Latest news with #URUK
Hypebeast
25-06-2025
- General
- Hypebeast
Sculptural Reverie: Imperfettolab Explores the Art of Imperfection in 'VESTIGIA'
Summary Imperfettolab's 'VESTIGIA' collection is a sculptural meditation on memory, material and transformation. Inspired by imagined relics of forgotten civilizations, the series reinterprets classical forms through a contemporary lens, stripping them of sacredness, reworking their details and reshaping them into visionary new objects. Embracing the raw texture of fiberglass, the works retain an archaic edge while taking on futuristic silhouettes. The result is a collection that feels both ancient and otherworldly — untamed in spirit, yet deliberately refined. Among the standout pieces is BERLINER, an armchair that evokes the aura of a mysterious artifact. Anchored by sturdy legs and featuring a deep, enveloping seat, it fuses the architectural weight of antiquity with modern comfort. MATAU, a tall and narrow chaise longue, plays with visual tension and balance, inviting users to find stability within its seemingly precarious form and primitive allure. Offering a softer approach, PHIL blends the solidity of BERLINER with a plush fabric seat, giving it a relaxed and inviting silhouette. With its gentle curves and introspective posture, the armchair bridges artistic refinement and everyday functionality. Meanwhile, URUK, a mirror framed in bark-like texture, explores the duality between reflection and nature with its irregular surface blurring the boundary between object and environment. NOTTE, a sculptural seat named after the night, reveals its function only upon use, offering a moment of quiet discovery and comfort. Rooted in Imperfettolab's ethos of intuitive craftsmanship and poetic imperfection, 'VESTIGIA' continues the studio's exploration of contrasts between past and present, nature and artifice, form and function. Each piece is a standalone artwork, yet together they form a cohesive narrative of timeless design. With the opening of ImperfettoGallery in Milan, the collection finds a fitting stage for dialogue between disciplines, inviting viewers to experience furniture not just as utility, but as a living, breathing expression of imagination. ImperfettoGalleryAlzaia Naviglio Grande, 38,20144 Milano MI, Italy
Iraq Business
06-06-2025
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraq celebrates launch of TIR System
By John Lee. With the TIR system now live in Iraq since April 2025, the Minister of Transport and industry leaders officially marked this milestone this week in Baghdad, signalling a new era for international logistics and trade. The official launch of the global TIR transit system in Baghdad brought together the public and private sectors to celebrate this momentous achievement. The event was organised under the patronage of H.E. Razzaq Muhaibes Al-Saadawi, Iraq's Minister of Transport, and IRU members General Company for Land Transportation (GCLT) and Transforat. Managed by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) under a UN mandate, TIR was created in 1949 in post-war Europe to rebuild devastated economies. Its mission then - making cross-border trade efficient and secure - is just as relevant today. IRU Secretary General Umberto de Pretto, who delivered the keynote speech, said: " Today, we celebrate the full implementation of the global TIR transit system in the Republic of Iraq. This is a hugely important step taken by the Iraqi government and supported by different stakeholders across the Iraqi administration. "This new chapter for Iraq will revive and revamp the country's ancient role as a key crossroads in regional and international trade. " "What TIR did 75 years ago for Europe, it has continued to do ever since for Türkiye, the Caucasus, Central Asia, China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and now, Iraq." According to a statement from IRU, demand for TIR has soared in the Middle East, growing over 400 percent between 2023 and 2024. It adds that, alongside robust security, the system's phenomenal success in the region stems from its efficiency and speed - cutting transport times by up to 92% across GCC borders, for example. " The success of the first shipments that have already transited your borders under TIR is a noteworthy milestone in this journey and a precursor of future success, " said Umberto de Pretto. Logistics and transport companies are starting TIR operations from departure points such as Mersin, Türkiye, to the GCC via the Iraqi seaport of Umm Qasr. With TIR, this journey is being completed securely in less than a week, compared to a minimum of 14 days via the Red Sea, or up to 26 days if the ship needs to reroute around Africa. In a fully inland operation, a shipment from Poland to the UAE via Türkiye and Iraq was completed in a record 12 days. According to the operator, a multimodal operation via the Red Sea would have taken at least 21 days. TIR's electronic pre-declaration system (TIR-EPD) has also been integrated with Iraq's URUK platform, enabling the submission of advance cargo information. Trucks can be closely monitored using GPS tracking throughout their journey, while regular checkpoints ensure cargo and transport security. " Today, we are not merely launching a transit system. We are celebrating a new chapter in Iraq's journey towards prosperity, connectivity and global relevance. The best chapters of Iraq's history are still to be written, " concluded Umberto de Pretto. In high-level talks, IRU and the Minister of Transport discussed next steps to build on this momentum and support Iraq's Development Road Project. They also explored the opening of new inland customs offices for the clearance of goods transported under TIR. Umberto de Pretto also held bilateral meetings with Lieutenant General Sami Radi (Advisor to the Prime Minister on ports, customs and transport affairs), Lieutenant General Dr Omar Adnan Al-Waeli (President of Iraq's Border Ports Authority), Thamer Qasim Daoud (Director General of the Iraqi General Customs Authority) and Murtada Karim Al-Shahmani (General Manager and Chairman of the Board of Directors of GCLT). See our Comprehensive Guide to Logistics in Iraq here. (Sources: IRU, Ministry of Transport)
