Category: Sport

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Awdurdod Llundain Fwyaf

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Awdurdod Llundain Fwyaf

    Cynyddu ymddiriedaeth gyda’r gymdeithas sifil a chymunedau yn ystod ac ar ôl COVID.

    Yn ystod yr ymateb i’r pandemig COVID-19, bu Awdurdod Llundain Fwyaf (GLA) yn gweithio ar y cyd â chymdeithas sifil Llundain, gan gynnal byrddau crwn ar-lein, sesiynau briffio iechyd cyhoeddus, a digwyddiadau Sgwrs Fawr. Gan weithio gyda phartneriaid iechyd, chwaraeodd y fforymau hyn ran hanfodol wrth ategu profion a’r ymateb i’r brechlynnau, adeiladu ymddiriedaeth, a rhannu gwybodaeth gywir a diwylliannol gymwys.

    Yn dilyn y pandemig, roedd yna agwedd benderfynol at ddysgu’r gwersi o’r cydweithredu yma, gan ymgorffori’r dulliau yma ymhellach mewn rhaglenni brechu a gwaith i fynd i’r afael ag anghydraddoldebau iechyd. Digwyddodd hyn yn bennaf trwy Bartneriaeth Ecwiti Iechyd Etifeddol Llundain. Yn ystod y cyfnod hwn, parhaodd sesiynau briffio iechyd cyhoeddus, a gynullwyd ar y cyd gan y GLA a’r GIG, yn ymdrin â materion fel parodrwydd ar gyfer y gaeaf ac iechyd meddwl.

    Mae’r GLA wedi cryfhau perthnasoedd ymhellach â phartneriaid cymunedol a phartneriaid ffydd o fewn eu hymagwedd at wydnwch, gan gynnwys trwy gydgynhyrchu Partneriaeth Argyfyngau Cymunedau Llundain (LCEP), sef ymagwedd a arweinir gan y gymdeithas sifil at gydlynu parodrwydd ac ymateb i argyfyngau. Mae LCEP yn eistedd ar Fforwm Gwydnwch Llundain, ochr yn ochr â’r gwasanaethau brys ac asiantaethau cyhoeddus eraill, gan ddod â gwerth y llais a’r ddirnadaeth gymunedol i ymateb brys Llundain. Mae hyn wedi helpu i adeiladu ymddiriedaeth rhwng asiantaethau a chydweithrediad â’r gymdeithas sifil mewn ymateb i ddigwyddiadau.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Gall gweithio ar y cyd â’r gymdeithas sifil cyn, yn ystod ac ar ôl argyfyngau gryfhau gwydnwch ac, yn achos y pandemig, wella canlyniadau iechyd, megis y niferoedd a gymerodd y brechlynnau.  Gall modelau dan arweiniad y gymuned gynyddu ymddiriedaeth mewn gwasanaethau cyhoeddus, a sicrhau bod negeseuon ac ymagwedd y llywodraeth yn ddiwylliannol gymwys. Ar ben hynny, trwy gydnabod gwerth sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil o ran cyrraedd cymunedau lleol, mae’r GLA wedi llwyddo i weithio’n effeithiol gyda’r sector i fynd i’r afael â heriau cyffredin.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth (GO Lab)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth (GO Lab)

    Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth, Rhannu Data, a Gweithio mewn Partneriaeth (SoF).

    Mae Labordy Canlyniadau Llywodraeth (GO Lab) yn ganolfan ymchwil a pholisi yn Ysgol Lywodraeth Blavatnik, Prifysgol Rhydychen, a sefydlwyd trwy bartneriaeth â Llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig. Cenhadaeth y GO Lab yw galluogi’r llywodraeth i bartneru’n fwy effeithiol â’r sectorau preifat a chymdeithasol i wella bywydau pobl. Mae’r GO Lab yn cynnig canolfan gydweithredol i wella proses ddysgu’r llywodraeth yn sgil comisiynu sydd wedi’i seilio ar ganlyniadau trwy ymchwil o’r radd flaenaf, curadu a rhannu data, ac ymgysylltu’n ymatebol â pholisïau.

    Trwy fentrau fel INDIGO (y Rhwydwaith Rhyngwladol ar gyfer Data ar Effaith a Chanlyniadau Llywodraethau), mae gwaith y GO Lab yn dangos sut y gall penderfyniadau dan arweiniad data ategu perthnasoedd gweithio effeithiol ar draws sectorau. Mae INDIGO yn gydweithrediad data byd-eang sy’n rhannu data yn agored ac yn dryloyw am bartneriaethau sy’n canolbwyntio ar ganlyniadau. Mae menter INDIGO yn cynnwys cynnal cymuned o ymarferwyr, system ar gyfer rhannu data a setiau data agored sydd wedi’u cynllunio i wasanaethu fel nwyddau cyhoeddus, megis set ddata gynhwysfawr ar bartneriaethau canlyniadau cymdeithasol, a chanlyniadau a gyflawnir gan brosiectau’r Gronfa Cyfleoedd Bywyd.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Mae rhannu data agored rhwng cyrff y gymdeithas sifil a chyrff cyhoeddus yn creu cronfa dystiolaeth gyffredin ac yn gwella cyd-ddealltwriaeth, gan rymuso’r gymdeithas sifil a rhanddeiliaid eraill yr un pryd i ddeall ac ymgysylltu â mentrau’r llywodraeth yn well.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS)

    Gwella gwasanaethau trwy fesur effaith.

    Mae Evaluation Support Scotland (ESS) yn elusen yn yr Alban sy’n helpu sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil, ymddiriedolwyr a chyllidwyr, i fesur a dangos eu heffaith trwy werthuso. Y nod yw defnyddio data a thystiolaeth ynglŷn ag effaith i lywio datblygiad polisïau yn y dyfodol; cafodd ei greu ar ôl i ymchwil ganfod nad oedd gan lawer o sefydliadau a chyllidwyr y trydydd sector (gan gynnwys cyrff cyhoeddus) mo’r sgiliau a’r adnoddau i wneud gwerthusiadau ac i ddefnyddio’r ddirnadaeth i lywio penderfyniadau.

    Mae ESS yn cael cyllid craidd gan Lywodraeth yr Alban i ddarparu gweithdai agored, cymorth wedi’i deilwra, modiwlau dysgu hunangyfeiriedig ar-lein am ddim, a chyfoeth o adnoddau ar-lein. Maen nhw hefyd wedi datblygu nifer o ganllawiau i gyllidwyr a sefydliadau, gan gynnwys [pum egwyddor gwerthuso da] (https://evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/ess-principles-for-good-evaluation), sy’n galluogi sefydliadau i gael mewnwelediadau mewn amser real, addasu eu gwaith a pharhau i ymateb i adborth gan gymunedau a dinasyddion. Cafodd partneriaeth ei chreu hefyd â Llywodraeth yr Alban i ddatblygu egwyddorion partneriaeth gadarnhaol](https://evaluationsupportscotland.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/final_prinicples_for_positive_partnership.pdf), i wella’r berthynas rhwng rheolwyr grantiau a deiliaid grantiau, gan ddarparu cyngor ymarferol i gryfhau’r ddau barti.

    Yn 2023, ariannwyd ESS gan Gronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol (TNLCF), mewn ymateb i gynllun gweithredu digartrefedd Llywodraeth yr Alban, i ganolbwyntio ar atal digartrefedd yn Glasgow a Chaeredin. Gyda chefnogaeth ESS, gallai sefydliadau dynnu sylw at effaith eu gwaith yn well a helpodd hyn i lywio’r broses o dargedu gweithgareddau yn y dyfodol.  Roedd hyn yn cynnwys sicrhau bod y rhai sy’n wynebu’r risg o fod yn ddigartref:

    • yn gallu cael mynediad at wasanaethau sy’n ateb eu hanghenion, gan gynnwys cymorth iechyd meddwl a gwasanaethau allgymorth ieuenctid

    • yn cael mwy o fynediad at lety mwy addas i’w hanghenion

    • yn cael mwy o ddylanwad ar y systemau sy’n effeithio arnyn nhw, trwy gynnwys profiadau byw o fewn polisïau cymdeithasau tai

    Mae gwaith ESS wedi helpu’r TNLCF i wneud penderfyniadau ynghylch cyllido prosiectau yn y dyfodol, ac wedi sicrhau bod ffrydiau cyllido’r dyfodol yn cael eu hysbysu am gymorth ac ymyriadau effeithiol oedd yn cael effaith go iawn ar y bobl y cawson nhw eu cynllunio i’w cefnogi.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen Hygyrchedd Hedfan (AATFG)

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen Hygyrchedd Hedfan (AATFG)

    Cyd-ddylunio hedfan hygyrch trwy bartneriaeth.

    Cafodd y Grŵp Gorchwyl a Gorffen Hygyrchedd Hedfan ei sefydlu ym mis Tachwedd 2024 dan gadeiryddiaeth y Farwnes Tanni Grey-Thompson, ac unodd y diwydiant, y rheoleiddiwr ac eiriolwyr defnyddwyr. Nod y grŵp, a hwylusir gan yr Adran Drafnidiaeth, oedd cyd-ddylunio gwelliannau ymarferol ar gyfer teithwyr awyr anabl a llai symudol.

    Mae’r fenter yn pwysleisio cydweithredu cynhwysol, gan ymgysylltu â’r gymdeithas sifil, elusennau anabledd, ac unigolion sydd â phrofiad byw trwy fyrddau crwn, adborth uniongyrchol, ac ymholiadau manwl. Mae’r dull hwn yn cyfrannu’n uniongyrchol at ymrwymiad ym maniffesto Llafur i hybu hawliau pobl anabl ac at yr egwyddor o weithio gyda nhw, gan sicrhau bod eu barn a’u lleisiau wrth wraidd pob polisi a’r holl weithredu. Roedd y pwyslais ar newidiadau ymarferol a deialog barhaus gyda theithwyr anabl er mwyn sicrhau gwelliannau ystyrlon, cynaliadwy.

    Mae’r dull cynhwysol yma wedi dylanwadu’n gadarnhaol ar gysylltiadau rhwng y llywodraeth a’r gymdeithas sifil. Mae mynd ati i gynnwys grwpiau ac unigolion sy’n eiriol dros anabledd wedi caniatáu proses gydweithredol a chynhwysol. Y nod yn hyn o beth yw meithrin ymddiriedaeth a chyd-ddealltwriaeth, lle mae pryderon dinasyddion anabl yn cael eu clywed.

    Roedd y campau nodedig yn cynnwys sefydlu ymgysylltiad uniongyrchol ag unigolion anabl ac elusennau, meithrin dull polisi cydweithredol, a gosod cynsail ar gyfer cynnwys grwpiau ymylol yn ystyrlon mewn polisïau sy’n effeithio’n uniongyrchol arnyn nhw.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Y Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Y Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol

    Gosod pobl ifanc wrth wraidd datblygu polisi.

    Pobl ifanc sydd wedi bod wrth y llyw o ran cydgynhyrchu Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol newydd ers iddi gael ei chyhoeddi ym mis Tachwedd 2024 gan Ysgrifennydd Gwladol y DCMS fel rhan o genhadaeth y llywodraeth i wella cyfleoedd.

    Fel cam cyntaf, i sicrhau y byddai lleisiau ieuenctid wrth wraidd y broses, penododd y llywodraeth 13 o bobl ifanc amrywiol i ffurfio Grŵp Cynghori Ieuenctid (YAG) a dod â phrofiad byw ar draws meysydd allweddol gan gynnwys eiriolaeth, atal trais, symudedd cymdeithasol ac iechyd meddwl. Eisteddodd Grŵp Cynghori Arbenigol o 14 o arbenigwyr o amrywiaeth o sectorau ochr yn ochr â’r YAG i ddod ag arbenigedd o sectorau perthnasol, gan roi mewnbwn a herio syniadau.

    Ffurfiodd y DCMS bartneriaethau â chonsortiwm arbenigol – ymgynghoriaeth ymchwil farchnad Savanta, My Life My Say a’r Mudiad #iwill gyda gwaith cydlynu gan Volunteering Matters a UK Youth – i sefydlu ymgyrch ymgysylltu dan arweiniad ieuenctid i sicrhau bod pobl ifanc o bob rhan o’r wlad yn cael cyfle i ddweud eu dweud. Gweithiodd y consortiwm gyda deg Cydweithiwr Ieuenctid i sicrhau bod yr holl weithgareddau ymgyrchu yn cael eu dylunio a’u harwain gan bobl ifanc mewn gwirionedd. Defnyddiodd yr ymgyrch “Deliver You” ystod o ddulliau arloesol wedi’u targedu er mwyn sicrhau bod grwpiau sydd wedi’u tangynrychioli yn gallu lleisio’u barn. Sicrhaodd yr ymgyrch fewnwelediadau gan fwy nag 20,000 o bobl ifanc.

    Mae ein hymagwedd wedi grymuso pobl ifanc i arwain newid wrth galon y broses o lunio polisïau ac yn eu bywydau eu hunain. Bydd eu profiadau byw, gan gynnwys eu pryderon a’u gobeithion ar gyfer y dyfodol, yn sail i uchelgais newydd i bobl ifanc yn y Strategaeth Ieuenctid Genedlaethol.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn

    Cydweithio fel cynghrair.

    Mae Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn yn grymuso cymunedau Ynys Môn drwy gynghreiriau cymunedol i fynd ati i lunio gwasanaethau lleol. O’r blaen, roedd darpariaeth gwasanaethau traddodiadol o’r brig i lawr yn aml yn anwybyddu anghenion unigryw cymunedau. Roedd hyn yn creu rhwystr oedd yn atal dinasyddion rhag cyfranogi, gyda dinasyddion yn aml yn teimlo eu bod nhw heb gysylltiad â’r penderfyniadau oedd yn effeithio arnyn nhw. Cafodd cynllun Cynllunio Lle Medrwn Môn ei ddatblygu gyda Chyngor Sir Ynys Môn i helpu i ddod o hyd i ateb. Gyda chymorth cyllid gan Lywodraeth Cymru a thrwy ddefnyddio egwyddorion Cynllun Trydydd Sector Cymru, sefydlodd y rhaglen Gynghreiriau Cymunedol sy’n creu map o asedau cymunedol yn eu hardal, gan gynnwys cyfleusterau corfforol a’r sgiliau a’r profiadau lleol sydd ar gael. Bydden nhw’n gweithio wedyn gyda’r gwasanaethau statudol i ddatblygu gwasanaethau sydd wedi’u seilio ar asedau ac anghenion lleol.

    Mae manteision Cynllunio Lle yn cynnwys cynnydd ym mhresenoldeb grwpiau cymunedol, defnyddio adeiladau cymunedol, a mwy o gyfleoedd i wirfoddoli. Mae Linc Cymunedol Môn, sef rhaglen presgripsiynu cymdeithasol i drigolion, wedi dod yn bwynt mynediad sengl ar gyfer gwasanaethau ymyrraeth ac atal cynnar i ddarparwyr statudol gan gynnwys y tîm iechyd meddwl cymunedol, darparwyr cymorth tai, meddygon teulu, a’r heddlu lleol. Erbyn hyn mae un o’r Cynghreiriau Cymunedol, sef Cynghrair Seiriol, yn Sefydliad Elusennol Corfforedig sy’n cyflogi ei staff ei hun, yn rhedeg ei drafnidiaeth gymunedol ei hun ac yn cynhyrchu ei arian ei hun ar gyfer prosiectau ar raddfa fach dan arweiniad y gymuned. Mae hyn wedi gwella perthnasoedd rhwng y llywodraeth a’r gymdeithas sifil trwy hwyluso mwy o ymddiriedaeth a diwylliant o gyfrifoldeb cyffredin. Mae’r gwasanaethau, wedi’u datganoli ac wedi’u cadw, wedi dod yn fwy perthnasol a hygyrch, gan adeiladu gwydnwch cymunedol cryfach trwy gyfranogiad gweithredol. Mae partneriaid y sector cyhoeddus yn dal yn ymrwymo i gynllunio cymunedol ystyrlon, gyda Chynllunio Lle bellach wedi’i ysgrifennu’n uniongyrchol i mewn i ddisgrifiadau swydd a dyletswyddau swyddogion gweithredol Cyngor Ynys Môn ynghyd ag ymrwymiad i sicrhau bod holl adrannau’r cyngor yn ymwybodol o’u cyfrifoldebau i gynnal y ffordd yma o weithio.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Leeds

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Cyngor Dinas Leeds

    Adeiladu partneriaethau effeithiol trwy gyfathrebu ac ymgysylltu rhagweithiol.

    Mae Cyngor Dinas Leeds yn adeiladu partneriaethau cryf gyda’r gymdeithas sifil trwy gyfathrebu ac ymgysylltu cyson a rhagweithiol. Wrth wraidd hyn mae Partneriaeth y Trydydd Sector, sef fforwm strategol sy’n dod ag uwch arweinwyr o’r Cyngor, y GIG, prifysgolion, yr Awdurdod Cyfunol, Trydydd Sector Leeds, a chynrychiolwyr eraill o’r gymdeithas sifil at ei gilydd. Mae’r llwyfan yma yn caniatáu deialog gynnar, agored ar faterion allweddol ledled y ddinas, i gefnogi sector cymdeithas sifil gwydn a ffyniannus sy’n parhau i gyflawni canlyniadau cadarnhaol i drigolion Leeds.

    Mae’r Bartneriaeth yn cyfarfod bob yn ail fis gydag agendâu sydd wedi’u cydgynhyrchu ac mae’n rhannu diweddariadau rheolaidd. Mae hyn yn cynnwys trosolwg blynyddol o sefyllfa ariannol y cyngor, y gyllideb arfaethedig, a’r risgiau allweddol. Mae’r mewnwelediadau hyn yn helpu i reoli disgwyliadau a llywio negeseuon y gymdeithas sifil. Hefyd, mae cyfarfodydd brecwast bob dwy flynedd yn dod ag arweinwyr y gymdeithas sifil a’r cyngor ynghyd i gysoni strategaethau lobïo a chodi’r effaith gymdeithasol i’r eithaf.

    Mae’r cyfleoedd ymgysylltu cyson yma wedi helpu i adeiladu ymddiriedaeth, ymgorffori safbwyntiau’r gymdeithas sifil wrth ddatblygu strategaethau, ac ategu cyfathrebu tryloyw, dwyffordd. Mae hefyd yn cryfhau cydweithio, gan helpu i sicrhau bod penderfyniadau’n cyd-fynd ag anghenion cymunedol.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Mae cyfathrebu cyson a rhagweithiol yn cael ei ategu trwy ddarparu mannau diffiniedig ar gyfer ymgysylltu rheolaidd rhwng y partneriaid, ochr yn ochr â thryloywder wrth wneud penderfyniadau. Mae hyn yn bwysig ar gyfer adeiladu partneriaethau effeithiol a dibynadwy.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Trawsnewid y GIG

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Trawsnewid y GIG

    Cydweithredu yn llunio iechyd pobl ar gyfer y dyfodol.

    Trwy ddeialog agored a phartneriaethau â’r gymdeithas sifil, mae Cenhadaeth Iechyd llywodraeth y Deyrnas Unedig wrthi’n adeiladu Gwasanaeth Iechyd Gwladol (GIG) yn Lloegr sy’n addas at y dyfodol.

    Gosododd yr Adran Iechyd a Gofal Cymdeithasol strategaeth ymgysylltu gynhwysfawr ar waith i lywio datblygiad y Cynllun Iechyd 10 Mlynedd, sy’n troi’r miloedd o fewnwelediadau a gasglwyd yn gynllun gweithredu clir. Gall y gymdeithas sifil chwarae rhan hanfodol wrth ategu’r tair sifft sylfaenol: o’r ysbyty i’r gymuned, o analog i ddigidol ac o driniaeth i atal.

    Mae’r Cynllun Iechyd 10 Mlynedd yn cynnwys nod penodol o sicrhau mai’r GIG yw’r partner gorau posibl a’r darparwr gofal iechyd cyhoeddus mwyaf cydweithredol yn y byd. Drwy arloesi o’r gwaelod i fyny ac ar lawr gwlad y byddwn ni’n gwneud y cynnydd mwyaf posibl. Ochr yn ochr â gosod strategaeth, bydd gan y Cynllun nod penodol o harneisio partneriaethau â buddsoddwyr, diwydiant, llywodraeth leol, cyflogwyr, busnesau bach a chanolig, mudiadau gwirfoddol ac undebau llafur. Bydd dyfnhau’r berthynas â phartneriaid yn y gymdeithas sifil yn helpu i gyflawni nodau’r Cynllun Iechyd 10 Mlynedd, gan gynnwys trwy feithrin model “Gwasanaeth Iechyd Cymdogaeth”.

    Yr uchelgais yw defnyddio nifer o ddarparwyr – yn y GIG, y sector gwirfoddol, y sector annibynnol a mentrau cymdeithasol. Lle mae arloesedd mor gyflym yn digwydd heddiw o ran sut y gellir trawsnewid gwasanaethau trwy ddatblygiadau mewn gwyddoniaeth a thechnoleg, mae’r llywodraeth am ehangu eco-system y darparwyr. Er enghraifft, mae yna botensial enfawr i ystod eang o ddarparwyr gynnig gwerth gwirioneddol yn y Gwasanaeth Iechyd Cymdogaeth. Y nod sydd gennym yw sefydlu Canolfan Iechyd Cymdogaeth ym mhob cymuned, sef ‘siop un stop’ ar gyfer gofal i gleifion a’r man y bydd timau aml-ddisgyblaeth yn gweithredu ohono. Bydd Canolfannau Iechyd Cymdogaeth yn cydleoli gwasanaethau’r GIG, yr awdurdodau lleol a’r sector gwirfoddol i helpu i greu arlwy sy’n ateb anghenion y boblogaeth yn holistig.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Y Cynllun i Wneud i Waith Dalu

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Y Cynllun i Wneud i Waith Dalu

    Cydweithredu cynnar a chynhwysol â rhanddeiliaid.

    O’r diwrnod cyntaf yn y swydd, mae’r Llywodraeth wedi nodi ei hymrwymiad i greu swyddi sy’n rhoi diogelwch, yn trin gweithwyr yn deg, ac yn talu cyflog dechau. I helpu i gyflawni hyn, ymrwymodd y Llywodraeth i barhau i weithio’n agos mewn partneriaeth â busnes ac undebau llafur a hynny ar lefel y gweinidogion a’r swyddogion. Mae’r gwaith teirochrog yma wedi’i ymgorffori yn y gwaith o gyflawni’r Cynllun i Wneud i Waith Dalu ac fel rhan o ddatblygiad Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth nodedig y Llywodraeth.

    Mae’r ffordd yma o weithio wedi cynnwys nifer o sesiynau ymgysylltu i glywed barn onest ac amrywiol o amryw o safbwyntiau a chefndiroedd. Mae’r ddirnadaeth a’r adborth arbenigol a manwl a gafwyd o’r gwaith teirochrog wedi bod yn amhrisiadwy wrth bennu’r manylion cywir ar draws y Cynllun i Wneud i Waith Dalu a’r Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth. O hawliau newydd ar oriau gwarantedig, i dâl salwch, ac i amddiffyn rhag diswyddo annheg, mae cynrychiolwyr undebau llafur a busnes wedi cymryd rhan weithredol i lywio datblygiad y polisi a byddan nhw’n parhau â’u cyfranogiad yn ystod y gweithredu.

    Mae’r dull cydweithredol yma wedi sicrhau bod datblygu’r Cynllun i Wneud i Waith Dalu a’r Bil Hawliau Cyflogaeth wedi elwa o arbenigedd a safbwyntiau ymarferol cynrychiolwyr cyflogwyr a chyflogeion. Mae Gweinidogion a Chyfarwyddiaeth Hawliau Cyflogaeth y DBT wedi ymgysylltu â mwy na 190 o randdeiliaid; gan sicrhau bod y Llywodraeth yn ymgysylltu’n eang ac yn ddwfn. Bydd y polisïau sy’n deillio o hynny yn rhoi’r uwchraddiad mwyaf mewn hawliau gweithwyr mewn cenhedlaeth.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Mae cydweithredu cynnar a helaeth â’r rhanddeiliaid allweddol yn hanfodol ar gyfer datblygu deddfwriaeth cyflogaeth effeithiol sy’n ennyn derbyniad da. Dylai’r dull yma gael ei barhau trwy gydol y gwaith datblygu polisi. Mae ymgorffori gwaith teirochrog yn meithrin dealltwriaeth fwy cynhwysfawr o’r materion ac yn helpu i liniaru canlyniadau anfwriadol.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Rhaglen Bregusrwydd Cynllun Preswylio’n Sefydlog yr UE (EUSS)

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Rhaglen Bregusrwydd Cynllun Preswylio’n Sefydlog yr UE (EUSS)

    Trosoli data a thryloywder i bontio rhaniadau digidol dinasyddion bregus.

    Gan fod Cynllun Preswylio’n Sefydlog yr UE wedi’i ddylunio ar sail digidol yn gyntaf, roedd yn creu heriau i ddinasyddion o’r UE sy’n agored i niwed yn y Deyrnas Unedig, gan gynnwys y rhai sy’n wynebu rhwystrau iaith, allgáu digidol, problemau iechyd meddwl a digartrefedd. Roedd y materion hyn yn rhwystro pobl rhag gwneud cais am statws sefydlog a sicrhau statws sefydlog yn y Deyrnas Unedig. Er bod llawer o sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil (CSOs) mewn sefyllfa unigryw i gyrraedd a chefnogi’r unigolion hyn, doedd ganddyn nhw mo’r data cywir i weithio arno.

    Mewn ymateb, lansiodd y llywodraeth raglen grant ar gyfer CSOs i wella’r broses o gasglu, a rhannu data ac i wella’i dryloywder. Roedd hyn yn caniatáu gwell dulliau rhannu data rhwng y llywodraeth a derbynwyr y grantiau ar gyfer asesiadau uniongyrchol, gan sefydlu safonau tryloywder, a chynnig cefnogaeth i sefydliadau llai ym maes cydymffurfio â rheolaeth data. Roedd y data a gasglwyd oddi wrth y gymdeithas sifil yn llywio newidiadau mewn polisi ac allgymorth, gan wella’r ddealltwriaeth o anghenion a chaniatáu atebion cydweithredol, wedi’u seilio ar dystiolaeth.

    Dyrannwyd dros £32.5 miliwn yn llwyddiannus i fwy na 70 o sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil, gan eu galluogi i roi cymorth hanfodol i fwy na 500,000 o ddinasyddion bregus na fydden nhw wedi gwneud cais i’r cynllun fel arall. Helpodd y fenter hanfodol yma unigolion i ddeall y cynllun, llenwi ceisiadau, a chael mynediad at wasanaethau cyfreithiol neu wasanaethau cyfieithu.

    Helpodd y grantiau hefyd bedwar sefydliad cenedlaethol (un yr un yng Nghymru, Lloegr, yr Alban a Gogledd Iwerddon) a nifer o sefydliadau rhanbarthol, gan sicrhau mynediad at wasanaethau ledled y Deyrnas Unedig. Un enghraifft yw Citizens Advice Scotland, gyda 1,000 o gynghorwyr mewn 200 o leoliadau allgymorth yn rhoi cyngor ar Gynllun Preswylio’n Sefydlog yr UE (EUSS), gan gynnwys budd-daliadau, tai, a chymorth ynglŷn â dyledion, gan wella lles cymunedol.

    Mae’r camau nesaf yn cynnwys cymhwyso’r model yma at gynlluniau yn y dyfodol ac olrhain effeithiau hirdymor ar wydnwch cymunedol.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Bwrdeistref Camden Llundain

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Case study

    Cyfamod y Gymdeithas Sifil: Bwrdeistref Camden Llundain

    Cyllid digyfyngiad a hirdymor.

    Ers 2015, mae Bwrdeistref Camden yn Llundain yn gweithredu cynllun cymorth hirdymor i’r sector gwirfoddol, gan gynnwys cynnig grantiau saith mlynedd drwy’r Gronfa Partneriaid Cymunedol. Nod y dull hwn yw cynyddu sefydlogrwydd, caniatáu cynllunio strategol, a lleihau’r fiwrocratiaeth sy’n gysylltiedig â cheisiadau grant niferus.

    Lansiodd y Cyngor raglen Cronfa Partneriaid Cymunedol saith mlynedd (2024 i 2031), gan ddarparu grantiau craidd i sefydliadau’r gymdeithas sifil leol sy’n cyflawni newid cymdeithasol arwyddocaol. Cafodd 38 o sefydliadau grantiau yn amrywio o £10,000 i £100,000 y flwyddyn, sef rhan o fuddsoddiad blynyddol ehangach o £4 miliwn. Mae’r cyllid aml-flwyddyn wedi cryfhau perthnasoedd yn sylweddol, gan feithrin amgylchedd cydweithredol sy’n canolbwyntio ar nodau cymunedol cyffredin. Roedd hyblygrwydd y cyllid yn fodd i sefydliadau drosoli cyllid arall ac addasu at anghenion sy’n esblygu. Wrth ddylunio’r rhaglen, cafodd y Cyngor eu harwain gan egwyddorion Grantiau Agored ac Ymddiriedus y Sefydliad Gweithredu Gwirfoddol (IVAR), a daeth yn un o’r asiantaethau cyhoeddus cyntaf i ymuno â’r fenter yma sy’n hybu’r arferion gorau mewn cyllid grantiau. Gan dynnu ar y gwersi a ddysgwyd o raglenni cyllido blaenorol a thrwy ymateb i newidiadau yn anghenion allanol cymunedau a sefydliadau ar lawr gwlad, mae Camden yn dal i ddatblygu ecosystem gyllido amrywiol i gefnogi mwy o sefydliadau ar wahanol gyfnodau datblygu.

    Y gwersi allweddol

    Mae’r dull yma wedi hybu mwy o gydweithredu, cyd-gymorth, a gweithio cydweithredol, gan symud perthnasoedd o’r trafodaethol i’r strategol, gan rymuso sefydliadau i gyflawni effaith gymunedol barhaol.

    Updates to this page

    Published 17 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • Cricket to return at LA28 Olympics after 128 years, T20 format confirmed

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Cricket will return to the Olympic stage after more than a century, with the sport set to feature in the Los Angeles 2028 Games in the fast-paced Twenty20 (T20) format.

    The men’s and women’s competitions will each feature six teams, with matches scheduled to begin on July 12 at Fairgrounds Stadium in Pomona, a temporary venue located roughly 50km east of downtown Los Angeles. The women’s medal match is slated for July 20, while the men’s final will be held on July 29.

    A total of 180 players will participate across the two events, with each team allowed to name a 15-member squad. Most match days will feature double-headers, starting at 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. local time. No games are scheduled on July 14 and 21.

    Cricket last featured in the Olympics at the 1900 Paris Games, when Great Britain defeated France in the only match played. Its return comes alongside four other sports — baseball/softball, flag football, lacrosse, and squash — approved by the International Olympic Committee for LA28.

    “This is a Games for all, and cricket’s inclusion reflects that spirit,” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said in a statement. She also cited the success of the city’s PlayLA youth sports initiative, which recently surpassed one million enrollments.

    The Fairgrounds Stadium, located at the Fairplex complex in Pomona, spans nearly 500 acres and regularly hosts large-scale events including the LA County Fair. It will serve as the sole venue for the cricket tournament.

    Cricket’s addition follows growing interest in the sport in the United States, particularly after the country co-hosted the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 with the West Indies. Matches were held in Grand Prairie, Lauderhill, and New York.

    Women’s cricket has seen increased visibility in recent years, debuting at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 and featuring in three Asian Games editions (2010, 2014, 2023) alongside the men’s tournament.

    The International Cricket Council (ICC), in coordination with national boards, is now working on creating a fair and transparent qualification pathway to ensure that top-performing teams get a chance to compete at LA28.

    (With agency input)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sports day coupons to be given out

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Leisure & Cultural Services Department (LCSD) announced today that it will distribute free activity coupons starting July 21 for Sport For All Day 2025, which will be held on August 3.

     

    Citizens with the coupons can take part in free recreation and sports programmes at designated sports centres on the event day.

     

    Sport For All Day 2025’s theme is “Coalescing together for the National Games”, echoing Hong Kong’s cohosting of the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games with Guangdong Province and the Macau Special Administrative Region for the first time.

     

    Cheerleading and breaking performances, rugby and golf fun activities, virtual fencing, karting and triathlon, along with table tennis fun activities for people with different abilities will be set up at Kowloon Park Sports Centre, the event’s prime venue.

     

    Other designated sports centres will organise fitness programmes, health talks, sports demonstrations and a fun day for families, children, youngsters, the elderly and those with disabilities.

     

    Activity coupons will be available from 8.30am on July 21 at the LCSD District Leisure Services Offices or designated venues. A portion of the coupons will be reserved for walk-in participants on the event day.

     

    Various LCSD leisure facilities will be open for free use on Sport For All Day. Ballot applications for August 3 can be made via SmartPLAY from now until July 23.

     

    Additionally, the Sports Federation & Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China will hold the Sport for All Experience Day at GO PARK Sai Sha on August 3, where the LCSD will set up an activity booth to promote the joy of sports.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • Stokes’ long bowling spells vs India a great sign for England, says Root

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Ben Stokes’ lengthy bowling spells against India in the third test shows the England all-rounder has full confidence in his body after coming through injury layoffs, batter Joe Root said.

    The England captain bowled 44 overs at Lord’s, the most of any bowler in the match, and took five wickets to guide the hosts to a 22-run victory and 2-1 lead in the five-match series. He contributed 44 and 33 runs and was named player of the match.

    The 34-year-old underwent a successful operation on a torn hamstring in December before undergoing a physical fitness programme during which he lost 10 kg.

    “He’s just desperate to be the man and make things happen,” former skipper Root told BBC Sport.

    “Incredible effort to be able to do that. I was just panicking that he wasn’t going to make it through the game after a couple of bad injuries but he clearly trusts his body now.

    “It’s a great sign for us moving forward. I mean it really is isn’t it, because that’s back to his best.”

    The fourth test begins on July 23 at Old Trafford.

    (Reuters)

     

  • Norway’s Olympic medallist Gronvold dies at 49 after lightning strike

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Olympic ski cross bronze medallist Audun Gronvold has died at the age of 49 after being struck by lightning during a cabin trip, the Norwegian Ski Federation said on Wednesday.

    Gronvold was rushed to hospital and received treatment for his injuries but died late on Tuesday, it added.

    Born in Hamar, Gronvold won bronze medals in men’s ski cross at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and 2005 World Ski Championships.

    He was a national team athlete in alpine skiing from the 1993-94 to the 2003-04 season.

    “Norwegian skiing has lost a remarkable figure who has meant so much to both the alpine and freestyle communities,” federation president Tove Moe Dyrhaug said.

    “Audun had a great career in both alpine skiing and ski cross, before he became a national team coach in ski cross. The Norwegian Ski Association also remembers his efforts on the ski board. There will be a big void after Audun.”

    -Reuters

  • West Indies all-rounder Russell to retire from international cricket

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Two-time Twenty20 World Cup winner Andre Russell will retire from international cricket at age 37 after the second T20 match against Australia on July 22 in his hometown of Kingston, Jamaica, Cricket West Indies (CWI) said on Wednesday.

    All-rounder Russell, who won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016, has earned 84 international caps in the format, scoring three fifties and taking 61 wickets.

    The white-ball specialist, who played only one test match, also appeared in 56 One-Day Internationals (ODI), taking 70 wickets. He last played in the 50-over format in 2019.

    “Words cannot explain what it meant. To represent the West Indies has been one of the proudest achievements in my life,” Russell said in a statement.

    “When I was a kid, I did not expect to get to this level, but the more you start to play and get to love the sport, you realize what you can achieve. This inspired me to become better because I wanted to leave a mark in the maroon colours and become an inspiration to others.”

    Russell, who travels around the world competing in T20 leagues and most recently appeared in Major League Cricket in the U.S. this month, said he wanted to finish his international career on a high.

    “His hunger to perform and win for West Indies has never wavered. I wish him all the best on his next chapter, and I hope he continues to inspire generations to come,” West Indies coach Daren Sammy said.

    West Indies host Australia in the first T20 of the five-match series on Sunday in Kingston. Australia won their test series 3-0.

    -Reuters

  • MIL-OSI: Bitget Joins Ondo’s Global Markets Alliance to Expand Global Access to Over Hundred Tokenized RWAs

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    VICTORIA, Seychelles, July 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has officially joined the Global Markets Alliance, a collaborative initiative designed to align industry standards and promote interoperability for tokenized securities by Ondo Finance. This alliance brings together top players across the digital asset ecosystem to accelerate the adoption and accessibility of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), including tokenized stocks, ETFs, and more.

    As part of this partnership, Bitget users will soon be able to access over 100 tokenized U.S. equities, ETFs, and money market funds, expanding their investment universe beyond traditional crypto assets. The new offerings will go live on Bitget later this summer, aligning with the platform’s vision of enabling users to trade smarter and build diversified, resilient portfolios across varied markets.

    Tokenized RWAs are an emerging segment in digital assets, created by the fusion of traditional finance and blockchain technology. By wrapping real-world assets, like equities, into blockchain-based tokens, they allow for 24/7 trading, lower barriers to entry, fractional ownership, and global accessibility. Features that are often limited or entirely unavailable in traditional financial systems are widely utilized.

    “Tokenization will be the major driver of the next phase of digital asset adoption, its market is projected to reach trillions of dollars in the coming years. Supporting tokenized stocks is a step closer to our goal to help users trade smarter,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget. “Through our partnership with Ondo and the Global Markets Alliance, we’re contributing to a more global, liquid, accessible, and inclusive financial market.”

    Ondo’s Global Markets Alliance was created to bring together trusted infrastructure partners, exchanges, custodians, and DeFi platforms to unlock borderless access to high-quality financial products. Its mission is to build a more open, inclusive, and interoperable financial system powered by tokenized assets. Founding members of the alliance include industry leaders such as Solana Foundation, LayerZero, Jupiter, Trust Wallet, Rainbow Wallet, BitGo, Fireblocks, 1inch, Alpaca, and now Bitget, among others.

    “Bringing Ondo’s tokenized stocks and ETFs to Bitget will represent a significant step forward in our mission to make global financial markets accessible onchain. Bitget’s expansive user base will become a critical platform for onchain access to US equities as we continue building the infrastructure for institutional-grade onchain capital markets.” — Nathan Allman, CEO & Founder, Ondo Finance

    With over 700 tokens listed and daily trading volume surpassing 3.5 billion USDT, Bitget ranks as the third-largest spot exchange globally according to CoinGecko. The addition of tokenized stocks and ETFs enable Bitget as an extensive ecosystem of crypto products, helping users navigate both digital and traditional assets.

    About Bitget

    Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 120 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions, while offering real-time access to Bitcoin price, Ethereum price, and other cryptocurrency prices. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet supporting 130+ blockchains and millions of tokens. It offers multi-chain trading, staking, payments, and direct access to 20,000+ DApps, with advanced swaps and market insights built into a single platform.

    Bitget is driving crypto adoption through strategic partnerships, such as its role as the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM markets, as well as a global partner of Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team), to inspire the global community to embrace the future of cryptocurrency. Aligned with its global impact strategy, Bitget has joined hands with UNICEF to support blockchain education for 1.1 million people by 2027. In the world of motorsports, Bitget is the exclusive cryptocurrency exchange partner of MotoGP™, one of the world’s most thrilling championships.

    For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
    For media inquiries, please contact: media@bitget.com

    Risk Warning: Digital asset prices are subject to fluctuation and may experience significant volatility. Investors are advised to only allocate funds they can afford to lose. The value of any investment may be impacted, and there is a possibility that financial objectives may not be met, nor the principal investment recovered. Independent financial advice should always be sought, and personal financial experience and standing carefully considered. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bitget accepts no liability for any potential losses incurred. Nothing contained herein should be construed as financial advice. For further information, please refer to our Terms of Use.

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ae0898b9-37f8-4bb9-be24-7ad71464ce89

    The MIL Network

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI China News

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: Monster’s on the hunt for title shot

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

    Wounded, yet never tamed, China’s former world champion boxer Xu Can, aka “The Monster”, is back on the prowl, more bloodthirsty than ever, as he targets another title shot in a heavier division.

    Following a career setback that saw him lose his belt in 2021, China’s former WBA featherweight world champion Xu Can (right) is ready to punch his way back into title contention in the super featherweight class and become China’s first two-division champion. XINHUA

    The former World Boxing Association featherweight (126 pound, 57kg) belt holder will have his mettle for the title in the 130-pound class seriously tested on Aug 15, when he defends his International Boxing Organization international title in the super featherweight division against French challenger Jaouad Belmehdi on home soil in Beijing.

    The fight was announced on Tuesday as the main event of the “Kzmall’s Night”, a multi-bout boxing show, organized by Beijing-based Max Power Promotions and sanctioned by the IBO, which will be staged at the National Convention Center in the Chinese capital’s Olympic park.

    Xu, China’s first featherweight world champion under a major sanctioning body, is embracing his defense of the intercontinental belt as a statement of his lofty ambition to become the first Chinese man to win world titles across two weight classes.

    “My goal since coming back (from two straight defeats) is to become China’s first two-division world champion,” said Xu, who claimed his first world title by beating Puerto Rico’s Jesus Rojas via a unanimous decision in January 2019 in Houston to snatch up the WBA featherweight strap.

    “And to do so, I need to climb the rankings all over again by taking on some legitimate opponents. I am ready for it, I am serious about my mission and I will let my punches do the talking.”

    After wresting the title from Rojas, Xu kept his momentum rolling with two successful defenses against Japan’s Shun Kubo and Manny Robles III of the United States in the same year. It cemented his status as China’s most internationally recognized pro boxer, which was underlined by a five-star rating on BoxRec in 2019, while drawing another wave of mainstream attention to the sport following retired Olympian Zou Shiming’s back-to-back light flyweight gold medals at Beijing 2008 and London 2012.

    The pandemic, unfortunately, hit at the worst possible time for Xu’s career ascent, severely disrupting his preparations for a third title defense against then British champ Leigh Wood in a bout that later proved to be a Waterloo for the Chinese star, and pushed him almost to the brink of quitting the sport.

    “It was a huge blow for me, psychologically and emotionally, that made me want to give up boxing,” said Xu, who was knocked out by Wood with a 12th-round right hook in July 2021 in England, losing his WBA title.

    Xu’s attempt at an immediate riposte was denied by a split-decision loss to Mexico’s Brandon “Leoncito” Benitez in October 2022, dragging him abruptly out of the sport’s spotlight.

    However, the resilient fighter — known for his slogan: “I am Can, I can!” — refuses to hang up his gloves just yet, having rekindled his fire for a comeback after a yearlong break, accompanied by family and friends, during a healing process that “helped restore his love” for the brutally competitive sport.

    “Looking back at the setbacks, I feel like it was just part of the process of my growth as a pro,” said Xu, a 31-year-old native of Fuzhou, East China’s Jiangxi province.

    “Perhaps, I’ve had too smooth of an early career to be true, progressing on a flat path all the way until losing the belt. Now, I have just started the uphill climb. I am taking steps slower than before, but I am making solid progress — one step at a time,” said Xu, who beat Panama’s Jhonatan Arenas via TKO in his most recent fight in December, claiming the vacant IBO 130-pound international title.

    Standing 1.75 meters tall with impressive range, Xu has built a reputation for high-volume punching and superior endurance during his featherweight reign. However, learning from his defeats, he realizes that striking power, timing and finesse are the keys for success in the super featherweight realm, should he make a convincing run for a world title in the heavier, and more competitive, division.

    Supported by his agency Max Power at Beijing gym M23, Xu, who keeps a 20-4-0 win-loss-draw record, has been focusing on his strength conditioning, footwork and combination diversity to prepare for the fight against Belmehdi (23-1-3), a knockout specialist known as “The Moroccan Bomber “and who is currently rated at three stars on BoxRec.

    “Can is a very good boxer, but I am very confident of my skill. See you on August 15 for an explosive fight,” said the 27-year-old Belmehdi, who’s chalked up 11 KO wins.

    Justin Kennedy, vice-president of IBO, said the winner between Xu and Belmehdi will move closer to a shot at the division’s ultimate prize.

    “This is going to be a great event in the heart of Beijing, in a country that is moving forward rapidly in world boxing with a lot of really world-class fighters coming through,” Kennedy said in a video message played at the news conference launching the event on Tuesday.

    “The fight between these two highly skilled fighters will be a great display of boxing. Please tune in and turn up for what will be an amazing night.”

    MIL OSI China News

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: ASEAN Young Business Leaders to meet in Viet Nam, marking 50 years of ASEAN-New Zealand relations

    Source: Asia New Zealand Foundation

    Business leaders from New Zealand and Southeast Asia will gather in Viet Nam this July for the ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) Summit, taking place from 23-27 July 2025 in Da Nang and Hue. The event is hosted by the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono in partnership with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
    The Summit brings together YBLI programme alumni and entrepreneurs from a range of industries – including agribusiness, technology, tourism, fashion, health, and food and beverage – to connect, collaborate, and explore new growth opportunities.
    “Through this Summit, we aim to build lasting connections among entrepreneurs from New Zealand and ASEAN,” says Suzannah Jessep, Chief Executive at the Asia New Zealand Foundation. “Viet Nam is an important partner in the region and strengthening relationships, trade and economic ties here benefits both sides.”
    Nick Siu, Director of Business and Entrepreneurship at the Foundation, adds, “This is a chance for emerging leaders to learn from each other, find ways to collaborate, and develop new ideas that could lead to partnerships.”
    “YBLI opened doors for my business, helping to secure our first export customer in Singapore. I look forward to strengthening these connections at the upcoming event,” says Nick Carey, Managing Director, Green Meadows Beef, New Zealand.
    “The Summit is a great opportunity to connect with fellow changemakers and discover ways to advance our sectors together,” says Bicky Nguyen, Co-founder, Cricket One, Viet Nam.
    “Since attending the last YBLI event, I’ve grown my consulting firm and am now expanding into Australia and the wider Asia-Pacific region,” says Kaye-Maree Dunn, Managing Director Making Everything Achievable and Āhau NZ Limited.
    The Summit marks 50 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and both ASEAN and Viet Nam, as well as the 30th anniversary of the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
    “New Zealand is proud to be a close friend and partner of ASEAN for more than 50 years,” says New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam, Caroline Beresford. “Strengthening these ties goes beyond diplomacy – the Summit empowers young leaders, builds partnerships, and creates mutually beneficial opportunities for both ASEAN and New Zealand.”
    -END-
    About the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono
    Established in 1994, the Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono is New Zealand’s leading provider of Asia insights and experiences. Its mission is to equip New Zealanders to excel in Asia, by providing research, insights and targeted opportunities to grow their knowledge, connections and experiences across the Asia region. The Foundation’s activities cover more than 20 countries in Asia and are delivered through eight core programmes: arts, business, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, research, Track II diplomacy and sports.
    About the ASEAN Young Business leaders Initiative
    The ASEAN Young Business Leaders Initiative (YBLI) is a key part of the New Zealand Government’s ASEAN strategy. The aim of the programme is to facilitate trade and build connections between business leaders and entrepreneurs in New Zealand and Southeast Asia. This is achieved through short, targeted visits to New Zealand and Southeast Asia for ASEAN entrepreneurs and Kiwi entrepreneurs respectively.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for July 17, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 17, 2025.

    Do women really need more sleep than men? A sleep psychologist explains
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Amelia Scott, Honorary Affiliate and Clinical Psychologist at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, and Macquarie University Research Fellow, Macquarie University klebercordeiro/Getty If you spend any time in the wellness corners of TikTok or Instagram, you’ll see claims women need one to two hours more sleep than

    I created a Vivaldi-inspired sound artwork for the Venice Biennale. The star of the show is an endangered bush-cricket
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Miriama Young, Associate Professor Music Composition, Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, The University of Melbourne Marco Zorzanello It was late January when I got the call. I’m asked to bring my sound art to a collaborative ecology and design project, Song of the Cricket, for the Venice Biennale

    Is it okay to boil water more than once, or should you empty the kettle every time?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Faisal Hai, Professor and Head of School of Civil, Mining, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, University of Wollongong Avocado_studio/Shutterstock The kettle is a household staple practically everywhere – how else would we make our hot drinks? But is it okay to re-boil water that’s already in the kettle

    What does Australian law have to say about sovereign citizens and ‘pseudolaw’?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeleine Perrett, PhD Candidate in Law, University of Adelaide Armed with obscure legal jargon and fringe interpretations of the law, “sovereign citizens” are continuing to test the limits of the Australian justice system’s patience and power. A few weeks ago, two Western Australians were jailed for 30

    Is childbirth really safer for women and babies in private hospitals?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Hannah Dahlen, Professor of Midwifery, Associate Dean Research and HDR, Midwifery Discipline Leader, Western Sydney University A study published this week in the international obstetrics and gynaecology journal BJOG has raised concerns among women due to give birth in Australia’s public hospitals. The study compared the outcomes

    We were part of the world heritage listing of Murujuga. Here’s why all Australians should be proud
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jo McDonald, Professor, Director of Centre for Rock Art Research + Management, The University of Western Australia Senior Ranger, Mardudunhera man Peter Cooper, oversees the Murujuga landscape Jo McDonald, CC BY-SA On Friday, the Murujuga Cultural Landscape in northwest Western Australia was inscribed on the UNESCO World

    Is our mental health determined by where we live – or is it the other way round? New research sheds more light
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matthew Hobbs, Associate Professor and Transforming Lives Fellow, Spatial Data Science and Planetary Health, Sheffield Hallam University Photon-Photos/Getty Images Ever felt like where you live is having an impact on your mental health? Turns out, you’re not imagining things. Our new analysis of eight years of data

    The secret stories of trees are written in the knots and swirls of your floorboards. An expert explains how to read them
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Gregory Moore, Senior Research Associate, School of Agriculture, Food and Ecosystem Sciences, The University of Melbourne Magda Ehlers/Pexels, CC BY Have you ever examined timber floorboards and pondered why they look the way they do? Perhaps you admired the super-fine grain, a stunning red hue or a

    Tasmania is limping towards an election nobody wants. Here’s the state of play
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Robert Hortle, Deputy Director, Tasmanian Policy Exchange, University of Tasmania In the darkest and coldest months of the year, Tasmanians have been slogging through an election campaign no one wanted. It’s been a curious mix of humdrum plodding laced with cyanide levels of bitterness, with the most

    What is astigmatism? Why does it make my vision blurry? And how did I get it?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Flora Hui, Research Fellow, Centre for Eye Research Australia and Honorary Fellow, Department of Surgery (Ophthalmology), The University of Melbourne Ground Picture/Shutterstock Have you ever gone to the optometrist for an eye test and were told your eye was shaped like a football? Or perhaps you’ve noticed

    From Sister Rosetta Tharpe to Ronnie Yoshiko Fujiyama: how electric guitarists challenge expectations of gender
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Janelle K Johnstone, Associate Lecturer Crime, Justice and Legal Studies, PhD Candidate School of Social Inquiry, La Trobe University American gospel singer and guitarist Sister Rosetta Tharpe playing a Gibson Les Paul electric guitar on stage in 1957. Chris Ware/Keystone Features/Hulton Archive/Getty Images I’ve been playing a

    Ken Henry urges nature law reform after decades of ‘intergenerational bastardry’
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Phillipa C. McCormack, Future Making Fellow, Environment Institute, University of Adelaide Former Treasury Secretary Ken Henry has warned Australia’s global environmental reputation is at risk if the Albanese government fails to reform nature laws this term. In his speech to the National Press Club on Wednesday, Henry

    David Robie: New Zealand must do more for Pacific and confront nuclear powers
    Rongelap Islanders on board the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior travelling to their new home on Mejatto Island in 1985 — less than two months before the bombing. Image: ©1985 David Robie/Eyes of Fire He accused the coalition government of being “too timid” and “afraid of offending President Donald Trump” to make a stand on the

    First-hand view of peacemaking challenge in the ‘Holy Land’
    Occupied West Bank-based New Zealand journalist Cole Martin asks who are the peacemakers? BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin As a Kiwi journalist living in the occupied West Bank, I can list endless reasons why there is no peace in the “Holy Land”. I live in a refugee camp, alongside families who were expelled from their

    Politics with Michelle Grattan: Malcolm Turnbull on Australia’s ‘dumb’ defence debate
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra The Albanese government remains in complicated territory on the international stage. It has to tread carefully with China, despite the marked warming of the bilateral relationship. It is yet to find its line and length with the unpredictable Trump administration.

    Why is Israel bombing Syria?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ali Mamouri, Research Fellow, Middle East Studies, Deakin University Conflict in Syria has escalated with Israel launching bombing raids against its northern neighbour. It follows months of fluctuating tensions in southern Syria between the Druze minority and forces aligned with the new government in Damascus. Clashes erupted

    Bougainville election: More than 400 candidates vie for parliament
    By Don Wiseman, RNZ Pacific senior journalist More than 400 candidates have put their hands up to contest the Bougainville general election in September, hoping to enter Parliament. Incumbent President Ishmael Toroama is among the 404 people lining up to win a seat. Bougainville is involved in the process of achieving independence from Papua New

    Scientists could be accidentally damaging fossils with a method we thought was safe
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mathieu Duval, Adjunct Senior Researcher at Griffith University and La Trobe University, and Ramón y Cajal (Senior) Research Fellow, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) 185,000-year-old human fossil jawbone from Misliya Cave, Israel. Gerhard Weber, University of Vienna, CC BY-ND Fossils are invaluable archives

    Right-wing political group Advance is in the headlines. What is it and what does it stand for?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mark Riboldi, Lecturer in Social Impact and Social Change, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney Advance/Facebook Political lobby group Advance has been back in the headlines this week. It was revealed an organisation headed by the husband of the Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism, Jillian Segal,

    We travelled to Antarctica to see if a Māori lunar calendar might help track environmental change
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Holly Winton, Senior Research Fellow in Climatology, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington Holly Winton, CC BY-SA Antarctica’s patterns of stark seasonal changes, with months of darkness followed by a summer of 24-hour daylight, prompted us to explore how a Māori lunar and environmental calendar

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

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

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

    Marco Zorzanello

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Art and the Anthropocene

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Sounds of nature and Vivaldi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Bridging the past and an imagined future

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Miriama Young does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

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

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

    Marco Zorzanello

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Art and the Anthropocene

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Sounds of nature and Vivaldi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Bridging the past and an imagined future

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Miriama Young does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI USA: Reed, Environmental Leaders Tout Importance of BEACH Grant Clean Water Monitoring Program

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Rhode Island Jack Reed

    As Trump seeks to eliminate BEACH grants and cut funding to stop sewage overflows and runoff pollution, Reed seeks to keep clean water monitoring system afloat and restore clean water funding investments

    WASHINGTON, DC – As more people head to coastal beaches, Great Lakes, and local waterways to enjoy the summer weather, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) is leading federal efforts to help ensure America’s swimming beaches remain clean, safe, and welcoming to the public and protect human health, environmental health, and the economic health of coastal communities. 

    Today, outside the U.S. Capitol, Senator Reed joined Environment America, NCAA athletes who train in open waters, public health advocates, and fellow members of Congress to discuss the importance of the Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act grant program to help monitor beach water quality nationwide. VIDEO AVAILABLE.

    Federal BEACH grants support beach water-quality collection, testing, and monitoring and public notification efforts if bacteria levels become unsafe.

    “The BEACH Act is a smart investment in protecting public health, economic health, and the health of our waterways.  It ensures people are informed when temporary beach closures are warranted and provides policymakers with the data needed to ensure sound management,” said Senator Reed, a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, which oversees federal BEACH Act funding.  Reed and his fellow appropriators helped make $9.7 million in BEACH grant funding for water quality monitoring at coastal and Great Lakes beaches in 2025 and he and several colleagues requested at least $15 million for BEACH grants in Fiscal Year 2026.  “Clean, safe beaches are an economic and environmental imperative.  I oppose President Trump’s attempt to eliminate BEACH grants and clean water infrastructure funds.  Fixing and updating water systems isn’t cheap or easy.  But it’s absolutely essential to public health, environmental health, and America’s economic well-being.”

    “There’s nothing better than running into the water with your friends and family on a hot day in summer, but too often, our favorite beaches aren’t safe for swimming,” said Lisa Frank, executive director of Environment America, a non-profit that recently released its annual Safe for Swimming? report on the water quality of America’s beaches. “Keeping sewage pollution out of our waterways isn’t rocket science, but it’s clear more investment is needed to protect our health.”

    “Growing up on the shores of Lake Erie, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for our beaches. These natural wonders are invaluable sources of recreation and economic drivers for our communities, but pollution and contamination threaten to make them too dangerous for the public,” said U.S. Representative Dave Joyce (R-OH). “I urge Congress to swiftly pass the BEACH Act, which will ensure that our beaches and the surrounding waters remain safe for future generations.”

    “As a Division-1 rower, being able to train on a waterway without fear of exposure to nasty bacteria is vital to my well-being,” said Jordan Stock, a student athlete at Stanford University. “I should not have to risk my health to practice the sport that I love. From competitive water athletes like myself, to the local businesses sustained by beach tourism and clean water, to casual swimmers, surfers and sailors, this issue affects everyone.” 

    Common issues that make waterways unsafe include sewer overflows and runoff pollution.  Swimming in waters contaminated with elevated levels of enterococci bacteria can cause gastrointestinal illness, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which administers BEACH grants to coastal and Great Lake states based on a formula that includes the length of the recipients’ beach season, number of miles of shoreline, and population. Recipients must also have an EPA- approved water quality standards program.

    Researchers estimate that people get sick 57 million times a year from swimming in polluted waters and Environment America released a new study showing nearly two-thirds of U.S. beaches (1,930 out of 3,187) experienced fecal contamination at some point last year, with roughly 1 in 7 beaches — 453 of those sampled — experiencing potentially unsafe fecal contamination on at least 25 percent of the days on which testing occurred.

    Since Senator Reed helped launch the BEACH Act in 2001, over $225 million in BEACH grants have been awarded to test beach waters for illness-causing bacteria, identify the sources of pollution problems, and help notify the public.  This year’s continuing resolution appropriated nearly $10 million in BEACH Act funds, resulting in $210,000 for Rhode Island.  But now, the Trump Administration is trying to eliminate the program.

    Nationwide, Gulf Coast beaches experienced the biggest share of unsafe water quality days in 2024 — 84 percent of Gulf Coast beaches experienced at least one unsafe swimming day — while just 10 percent of Alaska and Hawaii’s beaches had an unsafe day.

    Rhode Island’s coastal beach-water quality monitoring program is managed by the Rhode Island Department of Health and works closely with the state’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM), cities, towns, and volunteer groups.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-Evening Report: What does Australian law have to say about sovereign citizens and ‘pseudolaw’?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Madeleine Perrett, PhD Candidate in Law, University of Adelaide

    Armed with obscure legal jargon and fringe interpretations of the law, “sovereign citizens” are continuing to test the limits of the Australian justice system’s patience and power.

    A few weeks ago, two Western Australians were jailed for 30 days after defying a Supreme Court order and refusing to acknowledge the court’s authority.

    Weeks earlier, former AFL footballer Warren Tredrea told the Federal Court he could not pay his legal costs to his former employer, Channel 9, because he did not believe in Australian legal tender.

    And former One Nation senator Rod Culleton is currently fighting the Australian Federal Police, arguing his court-declared bankruptcy is not legally binding and therefore should not affect his federal election nomination.

    These are not isolated incidents. They are part of a growing trend known as “pseudolaw”.

    What is ‘pseudolaw’?

    Pseudolaw describes the practice of constructing legal arguments that sound convincing but are fundamentally wrong.

    It often relies on real law or cases, twisting them through bizarre or inaccurate interpretations. It looks like law, but isn’t.

    Common pseudolegal arguments include:

    • governments have no authority over “natural persons”
    • writing a legal name in all capital letters creates a separate legal entity (a “strawman”), which is not subject to state authority
    • money is not real and anything can be legal tender
    • tax laws only apply to federal entities, not individuals
    • “natural rights” override statutes and court-made rules.

    Not one of these arguments has ever succeeded in an Australian court.

    What are ‘sovereign citizens’?

    Those who believe and engage in pseudolaw are sometimes termed “sovereign citizens” or “SovCits”, a label imported from the United States during the 1970s.

    The sovereign citizen “movement” reached Australia in the late 1990s.

    As the Australian Federal Police explain, sovereign citizens believe they are morally and legally correct, and are quite open about their beliefs and plans.

    They reject government authority, refuse to comply with laws and rely on complex but false legal theories to justify their actions.

    Because many social media platforms ban their content, sovereign citizens frequently communicate through encrypted messaging apps or gather in person at protests and “common law courts” – unofficial tribunals based on a distorted reading of historical legal principles. These “courts” claim to operate outside state authority and often “try” public officials, file false claims against property and carry out other pseudolegal actions with no real legal force.

    They claim to be peaceful and say they are acting in “self-defence” against perceived government overreach. But a small number turn violent.

    The rise of pseudolaw in Australia

    In the 1970s, WA farmer Leonard Casley labelled his farm the “Hutt River Province”, then attempted to secede from the Commonwealth of Australia and the State of Western Australia.

    A curiosity back then, but a warning sign.

    For years, fringe tax protesters and anti-government groups quietly pushed these ideas.

    Then the COVID pandemic hit: lockdowns, mandates and rising distrust meant pseudolaw went more viral. Social media lit up with people claiming they weren’t subject to Australian law.

    They spouted strawman theories, cited fake laws and filmed themselves refusing police orders.

    Now it’s in the courts, on the streets and in online echo chambers.

    It is not just noise. It is congesting the judicial system and putting people, including adherents, at risk.

    A recent South Australian study highlights how pseudolaw is increasingly disrupting legal processes in that state.

    The law, however, still stands, no matter what those on YouTube say.

    What the ‘real’ law says

    To be clear, pseudolaw looks real but isn’t; the real law is clear on many of the points raised by sovereign citizens.

    For example, the federal government derives its authority to govern from the Commonwealth Constitution. This document clearly states the government has executive authority and can make laws that bind all Australians.

    This includes tax laws and laws declaring Australian money as legal tender: in 2007, the Federal Court flatly rejected arguments that income tax and currency laws were invalid.

    The “strawman theory” – which states someone has two personas, one of real flesh and blood and the other a separate legal personality, who is the “strawman” – has also been debunked by the courts countless times. The West Australian Supreme Court recently called it “fundamentally misguided”.

    And does capitalising your name on official documents like your birth certificate or driver’s licence affect your rights? The courts have categorically said “no”.

    Pseudolaw is, as one Victorian judge described it last year, nothing more than “nonsense”, “gibberish”, and “gobbledygook”.

    Why sovereign citizens are a threat

    While this might seem eccentric, or even harmless, pseudolaw poses real risks.

    The Judicial Commission of New South Wales warns it’s not just a nuisance – it’s clogging up courts, wasting police resources and putting public officials at risk.

    But the danger isn’t only to others – it is to the followers too.

    Adherents lose more than arguments. Some have racked up massive legal bills fighting fines. Others have lost custody in family court or been imprisoned for ignoring court orders.

    Pseudolaw is a dangerous ideology.

    It is crucial all Australians recognise that pseudolaw not only threatens your credibility but can land you in hot water under the real law.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    ref. What does Australian law have to say about sovereign citizens and ‘pseudolaw’? – https://theconversation.com/what-does-australian-law-have-to-say-about-sovereign-citizens-and-pseudolaw-260289

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI China: China cruise into Asia Cup semis with commanding win over New Zealand

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

    China used a balanced offense to ease past New Zealand 85-51, advancing to the semifinals as the top finisher in Group A at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Wednesday.

    The reigning champion completed the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record and will await its semifinal opponent emerging from Japan and New Zealand, who will meet on Friday.

    “As our team was just formed three months ago, we aimed to try different lineups through these group games,” China head coach Gong Luming said at a postgame news conference. “We feel that it has taken an initial shape now, but still needs fine-tuning on some details.”

    “We hope that in future training, players can build better chemistry and be more familiar with our style of play, to be more creative in our play,” he added.

    China took the early initiative with seven unanswered points. Amid the rousing ovation at Shenzhen Sports Center, 18-year-old Zhang Ziyu was subbed in at the 3:46 mark and wasted no time opening her account, scoring a layup eight seconds into her appearance. A 14-2 run propelled China to a 25-10 lead at the end of the first quarter.

    The host began to pull away, leading by 22 points early in the second period. The Tall Ferns tried to respond but never seriously threatened China’s advantage the rest of the way.

    After an 11-0 run, the game was all but decided when China raced ahead 53-28 midway through the third quarter.

    All 12 Chinese players got on the scoreboard, with Zhang and Yang Shuyu each finishing with 12 points.

    “We didn’t start well in these three matches. Hopefully we can improve that in our next game,” Yang said.

    “Zhang is our advantage. The opponents will deploy specific defenses against her, and we need to address that,” she added.

    Earlier in the day, South Korea cruised past Indonesia 95-62 to finish second in the group with a 2-1 record.

    Competing in Division A for the first time, Indonesia showed its grit against the 12-time champion, trailing just 25-22 after the first quarter.

    South Korea upped its game with signature 3-pointers in the second, as Lee Myung-kwan and Shin Ji-hyun combined for three consecutive shots from long range to build a 12-point cushion.

    With a 48-34 halftime lead, South Korea continued to strengthen its hold on the game. A 24-14 third quarter extended the lead to 24 points, while Indonesia could not mount a comeback.

    South Korean guard Park Ji-hyun contributed a game-high 18 points along with seven assists, and Shin added 15. Kim Pierre-Louis led Indonesia with 16 points.

    “We didn’t start the game very well. We had a tough first half,” South Korea coach Park Soo-ho said. “But after halftime, our players came back. The next game will be the most important, and we will prepare well for it.”

    In Group B, the Philippines notched its first win with a nail-biting 73-70 victory over Lebanon. Naomi Natalie Panganiban scored 15 points, leading five Philippine players in double figures, including Jack Animam’s double-double of 14 points and 16 rebounds. Jillian Archer’s game-high 23 points were not enough for Lebanon.

    “This win represents everything that we’ve been working hard on for the last 10 years or so,” Philippines coach Patrick Henry Aquino said. “We are glad to be competing, not just staying in Division A, but we still have to improve and we hope that we level up again soon.”

    Gilas Pilipinas will vie for a semifinal spot against South Korea on Friday. The winner will face Australia, which advanced with three straight wins in group play. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China finish as runners-up in women’s East Asian Cup

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

    China finished second in the women’s 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship on Wednesday after a goalless draw with Japan in the final round, while South Korea beat Chinese Taipei 2-0 to win the event’s title for first time in 20 years.

    The clash between China and Japan kicked off in rain. China applied high pressing and quick attacking from the start, but neither side could break the deadlock in the first half.

    Yoshida Riko (2nd R) of Japan vies with Jin Kun (1st L) of China during the women’s football match between Japan and China at the EAFF (East Asian Football Federation) E-1 Football Championship 2025 Final in Suwon, South Korea, July 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

    The second half saw both teams continue to push forward, but heavy rain affected performances of both sides. In stoppage time, Japan’s Takahashi Hana had two chances to score but narrowly missed both. The match ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

    With one win and two draws each, China, Japan and South Korea all finished with five points. Chinese Taipei was at bottom after three defeats. The three top teams were tied in points, head-to-head results and goal difference. According to the EAFF competition rules, rankings were then determined by the number of goals scored among the tied teams.

    South Korea secured the championship with three goals, followed by China with two and Japan one. It marked South Korea’s second East Asian Cup title, the first since 2005.

    China head coach Ante Milicic said after the tournament that he was proud of his team for their effort under difficult weather conditions. “Both teams worked hard despite the climate. I’m proud of the way my team played and fought,” he said.

    Reflecting on the last-minute goal conceded against South Korea on July 9, Milicic admitted, “Conceding in the final minute cost us the title. It’s a lesson we must learn — we can’t afford to lose focus in the closing moments of a match.”

    Chinese player Wang Shuang told Xinhua that the team improved with each game during the tournament. “Our teamwork and understanding got better throughout the tournament. Today, some of the younger players really impressed with their bravery and confidence,” she said.

    “I think the experience we gained from this tournament is more valuable than the results themselves. I believe these younger teammates will grow stronger and more confident as they gain more playing opportunities in the future,” she added. 

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: TOP AFRICA NEWS Named Best Environment & Natural Resources News Platform 2025 by MEA Markets

    Source: APO

    TOP AFRICA NEWS (www.TOPAFRICANEWS.com) has been recognized as the Best Environment & Natural Resources News Platform 2025 by MEA Markets, highlighting its significant contribution to environmental journalism across Africa.

    This latest accolade caps a series of distinguished awards for the platform, including SME of the Year (2022), Best International Publication Service Provider (2023), and Best Marketing Service Provider (2024), demonstrating consistent excellence and leadership in the region’s media landscape.

    Founder and Managing Director Mr. DUSABEMUNGU Ange de la Victoire expressed pride in the achievement, stating, “Being named the best platform in this vital field underscores our dedication to covering critical environmental issues affecting Africa. It motivates us to continue delivering impactful, accurate, and insightful journalism that can influence policy and inspire sustainable change across the continent.”

    He emphasized the platform’s mission, saying, “At TOP AFRICA NEWS, our goal remains to amplify Africa’s stories on issues like natural resources, conservation, and sustainable development—topics that are pivotal for the continent’s future. This award reaffirms our role as a trusted voice for Africa’s environment and natural resources sectors.”

    Available on www.TOPAFRICANEWS.com, the website provides comprehensive coverage of topics ranging from agriculture and tourism to youth engagement and peacebuilding, aiming to inform and empower communities across Africa.

    As climate and environmental challenges grow more urgent, TOP AFRICA NEWS pledges to sustain its focus on delivering high-quality news that drives awareness, action, and sustainable development across Africa.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of TOP AFRICA NEWS.

    Additional link: https://apo-opa.co/4kHbEw8

    Media contact: 
    vickange@gmail.com  

    About TOP AFRICA NEWS: 
    TOP AFRICA NEWS is a Private shareholder Digital News Website managed by AFRICA NEWS DIGEST Ltd, a Domestic Company registered in Rwanda Development Board. Available on www.TOPAFRICANEWS.com, this website publishes stories from across Africa focusing on Environment, Natural resources, Livestock and Agriculture, Tourism and conservation, Youth, Sports and Culture, Peace Building, Health, Infrastructure and ICT, Security, Education, Business and Banking. The main objective of this website is to tell the World the real Africa’s Story from the real and reliable sources. We Publish News Stories, Supplements stories, advertorials, Feature stories among many others. We are based in Kigali, Rwanda.

    Media files

    .

    MIL OSI Africa