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GB2RS News Sunday the 20th of July 2025 The news headlines: The RSGB launches GB70RS awards to celebrate 70 years of GB2RS New volunteer RSGB STEM Champion announced Visit the RSGB National Radio Centre during the summer holidays The RSGB's weekly news broadcast, GB2RS, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. To mark the occasion, the Society is inviting you to collect awards for listening and logging GB2RS News broadcasts between Friday, the 1st of August and Tuesday, the 30th of September. There are four categories, including a basic listener award and a regular listener award. Full details of the programme, the rules and how to apply for your certificate are available by searching GB70RS at QRZ.com. To read about the awards and wider celebrations that are taking place for the 70th anniversary of GB2RS, go to rsgb.org/gb70rs RSGB Board Director, Ben Lloyd, GW4BML, has appointed Ian Stevenson, G3YNU, as the volunteer RSGB STEM Champion. This new role fits with the RSGB's strategy to bring amateur radio to new audiences and to highlight the link between amateur radio and science, technology, engineering and maths. Ian brings a wealth of experience to this role, having been a mathematics teacher for ten years, with a further 23 years in Higher Education as a Senior Lecturer in ICT and Education. Ian also played a pivotal role in establishing the RSGB School Links Project, which introduced classroom activities that connect amateur radio with the school curricula. The project was established following Tim Peake's Principia mission to the International Space Station, which included ten UK ARISS school contacts during Tim's time in space. In his new RSGB role, Ian is enthusiastic about fostering close ties with STEM organisations and STEM ambassadors across the UK, including those already engaged with the RSGB. If you'd like to contact Ian to share suggestions that may enhance the RSGB's STEM outreach programme, you can contact him via stem.champion@rsgb.org.uk If you are looking for an activity to keep the children busy during the summer holidays, why not plan a visit to the RSGB National Radio Centre at Bletchley Park? The knowledgeable and welcoming volunteers will be on hand to give an introduction to radio technology, how it works and why it is still relevant today. There are interactive displays as well as the opportunity to get a certificate for sending your name in Morse code. There will also be three more of the successful Spy Transmitter events during the summer, so keep an eye on the Bletchley Park website and the RSGB comms channels if you'd like to take part. Start planning your visit by going to rsgb.org/nrc. Don't forget that as a membership benefit, RSGB members can visit the world-famous Bletchley Park estate, including the RSGB National Radio Centre, for free. Download your voucher by going to rsgb.org/bpvoucher Did you know that the Radio Communications Foundation offers funding to young people who need help with the Foundation licence exam fee? They need to be under the age of 21 and in full-time education. If you know someone who may be eligible, help spread the word and promote this programme. To find out more and submit an application, go to commsfoundation.co.uk and select ‘RCF Grants' from the sub-menu. This year marked the centenary of the unique mechanical Alexanderson Alternator transmitter at Grimeton near Varberg in Sweden. GB2RS Newsreader and NRC volunteer Brian Hardy, G4BIP, travelled to Sweden for a special 70th birthday trip with his partner Hilary, G7SOI. On the 2nd of July, they were able to watch SAQ being operated on a frequency of 17.2kHz as part of the celebration. Brian was even allowed to key up the station in advance of the formal transmission and send some test messages. Despite SAQ having a power output of 80kW, nobody came back to his CQ call! However, it was a big tick on his 'bucket list'! The station is usually fired up twice a year and is well worth a visit. You can discover much more, including a fascinating YouTube video of the centenary event, via alexander.n.se The UK Six Metre Group's AGM will be held via Zoom on Sunday, the 27th of July 2025 at 17:00 UTC. The AGM will include receiving the Group's financial report, presentation of officers' reports and elections. For more information about the Group, visit uksmg.org Don't forget that 145 Alive is taking place today from 12 to 3 pm. According to the organisers, there will be 47 individual nets on the air from diverse high points all over the UK and Ireland with over 1,000 participants! To take part, all you need to do is call into a local net and make contact with others on the 2m band. You can find more information on the 145 Alive Facebook page. Alternatively, you can email 145aliveuk@gmail.com And now for details of rallies and events Bury St Edmunds Radio Rally is taking place today, the 20th, at Rougham Tower Museum, IP32 7QB. The doors open at 7 am for traders and at 9.30 am for visitors. Refreshments are available from the Museum's cafeteria. Admission for visitors and car-booters costs £3 and is £10 for traders. For more details, email secretary@bsears.co.uk The Lincoln Short Wave Club Summer Radio Rally is taking place today, the 20th, at The Festival Hall, Caistor Road, Market Rasen, LN8 3HT. The doors are open from 10 am and admission costs £3. This is an indoor event, and ample free parking is available. For more information, phone Steve, M5ZZZ on 07777 699 069 or email m5zzz@outlook.com Wiltshire Radio Rally will take place on Sunda,y the 27th of July at Kington Langley Village Hall, Church Road, Kington Langley, SN15 5NJ. The doors open for traders at 7 am and at 9 am for visitors. Refreshments will be available on site. You can find out more by visiting chippenhamradio.club Now the Special Event news Special callsign DL0SOP is active until the 31st of July for the 67th edition of the Sea of Peace Award. More details about the award are available via tinyurl.com/seaofpeace QSL via Club Log's OQRS, Logbook of the World and eQSL. Celebrating the 60th anniversary of Singapore becoming an independent republic on the 9th of August 1965, Singapore Amateur Radio Transmitting Society's members are allowed to replace their normal prefix, 9V1, with the special prefix S60 until the 9th of August. So if you want to put some S60 calls in your log, now is the time! Now the DX news Michael, VE2XB is active as TF/VE2XB from Olafsvik, Iceland, EU-021, until the 25th of July. He is operating CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via Michael's home call. The IP1X team will be active from Gallinara Island, EU-083, on the 26th and 27th of July. The team will operate CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands. QSL via OQRS, via the Bureau or directly to IU1JCZ. More information is available at QRZ.com. Now the contest news Today, the 20th, the RSGB International Low Power Contest runs from 0900 to 1600 UTC. Using CW on the 80, 40 and 20m bands, the exchange is signal report, serial number and transmitter power. On Tuesday the 22nd, the RSGB SHF UK Activity Contest runs from 1830 to 2130 UTC. Using all modes on 2.3 to 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. On Thursday the 24th, the RSGB 80m Club Championship Data Contest runs from 1900 to 2030 UTC. Using RTTY and PSK63 on the 80m band, the exchange is signal report and serial number. The RSGB IOTA Contest starts at 1200 UTC on Saturday, the 26th and ends at 1200 UTC on Sunday, the 27th of July. Using CW and SSB on the 80 to 10m bands, where contests are permitted, the exchange is signal report, serial number and IOTA reference. On Sunday the 27th, the UK Microwave Group 5.7 and 10GHz Contest runs from 0600 to 1800 UTC. Using all modes on 5.7 and 10GHz frequencies, the exchange is signal report, serial number and locator. Now the radio propagation report, compiled by G0KYA, G3YLA and G4BAO on Thursday the 17th of July. Space weather has been a bit like our terrestrial weather this week. We have had sunspots, some C-class solar flares, some coronal mass ejections and a large coronal hole – unsettled, you could say! Luckily, the coronal mass ejections were not Earth-directed, but the Kp index did rise to 5 on the 15th of July and again late on the 16th of July. The large coronal hole, which may have been responsible, is well south on the Sun's surface and should rotate out of Earth's view by the beginning of the coming week. Meanwhile, the Sun appears to have woken up, spot-wise, with 11 groups on the 17th of July, four of which are classed as growing, while two are stable and three are declining. Two groups are unclassified at this time. This resulted in an increase in the solar flux index to 152 on Thursday, the 17th. Overall, this means quite reasonable HF conditions considering the time of year. Recent DX spots included the JW0V DXpedition to Svalbard on both SSB and FT8, and C93RRC in Mozambique on 17m CW, plus 30, 20 and 10m FT8. Conditions have been up and down, with daytime maximum usable frequencies, or MUFs, over a 3,000km path reaching 28MHz at times, but then quickly declining to 18 or 19MHz ten minutes later. All we can advise is to keep listening! Nighttime MUFs over a 3,000km path have generally been exceeding 10MHz, and occasionally reaching 14MHz. We may start to see nighttime 14MHz openings tailing off as we head into late July. Next week, NOAA is a little pessimistic with a predicted solar flux index in the range of 118 to 130. Unsettled geomagnetic conditions, with a possible Kp of 4, are forecast for Tuesday, 22nd of July. And now the VHF and up propagation news from G3YLA and G4BAO The unsettled weather over this weekend will continue through the first part of the coming week. Some of the rain will be heavy and possibly thundery, so there is a good chance of rain scatter on the GHz bands. After mid-week, the pattern may change enough for a weak ridge of high pressure to build close to the UK and this may offer some Tropo opportunities. It may not be strong enough for it to persist through the warmth of a July day. Thus, most places will have better Tropo prospects overnight. The solar conditions have recently fired off a steady stream of aurora alerts, and we should probably expect similar in the coming week. Meteor scatter is often on people's minds during late summer since we have two showers towards the end of this month and, of course, next month's Perseids. This month, both the Delta Aquariids and the Alpha Capricornids peak around the 30th of July, but we are already in the broad spread of dates for activity. Sporadic-E is still happening on most days somewhere within Europe, but even UK stations can expect regular FT8 activity and a fair chance of CW or SSB paths for stronger events. Last Wednesday saw another early afternoon opening into the USA. These stronger events need a low Kp index, below 3, and some jet stream activity to generate turbulence that can spread upwards to the E region. In the coming week, we will certainly have some jet stream activity, so it should be worth monitoring your favourite beacons for activity. It's always helpful to have a list of favourite beacons at the ready to cover a range of directions. For example, one in Finland, Poland, Hungary, Italy and Spain should cover it. Moon declination is positive again, reaching maximum on Tuesday, the 22nd, with associated long Moon windows and high peak elevation. Path losses continue to fall until perigee today, Sunday, the 20th. 144MHz sky noise is moderate, but Thursday the 24th sees the Moon and Sun close in the sky until early the following day. And that's all from the propagation team this week.
Prime Minister calls for more collaboration in Australia-China medical research, Three men accused of attempting to import more than $500 million worth of drugs, Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says Nick Champion de Crespigny ready to make a big impression on his test debut.
A national push to combat AI facilitated child abuse, as rates surge, Calls for calm as Israeli strikes on the Syrian capital overnight, The 153rd British Golf tournament tees off today, with potential upsets in the mix
As SABC News celebrates 75 years of existence, we have compiled a few snippets from radio days gone by, which we hope will re-ignite your love and commitment to the airwaves. Today, the Update@Noon team takes you back to the 17th of July 1950, when the SABC'S English Language service aired our first ever News Bulletin. The bulletin was read by BILL PRITCHARD and in a case of history reporting itself, SA's power generation challenges were already making headlines.
China and Australia reaffirm trading ties with a number of agreements, Childcare centres under review as sex offence charges widen, Wallabies brace for Lions chaos as Brisbane prepares for Test series opener.
Israel launches strikes on the Syrian capital, Damascus; Russian aerial attacks strike a Ukraine shopping centre; And in the AFL, Essendon pledge to fix their appalling injury list.
Investigators haven't given up hope of finding man's body after his notorious killer dies, Health Minister Mark Butler says more than 10 million vapes have been seized, Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra fined for an umpire collision at tribunal.
Anthony Albanese joins Premier Li Qiang at a business roundtable in Beijing; an end to debit and credit card surcharges in Australia is announced; and, in cricket, Australia defeats the West Indies to win the Frank Worrell Trophy.
China and Australia reaffirm trading ties as the PM wraps up high level talks in Beijing; Childcare centres under review as sex offence charges widen; Two of Australia's biggest female rugby union stars in doubt for the World Cup.
China ready for closer ties with Australia, The federal court dismisses a big climate change involving the Torres Strait Islands, Aussie captain Pat Cummins pays tribute to Mitchell Starc after a crushing victory in his 100th Test match
Anthony Albanese joins Premier Li Qiang at business roundtable in Beijing, An end to debit and credit card surcharges in Australia announced, Australia defeat the West Indies to win the Frank Worrell Trophy.
Anthony Albanese insists he's unafraid to raise difficult subjects with China on his trip there, Sussan Ley says core conservative values will guide the Opposition's new policy platform, Chelsea's Cole Palmer with a superstar display in the Club World Cup final
Australia's economic relationship with China on the Prime Minister's agenda during his visit to Shanghai, The blood and plasma donation rules in Australia changed to be more inclusive of LGBTIQ+ individuals, Belgian Tim Merlier wins stage nine of the Tour de France.
Trade and security on the agenda as Anthony Albanese prepares to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping; Donald Trump threatens Russia with tariffs, if war on Ukraine isn't resolved within 50 days; and in the AFL, a St Kilda star who's received online racist abuse considers taking the matter to police.
Global News on the topic of Indigenous Rights. In this issue, news from USA, Canada, Australia, South Africa, Namibia, Thailand, India, Peru, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Panama. Produced by Dev Kumar Sunuwar (Sunuwar) 'Burn your village to the ground', by The Haluci Nation, used with permission.
Anthony Albanese to meet with Australian iron ore producers and Chinese steelmakers in Shanghai; rescued backpacker Carolina Wilga still recovering in hospital; and in tennis, Jannik Sinner has defeated his great young rival Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final.
Australia says it expects China to monitor its Talisman Sabre military exercises with the US; Queensland launches an inquiry into the CFMEU; Jack Graham from the West Coast banned for four matches by the AFL integrity unit.
New South Wales Police throws its support behind officers who fatally shot a Western Sydney man; The Prime Minister launches a tourism campaign in China; Australian sprinter Kaden Groves comes his closest yet to a stage win at the Tour de France.
A nine year old boy shot on a hunting trip in New South Wales; Traditional owners celebrate the listing of Murujuga on the World Heritage List; An Australian trio named as the referees for Sunday's FIFA Club World Cup final.
The Prime Minister heads to China to grow Australia's economic partnership; An ancient Indigenous rock art collection has been recognised as a World Heritage-listed site after a renewed bid by the federal government; Matt Rowell inspires Gold Coast to a tense six-point win over Collingwood.
Europe reacts to newly-announced tariffs by the United States; Families of the Air India crash victims call for justice as a preliminary investigation is handed down; Iga Swiatek wins the women's final at Wimbledon, in an astounding show on centre court.
Just as Putin launched the largest drone assault of the war, President Trump overruled an order from the Pentagon that had halted the delivery of munitions to Ukraine. And despite what pundits say, new polling says his base isn't mad about it. Cliff May is joined by Carrie Filipetti of the Vandenberg Coalition to break down its polling data that shows most of Trump's base back peace through strength, see Russia and Iran as serious threats, support sanctions, and trust Trump to act decisively when force is needed. As it turns out, so-called "America First" voters want America to lead.
Just as Putin launched the largest drone assault of the war, President Trump overruled an order from the Pentagon that had halted the delivery of munitions to Ukraine. And despite what pundits say, new polling says his base isn't mad about it. Cliff May is joined by Carrie Filipetti of the Vandenberg Coalition to break down its polling data that shows most of Trump's base back peace through strength, see Russia and Iran as serious threats, support sanctions, and trust Trump to act decisively when force is needed. As it turns out, so-called "America First" voters want America to lead.
The Prime Minister prepares to visit China on a visit focused on trade... more concern that measures to stop antisemitism in Australia may stifle free speech... and Ireland's Ben Healy wins the sixth stage of the Tour de France
Anthony Albanese's China visit set to provide an economic boost to both countries... the ACCC sets up a special unit to target romance scams... and Mitchell Starc says his fast bowling mates deserve much of the credit, as he prepares to play his 100th Test match
The Prime Minister heads to China to grow Australia's economic partnership; A German backpacker missing in WA for two weeks has been found alive; Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner to face-off in Wimbledon final.
SBS Italian News bulletin, read slowly. - Il giornale radio di SBS Italian, letto lentamente.
SBS Italian News bulletin, read slowly. - Il giornale radio di SBS Italian, letto lentamente.
A plan for the government to combat antisemitism... reports the U-S will change requirements for Australia to guarantee AUKUS submarines... and Novak Djokovic through to face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals at Wimbledon
Varying responses from differing sections of the Jewish community to the recommendations on antisemitism... toxic algae taking over waters off South Australia... and PSG into the final of the Club World Cup
Local hospital says children queuing for aid killed in Israeli strike in Gaza; A Rome conference on the economic recovery of Ukraine pledges over $17.8 billion; And in sport, Two-time Olympic champion runner Semenya wins an appeal contesting sex eligibility.
Israel says progress is being made on Gaza ceasefire deal, Qantas reveals the extent of its hacking, Carlos Alcaraz cruises into Wimbledon semis as injury doubts linger over Jannik Sinner.
The renewable energy sector says Australia has the business and trade opportunity of a lifetime, Survivors mark the 30th anniversary of Europe's only acknowledged genocide since World War II, Carlton coach Michael Voss acknowledges threats on his life amid the Blues struggling season.
Russia launches a major attack on Ukraine as the US considers its reaction; Police charge seven people allegedly involved in the so-called blessings scam; and in sport, Queensland clinches the state of origin series.
The Reserve Bank widely expected to cut interest rates today; Donald Trump imposes a 25 per cent tariff against Japan and South Korea ; in sport, Alex de Minaur goes down to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon quarter final.
Jewish leaders call for a national taskforce to tackle antisemitism Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu hold ceasefire talks at the White House; And in sport, Alex de Minaur goes down to Novak Djokovic in the Wimbledon quarter final.
The Reserve Bank governor defends interest rate hold as necessary to curb inflation; Israel working on plans to relocate Palestinians from Gaza into third countries; Matildas edge Panama with stoppage-time winner to end WA tour on a high.