Latest news with #InternationalSymposium
Scotsman
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Fringe theatre reviews: Someone Has Got to Be John Mariupol + more
Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Someone Has Got to Be John ★★★★ theSpace Triplex (Venue 38) until 23 August Three people in smart black suits and ties take to the stage, although one of their famed number is missing. Where, and who, is John? It's the hot summer of 1969, at the tail end of the Swinging London decade, and history is being made – not by the Beatles themselves, although they're currently in the midst of recording their final album Let It Be, but by the first International Symposium on Gender Identity, which is being held at the city's Piccadilly Hotel. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Someone Has Got to Be John | Speakbeast Now the 56th annual International Symposium is being held in 2025, and this Beatles tribute act are here to get involved too, a ghost memory of the 1960s spirit of openness and inquiry which led to the real-life first International Symposium being conducted. Except there were, as far as the show's creators know, no further symposiums. Yet in esoterically investigating the one they know existed (they call this 'the first symposium on the first symposium') they shine a light on the history of medical care for trans people, which remains a deeply controversial issue on the culture war battlefield. Their conclusions are open-ended, but in going to the well of documentation and recordings from the original symposium, we get the sense that although early attempts to diagnose trans people were deeply transphobic – many of the academic quotes betray a blend of pity and disgust – they at least sought to understand. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Young queer and trans company Speakbeast are hugely inventive in approaching this subject, and performers Isaac Frost, Lowen Hunt and Anya Idrizi (also writer, dramaturg and director, respectively) play a work which incorporates storytelling, dialogue scenes and physical theatre with verve and real connection to one another. As a piece of exploded social history dragged onto the stage and made ultra-theatrical, their work is reminiscent of Fringe icons the TEAM or Xhloe & Natasha, which is no small or undeserved compliment. David Pollock Lost Paws ★★★ theSpace @ Surgeons Hall (Venue 53) until 23 August When love goes out of the window, it comes back through the door in Lost Paws, an adventure comedy starring two cats. Iris is a sheltered house cat from North London, and Jeffebelle is a streetwise Tik-Tok sensation from the South. Before Iris's disappearance, Shira, her owner, reads aloud her favourite book, Jonas Jonasson's 2009 novel The Hundred-Year-Old-Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, and this signposts events to come. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It seems it is the owners, Shira and Arlan, who require the freedom and independence displayed by their cats Iris and Jeffabelle, as they lead each-other astray at the cost of finding their way home. 'Welcome to the streets, pussycat!' Jeffabelle says. It is London as Iris has never seen it before. Iris's disappearance is challenging for Shira, who has never let her out of doors. A choice that Arlan quickly judges: 'Oh, man, that is cruel. You don't deserve a cat!' If you're the owner of a house cat, you might feel personally attacked. But as the relationships of both the human and feline characters soften and deepen, they touch foreheads. It is a tender movement, encapsulating the overall mood of this very touching piece. Josephine Balfour-Oatts Mariupol ★★★ Pleasance Courtyard (Venue 33) until 25 August Imagine a 21st century version of Casablanca, stripped of its politics and set during the early months of the current Russia-Ukraine war, and you might have some sense of the mood of Katia Haddad's play Mariupol, playing at the Pleasance Courtyard, and directed by high-powered brothers Guy and John Retallack. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The story begins in 1992, when Ukraine is newly independent, and Russian student Galina comes to the Ukrainian coastal city of Mariupol on holiday with a friend. She meets Steve, a Ukrainian naval officer; but their intense holiday romance is brief, and when they meet again ten years later - by chance, in a Moscow cancer ward waiting room - their reunion is even more short-lived. Cut to the present war, when Galina's son is held prisoner of war and hostage at the Azov steel plant in Mariupol, where Steve is a commander of Ukrainian forces; and she fights her way through the war, from Moscow, to try to save her boy. The drama is high to the point of sensationalism, as shock follows revelation while Russian rockets thunder outside; Nathalie Barclay and Oliver Gomm do their best, in a restrained English style, to measure up to the story. In the end, though, it just seems too soon even to begin to understand the tragedy of the continuing war in Ukraine through the medium of a well-intentioned romance; and the landscape of Mariupol just too utterly destroyed to be a modern-day Casablanca - or for that matter the Paris that Rick and Ilsa will always remember, in that greatest of wartime love stories. Joyce McMillan David Alnwick: The Dare Witch Project ★★★ Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad PBH's Free Fringe @ Voodoo Rooms (Venue 68b) until 24 August Describing himself professionally as an 'occult illusionist', David Alnwick has a bunch of shows focused on his stage magic abilities on at the Fringe this year. Yet this is something very different, a performance containing elements of both comedy and magic, but which revolves around an audio-visual tribute to the cult 1999 'found footage' horror pseudo-documentary The Blair Witch Project. Even more unusually, for what's essentially a Free Fringe comedy show, it's set up at the top with a tribute to the great German filmmaking eccentric Werner Herzog, and particularly his startling documentary Grizzly Man. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As a 14-year-old in Scarborough, Alnwick tells us, he made his own documentaries, and he takes influence from Herzog's maxim 'if I'm shooting a film and I get scared, I know I'm on the right track'. Now he's apparently bought an old video camera on the internet, and a tape has been left inside. But what could be on it? That the tape features a woodland explorer who looks exactly like Alnwick, even though he tells us it isn't him, takes a little of the magic out of what follows, but still he balances the fun he's clearly having with horror movie tropes – there are jump scares and moments of the unexplained – with his need to create a show which entertains and raises laughs. Those who share his obvious film buff tastes will get a lot out of it. David Pollock Delusions and Grandeur ★★★ Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Red Lecture Theatre at Summerhall (Venue 26) until 25 August Karen Hall is a professional cellist navigating an existential crisis. From Carnegie Hall to Glee, her life has been a relentless symphony of performance, yet the instrument she loves and relies on for her living now feels like it might be devouring her. Confessional monologues are a Fringe staple, but this one sidesteps self-indulgence with kooky grace. Karen's conversational ease draws you in before anxiety ratchets to a near-boiling point. The show fires in all directions, skewering decreased arts funding, cultural elitism, and the dusty hierarchies of the musical canon. Live performance punctuates the monologues, flashing sly humour alongside moments of genuine poignancy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How to reconcile love for music with the brutal economics of the industry? The question lingers, unresolved, and probably unanswerable. Earnest charm abounds here, and with further development, this could blossom into something truly heartstring tugging. Alexander Cohen A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List ★★ Greenside @ George Square (Venue 236) until 23 August Written by Eleanor May Blackburn, A Sudden, Disturbing To Do List articulates a year in the life of Phoebe, a freelance writer who becomes overwhelmed with compulsive list-making. She helter-skelters from shopping lists to listing past jobs to lists about lists, navigating the map on the floor outlining every object in her bedroom, until a giant fluffy monster appears. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is unclear if the incidences of the listing and the monster implies a psychotic break, or if the monster character is real. The direction is also wanting, as unfortunately, much of the action occurs on the floor, sacrificing sightlines. Josephine Balfour-Oatts
Observer
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Observer
Symposium on AI in judicial work today
The International Symposium on "Anticipating Artificial Intelligence in Judicial Work" will kick off today at the St. Regis Al Mouj Muscat under the auspices of Shaikh Ghosn bin Hilal al Alawi, Chairman of the State Audit Institution (SAI) and Deputy of the Supreme Judicial Council. The event will be attended by ministers, dignitaries, representatives from government entities and the private sector, as well as researchers, academics and professionals interested in law and artificial intelligence. Dr Salem bin Zuwaid al Hashmi, Assistant Secretary-General for Planning and Digital Transformation, stated that the Supreme Judicial Council aims to create a platform for professional dialogue between legal researchers and AI specialists. The goal is to emphasise the importance of anticipating AI applications in the judiciary amidst rapid digital transformation and modern legal challenges. This includes enhancing efficiency in justice, addressing legal and ethical issues, and promoting international cooperation, innovation and sustainable development. Dr Al Hashmi highlighted that the symposium aligns with the Council's strategic vision to adopt global best practices in the judiciary, particularly regarding the use of technology and AI in Oman. The aim is to position Oman as a leader in applying rule of law standards. The symposium provides an opportunity for experts and researchers to showcase the latest developments in utilising AI in judicial systems and legislation, as well as exploring opportunities for international cooperation and expertise exchange in AI-related legal and legislative matters. The symposium programme will feature panel discussions on key issues related to legal, technical and ethical challenges of AI in the judiciary. It will propose solutions to ensure safe and effective AI use, discuss future visions for AI implementation in judicial work, suggest technological advancements to enhance justice and efficiency, and present innovative ideas for smart legal training and sustainable innovation in the judicial sector. The symposium will focus on three main themes: legal, ethical and security challenges in AI use within the judiciary; practical applications of AI in judicial work; and future developments and international cooperation in AI use in the judicial field.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dialogue on Collaboration to Address Challenges: International Symposium on Global Climate Governance and Green Transformation in Shanghai
BEIJING, May 13, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The International Symposium on Global Climate Governance and Green Transformation was held in Shanghai on April 9. Experts from China, the U.S., Italy, Japan, South Korea, India, and international organizations — including representatives from Peking University, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Tongji University, China Eastern Airlines (CEA), NYU Shanghai, the EU-Asia Centre, King's College London, and Kookmin University — engaged in constructive discussions on mechanisms for collaborative climate governance. Dr. Liu Yuanling, scholar from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), emphasized that climate change is a critical challenge for all humanity, and underscored its commitment to advancing climate governance through emission reduction, mitigation, and adaptation strategies, guided by the vision of building a "community with a shared future for mankind." Efforts to promote ecological civilization and a "Beautiful China" will continue alongside enhanced global cooperation. Furthermore, she referred to collaborating with stakeholders worldwide to actively contribute to addressing climate change. During the on-site case-sharing session, representatives from China Eastern Airlines (CEA) presented the company's practices and achievements in the field of sustainable aviation technologies. In recent years, CEA has made many notable breakthroughs in new energy airport equipment, driven by independent R&D and international collaboration. CEA's innovations have garnered global attention at industry exhibitions and facilitated multiple cross-border partnerships. This international symposium concluded successfully, offering valuable insights into global climate governance through the exchange of ideas. As emphasized in the discussions, effective climate actions must go beyond short-term policy shifts, strengthen mechanisms for cooperation, and promote joint efforts to advance green and low-carbon development on a broader scale. View source version on Contacts Company: Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, CASSContact Person: Liu YuanlingEmail: liuyuanling@ Website: Telephone: (86)18610846689
The Star
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
MCA partners with Shanghai-based institute to address youth issues
MCA Public Policy and People's Livelihood Research Advisory committee chairperson Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew (middle left) shaking hands with Institute of Sociology at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences director Professor Li Jun, joined by Malaysia and China delegates during the official visit to the academy. PETALING JAYA: A joint partnership between MCA and a Chinese educational institution will further explore issues and challenges involving youth, says Datuk Dr. Monna Ong Siew Siew. The joint effort with the Institute of Sociology at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences would include organising seminars, conferences and forums, along with a five-year research project focused on youth-related issues, added the chairperson of MCA's Public Policy and People's Livelihood Research Advisory committee. Ong said the mutual agreement was signed on Sunday (May 11). 'This agreement marks an essential step in strengthening both institutions' academic collaboration and mutual understanding. 'These initiatives aim to promote dialogue and the sharing of academic knowledge and resources,' she said in a statement on Monday (May 12). Ong said key challenges faced by young people in Malaysia and Southeast Asia in the digital age era were discussed at the International Symposium on the Digital Society and Youth Development. She highlighted that although Malaysia's internet usage rate has reached 96.8%, there remains a more than 30% gap in advanced digital skills between urban and rural students. 'This limits the ability of many youths to compete and succeed in a digital world. 'The digital environment is changing how young people are likely to think and feel, with potential overuse of virtual platforms raising concerns about mental health. 'According to UNICEF, more than half of youths report a clear gap between how they present themselves online and who they are in real life, which can lead to a disconnect that contributes to stress and anxiety,' she added. To address the issues, Ong said a shared vision was reached to build a resilient, fair and forward-thinking digital ecosystem for youth. Among the proposed strategies were making digital citizenship education a standard part of school curricula, teaching students how to evaluate information and use media responsibly and establishing support systems in schools to build mental resilience. This includes 'Digital Mental Health Watchpoints' that use AI tools and mental health indicators to monitor and respond to students' digital habits and well-being. Ong also said that young people should be encouraged to transition from passive consumers to active creators by developing 'community digital learning spaces' to enhance their sense of belonging and creativity. 'There is also a need to strengthen Asean regional collaboration by aligning policies in important areas like cybersecurity and data governance,' she said. Several Malaysian scholars also contributed to the forum, including Associate Professor Dr. Yee Mun Chin from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR); Associate Professor Dr. Yew Wong Chin from Tunku Abdul Rahman; Sabah MCA Youth state chairman Roger Yapp Kah Chong and Dr Martin Paul Davies, Principal of Henry VIII College Malaysia.
