chain data as of today, Gate has officially become the second-largest holder of USD1 among all centralized exchanges, trailing only Binance.
The surge in USD1 holdings on Gate was driven by the launch of Ika (IKA) on Gate Launchpad on July 26. The Launchpad campaign supports subscriptions in USD1 and Gate Token (GT), attracting substantial user participation and stablecoin inflow.
According to on-chain data, most USD1 liquidity is currently concentrated on the BNB Smart Chain (BSC), with smaller but notable reserves on Ethereum (ETH). Gate currently holds approximately $170 million USD1 on BSC, ranking second among CEXs with an additional $20 million USD1 on Ethereum, ranking first among CEXs on that chain. This correlates closely with the total USD1 allocation of 196 million tokens contributed to the IKA Launchpad event to date.
In total, Gate Launchpad with $IKA has seen user contributions surpass 200 million USD1 and 5.33 million GT, worth approximately $97.5 million, marking one of the largest Launchpad commitments in Gate’s recent history.
USD1 is a USD-backed stablecoin issued by World Liberty Financial, designed to provide transparent, regulated, and scalable digital dollar access across multiple blockchains. It is backed 1:1 by short-term US government treasuries, US dollar deposits, and other cash equivalents, with real-time audits and multi-chain deployment on BSC, Ethereum, and beyond.
This collaboration signals both parties’ commitment to building an open and compliant PayFi ecosystem—bridging traditional financial assets with next-generation decentralized infrastructure.
Gate, founded in 2013 by Dr. Han, is one of the world’s earliest cryptocurrency exchanges. The platform serves over 33 million users with 3,600+ digital assets and pioneered the industry’s first 100% proof-of-reserves. Beyond core trading services, Gate’s ecosystem includes Gate Wallet, Gate Ventures, and other innovative solutions.
This content does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation. You should always seek independent professional advice before making investment decisions. Gate may restrict or prohibit certain services in specific jurisdictions. For more information, please read the User Agreement via https://www.gate.com/user-agreement.
About World Liberty Financial
World Liberty Financial (WLFI) is a pioneering decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol and governance platform inspired by the vision of President Donald J. Trump. WLFI develops transparent, secure, and accessible financial tools, including institutional-grade products designed to broaden participation in decentralized finance. WFLI’s USD1 is a stablecoin redeemable 1:1 for the U.S. dollar, 100% backed by short-term U.S. treasuries, cash, and cash equivalents.
Media Contact Frederica Ko Senior PR Manager, Gate Exchange ✉️ Frederica@gate.com
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REYKJAVÍK, Iceland, July 29, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Lucinity today announced the launch of its fully re-architected Customer 360 platform, now powered by Luci AI, the company’s Agentic AI framework. With this release, Lucinity replaces traditional data pivoting with real-time, explainable intelligence generated by AI analytics agents.
At the heart of the release is a new capability: Luci AI now acts as a data scientist embedded inside every investigation.
“Most compliance tools still ask analysts to do the hard work of interpreting raw data,” said Guðmundur Kristjánsson (GK), Founder and CEO of Lucinity. “We’ve built a system where AI takes on that role. Luci explores the data, explains it, and delivers deep, contextual insights, ready for human judgment. That’s what agentic AI looks like.”
From Dashboards to Embedded Intelligence
Traditional Customer 360 tools aggregate alerts, scores, and transactional data, but depend on human analysts to make sense of them. Lucinity’s new approach shifts the intelligence into the core.
Luci’s agentic AI framework analyzes behavior, patterns, and context, then prepares fully explained insights, in real time. It prepares what used to take hours of manual effort, turning dashboards into decision tools powered by embedded AI.
The experience reflects a model of augmented intelligence, where the AI prepares the analytical thinking so humans can focus on judgment, escalation, and action.
Live in Production at a Tier 1 Financial Institution
The Luci-powered Customer 360 is already in production at a Tier 1 financial institution and is rolling out to Lucinity’s global customer base in Q3. The intelligence layer integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, requiring no retraining or migration.
“This isn’t a prototype or vision slide,” added Kristjánsson. “It’s live, explainable AI solving real problems day in, day out.”
From FinCrime to the Enterprise
While the initial deployment focuses on financial crime investigations, Lucinity confirms that Luci’s AI agent framework is built for broader enterprise use. The same intelligence layer can power onboarding, QA, fraud detection, risk reviews, customer experience, and any domain where analysts need to make sense of complex data at scale.
“Anywhere an employee needs to understand complex customer data to make a decision, Luci can help,” said Kristjánsson.
About Lucinity
Lucinity is an AI-native platform redefining financial crime prevention. Its explainable agent framework, Luci, transforms compliance operations by embedding AI that prepares, explains, and supports complex decisions. Lucinity’s technology is in production at Tier 1 scale and is expanding to support use cases across the enterprise.
Source: Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht – In English
The financial supervisory authority BaFin warns against alleged fixed-term deposit offers from the website kapitalmagazin.de. BaFin expressly points out that Ucapital Asset Management LLP – regulated by the British Financial Conduct Authority – contrary to the information in the imprint does not operate the website and does not have a branch in Germany. This is a case of identity theft.
Anyone providing financial or investment services in Germany may do so only with authorisation from BaFin. However, some companies offer these services without the necessary authorisation.
The information provided by BaFin is based on section 37 (4) of the German Banking Act (Kreditwesengesetz – KWG).
Please be aware:
BaFin, the German Federal Criminal Police Office (Bundeskriminalamt – BKA) and the German state criminal police offices (Landeskriminalämter) recommend that consumers seeking to invest money online should exercise the utmost caution and do the necessary research beforehand in order to identify fraud attempts at an early stage.
The United Arab Emirates and Jordan airdropped 25 tonnes of food and humanitarian supplies on Sunday. Israel has further announced daily pauses in its military strikes on Gaza and the opening of humanitarian corridors to facilitate UN aid deliveries.
The UN emergency relief chief, Tom Fletcher, has characterised the next few days as “make or break” for humanitarian agencies trying to reach more than two million Gazans facing “famine-like conditions”.
A third of Gazans have gone without food for several days and 90,000 women and children now require urgent care for acute malnutrition. Local health authorities have reported 147 deaths from starvation so far, 80% of whom are children.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed – without any evidence – “there is no starvation in Gaza”. This claim has been rejected by world leaders, including Netanyahu ally US President Donald Trump.
Famine expert Alex de Waal has called the famine in Gaza without precedent:
[…] there’s no case of such minutely engineered, closely monitored, precisely designed mass starvation of a population as is happening in Gaza today.
While the UN has welcomed the partial lifting of the blockade, the current aid being allowed into Gaza will not be enough to avert a wider catastrophe, due to the severity and depth of hunger in Gaza and the health needs of the people.
According to the UN World Food Programme, which has enough food stockpiled to feed all of Gaza for three months, only one thing will work:
An agreed ceasefire is the only way to reach everyone.
Airdrops a ‘distraction and a smokescreen’
Air-dropping food supplies is considered a last resort due to the undignified and unsafe manner in which the aid is delivered.
The Global Protection Cluster, a network of non-governmental organisations and UN agencies, shared a story from a mother in Al Karama, east of Gaza City, whose home was hit by an airdropped pallet, causing the roof to collapse:
Immediately following the impact, a group of people armed with knives rushed towards the house, while the mother locked herself and her children in the remaining room to protect her family. They did not receive any assistance and are fearful for their safety.
Air-dropped pallets of food are also inefficient compared with what can be delivered by road.
One truck can carry up to 20 tonnes of supplies. Trucks can also reach Gaza quickly if they are allowed to cross at the scale required. Aid agencies have repeatedly said they have the necessary aid and personnel sitting just one hour away at the border.
Given how ineffective the air drops have been – and will continue to be – the head of the UN Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine has called them a “distraction” and a “smokescreen”.
Malnourished women and children need specialised care
De Waal has also made clear how starvation differs from other war crimes – it takes weeks of denying aid for starvation to take hold.
For the 90,000 acutely malnourished women and children who require specialised and supplementary feeding, in addition to medical care, the type of food being air-dropped into Gaza will not help them. Malnourished children require nutritional screening and access to fortified pastes and baby food.
Gaza’s decimated health system is also not able to treat severely malnourished women and children, who are at risk of “refeeding syndrome” when they are provided with nutrients again. This can trigger a fatal metabolic response.
The UN has characterised the limited reopening of aid deliveries to Gaza as a potential “lifeline”, if it’s upheld and expanded.
According to Ciaran Donnelly from the International Rescue Committee, what’s needed is “tragically simple”: Israel must fully open the Gaza borders to allow aid and humanitarian personnel to flood in.
Israel must also guarantee safe conditions for the dignified distribution of aid that reaches everyone, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities. The level of hunger and insecurity mean these groups are at high risk of exclusion.
The people of Gaza have the world’s attention – for now. They have endured increasingly dehumanising conditions – including the risk of being shot trying to access aid – under the cover of war for more than 21 months.
Two leading Israeli human rights organisations have just publicly called Israel’s war on Gaza “a genocide”. This builds on mounting evidence compiled by the UN and other experts that supports the same conclusion, triggering the duty under international law for all states to act to prevent genocide.
These obligations require more than words – states must exercise their full diplomatic leverage to pressure Israel to let aid in at the scale required to avert famine. States must also pressure Israel to extend its military pauses into the only durable solution – a permanent ceasefire.
Amra Lee 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.
Japan’s embassy in Laos and its Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a rare and unusually direct advisory, warning Japanese men against “buying sex from children” in Laos.
The move was sparked by Ayako Iwatake, a restaurant owner in Vientiane, who allegedly saw social media posts of Japanese men bragging about child prostitution. In response, she launched a petition calling for government action.
The Japanese-language bulletin makes clear such conduct is prosecutable under both Laotian law and Japan’s child prostitution and pornography law, which applies extraterritorially.
This diplomatic statement was not only a legal warning. It was a rare public acknowledgement of Japanese men’s alleged entanglement in transnational child sex tourism, particularly in Southeast Asia.
It’s also a moment that demands we look beyond individual criminal acts or any one nation and consider the historical, racial and structural inequalities that make such mobility and exploitation possible.
A changing map of exploitation
Selling and buying sex in Asia is nothing new. The contours have shifted over time but the underlying sentiment has remained constant: some lives are cheap and commodified, and some wallets are deep and entitled.
Japan’s involvement in overseas prostitution stretches back to the Meiji period (1868-1912). Young women from impoverished rural regions (known as karayuki-san) migrated abroad, often to Southeast Asia, to work in the sex industry, from port towns in Malaya to brothels in China and the Pacific Islands.
If poverty once pushed Japanese women abroad to sell their bodies, by the second half of the 20th century – fuelled by Japan’s postwar economic boom – it was wealthy Japanese men who began travelling overseas to buy sex.
Around the 2000s, the dynamic flipped again. In South Korea, now a developed economy, men travelled to Southeast Asia – and later to countries such as Russia and Uzbekistan – following routes once taken by Japanese men.
Later in the same period, the flow took an even darker turn.
Japanese and South Korean men began to emerge as major buyers of child sex abroad, particularly across Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands and even Mongolia.
According to the United States Department of State, Japanese men continued to be “a significant source of demand for sex tourism”, while South Korean men remained “a source of demand for child sex tourism”.
The UN Office on Drugs and Crime and other organisations have also flagged both countries as key contributors to child sexual exploitation in the region.
From exporter to destination: Japan’s new role in the sex trade
A more recent and troubling shift appears to be unfolding within Japan.
Amid ongoing economic stagnation and the depreciation of the yen, Tokyo has reportedly become a destination for inbound sex tourism. Youth protection organisations have observed a notable rise in foreign male clients, particularly Chinese, frequenting areas where teenage girls and young women engage in survival sex.
What ties these movements together is not just culturally specific beliefs, such as the fetishisation of virginity or the superstition that sex with young girls brings good luck in business, but power.
The battle to protect children
The global campaign to end child sex tourism began in earnest with the founding of ECPAT (a global network of organisations that seeks to end the sexual exploitation of children) in 1990 to confront the rising exploitation of children in Southeast Asia.
Several factors converge here: endemic poverty, weak law enforcement and a constant influx of wealthier foreign men. Add to that the digital age of information and communication technologies, where child sex can be advertised, arranged and commodified through encrypted platforms and invitation-only forums, and the crisis deepens.
While local governments often pledge reform, implementation is inconsistent.
Buyers, especially foreign buyers, often manage to evade consequences. However, in early 2025, Japan’s National Police Agency arrested 111 people – including high school teachers and tutors – in a nationwide crackdown on online child sexual exploitation, conducted in coordination with international partners.
Why this moment matters
The shock surrounding the Laos revelations and the unusually direct response from Japanese authorities offers a rare opportunity to confront the deeper systems at work.
Sex tourism doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s enabled by uneven development, transnational mobility, weak regulation and social silence. But this moment also shows grassroots activism can force institutional action.
Japan’s official warning wasn’t triggered by a government audit or diplomatic scandal. It came because Ayako Iwatake saw social media posts of Japanese men boasting about buying sex from children and refused to look away.
When she delivered the petition to the embassy, it responded quickly. Less than ten days later, the Foreign Ministry issued a public warning, clearly outlining the legal consequences of child sex crimes committed abroad.
Iwatake’s action is a reminder: it doesn’t take a government to expose a system. It takes someone willing to speak out – even when it’s uncomfortable. As she told Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun:
It was just too blatant. I couldn’t look the other way.
It’s commendable that Japan acted swiftly. But a warning alone isn’t enough. Japan should strengthen and expand its international cooperation to combat these heinous crimes.
A more decisive model can be seen in a recent case in Vietnam, where US authorities infiltrated a livestream child sex abuse network for the first time in that country. Working undercover for months, they coordinated with Vietnamese officials to arrest a mother who had been sexually abusing her daughter on demand for paying viewers abroad.
The rescue of the nine-year-old victim showed what serious cross-border intervention looks like.
But for every headline-grabbing scandal, there are hundreds of untold stories.
The Laos case should be the beginning of a broader reckoning with how sex, money and power move across borders – and who pays the price.
Ming Gao receives funding from the Swedish Research Council. This research was produced with support from the Swedish Research Council grant “Moved Apart” (nr. 2022-01864). Ming Gao is a member of Lund University Profile Area: Human Rights.
Emmanuel Macron’s pledge to formally recognise the state of Palestine will make France the first G7 country and member of the UN security council to do so. The question is whether others will follow suit. The UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, is coming under mounting pressure from many of his MPs, and has recalled his cabinet from their summer recess to discuss the situation in Gaza.
Starmer is expected to announce a peace plan for the Middle East this week that will include British recognition of Palestinian statehood. Downing Street sources said recognition was a matter of “when, not if”.
Recognition of statehood is not merely symbolic. The Montevideo convention of 1933 established several criteria which must apply before an entity can be recognised as a sovereign state. These are a permanent population, a defined territory, an effective government and the ability to conduct international relations.
The process involves the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, including the opening of embassies, the exchange of ambassadors, and the signing of bilateral treaties. Recognition also grants the recognised state access to certain rights in international organisations. For Palestinians, such recognition will strengthen their claim to sovereignty and facilitate greater international support.
However, the reaction from other major powers was swift and critical. The US called it “a reckless decision” while the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said he “strongly condemned” it. Italy’s prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, called it “counterproductive”.
Within hours, it was clear that Macron’s announcement had both shifted diplomatic discourse and reignited longstanding divisions.
France’s decision is significant. It signals a departure from the western consensus, long shaped by the US and the EU, that any recognition of Palestinian statehood must be deferred until after final-status negotiations. The move also highlights growing frustration in parts of Europe with the ongoing violence in Gaza and the failure of peace talks over the past two decades.
Yet questions remain: what does this recognition actually entail? Will it change conditions on the ground for Palestinians? Or is it largely symbolic?
So far, the French government has offered no details on whether this recognition will be accompanied by concrete measures. There has been no mention of sanctions on Israel, no indication of halting arms exports, no pledges of increased humanitarian aid or support for Palestinian governance institutions. France remains a key military and economic partner of Israel, and Macron’s announcement does not appear to alter that relationship.
Nor is this the first time a western country has taken a symbolic stance in support of Palestinian statehood. Sweden recognised the state of Palestine in 2014, becoming the first western European country to do so. It was followed by Spain in 2024.
However, both moves were largely symbolic and did not significantly alter the political or humanitarian situation on the ground. The risk is that recognition, without action, becomes a gesture that changes little.
Macron’s statement also raised eyebrows for another reason: his emphasis on a “demilitarised Palestinian state” living side-by-side with Israel in peace and security. While such language is common in diplomatic discourse, it also reflects a deeper tension.
Palestinians have long argued that their right to self-determination includes the right to defend themselves against occupation. Calls for demilitarisation are often seen by critics as reinforcing the status quo, where security concerns are framed almost exclusively in terms of Israeli needs.
In the absence of a genuine political process, some analysts have warned that recognition of this kind risks formalising a state in name only – a fragmented, non-sovereign entity without control over its borders, resources or defence. Without guarantees of territorial continuity, an end to the expansion of Israeli settlements and freedom of movement, statehood may remain an abstract concept.
What would meaningful support look like?
If France wishes to go beyond symbolism, it has options. It could suspend arms exports to Israel or call for an independent international investigation into alleged war crimes. It could use its influence within the EU to push for greater accountability regarding illegal settlements and the blockade of Gaza. It could also support Palestinian institutions directly and engage with Palestinian civil society.
Without such steps, recognition risks being viewed as a political message more than a policy shift. For Palestinians, the daily realities of occupation, displacement and blockade will not change with diplomatic announcements alone. What is needed, many argue, is not just recognition but support for justice, rights and meaningful sovereignty.
France’s recognition of Palestine marks a shift in diplomatic tone and reflects broader unease with the status quo in the Middle East. It has stirred debate at home and abroad, and raised expectations among those hoping for more robust international engagement with the conflict.
Whether this recognition leads to meaningful changes in policy or conditions on the ground remains to be seen. Much will depend on the steps France takes next – both at the United Nations and through its actions on trade, security and aid.
Malak Benslama-Dabdoub 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.
Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Bhupender Yadav, on Tuesday announced that the number of tiger reserves in India has grown from 46 in 2014 to 58 as of 2025. The statement was made during the Global Tiger Day 2025 celebrations held at the National Zoological Park in New Delhi.
Presiding over the event, the Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining ecological balance, fostering conservation awareness among children, and cultivating gratitude towards nature. He praised the role of schools and teachers in educating the younger generation about wildlife conservation and biodiversity preservation.
Yadav highlighted that this expansion in tiger reserves is a reflection of the unwavering commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to protecting India’s national animal. He noted that the government continues to prioritize environmental sustainability as part of its broader development agenda.
Marking one of the most ambitious conservation efforts in the world, the Minister announced the launch of a massive nationwide tree plantation drive. Under this initiative, more than one lakh saplings will be planted across all 58 tiger reserves, with each reserve planting approximately 2,000 indigenous trees in degraded forest areas to support habitat restoration and ecological health.
In a move to inspire public participation, the Minister encouraged citizens, especially children, to plant a tree in their mother’s name under the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ campaign. Describing the symbolic connection between motherhood and nature, Yadav said that just as a mother nurtures her child, Mother Earth offers shelter, food, and oxygen selflessly. He urged everyone to plant a tree in honor of their mothers and for the sake of the planet.
Yadav also spotlighted India’s leadership in global big cat conservation through the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), an initiative launched by India to protect all seven big cat species worldwide. He informed that 24 countries have already joined the alliance, and its headquarters will be established in India, further positioning the country at the forefront of international wildlife conservation.
Addressing the youth, the Minister urged them to lead lives marked by humility, patience, and determination. He called on them to actively contribute to sustainable living and conservation efforts under the government’s Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which promotes environmentally conscious behavior.
The Global Tiger Day celebrations also included the virtual inauguration of plantation drives across all tiger reserves, as well as the opening of forest nurseries in three locations across the Aravalli landscape. These nurseries will serve as a sustainable source of native plant species for afforestation and ecological restoration. Another key initiative launched during the event was the ‘Plastic-Free Tiger Reserves’ campaign, aimed at phasing out single-use plastics within all tiger reserves across India.
The event featured the release of four important publications under the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA). These included a report on the “Status of Small Cats in the Tiger Landscape of India”, the Global Tiger Day special edition of STRIPES Magazine, and two books titled Waterfalls of Tiger Reserves in India and Water Bodies Inside Tiger Reserves of India, authored by Bharat Lal and Dr. S.P. Yadav.
As part of recognizing contributions to wildlife protection, Yadav presented NTCA awards across seven categories. These included awards for individuals and groups who demonstrated excellence in wildlife crime investigation, habitat management, anti-poaching efforts, public engagement, voluntary relocation, and posthumous recognition for those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
MADRID, July 29 (Xinhua) — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called on the European Union (EU) to “diversify” the country’s trade relations following the announcement of a new EU-U.S. trade deal late on Sunday.
Speaking at his residence in Madrid ahead of the summer parliamentary recess, P. Sanchez told the press that he “appreciated” “the efforts made by the European Commission.”
He said the trade deal showed that “one of the lessons Europe must learn in the face of the US administration is that we must act together in all aspects: in strategic autonomy and in commercial agreements with other countries.”
“We must diversify our commercial relations with blocs that want to reach an agreement with Europe, such as Mercosur,” said P. Sanchez, stressing that Spain’s foreign policy is based on “commitment to peace, reality and cooperation between nations.”
US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the new deal on Sunday after trade talks at Trump’s golf club in Turnberry, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
While both leaders described the agreement as a step toward restoring “trade balance” and promoting more equitable bilateral trade, the deal allows the United States to impose broad 15 percent tariffs on EU goods while providing zero-tariff access to a range of strategic U.S. exports. In return, the EU has committed to purchasing $750 billion in U.S. energy and investing an additional $600 billion in the United States. –0–
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