Category: Internet

MIL-OSI: First Merchants Corporation Announces Cash Dividend on Its Preferred Stock

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

MUNCIE, Ind., Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — First Merchants Corporation has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $46.88 per share on its 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock Series A, represented by depositary shares (NASDAQ: FRMEP) each representing a 1/100th interest in a share of the Series A preferred stock. Holders of depositary shares will receive $0.4688 per depositary share. The dividend will be payable on November 15, 2024, to stockholders of record on October 31, 2024.

About First Merchants Corporation:

First Merchants Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Muncie, Indiana. The Corporation has one full-service bank charter, First Merchants Bank. The Bank also operates as First Merchants Private Wealth Advisors (as a division of First Merchants Bank).

First Merchants Corporation’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRME. Depositary shares representing a 1/100th interest in a share of First Merchants Corporation’s 7.50% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A are traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market System under the symbol FRMEP. Quotations are carried in daily newspapers and can be found on the company’s Internet web page (http://www.firstmerchants.com).

FIRST MERCHANTS and the Shield Logo are federally registered trademarks of First Merchants Corporation.

For more information, contact:
Nicole M. Weaver, Vice President and Director of Corporate Administration
765-521-7619
http://www.firstmerchants.com

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Three Federal Treasury deposit auctions will take place on 16.10.2024

MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

Application selection parameters
Date of the selection of applications	10/16/2024
Unique identifier of the application selection	22024532
Deposit currency	rubles
Type of funds	funds of the single treasury account
Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units	747 200
Placement period, in days	2
Date of deposit	10/16/2024
Refund date	10/18/2024
Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating)	FIXED
Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum	18.14
Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds	–
Minimum spread, % per annum	–
Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special)	Urgent
Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units	1,000
Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs.	5
Application selection form (open or closed)	Open
Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
Venue for the selection of applications	PAO Moscow Exchange
Applications accepted:	from 09:30 to 09:40
Pre-applications:	from 09:30 to 09:35
Applications in competition mode:	from 09:35 to 09:40
Formation of a consolidated register of applications:	from 09:40 to 09:50
Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:	from 09:40 to 10:00
Submission to credit institutions of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement:	from 10:00 to 11:00
Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions:	from 10:00 to 11:00
Deposit transfer time	In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

Application selection parameters
Date of the selection of applications	10/16/2024
Unique identifier of the application selection	22024525
Deposit currency	rubles
Type of funds	funds of the single treasury account
Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units	20,000
Placement period, in days	182
Date of deposit	10/16/2024
Refund date	04/16/2025
Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating)	FLOATING
Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum	–
Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds	RUONmDS
Minimum spread, % per annum	0.00
Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special)	Urgent
Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units	1,000
Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs.	5
Application selection form (open or closed)	Open
Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
Venue for the selection of applications	PAO Moscow Exchange
Applications accepted:	from 12:30 to 12:40
Pre-applications:	from 12:30 to 12:35
Applications in competition mode:	from 12:35 to 12:40
Formation of a consolidated register of applications:	from 12:40 to 12:50
Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:	from 12:40 to 13:00
Submission of an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement:	from 13:00 to 14:00
Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions:	from 13:00 to 14:00
Deposit transfer time	In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where

RUONIA – the value of the indicative weighted rate of overnight ruble loans (deposits) RUONIA, expressed in hundredths of a percent, published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued. In the absence of a RUONIA rate value published on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued, the last of the published RUONIA rate values is taken into account.

DS – discount – a value expressed in hundredths of a percent and rounded (according to the rules of mathematical rounding) to two decimal places, calculated by multiplying the value of the Key Rate of the Bank of Russia by the value of the required reserve ratio for other liabilities of credit institutions for banks with a universal license, non-bank credit institutions (except for long-term ones) in the currency of the Russian Federation, valid on the date for which interest is accrued, and published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet.

Application selection parameters
Date of the selection of applications	10/16/2024
Unique identifier of the application selection	22024526
Deposit currency	rubles
Type of funds	funds of the single treasury account
Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units	30,000
Placement period, in days	91
Date of deposit	10/17/2024
Refund date	01/16/2025
Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating)	FLOATING
Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum	–
Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds	RUONmDS
Minimum spread, % per annum	0.00
Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special)	Urgent
Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units	1,000
Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs.	5
Application selection form (open or closed)	Open
Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
Venue for the selection of applications	PAO Moscow Exchange
Applications accepted:	from 15:30 to 15:40
Pre-applications:	from 15:30 to 15:35
Applications in competition mode:	from 15:35 to 15:40
Formation of a consolidated register of applications:	from 15:40 to 15:50
Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:	from 15:40 to 16:00
Submission to credit institutions of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement:	from 16:00 to 17:00
Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions:	from 16:00 to 17:00
Deposit transfer time	In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where

Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

https://www.moex.com/n74014

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: Preferred Bank Announces 2024 Third Quarter Earnings Release and Conference Call

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Preferred Bank (NASDAQ: PFBC), one of the larger independent commercial banks in California, today announced plans to release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 before the open of market on Monday, October 21, 2024. That same day, management will host a conference call at 2:00 p.m. Eastern (11:00 a.m. Pacific). The call will be simultaneously broadcast over the Internet.

Interested participants and investors may access the conference call by dialing 844-826-3037 (domestic) or 412-317-5182 (international) and referencing “Preferred Bank.” There will also be a live webcast of the call available at the Investor Relations section of Preferred Bank’s website at http://www.preferredbank.com.

Preferred Bank’s Chairman and CEO Li Yu, President and Chief Operating Officer Wellington Chen, Chief Financial Officer Edward J. Czajka, Chief Credit Officer Nick Pi and Deputy Chief Operating Officer Johnny Hsu will discuss Preferred Bank’s financial results, business highlights and outlook. After the live webcast, a replay will be available at the Investor Relations section of Preferred Bank’s website. A replay of the call will also be available at 877-344-7529 (domestic) or 412-317-0088 (international) through November 4, 2024; the passcode is 7955778.

About Preferred Bank

Preferred Bank is one of the larger independent commercial banks headquartered in California. The Bank is chartered by the State of California, and its deposits are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Bank conducts its banking business from its main office in Los Angeles, California, and through full-service branch banking offices in California (Alhambra, Century City, City of Industry, Torrance, Arcadia, Irvine (2), Diamond Bar, Pico Rivera, Tarzana and San Francisco (2)). The Bank also operates a branch in Flushing, New York and in the Houston suburb of Sugar Land, Texas in addition to a satellite office in Manhattan, New York and a Loan Production office in Silicon Valley, California. Preferred Bank offers a broad range of deposit and loan products and services to both commercial and consumer customers. The Bank provides personalized deposit services as well as real estate finance, commercial loans and trade finance to small and mid-sized businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate developers, professionals and high net worth individuals. Although originally founded as a Chinese-American Bank, Preferred Bank now derives most of its customers from the diversified mainstream market but does continue to benefit from the significant migration to California of ethnic Chinese from China and other areas of East Asia.

AT THE COMPANY:		AT FINANCIAL PROFILES:
Edward J. Czajka		Jeffrey Haas
Executive Vice President		General Information
Chief Financial Officer		(310) 622-8240
(213) 891-1188		PFBC@finprofiles.com

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: Samotlorneftegaz held an ethnic culture festival in Yugra

MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Rosneft – Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

Samotlorneftegaz (part of the Rosneft oil production complex) held the Festival of Ethnic Culture of Indigenous Peoples of Yugra in the Nizhnevartovsk District of the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug. The large-scale event was attended by more than 500 representatives of different peoples living and working in the Khanty-Mansiysk Okrug.

Preservation of national culture and traditional way of life of indigenous peoples of the North is one of the significant areas of Rosneft’s social policy. The company annually implements large-scale projects to support indigenous peoples in the regions of its operations.

During the folklore festival, many interactive events were held aimed at intercultural communication with the Khanty and Mansi peoples. The festival was timed to coincide with the beginning of the “little winter” according to the natural calendar of the Ob Ugrians, who, according to centuries-old traditions, strive to live in harmony with the environment. Representatives of the indigenous people of Yugra, through rituals, told about the philosophy of their peoples, living in harmony with the environment and maintaining the natural balance.

Folk craftsmen held various master classes on national decorative and applied arts. Festival guests learned how to make amulets from natural materials, the traditional Khanty doll akan, and jewelry using ornamental patterns.

A separate area hosted ethnosports events of indigenous peoples, which originate from the traditional way of life of reindeer herders and are an integral part of the unique culture of the Khanty and Mansi. Guests took part in northern all-round competitions, which included jumping over sleds, archery, and pulling a stick on a reindeer skin.

Artistic numbers were performed on the concert stage, and in the guest tent visitors were treated to national cuisine. The ethnofestival ended with a large-scale round dance of friendship of peoples.

Reference:

Samotlorneftegaz is one of the key production enterprises of Rosneft, leading the development of the largest Samotlor field in Russia, which is located in the Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug – Yugra.

Samotlorneftegaz systematically implements the principles of supporting the national communities of the Khanty and Mansi. With the assistance of the enterprise, a unique digital project is being implemented in the district to provide ancestral lands with cellular communications and the Internet. At the moment, it has covered 3,650 people living in 177 territories of traditional nature management.

The regional digital educational platform “Camp School-Garden” is being developed on the basis of the IT project. Currently, there are six camp schools-gardens operating in Yugra.

Also, with the support of Samotlorneftegaz, scientific and practical conferences are held with the participation of representatives of the indigenous peoples of the North, competitions of professional skills among reindeer herders, and competitions in national sports.

Department of Information and Advertising of PJSC NK Rosneft October 15, 2024

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

http://vvv.rosneft.ru/press/nevs/item/220917/

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Banking: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade

Source: Huawei

Headline: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade

[Dubai, UAE, October 15, 2024] During GITEX Global 2024, Huawei unveiled its Intelligent Stadium Solution at a forum themed AI Enables Smart Building Upgrade. The solution is intended for facilitating digital and intelligent transformation of stadium campuses. At the forum, Huawei discussed with business elites, industry experts, and leading partners how to seize tremendous opportunities that AI brings and use digital and intelligent technologies to lead industry development.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU, delivered a speech at the forum. He said that Huawei aims to become the preferred partner for digital and intelligent transformation in the Middle East’s real estate industry by advancing technologies, leveraging experience, and developing the industry ecosystem. “Looking toward the future, Huawei will continue to integrate smart technology into industries by acting as a bridge and an amplifier. We are committed to expanding our industry knowledge and delivering better services to global customers and partners. Eventually, we will bring intelligence to the Middle East and the world,” said Mr. Liu.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU

Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept, mentioned in his speech that the building industry’s digital journey has just begun, but it holds enormous potential for the future. He also emphasized that AI will bring buildings and campuses into an era of intelligence, transforming the management and operational models of an intelligent campus. “Huawei advocates using ICTs to redefine the campus. We have been leveraging the advantages of our product portfolios to redefine campus connectivity, platform, and business, helping global customers build digital and intelligent campuses,” said Eric Li.
Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept

Viga Liu, Director of Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He believes that AI is enabling buildings and campuses to go digital, intelligent, green, and low-carbon at a faster pace. According to Viga Liu, Huawei has developed pioneering solutions such as Campus Service Network and Campus Digital Platform. “We have collaborated with our partners to assist over 1000 customers worldwide in building 10 Gbps, digital, and green intelligent campuses, including office campuses, stadium campuses, and commercial complexes.”
Ahmad Bana, the Center of Excellence Manager at Waseef, an asset management company from Qatar, shared Waseef’s experience with digital and intelligent transformation of networks in employee apartments. Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Solution adopts a flat optical fiber architecture, which allows Waseef to save 80% of IT equipment room footprint and cabling space, as well as achieve more intelligent network O&M and more flexible bandwidth upgrades. Moreover, this architecture contributes to a green network that is future-proof for 30 years, provision of additional services, asset appreciation, and project success.
OODA World, a global software vendor headquartered in France, specializes in delivering innovative software solutions for different industries. Méliné EOLMEZIAN-SOULIE, Vice President of Public Safety and Strategic Partner Ecosystem, highlighted that OODA’s Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform utilizes distinctive 3D native and real-time data visualization and command & control technologies to implement real-time situation awareness, automatic workflows, and centralized incident management. She said OODA will collaborate with Huawei to build campuses that are more intelligent.
Techno Q, a system integrator from Qatar, participated in the forum. Saad Afzal, the Head of Solutions Architecture at Techno Q, stated in his speech that smart building solutions, based on data convergence and system integration, can unlock the value of data and provide targeted use cases for areas such as energy efficiency management, predictive maintenance, asset management, operational efficiency, and subscription-based value-added services. This can provide customers with enhanced user experience, reduce security risks, and improve management efficiency.
Neuxnet, headquartered in Singapore, is dedicated to helping customers go digital and intelligent. According to Eric Yang, the Vice President of Product and Marketing at Neuxnet, stadiums are evolving toward being diversified, integrated, and intelligent, providing spectators with a spectacular experience before, during, and after sports events through various new technologies and applications. “By offering functions such as smart parking, navigation, ticketing services, and one-stop customer services, Neuxnet provides efficient management tools for stadium operators, and helps them create dynamic, technologically advanced, and sustainable sports stadiums,” said Eric Yang.
Official release of the Intelligent Stadium Solution

At the end of the forum, Huawei officially released its Intelligent Stadium Solution. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with partners to help customers implement top-notch security assurance, operations management, communications assurance, spectating experience, and service experience, as well as innovate in management and service models, delivering brand-new sports stadium experiences in the digital and intelligent era.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade

Source: Huawei

Headline: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade

[Dubai, UAE, October 15, 2024] During GITEX Global 2024, Huawei unveiled its Intelligent Stadium Solution at a forum themed AI Enables Smart Building Upgrade. The solution is intended for facilitating digital and intelligent transformation of stadium campuses. At the forum, Huawei discussed with business elites, industry experts, and leading partners how to seize tremendous opportunities that AI brings and use digital and intelligent technologies to lead industry development.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU, delivered a speech at the forum. He said that Huawei aims to become the preferred partner for digital and intelligent transformation in the Middle East’s real estate industry by advancing technologies, leveraging experience, and developing the industry ecosystem. “Looking toward the future, Huawei will continue to integrate smart technology into industries by acting as a bridge and an amplifier. We are committed to expanding our industry knowledge and delivering better services to global customers and partners. Eventually, we will bring intelligence to the Middle East and the world,” said Mr. Liu.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU

Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept, mentioned in his speech that the building industry’s digital journey has just begun, but it holds enormous potential for the future. He also emphasized that AI will bring buildings and campuses into an era of intelligence, transforming the management and operational models of an intelligent campus. “Huawei advocates using ICTs to redefine the campus. We have been leveraging the advantages of our product portfolios to redefine campus connectivity, platform, and business, helping global customers build digital and intelligent campuses,” said Eric Li.
Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept

Viga Liu, Director of Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He believes that AI is enabling buildings and campuses to go digital, intelligent, green, and low-carbon at a faster pace. According to Viga Liu, Huawei has developed pioneering solutions such as Campus Service Network and Campus Digital Platform. “We have collaborated with our partners to assist over 1000 customers worldwide in building 10 Gbps, digital, and green intelligent campuses, including office campuses, stadium campuses, and commercial complexes.”
Ahmad Bana, the Center of Excellence Manager at Waseef, an asset management company from Qatar, shared Waseef’s experience with digital and intelligent transformation of networks in employee apartments. Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Solution adopts a flat optical fiber architecture, which allows Waseef to save 80% of IT equipment room footprint and cabling space, as well as achieve more intelligent network O&M and more flexible bandwidth upgrades. Moreover, this architecture contributes to a green network that is future-proof for 30 years, provision of additional services, asset appreciation, and project success.
OODA World, a global software vendor headquartered in France, specializes in delivering innovative software solutions for different industries. Méliné EOLMEZIAN-SOULIE, Vice President of Public Safety and Strategic Partner Ecosystem, highlighted that OODA’s Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform utilizes distinctive 3D native and real-time data visualization and command & control technologies to implement real-time situation awareness, automatic workflows, and centralized incident management. She said OODA will collaborate with Huawei to build campuses that are more intelligent.
Techno Q, a system integrator from Qatar, participated in the forum. Saad Afzal, the Head of Solutions Architecture at Techno Q, stated in his speech that smart building solutions, based on data convergence and system integration, can unlock the value of data and provide targeted use cases for areas such as energy efficiency management, predictive maintenance, asset management, operational efficiency, and subscription-based value-added services. This can provide customers with enhanced user experience, reduce security risks, and improve management efficiency.
Neuxnet, headquartered in Singapore, is dedicated to helping customers go digital and intelligent. According to Eric Yang, the Vice President of Product and Marketing at Neuxnet, stadiums are evolving toward being diversified, integrated, and intelligent, providing spectators with a spectacular experience before, during, and after sports events through various new technologies and applications. “By offering functions such as smart parking, navigation, ticketing services, and one-stop customer services, Neuxnet provides efficient management tools for stadium operators, and helps them create dynamic, technologically advanced, and sustainable sports stadiums,” said Eric Yang.
Official release of the Intelligent Stadium Solution

At the end of the forum, Huawei officially released its Intelligent Stadium Solution. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with partners to help customers implement top-notch security assurance, operations management, communications assurance, spectating experience, and service experience, as well as innovate in management and service models, delivering brand-new sports stadium experiences in the digital and intelligent era.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade Oct 15, 2024

Source: Huawei

Headline: Huawei Launches Intelligent Stadium Solution to Facilitate Intelligent Upgrade
Oct 15, 2024

[Dubai, UAE, October 15, 2024] During GITEX Global 2024, Huawei unveiled its Intelligent Stadium Solution at a forum themed AI Enables Smart Building Upgrade. The solution is intended for facilitating digital and intelligent transformation of stadium campuses. At the forum, Huawei discussed with business elites, industry experts, and leading partners how to seize tremendous opportunities that AI brings and use digital and intelligent technologies to lead industry development.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU, delivered a speech at the forum. He said that Huawei aims to become the preferred partner for digital and intelligent transformation in the Middle East’s real estate industry by advancing technologies, leveraging experience, and developing the industry ecosystem. “Looking toward the future, Huawei will continue to integrate smart technology into industries by acting as a bridge and an amplifier. We are committed to expanding our industry knowledge and delivering better services to global customers and partners. Eventually, we will bring intelligence to the Middle East and the world,” said Mr. Liu.
Liu Chao, CEO of Huawei’s Manufacturing and Large Enterprises BU

Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept, mentioned in his speech that the building industry’s digital journey has just begun, but it holds enormous potential for the future. He also emphasized that AI will bring buildings and campuses into an era of intelligence, transforming the management and operational models of an intelligent campus. “Huawei advocates using ICTs to redefine the campus. We have been leveraging the advantages of our product portfolios to redefine campus connectivity, platform, and business, helping global customers build digital and intelligent campuses,” said Eric Li.
Eric Li, President of Huawei’s Product Portfolio Marketing Solution Sales Dept

Viga Liu, Director of Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Marketing & Solution Sales Dept, delivered a keynote speech at the forum. He believes that AI is enabling buildings and campuses to go digital, intelligent, green, and low-carbon at a faster pace. According to Viga Liu, Huawei has developed pioneering solutions such as Campus Service Network and Campus Digital Platform. “We have collaborated with our partners to assist over 1000 customers worldwide in building 10 Gbps, digital, and green intelligent campuses, including office campuses, stadium campuses, and commercial complexes.”
Ahmad Bana, the Center of Excellence Manager at Waseef, an asset management company from Qatar, shared Waseef’s experience with digital and intelligent transformation of networks in employee apartments. Huawei’s Intelligent Campus Solution adopts a flat optical fiber architecture, which allows Waseef to save 80% of IT equipment room footprint and cabling space, as well as achieve more intelligent network O&M and more flexible bandwidth upgrades. Moreover, this architecture contributes to a green network that is future-proof for 30 years, provision of additional services, asset appreciation, and project success.
OODA World, a global software vendor headquartered in France, specializes in delivering innovative software solutions for different industries. Méliné EOLMEZIAN-SOULIE, Vice President of Public Safety and Strategic Partner Ecosystem, highlighted that OODA’s Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) platform utilizes distinctive 3D native and real-time data visualization and command & control technologies to implement real-time situation awareness, automatic workflows, and centralized incident management. She said OODA will collaborate with Huawei to build campuses that are more intelligent.
Techno Q, a system integrator from Qatar, participated in the forum. Saad Afzal, the Head of Solutions Architecture at Techno Q, stated in his speech that smart building solutions, based on data convergence and system integration, can unlock the value of data and provide targeted use cases for areas such as energy efficiency management, predictive maintenance, asset management, operational efficiency, and subscription-based value-added services. This can provide customers with enhanced user experience, reduce security risks, and improve management efficiency.
Neuxnet, headquartered in Singapore, is dedicated to helping customers go digital and intelligent. According to Eric Yang, the Vice President of Product and Marketing at Neuxnet, stadiums are evolving toward being diversified, integrated, and intelligent, providing spectators with a spectacular experience before, during, and after sports events through various new technologies and applications. “By offering functions such as smart parking, navigation, ticketing services, and one-stop customer services, Neuxnet provides efficient management tools for stadium operators, and helps them create dynamic, technologically advanced, and sustainable sports stadiums,” said Eric Yang.
Official release of the Intelligent Stadium Solution

At the end of the forum, Huawei officially released its Intelligent Stadium Solution. Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to work with partners to help customers implement top-notch security assurance, operations management, communications assurance, spectating experience, and service experience, as well as innovate in management and service models, delivering brand-new sports stadium experiences in the digital and intelligent era.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Farms to fame: How China’s rural influencers are redefining country life

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Mitchell Gallagher, Ph.D Candidate in Political Science, Wayne State University

In the quiet backwaters of Yunnan, Dong Meihua – though her followers know her by the public alias Dianxi Xiaoge – has done something remarkable: She’s taken the pastoral simplicity of rural China and made it irresistible to millions. In her hands, a village kitchen becomes a stage, and the rhythms of farm life become a story as compelling as any novel. She is one of many rural influencers returning to their roots.

In a digital revolution turning established narratives on their head, China’s countryside is emerging as an unlikely epicenter of viral content. Xiaoge is one of thousands of influencers redefining through social media how the countryside is perceived.

Upending preconceptions of rural China as a hinterland of poverty and stagnation, this new breed of social media mavens is serving up a feast of bucolic bliss to millions of urbanites. It is a narrative shift encouraged by authorities; the Chinese government has given its blessing to influencers promoting picturesque rural images. Doing so helps downplay urban-rural chasms and stoke national pride. It also fits nicely with Beijing’s rural revitalization strategy.

Hardship to revival

To fully appreciate any phenomenon, it’s necessary to first consider the historical context. For decades, China’s countryside was synonymous with hardship and backwardness. The Great Leap Forward of the late 1950s and early 1960s – Communist China’s revered founder Mao Zedong’s disastrous attempt to industrialize a largely agrarian country – devastated rural communities and led to widespread famine that saw tens of millions die.

The subsequent Cultural Revolution, in which Mao strengthened his grip on power through a broad purge of the nation’s intelligentsia, further disrupted customary rural life as educated youth were sent to the countryside for “reeducation.” These traumatic events inflicted deep scars on the rural psyche and economy.

Meanwhile, the “hukou” system, which since the late 1950s has tied social benefits to a person’s birthplace and divided citizens into “agricultural ” and “nonagricultural” residency status, has created a stark divide between urban and rural citizens.

The reform era of Mao’s successor, Deng Xiaoping, beginning in 1978, brought new challenges. As China’s cities boomed, the countryside lagged behind.

Millions of rural Chinese have migrated to cities for better opportunities, abandoning aging populations and hollowed-out communities. In 1980, 19% of China’s population lived in urban areas. By 2023, that figure had risen to 66%.

Government policies have since developed extensively toward rural areas. The abolition of agricultural taxes in 2006 heralded a major milestone, demonstrating a renewed commitment to rural prosperity. Most recently, President Xi Jinping’s “rural revitalization” has put countryside development at the forefront of national policy. The launch of the Internet Plus Agriculture initiative and investment in rural e-commerce platforms such as Taobao Villages allow isolated farming communities to connect to urban markets.

Notwithstanding these efforts, China’s urban-rural income gap remains substantial, with the average annual per capita disposable income of rural households standing at 21,691 yuan (about US$3,100), approximately 40% of the amount for urban households.

Enter the ‘new farmer’

Digital-savvy farmers and countryside dwellers have used nostalgia and authenticity to win over Chinese social media. Stars such as Li Ziqi and Dianxi Xiaoge have racked up huge numbers of followers as they paint rural China as both an idyllic escape and a thriving cultural hub.

The Chinese term for this social media phenomenon is “new farmer.” This encapsulates the rise of rural celebrities who use platforms such as Douyin and Weibo to document and commercialize their way of life. Take Sister Yu: With over 23 million followers, she showcases the rustic charm of northeast China as she pickles vegetables and cooks hearty meals. Or Peng Chuanming: a farmer in Fujian whose videos on crafting traditional teas and restoring his home have captivated millions.

Since 2016, these platforms have turned rural life into digital gold. What began as simple documentation has evolved into a phenomenon commanding enormous audiences, fueled not just by nostalgia but also economic necessity. China’s post-COVID-19 economic downturn, marked by soaring youth unemployment and diminishing urban opportunities, has driven some to seek livelihoods in the countryside.

In China’s megacities, where the air is thick with pollution and opportunity, there’s clearly a hunger for something real – something that doesn’t come shrink-wrapped or with a QR code. And rural influencers serve slices of a life many thought lost to China’s breakneck development.

Compared with their urban counterparts, rural influencers carve out a unique niche in China’s vast social media landscape. Although fashion bloggers, gaming streamers and lifestyle gurus dominate platforms such as Weibo and Douyin, the Chinese TikTok, rural content creators tap into a different cultural romanticism and a yearning for connection to nature. In addition, their content capitalizes on the rising popularity of short video platforms such as Kuaishou and Pinduoduo, augmenting their reach across a wide demographic, from nostalgic retirees to eco-conscious millennials.

But this is not simply digital escapism for the masses. Tourism is booming in once-forgotten villages. Traditional crafts are finding new markets. In 2020 alone, Taobao Villages reported a staggering 1.2 trillion yuan (around $169.36 billion) in sales.

The Chinese government, never one to miss a PR opportunity, has spotted potential. Rural revitalization is now the buzzword among government officials. It’s a win-win: Villagers net economic opportunities, and the state polishes its reputation as a champion of traditional values. Government officials have leveraged platforms such as X to showcase China’s rural revitalization efforts to international audiences.

Authenticity or illusion?

As with all algorithms, there’s a catch to the new farmer movement. The more popular rural influencers become, the more pressure they face to perform “authenticity.” Or put another way: The more real it looks, the less real it might actually be.

It raises another question: Who truly benefits? Are we witnessing rural empowerment or a commodification of rural life for urban consumption? With corporate sponsors and government initiatives piling in, the line between genuine representation and curated fantasy blurs.

Local governments, recognizing the economic potential, have begun offering subsidies to rural content creators, causing skepticism about whether this content is truly grassroots or part of a bigger, state-led campaign to sanitize the countryside’s image.

Yet, for all the conceivable pitfalls, the new farmer trend is an opportunity to challenge the urban-centric narrative that has dominated China’s development story for decades and rethink whether progress always means high-rises and highways, or if there’s value in preserving ways of life that have sustained communities for centuries.

More importantly, it’s narrowing the cultural disconnect that has long separated China’s rural and urban populations. In a country where your hukou can determine your destiny, these viral videos foster understanding in ways that no government program ever could.

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

– ref. Farms to fame: How China’s rural influencers are redefining country life – https://theconversation.com/farms-to-fame-how-chinas-rural-influencers-are-redefining-country-life-239540

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: GITEX GLOBAL 2024: Historic opening day marked by record international participation and capacity crowds at key events
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 15, 2024/APO Group/ —
- Entire international tech ecosystem descended on Dubai to mark the start of GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (www.GITEX.com) – the world’s largest and best-rated tech event
- Innovative showcases and GITEX Editions & European Innovation Council pavilion launches also star on “Tech Investor Day”
- “AI Super Tuesday” next up at GITEX GLOBAL 2024
International audiences enjoyed a memorable first day at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 (http://apo-opa.co/4h8HyRu) on Monday as the world’s largest and best-rated tech event kicked off in sensational fashion – setting the stage for an unforgettable week of breakthrough tech showcases.

Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 14-18 October, GITEX GLOBAL presents a record-breaking edition in its 44^th year. It welcomes over 6,500 exhibitors, 1,800 startups, 1,200 investors alongside governments from more than 180 countries – the highest-ever international participation at GITEX GLOBAL – comprising enterprises, experts, investors, startups, academia, researchers, and the entire global tech ecosystem.

Eagerly awaited exhibitions and events take centre stage

Across a capacity-crowd venue, international audiences became acquainted with a wide variety of incredible innovations on Day 1 of GITEX GLOBAL 2024. UAE technology group G42 presented its Intelligence Grid immersive experience, enabling visitors to discover how AI can power every aspect of future life as a ‘super utility’. Lenovo showcased its new range of hardware and cloud solution equipped with transformative AI capabilities of the future, while e& showcased some the world’s most mindblowing protypes in all of tech. One of the highlights was the XPeng AeroHT eVTOL Flying Car – enabling audiences to discover how such innovations represent a historic opportunity to revolutionise aviation and personal transportation.

With five incredible themes across five unmissable days this year, “Tech Investment Day” was first up with World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit (http://apo-opa.co/4dLQ9qC) amongst the many shows that drew huge crowds and received widespread audience acclaim.

In a special briefing, His Excellency (H.E.) Abdullah Bin Touq Al Marri, Cabinet Member & UAE Minister of Economy, addressed attendees during ‘Rise of the New Economy: AI & Emerging Industries’. This session delved into the UAE’s strategic initiatives fostering innovation, enhancing competitiveness, and positioning the country as a global leader in the new economy.

With the UAE’s non-oil sector accounting for 74% of national gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, H.E. Al Marri reaffirmed the Ministry of Economy’s ambitious plans for the years ahead, insisting: “We are in the business of breaking records. We’ve already achieved a non-oil sector that accounts for 74% of GDP – this record has never happened before in our country’s history. The UAE’s environment and ecosystem attracts people from around the globe – and the target now is to reach 80% by 2030 and become an R&D hub for the world.”

With several leadership sessions held throughout the Monday schedule, H.E. Faisal Al Bannai, Advisor to the UAE President & Secretary General of the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC), shared key insights and perspectives during ‘AI Leadership: Steering Societal Transformation’. AI socio-economic implications were discussed alongside global AI leadership, models, governance, and regulation.

Elsewhere on a historic opening day to celebrate GITEX GLOBAL’s record-extending 44^th edition, new industry-defining programmes were also launched – including GITEX Editions, an exclusive platform for late-stage advanced tech companies and a premier hub for unicorns, soonicorns and rhinos.

GITEX Editions connects 59 top global unicorns and was attended by H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, UAE Minister of State for AI, Digital Economy & Remote Work Applications, also addressed attendees between another applauded leadership session – ‘The UAE As The Sandbox For Pragmatic Ai Regulation And Policy Development’.

The year’s most impactful discussions surrounding AI’s future in society and industry were also attending by high numbers of visitors. While discussing the most transformative AI case studies across government, enterprise, and startups, the need to balance AI’s potential with creativity and human intuition was examined in various sessions, including ‘Regulating Tech: The Intersection of Tech, Crime and Law’.

Didier Jacobs, Head of ICT & Chief AI Officer at Europol, stressed that heightened collaboration and cooperation are needed to overcome challenges and solve international crime, adding: “Cybercrime knows no borders. There are many technologies that can be misused for hacking, extortion, sabotage, illegal transactions, and so on. What’s needed are solutions – a blend of increased human collaboration and technology deployment is essential.”

As this week marks the largest-ever European participation at GITEX GLOBAL with 38 European countries exhibiting alongside 1,000-plus SMEs and 450-plus startups, the European Innovation Council pavilion was officially launched to commemorate the milestone.

With debuting exhibitors from countries including Austria, Portugal, Latvia, Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, and Switzerland in attendance, Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of DWTC, the organiser of GITEX GLOBAL, opened the brand-new site. This casts a unique spotlight on Europe’s AI, tech, and innovation advancements alongside the cross-continental collaboration efforts currently taking shape across the continent.

What next at GITEX GLOBAL 2024?

GITEX GLOBAL 2024 continues Tuesday as “Super AI Tuesday” showcases how AI is transforming business strategies, revolutionising industries, and creating new growth opportunities across the globe. Up until Friday (October 18), attendees can also explore the latest tech sector services and solutions being rolled out across Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

GITEX GLOBAL is seamlessly connecting with world’s largest network of tech events with its stellar list including GITEX EUROPE Berlin, GITEX ASIA Singapore, GITEX AFRICA Morocco, and GITEX NIGERIA. These events are fostering collaboration and driving innovation to shape the tech landscape of tomorrow.

More information on GITEX GLOBAL and to purchase passes, please visit http://www.GITEX.com

MIL OSI Africa –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Metal Sky Star Acquisition Company Announces LOI with Fedilco Group Limited

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation, a Cayman Islands exempted company (NASDAQ: MSSA) (the “Company” or “Metal Sky”) announced today that it has entered into a letter of intent (the “LOI”) with Fedilco Group Limited, a Cyprus based company (“Fedilco”) holding 80% equity interest of Viva Armenia Closed Joint-Stock Company, an Armenia-based telecommunication company (“Viva”). Pursuant to the LOI, the Company expresses interest in acquiring all the issued and outstanding shares of Fedilco. The parties will obtain all the required permissions and/or approvals of the state authorities of the Republic of Armenia.

Viva’s success in the field of mobile communications is conditioned by the following principle: mobile services should be available not to a limited number of people, but to everyone. Viva provides its subscribers with the opportunity to keep in touch with their homeland, regardless of their location. Viva has 529 roaming partners in 192 countries of the world. Viva is the first company in Armenia to introduce and apply CSR as a management model and is the first operator to be guided by the international principles of social responsibility ISO 26000.

“We are excited to announce this LOI with Fedilco,” said Wenxi He, CEO of Metal Sky. “Viva is emerging as a leader in the telecommunication industry in Armenia, and we believe that this transaction will position us to effectively capitalize on growth opportunities in the sector and enhance shareholder value.”

“We are excited to enter this partnership to meet our commitment to focus on the next generation telecommunication technology,” said Loizos Vasiliou, Director of Fedilco. “This partnership into the public markets broadens our investor base and the combined company will have a strong platform to drive innovation and expand our market reach.”

About Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation

Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation is a blank check company formed under the laws of the Cayman Islands for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses.

About Fedilco Group Limited

Fedilco Group Limited, incorporated under the laws of Cyprus, is the controlling shareholder of Viva, a leading and innovate technology company in Armenia’s ICT sector.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute “forward-looking statements,” including with respect to the proposed transaction with Fedilco. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company’s annual report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, filed with the SEC on August 30, 2024. Copies are available on the SEC’s website, http://www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Company Contacts:

Wenxi He
Chief Executive Officer
221 River Street, 9th Floor,
Hoboken, New Jersey
(201)721-8789
Email: olivia.he@gmail.com
olivia@metalskystar.com

Source: Metal Sky Star Acquisition Corporation

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Technology partnerships between the UK and Central and Eastern Europe: Science and Innovation Network impact story
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Countries in Central and Eastern Europe offer a significant opportunity for science, innovation, and technology partnerships with the UK.
The first outcome of the UK-Bulgaria meeting on semiconductors was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between TechWorks (UK) and BASEL (Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics).

Summary

The 9 countries of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) offer a significant opportunity for science, innovation, and technology partnerships with the UK. Together, the region’s combined GDP is over €2 trillion – an economy of emerging innovators leading a tech revolution (the region has increased its enterprise value since 2017 by 7.6 times).

This is driven by each countries’ effort to combine their science and technology expertise and skilled workforces (Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Romania make up 4 of the 6 EU countries in the Top 25 countries of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) excellence) together with traditional strengths in manufacturing, IT and science.

The priorities of the UK’s International Tech Strategy align with pockets of excellence across the region. Austria, for example, is the fourth largest producer of semi-conductors with expanding supply chains through Czechia and Bulgaria, Croatia’s unicorns drive 4% of the country’s GDP and Poland and Czechia’s retention of 90% of their startup enterprise value show the strength of the emerging ecosystems. A recent report estimated that AI would further boost the regional economic value by €100 billion.

UK Science and Innovation Network (SIN) teams in Central and Eastern Europe are working to communicate these opportunities to UK stakeholders and build connections. The appetite to work with the UK is high – during the previous Horizon Europe programme, the UK was among the top partners of choice for CEE researchers.

Following the UK’s reassociation to Horizon Europe and Copernicus, we are keen to maintain and strengthen those connections. Our events on tech, showcased below, all help to communicate and encourage collaboration while engaging on policy approaches that will be critical to the safe and secure emergence of critical tech.

Impact

Semiconductors

In January, SIN organised a high-level roundtable on semiconductors to connect Bulgarian and UK stakeholders looking to develop cooperation and exchange approaches on semi-conductors.

Semiconductors is a priority sector for the UK, in the context of the UK Semiconductors Strategy and Bulgaria is recognised as partner in this area under the UK-Bulgaria Strategic Partnerships Agreement.

Why Bulgaria?

Bulgaria is rapidly developing opportunities in the sector, building on its ICT strengths (contributing over 7% of GDP, the highest level among CEE countries). This is a legacy of chip manufacturing (by the late 1970s, Bulgaria was one of the top 10 biggest electronics manufacturing countries in the world).

In 1989, Bulgaria exported more computers than all other countries in CEE with 11% of workers employed in the production of computers and electronics. Today there are over 400 microelectronics, many supporting the growing demand for chips from Bulgaria’s automotive industry.

Bulgaria is positioned well to become a supply chain hub under the EU Chips Act – it has attracted investment by global companies such as Melexis (producing equipment and critical materials for semiconductor fabs) and Global Foundries and the government is investing in R&D centres to support the developing capacity.

The roundtable enabled government, industry and academic contacts to share government strategy and approaches, including on skills development, explore potential commercial R&D and academic collaboration opportunities. This has led to an opportunity to work with the Bulgaria Ministry of Innovations and Growth as they prepare a report and recommendations to develop the sector in 2024, the potential to develop an accelerator programme based on the UK’s Chipstart programme and a memorandum of understanding signed between the Bulgarian Association of Electrical Engineering and Electronics (BASEL) and TechWorks UK.

Artificial intelligence (AI)

In February, SIN hosted the first UK-Romania research conference with a focus on AI to help us better understand emerging opportunities in AI research with Romania. Bringing together contacts from academia, SMEs, NGOs, and senior officials.

The event was part of series of SIN initiatives on AI which started in 2021 with a UK-Romania high-level dialogue in London, an online workshop on national AI strategies, and a visit to present the Romanian government’s AI advisor, “Ion”, to the UK. The roundtable helped secure the topic as part of the forthcoming UK-Romania Bilateral Forum in 2024 within the frame of the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed in March 2023.

Why Romania?

A surge in AI startups and a rapidly developing ecosystem is drawing significant international attention. Romania’s IT and cyber sector drives a significant proportion of GDP – Romania is number one in Europe and sixth in the world in terms of the number of IT professionals. Companies such as Amazon, Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Oracle have long operated in Romania’s IT sector, which generated €9 billion in 2022.

In March, SIN supported a wider delegation of AI stakeholders from Czechia, Slovakia and Poland to the UK to attend the Alan Turing Institute AI Expo 2024, using the opportunity to share policy approaches on AI regulation, build connections for AI influencers in the region, and connect researchers.

Tech mapping

To find out more about opportunities across the wider Central and Eastern Europe region, read our report on tech opportunities commissioned by SIN and created by researchers at Public International (a UK-based tech insights organisation). The report provides country by country snapshots on why CEE is important to the UK under each of the 5 priority technologies.

Technology and Innovation in Central and Eastern Europe (public.io).

Contact details:

Emilia Pecheva: Science & Innovation Officer for Bulgaria and Romania emilia.pecheva@fcdo.gov.uk

Martyn Cushing: Regional manager for SIN Central and Eastern Europe martyn.cushing@fcdo.gov.uk

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Updates to this page

Published 14 October 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New local fibre network launched More than 50 representatives from local technology businesses and organisations attended the launch of the Lancaster district’s new Local Full Fibre Network to find out more about its benefits and how it will help to turbocharge the local economy.

Source: City of Lancaster

More than 50 representatives from local technology businesses and organisations attended the launch of the Lancaster district’s new Local Full Fibre Network to find out more about its benefits and how it will help to turbocharge the local economy.

Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox presenting at the launch of the Local Full Fibre Network

Led by Lancaster City Council and Cooperative Network Infrastructure (CNI), the project is seeing the installation of a new optical fibre network that will provide a fibre spine of gigabit broadband capability to connect Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham.

The spine will significantly cut the costs of establishing a connection to fibre telecommunication for the district’s thriving digital businesses, opening up opportunities and promoting the development of the local digital ecosystem to attract investment.

There are also long-term benefits for the council, including significant financial savings and the ability to transform its services though innovation, along with ‘future-proofing’ connectivity to its sites and assets.

The council and CNI have worked with local companies such as Caton Road-based TNP and rural broadband pioneer B4RN to develop and install the network, many of whom attended a special launch event on Thursday (October 10).

Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox, cabinet member with responsibility for finance and resources, said: “For any business to be able to compete in this day and age, access to fast fibre broadband is a must and I am delighted that the council has been able to work with CNI and local suppliers to develop this new infrastructure.

“Other public bodies will also be able to benefit and satisfy the ever-increasing demand for bandwidth in the provision of public services, including the NHS, police and schools. The launch heard from the NHS in Greater Manchester on how a fibre network had saved money and improved data security and accessibility.

“I also want to express my gratitude to Blackpool Borough Council for sharing the very considerable experience and expertise of Tony Doyle, their ICT manager. He has already achieved a similar roll-out of fibre infrastructure across Blackpool and Tony has been integral to design and delivery of the fibre spine across Lancaster district.”

Tony Doyle, who is also chair of CNI, added: “It’s been a privilege to work with Lancaster’s forward-thinking team, committed to being at the forefront of the digital revolution and addressing sustainability challenges.

“Together, the new fibre network and soon-to-come sustainable data centre provide a strong foundation for future growth, helping to transform public services and businesses. I’m excited to see how these assets will drive innovation in the local and regional economy.”

The next steps in the project are to provide a state-of-the-art hyper-green data centre facility centre at Salt Ayre Leisure Centre, which will further enhance the network and provide the infrastructure needed to realise the benefits of new technologies for the council, businesses and the wider public sector.

Last updated: 14 October 2024

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI: WISeKey Subsidiary WISeSat to Launch Second Proof of Concept for SEALCOIN Token

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

WISeKey Subsidiary WISeSat to Launch Second Proof of Concept for SEALCOIN Token

Zug, Switzerland – October 14, 2024: WISeKey International Holding AG (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN), a global leader in cybersecurity, blockchain, and IoT solutions, today announced that its subsidiary, WISeSat.Space (“WISeSat”), will conduct the second Proof of Concept (PoC) for SEALCOIN by transacting tokens via satellites to IoT devices. The PoC is set to take place during the launch of a new generation of WISeSat satellites, planned for January 2025. This milestone, once complete, will represent a major leap forward in secure, autonomous machine-to-machine (M2M) transactions using WISeSat’s current satellite constellation.

The launch of a new generation of WISeSat satellites will feature enhanced operational capabilities specifically designed to support M2M transactions from space. These next-generation satellites will further strengthen the WISeSat constellation, enabling secure and efficient decentralized transactions across a wide range of IoT devices, marking a new era in space-based digital ecosystems.

This PoC will demonstrate SEALCOIN’s groundbreaking potential to facilitate decentralized transactions in the growing Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Leveraging the SEALCOIN platform, the PoC will enable satellite-initiated transactions to IoT devices without human intervention. The tokens, based on Decentralized Ledger Technology (DLT), ensure secure, transparent, and tamper-proof exchanges, driving the creation of a scalable Transactional IoT (t-IoT) infrastructure.

Previously, SEALCOIN successfully conducted a Proof of Concept (PoC) for Transactional-IoT (t-IoT) between two devices in early August. This milestone marked a significant step forward in the disintermediation of service providers for interconnected devices, showcasing the transformative potential of SEALCOIN’s innovative platform. For a video presentation of the initial PoC, please visit https://youtu.be/daOvoOxqGvQ.

Transactional-IoT refers to the automated communication and transactions between devices within the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. SEALCOIN’s PoC demonstrates the use of advanced technology embedded within a semiconductor device to validate and verify transactions autonomously. At the heart of this innovation is the Secure Element, an embedded security hardware that protects the private key and certificate representing the device’s unique identity. Leveraging elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) compatible with Hedera’s Decentralized Ledger Technology (DLT), the device can simultaneously authenticate and sign transactions on-chain.

SEALCOIN AG

Backed by over 25 years of experience in cybersecurity and secure semiconductor chips, embedded firmware, and trusted hardware provisioning services, SEALCOIN AG, the WISeKey subsidiary housing the SEALCOIN project, is establishing itself as a trusted partner in safeguarding digital assets. SEALCOIN AG was formed in collaboration with The Hashgraph Group AG, and is poised to revolutionize decentralized services and IoT markets.

The SEALCOIN platform will seamlessly integrate physical security infrastructure with DLT components, bridging the gap between traditional secure systems and the decentralized digital future. The platform will ensure that all autonomous device interactions occur within a transparent, secure ecosystem, with SEALCOIN’s TIOT token serving as the key enabler of these interactions. This system is designed to eliminate bottlenecks and vulnerabilities associated with centralized transaction models, ushering in a new era of M2M transactions.

Bridging Satellite and IoT Ecosystems

SEALCOIN’s first PoC was a success, validating the feasibility of M2M transactions within a terrestrial framework. The second PoC will expand this capability to space-based systems, with SEALCOIN tokens transacted via WISeSat’s satellite constellation to IoT devices on the ground. This innovative approach demonstrates the scalability of decentralized infrastructures to handle real-world applications, from energy trading to automated service exchanges.

Towards a Decentralized IoT Marketplace

With SEALCOIN’s TIOT token, IoT devices can autonomously negotiate, execute, and settle transactions securely, without the need for human intervention or centralized intermediaries. This decentralized marketplace allows devices to participate in service-for-payment exchanges and other automated processes, all powered by SEALCOIN’s TIOT token.

Carlos Moreira, CEO of WISeKey, commented, “This PoC marks an important step towards enabling seamless, decentralized M2M transactions from space. With the SEALCOIN token and WISeSat’s satellite infrastructure, we are moving closer to a future where IoT devices can securely and autonomously manage transactions across vast, interconnected ecosystems. The upcoming launch of the new generation of WISeSat satellites in January 2025 will further accelerate our vision of a decentralized, space-powered IoT network.”

For more information on WISeSat, SEALCOIN, and their decentralized IoT solutions, please visit http://www.wisekey.com and http://www.sealcoin.com.

About SEALCOIN AG
SEALCOIN is a decentralized platform designed to facilitate secure, autonomous transactions between IoT devices. Built on Hedera Hashgraph, SEALCOIN allows devices to engage in seamless service-for-payment exchanges without the need for intermediaries. With a focus on privacy, scalability, and decentralized governance, SEALCOIN is poised to revolutionize the Internet of Things (IoT) landscape.

About WISeSat.Space

WISeSat AG is pioneering a transformative approach to IoT connectivity and climate change monitoring through its innovative satellite constellation. By providing cost-effective, secure, and global IoT connectivity, WISeSat is enabling a wide range of applications that support environmental monitoring, disaster management, and sustainable practices. The integration of satellite data with advanced climate models holds great promise for enhancing our understanding of climate change and developing effective strategies to combat its impacts. As the world continues to grapple with the challenges of climate change, initiatives like WISeSat’s IoT satellite constellation are essential for creating a more resilient and sustainable future.

About WISeKey

WISeKey International Holding Ltd (“WISeKey”, SIX: WIHN; Nasdaq: WKEY) is a Swiss-based computer infrastructure company specializing in cybersecurity, digital identity, blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, and post-quantum semiconductors. As a computer infrastructure company, WISeKey provides secure platforms for data and device management across industries like finance, healthcare, and government. It leverages its Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) to ensure encrypted communications and authentication, while also focusing on next-generation security through post-quantum cryptography.

WISeKey’s work with post-quantum semiconductors is aimed at future-proofing its security solutions against the threats posed by quantum computing. These advanced semiconductors support encryption that can withstand the computational power of quantum computers, ensuring the long-term security of connected devices and critical infrastructure. Combined with its expertise in blockchain and IoT, WISeKey’s post-quantum technologies provide a robust foundation for secure digital ecosystems at the hardware, software, and network levels.

WISeKey operates as a holding company through several operational subsidiaries, each dedicated to specific aspects of its technology portfolio. The subsidiaries include (i) SEALSQ Corp (Nasdaq: LAES), which focuses on semiconductors, PKI, and post-quantum technology products, (ii) WISeKey SA which specializes in RoT and PKI solutions for secure authentication and identification in IoT, Blockchain, and AI, (iii) WISeSat AG which focuses on space technology for secure satellite communication, specifically for IoT applications, (iv) WISe.ART Corp which focuses on trusted blockchain NFTs and operates the WISe.ART marketplace for secure NFT transactions, and (v) SEALCOIN AG which focuses on decentralized physical internet with DePIN technology and house the development of the SEALCOIN platform.

For more information on WISeKey’s strategic direction and its subsidiary companies, please visit http://www.wisekey.com.

Disclaimer
This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA”), the FinSa’s predecessor legislation or advertising within the meaning of the FinSA. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey.

Press and Investor Contacts

WISeKey International Holding Ltd
Company Contact: Carlos Moreira
Chairman & CEO
Tel: +41 22 594 3000
info@wisekey.com

WISeKey Investor Relations (US)
The Equity Group Inc.
Lena Cati
Tel: +1 212 836-9611 / lcati@equityny.com
Katie Murphy
Tel: +1 212 836-9612 / kmurphy@equityny.com

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM to inaugurate ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 in New Delhi on 15th October

Source: Government of India

PM to inaugurate ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 in New Delhi on 15th October

PM to also inaugurate 8th edition of India Mobile Congress 2024

For the first time the ITU-WTSA will be hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific

3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries to participate in ITU-WTSA

Theme of the 8th edition of India Mobile Congress is “The Future is now”

India Mobile Congress 2024 will showcase over 400 exhibitors, about 900 startups, and participation from over 120 countries

Posted On: 14 OCT 2024 5:31PM by PIB Delhi

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will inaugurate the International Telecommunication Union – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 15th October at 10 AM.

Prime Minister will also inaugurate the 8th edition of India Mobile Congress 2024 during the programme.

WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, organised every four years. It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA will be hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific. It is a pivotal global event that will bring together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors.

WTSA 2024 will provide a platform for countries to discuss and decide the future of standards of next-generation critical technologies like 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, etc. Hosting this event in India will provide the country an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the global telecom agenda and to set the course for future technologies. Indian startups and research institutions are set to gain critical insights into developing Intellectual Property Rights and Standard Essential Patents.

India Mobile Congress 2024 will showcase India’s innovation ecosystem, where leading telecom companies and innovators will highlight advancements in Quantum technology and Circular Economy along with spotlight on 6G, 5G use-case showcase, cloud & edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom and electronics manufacturing.

India Mobile Congress, Asia’s largest digital technology forum, has become a well-known platform across the globe for showcasing innovative solutions, services and state-of-the-art use cases for industry, government, academics, startups and other key stakeholders in the technology and telecom ecosystem. The India Mobile Congress 2024 will showcase over 400 exhibitors, about 900 startups, and participation from over 120 countries. The event also aims to showcase more than 900 technology use case scenarios, host more than 100 sessions and discussion with over 600 global and Indian speakers.

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MJPS/SS/VJ/SR/BM/SKS

(Release ID: 2064716) Visitor Counter : 57

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: Financial news: Three Federal Treasury deposit auctions will take place on 15.10.2024

MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Exchange – Moscow Exchange –

Application selection parameters
Date of the selection of applications	10/15/2024
Unique identifier of the application selection	22024529
Deposit currency	rubles
Type of funds	funds of the single treasury account
Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units	697 200
Placement period, in days	2
Date of deposit	10/15/2024
Refund date	10/17/2024
Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating)	FIXED
Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum	18.14
Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds	–
Minimum spread, % per annum	–
Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special)	Urgent
Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units	1,000
Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs.	5
Application selection form (open or closed)	Open
Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
Venue for the selection of applications	PAO Moscow Exchange
Applications accepted:	from 09:30 to 09:40
Preliminary applications:	from 09:30 to 09:35
Applications in competition mode:	from 09:35 to 09:40
Formation of a consolidated register of applications:	from 09:40 to 09:50
Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:	from 09:40 to 10:00
Submission of an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement:	from 10:00 to 11:00
Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions:	from 10:00 to 11:00
Deposit transfer time	In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

Application selection parameters
Date of the selection of applications	10/15/2024
Unique identifier of the application selection	22024523
Deposit currency	rubles
Type of funds	funds of the single treasury account
Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units	20,000
Placement period, in days	182
Date of deposit	10/15/2024
Refund date	04/15/2025
Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating)	FLOATING
Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum	–
Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds	RUONmDS
Minimum spread, % per annum	0.00
Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special)	Urgent
Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units	1,000
Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs.	5
Application selection form (open or closed)	Open
Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
Venue for the selection of applications	PAO Moscow Exchange
Applications accepted:	from 12:30 to 12:40
Pre-applications:	from 12:30 to 12:35
Applications in competition mode:	from 12:35 to 12:40
Formation of a consolidated register of applications:	from 12:40 to 12:50
Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:	from 12:40 to 13:00
Submission of an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement:	from 13:00 to 14:00
Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions:	from 13:00 to 14:00
Deposit transfer time	In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where

RUONIA – the value of the indicative weighted rate of overnight ruble loans (deposits) RUONIA, expressed in hundredths of a percent, published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued. In the absence of a publication of the RUONIA rate value on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued, the last of the published RUONIA rate values is taken into account.

Application selection parameters
Date of the selection of applications	10/15/2024
Unique identifier of the application selection	22024524
Deposit currency	rubles
Type of funds	funds of the single treasury account
Maximum amount of funds placed in bank deposits, million monetary units	50,000
Placement period, in days	35
Date of deposit	10/16/2024
Refund date	11/20/2024
Interest rate for placement of funds (fixed or floating)	FLOATING
Minimum fixed interest rate for placement of funds, % per annum	–
Basic floating interest rate for placement of funds	RUONmDS
Minimum spread, % per annum	0.00
Terms of conclusion of a bank deposit agreement (fixed-term, replenishable or special)	Urgent
Minimum amount of funds placed for one application, million monetary units	1,000
Maximum number of applications from one credit institution, pcs.	5
Application selection form (open or closed)	Open
Application selection schedule (Moscow time)
Venue for the selection of applications	PAO Moscow Exchange
Applications accepted:	from 15:30 to 15:40
Preliminary applications:	from 15:30 to 15:35
Applications in competition mode:	from 15:35 to 15:40
Formation of a consolidated register of applications:	from 15:40 to 15:50
Setting a cut-off percentage rate and/or recognizing the selection of applications as unsuccessful:	from 15:40 to 16:00
Submission of an offer to credit institutions to conclude a bank deposit agreement:	from 16:00 to 17:00
Receiving acceptance of an offer to conclude a bank deposit agreement from credit institutions:	from 16:00 to 17:00
Deposit transfer time	In accordance with the requirements of paragraph 63 and paragraph 64 of the Order of the Federal Treasury dated 04/27/2023 No. 10n

RUONmDS = RUONIA – DS, where

RUONIA – the value of the indicative weighted rate of overnight ruble loans (deposits) RUONIA, expressed in hundredths of a percent, published on the official website of the Bank of Russia on the Internet on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued. In the absence of a publication of the RUONIA rate value on the day preceding the day for which interest is accrued, the last of the published RUONIA rate values is taken into account.

Contact information for media 7 (495) 363-3232PR@moex.com

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

https://www.moex.com/n73969

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025

MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung and KT Selected To Build Private 5G Network for the Republic of Korea Navy

Source: Samsung

Samsung Electronics and KT Corporation (KT) today announced that the companies have been selected to deploy a Private 5G network for the ‘Smart Naval Port’ project by the Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy. This marks the first deployment of its kind at a Korean Naval base. The Navy is carrying forward with this project to improve the battleship and base operation support capabilities and achieve comprehensive base defense.

Samsung and KT have been collaborating on this project since the summer of 2024, with a goal to complete the deployment by December 2025. The companies will build a more intelligent and fully independent network infrastructure to provide seamless coverage and enhanced connectivity for the Republic of Korea Navy 2nd Fleet.

Private 5G solutions are essential to support national defense sectors, which require ultra-fast speeds and hyper-connected communications for the foolproof and effective operation management. These solutions will build a highly reliable network dedicated to the Navy, increasing security and reducing vulnerabilities.

To ensure military workplace safety and efficiency, Samsung and KT will support the Navy’s Private 5G buildout by applying smart, AI-enabled connectivity solutions and powering a variety of next-generation applications. The project will establish a comprehensive Information and Communications Technology (ICT) infrastructure that encompasses 13 different systems, ranging from uncrewed vehicle operation to armory management and ammunition depot management. Specific use cases include:

A digital twin of the smart Naval base will provide a three dimensional and high-definition digital replica of the base. This will enable an integrated management system that can also be used as a foundation for establishing strategy development. Insights gathered from the digital twin can inform decisions that will increase the resilience, efficiency, adaptability and autonomy of the Naval base.
Intelligent security monitoring will enhance the Naval base defense by introducing real-time video control of operational forces and vehicles, surveillance cameras for ammunition depots and armories, and surveillance drones, incorporated with the existing Video Management System (VMS). This monitoring will deliver a holistic view of the base and all for optimal operational response in case of an emergency event through a real-time auto screen switch.
A one-stop battleship operation management system will enable intelligent battleship operation support through all-in-one system by integrating multiple critical systems — such as navigation support, logistics management, safety management and monitoring. This comprehensive system will streamline and operationalize administrative work for the Navy personnel.

“KT will contribute to establishing a standardized system for the Republic of Korea Navy through the Smart Naval Port project,” said Jun-Ho Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Public Customer Business Unit at KT Enterprise. “We look forward to laying the foundation for the ‘Smart Naval Port’ which will improve its capability to support battleship and naval base operations.”

Samsung will provide its proven end-to-end private 5G network solution for defense, including its private network 5G SA Compact Core, indoor and outdoor radio solutions and network management software. These solutions support the mid-band (n79, 4.7GHz) spectrum, which is widely adopted for military usage.

With Samsung’s compact solution for the full stack of Private 5G that can run on a single server hardware, the Navy will benefit from quick deployments and less complex operations. Its private 5G radios will deliver improved uplink performance with optimized uplink features, designed to help government agencies upload vast amounts of data across numerous devices simultaneously.

“Samsung’s Private 5G solutions are trusted due to their dependable security, reliability and proven commercial expertise, already serving diverse private and public sectors in countries like South Korea, the U.S. and Japan,” said Simon Lee, Vice President and Head of B2B·B2G Business Development Group, Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. “In collaboration with KT, we are excited to deploy Korea’s first Private 5G at a Naval base. This project exemplifies our ongoing commitment to enhance and unlock the potential of 5G to meet every customer’s needs.”

Samsung has been actively delivering private 5G networks in collaboration with a range of sectors from hospitals, universities, construction sites to military and local government agencies.

About KT CORPORATION (KRX: 030200; NYSE: KT)
KT Corporation, Korea’s largest telecommunications service provider, reestablished in 1981 under the Telecommunications Business Act, is leading the era of innovations in the world’s most connected country. The company is leading the 4th industrial revolution with high speed wire/wireless network and new ICT technology. KT launched the world’s first nationwide commercial 5G network on April 3, 2019, after successfully showcasing the world’s first trial 5G services at the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in February 2018. This is another milestone in KT’s continuous efforts to deliver essential products and services as it aspires to be the number one ICT Company and People’s Company.

MIL OSI Global Banks –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: Agency, Audiologist Solve Hearing Aid Security Concern, Get Needed Devices in NSA Spaces

Source: National Security Agency NSA

FORT MEADE, Md. – Joe K never had to worry about wearing his hearing aid to work at NSA buildings—until he upgraded his device a few years ago.

Joe, who is now the People with Disabilities Employee Resource Group (PWD ERG) Deaf and Hard of Hearing Subcommittee (DHHSC) chair, formerly used an analog hearing aid, which didn’t present a security risk. When he upgraded, he didn’t realize it was a problem until he was approached by a colleague wondering about the process for his new device to be approved by NSA Security & Counterintelligence (S&CI).

“Using hearing aids can be second nature, like putting your glasses on. Sometimes you don’t think about the technology behind it,” Joe said. “Many of us [deaf and hard of hearing affiliates] weren’t aware of the security requirements to bring them in NSA buildings.”

Starting in 2019, hearing aids began incorporating “hands-free calling,” a two-way audio Bluetooth technology. The new technology, however, presented an increased security threat to NSA — the potential for the transmission of classified conversations outside of a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF).

The issue with hearing aid technological improvements eventually brought together a number of stakeholders — including NSA Security & Counterintelligence (S&CI), NSA Research, and a Walter Reed Medical Center audiologist with close ties to the Veterans Administration (VA). The goal was to figure out how the deaf and hard of hearing community could take advantage of the new technology without compromising security.

“The reason manufacturers are putting two-way audio Bluetooth in hearing aids is because it improves audio quality. It allows people to hear and speak through phone calls more clearly without holding the phone up to their ear and mouth,” said Jason B, technology officer for the PWD ERG DHHSC. “In the past, many hearing aids included a one-way Bluetooth feature which did not pose a threat. But lately, the two-way audio Bluetooth feature is being added as standard in all hearing aids, and that is where it became pretty problematic.”

Some jobs at NSA specifically require keen hearing to listen to and translate audio samples. Without the support of a hearing aid, some affiliates would be unable to perform their jobs successfully, Jason explained.

“I met with the chief of S&CI to brief him on the importance of hearing aids and how they allow members of the DHH community to do our jobs,” Jason said. “Mitigating security risks of modern hearing aid devices is essential because there are currently thousands of NSA employees with both diagnosed and undiagnosed hearing loss, and potentially thousands more that could be impacted in the future.”

S&CI’s Office of Physical Security conducted some initial testing of devices equipped with this new two-way audio Bluetooth technology and determined the new hands-free calling feature would, in fact, introduce a wireless microphone into a SCIF, presenting a big security challenge.

“Mitigations were being considered to address the new challenge but the COVID pandemic intervened,” said Heather J, technical director in S&CI’s Office of Physical Security. “We were working hard because we knew this was important, but we couldn’t rush something that could have such serious implications.”

As denials of hearing aid applications began to pile up, some of the Agency ERGs stepped in to advocate on behalf of the affected workforce, according to Jason. The American Veterans ERG (AV ERG) raised the recurring denial concerns to the PWD ERG.

Around the same time as the spike in hearing aid denials at NSA, an audiologist from Walter Reed Medical Center noticed a large number of her VA patients were returning new devices she had prescribed due to their inability to wear them at work. The audiologist contacted S&CI to gain insight into the problem, and S&CI engaged Research’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research (LACR) to help find a solution.

One of the biggest challenges with assessing medical devices with two-way audio Bluetooth is that most of the information about the devices is proprietary, according to Stephanie P, Internet of Things (IoT) Security team lead for LACR’s Trust Mechanisms office.

“We were really fortunate that the audiologist worked closely with Veterans Affairs and had connections with the six major companies that manufacture hearing aids,” Heather said. “She was able to provide context to them on the hands-free Bluetooth feature, share the challenges it presented to employers, and discuss potential solutions.”

When a new hearing aid needed to be evaluated, the LACR team was there with its tailored test scenarios, Stephanie explained.

“We provided detailed testing reports and vulnerability analysis, empowering senior leadership to make informed decisions on which devices to allow into our secured spaces,” she said. “One of the largest hearing aid manufacturers offered a disablement mitigation,” by programming software into its devices that would allow only the audiologist to deactivate the two-way audio Bluetooth feature. The user would still have the benefit of streaming the audio, one-way, directly into their hearing aid without external transmission.

“This viable mitigation was a monumental first step in ensuring NSA affiliates could have access to the latest advances in smart medical technology while at work,” said Stephanie, explaining Research doesn’t normally do this type of work but was pulled in to lead the Bluetooth assessment because of its expertise in IoT security.

In early 2023, the Agency announced it would allow this company’s Bluetooth hearing aids in SCIFs after going through the approval process.
The challenge of these two-way audio Bluetooth medical devices isn’t limited to NSA, according to Heather, who has been partnering with Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to address concerns across the Intelligence Community.

“I wrote the current [NSA hearing aid Bluetooth mitigation] policy and am currently working with ODNI to write the medical device policy, which will apply to the entire Intelligence Community,” Heather said.

Both Heather and Stephanie are thrilled at the progress that has been made.

“I am extremely happy and proud that I was able to play a part in allowing certain Bluetooth enabled hearing aids into NSA SCIFs,” Stephanie said. “It is fantastic that this work is enabling employees with hearing loss to be able to take advantage of the latest advancements in hearing aid technology while they’re at work.”

“Balancing the needs of our workforce with the security of our facilities is getting harder as technologies get more advanced,” Heather agreed. “We’re really excited to have a way forward for this hearing aid feature, and we’re continuing to look at novel ways to mitigate new and emerging technical threats to maximize our ability to permit the latest and greatest in technology without compromising our missions.”

NSA Media Relations
MediaRelations@nsa.gov
443-634-0721

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Security: NSA Awards Authors of Study of Automated Attacks on New Webservers

Source: National Security Agency NSA

The National Security Agency (NSA) Research Directorate recently selected “Uninvited Guests: Analyzing the Identity and Behavior of Certificate Transparency Bots,” as the winner of its 11th Annual Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper Competition.

The winning paper, authored by Stony Brook University researchers Brian Kondracki, Johnny So, and professor Nick Nikiforakis, examined a study of automated attacks on new webservers, and explored how a web browser can trust an organization’s publicly issued cryptographic credentials. At the heart of their investigation was a simple question: What happens when you setup a new encrypted website?

“This paper was selected as the winner because the researchers performed high-level, clearly written, and impactful science,” said NSA’s Director of Research, Gil Herrera. “It is the cutting-edge and relatable research that has made the paper stand out as the winner of this year’s competition.”

NSA’s Laboratory for Advanced Cybersecurity Research established the annual Best Cybersecurity Paper Competition in 2013 to encourage the development of scientific foundations in cybersecurity, and to support the enhancement of cybersecurity within devices, computers, and systems through rigorous research, solid scientific methodology, documentation, and publishing. Herrera, along with NSA cybersecurity experts and external authorities in the field, selected the winning paper from 30 studies nominated by the public on the Science of Security website.

The winning researchers studied autonomous systems which probe newly instantiated encrypted websites. They identified 105 malicious security bots attempting to perform nefarious actions such as data exfiltration, reconnaissance, and vulnerability exploitation. They also identified security systems examining sites to identify new phishing attacks. These profiles provide new insights into these autonomous actions happening on the Internet. This data can be used by both system administrators and developers to protect systems from compromise.

The research team collected this data by creating the Certificate Transparency Honeypot (CTPOT), a system that obtains new certificates and monitors web bots for potential targets. CTPOT allows researchers to trick web bots, isolate them, and identify if they are malicious.

“Beyond the technical merit of this paper, this paper is noteworthy because the high quality of documentation allows for others to verify and build upon this research advancement,” said Adam Tagert, Technical Director of NSA’s Science of Security Initiative. “Clear and available documentation are key components for advancing science, a primary goal of the NSA Science of Security Program”

Nominations are now open for the 12th annual Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper Competition. NSA welcomes nominations of papers published in 2023 in peer-reviewed journals and technical conferences that show an outstanding contribution to cybersecurity science. Winners will be announced at the end of 2024.

Visit the Best Scientific Cybersecurity Paper webpage for more information on the competition and to nominate a paper.

MIL Security OSI –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner for Tuvalu Prime Minister Teo and his wife
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner for Tuvalu Prime Minister Teo and his wife
- Date：2024-10-10
- Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs
October 10, 2024
No. 345

Prime Minister of Tuvalu Feleti Penitala Teo and Madame Tausaga Teo led a delegation to Taiwan to attend National Day celebrations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a dinner for the delegation on October 9, extending a heartfelt welcome on behalf of the government.

Minister Lin welcomed Prime Minister Teo on his second visit to Taiwan since assuming office in February. He said that Prime Minister Teo’s presence, this time as a guest of honor at National Day celebrations, underscored the immense importance he placed on the diplomatic partnership between Taiwan and Tuvalu. Minister Lin noted that this year marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations and that Tuvalu was Taiwan’s longest-standing Pacific ally. He said that Taiwan would build on this existing robust foundation to further deepen cooperation with Tuvalu in such important domains as climate change, ICT, medicine and health care, talent cultivation, women’s empowerment, and basic infrastructure.

Minister Lin expressed special appreciation for Prime Minister Teo’s staunch support for Taiwan’s international participation over the years. He thanked Prime Minister Teo for speaking up for Taiwan at this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), for reiterating that UNGA Resolution 2758 did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN, and for strongly urging the UN to include Taiwan so as to truly “leave no one behind.”

Prime Minister Teo began his remarks by thanking Taiwan for inviting him to visit and wishing Taiwan a happy National Day and continued prosperity. He stated that in addition to attending National Day celebrations, he would also travel to southern Taiwan to engage in exchanges with fisheries operators so as to enhance bilateral fisheries cooperation. Stressing that Taiwan and Tuvalu had enjoyed an enduring friendship and realized significant achievements in many areas of collaboration, Prime Minister Teo said that the two countries would continue to work together to enhance the well-being of both their peoples.

As October 9 also happened to be Prime Minister Teo’s birthday, Minister Lin had prepared a birthday cake to celebrate the occasion. In the warm and cordial atmosphere of the gathering, members of the visiting delegation performed traditional Tuvaluan songs in a show of Austronesian culture. Colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sang a selection of Taiwanese songs in return. (E)

MIL OSI China News –
January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner for Tuvalu Prime Minister Teo and his wife

Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

Foreign Minister Lin hosts welcome dinner for Tuvalu Prime Minister Teo and his wife

Date：2024-10-10
Data Source：Department of East Asian and Pacific Affairs

October 10, 2024No. 345Prime Minister of Tuvalu Feleti Penitala Teo and Madame Tausaga Teo led a delegation to Taiwan to attend National Day celebrations. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung hosted a dinner for the delegation on October 9, extending a heartfelt welcome on behalf of the government.Minister Lin welcomed Prime Minister Teo on his second visit to Taiwan since assuming office in February. He said that Prime Minister Teo’s presence, this time as a guest of honor at National Day celebrations, underscored the immense importance he placed on the diplomatic partnership between Taiwan and Tuvalu. Minister Lin noted that this year marked the 45th anniversary of diplomatic relations and that Tuvalu was Taiwan’s longest-standing Pacific ally. He said that Taiwan would build on this existing robust foundation to further deepen cooperation with Tuvalu in such important domains as climate change, ICT, medicine and health care, talent cultivation, women’s empowerment, and basic infrastructure.Minister Lin expressed special appreciation for Prime Minister Teo’s staunch support for Taiwan’s international participation over the years. He thanked Prime Minister Teo for speaking up for Taiwan at this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), for reiterating that UNGA Resolution 2758 did not preclude Taiwan’s participation in the UN, and for strongly urging the UN to include Taiwan so as to truly “leave no one behind.”Prime Minister Teo began his remarks by thanking Taiwan for inviting him to visit and wishing Taiwan a happy National Day and continued prosperity. He stated that in addition to attending National Day celebrations, he would also travel to southern Taiwan to engage in exchanges with fisheries operators so as to enhance bilateral fisheries cooperation. Stressing that Taiwan and Tuvalu had enjoyed an enduring friendship and realized significant achievements in many areas of collaboration, Prime Minister Teo said that the two countries would continue to work together to enhance the well-being of both their peoples. As October 9 also happened to be Prime Minister Teo’s birthday, Minister Lin had prepared a birthday cake to celebrate the occasion. In the warm and cordial atmosphere of the gathering, members of the visiting delegation performed traditional Tuvaluan songs in a show of Austronesian culture. Colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sang a selection of Taiwanese songs in return. (E)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Moscow Receives UN Certificate for Smart City Development Achievements

MILES AXLE Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Moscow has received a certificate as part of the UN international initiative United for Smart Sustainable Cities (U4SSC). This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow.

U4SSC is a global initiative aimed at improving the quality of urban governance. Its participants adhere to common approaches to measuring the main criteria for the development of megacities.

“The capital has once again confirmed its status as one of the most technologically advanced megacities in the world. When assessing, experts took into account 90 indicators of innovative development. They cover several key areas – from the economy and the environment to society and culture,” said Natalia Sergunina.

In particular, international experts noted the almost complete coverage of Moscow with high-speed Internet (98.9 percent). 97 percent of residents use it daily.

High standards

Moscow uses potentialall advanced technologies – blockchain, metaverses, the Internet of Things and other innovations. Every year, over 300 IT projects are implemented in the capital, with artificial intelligence already involved in more than 90 of them. Last year alone, 25 Moscow developments were awarded prestigious Russian and international awards in the field of digitalization.

In 2021, the capital received certificates of compliance with two international standards at once: ISO 37 120 “Sustainable Communities – Indicators for Urban Services and Quality of Life” and ISO 37 122 “Sustainable Cities and Communities – Indicators for Smart Cities”.

Moscow was awarded a Smart Cities Certificate among the first 10 megacities in the world. The assessment was conducted according to 80 criteria reflecting the effectiveness of the use of technological solutions in all industries.

City as a service

Today, the main capital portal mos.ru offers more than 420 electronic services and services, covering all areas – from health care and education to culture and housing and utilities. The number of daily requests from city residents exceeds two million, and the total number of registered users of the portal is 15.9 million, specified in Moscow Department of Information Technology.

City residents used services and services on the mos.ru portal more than 425 million times in six months

Thanks to digitalization, residents no longer need to provide more than a billion different certificates. With the help of online tools, Muscovites actively participate in the development of the capital: they make decisions and share proposals. On the platform “City of Ideas”More than 200 thousand initiatives in the fields of healthcare, transport, entrepreneurship and others have been collected. Hundreds of them are implemented annually.

The project celebrated its 10th anniversary in the spring. “Active Citizen”, which united more than seven million people. With its help, city residents choose which parks, courtyards and squares need to be improved, how clinics and cultural institutions should work, vote for the names of streets and metro stations. More than four thousand decisions have already been implemented.

Moscow Wins Smart City Grand Prix for Second Time — Sergei Sobyanin

Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/145234073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Global Net Lease Announces Release Date for Third Quarter 2024 Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

NEW YORK, Oct. 15, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Global Net Lease, Inc. (NYSE: GNL) (“GNL” or the “Company”) announced today that it will release its financial results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2024 on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The Company will host a conference call and audio webcast on Thursday, November 7, 2024, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET, to discuss the third quarter results and provide commentary on business performance. The results will be released before the call which will be conducted by GNL’s management team. A question-and-answer session will follow the prepared remarks.

Dial-in instructions for the conference call and the replay are outlined below. This conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed by all interested parties through the GNL website, http://www.globalnetlease.com, in the “Investor Relations” section. To listen to the live call, please go to the “Investor Relations” section of the Company’s website at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who are not able to listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call on the GNL website.

Conference Call Details

Live Call
Dial-In (Toll Free): 1-877-407-0792
International Dial-In: 1-201-689-8263

Conference Replay*
Domestic Dial-In (Toll Free): 1-844-512-2921
International Dial-In: 1-412-317-6671
Conference Replay Number: 13746750

*Available from 2:00 p.m. ET on November 7, 2024 through February 7, 2025.

About Global Net Lease, Inc.

Global Net Lease, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust listed on the NYSE, which focuses on acquiring and managing a global portfolio of income producing net lease assets across the United States, and Western and Northern Europe. Additional information about GNL can be found on its website at http://www.globalnetlease.com.

Important Notice

The statements in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the outcome to be materially different. The words such as “may,” “will,” “seeks,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “expects,” “estimates,” “projects,” “potential,” “predicts,” “plans,” “intends,” “would,” “could,” “should” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of the Company’s control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results contemplated by the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include the risks associated with realization of the anticipated benefits of the merger with The Necessity Retail REIT, Inc. and the internalization of the Company’s property management and advisory functions; that any potential future acquisition or disposition by the Company is subject to market conditions and capital availability and may not be identified or completed on favorable terms, or at all. Some of the risks and uncertainties, although not all risks and uncertainties, that could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those presented in its forward-looking statements are set forth in the Risk Factors and “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” sections in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and all of its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, as such risks, uncertainties and other important factors may be updated from time to time in the Company’s subsequent reports. Further, forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time, unless required by law.

Contacts:
Investor Relations
Email: investorrelations@globalnetlease.com
Phone: (332) 265-2020

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: 2024-45 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO ORDER THE FDA TO REVIEW ITS RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION MEDICATION MIFEPRISTONE

Source: US State of Hawaii

2024-45 ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO ORDER THE FDA TO REVIEW ITS RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION MEDICATION MIFEPRISTONE

Posted on Oct 14, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom

DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

KA ʻOIHANA O KA LOIO KUHINA

JOSH GREEN, M.D.

GOVERNOR

KE KIAʻĀINA

ANNE LOPEZ

ATTORNEY GENERAL

LOIO KUHINA

News Release 2024-45

ATTORNEY GENERAL LOPEZ URGES FEDERAL JUDGE TO ORDER THE FDA TO REVIEW ITS RESTRICTIONS ON ABORTION MEDICATION MIFEPRISTONE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 14, 2024

HONOLULU – Attorney General Anne Lopez is urging a federal judge in Spokane, Washington, to rule that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s restrictions on the abortion medication mifepristone are inconsistent with the Administrative Procedure Act.

“Since 2000, more than 5.6 million patients have safely used mifepristone. We should not be afraid to increase access to a medication whose safety and efficacy is based in science and proven over time. Artificial limitations on safe and effective medication are actual limitations on access to healthcare,” said Hawaiʻi Deputy Attorney General Erin Lau.

The multistate lawsuit was filed last year in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington by 17 plaintiff states, including Hawaiʻi, and the District of Columbia.

Of the more than 20,000 drugs approved by the FDA, only 73 drugs have extra restrictions known as a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS), including highly addictive drugs such as Oxycontin. An even smaller subset of drugs carries additional restrictions known as Elements to Assure Safe Use (ETASU), including certain risky cancer drugs and high-dose sedatives. Despite its proven safety and efficacy, mifepristone has both a REMS and an ETASU restriction.

Although the REMS and ETASU restrictions have been relaxed over time, certain restrictions remain. To prescribe mifepristone, health care providers must be specially certified by the drug distributor and submit their certification form to every pharmacy to which they send a mifepristone prescription—an administratively burdensome requirement that is unique to mifepristone. The pharmacy must also be specially certified with the drug distributor before it can dispense a prescription.

To receive the prescription, the patient and their provider must sign an agreement that certifies the patient has decided to take the medication to end the pregnancy—regardless of whether they are seeking an abortion or are being treated for a miscarriage, which is a common use for mifepristone. These remaining requirements are excessive when considering mifepristone’s safety profile.

The multistate lawsuit asserts the restrictions on prescribing and dispensing mifepristone are unduly burdensome, harmful and unnecessary, reduce access to a critically important drug, and expose providers and patients to unnecessary privacy and safety risks. The risks are exacerbated by the growing criminalization and penalization of abortion around the country in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Dobbs case overturned nearly a half-century of precedent, stripping away the constitutional right to abortion recognized by the Court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

The plaintiff states recently filed a motion for summary judgment, seeking to require the FDA to review whether mifepristone still meets the statutory requirements to impose a REMS with ETASU restriction based on its safety profile. The motion argues that decades of data conclusively show that mifepristone is safe and effective, and that medical experts have long opposed the FDA’s restrictions on the medication. By keeping the restrictions on mifepristone, the states argue that the FDA is unnecessarily and unlawfully limiting access to a medication that is safer than Tylenol, Viagra, and insulin.

Along with Attorney General Lopez, attorneys general for Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Washington, D.C. joined the case.

A copy of the motion can be found here.

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Media Contacts:

Dave Day

Special Assistant to the Attorney General

808-586-1284

Email: [email protected]

Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

Toni Schwartz
Public Information Officer
Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General
Office: 808-586-1252
Cell: 808-379-9249
Email: [email protected]

Web: http://ag.hawaii.gov

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 in New Delhi

Source: Government of India (2)

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates ITU World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024 in New Delhi

PM inaugurates 8th edition of India Mobile Congress

In India, we have made telecom not just a medium of connectivity, but also a medium of equity and opportunity: PM

We identified four pillars of Digital India and started working on all four pillars simultaneously and we got results: PM

We are working towards giving the world a complete Made in India phone, from chip to finished product: PM

The length of optical fiber that India has laid in just 10 years is eight times the distance between the Earth and the Moon: PM

India democratized digital technology: PM

Today India has such a digital bouquet which can take welfare schemes to new heights in the world: PM

India is working towards the goal of making technology sector inclusive, empowering women through technology platforms: PM

The time has come for global institutions to accept importance of Global framework for digital technology, global guidelines for global governance: PM

We have to ensure that our future is both technically strong and ethically sound, Our future should have innovation as well as inclusion: PM

Posted On: 15 OCT 2024 1:07PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the International Telecommunication Union – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. Shri Modi also inaugurated the 8th edition of India Mobile Congress during the programme. He took a walkthrough of the exhibition showcased on the occasion.

Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister welcomed the Union Minister for Communication Shri Jyotiradiya Scindia, Minister of State for Communication Shri Chandrasekhar Pemmasani, Secretary General of ITU Ms. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Ministers & dignitaries of various foreign countries, industry leaders, telecom experts, youths from the Startup world and ladies and gentlemen to the WTSA and India Mobile Congress (IMC). Welcoming the dignitaries of ITU, Shri Modi thanked and appreciated them for choosing India as the destination for the first WTSA meeting. “India is one among the most happening countries when it comes to telecom and its related technologies”, exclaimed Shri Modi. Listing the achievements of India, Shri Modi said that India had a mobile phone user base of 120 crores or 1200 million, 95 crore or 950 million internet users and digital transactions of more than 40% of the entire world in real-time. He further added that India had showcased how digital connectivity had become an effective tool for the last mile delivery. He congratulated everyone for choosing India as the destination for discussing the global telecommunication standard and discussion on the future for telecom as a global good.

Highlighting the significance of the combined organization of WTSA and India Mobile Congress, the Prime Minister said that WTSA’s objective is to work on global standards while the role of India Mobile Congress is associated with services. He said that today’s event brings global standards and services on a single platform. Emphasizing India’s focus on quality service and standards, the Prime Minister said that WTSA’s experience would provide new energy to India.

The Prime Minister underlined that WTSA empowers the world via consensus and while India Mobile Congress strengthens the world through connectivity. Therefore, Shri Modi said, consensus and connectivity are conjoined in this event. He stressed the need for the combination in today’s world which is marred by conflict and said that India has been living through the immortal message of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. He mentioned the G20 Summit presided by India and spoke about relaying the message of ‘One Earth One Family One Future’. The Prime Minister emphasized that India is engaged in bringing the world out of conflict and connecting it. “Be it the ancient silk route or today’s technology route, India’s only mission is to connect the world and open new doors of progress”, the Prime Minister remarked. In such a situation, said the Prime Minister, this partnership of WTSA and IMC is a great message where local and global combine to bring the benefits not to just one country but the entire world.

“India’s mobile and telecom journey in the 21st century is a subject of study for the whole world”, exclaimed Shri Modi. He added that while mobile and telecom were seen as a facility across the world, however, telecom was not just a medium of connectivity, but a medium of equity and opportunity in India. The Prime Minister remarked that telecom as a medium was helping in bridging the gap between villages and cities, rich and poor today. Reminiscing his presentation, a decade ago, on vision of Digital India, Shri Modi remarked that he had stated that India had to move forward with a holistic approach as against a piece-meal approach. Shri Modi listed out the four pillars of Digital India – Low-priced devices, extensive reach of digital connectivity to every nook and corner of the country, easily accessible data and goal of ‘Digital First’, which were identified and worked upon simultaneously, leading to good results.

The Prime Minister highlighted India’s transformative achievements in connectivity and telecom reforms and emphasized how the country has built a robust network of thousands of mobile towers across remote tribal, hilly, and border areas, ensuring connectivity for every household. He said that the government has created a strong network of mobile towers across the country. The Prime Minister underscored the remarkable advancements in infrastructure, including the rapid installation of Wi-Fi facilities at public places like railway stations and the connection of islands like Andaman-Nicobar and Lakshadweep through undersea cables. “In just 10 years, India has laid optical fiber which is eight times the distance between Earth and the Moon”, he added. Shri Modi also pointed out India’s rapid adoption of 5G technology and said that 5G technology was launched two years ago and today nearly every district is connected, making India the world’s second-largest 5G market. He further mentioned that India is already progressing towards 6G technology, ensuring a future-ready infrastructure.

Discussing telecom sector reforms, the Prime Minister noted India’s efforts in lowering data costs. He said that the cost of internet data in India is now as low as 12 cents per GB compared to many countries in the world where one GB of data is 10 to 20 times more expensive. “Today, every Indian consumes about 30 GB of data on an average every month”, he said.

Shri Modi noted that all such efforts have been taken to a new scale by the fourth pillar i.e. the spirit of digital first. He underlined that India democratized digital technology and created digital platforms where innovations on these platforms created millions of new opportunities. Shri Modi highlighted the transformative power of the JAM Trinity—Jan Dhan, Aadhaar, and Mobile—saying it has laid the foundation for countless innovations. He mentioned Unified Payments Interface (UPI) which has provided new opportunities for many companies and also spoke about ONDC which will revolutionize digital commerce. The Prime Minister pointed out the role of digital platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic ensuring seamless processes such as financial transfers to those in need, real-time communication of guidelines, vaccination drive and handing out digital vaccine certificates. Reflecting on India’s success, the Prime Minister expressed the nation’s willingness to share its digital public infrastructure experience globally. The Prime Minister said India’s digital bouquet can elevate welfare schemes worldwide highlighting India’s emphasis on Digital Public Infrastructure during G20 Presidency. He underlined that the nation is happy to share its DPI knowledge with all countries.

Emphasizing the importance of Network of women initiative during the WTSA, Shri Modi highlighted that India was working very seriously on women led development. He added that the commitment was taken forward during India’s presidency of G-20. The Prime Minister underlined that India was working towards the goal of making the technology sector inclusive by empowering the women through technology platforms. He highlighted the crucial role of women scientists in India’s Space missions, rising number of women co-founders in India’s start-ups. The Prime minister also noted that there was a 40 percent share of women students in India’s STEM education and India was creating umpteen opportunities for women in technology leadership. Shri Modi also highlighted the Namo Drone Didi program of the Government, to promote drone revolution in agriculture, was being led by women from villages in India. He added that India also started the Bank Sakhi program to take digital banking and digital payments to every home which had led to digital awareness. Highlighting the critical role of Asha and Anganwadi workers in India’s primary healthcare, maternity and child care, Shri Modi remarked that today these workers were tracking all the work through tabs and apps. He added that India was also running the Mahila E-Haat program, an online marketing platform for women entrepreneurs. He further added that it was unimaginable that today women of India in every village were working on such technology. Shri Modi expressed hope that in the times to come, India will expand its scope further where every daughter of India would be a tech leader.

The Prime Minister reiterated the importance of establishing a global framework for digital technology. He emphasized that this topic was raised by India during its G-20 Presidency and urged global institutions to recognize its significance for global governance. “The time has come for global institutions to accept the importance of global governance”, PM Modi stated. Stressing the need to create a ‘Do’s and Don’ts’ for technology on the global level, the Prime Minister highlighted the borderless nature of digital tools and applications and urged for international collaboration in combating cyber threats and collective action by global institutions. He drew parallels with the aviation sector which already has well-established frameworks. PM Modi called upon the WTSA to take a proactive role in creating a secure digital ecosystem and safe channel for telecommunication. “In an interconnected world, security cannot be an afterthought. India’s Data Protection Act and National Cyber Security Strategy reflect our commitment to building a safe digital environment”, he noted. The Prime Minister urged the members of the assembly to create standards that are inclusive, secure, and adaptable to future challenges, including ethical AI and data privacy standards that respect the diversity of nations.

The Prime Minister emphasized the need for a human-centric dimension to the ongoing technological revolution, calling for responsible and sustainable innovation. He said that the standards set today will determine the direction of the future, stressing that principles of security, dignity and equity should be at the center of our discussions. He said our goal should be that no country, no region and no community is left behind in this digital transformation and underscored the need for innovation balanced with inclusion. He urged to ensure that the future is technically strong as well as ethically sound with innovation as well as inclusion. Concluding the address, the Prime Minister conveyed his best wishes for the success of WTSA and also extended his support.

Union Minister for Communication, Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia and Union Minister of State for Communication, Shri Chandrasekhar Pemmasani were present on the occasion along with various industry leaders.

Background

World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly or WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, organized every four years. It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA will be hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific. It is a pivotal global event that will bring together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital and ICT sectors.

WTSA 2024 will provide a platform for countries to discuss and decide the future of standards of next-generation critical technologies like 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, etc. Hosting this event in India will provide the country an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the global telecom agenda and to set the course for future technologies. Indian startups and research institutions are set to gain critical insights into developing Intellectual Property Rights and Standard Essential Patents.

India Mobile Congress will showcase India’s innovation ecosystem, where leading telecom companies and innovators will highlight advancements in Quantum technology and Circular Economy along with spotlight on 6G, 5G use-case showcase, cloud & edge computing, IoT, semiconductors, cybersecurity, green tech, satcom and electronics manufacturing.

India Mobile Congress, Asia’s largest digital technology forum, has become a well-known platform across the globe for showcasing innovative solutions, services and state-of-the-art use cases for industry, government, academics, startups and other key stakeholders in the technology and telecom ecosystem. The India Mobile Congress will showcase over 400 exhibitors, about 900 startups, and participation from over 120 countries. The event also aims to showcase more than 900 technology use case scenarios, host more than 100 sessions and discussion with over 600 global and Indian speakers.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Industry leaders laud Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership at International Telecommunication Union – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024

Source: Government of India

Industry leaders laud Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s leadership at International Telecommunication Union – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly 2024

Industry leaders hail Prime Minister’s bold vision for a Digital India and appreciate government’s support towards reforms, innovation and collaboration

Industry leaders highlight Prime Minister’s emphasis on need for global framework for digital governance

Posted On: 15 OCT 2024 2:23PM by PIB Delhi

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the 8th edition of India Mobile Congress during the International Telecommunication Union – World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (ITU-WTSA) 2024 held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi today. WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of the International Telecommunication Union, the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies, organized every four years. It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA is being hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific. It is a pivotal global event that has brought together more than 3,000 industry leaders, policy-makers and tech experts from over 190 countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors.

Chairman of the Reliance JIO-INFOCOMM Limited, Shri Akash Ambani, commended Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership, which has catalyzed India’s remarkable digital transformation. He said that in the third term, Shri Modi has positioned the Indian Mobile Congress (IMC) as a significant platform for innovation and collaboration, driving unprecedented growth in the digital sector. Shri Ambani noted that India has transitioned from a nation struggling with 2G speeds to becoming the world’s largest data market. He emphasized that India’s journey from ranking 155th in mobile broadband adoption to its current status demonstrates the power of synergy between government and industry. He further highlighted the inclusion of over 530 million unbanked Indians through initiatives like Jan Dhan accounts, with a significant portion being women. “Modi ji’s commitment to innovation has ensured that technology reaches every corner of our nation, leaving no one behind,” Shri Ambani stated. He proposed leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) as a transformative tool across various sectors, aiming for a developed India by 2047 and urged for updates to the data center policy to retain Indian data within the country, fostering a robust AI ecosystem.

Emphasizing Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision for a Digital India, Founder and Chairman of Bharti Airtel, Shri Sunil Bharti Mittal, reflected on India’s telecom journey, emphasizing its transformative progress in telecom infrastructure and digital technologies. He said, “the real transformation began in 2014 with Prime Minister Modi’s vision for a ‘Digital India,’ which ignited the 4G revolution. This has empowered millions, including those in our rural areas, to access smartphones and essential digital services.” He highlighted the transformative impact of 4G technology, which has brought smartphones and digital services to millions, including those in rural areas. He underscored the government’s initiatives to boost local manufacturing through the Production Linked Incentives (PLI) program, positioning India as a manufacturing hub for telecom equipment. “We are committed to reducing our dependence on imports. With initiatives like the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) program, we are transforming India into a manufacturing hub for telecom equipment,” he said. Discussing future ambitions, Mittal announced that India is set to lead in 5G technology, with extensive rollouts planned across urban and rural regions within the next 12 to 18 months. He also discussed the potential of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) networks, stating, “These networks will bridge the connectivity gap in our most challenging terrains, ensuring all Indians have access to fast internet services.”

Chairman of Aditya Birla Group, Shri Kumar Mangalam Birla highlighted the steadfast support by the government in consistently recognizing the importance of digital connectivity and introducing several reforms over the years to drive India towards an even more connected, empowered and inclusive digital nation. He lauded the government’s continued thrust on expanding digital infrastructure and accelerating digital adoption for people and businesses equally. Recalling the Prime Minister’s quote on MSME meaning maximum support to micro, small and medium enterprises, Shri Birla said that they are committed to providing maximum support by promoting digital transformation to India’s small businesses making them future ready. He laid emphasis on focus on technologies like 5G, IoT, AI and cloud services and expressed the belief that a thriving digital ecosystem can be created that empowers India’s MSMEs to drive economic growth. He informed that India achieved the remarkable feat of 10 crore telecommunication consultations in tele-medicine and said that it is a matter of great pride for every Indian. Pointing out one of the most pressing issues being addressed by the government regulator and industry in the past year, Shri Birla touched upon spam control and fraud protection. Talking about the potential of the Indian telecom sector he hailed the Prime Minister’s bold vision of a digital India. He expressed confidence that they would do their part with the continued support of the government, and help in realizing the Prime Minister’s digital India destiny. He thanked the government, partners and the entire telecom community for making the past year truly an exceptional one.

Secretary General ITU, Ms. Doreen Bogdan Martin said that it is a great honor to be present at the joint ceremony with the Prime Minister on the occasion of 2024 World Telecommunications Standardization Assembly and India Mobile Congress. She said that it is a powerful symbol of the deep ties between the ITU and India and recalled the meaningful conversation with the Prime Minister last year during the inauguration of ITU Area Office and Innovation Center. She spoke about world leaders coming together just a few weeks ago in New York and adopting the Pact of the Future and its global digital compact where a powerful message was sent out to the world about the digital future. She recalled the Prime Minister’s emphasis on the need for global digital governance and highlighted how he made India’s ambition very clear to lead by example and share its digital public infrastructure with the entire world. Referring to India’s G20 Presidency where DPI was a huge priority, Ms Bogdan Martin expressed delight in ITU becoming a knowledge partner. She underlined that the world has a lot to learn from India’s accomplishments with regard to unified payments interface. She stressed that standards build trust and that they are the engine which powers such platforms allowing them to operate at scale and providing every Indian with life-changing services through mobile device access. Ms Bogdan Martin further added that trust nurtures inclusion and inclusion can unlock the full potential of digital and emerging technologies for everyone, including the third of humanity that’s still offline. She noted that this is a first-of-its-kind meet in Asia and called for bold collective action. She expressed confidence that in the next 10 days the role of international standards can be strengthened as the bedrock of global digital governance. She also touched upon ethical use of AI and urged to align technological progress with digital inclusion.

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MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: News release on new Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle interim rule on movement of host material

Source: US State of Hawaii

News release on new Coconut Rhinoceros Beetle interim rule on movement of host material

Posted on Oct 11, 2024 in Latest Department News, Newsroom





DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

ʻOIHANA MAHIʻAI

JOSH GREEN, M.D.
GOVERNOR

KIAʻĀINA


SHARON HURD
CHAIRPERSON

HAWAI`I BOARD OF AGRICULTURE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NR24-29

October 11, 2024

NEW INTERIM RULE CONTINUES RESTRICTIONS ON THE MOVEMENT OF PALM PLANTS AND ORGANIC MATERIAL THAT MAY CONTAIN COCONUT RHINOCEROS BEETLES

HONOLULU – The Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture (HDOA) today established a new interim rule to help stop the movement of the coconut rhinoceros beetle (CRB) from designated CRB-infested areas to non-infested areas in the state. Today, the Advisory Committee on Plants and Animals recommended approval of a new interim rule that restricts the movement of palm plants; decomposing plant material, such as compost, wood or tree chips; mulch; potting soil; and other landscaping products that may harbor CRB, from infested areas to non-infested areas. In addition, the interim rule restricts the movement of palm plants higher than four feet in height, which will enable closer inspection of palm crowns where CRB are most likely to bore into a tree. The interim rule designates the island of O‘ahu as a CRB-infested area and is subsequent to other interim rules that were issued in June 2022 and October 2023.

The interim rule was signed today by HDOA Chairperson Sharon Hurd and is effective immediately. It is valid for one year, while HDOA finalizes a permanent rule which is slated to be considered by the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture later this month.

Any individual, company, or organization that violates the rule will be charged with a misdemeanor and fined not less than $100 and up to $10,000. Penalties for a second offense committed within five years will require the violator to pay for the cost of clean-up and decontamination fees to remove contaminated materials, as well as the cost to fully eradicate any CRB infestations caused by the violation. Repeat violators will be fined not less than $500 and up to $25,000.

HDOA’s Plant Quarantine Branch inspectors at all island ports are concentrating efforts on inspections of potential CRB host material transported between islands.

Residents on all islands are asked to be vigilant when purchasing mulch, compost and soil products, and to inspect bags for evidence of entry holes. An adult beetle is about two inches long, all black and has a single horn on its head. CRB grubs live in decomposing plant and animal waste. Adult CRB prefer to feed on coconut and other larger palms and are a major threat to the health of these plants.

Residents may go to the CRB Response website at: https://www.crbhawaii.org/ to learn more about how to detect the signs of CRB damage and how to identify CRB life stages. Reports of possible CRB infestation may also be made to the state’s toll-free Pest Hotline at 808-643-PEST (7378).

Surveillance for CRB has been ongoing on all neighbor islands, including pheromone traps at airports, harbors and other strategic locations. The traps are used for early detection of CRB infestations and are being monitored by HDOA, island Invasive Species Committees and the University of Hawai‘i.

The CRB is a large scarab beetle that was first detected on O‘ahu in 2013. The beetle has since been detected in many neighborhoods on O‘ahu, In May 2023, CRB was detected on Kaua‘i and collaborative eradication efforts continue on the island. On Hawai‘i Island, CRB was detected in a palm tree stump Waikoloa in October 2023 and a single CRB was found dead in a trap last month in that same area. CRB grubs were found in Kīhei, Maui, in November 2023, but have not been detected on the island since.

CRB is a serious pest of palm trees, primarily coconut palms, as the adult beetles bore into the crowns of the palms to feed on the trees’ sap. New unopened fronds are damaged in this way and when fully opened, may break and fall unexpectedly. If CRB kill or damage the growing point of the palm, the tree may die. Secondary fungal or bacterial pathogens may also attack the wounds caused by CRB, thereby killing the tree as well. Tree mortality after CRB attack has been reported to be anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent. Dead trees then become a safety hazard as they may fall unexpectedly after the trunk rots, potentially resulting in bodily injury or property damage.

CRB is a major pest of palms in India, the Philippines, Palau, Fiji, Wallis and Futuna, Nukunono, American and Western Samoa and Guam. It is still not known exactly how the beetles arrived in Hawai‘i.

###

Media Contact:
Janelle Saneishi, Public Information Officer
Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture
Phone: 808-973-9560
Cell: 808-341-5528
[email protected]
http://hdoa.hawaii.gov

Aloha,

Janelle Saneishi

Public Information Officer

Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture
ph: (808) 973-9560
email: [email protected]

Website: https://hdoa.hawaii.gov/

Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and/or privileged information. Any review, use, disclosure, or distribution by unintended recipients is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient(s), please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message.

MIL OSI USA News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Submissions: Africa – Huawei opens registration for the 2024-2025 ICT Competition in Kenya

Source: Huawei Kenya

· The competition targets university and technical college students studying ICT-related courses

Nairobi, Kenya: October 11, 2024 – Huawei Kenya has kicked off the registration for the 2024-2025 ICT Competition in collaboration with leading universities and TVET institutions in Kenya.

This annual competition is part of Huawei’s ongoing commitment to nurture digital talent and enhance ICT skills among the youth, aligning with Kenya’s digital transformation agenda.

The Huawei ICT Competition is designed to offer a platform for students to demonstrate their knowledge in key ICT areas such as networking, cloud computing, artificial intelligence (AI), 5G, and cybersecurity. The competition gives students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience, access training resources, and network with industry professionals, ultimately contributing to the development of Kenya’s ICT sector.

“As we embark on the journey to create a digitally empowered Kenya, this competition is an integral part of developing the next generation of ICT leaders. Through initiatives like the ICT Competition, we are offering students in Kenya a platform to showcase their talent, gain practical skills, and contribute to the country’s digital economy,” said Michael Kamau, Partnerships and Corporate Affairs Manager at Huawei Kenya.

The competition offers participants a unique opportunity to sharpen their ICT skills, with access to free learning materials, expert mentorship, and industry-recognized certifications. Top-performing students also stand to win, and potential job offers at Huawei and its partners. It also offers winners the chance to represent Kenya on the global stage in the final rounds, competing against other bright finalists from across the world.

“The competition is also part of Huawei’s broader collaboration with Kenyan universities to integrate practical ICT training into academic curricula,” Mr. Kamau said.

Registration

The registration exercise for the 2024-2025 ICT Competition will run until November 30, 2024. with several rounds of the competition taking place, including a national qualifier, regional semifinals, and the global finals in mid-2025.

University and technical college students studying ICT-related courses are encouraged to register for the competition via the link: https://e.huawei.com/en/talent/ict-academy/#/ict-contest?compId=85131998

Huawei has been a key partner in Kenya’s digital transformation efforts, providing cutting-edge ICT solutions and nurturing local talent through training programs such as the Huawei Seeds for the Future and the ICT Academy, alongside the annual ICT Competition.

MIL OSI – Submitted News –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star set to accelerate world’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) economy with market projected to reach $2.7 trillion by 2032

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, October 13, 2024/APO Group/ —

GITEX GLOBAL (www.Gitex.com), the world’s largest tech and startup event, takes centre stage in the UAE next week with this year’s 44th edition destined to redefine the world’s digital economy and AI ecosystem.

Held at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from 14-18 October, the incomparable international showpiece will be more influential than ever this time around – presenting an expanded events programme that transforms the UAE into an AI universe epicentre.

Under the theme “Global Collaboration to Forge a Future AI Economy”, GITEX GLOBAL 2024 welcomes the world’s largest technology enterprises alongside governments, investors, experts, startups, academia, and researchers.

Expand North Star (http://apo-opa.co/405aSCm), the world’s largest startup and investment show, runs concurrently at Dubai Harbour from 13-16 October – hosted by Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy and organised by DWTC.

With over 6,500 exhibiting companies, 1,800 startups, and 1,200 investors from more than 180 countries participating across 38 halls of innovation and business opportunities, these blockbuster events will see the UAE “strategically propel the next generation of AI-driven technologies”.

Trixie LohMirmand, Executive Vice President of DWTC, the organiser of GITEX GLOBAL and Expand North Star, said: “At GITEX GLOBAL in Dubai, we shall close the year with significant manoeuvres from our tech community by doubling down on global collaborations and intensive engagements amongst all involved. Through these efforts, we shall forge competitive advantages in the race towards regional and international digital supremacy.

“With international participation in GITEX GLOBAL 2024 rocketing by almost 40 per cent, it’s a barometer of the unstoppable ambitions of many young rising digital nations who are now confidently forging their ways into the future global AI economy through GITEX. As the world’s most global tech event brand with events in Germany, Singapore, Morocco, and Nigeria alongside Expand North Star, we are committed to strategically propelling the next generation of AI-driven technologies via startups, scale-ups and unicorns.”

A global agenda for tomorrow’s AI economy

According to Fortune Business Insights, the global AI market is projected to reach $621 billion in 2024 and soar to $2.7 trillion by 2032. Given its influence and impact now and in the future, the technology takes centre stage at GITEX GLOBAL 2024 with over 3,500 enterprises presenting the latest breakthrough innovations in AI, IoT, data, and the cloud.

Amongst them is TECOM Group PJSC, which celebrates its 25^th successive year at GITEX GLOBAL next week. Ahead of the event, Ammar Al Malik, Executive Vice President of Commercial at TECOM Group PJSC and Managing Director of Dubai Internet City, said: “Dubai’s pro-innovation frameworks are the bedrock of tech advancements that serve a greater purpose. GITEX GLOBAL is a springboard to unlock this potential, and as the region’s leading tech hub, Dubai Internet City has been a proud partner for decades in its mission towards a brighter future. Our community is pleased to connect innovators from more than 3,500 companies across fields like artificial intelligence (AI), Web3, digital transformation, and beyond to realise this vision.”

Abu Dhabi’s most influential companies and organisations, including the Advanced Technology Research Council (ATRC) and G42 Group with its leading enterprises Presight and Khazna, will reinforce the Emirate’s position as an emerging global AI nexus. Other tech giants participating are Adobe, Alibaba Cloud, AWS, Builder Ai, Dell, Google, Honeywell, Huawei, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Nvidia, Oracle, Salesforce, SAS, solutions by STC, and Tech Destination Pakistan.

Presenting the year’s largest AI event, GITEX GLOBAL will deliver 120-plus hours of AI and deep tech-focused content across various topics, facilitating discussions on the implications of AI in Future Health, Digital Finance, and EdTech. Following the wildfire pace of AI adoption and the unprecedented growth in data storage demand, the event is also launching the region’s largest Data Centre Symposium in 2024, featuring the industry leaders Datalec, Kerno, Khazna, Legrand, NTT Data, Schneider Electric, Vertiv, among many others.

The programme will build anticipation ahead of the all-new AI Everything Global 2025. This event – taking place in Abu Dhabi (4 February) and Dubai (5-6 February) will gather some of the world’s most visionary AI tech companies to construct an innovative, fair, and responsible AI industry of the future.

Fast-tracking the next generation of startups

The world’s largest startup and investment event, Expand North Star will foster the next frontier of tech and innovation. In another record-breaking edition, the event will connect the most innovative global founders with new markets, enterprise customers, and an influential pool of investors and venture capitalists with over $1.2 trillion in Assets Under Management (AUM). These include SOSV, Bessemer Ventures, Lightrock, Sinovation Ventures, and the European Innovation Fund.

Additionally, Expand North Star will seek to redefine the future of money, blockchain, and creativity through leading co-located events GITEX Impact, Fintech Surge, Future Blockchain Summit, and Marketing Mania. Accelerating the next generation of scaleups, the world’s largest start-up pitch competition, Supernova Challenge 2.0, also graces GITEX GLOBAL with the winners claiming a share of the $200,000 prize pool.

Historic international involvement

GITEX GLOBAL 2024 will welcome the highest international attendance in its history, welcoming over 400 government and digital development agencies from around the world. Alongside GITEX GLOBAL regulars, the new nations debuting this year will showcase their latest groundbreaking tech innovations.

Next week marks the largest European participation at GITEX GLOBAL with over 35 European countries exhibiting alongside 1,000-plus SMEs and 450-plus startups from debuting countries, including Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Serbia, and Slovenia.

Many rising digital nations from Latin America are also behind the record-breaking international involvement, as are those from Central and Southeast Asia. Joining long-time GITEX GLOBAL participants such as China, Japan, South Korea, and India are several debutants – Singapore, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan amongst them.

While promoting international business development, entrepreneurship, and investment engagements to benefit enterprises, organisations, and SMEs alike, GITEX GLOBAL welcomes the European Innovation Council for the first time, Europe’s biggest deep-tech investor.

It will also see significant collaborations with global organisations from all continents, such as the European Innovation Council, Tech Destination Pakistan, IE University, University College London (UCL), Johns Hopkins University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and key corporate ventures from leading tech enterprises such as Sony, Honda, Standard Chartered, QIC, and many more.

An action-packed agenda

Throughout its six-day duration, GITEX GLOBAL will become a microcosm of the world, launching industry-defining programmes such as GITEX Editions, an exclusive platform for late-stage advanced tech companies and a premier hub for unicorns, soonicorns and rhinos. In 2024, the event will connect 59 top global unicorns, such as Axelera, DeepL, Insilico Medicine, and Synthesis AI.

The World Future Economy Digital Leaders Summit is another must-attend show with global innovators and influential leaders set to address critical priorities shaping the future of technology. Additionally, GITEX Cyber Valley is this year’s most anticipated cybersecurity showcase – hosted by the UAE Cyber Security Council. With specialists forecasting that damage costs could reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, the show will present a power-packed conference agenda as the world’s most influential CISOs, CIOs, and GRC leaders to discuss the risks of global cybercrime.

Leo Chen, Corporate Senior Vice President & President of Enterprise Sales at Huawei, which will be present with a flagship stand at the event, commented on the possibilities unlocked at the event for the industry: “GITEX GLOBAL offers a unique platform for us to engage in meaningful dialogues with industry peers about the trends and perspectives on industrial intelligence. We look forward to sharing our insights and learning from others to explore the endless possibilities of industrial digital and intelligent transformation.”

For more information on GITEX GLOBAL 2024 and to secure your passes, please visit http://www.Gitex.com.

MIL OSI Africa –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget Lists X Empire’s Token (X) on Pre-Market: Latest AI-Powered NFTs and Gaming on TON

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 13, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, is excited to announce the listing of X Empire’s X Coin (X) on its Pre-Market platform, giving users early access to this rapidly growing project. Built on the TON blockchain, X Empire is an innovative AI-powered platform that merges digital identity creation with personalized NFTs and blockchain gaming. This move further establishes Bitget as a top platform for supporting Telegram Mini-App tokens, following the success of previous listings such as DOGS, Notcoin, and Hamster Kombat.

Originally launched as a Telegram Mini-App Game, X Empire has quickly transformed into a comprehensive AI-based ecosystem. By combining blockchain and AI technologies, X Empire enables users to create and trade personalized NFT avatars. These avatars can be used both in gaming and as valuable digital assets, opening up new revenue opportunities for users. The integration with the TON blockchain ensures seamless NFT creation and transactions, making the platform highly accessible for both Web2 and Web3 users.

Boasting over 36 million monthly active users and 22 million subscribers on Telegram, X Empire has emerged as a leading project within the TON ecosystem. With over 7 million views per post and 100,000+ interactions, X Empire is one of the most engaged platforms in the mini-app gaming space, offering users an immersive experience that goes beyond just gaming.

With Bitget’s pre-market listing, users have exclusive early access to X Coin, the native token of X Empire. This pre-market offering introduces a voucher system, where a single voucher represents 69,000 $X tokens. Currently, 250,000 wallet addresses hold the token, with a total transaction volume of 273,000 TON on-chain. This gives traders a significant opportunity to be among the first to access this innovative AI-powered token.

Bitget continues to focus on supporting the TON ecosystem and Telegram-based mini-app projects. The Bitget Telegram Apps Page currently offers over 600 apps and bots for users to explore, including games, Web3 services, and play-to-earn opportunities. Through this platform, users can quickly discover new apps, engage with various gaming models, and benefit from airdrops offered by the latest projects.

Bitget’s ongoing support for projects like X Empire reflects its commitment to expanding the TON ecosystem. According to the latest Bitget Research Report, Telegram mini-app tokens have seen rapid growth, contributing to millions in Total Value Locked (TVL) on the TON blockchain. By listing X Coin and other tokens like CATI, DOGS and HMSTR, Bitget provides its users with early access to some of the most promising projects in the space.

Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, commented: “X Empire represents a new frontier in the fusion of AI, gaming, and blockchain technology. With its large, engaged community and innovative approach to personalized NFT avatars, X Empire is set to revolutionize how users experience digital identity and blockchain-based gaming. We are thrilled to offer our users early access to X Coin through our pre-market platform, giving them a head start on what promises to be a highly sought-after token in the TON ecosystem.”

Bitget remains a leader in providing early-stage access to trending and innovative tokens, continuing to bridge the gap between centralized and decentralized finance by offering its users cutting-edge products and services.

For more information and to explore X Coin and other exciting mini-app tokens, visit Bitget’s Pre-Market.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 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. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including being the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Professional Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM market, 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).

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet

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/dbc07e81-5f53-4e63-b628-97579d156c46

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025
MIL-OSI: Bitget’s Protection Fund in September Sustained Above Initial $300M Commitment Amidst Market Volatility

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

VICTORIA, Seychelles, Oct. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company, has released the latest valuation of its Protection Fund for September 2024. The fund, an essential safeguard for the exchange and its users, has remained resilient over the past year, maintaining a valuation comfortably above the initial $300 million commitment. As of the end of September, the fund is valued at approximately $428.5 million, marking one of the highest valuations in recent months.

Despite fluctuations within the broader financial market, the crypto sector continued to experience growing confidence, particularly with Bitcoin’s solid performance throughout the month. The Bitget Protection Fund, which is denominated in Bitcoin and stablecoins, benefited from Bitcoin’s upward trend, further strengthening its valuation. On September 7, the fund recorded its lowest valuation for the month at $350.5 million when Bitcoin prices dipped to $53,923. However, the fund quickly regained value as Bitcoin prices rebounded, closing the month with a substantial valuation of $428.6 million.

The Bitget Protection Fund is designed to ensure a robust layer of protection for users in the event of unforeseen market disturbances or security threats. This consistent increase in the fund’s valuation shows Bitget’s commitment to maintaining a stable and secure environment for its global users, aligned with its transparent Proof-of-reserves and industry’s second largest protection fund.
“The sustained growth in the Protection Fund’s valuation, despite market fluctuations shows Bitget’s focus on maintaining user security and trust. As we continue to see positive momentum in the crypto space, Bitget remains dedicated to offering a stable and reliable platform for our global community, ensuring our users’ interests are well-protected,” said Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget.

With Bitcoin showing promising signs of continued growth, the Protection Fund remains well-positioned to handle market fluctuations. As the cryptocurrency industry moves forward, Bitget remains dedicated to providing a secure trading platform with a focus on long-term user security and risk management.

To check Protection fund and its previous snapshots, please visit here.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 45 million users in 150+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading, AI bot and other trading solutions. Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including being the Official Crypto Partner of the World’s Top Professional Football League, LALIGA, in EASTERN, SEA and LATAM, as well as a global partner of Olympic Athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

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

Risk Warning: Digital asset prices may fluctuate and experience price volatility. Only invest what you can afford to lose. The value of your investment may be impacted and it is possible that you may not achieve your financial goals or be able to recover your principal investment. You should always seek independent financial advice and consider your own financial experience and financial standing. Past performance is not a reliable measure of future performance. Bitget shall not be liable for any losses you may incur. Nothing here shall be construed as financial advice.

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/78ebdd73-dbab-4fd3-9b64-6573f00d9613

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/19fe0105-2644-4dc4-adea-01f501c7a615

The MIL Network –

January 23, 2025

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