Seoul, South Korea, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (“Gravity” or “Company”), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games, announced that GRAVITY Communications Co., Ltd., Gravity’s wholly-owned subsidiary, has officially launched Ragnarok Zero (Chinese Title:RO仙境傳說Online：樂園), an MMORPG PC game, in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau on July 3, 2025.
Ragnarok Zero is a game based on the original Ragnarok Online universe, designed to recapture the nostalgic sentiment and gameplay of the early days. The game enhances player enjoyment by introducing new content like exclusive PVP maps and seasonal events. It is available for playing after downloading the PC client through official website.
Gravity stated, “Ragnarok Zero aims to deliver the classic nostalgia of the early Ragnarok Online experience while introducing new system for added enjoyment. We hope to meet the expectations of players who have long awaited the game and invite everyone to participate in the various events being held to celebrate the official launch.”
Gravity is a developer and publisher of online and mobile games. Gravity’s principal product, Ragnarok Online, is a popular online game in many markets, including Japan and Taiwan, and is currently commercially offered in 91 regions. For more information about Gravity, please visit http://www.gravity.co.kr.
Contact:
Mr. Heung Gon Kim Chief Financial Officer Gravity Co., Ltd. Email: kheung@gravity.co.kr
Ms. Jin Lee Ms. Yujin Oh
IR Unit Gravity Co., Ltd. Email: ir@gravity.co.kr Telephone: +82-2-2132-7801
VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MEXC, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, continues to demonstrate exceptional financial strength with its latest bi-monthly Proof of Reserve (POR) audit showing sustained growth and improved reserve coverage across all major cryptocurrencies. The June 2025 report reveals enhanced security ratios and continued expansion of the platform’s asset holdings, reinforcing MEXC’s position as a trusted and financially robust trading platform.
Strengthened Reserve Coverage Across All Major Assets
The latest audit confirms that MEXC maintains comprehensive over-collateralization across all major cryptocurrencies, with notable improvements in reserve ratios compared to the April 2025 report:
MEXC Reserve Ratio Comparison (June 2025 vs April 2025)
The most significant enhancement comes from Bitcoin reserves, which increased by over 10 percentage points to 127.59%, representing the highest reserve ratio among all tracked assets and demonstrating MEXC’s strengthened position in the leading cryptocurrency.
Current Published Wallet Assets (June 2025)
Major Cryptocurrency Holdings:
BTC: 4,083.89 Bitcoin
ETH: 69,234.39 Ethereum
USDT: 2,320,959,680.22 Tether
USDC: 72,357,584.50 USD Coin
These holdings represent substantial reserves that exceed 100% coverage across all major cryptocurrencies, ensuring complete backing of user deposits with additional security buffers.
Strategic Portfolio Optimization and Enhanced Stablecoin Liquidity
The period from April to June 2025 demonstrates MEXC’s strategic approach to portfolio optimization and risk management. While maintaining robust Bitcoin reserve coverage at 127.59%, the platform has significantly strengthened its stablecoin position:
Stablecoin Reserve Enhancement:
USDT Holdings: Increased from 2,242,291,463.26 to 2,320,959,680.22 (+78,668,216.96 USDT)
USDC Holdings: Grew from 72,265,212.89 to 72,357,584.50 (+92,371.61 USDC)
Combined Stablecoin Growth: $78.8 million in additional stablecoin reserves
This strategic rebalancing toward increased stablecoin holdings provides enhanced liquidity and stability for user operations, ensuring MEXC can meet withdrawal demands efficiently even during periods of market volatility.
MEXC’s bi-monthly Proof of Reserve audits continue to set industry standards for transparency and accountability. The consistent publication of these comprehensive reports allows users to independently verify asset backing through publicly available blockchain data, ensuring complete transparency in the platform’s financial operations.
Key Transparency Features:
Bi-monthly audits ensuring regular verification of reserves
Public blockchain verification allowing independent confirmation of holdings
Complete asset coverage with reserves exceeding 100% across all major cryptocurrencies
Real-time accessibility of reserve data for user verification
Comprehensive Security Architecture Protecting User Assets
MEXC’s multi-layered security framework continues to evolve, providing robust protection for user funds: Enhanced Security Measures:
Over-Collateralization: All major assets maintain reserves exceeding 100%, with Bitcoin leading at 127.59%
Insurance Fund Protection: Additional safeguards against extreme market volatility
Regular Third-Party Audits: Bi-monthly verification ensuring continued compliance and accuracy
Advanced Cold Storage: Majority of user funds secured in offline wallets with institutional-grade protection
Real-Time Monitoring: Continuous surveillance of reserve levels and security protocols
Platform Growth and User-Centric Innovation
Beyond financial security, MEXC continues to enhance its platform offerings that have attracted over 40 million users worldwide: M – Most Trending Tokens: Over 3,000 listed tokens providing diverse investment opportunities E – Everyday Airdrops: Simplified participation in daily airdrop events with substantial rewards X – Xtremely Low Fees: Competitive trading fees maximizing user returns C – Comprehensive Liquidity: Deep market liquidity ensuring efficient trade execution
These features, combined with MEXC’s proven financial stability, continue to position the platform as the preferred choice for traders seeking both security and opportunity in the cryptocurrency market. As the cryptocurrency market continues to evolve, MEXC remains dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of financial transparency and security. The consistent over-collateralization demonstrated in this latest report reinforces the platform’s commitment to user protection and sets the foundation for continued growth.
About MEXC
Founded in 2018, MEXC is committed to being “Your Easiest Way to Crypto”. Serving over 40 million users across 170+ countries, MEXC is known for its broad selection of trending tokens, frequent airdrop opportunities, and low trading fees. Our user-friendly platform is designed to support both new traders and experienced investors, offering secure and efficient access to digital assets. MEXC prioritizes simplicity and innovation, making crypto trading more accessible and rewarding. MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
Risk Disclaimer: The information provided in this article about cryptocurrencies does not represent MEXC’s official stance or investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully evaluate market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
Photos accompanying this announcement are available at :
State power utility Eskom says it has taken several steps to strengthen its systems against potential threats related to the generation of fraudulent prepaid tokens.
In December 2024, the power utility disclosed, as part of its full-year 2024 financial results, a forensic report detailing the breach of its Online Vending System (OVS).
“The system was exploited to generate and distribute fraudulent prepaid electricity tokens, revealing critical vulnerabilities in both the physical and cybersecurity components of the utility’s prepaid electricity infrastructure.
“In response, Eskom undertook a comprehensive review and intervention strategy aimed at mitigating these vulnerabilities and restoring system integrity,” Eskom said in a statement.
Eskom Chief Technology and Information Officer, Len De Villiers, said the power utility has “successfully strengthened the protection of its current systems against potential threats”.
“All system enhancements are managed through a robust Change Management process that spans all divisions, ensuring consistent oversight and control. These measures are part of Eskom’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding operations and addressing identified vulnerabilities,” De Villiers said.
The latest key actions implemented include:
Internal controls to deal with electricity theft have been implemented.
Measures to safeguard the system by reinforcing physical infrastructure and limiting both physical and digital access.
Enhanced monitoring capabilities to ensure transparency and timely reporting.
On-going collaboration with law enforcement agencies to support investigations and ensure accountability. As part of this process, internal employees who have been implicated have been placed on precautionary suspension pending further review.
Augmented in-house capabilities, supported by an external Information Technology (IT) firm tasked to better manage risks and safeguard operations.
Coordinated system upgrades through a structured change management process.
Regular reporting to the Eskom Board, which has maintained oversight throughout the remediation process.
Accelerated acquisition of a new. secure vending system, designed to replace the current OVS and prevent future incidents.
Eskom Group Chief Executive, Dan Marokane, said: “We are fully aware of the challenges that have emerged within the OVS environment, and we have taken clear steps to address them.
“Our focus is on restoring trust, strengthening our systems, and ensuring that our customers can rely on a secure and efficient service. This is not just a technical fix, it is part of a broader commitment to transparency, operational excellence and accountability.”
Eskom, in conjunction with law enforcement, is investigating with the findings to be disclosed once complete. – SAnews.gov.za
The National Research Foundation (NRF) has made significant progress in implementing the Presidential PhD Programme by launching a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) from universities and other research organisations that wish to host the programme’s hubs.
The Presidential PhD Programme is a collaboration between several organisations, including the National Research Foundation (NRF), the Presidency, the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), and the National Skills Fund (NSF).
This programme uses a hub-and-spoke model to facilitate effective communication and resource sharing among all participating institutions and partners.
The call for EOI comes after the Presidential Plenary on Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) that took place in December 2023.
During this event, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the Presidential PhD Programme.
This initiative will involve an initial investment of R1 billion, intended to support PhD training both locally and internationally, and will be linked to large-scale, well-established research projects in both public research facilities and industry.
The initiative has four key components, which include developing world-class human capital in strategic areas and strengthening connections among academia, industry, government, and other stakeholders.
It also involves enhancing graduate employability by providing exposure to transferable skills and innovation ecosystems and facilitating access to leading research environments globally to improve knowledge transfer and build local capacity.
According to the NRF, the hubs will primarily be responsible for the design and implementation of collaborative PhD training programmes and activities.
The key founding principles of the hubs are synergy, inclusivity, multi-disciplinary, economies of scale, sharing of resources, and pursuing the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
“The hubs will not only provide intellectual leadership but also serve as coordinators and training centres to ensure uptake of the opportunities within the Presidential PhD Programme’s initiatives, in collaboration with various stakeholders, including local and international research-performing institutions, universities, industry, science councils, and government departments.”
In addition, the hubs will be responsible for identifying strategic stakeholders and potential partners, while also assessing their needs and contributions.
They will lead the design and implementation of mentorship networks, monitor the progress of doctoral students towards completion, and coordinate the various nodes with support from the NRF.
“We have taken a giant leap towards realising the ambitious goals of the Presidential PhD Programme,” said NRF CEO, Dr Fulufhelo Nelwamondo.
“The hubs will be instrumental in our national drive to develop a new generation of highly skilled researchers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders.”
The programme is grounded in the goals of the National Development Plan (NDP) and the STI Decadal Plan, which call for the graduation of 5 000 PhDs per annum and having 75% of the universities’ academic and research staff qualified with PhDs by 2030.
The training programme will build critical skills aimed at social transformation, with the initial areas of focus being digital innovation, advanced biotechnology, the energy-food-health sustainability nexus, and mining transformation.
The NRF will coordinate and mobilise support to attain the outcomes envisaged for graduate skilling in entrepreneurship, innovation, academia, policy, and advocacy.
Institutions eligible to host lead hubs are NRF-recognised research institutions such as South African public universities and public research entities such as science councils, national research facilities, and institutes.
These institutions must possess strong research capabilities in a specific theme that aligns with the Presidential PhD Programme and have a proven track record in transdisciplinary and interdisciplinary coordination.
Meanwhile, the NRF said institutions located on the continent and around the globe can participate in the hubs programme as nodes or as partners. – SAnews.gov.za
SYDNEY, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Leading online FX and CFD broker Axi has launched their new campaign, ‘Trading Places’ with Manchester City Women. Hosted by Sports Broadcaster and Manchester City presenter, Natalie Pike, the ‘Trading Places’ campaign features Man City Women stars as they step out of their comfort zones, and compete against one another in new roles.
Axi is the Official Online Trading Partner of Manchester City since 2020, extending their contract in 2023 to include Manchester City Women. Last year, the broker launched ‘The Mentality Edge’, their first player activation with Manchester City Women. This year, Manchester City Women stars Katie Startup, Leila Ouahabi, and Naomi Layzell compete in a head-to-head showdown across a series of challenges such as tower building and cake decorating.
Hannah Hill, Head of Brand and Sponsorship at Axi, expressed her enthusiasm for their new campaign, stating, “As with every year, working with the Man City Women players was really exciting. Their natural chemistry, both on and off the pitch, brings incredible energy to everything we create together. Like Axi, Man City Women always push for that extra edge – and that shared commitment to excellence makes for a great partnership.”
In 2025, Axi has had a busy year as the company remains committed to its sponsorship portfolio. In March, the broker proudly launched their ‘Four Years’ campaign – a celebration of four years of collaboration and shared achievements with Manchester City. Further to the above, Axi is also the Official LATAM Online Trading Partner of LaLiga club, Girona FC, and the Official Online Trading Partner of Brazilian club, Esporte Clube Bahia.
Axi is a global online FX and CFD trading brand, with thousands of customers in 100+ countries worldwide. Axi offers CFDs for several asset classes including Forex, Shares, Gold, Oil, Coffee, and more.
For more information or additional comments from Axi, please contact: mediaenquiries@axi.com
Promoted by AxiTrader Ltd. OTC derivatives carry a high risk of investment loss. Not available to AU, NZ, UK & EU residents. Not intended as investment advice.
Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin
The forum will be held in the Skolkovo Innovation Center. An extensive program has been prepared for the participants. They will see a large-scale exhibition of drones and robotic systems for agriculture, forestry, construction, transport, energy, trade and, of course, the urban environment.
As part of the business program, experts will discuss key topics of industry development, including the development of new technologies, building cooperation and serial production, introducing robotic systems into the economy, creating the necessary infrastructure and training personnel.
The annual project-educational intensive course “Archipelago” of the “National Technology Initiative” platform will also take place. And at the international competitions in unmanned aircraft systems, schoolchildren, students and professionals will compete in drone control, autonomous flights and cargo delivery.
The forum will bring together more than a thousand participating companies. It will become the largest event for developers, manufacturers, operators, scientists, investors, regulators and all those interested in unmanned technologies and robots.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daphne Rena Idiz, Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Arts, Culture and Media, University of Toronto
What should count as Canadian content (CanCon) in the era of streaming and generative AI (GenAI)?
That’s the biggest unknown at the heart of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s recent (CRTC) public hearing, held in Gatineau, Que., from May 14 to 27.
The debate is about how Canada’s current points-based CanCon system remains effective in the context of global streaming giants and generative AI. Shows qualify as CanCon by assigning value to roles like director, screenwriter and lead actors being Canadian.
The outcome will shape who gets to tell Canadian stories and what those stories are, and also which ones count as Canadian under the law. This, in turn, will determine who in the film and television industries can access funding, tax credits and visibility on streaming services.
It will also determine which Canadian productions big streamers like Netflix will invest in under their Online Streaming Act obligations.
The federal government’s recent announcement that it’s rescinding the Digital Services Tax reveals the limits of Canada’s leverage over Big Tech, underscoring the significance of CanCon rules as parameters around how streaming giants contribute meaningfully to the country’s creative industries.
CanCon: Who gets to decide?
The CRTC’s existing approach to defining CanCon relies on the citizenship of key creative personnel.
The National Film Board argued that this misses the “cultural elements” of Canadian storytelling. These include cultural expression, narrative themes and connection to Canadian audiences. That is, a production might technically count as CanCon by hiring Canadians, without feeling particularly “Canadian.”
The acts empower broadcasters and streamers to decide which Canadian stories and content will be developed, produced and distributed through commissioning and licensing powers. This implicitly limits the CRTC’s role to setting rules about which creatives are at the table.
The Writer’s Guild advocates broadening the pool of Canadian key creatives to modernize the CanCon system. It trusts the combined perspectives of a broader pool to make creative decisions about Canadian identity in meaningful ways. Accordingly, it supports the CRTC’s intent to add the showrunner role to the point system since showrunners are the “the chief custodian of the creative vision of a series.”
Battle over Canadian IP
Streaming introduces more players with financial stakes, complicating who controls content and who profits from it. A seismic shift is happening in how intellectual property (IP) is handled.
CRTC has proposed that the updated CanCon definition include Canadian IP ownership as a mandatory element to enable Canadian companies and workers to retain some control over their own IP, and thereby earn sustainable income. For example, in a streaming drama, Canadian screenwriters who retain ownership of the IP could earn ongoing revenue through licensing deals, international sales and royalties each time the series is distributed.
However, the Motion Picture Association-Canada (MPA-Canada), representing industry titans like Netflix, Amazon and Disney, is pushing back against requirements that mandate the sharing of territory or IP.
Without IP rights, Canadian talent and the industry as a whole may be reduced to becoming service providers for global companies.
Intervenors shared a range of preferences from 100 per cent Canadian IP ownership to none at all. One hundred per cent Canadian IP ownership means Canadian creators like a producer of a streaming series would control the rights to the content. They would receive the majority of profits from licensing, distribution and future adaptations.
Even 51 per cent ownership could give them a controlling stake, but would likely require sharing revenue and decision-making with the streaming service.
AI and CanCon
And then, of course, there’s the question of how generative AI should be considered within the updated CanCon definition. The Writers Guild of Canada has drawn a firm line in the sand: AI-generated material should not qualify as Canadian content.
The guild argues that since current AI tools don’t possess identity, nationality or cultural context, their output cannot advance the goals of the Broadcasting Act, centred on promoting Canadian voices and stories.
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) raised a different concern around AI. AI, ACTRA argued, “should not take over the jobs of the creators in the ecosystem that we’re in and we should not treat AI-generated performers as if they are a Canadian actor.”
Depending on how the CRTC addresses AI, this could mean that streaming content featuring AI-generated scripts, characters, or performances — even if developed by a Canadian creator or set in Canada — would not qualify as CanCon.
The WGC notes that it has already negotiated restrictions on AI use in screenwriting through its agreement with the Canadian Media Producers Association. These guardrails are being held up as the “emerging industry standard.”
Follow the money
Another contested point is how streamers should pay into CanCon: through direct investment or through more traditional modes of financing. Under the Online Streaming Act, streamers are required to pay five per cent of their annual revenues to certain Canadian funds.
This model echoes previous requirements used to manage decision-making at media broadcasters, some at the much more substantial level of 30 per cent.
Research in the European Union and Canada highlight how different stakeholders benefit from different forms of financial obligations, suggesting the industry may be best served by a policy mix.
As Canada rewrites its broadcasting rules, defining Canadian content is a courtroom drama unfolding in real time — and the verdict will have serious ramifications.
MaryElizabeth Luka receives research project funding from peer-adjudicated grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and internal grants at University of Toronto, such as the Creative Labour Critical Futures Cluster of Scholarly Prominence.
Daphne Rena Idiz 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.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Pedestrian hit by train at Blue House Lane footpath crossing
Preliminary examination into a pedestrian being hit by a train at Blue House Lane footpath crossing, Sunderland, 18 April 2025.
Blue House Lane footpath crossing.
At around 09:00 on 18 April 2025, a Tyne & Wear Metro service travelling from Newcastle to South Hylton hit a pedestrian on Blue House Lane footpath crossing. This crossing is located near East Boldon, Sunderland.
As the driver approached the footpath crossing, they saw a dog walker and another pedestrian on the crossing. The driver immediately applied the emergency brake and sounded the train’s warning horn, but the second pedestrian was hit by the train. This second pedestrian received serious injuries. The train was travelling at an approximate speed of 29 km/h (18 mph) when the collision occurred, and it came to a stand around 20 metres beyond the crossing.
RAIB were notified of the accident soon after it occurred. We have since gathered evidence from the railway industry and carried out a preliminary examination into the circumstances surrounding the incident. We have concluded it is unlikely that further investigation will lead to new recommendations for the improvement of railway safety. Consequently, RAIB will not investigate further or produce an investigation report.
However, our preliminary examination found that the factors present during the accident at Blue House Lane are similar to those identified during RAIB’s earlier investigation into a pedestrian struck by a train at Lady Howard footpath and bridleway crossing on 21 April 2022 (RAIB report 01/2023). At both locations, a risk was identified that trains passing each other near to the crossing might mean that pedestrian crossing users are unaware of the approach of a second train.
Recommendation 1 in our report into the accident at Lady Howard had the intention ‘to reduce the risk at footpath and bridleway level crossings of a second train approaching being hidden from the view of crossing users by a previously passing train’. The status of the recommendation, as reported to RAIB by the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) in March 2024, is ‘Closed’.
ORR reported in its response to RAIB that Network Rail had taken substantive actions in response to this recommendation. This took the form of a sign being fitted to all level crossings (with two lines or more) as an interim solution which warned users that ‘oncoming trains can be hidden by other trains’ and for users ‘not to cross until all lines are clear’. RAIB’s preliminary examination found that this sign was fitted to the entrance gates at Blue House Lane footpath crossing.
ORR also reported that Network Rail’s long-term intent was to fit miniature stop lights through normal risk management protocols, where they are demonstrated to manage risk so far as is reasonably practicable. However, Network Rail has stated that, while the likelihood of an event where a second train approaching is potentially hidden by another train can be influenced by factors such as the numbers of user and trains, and that other factors, such as topography and the type of crossing user, mean that it is too complex in practice to identify those crossings which have the highest risk of this occurring.
RAIB’s Annual Report for 2024 stated that, despite the actions taken by Network Rail in response to this recommendation, RAIB remains concerned about the underlying risk which this recommendation sought to address.
RAIB has written to the Office of Rail and Road, to draw its attention to the accident at Blue House Lane when considering the industry’s current and future management of this known risk, specifically considering its response to the Lady Howard report recommendation.
We have copied this letter to Network Rail, Nexus and the Rail Safety and Standards Board so that they are aware of its contents.
Glandale, California, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — RadCred, a leading innovator in financial technology, has launched a new platform providing $1,000 quick loan no credit check options for U.S. consumers with bad credit. Unlike traditional lenders that heavily rely on FICO scores, RadCred evaluates applicants based on income and repayment ability, ensuring that individuals with bad credit loans guaranteed approval can access the funds they need.
With same-day funding and no hard credit checks, RadCred offers fast financial relief for urgent needs like medical bills, car repairs, or rent payments. Whether you need 1000 loan no credit check or a no credit check personal loan, RadCred’s platform guarantees approval for eligible applicants, offering up to $5,000.
What are No Credit Check Loans?
No credit check loans are personal loans where lenders do not perform a hard credit inquiry, which can impact your credit score. RadCred’s personal loan no credit check provides immediate access to cash, focusing on the borrower’s income and ability to repay rather than credit history. RadCred’s loans without credit check allow individuals with bad credit to access quick funding, making them ideal for urgent situations. This option is much more inclusive than traditional loan options that require a high credit score.
Why Traditional Banks Fall Short—and How RadCred Fills the Access Gap
Traditional banks typically rely on hard credit pulls, lengthy underwriting, and rigid score thresholds leaving millions of Americans shut out of affordable credit options during crunch time. Because approvals hinge on FICO metrics, borrowers with scores below 600 often receive automatic rejections or are offered costly sub-prime products.
RadCred’s $1,000 quick loan no credit check model removes this barrier: instead of fixating on credit history, the platform verifies steady income, bank account activity, and repayment ability. By skipping hard inquiries and delivering same-day funding, RadCred bridges the gap between urgent cash needs and slow, score-centric bank loans providing a true lifeline for consumers seeking loans without credit check, instant line of credit no credit check, and other no credit check personal loans solutions.
How RadCred Solves the Problem
RadCred’s bad credit loans guaranteed approval platform addresses the gap left by traditional financial institutions. Many banks reject applications from people with low credit scores, but RadCred’s platform evaluates applicants based on their financial stability, making it easy for individuals with credit scores below 600 to qualify for bad credit personal loans guaranteed approval. RadCred’s instant line of credit no credit check approach ensures that people with bad credit don’t face rejection but rather an inclusive and accessible loan process.
Key Features of RadCred’s No Credit Check Loans
Guaranteed Approval: RadCred offers guaranteed approval for eligible applicants based on income, not credit score.
No Hard Credit Check:RadCred uses a soft credit inquiry to evaluate applications, ensuring your credit score remains unaffected by the loan process.
Same-Day Funding: Funds are typically transferred to your bank account the same day, providing fast access to cash.
Flexible Loan Terms: Choose a repayment plan that fits your financial situation.
Transparent Terms:No credit check payday loans or personal loan no credit check comes with transparent APRs and fees, ensuring no hidden charges.
How to Get Guaranteed Approval for No Credit Check Loans
Apply Online: Complete a short application form with personal and financial information.
Soft Credit Check: RadCred uses a soft credit check, ensuring no impact on your credit score.
Receive Multiple Offers: Get matched with lenders based on your income and loan request.
Choose Your Offer: Select the best loan offer from the options provided.
Receive Funds: Funds are transferred to your account within hours, offering immediate relief.
Eligibility for No Credit Check Loans
To apply for loans without credit check through RadCred, borrowers need to meet the following criteria:
Be 18 years or older
U.S. residency with a valid address
Have a stable income
Have an active bank account for disbursement
No credit score requirement, only income and ability to repay are considered
Why RadCred is the Ideal Choice for Quick Loan No Credit Check Borrowers
RadCred is an ideal choice for individuals seeking no credit check personal loans or 1000 loan no credit check due to the following advantages:
Same-Day Funding:RadCred offers fast access to funds when emergencies arise.
No Hidden Fees: Transparent APRs and terms ensure no surprise fees or charges.
Flexible Terms: Choose the loan amount and repayment plan that best fits your financial situation.
Trustworthy Network: RadCred partners with licensed, reputable lenders, ensuring a secure loan experience.
Safe and Secure:RadCred uses advanced encryption to protect your data throughout the process.
Types of Emergency Loans RadCred Offers—with Funding in 1 Hour
RadCred offers a range of no credit check loans guaranteed approval, including flexible short-term advances and larger installment options tailored to credit situations, emergency expenses, self-employed income streams, and seasonal cash-flow gaps.
Payday Loans Online (Same Day): Quick loans for urgent financial assistance before your next paycheck.
Bad Credit Payday Loans: Tailored for people with poor credit scores, RadCred’s bad credit payday loans provide guaranteed approval based on income verification.
Installment Loans No Credit Check: For larger expenses with flexible repayment terms.
Emergency Loans Without Credit Checks: Loans to cover unexpected costs like medical bills or urgent home repairs.
1-Hour Payday Loans: For immediate financial needs, providing quick cash for those in urgent need of funds.
How RadCred’s No Credit Check Loans Compare to Traditional Loans
Traditional Loans:
Strict credit score requirements – Banks filter out applicants below prime ranges, instantly disqualifying many borrowers despite stable incomes today.
Longer approval processes – Traditional lenders perform multiple verifications and underwrites, forcing applicants to wait days or weeks before receiving any final funding decision.
Higher rejection rates for bad credit borrowers – Because algorithms prioritize spotless histories, sub-600 FICO applicants often encounter automatic denials, leaving urgent cash needs unmet and stressful situations.
RadCred No Credit Check Loans:
Focus on income and repayment ability – RadCred reviews pay stubs, bank deposits, and budget ratios, approving borrowers based on real cash-flow, not historical scores for eligibility.
Guaranteed approval for eligible applicants – Meet basic age, residency, income, and account requirements, and RadCred’s marketplace delivers near-automatic guaranteed approval decisions within minutes for applicants.
Fast, same-day funding with no hard credit checks – After e-signing your offer, partnered lenders initiate ACH transfer immediately, delivering same-day funds without damaging hard credit inquiries to scores.
RadCred’s bad credit personal loans guaranteed approval offer faster, more accessible lending solutions compared to traditional banks.
Conclusion
RadCred’s no credit check loans guaranteed approval offer a fast, secure, and reliable solution for individuals needing financial relief. Whether it’s an emergency loan for bad credit or personal loans no credit check, RadCred provides guaranteed approval for those facing financial difficulties. RadCred’s easy process and flexible terms make it an ideal choice for bad credit borrowers who need access to funds quickly without the usual delays of traditional lenders.
Disclaimer:
RadCred’s loan offers are subject to meeting lender requirements and state-specific regulations. No loan is truly guaranteed for everyone. RadCred uses a soft credit check, ensuring no impact on your credit score. Loan terms and amounts vary based on lender and borrower profiles. Funds are typically deposited the same day, though timing may differ.
AI-powered assistive devices, like hearing aids, are changing how the people who use them experience public space.(Shutterstock)
New applications and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with wearable devices are changing the way users interact with their environments and each other. The impacts and reach of these new technologies have yet to be fully understood.
Connections between technologies and bodies is not a new thing for many disabled persons. Assistive technologies — tools and products designed to support people with disabilities — have played a part in mitigating built and institutional barriers experienced by disabled persons for decades.
While not strictly considered assistive, immersive and wearable technologies have the potential to change the relationship between disabled users and their experience of place.
For example, Ray-Ban’s Meta glasses use AI to describe what the cameras are capturing using the Be My Eyes app. Using OpenAI’s large language model, ChatGPT, this effectively turns a user’s smart phone into a vision assistant.
The availability and production of environmental data from these technologies may impact how we relate to each other, how we move through and understand space, and how we engage with the physical environment around us at any given moment.
Sam Seavey, founder of TheBlindLife.com, reviews the possibilities and limitations of Apple’s VisionPro. (The Blind Life)
We’re at a critical juncture where AI-enabled technologies used by individuals may profoundly impact our urban futures.
What happens, for example, when wearables make any “place” a digital work or play place? What does a largely private-sector, consumer-driven, AI-enabled digital intervention into a city’s spaces mean for planning, zoning and taxation? What are the environmental costs of the global AI project?
And crucially, who gets to participate in this digital reimagining?
AI and the city
While access can be challenging — wearables are often costly — ableist thinking regarding the use of technology to render invisible Blind and/or Deaf people and culture is also a problem. Some people might naively assume that all Blind and Deaf people are universally seeking a bio-technological “miracle.”
There are also other challenges: how a technology captures or describes its data may not match up to a user’s pre-existing sense of place. Moreover, access to tech can produce some unintended consequences, including the erosion of in-person community building among disabled people.
My hearing aids use AI and machine learning to sense and adjust my sound environment. They help me cope with the ways in which the places of my everyday life — such as my home or the lecture hall — are generally configured for people without hearing loss.
When I use my hearing aids, I find that the city has never sounded so wonderful, and yet sometimes irritatingly loud. The sound of birds is one thing; the grinding sound of a breaking subway is another entirely.
Cumulative exposure to noisy indoor and outdoor places of the city poses auditory health risks, such as noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus, and can contribute to poor health more broadly. I have to be careful about ongoing noise exposure, and by adjusting the volume of my hearing aids, I can turn down the city when I want to.
Future bodies and urban futures
AI-powered technologies can exacerbate issues of access, privilege and freedom of movement. This happens both through who is able to purchase and use devices, as well as through data and their applications. Data may be biased in terms of race, gender, sexuality and disability.
Scientific research and media representations tend to highlight the benevolent possibilities of technologies for “repairing” bodies conceived as being functionally medically deficient.
Much less is said about disabled persons controlling the narrative, taking up key roles in the messy terrain of AI, machine learning and data governance, and in the planning and design of future cities.
Digital modelling
We are also witnessing growing interest in the digital twinning — creating highly accurate digital models — of everything from human hearts to entire cities.
Not everyone can, should or wishes to be technologically “assisted” or augmented. There are medical, identity and culture, affordability, legal, moral and ethical concerns.
Other issues raised by brain-computer interface research, for example, include concerns about legal capacity and ownership of the self, including ownership of device-generated data.
In a study on the impact of neural technologies, researchers shared the legal repercussions relating to two disabled people deprived of voting rights in Spain. The person who recovered the ability to communicate autonomously using their finger and a computer had their rights restored, while the other, who used a human intermediary, did not.
Where does the person end and the technology begin, and vice versa? Who gets to decide?
Future technologies
As the use of AI and assistive technologies increases in everyday urban life, we will need to address these questions sooner rather than later.
And if disabled persons are not adequately involved in these discussions and decisions, then cities will be less — rather than more — accessible.
Ron Buliung 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.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Roger Fagge, Associate Professor in the Department of History, University of Warwick
When Carlos Alcaraz beat Jannik Sinner at the Roland Garros men’s final on June 8 2025, in what is already seen as a classic match, there was some comment on the sartorial choices of the two players.
They both wore Nike tops. Alcaraz’s was collarless, with horizontal blue bordered green and black stripes, and black shorts. Meanwhile Sinner wore a green polo-style shirt with collar, blue shorts and a blue Nike cap. Sinner’s shirt bore more than a passing resemblance to an Irish rugby union top, and was seen by some as somewhat incongruous on a tennis court.
In the women’s final on June 7, meanwhile, Coco Gauff brilliantly defeated Aryna Sabalenka, the number one seed. Gauff wore a custom New Balance kit with a dark blue marbled effect, finished off with a stylish grey leather jacket worn to and from the court. Sabalenka wore a colourful Nike tennis dress.
Technology, design and fashion all play a role in a player’s choice of tennis kit, as does their commercial potential – Sabalenka’s exact dress can be bought from the Nike website. But things are different at the Wimbledon championships, where “almost entirely white” kit is still a requirement.
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Founded in 1877, making it the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, at Wimbledon, any colour must be limited to a 10mm strip.
White clothing was enforced at Wimbledon from the 19th century, in part because it covered up unwelcome signs of sweat. White clothing was also seen as cooler in the summer heat. But as time went on it became tied in with a sense of history and tradition, and the uniqueness of the Wimbledon tournament. Though there have been some occasional notable revisions.
Many women in the tennis community, including Billie Jean King, Judy Murray and Heather Watson, have argued that women players find white undershorts problematic when they are menstruating. As a result, the All England Club revised the rules in 2023 to allow dark undershorts, “provided they are no longer than their shorts or skirt”.
There had been earlier controversies over clothing at Wimbledon, sometimes over propriety, as in 1949, when Gertrude Moran challenged dress codes with “visible undergarments”. More recently in 2017 Venus Williams was asked to change during a rain break in a match because of visible fuchsia bras straps. The following year, Roger Federer, chasing his eighth Wimbledon title, was asked to change his orange-soled Nike shoes. They all acquiesced.
This history of all-white kits
All-white clothing is also linked to cricket, which shares elements of class and tradition with tennis. Playing in the summer sun meant cricket “whites” were a sensible option. However coloured caps of a player’s county or nation, were allowed by the cricket authorities, and cricket jumpers for the not so sunny days typically had the colours of the team on the v neck.
White clothing is also associated with cricket. Shutterstock
By 2020 the international Cricket Council (ICC) allowed larger sponsorship on shirts. The move to limited overs games played under floodlights saw the introduction of coloured kit, sometimes displaying a garishness that surpassed football shirts. However Test matches and longer-form cricket like the four-day county championship matches are still played in cricket whites.
And white shirts and kit have played a role in other sports, including football. If white shirts suggest respectability and style, somewhat ironically, the powerful white-clad Leeds side of the mid 1960s-70s, managed by Don Revie, earned the sobriquet “dirty Leeds” for their feisty approach to the dark arts of football. History and tradition matter as much in football as any sport, and fans of a certain age at other clubs, still refer to the Yorkshire club by this moniker.
But that’s enough football, as we’re firmly in Wimbledon season. So break out the Pimm’s, scones and jam, and let’s enjoy the tennis. Thankfully for the traditionalists among us there will be no marbled, green or blue kit on the centre court.
This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Roger Fagge 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.
Scopolamine, more chillingly known as “devil’s breath,” is a drug with a dual identity. In medicine, it’s used to prevent motion sickness and nausea. But in the criminal underworld, particularly in parts of South America, it has gained a dark reputation as a substance that can erase memory, strip away free will and facilitate serious crimes. Now, its presence may be sparking fresh concerns in the UK.
While most reports of devil’s breath come from countries like Colombia, concerns about its use in Europe are not new. In 2015, three people were arrested in Paris for allegedly using the drug to rob victims, turning them into compliant “zombies”.
The UK’s first known murder linked to scopolamine was reported in 2019 when the Irish dancer Adrian Murphy was poisoned by thieves attempting to sell items stolen from him. In a more recent case in London, a woman reported symptoms consistent with scopolamine exposure after being targeted on public transport.
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Scopolamine, also known as hycosine, is a tropane alkaloid, a type of plant-derived compound found in the nightshade family (Solanaceae). It has a long history: indigenous communities in South America traditionally used it for spiritual rituals due to its potent psychoactive effects.
In modern medicine, scopolamine (marketed in the UK as hyoscine hydrobromide) is prescribed to prevent motion sickness, nausea, vomiting and muscle spasms. It also reduces saliva production before surgery. Brand names include Kwells (tablets) and Scopoderm (patches).
As an anticholinergic drug, scopolamine blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which plays a vital role in memory, learning, and coordination. Blocking it helps reduce nausea by interrupting signals from the balance (vestibular) system to the brain. But it also comes with side effects, especially when used in high doses or outside a clinical setting.
How it affects the brain
Scopolamine disrupts the cholinergic system, which is central to memory formation and retrieval. As a result, it can cause temporary but severe memory loss: a key reason it’s been weaponised in crimes. Some studies also suggest it increases oxidative stress in the brain, compounding its effects on cognition.
The drug’s power to erase memory, sometimes described as “zombifying”, has made it a focus of forensic and criminal interest. Victims often describe confusion, hallucinations and a complete loss of control.
Recreational users are drawn to its hallucinogenic effects – but the line between tripping and toxic is razor thin.
In Colombia and other parts of South America, scopolamine, also known as burundanga, has been implicated in countless robberies and sexual assaults. Victims describe feeling dreamlike, compliant, and unable to resist or recall events. That’s what makes it so sinister – it robs people of both agency and memory.
The drug is often administered surreptitiously. In its powdered form, it’s odourless and tasteless, making it easy to slip into drinks or blow into someone’s face, as some victims have reported. Online forums detail how to make teas or infusions from plant parts, seeds, roots, flowers – heightening the risk of DIY misuse.
Once ingested, the drug works quickly and exits the body within about 12 hours, making it hard to detect in routine drug screenings. For some people, even a dose under 10mg can be fatal.
Signs of scopolamine poisoning include rapid heartbeat and palpitations, dry mouth and flushed skin, blurred vision, confusion and disorientation, hallucinations and drowsiness.
If you experience any of these, especially after an unexpected drink or interaction, seek medical attention immediately.
Dipa Kamdar 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.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lillian Hingley, Postdoctoral Researcher in English Literature, University of Oxford
With her latest album, Virgin, Lorde is stretching the concept of the virgin beyond the common definition. Some may consider the album’s title and its cover art – an X-ray of Lorde’s pelvis showing an IUD – to be contradictory.
But while Lorde could still be using contraception for purposes beyond birth control, its presence shows that the album doesn’t shy away from discussions of sexual activities and the risk of pregnancy (two themes that are clearly discussed in the track Clearblue).
As she also shows with her approach to gender in the album’s opening song, Hammer (“Some days, I’m a woman, some days, I’m a man”), Lorde is testing and muddying common dualisms.
The scientific perspective offered by the album art forces the viewer to look through Lorde’s body, but we are also looking beyond her reproductive organs. Certainly, Lorde sometimes conceptualises virginity as something that can only be given once, as she explains on David.
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In Hammer, her quip “don’t know if it’s love or if it’s ovulation” is a comedic musing on whether an experience is profoundly transcendental or just the product of hormones. But what strikes me is the fact that her concepts and themes are not static or singular.
This album is exploring the idea of being made, or even remade, through experience. In If She Could See Me Now, Lorde recounts how painful moments “made me a woman”.
Like French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir’s phrase “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”, Lorde is exploring how her body is being changed by what she has been through. As she sings in What Was That?: “I try to let whatever has to pass through me pass through.”
Again, while she on the one hand describes something moving through her body, she’s also describing an attempt to move through something that has happened to her – turning a passive experience into one of acceptance and action. Here we might think of another notion of virginity: a substance before it is processed. Virginity is part of the experience of being changed, or reborn, into something else.
This is not to say that Virgin is uninterested in the body. Lorde’s discussion of her eating disorder in Broken Glass is a case in point.
Lorde as performance artist
The visuals accompanying Virgin emphasise Lorde’s status as a performance artist. The crescendo of the What Was That video is a spontaneous public performance of Virgin’s first single.
TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A FONTANA, LIKE PAINTING BITTEN BY A MAN, LIKE THE NEW YORK EARTH ROOM. THE SOUND OF MY REBIRTH.
The simile here, or the idea of making music sound “like” visual art, emphasises the tactility of Lorde’s work. Each artistic piece referenced here is concerned with physically intervening into the conventional art gallery set-up.
Italian artist Lucio Fontana’s Spacial Concept series (1960) included slashed canvases a disruption of the body of the artwork with yonic – in other words, vulva-like – imagery (indeed, it challenges how “damaged” artworks are usually hidden from audiences, waiting to be restored).
Similarly, American artist Jasper Johns’ Painting Bitten by a Man (1961) is an encaustic painting (derived from the Greek word for “burned in”), which shows off the markings of someone who has bitten into the canvas.
The video for Man of the Year.
The music video for Man of the Year is filmed in a room that is filled with dirt. This is a clear nod to American sculptor Walter de Maria’s New York Earth Room (1977). The piece also fills a white room in New York with this unexpected material: earth inside a building, where mushrooms can grow.
The video for Man of the Year may also be referencing another artwork. Lorde is shown using duct tape to bind her breasts. While this points to Lorde’s exploration of her body and gender identity, the material also recalls Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s duct-taped banana artwork, Comedian.
Offering phallic imagery to Fontana’s yonic imagery, Cattelan’s piece mirrors Lorde’s concern with ontology, or definition. What makes something art?
Prometheus (Un)bound?
But just as Lorde is binding herself in new ways, she is unbinding herself in others. In If She Could See Me Now, Lorde declares: “I’m going back to the clay.”
Here that the album recalls the Prometheus myth: the ancient Greek story that Prometheus fashioned humans out of mud (or clay) and gave his creations fire.
The closing track, David, offers another ancient allusion, this time about David and Goliath. David – who, as a harpist, is a musician like Lorde – kills the giant man with stones. This reference furthers the song’s discussion of the problem of treating a man, a lover, like a god.
In David Lorde explores similar themes to Mary Shelley.
This subtle reference to the killing of Goliath adds another layer to the euphemism for male testicles explored in Shapeshifter: “Do you have the stones?”. Perhaps Virgin is doing what Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) did with the Prometheus tale: both exploring what happens when a man tries to create and determine the fate of another being, whether nature or nurture make a person, and how a new body can be refashioned from old ones.
After listening to the entire album, I was struck by how Lorde is exploring different facets of another question: who, exactly, is Lorde? Especially now that she is embracing who she is beyond the yoke of other people – or the demons – that have shaped her? Virgin shows that Lorde now wants to return “to the clay”, or to remake who she is, now that she is unbound by Prometheus.
This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Lillian Hingley 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.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Lillian Hingley, Postdoctoral Researcher in English Literature, University of Oxford
With her latest album, Virgin, Lorde is stretching the concept of the virgin beyond the common definition. Some may consider the album’s title and its cover art – an X-ray of Lorde’s pelvis showing an IUD – to be contradictory.
But while Lorde could still be using contraception for purposes beyond birth control, its presence shows that the album doesn’t shy away from discussions of sexual activities and the risk of pregnancy (two themes that are clearly discussed in the track Clearblue).
As she also shows with her approach to gender in the album’s opening song, Hammer (“Some days, I’m a woman, some days, I’m a man”), Lorde is testing and muddying common dualisms.
The scientific perspective offered by the album art forces the viewer to look through Lorde’s body, but we are also looking beyond her reproductive organs. Certainly, Lorde sometimes conceptualises virginity as something that can only be given once, as she explains on David.
Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
In Hammer, her quip “don’t know if it’s love or if it’s ovulation” is a comedic musing on whether an experience is profoundly transcendental or just the product of hormones. But what strikes me is the fact that her concepts and themes are not static or singular.
This album is exploring the idea of being made, or even remade, through experience. In If She Could See Me Now, Lorde recounts how painful moments “made me a woman”.
Like French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir’s phrase “one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman”, Lorde is exploring how her body is being changed by what she has been through. As she sings in What Was That?: “I try to let whatever has to pass through me pass through.”
Again, while she on the one hand describes something moving through her body, she’s also describing an attempt to move through something that has happened to her – turning a passive experience into one of acceptance and action. Here we might think of another notion of virginity: a substance before it is processed. Virginity is part of the experience of being changed, or reborn, into something else.
This is not to say that Virgin is uninterested in the body. Lorde’s discussion of her eating disorder in Broken Glass is a case in point.
Lorde as performance artist
The visuals accompanying Virgin emphasise Lorde’s status as a performance artist. The crescendo of the What Was That video is a spontaneous public performance of Virgin’s first single.
TRYING TO MAKE IT SOUND LIKE A FONTANA, LIKE PAINTING BITTEN BY A MAN, LIKE THE NEW YORK EARTH ROOM. THE SOUND OF MY REBIRTH.
The simile here, or the idea of making music sound “like” visual art, emphasises the tactility of Lorde’s work. Each artistic piece referenced here is concerned with physically intervening into the conventional art gallery set-up.
Italian artist Lucio Fontana’s Spacial Concept series (1960) included slashed canvases a disruption of the body of the artwork with yonic – in other words, vulva-like – imagery (indeed, it challenges how “damaged” artworks are usually hidden from audiences, waiting to be restored).
Similarly, American artist Jasper Johns’ Painting Bitten by a Man (1961) is an encaustic painting (derived from the Greek word for “burned in”), which shows off the markings of someone who has bitten into the canvas.
The video for Man of the Year.
The music video for Man of the Year is filmed in a room that is filled with dirt. This is a clear nod to American sculptor Walter de Maria’s New York Earth Room (1977). The piece also fills a white room in New York with this unexpected material: earth inside a building, where mushrooms can grow.
The video for Man of the Year may also be referencing another artwork. Lorde is shown using duct tape to bind her breasts. While this points to Lorde’s exploration of her body and gender identity, the material also recalls Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s duct-taped banana artwork, Comedian.
Offering phallic imagery to Fontana’s yonic imagery, Cattelan’s piece mirrors Lorde’s concern with ontology, or definition. What makes something art?
Prometheus (Un)bound?
But just as Lorde is binding herself in new ways, she is unbinding herself in others. In If She Could See Me Now, Lorde declares: “I’m going back to the clay.”
Here that the album recalls the Prometheus myth: the ancient Greek story that Prometheus fashioned humans out of mud (or clay) and gave his creations fire.
The closing track, David, offers another ancient allusion, this time about David and Goliath. David – who, as a harpist, is a musician like Lorde – kills the giant man with stones. This reference furthers the song’s discussion of the problem of treating a man, a lover, like a god.
In David Lorde explores similar themes to Mary Shelley.
This subtle reference to the killing of Goliath adds another layer to the euphemism for male testicles explored in Shapeshifter: “Do you have the stones?”. Perhaps Virgin is doing what Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1818) did with the Prometheus tale: both exploring what happens when a man tries to create and determine the fate of another being, whether nature or nurture make a person, and how a new body can be refashioned from old ones.
After listening to the entire album, I was struck by how Lorde is exploring different facets of another question: who, exactly, is Lorde? Especially now that she is embracing who she is beyond the yoke of other people – or the demons – that have shaped her? Virgin shows that Lorde now wants to return “to the clay”, or to remake who she is, now that she is unbound by Prometheus.
This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something from bookshop.org The Conversation UK may earn a commission.
Lillian Hingley 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.
Headline: Quantum communications by satellite: SpeQtral and Thales Alenia Space launch new experimental phase
Cannes, July 3, 2025 – SpeQtral, a pioneer in satellite-based quantum communication technologies, and Thales Alenia Space, the joint company between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), today announced the signing of a new collaboration agreement, extending their strategic partnership for the development and demonstration of quantum communications between space and Earth.
Signature of the cooperation agreement between Thales Alenia Space and SpeQtral in Thales Alenia Space chalet during Paris Airshow 2025 From left to right: Signatories: Dr Robert Bedington, SpeQtral CTO and Co-founder, and Christophe Valorge, CTO of Thales Alenia Space. Second row: Emily Tan, CEO of Thales Singapore; Cindy Koh, Executive Vice President, Economic Development Board; Jonathan Hung, Executive Director, Office for Space Technology & Industry, Singapore (OSTIn)
Quantum information networks represent a major breakthrough in information technology. They will enable quantum computers and quantum sensors to be interconnected to improve performance and resilience. This will pave the way for a new form of internet between quantum devices. These networks will also enable end-to-end secure communications that are resistant to attacks from quantum computers. Satellites will play a key role in these networks, extending connections over long distances and laying the foundations for a future quantum internet.
This new agreement aims to organize joint experiments involving SpeQtral’s quantum satellites, currently in development, and the first quantum ground station designed by Thales Alenia Space. The station will include environmental sensors to assess the impact of local conditions on the quality of quantum signals.
SpeQtral’s quantum satellites are amongst the first demonstrator satellites dedicated to enabling commercial quantum communications, and will be used to test the transmission of entangled photons between space and Earth, paving the way for the future interconnection of terrestrial quantum networks across continents.
SpeQtral will operate the satellites and provide the data needed to coordinate with the ground station, including pointing parameters and time-stamped onboard measurements. Thales Alenia Space will operate the ground station and collect synchronized local measurements to enable cross-analysis of quantum link performance. The shared objective is to experimentally validate the technical foundations of future interoperable quantum networks, as well as explore ways to enhance their performance.
At a later stage, the roles may be reversed, with Thales Alenia Space planning to launch the QINSAT satellite by the end of the decade to distribute entangled photon pairs to ground stations, including those operated by SpeQtral.
Since 2018, Thales Alenia Space has been pursuing an ambitious roadmap, establishing itself a key player in the field of quantum communications. The company is leveraging its expertise in satellite telecommunication systems, optical terminals and over 25 years of quantum technology experience within the Thales Group to develop a fully integrated approach spanning both the space and ground segments of quantum communications systems.
“We’re pleased to be taking this next step with SpeQtral, which builds on the progress we’ve made together since 2022,” said Christophe Valorge, Chief Technical Officer at Thales Alenia Space. “This collaboration provides a structured framework to experiment, learn and move forward together by combining our complementary technological expertise. It represents a new stage in building a reliable, resilient and interoperable quantum communication infrastructure on a global scale.”
“Momentum is building globally to demonstrate that quantum communication systems can work together effectively. This is a key step toward realizing global quantum information networks and reflects one of SpeQtral’s long-term goals. We’ve had many fruitful technical exchanges with Thales Alenia Space since 2022, and we’re excited to take this next step together.” said Dr. Robert Bedington, Cofounder and Chief Technology Officer at SpeQtral.
About THALES ALENIA SPACE
Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental monitoring, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of solutions including services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of €2.23 billion in 2024 and has more than 8,100 employees in 7 countries with 15 sites in Europe.
About SPEQTRAL
SpeQtral is a pioneer in quantum communications, with a vision to build and deploy global quantum networks. SpeQtral develops quantum-secure products and services designed to protect sovereign and enterprise telecommunication networks against classical, as well as future quantum-based cyber-attacks on cryptography. Combining both terrestrial and space-based solutions, SpeQtral aims to secure the world’s networks against the threats posed by the imminent quantum revolution and drive innovation in quantum communications that will serve as the building blocks for the future quantum internet.
Source: The Conversation – Canada – By Daphne Rena Idiz, Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Arts, Culture and Media, University of Toronto
What should count as Canadian content (CanCon) in the era of streaming and generative AI (GenAI)?
That’s the biggest unknown at the heart of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission’s recent (CRTC) public hearing, held in Gatineau, Que., from May 14 to 27.
The debate is about how Canada’s current points-based CanCon system remains effective in the context of global streaming giants and generative AI. Shows qualify as CanCon by assigning value to roles like director, screenwriter and lead actors being Canadian.
The outcome will shape who gets to tell Canadian stories and what those stories are, and also which ones count as Canadian under the law. This, in turn, will determine who in the film and television industries can access funding, tax credits and visibility on streaming services.
It will also determine which Canadian productions big streamers like Netflix will invest in under their Online Streaming Act obligations.
The federal government’s recent announcement that it’s rescinding the Digital Services Tax reveals the limits of Canada’s leverage over Big Tech, underscoring the significance of CanCon rules as parameters around how streaming giants contribute meaningfully to the country’s creative industries.
CanCon: Who gets to decide?
The CRTC’s existing approach to defining CanCon relies on the citizenship of key creative personnel.
The National Film Board argued that this misses the “cultural elements” of Canadian storytelling. These include cultural expression, narrative themes and connection to Canadian audiences. That is, a production might technically count as CanCon by hiring Canadians, without feeling particularly “Canadian.”
The acts empower broadcasters and streamers to decide which Canadian stories and content will be developed, produced and distributed through commissioning and licensing powers. This implicitly limits the CRTC’s role to setting rules about which creatives are at the table.
The Writer’s Guild advocates broadening the pool of Canadian key creatives to modernize the CanCon system. It trusts the combined perspectives of a broader pool to make creative decisions about Canadian identity in meaningful ways. Accordingly, it supports the CRTC’s intent to add the showrunner role to the point system since showrunners are the “the chief custodian of the creative vision of a series.”
Battle over Canadian IP
Streaming introduces more players with financial stakes, complicating who controls content and who profits from it. A seismic shift is happening in how intellectual property (IP) is handled.
CRTC has proposed that the updated CanCon definition include Canadian IP ownership as a mandatory element to enable Canadian companies and workers to retain some control over their own IP, and thereby earn sustainable income. For example, in a streaming drama, Canadian screenwriters who retain ownership of the IP could earn ongoing revenue through licensing deals, international sales and royalties each time the series is distributed.
However, the Motion Picture Association-Canada (MPA-Canada), representing industry titans like Netflix, Amazon and Disney, is pushing back against requirements that mandate the sharing of territory or IP.
Without IP rights, Canadian talent and the industry as a whole may be reduced to becoming service providers for global companies.
Intervenors shared a range of preferences from 100 per cent Canadian IP ownership to none at all. One hundred per cent Canadian IP ownership means Canadian creators like a producer of a streaming series would control the rights to the content. They would receive the majority of profits from licensing, distribution and future adaptations.
Even 51 per cent ownership could give them a controlling stake, but would likely require sharing revenue and decision-making with the streaming service.
AI and CanCon
And then, of course, there’s the question of how generative AI should be considered within the updated CanCon definition. The Writers Guild of Canada has drawn a firm line in the sand: AI-generated material should not qualify as Canadian content.
The guild argues that since current AI tools don’t possess identity, nationality or cultural context, their output cannot advance the goals of the Broadcasting Act, centred on promoting Canadian voices and stories.
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) raised a different concern around AI. AI, ACTRA argued, “should not take over the jobs of the creators in the ecosystem that we’re in and we should not treat AI-generated performers as if they are a Canadian actor.”
Depending on how the CRTC addresses AI, this could mean that streaming content featuring AI-generated scripts, characters, or performances — even if developed by a Canadian creator or set in Canada — would not qualify as CanCon.
The WGC notes that it has already negotiated restrictions on AI use in screenwriting through its agreement with the Canadian Media Producers Association. These guardrails are being held up as the “emerging industry standard.”
Follow the money
Another contested point is how streamers should pay into CanCon: through direct investment or through more traditional modes of financing. Under the Online Streaming Act, streamers are required to pay five per cent of their annual revenues to certain Canadian funds.
This model echoes previous requirements used to manage decision-making at media broadcasters, some at the much more substantial level of 30 per cent.
Research in the European Union and Canada highlight how different stakeholders benefit from different forms of financial obligations, suggesting the industry may be best served by a policy mix.
As Canada rewrites its broadcasting rules, defining Canadian content is a courtroom drama unfolding in real time — and the verdict will have serious ramifications.
MaryElizabeth Luka receives research project funding from peer-adjudicated grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council and internal grants at University of Toronto, such as the Creative Labour Critical Futures Cluster of Scholarly Prominence.
Daphne Rena Idiz 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.
AI-powered assistive devices, like hearing aids, are changing how the people who use them experience public space.(Shutterstock)
New applications and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with wearable devices are changing the way users interact with their environments and each other. The impacts and reach of these new technologies have yet to be fully understood.
Connections between technologies and bodies is not a new thing for many disabled persons. Assistive technologies — tools and products designed to support people with disabilities — have played a part in mitigating built and institutional barriers experienced by disabled persons for decades.
While not strictly considered assistive, immersive and wearable technologies have the potential to change the relationship between disabled users and their experience of place.
For example, Ray-Ban’s Meta glasses use AI to describe what the cameras are capturing using the Be My Eyes app. Using OpenAI’s large language model, ChatGPT, this effectively turns a user’s smart phone into a vision assistant.
The availability and production of environmental data from these technologies may impact how we relate to each other, how we move through and understand space, and how we engage with the physical environment around us at any given moment.
Sam Seavey, founder of TheBlindLife.com, reviews the possibilities and limitations of Apple’s VisionPro. (The Blind Life)
We’re at a critical juncture where AI-enabled technologies used by individuals may profoundly impact our urban futures.
What happens, for example, when wearables make any “place” a digital work or play place? What does a largely private-sector, consumer-driven, AI-enabled digital intervention into a city’s spaces mean for planning, zoning and taxation? What are the environmental costs of the global AI project?
And crucially, who gets to participate in this digital reimagining?
AI and the city
While access can be challenging — wearables are often costly — ableist thinking regarding the use of technology to render invisible Blind and/or Deaf people and culture is also a problem. Some people might naively assume that all Blind and Deaf people are universally seeking a bio-technological “miracle.”
There are also other challenges: how a technology captures or describes its data may not match up to a user’s pre-existing sense of place. Moreover, access to tech can produce some unintended consequences, including the erosion of in-person community building among disabled people.
My hearing aids use AI and machine learning to sense and adjust my sound environment. They help me cope with the ways in which the places of my everyday life — such as my home or the lecture hall — are generally configured for people without hearing loss.
When I use my hearing aids, I find that the city has never sounded so wonderful, and yet sometimes irritatingly loud. The sound of birds is one thing; the grinding sound of a breaking subway is another entirely.
Cumulative exposure to noisy indoor and outdoor places of the city poses auditory health risks, such as noise-induced hearing loss or tinnitus, and can contribute to poor health more broadly. I have to be careful about ongoing noise exposure, and by adjusting the volume of my hearing aids, I can turn down the city when I want to.
Future bodies and urban futures
AI-powered technologies can exacerbate issues of access, privilege and freedom of movement. This happens both through who is able to purchase and use devices, as well as through data and their applications. Data may be biased in terms of race, gender, sexuality and disability.
Scientific research and media representations tend to highlight the benevolent possibilities of technologies for “repairing” bodies conceived as being functionally medically deficient.
Much less is said about disabled persons controlling the narrative, taking up key roles in the messy terrain of AI, machine learning and data governance, and in the planning and design of future cities.
Digital modelling
We are also witnessing growing interest in the digital twinning — creating highly accurate digital models — of everything from human hearts to entire cities.
Not everyone can, should or wishes to be technologically “assisted” or augmented. There are medical, identity and culture, affordability, legal, moral and ethical concerns.
Other issues raised by brain-computer interface research, for example, include concerns about legal capacity and ownership of the self, including ownership of device-generated data.
In a study on the impact of neural technologies, researchers shared the legal repercussions relating to two disabled people deprived of voting rights in Spain. The person who recovered the ability to communicate autonomously using their finger and a computer had their rights restored, while the other, who used a human intermediary, did not.
Where does the person end and the technology begin, and vice versa? Who gets to decide?
Future technologies
As the use of AI and assistive technologies increases in everyday urban life, we will need to address these questions sooner rather than later.
And if disabled persons are not adequately involved in these discussions and decisions, then cities will be less — rather than more — accessible.
Ron Buliung 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.
Source: The Conversation – USA – By Rizwan Virk, Faculty Associate, PhD Candidate in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology, Arizona State University
In Stephenson’s novel ‘The Diamond Age,’ a device called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer offers emotional, social and intellectual support.Christopher Michel/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Every time I read about another advance in AI technology, I feel like another figment of science fiction moves closer to reality.
“The Diamond Age” depicted a post-cyberpunk sectarian future, in which society is fragmented into tribes, called phyles. In this future world, sophisticated nanotechnology is ubiquitous, and a new type of AI is introduced.
Though inspired by MIT nanotech pioneer Eric Drexler and Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman, the advanced nanotechnology depicted in the novel still remains out of reach. However, the AI that’s portrayed, particularly a teaching device called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer, isn’t only right in front of us; it also raises serious issues about the role of AI in labor, learning and human behavior.
In Stephenson’s novel, the Primer looks like a hardcover book, but each of its “pages” is really a screen display that can show animations and text, and it responds to its user in real time via AI. The book also has an audio component, which voices the characters and narrates stories being told by the device.
It was originally created for the young daughter of an aristocrat, but it accidentally falls into the hands of a girl named Nell who’s living on the streets of a futuristic Shanghai. The Primer provides Nell personalized emotional, social and intellectual support during her journey to adulthood, serving alternatively as an AI companion, a storyteller, a teacher and a surrogate parent.
The AI is able to weave fairy tales that help a younger Nell cope with past traumas, such as her abusive home and life on the streets. It educates her on everything from math to cryptography to martial arts. In a techno-futuristic homage to George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play “Pygmalion,” the Primer goes so far as to teach Nell the proper social etiquette to be able to blend into neo-Victorian society, one of the prominent tribes in Stephenson’s balkanized world.
No need for ‘ractors’
Three recent developments in AI – in video games, wearable technology and education – reveal that building something like the Primer should no longer be considered the purview of science fiction.
In May 2025, the hit video game “Fortnite” introduced an AI version of Darth Vader, who speaks with the voice of the late James Earl Jones.
While it was popular among fans of the game, the Screen Actors Guild lodged a labor complaint with Epic Games, the creator of “Fortnite.” Even though Epic had received permission from the late actor’s estate, the Screen Actors Guild pointed out that actors could have been hired to voice the character, and the company – in refusing to alert the union and negotiate terms – violated existing labor agreements.
In “The Diamond Age,” while the Primer uses AI to generate the fairy tales that train Nell, for the voices of these archetypal characters, Stephenson concocted a low-tech solution: The characters are played by a network of what he termed “ractors” – real actors working in a studio who are contracted to perform and interact in real time with users.
The Darth Vader “Fortnite” character shows that a Primer built today wouldn’t need to use actors at all. It could rely almost entirely on AI voice generation and have real-time conversations, showing that today’s technology already exceeds Stephenson’s normally far-sighted vision.
Recording and guiding in real time
Synthesizing James Earl Jones’ voice in “Fortnite” wasn’t the only recent AI development heralding the arrival of Primer-like technology.
I recently witnessed a demonstration of wearable AI that records all of the wearer’s conversations. Their words are then sent to a server so they can be analyzed by AI, providing both summaries and suggestions to the user about future behavior.
Several startups are making these “always on” AI wearables. In an April 29, 2025, essay titled “I Recorded Everything I Said for Three Months. AI Has Replaced My Memory,” Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern describes the experience of using this technology. She concedes that the assistants created useful summaries of her conversations and meetings, along with helpful to-do lists. However, they also recalled “every dumb, private and cringeworthy thing that came out of my mouth.”
AI wearable devices that continuously record the conversations of their users have recently hit the market.
These devices also create privacy issues. The people whom the user interacts with don’t always know they are being recorded, even as their words are also sent to a server for the AI to process them. To Stern, the technology’s potential for mass surveillance becomes readily apparent, presenting a “slightly terrifying glimpse of the future.”
Relying on AI engines such as ChatGPT, Claude and Google’s Gemini, the wearables work only with words, not images. Behavioral suggestions occur only after the fact. However, a key function of the Primer – coaching users in real time in the middle of any situation or social interaction – is the next logical step as the technology advances.
Education or social engineering?
In “The Diamond Age,” the Primer doesn’t simply weave interactive fairy tales for Nell. It also assumes the responsibility of educating her on everything from her ABCs when younger to the intricacies of cryptography and politics as she gets older.
There are certainly advantages to AI tutors: Tutoring and college tuition can be exorbitantly expensive, and the technology can offer better access to education to people of all income levels.
Pulling together these latest AI advances – interactive avatars, behavioral guides, tutors – it’s easy to envision how an AI device like the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer could be created in the near future. A young person might have a personalized AI character that accompanies them at all times. It can teach them about the world and offer up suggestions for how to act in certain situations. The AI could be tailored to a child’s personality, concocting stories that include AI versions of their favorite TV and movie characters.
But “The Diamond Age” offers a warning, too.
Toward the end of the novel, a version of the Primer is handed out to hundreds of thousands of young Chinese girls who, like Nell, didn’t have access to education or mentors. This leads to the education of the masses. But it also opens the door to large-scale social engineering, creating an army of Primer-raised martial arts experts, whom the AI then directs to act on behalf of “Princess Nell,” Nell’s fairy tale name.
It’s easy to see how this sort of large-scale social engineering could be used to target certain ideologies, crush dissent or build loyalty to a particular regime. The AI’s behavior could also be subject to the whims of the companies or individuals that created it. A ubiquitous, always-on, friendly AI could become the ultimate monitoring and reporting device. Think of a kinder, gentler face for Big Brother that people have trusted since childhood.
While large-scale deployment of a Primer-like AI could certainly make young people smarter and more efficient, it could also hamper one of the most important parts of education: teaching people to think for themselves.
Rizwan Virk owns shares of investments funds which own stock in various private AI companies such as Open AI and X.ai. He owns public stock in Google and Microsoft. Virk has family members who work for a wearable AI company.
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Rizwan Virk, Faculty Associate, PhD Candidate in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology, Arizona State University
In Stephenson’s novel ‘The Diamond Age,’ a device called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer offers emotional, social and intellectual support.Christopher Michel/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Every time I read about another advance in AI technology, I feel like another figment of science fiction moves closer to reality.
“The Diamond Age” depicted a post-cyberpunk sectarian future, in which society is fragmented into tribes, called phyles. In this future world, sophisticated nanotechnology is ubiquitous, and a new type of AI is introduced.
Though inspired by MIT nanotech pioneer Eric Drexler and Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman, the advanced nanotechnology depicted in the novel still remains out of reach. However, the AI that’s portrayed, particularly a teaching device called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer, isn’t only right in front of us; it also raises serious issues about the role of AI in labor, learning and human behavior.
In Stephenson’s novel, the Primer looks like a hardcover book, but each of its “pages” is really a screen display that can show animations and text, and it responds to its user in real time via AI. The book also has an audio component, which voices the characters and narrates stories being told by the device.
It was originally created for the young daughter of an aristocrat, but it accidentally falls into the hands of a girl named Nell who’s living on the streets of a futuristic Shanghai. The Primer provides Nell personalized emotional, social and intellectual support during her journey to adulthood, serving alternatively as an AI companion, a storyteller, a teacher and a surrogate parent.
The AI is able to weave fairy tales that help a younger Nell cope with past traumas, such as her abusive home and life on the streets. It educates her on everything from math to cryptography to martial arts. In a techno-futuristic homage to George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play “Pygmalion,” the Primer goes so far as to teach Nell the proper social etiquette to be able to blend into neo-Victorian society, one of the prominent tribes in Stephenson’s balkanized world.
No need for ‘ractors’
Three recent developments in AI – in video games, wearable technology and education – reveal that building something like the Primer should no longer be considered the purview of science fiction.
In May 2025, the hit video game “Fortnite” introduced an AI version of Darth Vader, who speaks with the voice of the late James Earl Jones.
While it was popular among fans of the game, the Screen Actors Guild lodged a labor complaint with Epic Games, the creator of “Fortnite.” Even though Epic had received permission from the late actor’s estate, the Screen Actors Guild pointed out that actors could have been hired to voice the character, and the company – in refusing to alert the union and negotiate terms – violated existing labor agreements.
In “The Diamond Age,” while the Primer uses AI to generate the fairy tales that train Nell, for the voices of these archetypal characters, Stephenson concocted a low-tech solution: The characters are played by a network of what he termed “ractors” – real actors working in a studio who are contracted to perform and interact in real time with users.
The Darth Vader “Fortnite” character shows that a Primer built today wouldn’t need to use actors at all. It could rely almost entirely on AI voice generation and have real-time conversations, showing that today’s technology already exceeds Stephenson’s normally far-sighted vision.
Recording and guiding in real time
Synthesizing James Earl Jones’ voice in “Fortnite” wasn’t the only recent AI development heralding the arrival of Primer-like technology.
I recently witnessed a demonstration of wearable AI that records all of the wearer’s conversations. Their words are then sent to a server so they can be analyzed by AI, providing both summaries and suggestions to the user about future behavior.
Several startups are making these “always on” AI wearables. In an April 29, 2025, essay titled “I Recorded Everything I Said for Three Months. AI Has Replaced My Memory,” Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern describes the experience of using this technology. She concedes that the assistants created useful summaries of her conversations and meetings, along with helpful to-do lists. However, they also recalled “every dumb, private and cringeworthy thing that came out of my mouth.”
AI wearable devices that continuously record the conversations of their users have recently hit the market.
These devices also create privacy issues. The people whom the user interacts with don’t always know they are being recorded, even as their words are also sent to a server for the AI to process them. To Stern, the technology’s potential for mass surveillance becomes readily apparent, presenting a “slightly terrifying glimpse of the future.”
Relying on AI engines such as ChatGPT, Claude and Google’s Gemini, the wearables work only with words, not images. Behavioral suggestions occur only after the fact. However, a key function of the Primer – coaching users in real time in the middle of any situation or social interaction – is the next logical step as the technology advances.
Education or social engineering?
In “The Diamond Age,” the Primer doesn’t simply weave interactive fairy tales for Nell. It also assumes the responsibility of educating her on everything from her ABCs when younger to the intricacies of cryptography and politics as she gets older.
There are certainly advantages to AI tutors: Tutoring and college tuition can be exorbitantly expensive, and the technology can offer better access to education to people of all income levels.
Pulling together these latest AI advances – interactive avatars, behavioral guides, tutors – it’s easy to envision how an AI device like the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer could be created in the near future. A young person might have a personalized AI character that accompanies them at all times. It can teach them about the world and offer up suggestions for how to act in certain situations. The AI could be tailored to a child’s personality, concocting stories that include AI versions of their favorite TV and movie characters.
But “The Diamond Age” offers a warning, too.
Toward the end of the novel, a version of the Primer is handed out to hundreds of thousands of young Chinese girls who, like Nell, didn’t have access to education or mentors. This leads to the education of the masses. But it also opens the door to large-scale social engineering, creating an army of Primer-raised martial arts experts, whom the AI then directs to act on behalf of “Princess Nell,” Nell’s fairy tale name.
It’s easy to see how this sort of large-scale social engineering could be used to target certain ideologies, crush dissent or build loyalty to a particular regime. The AI’s behavior could also be subject to the whims of the companies or individuals that created it. A ubiquitous, always-on, friendly AI could become the ultimate monitoring and reporting device. Think of a kinder, gentler face for Big Brother that people have trusted since childhood.
While large-scale deployment of a Primer-like AI could certainly make young people smarter and more efficient, it could also hamper one of the most important parts of education: teaching people to think for themselves.
Rizwan Virk owns shares of investments funds which own stock in various private AI companies such as Open AI and X.ai. He owns public stock in Google and Microsoft. Virk has family members who work for a wearable AI company.
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Rizwan Virk, Faculty Associate, PhD Candidate in Human and Social Dimensions of Science and Technology, Arizona State University
In Stephenson’s novel ‘The Diamond Age,’ a device called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer offers emotional, social and intellectual support.Christopher Michel/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA
Every time I read about another advance in AI technology, I feel like another figment of science fiction moves closer to reality.
“The Diamond Age” depicted a post-cyberpunk sectarian future, in which society is fragmented into tribes, called phyles. In this future world, sophisticated nanotechnology is ubiquitous, and a new type of AI is introduced.
Though inspired by MIT nanotech pioneer Eric Drexler and Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman, the advanced nanotechnology depicted in the novel still remains out of reach. However, the AI that’s portrayed, particularly a teaching device called the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer, isn’t only right in front of us; it also raises serious issues about the role of AI in labor, learning and human behavior.
In Stephenson’s novel, the Primer looks like a hardcover book, but each of its “pages” is really a screen display that can show animations and text, and it responds to its user in real time via AI. The book also has an audio component, which voices the characters and narrates stories being told by the device.
It was originally created for the young daughter of an aristocrat, but it accidentally falls into the hands of a girl named Nell who’s living on the streets of a futuristic Shanghai. The Primer provides Nell personalized emotional, social and intellectual support during her journey to adulthood, serving alternatively as an AI companion, a storyteller, a teacher and a surrogate parent.
The AI is able to weave fairy tales that help a younger Nell cope with past traumas, such as her abusive home and life on the streets. It educates her on everything from math to cryptography to martial arts. In a techno-futuristic homage to George Bernard Shaw’s 1913 play “Pygmalion,” the Primer goes so far as to teach Nell the proper social etiquette to be able to blend into neo-Victorian society, one of the prominent tribes in Stephenson’s balkanized world.
No need for ‘ractors’
Three recent developments in AI – in video games, wearable technology and education – reveal that building something like the Primer should no longer be considered the purview of science fiction.
In May 2025, the hit video game “Fortnite” introduced an AI version of Darth Vader, who speaks with the voice of the late James Earl Jones.
While it was popular among fans of the game, the Screen Actors Guild lodged a labor complaint with Epic Games, the creator of “Fortnite.” Even though Epic had received permission from the late actor’s estate, the Screen Actors Guild pointed out that actors could have been hired to voice the character, and the company – in refusing to alert the union and negotiate terms – violated existing labor agreements.
In “The Diamond Age,” while the Primer uses AI to generate the fairy tales that train Nell, for the voices of these archetypal characters, Stephenson concocted a low-tech solution: The characters are played by a network of what he termed “ractors” – real actors working in a studio who are contracted to perform and interact in real time with users.
The Darth Vader “Fortnite” character shows that a Primer built today wouldn’t need to use actors at all. It could rely almost entirely on AI voice generation and have real-time conversations, showing that today’s technology already exceeds Stephenson’s normally far-sighted vision.
Recording and guiding in real time
Synthesizing James Earl Jones’ voice in “Fortnite” wasn’t the only recent AI development heralding the arrival of Primer-like technology.
I recently witnessed a demonstration of wearable AI that records all of the wearer’s conversations. Their words are then sent to a server so they can be analyzed by AI, providing both summaries and suggestions to the user about future behavior.
Several startups are making these “always on” AI wearables. In an April 29, 2025, essay titled “I Recorded Everything I Said for Three Months. AI Has Replaced My Memory,” Wall Street Journal technology columnist Joanna Stern describes the experience of using this technology. She concedes that the assistants created useful summaries of her conversations and meetings, along with helpful to-do lists. However, they also recalled “every dumb, private and cringeworthy thing that came out of my mouth.”
AI wearable devices that continuously record the conversations of their users have recently hit the market.
These devices also create privacy issues. The people whom the user interacts with don’t always know they are being recorded, even as their words are also sent to a server for the AI to process them. To Stern, the technology’s potential for mass surveillance becomes readily apparent, presenting a “slightly terrifying glimpse of the future.”
Relying on AI engines such as ChatGPT, Claude and Google’s Gemini, the wearables work only with words, not images. Behavioral suggestions occur only after the fact. However, a key function of the Primer – coaching users in real time in the middle of any situation or social interaction – is the next logical step as the technology advances.
Education or social engineering?
In “The Diamond Age,” the Primer doesn’t simply weave interactive fairy tales for Nell. It also assumes the responsibility of educating her on everything from her ABCs when younger to the intricacies of cryptography and politics as she gets older.
There are certainly advantages to AI tutors: Tutoring and college tuition can be exorbitantly expensive, and the technology can offer better access to education to people of all income levels.
Pulling together these latest AI advances – interactive avatars, behavioral guides, tutors – it’s easy to envision how an AI device like the Young Lady’s Illustrated Primer could be created in the near future. A young person might have a personalized AI character that accompanies them at all times. It can teach them about the world and offer up suggestions for how to act in certain situations. The AI could be tailored to a child’s personality, concocting stories that include AI versions of their favorite TV and movie characters.
But “The Diamond Age” offers a warning, too.
Toward the end of the novel, a version of the Primer is handed out to hundreds of thousands of young Chinese girls who, like Nell, didn’t have access to education or mentors. This leads to the education of the masses. But it also opens the door to large-scale social engineering, creating an army of Primer-raised martial arts experts, whom the AI then directs to act on behalf of “Princess Nell,” Nell’s fairy tale name.
It’s easy to see how this sort of large-scale social engineering could be used to target certain ideologies, crush dissent or build loyalty to a particular regime. The AI’s behavior could also be subject to the whims of the companies or individuals that created it. A ubiquitous, always-on, friendly AI could become the ultimate monitoring and reporting device. Think of a kinder, gentler face for Big Brother that people have trusted since childhood.
While large-scale deployment of a Primer-like AI could certainly make young people smarter and more efficient, it could also hamper one of the most important parts of education: teaching people to think for themselves.
Rizwan Virk owns shares of investments funds which own stock in various private AI companies such as Open AI and X.ai. He owns public stock in Google and Microsoft. Virk has family members who work for a wearable AI company.
Question for written answer E-002564/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Ralf Seekatz (PPE), Lídia Pereira (PPE)
Article 2(6) of Regulation 2024/1624 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2024 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing[1](the Anti-Money Laundering Regulation, AMLR) clarifies that the activity of account information services (AIS) is not within the scope of the regulation.
In our understanding of the text, the activity of AIS is outside the scope of the regulation, regardless of whether the entity in question exclusively provides AIS or also offers other regulated services.
Can the Commission confirm the interpretation that AIS as an activity is outside the scope of the AMLR, even if it is provided by financial institutions whose additional and regulated activities are otherwise within the scope of the AMLR?
VEHIS commits to originate PLN 2.6 billion of auto leases for the benefit of Polish SMEs.
The new lending is enabled by a cash securitisation whereby VEHIS obtains funding from EIB and from an external investor backed by EIF.
The operation will support financing of low carbon road vehicles and financing of women-led businesses, and contribute to regional development and economic inclusion across Poland.
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group is joining forces with Polish car platform VEHIS to expand access to financing for a range of businesses in Poland. The EIB Group, which also includes the European Investment Fund (EIF), will back auto leases by VEHIS so that the company can boost lending to Polish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps.
The operation will contribute to regional development and economic inclusion across Poland. It will further support gender equality and the green transition through targeted financing for women-led businesses and electric vehicles.
Under the agreement, the EIB will invest PLN 637 million (€150 million) in notes backed by auto leases originated by VEHIS, and the EIF will provide guarantees to a third-party, enabling it to purchase notes for an amount of similar size. The operation aims to generate a new portfolio of SME and Mid-Cap leases totalling PLN 2.6 billion.
At least 30% of the new car financing by VEHIS will go to women-led businesses and at least 10% will support climate action including electric-vehicle leasing.
“This transaction is a great example of how we can use capital markets tools to deliver real impact for small businesses,” said Marjut Falkstedt, Chief Executive of the EIF. “By working with VEHIS, we’re helping to channel funding where it’s needed most — to entrepreneurs driving innovation, inclusion and sustainability across Poland.”
Under the accord, the EIB’s investment will be in the senior class notes of a securitisation of VEHIS auto leases and the EIF guarantees will enable the third party to invest in the senior class and mezzanine class notes of the same transaction.
“Together with the EIB and EIF, we are carrying out the first securitization of a portfolio built under warehouse financing in the history of the Polish market. This is a unique moment of appreciation for us by leading European financial institutions and another important step that will allow us to continue our dynamic growth. Thanks to the cooperation, we will be able to continue active SME financing, including supporting women-led businesses, as well as financing low-emission cars,” said Jan Bujak, CFO of VEHIS.
The operation will also contribute to regional development in Poland by enabling VEHIS to reach more entrepreneurs in underserved market segments and in areas where per capita income is below the European Union average.
“Supporting SMEs is at the heart of what we do at the EIB Group,” commented Teresa Czerwińska, Vice-President of the EIB. “This partnership with VEHIS will not only help businesses grow but also promote gender equality and accelerate the shift to cleaner transport. It’s a smart, targeted investment in Poland’s future.”
Technical note on the securitisation transaction
The transaction is structured as a cash securitisation of a granular portfolio of performing auto leases originated by VEHIS and sold to a securitisation special purpose entity (Issuer). EIB purchases class A1 notes issued by the Issuer. EIF simultaneously, through bilateral financial guarantees agreed with an institutional investor, takes exposure to class A2 notes (ranking pari passu with the mentioned class A1 notes) and to class B notes (characterised by higher credit risk compared to the class A1 and class A2 notes) issued by the Issuer. VEHIS effectively retains credit exposure to the securitised lease exposures by purchasing and retaining the most junior notes (characterised by higher credit risk than the class A and class B notes) issued by the Issuer. The notes and the securitised exposures pay floating interest and are denominated in polish zloty.
The reference portfolio consists of more than 9,000 leases, 100% secured by light vehicles and with c. 90% of lessees in the form of SMEs. The transaction is non-revolving and includes standard credit enhancement features such as subordination, excess spread, use of a cash reserve and a principal deficiency ledger.
Background information
About EIB Group 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, the capital markets union, and a stronger Europe in a more peaceful and prosperous world.
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.
The Group’s latest Investment Survey (EIBIS) showed Poland fares better than European Union peers when it comes to gender equality in business management.
To enhance the positive impact of its activities on gender equality and empower women and girls, the EIB Group has embedded gender equality goals into its business model through a dedicated Strategy on Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment and a Gender Action Plan. These guide its lending, blending, and advisory work both within and outside the European Union. In 2024, EIB financing for gender equality represented more than €3 billion across over 40 projects. The EIB also applies global gender-lens investing criteria (“2X”) and is committed to promoting gender equality in the workplace. You can find more information here on the EIB gender equality initiatives.
About VEHIS
VEHIS is a car platform that allows customers to select and purchase a vehicle along with the relevant financing options. The offer encompasses all car brands available on the Polish market from key dealers, along with financing options in the form of leasing.
VEHIS provides full support throughout the period of vehicle use, including a special insurance package, GPS monitoring and service support for the car, as well as handling traffic damage claims.
VEHIS advisors working in 18 VEHIS branches across Poland support customers in choosing a car, its financing and insurance. The entire process can be completed online through the website or with the remote assistance of an advisor.
The platform offers a selection of over 10,000 cars at competitive prices from 200 dealers. These offers are updated almost in real time, thanks to IT tools developed by VEHIS.
VEHIS’ strategic investor is Enterprise Investors, one of the oldest and largest private equity firms in Central and Eastern Europe.
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Bernice Swarts will launch the One Million Trees campaign next week.
The campaign, part of the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project currently in its fourth year, aims to mobilise South Africans from all walks of life, three spheres of government, private sector, interfaith formations, business, diplomatic corps, traditional leaders, NGOs, youth, to pledge and donate trees.
At the launch, the Deputy Minister will outline the ambitious plan to plant one million trees in one day.
The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) is the custodian of the forestry function in the country.
One of the key activities and functions in this regard is the implementation of the National Greening Programme, aimed at planting at least two million trees per annum for a period of five years to realise the Presidential Ten Million Trees Flagship Project.
The One Million Trees campaign serves as one of the platforms of revamping the National Greening Programme to ensure that the set target of planting ten million trees over a period of five years is achieved.
This will be done through creating awareness on the importance of planting of trees, encouraging stakeholders to take ownership and responsibility of their environment through pledging and planting of trees and facilitating that one million trees are planted in one day.
As part of the launch, Deputy Minister Swarts will showcase the Information Technology Pledge Form System and the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) Tree Bank where the donated trees will be stored.
The donated trees will be stored at the 11 National Botanical Gardens across the country and DFFE nurseries.
The launch will take place under the theme: “My Tree, My Oxygen. Plant Yours Today” on Monday, 07 July 2025, at the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens. – SAnews.gov.za
ROAD TOWN, Virgin Islands, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — BloFin, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially launched registration for its blockbuster trading competition: the WOW(War of Whales) 2025 Grand Prix.
With an extraordinary total prize pool of up to $4,200,000 USDT, exclusive giveaways including a Tesla Cybertruck, and four exciting competition formats, WOW 2025 is set to become one of the most dynamic trading events of the year for crypto traders worldwide.
Four Thrilling Competition Formats, One Epic Trading Season
This year’s WOW Grand Prix offers participants four engaging ways to compete and win big:
Trading Competition (Futures)
Treasure Box Prize Hunt
Lucky Spin Draw
Grand Lotto Giveaway
From June 26 to July 15, traders can join team battles, climb individual leaderboards, unlock random rewards, and spin their way toward exclusive prizes — creating a truly immersive trading experience.
A Record-Breaking $4.2 Million Prize Pool
The WOW 2025 prize pool scales with total trading volume milestones, starting at $35,000 USDT and expanding to a massive $4,200,000 USDT. The more participants trade, the larger the total prize pool becomes for the community.
Prize Distribution Highlights:
Team Competition (by Trading Volume): 40%
Team Competition (by PNL %): 20%
Individual Competition (by Trading Volume): 25%
Individual Competition (by PNL %): 15%
Additional top-tier rewards include:
A Tesla Cybertruck for the top-performing team
Luxury giveaways for individual champions
As part of this year’s event, BloFin is also unveiling the exclusive WOW (War of Whales) 2025 PNL Card — a distinctive digital emblem crafted for elite competitors. Inspired by the cyber-themed aesthetic of the WOW Grand Prix, this limited-edition PNL Card serves as a personalized record of each trader’s performance throughout the competition. Participants can proudly display their achievements, track their battle stats, and share their milestones within the crypto trading community.
Registration Now Open
Registration runs from June 20 to July 15, 2025 (UTC). Team leaders can create squads and users are encouraged to join early to maximize their competitive edge.
About BloFin
BloFin is a top-tier cryptocurrency exchange that specializes in futures trading. The platform offers 480+ USDT-M perpetual pairs, Coin-Margined Perpetual Contracts, spot trading, copy trading, API access, unified account management, and advanced sub-account solutions. Committed to security and compliance, BloFin integrates Fireblocks and Chainalysis to ensure robust asset protection. By partnering with top affiliates, BloFin delivers scalable trading solutions, efficient fund management, and enhanced flexibility for professional traders. As the constant sponsor of TOKEN2049, BloFin continues to expand its global presence, reinforcing its position as the place “WHERE WHALES ARE MADE.” For more information, visit BloFin’s official website at https://www.blofin.com.
Disclaimer: This content is provided byBloFin. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice. Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sector—including cryptocurrency, NFTs, and mining—complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility. Globenewswire does not endorse any content on this page.
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New York City, NY, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Maintaining clean eyeglasses is part of everyday care for many users. Whether used for reading, driving, or general vision support, lenses can become marked during daily activities. Peeps Glasses Cleaner and Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner are two terms often associated with a portable solution intended to support lens care routines.
Keeping your glasses clean can feel like a constant task — smudges, dust, and fingerprints show up when you least expect them. That’s where the Peeps Glasses Cleaner comes in. Compact and easy to use, this tool is becoming a popular choice for everyday lens care.
The Peeps Glasses Cleaner is a compact tool made for those who wear prescription glasses, reading glasses, or sunglasses. Designed by CarbonKlean, this cleaner features a lightweight build that fits easily in a drawer, travel case, or bag. It offers users a convenient option for keeping eyewear in good condition without relying on liquids or disposable cloths.
Its simple, mess-free design makes it a favorite among people who wear glasses daily, whether for work, reading, or travel.
Please visit the official website to check availability.
Keeping your eyeglasses or sunglasses looking clean throughout the day can be a challenge. Smudges from skin oils, makeup, dust, and fingerprints can quickly cloud your lenses, making it harder to maintain a clear view. That’s where the Peeps Glasses Cleaner can help — a compact, easy-to-carry designed to support your daily eyewear care routine.
A key component of Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner is its carbon-based cleaning pads. These soft pads are applied directly to the lens surface using a light motion. The tool is reusable and does not require sprays, making it a suitable choice for individuals looking for a minimalist approach to eyewear maintenance.
Many users turn to Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner because of its simple, travel-friendly form. The absence of liquids or chemicals allows for use in various settings—whether at a desk, in a car, or while commuting. Its small size makes it accessible and convenient for individuals who prefer not to carry traditional cleaning kits.
In addition to its portability, the Peeps Glasses Cleaner is known for being reusable. Unlike single-use wipes, which contribute to waste, this device can be used multiple times with routine care. It appeals to users interested in sustainable options that support everyday habits.
For availability, please refer to the official website.
Whether you’re a student, a professional, or someone who wears glasses occasionally, having a dedicated cleaning tool can help maintain visual comfort and clarity without hassle. The Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner offers a portable way to care for your lenses in everyday situations.
Key Features
Portable Design: Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner is Small enough to carry in your bag, car, or pocket.
No Liquid Needed: Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner Works without sprays, travel-friendly.
Easy to Use: Just brush and swipe — no complicated steps.
Reusable: Built for repeated use without disposable parts.s
Eyewear users often look for products that are easy to use and gentle in application. Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner is developed with simplicity in mind. The tool requires minimal upkeep and does not rely on external products.
With a variety of lens-cleaning products on the market, including microfiber cloths and disposable solutions, Peeps Glasses Cleaner continues to stand out due to its compact shape and reusability. It’s considered a popular choice for those interested in portable cleaning accessories.
Great for a Range of Eyewear
Whether it’s prescription glasses, reading glasses, or sunglasses, the Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner is designed to work across many styles and types of lenses. It’s a handy solution for students, professionals, travelers, and anyone who values a clear view.
Due to growing interest, availability may be limited. Visit the official website for the latest details.
Perfect for travel, work, or home, the Peeps Eyeglass Cleaner offers a convenient way to clean your glasses. Media Contact : Company Name: CarbonKleans Website:https://getcarbonklean.io Email:info@carbonklean.com Address : 24 Village Pointe Drive, Powell, OH, US, 43065 Phone:+1 (888) 615-2155
LONDON, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Data loss and cyber-attacks were identified as two of the top three risks to directors and officers, according to the latest Cyber Directors’ and Officers’ Survey Report by Willis, a WTW business, (NASDAQ:WTW).
The survey gathered responses from a range of sectors, including the services sector (24%) and finance and insurance (19%), with more than half representing for-profit, private companies. Among those surveyed, Great Britain was the only region to identify cyber-attacks (excluding cyber extortion) as the top risk. In contrast, respondents from North America and the Middle East ranked data loss as their primary concern.
Despite growing awareness of cyber-attacks and recent high-profile incidents, the risk ranking for cyber-attacks reduced by 2% between 2024 and 2025. The remainder of the survey explores potential reasons behind this change. Key points are as follows:
Frequency of cybersecurity updates: The survey found that the frequency of updates to boards on cyber security shifted. Last year, the survey illustrated that 20% of respondents only updated their board in response to an incident, which has decreased to 12% in 2025. The number of respondents who update their board on cyber security monthly increased from 18% to 28% between 2024-2025
Sponsorship trends: Respondents indicated an increased involvement from an officer outside of senior leadership, which suggested a need to engage both strategic and technical stakeholders to manage cyber risk most effectively
Incident response: 80% of respondents indicated that they have put a cyber incident response in place, with more than two thirds indicating that they have completed an incident response exercise in the past 12 months
Preparation: 65% of respondents feel they are well prepared to manage a cyber incident effectively (compared with 56% in 2024)
Cyber risk strategy budget: Respondents indicated that cyber security budgets will continue to increase in 2025 but to a lesser extent than 2024 (56% versus 63% respectively)
Cyber insurance: Cybersecurity risks were ranked as the most important aspect of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage. More than half of respondents (53%) indicated that they have cyber insurance in place, with a further 18% planning to purchase it in the next two years.
Adrian Ruiz, head of FINEX GB Cyber & TMT, WTW, said: “Building a strong cyber security culture that engages all levels of the organisation is critical to managing today’s evolving threats. From investing wisely in training and technology to regularly testing response plans, businesses must take a proactive, strategic approach to cyber risk. The survey highlights the importance of staying informed and adapting in an increasingly complex digital landscape.”
The survey provides a global view of the perceptions of risk among directors, officers, and risk managers from countries around the world. Once again, this year’s survey provides insights into the distribution of companies by type, revenue and industry. For-profit, private companies are the most represented, accounting for 56% of the respondents, followed by for-profit, listed companies at 32%. In terms of revenue, 33% of the companies have revenues between $0 and $50 million, another 33% have revenues between $50 million and $1 billion. The services industry makes up the largest proportion of respondents followed by transportation and retail and finance and insurance.
About WTW
At WTW (NASDAQ: WTW), we provide data-driven, insight-led solutions in the areas of people, risk and capital. Leveraging the global view and local expertise of our colleagues serving 140 countries and markets, we help organizations sharpen their strategy, enhance organizational resilience, motivate their workforce and maximize performance.
Working shoulder to shoulder with our clients, we uncover opportunities for sustainable success—and provide perspective that moves you.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China has updated its guidelines for the national science and technology awards with the aim of aligning innovation in the sector with major national strategies.
The revised guidelines, announced by the Ministry of Science and Technology on Monday, emphasize the need for the awards to focus on the global forefront of science and technology, key economic battlefields, major national needs, and public health and wellbeing — areas deemed critical to the country’s development.
The awards aim to align with China’s medium to long-term science and technology development plans and foster a deeper integration between scientific research and industrial innovation.
The changes also affect the evaluation criteria used in order to ensure that scientists and frontline technical workers are prioritized. This guarantees that the focus is on individuals who demonstrate creativity in fundamental research, applied basic research, significant breakthroughs in core technologies and those promoting new quality productive forces. This shift aims to contribute to China’s self-reliance and strength in the field of science and technology.
For example, the State Preeminent Science and Technology Awards will now primarily recognize breakthroughs in key technological domains that address significant national needs. Candidates for these awards must demonstrate loyalty to the country, embody the spirit of scientists, and remain active in cutting-edge science and technology.
The guidelines also outline clear criteria and procedures to ensure that the most deserving individuals and projects are recognized. National science and technology awards will be conferred biennially. The State Preeminent Science and Technology Awards can be granted to a maximum of two individuals at a time, with the prize money increased to 8 million yuan ($1.12 million), all of which goes directly to the recipients.
The State Natural Science Awards, State Technological Invention Awards, and State Scientific and Technological Progress Awards combined will amount to fewer than 300 prizes. The International Science and Technology Cooperation Awards of the People’s Republic of China will have a maximum of 10 prizes each time.
A strong emphasis has been placed on research integrity. Individuals who have violated ethical standards or have been involved in research misconduct are ineligible for nomination. The guidelines establish a nomination accountability framework, requiring nominators to verify the authenticity of materials and assess the morality and political stances of nominees.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
As the new section of the Chongqing-Xiamen high-speed railway, from Chongqing to Qianjiang, officially opened a week ago, the key hub along this route, Chongqing East Railway Station, was also put into operation.
From obtaining the design blueprints in May 2022 to its official inauguration, it has taken 38 months to complete what is now the largest high-speed rail station in west China. Behind this monumental construction project are a group of unsung heroes — robots.
According to Sun Haoran, a manager of the railway station project under China Railway Construction Engineering Group, the station serves as a pilot for the “integration of stations and cities” as part of the nation’s efforts to strengthen transportation infrastructure.
Located in the Nan’an District of Chongqing, the station features 15 platforms and 29 tracks. The station building spans eight floors with a total construction area of 1.22 million square meters, equivalent to 170 standard football fields. Its roof covers approximately 120,000 square meters and weighs 16,500 tonnes.
“The scale of the station’s roof alone is colossal, making the construction difficult and posing high safety risks,” Sun said.
Indeed, in this city where temperatures regularly hit 40 degrees Celsius during furnace-like summers, building a vast transportation hub on its rugged topography demands innovation.
Robots have conducted a quiet revolution, transforming conventional construction in extreme environments.
“Ground leveling in 40-degree heat used to mean workers often collapsing from heatstroke,” said Huang Pinqing, a senior official with China Railway 11th Bureau Group Corporation Limited, who is in charge of the railway station project.
“Now, laser-guided bots did the job with millimeter precision at three times human speed, cutting labour costs by 40 percent.”
“Meanwhile, in this mountain furnace in summer, steel never sweats,” he added.
Huang proudly introduced his “robot army.”
Four-wheel laser screed machines, equipped with LiDAR sensors, AI algorithms, and 5G connectivity, replaced manual concrete smoothing. While workers remotely monitor them from shaded shelters, their precision reduces waste.
Patrol robots, undeterred by night or rain, became 24/7 sentinels. Using AI vision, they detect the absence of hard hats or misplaced vehicles within 100 meters during the day or 50 meters at night, slashing hazard identification time by 90 percent and quadrupling the quality inspection efficiency, he said.
Glass installation robots tackle 800-kilogram panels needed for soaring facades. Precision servo arms position the massive glass units with millimeter accuracy, accelerating installation threefold while reducing accident risks by 90 percent compared to manual hoisting by dozens of workers.
Omni-directional welding robots were used for joining overhead pipe installations. Capable of 0.1-millimeter accuracy swing control, they sealed an 800-millimeter diameter steel pipe joint in two hours — one-third the time required manually — ensuring consistent quality on high-altitude tasks.
“Robots free our teams from the worst heat exposure,” Huang said. “They aren’t gimmicks but essential partners.”
Data from China Railway 11th Bureau Group Corporation Limited confirmed that robotics tripled average work efficiency and nearly halved labour costs.
In addition, safety incidents dropped by 90 percent, despite Chongqing’s challenging topography, where summer heatwaves now regularly test construction limits, including record-breaking temperatures in 2022 and 2024, forcing traditional sites to suspend daytime work.
“This is how technology serves people — building faster, safer, and smarter, even in Chongqing’s furnace,” said Huang.
This mountainous metropolis is also accelerating the power of automation to reshape infrastructure development and beyond.
According to the Chongqing Municipal Economy and Information Technology Commission, in recent years, Chongqing has drafted action plans to boost robot application and cultivate future industries, empowering the development of the robotics industry from a top-level institutional perspective.
By 2024, the city’s robotics output exceeded 60,000 units, with the total industrial chain output value surpassing 37 billion yuan (about 5.17 billion U.S. dollars).
Meanwhile, the city is creating an internationally competitive intelligent equipment industrial cluster.
Currently, Chongqing has gathered over 300 key robotics enterprises, and hosts 31 research and development platforms, such as the Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a national robotics testing center.
This has led to the establishment of a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing research and development, manufacturing, testing, system integration, component supply, talent training and application services.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
This summer, new entertainment awaits the residents of the capital. For the first time, within the framework of the project “Summer in Moscow” grand performances will take place “Circus Divertissements”with the participation of Russian circus artists.
City residents and tourists can attend performances in picturesque places of Moscow: the Moskino cinema park, Izmailovsky Park and the Yuzhnoye Butovo landscape park. Spectators will see majestic lions and graceful tigers, funny clowns, mysterious illusionists and much more.
The Active Citizen project invites Muscovites to join new vote, in which participants will have to evaluate summer circus programs.
From Safari to Magic
Thus, the circus in the Moskino cinema park has prepared a fascinating journey through the African savannah. The main characters of the program are Algerian lions. Guests will be shown unique numbers: the animals will demonstrate their strength, and aerial gymnasts on silk canvases will perform mesmerizing somersaults. A clown duo will present sparkling scenes with the participation of four-legged artists.
“Active citizens” will have to appreciate another circus tent site. It is located near the Round Pond in Izmailovsky Park. Here they have prepared a program with the cinematic name “Striped Flight” – a dynamic show with the participation of Bengal tigers. Spectators will also see how bear acrobats from the legendary circus dynasty ride a bicycle, aerial gymnasts and a tightrope walker perform risky tricks, and a well-coordinated juggling duo performs in the arena.
In the landscape park “Yuzhnoye Butovo” visitors will see “Magic of the Circus” – a bright and modern show with incredible pirouettes of gymnasts and acrobats, tricks of equilibrists, mysterious tricks of illusionists and show balletThe troupe of the Great Moscow Circus, under the direction of People’s Artists of the Russian Federation Edgard and Askold Zapashny, will also amaze you with their skills.
For participating in the voting, users will be awarded points for the city’s loyalty program “A Million Prizes”. They can be used to receive goods and services from the program’s partners, including souvenirs with logos of Moscow’s electronic projects. In addition, “active citizens” can donate points to charity, top up their Troika transport card account and the Parking of Russia app.
Chance to win tickets
Muscovites will be able to take part in special promotion and win two invitation tickets to the show “Algerian Lions” in the circus tent at the Moskino cinema park. To do this, you need to vote and enter the promo code SHAPITO in the “My Profile” section on the website or in the project’s mobile app between July 3 and 13 “Active Citizen”. At the end of the promotion, a random number generator will select 50 winners.
Project “Active Citizen” has been operating since 2014. During this time, more than seven million people have joined it, and in total, over seven thousand votes have been held. Every month, 30 to 40 decisions are implemented in the city. The project is being developed by the State Institution “New Management Technologies” and the capital Department of Information Technology.
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, corresponds 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”.
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 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 directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
The 26th scientific and practical conference “St. Petersburg Collegial Readings – 2025” on the topic “Intellectual Property: Theory and Practice” was held in St. Petersburg. The organizers were the St. Petersburg College of Patent Attorneys and Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. More than 230 intellectual property specialists from Russia, the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan discussed issues of legal protection, defense and use of intellectual property. Representatives of FIPS, EAPO, RGAIS also participated in the conference.
At the grand opening, the President of the St. Petersburg College of Patent Attorneys Andrey Fedotov noted the diversity of the reports presented and wished the participants fruitful work. Director of the Center for Intellectual Property and Technology Transfer of SPbPU Ismail Kadiev emphasized that the readings represent a unique opportunity to exchange knowledge, ideas and experience, and that the research will contribute to the development of the intellectual property sphere in Russia.
Asemgul Abenova, Head of the Industrial Designs Department of the EAPO Expertise Department, spoke about the Eurasian system of patenting industrial designs and the features of the Eurasian patent. She presented the stages of consideration of the Eurasian application, the types and amounts of fees, as well as the conditions of patenting.
Russian patent attorney Elena Danilina and Washington State University (Seattle, USA) law professor Anna Bakhmetyeva spoke about the intellectual property rights of ethnic communities and transboundary features of legal regulation. The patent experts explained what object of intellectual property rights is folklore and reviewed the legal regulation of traditional knowledge in Russia and neighboring countries.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
