Category: Machine Learning

  • MIL-OSI: Fijoya Selects the Tendo Marketplace to Offer Modular, Cost-Effective Employee Health Benefits

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Tendo announced today a new partnership with Fijoya, a leading employee benefits platform. This collaboration combines Tendo’s Marketplace with Fijoya’s end-to-end modular solution, streamlining healthcare for providers and employees seeking care. The integration simplifies administration and delivers a value-focused solution for employers by combining quality, convenience, and affordability.

    Fijoya’s platform consolidates thousands of health and wellness benefits into a single, user-friendly solution. By incorporating Tendo’s Care Connect Marketplace, Fijoya will enhance employee experiences with transparent, predictable pricing for healthcare services. Employees can now purchase and schedule care with all-in pricing, reducing the complexity of navigating healthcare.

    “Joining forces with Tendo allows us to further streamline healthcare for employers,” said Sagi Polani, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Fijoya. “Together, we’re delivering transparent, cost-effective solutions that benefit employers and their workforces.”

    The Tendo Care Connect Marketplace offers guaranteed, fully bundled rates, streamlining direct contracting for episodes of care. These pre-negotiated contracts provide employers with 20-40% savings on healthcare services, helping them reduce overall healthcare expenses while offering robust benefits options. Care Connect offers a broad range of services across hospitals, surgery centers, imaging, PT, and labs spanning 30+ specialties as a one stop shop.

    “This partnership helps employers enhance their benefits by providing easy access to high-quality, convenient, and affordable healthcare in a simplified shoppable experience,” said Ben Maisano, SVP, Head of Strategy at Tendo.

    About Tendo

    Tendo, a software company recognized as one of Forbes America’s Best Startup Employers for 2024, is reimagining what is possible in healthcare.

    Founded by siblings Dan Goldsmith and Jennifer Goldsmith, the company works with leading health systems to deliver exceptional patient experiences, better clinical outcomes, and greater efficiency for patients, clinicians, and caregivers. Tendo’s solutions bring continuity to healthcare’s complex and disconnected landscape and insights to improve quality, health, and financial outcomes. With the recent acquisition of MDsave, Tendo is now able to offer patients a comprehensive platform to easily search, schedule, pay for, and manage healthcare services with transparent pricing. Learn more at www.tendo.com and www.mdsave.com.

    About Fijoya

    Fijoya is an employee health benefits platform designed to free employers from vendor fatigue with a modular, end-to-end solution for cost-effective and attractive benefits. The platform consolidates thousands of health and wellness benefits into a single, easily-customizable platform, reducing the need for multiple vendor contracts. Fijoya provides flexibility and zero administration, offering both existing and new benefits through a plug-and-play solution. Employees can use their funds as they see fit, guided by an AI-based recommendation engine to browse and pay for personalized health and wellness benefits.

    Media Inquiries
    Carly Ray
    Senior Director, Marketing
    Tendo
    Email: carly@tendo.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Altus Group Introduces ARGUS Intelligence, Built to Drive CRE Portfolio Performance

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    TORONTO, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Altus Group (TSX: AIF) introduced ARGUS Intelligence at its Altus Connect conference last week, a new product built to drive CRE portfolio performance.

    ARGUS Intelligence is Altus’ next-generation software for CRE investment management. It is designed to transform the way investors model, monitor and manage their assets and portfolios by providing instant performance insights. It delivers new capabilities for asset, portfolio, and benchmark management, and includes industry-leading ARGUS Enterprise. With ARGUS Intelligence, CRE investors can now dynamically drill into data to quickly analyze and compare performance metrics to enhance returns and reduce risk.

    “For more than 30 years, ARGUS has led the way in bringing valuation transparency to the CRE industry. ARGUS Intelligence builds and expands upon this foundation with automated data connectivity and advanced analytics to deliver performance insights,” commented David Ross, Chief Technology Officer at Altus. “This launch marks a significant evolution for ARGUS, transforming it from its forecasting and modelling roots into a mission-critical solution for driving CRE performance.   CRE investors can now consistently measure their performance against both internal plans and relevant peers and identify key metrics to stress-test their cash flows.”        
            
    Ross continued, “Altus is investing in enhancing CRE intelligence. We’re leveraging AI to solve critical data challenges and providing the industry with a new data model that connects the ARGUS ecosystem. This provides us with an incredibly rich CRE dataset to bring unmatched intelligence back to our clients.”

    ARGUS Intelligence core capabilities:

    • Asset Manager Functionality: Dynamically access asset-level metrics and underlying assumptions, and seamlessly conduct scenario analysis.
    • Automated Data Consolidation: Benefit from Altus’ scalable data model which streamlines ARGUS modelling data to unlock new insights.
    • ARGUS Enterprise: Utilize the industry-leading software for trusted commercial property valuation, budgeting and cash flow forecasting, essential for managing commercial assets and property portfolios.

    ARGUS Intelligence add-on capabilities:

    • Portfolio Manager Functionality: Create custom asset groupings and conduct scenario analysis to gain insights into portfolio level performance metrics and quickly identify which assets are driving performance.
    • Benchmark Manager Functionality (available in early 2025): Compare performance against the ARGUS ecosystem and conduct comprehensive attribution analysis.

    “It’s great to see Altus deliver a product that modernizes the way the industry can access and consume data,” added Merritt Poole, Chief Financial Officer at Core Spaces, who attended Altus Connect. “The interactive dashboard on the Portfolio Manager capability highlights the most critical performance insights, enabling CRE professionals to quickly identify and react to the key drivers of portfolio value and cash flow growth.”

    To learn more about ARGUS Intelligence, click here.  

    About Altus Group

    Altus Group is a leading provider of asset and fund intelligence for commercial real estate. We deliver intelligence as a service to our global client base through a connected platform of industry-leading technology, advanced analytics, and advisory services. Trusted by the largest CRE leaders, our capabilities help commercial real estate investors, developers, proprietors, lenders, and advisors manage risks and improve performance returns throughout the asset and fund lifecycle. Altus Group is a global company headquartered in Toronto with approximately 2,900 employees across North America, EMEA and Asia Pacific. For more information about Altus (TSX: AIF) please visit www.altusgroup.com.

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

    Camilla Bartosiewicz
    Chief Communications Officer, Altus Group
    (416) 641-9773
    camilla.bartosiewicz@altusgroup.com  

    Elizabeth Lambe
    Director, Global Communications, Altus Group
    (416) 641-9787
    elizabeth.lambe@altusgroup.com

    FOR CUSTOMERS INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE ABOUT ALTUS INTELLIGENCE:

    Website: https://www.altusgroup.com/solutions/argus-intelligence/
    North America: +1 888 692 7487
    United Kingdom: +44 0 20 3551 6700

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI USA: Mullin, Lucas Secure $5.5 Million Investment to OSU to Enhance Weather Prediction

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator MarkWayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma)

    Mullin, Lucas Secure $5.5 Million Investment to OSU to Enhance Weather Prediction

    The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) awarded Oklahoma State University (OSU) $5.5 million as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2024. The purpose of these funds is to increase knowledge about local weather systems in the lower atmosphere, enabling the safe integration of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility aircraft into the National Airspace System.

    Senator Mullin (R-OK) and Representative Lucas (OK-03) were the sponsors of the congressionally directed spending that made this funding possible. This project also received support from Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce and Payne County Commissioner Chris Reding.

    “Oklahoma State University is leading the way in the aerospace and aviation industry,” said Sen. Mullin. “These funds will allow their innovation to continue as they expand research into weather sensors in commercial Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility aircraft. I’m thrilled to share this news, and I also want to thank President Shrum for her leadership.”

    “I’ve been proud to see my Alma Mater – Oklahoma State University – take initiatives in the aerospace industry and weather data sciences. I’ve spoken with President Shrum about the immense progress being made on campus in recent years, and it’s clear this community funded project will only further its impact,” said Congressman Lucas. “Those of us in Oklahoma know firsthand how important accurate weather predictions are to our livelihoods, and the funding made possible by this congressionally directed spending will enable OSU to take great strides in enhancing weather prediction through Unmanned Aircraft Systems. I’d like to thank President Shrum for her efforts and am excited to see what positive results this project will bring to our state.”  

    “On behalf of Oklahoma State University and its Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education (OAIRE), I would like to personally thank Senator Mullin and Representative Lucas for their support and tireless work in securing vital funding to further establish methods to standardize and trace commercial Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) atmospheric measurements,” said OSU President Kayse Shrum. “This funding will provide enormous benefit to Oklahoma and the nation through facilitating the safe and sustainable integration of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility into the National Airspace System. The enhanced coverage and precision of low-altitude weather data this project will provide will offer significant benefits to the helicopter-based Emergency Medical Services community operating within the same airspace, helping to lessen their operational risks. The meteorology community will be able to leverage this data to refine weather products and extend warning times for potentially hazardous conditions contributing to critical safety measures being employed. Oklahoma State University’s OAIRE is a national leader in aerospace and aviation research and education and we are proud to be involved in this important project and owe Sen. Mullin and Rep. Lucas a debt of gratitude for making it possible.”

    BACKGROUND

    • The objective of this project is to increase knowledge about local weather systems in the lower atmosphere, enabling the safe integration of small Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and Advanced Air Mobility aircraft into the National Airspace System.
    • The researchers will create a method to standardize and trace commercial UAS and Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) atmospheric measurements. The project will develop protocols and standards for the Unmanned Aircraft Meteorological Data Report. The project will also evaluate existing maintenance operations that may support AAM operations, particularly related to weather impacts related to severe weather and fire. The researchers will also develop curricula to help the aviation community apply the new technology.
    • This project will demonstrate a novel, cost-effective method to support the integration of weather sensors in commercial UAS and AAM aircraft. The proposed system is essential for gathering local weather data and establishing a weather information dissemination network. The project will demonstrate dynamic path planning based on local weather data.
    • This project facilitates the safe and sustainable integration of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Advanced Air Mobility into the National Airspace System. The technological advancements will also benefit the broader aviation community. The enhanced coverage and precision of low-altitude weather data offer significant benefits to the helicopter-based Emergency Medical Services community operating within the same airspace, helping to mitigate their operational risks. The meteorology community will be able to leverage this data to refine weather products and extend warning times for potentially hazardous conditions contributing to safety measures for various stakeholders within the airspace ecosystem.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Thnks Announces Winners of the 2024 Thnks Gratitude in Business Awards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NASHVILLE, Tenn., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Thnks, the first on-demand gratitude expression platform for enterprises, SMBs, and individual contributors, today announced Troy Stevenson, Account Manager at Pegasus Logistics Group as the individual winner and Pegasus Logistics Group as the company winner for the 2024 Thnks Gratitude in Business Awards sponsored by First Horizon.

    As the gratitude in business pioneer, Thnks has transformed small gestures of appreciation into enduring business connections, fostering loyalty, and driving revenue growth. Through the Thnks Gratitude in Business Awards, Thnks celebrates individuals and organizations who are growing their businesses with gratitude.

    “Troy and the entire team at Pegasus Logistics Group inspire a ripple effect of gratitude that transforms how we do business and strengthens our communities,” said Brendan Kamm, Thnks Co-Founder and CEO. “The response to this year’s Thnks Gratitude in Business Award has been truly remarkable. We’ve seen an inspiring array of stories demonstrating how gratitude is being leveraged as a powerful tool for business growth and relationship building.”

    Pegasus Logistics Group, the first company honored by the Gratitude in Business Awards, is being recognized for their exceptional dedication to fostering a culture of appreciation and recognition to drive growth. The company’s innovative initiatives, including their Culture Team’s CREW program and “People on Point” rewards system, demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering a culture of gratitude and empowerment. As the individual winner, Stevenson’s commitment to building trust-based relationships and consistently showing appreciation embodies the transformative power of gratitude in the workplace.

    “We are truly honored to receive this recognition from Thnks and First Horizon,” said Ken Beam, Founder and CEO of Pegasus Logistics Group. “Gratitude is at the heart of our culture, and this win is a testament to the dedication and commitment of individuals like Troy Stevenson and all our team members. We believe that gratitude is the foundation for building strong relationships with our team members, clients, partners, and the community. It’s wonderful to see both Troy’s efforts and the collective spirit of Pegasus Logistics recognized. We’re excited to continue fostering an environment where appreciation drives success and strengthens our connections.”

    Stevenson will be awarded $10,000 in Thnks credits to enhance further the gratitude program at Pegasus Logistics, a $500 credit from a selection of Thnks retailers, and a $2,500 donation will be made in his name to The Grace Foundation, which assists individuals and families in crisis and guidance toward self-sufficiency. The team at Pegasus Logistics will receive $10,000 in Thnks credits for their gratitude program.

    “At First Horizon we’re proud to support the Thnks Gratitude in Business Awards,” said Lucas Doppler, SVP at First Horizon. “We share Thnks’ vision of celebrating those who elevate their workplace, enhance customer experiences, and enrich their communities – by leading with gratitude. “

    To learn more about the Thnks Gratitude in Business Awards sponsored by First Horizon, visit thnks.com.

    ABOUT THNKS
    Established in 2016, Thnks believes making people feel appreciated – not just part of a transaction – is a business-building strategy. Utilized by over 10,000 teams and 120 Fortune 500 companies, Thnks is an on-demand gratitude expression platform for enterprises, SMBs, and individual contributors that converts small acts of gratitude into lasting business relationships that drive loyalty and revenue. The Thnks platform incorporates technology, program analytics and compliance/budget adherence to empower customers with a more economical, intentional, and authentic way to make people feel appreciated. To date, millions of Thnks have been sent – proving small acts of gratitude generate outsized business impact.

    ABOUT FIRST HORIZON
    First Horizon Corp. (NYSE: FHN), with $82.2 billion in assets as of June 30, 2024, is a leading regional financial services company, dedicated to helping our clients, communities, and associates unlock their full potential with capital and counsel. Headquartered in Memphis, TN, the banking subsidiary First Horizon Bank operates in 12 states across the southern U.S. The Company and its subsidiaries offer commercial, private banking, consumer, small business, wealth and trust management, retail brokerage, capital markets, fixed income, and mortgage banking services. First Horizon has been recognized as one of the nation’s best employers by Fortune and Forbes magazines and a Top 10 Most Reputable U.S. Bank. More information is available at www.FirstHorizon.com.

    ABOUT PEGASUS LOGISTICS GROUP
    Pegasus Logistics Group is a global leader in transportation and logistics, specializing in both international and domestic shipments of consequence. With a client-centric approach and a flexible global network of partners, we deliver a highly managed transportation model that adapts to the unique challenges of each business. Our stakeholder-focused approach ensures that our solutions benefit not just our clients but also our team members, partners, and communities. At Pegasus Logistics Group, we believe that true partnership is defined by flexibility, collaboration, and a commitment to improving business processes as we grow together.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION, PRESS ONLY:
    Kaileigh Higgins
    thnks@inkhouse.com

    A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2d0bcf29-0a44-40ba-92d5-2b6dadd89c15

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City Chambers turns pink for Organ and Tissue Donation Week

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    The Capital is gearing up to highlight the importance of Organ and Tissue Donation Week 2024 which runs from September 23-29 September.

    This year the NHS Organ Donor Register celebrates its 30th birthday. To raise awareness of the incredible gift of organ and tissue donation, the City Chambers is turning pink.

    The annual campaign raises awareness for the ongoing need for organ donation, whilst also encouraging people to make a decision about whether they wish to opt in or out of donation and making sure these wishes are discussed with family members.

    Our Edinburgh International Conference Centre (EICC), another landmark building on the city skyline, is also lighting up pink in support of the campaign.   

    Depute Lord Provost, Councillor Lezley Marion Cameron said:

    Almost 60,000 lives have been saved since the NHS Organ Donor Register was created in 1994. Organ and Tissue Donation Week is the perfect opportunity to highlight this incredible fact.

    As we mark the 30th anniversary of the NHS Organ Donor Register, we must also be mindful of the fact that more than 7,600 people in the UK are currently waiting for a life-saving transplant. There are thousands of people who could be given a new lease of life by a donor. To help as many people as possible we all need to play our part by considering and registering our decisions to be, or not to be, a donor.

    These are conversations that need to be had amongst families, friends, colleagues, and communities as we go forward.  Families are more likely to support donation when they are already aware of their loved one’s wish to be an organ donor.

    Whilst it’s heartening that over half of people in Scotland have now registered their organ and tissue donation decision, a great many people still haven’t done so.  Whatever your choice may be, the important thing is to make it, discuss it with loved ones, and record it.

    I hope the aim of this week’s campaign of raising awareness of the lifesaving opportunities of organ donation encourages anyone who is 16 years old or over who have yet to record their decision to do so by visiting the official website today.

    Published: September 23rd 2024

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Liverpool maps out masterplan to remix “Music City” status

    Source: City of Liverpool

    Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram has announced radical plans to “remix the music sector” by embracing AI and VR to future-proof music tourism, recording and education.

    Liverpool City Council has mapped out an ambitious programme of four ground-breaking, interlinked projects which would revolutionise the industry and have a multi-million-pound economic impact for decades to come.

    The proposals are expected to be funded by private sector sources with Government support, with media giant Universal expressing their commitment to the concept.

    The four projects are:

    • The Music Futures Lab – this bespoke facility will bring together music businesses and musicians from across the creative and digital sectors to reimagine the way we all create, consume and experience music in the future. This new R&D lab would be the first of its kind in the UK, taking advantage of the opportunities AI and VR brings, and would build on – and future-proof – the incredible creative and digital sector which the city already boasts.
    • MusicFutures Cluster – a mix of academic and private sector bodies creating the talent and training pipeline to make the most of the facilities which the music lab will offer. A Creative Cluster has already been established to kickstart this R&D in bringing together the music and creative industries.
    • Immersive Liverpool – this fully immersive audio and visual visitor attraction will reimagine the way that audiences experience the music they love. A world first, this attraction will offer a rotating set of experience ‘residencies’ with the biggest music artists. Liverpool City Council is undergoing a site selection process and is in partnership with industry leaders to help develop the scheme.
    • Recording and Rehearsal space – this space would become a new rehearsal home for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and a leading national facility for emerging and established artists. This would be the only UK studio of its kind and capacity outside London – “the Abbey Road of the North” – and as well as boosting the city’s ability to offer recording facilities for musicians, TV, film and gaming, it would also provide first-class training, performance and rehearsal spaces all year-round for young people across the region.

    Mayor Rotheram revealed the ambitious plans at a Creative UK event as part of the Labour Party conference in the city.

    The draft business cases, funded by monies received from the DCMS, are to be presented to Government in the coming weeks with detailed plans expected to be announced in 2025 – 10 years after Liverpool was appointed a UNESCO City of Music.

    Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said: “Music is the heartbeat of Liverpool and for generations it has defined the city’s global appeal. The time has come to translate that heritage into an offer that shapes our future.

    “We have ambitious plans to remix what it means to be a music city. These projects will help define and shape the next generation of talent and businesses and will increase the impact music can have on our communities and individuals from all walks of life.

    “Our ‘Music 2030’ vision harnesses ambitious thinking and focused investment to turn music into a driver of social, economic and environmental advancement, with the sector becoming the backbone for new high-paying jobs, re-energising the music tourism sector and becoming a vanguard sector for positive environmental change.

    “We have entered into a development relationship with Mercury Studios and Universal Music Group to help create the future of immersive music entertainment right here in Liverpool. The expertise and innovation of Mercury Studios will empower our own homegrown talent. This city is known for our incredible music heritage. Together, we will lean on that heritage to become the birthplace for a new form of music entertainment and create a digital future.

    “I’m delighted with the progress made to date and super excited for what is to come. I look forward to further conversations with our partners and the Government on how we can develop and deliver these projects.”

    Liverpool City Region Mayor, Steve Rotheram, said: “The Liverpool City Region has always had music running through its veins—it’s part of who we are.

    “We’re launching bold, groundbreaking projects that will remix the way music is made and experienced—right here in the heart of the UK.

    “With cutting-edge technology like AI and VR, we’re creating opportunities for the next generation, making sure that Liverpool isn’t just a city with a rich musical history, but a global leader in the music of the future.

    “This isn’t just business—it’s about giving young people the chance to thrive and putting our region back on the world stage.

    “We’re setting the standard for what a music city should be in the 21st century.”

    Culture Liverpool Director Claire McColgan said: “Liverpool is reimagining the role music plays in the regeneration of a city. By bringing musicians and the creative and digital industries closer together and building the facilities to make the most of our enviable talent pool, we believe this approach can be a driving force in positioning Liverpool as a music city remixed.

    “These projects are at a really exciting stage, and we are now starting to get a sense of their scope and potential impact which could redefine what music means to Liverpool and to the rest of the country. We’re looking at a 10 year-plan to supercharge not just our visitor economy but the way that young people get access to the best music education in the world.

    “It will give talented creative graduates a further reason to set up their business here. It’s taking music seriously as a catalyst for regeneration, both in terms of buildings and people.”

    Michael Eakin, Chief Executive of Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, said: “This centre, as part of Liverpool’s overall investment in – and development of – the music sector will be transformative for the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and for young talent in the city. It will be a major regeneration driver in its location. It will provide economic growth for the city as part of the growing film, television and creative industries sector.

    “It will help secure the long-term sustainability of one of the country’s most important and forward-looking orchestras and music organisations. And it will make Liverpool uniquely strong in delivering true creative education opportunities in music for children and young people across our communities.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “For the third time, we will gather the best scientists and AI researchers in Russia at the HSE site”

    MIL OSI Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Sciences, Faculty of Computer Science, National Research University Higher School of Economics And AI Center A conference will be held in Moscow on October 25–26 Fall into ML 2024. The main topic of the annual event will be the prospects for the development of fundamental artificial intelligence. Sber will be the title partner of the conference.

    Leading scientists in the field of artificial intelligence will meet at the Higher School of Economics to present their best works published at A* conferences in 2024, the flagship events in this field.

    The conference will feature experts discussing current issues in machine learning, including deep neural networks, reinforcement learning, and their application in industry, natural and social sciences, healthcare, climate science, and other areas. Topics related to language models, computer vision, optimization, robotics, and many others will also be covered.

    Over the course of two days, conference participants will be able to take a mini-course, listen to selected reports, participate in panel discussions, thematic workshops dedicated to AI in bioinformatics, finance and other topics.

    At the panel discussion “Personnel Matters: Nurturing Talented Artificial Intelligence Researchers,” representatives of Russian science and universities will discuss modern achievements in the field of AI, based on the work of scientists conducting research in this field in academia and industry around the world. As part of the discussion, participants will touch on issues of training scientific personnel, retaining and attracting talent.

    For the first time, Fall into ML will host a panel discussion dedicated to women in science. Female scientists will discuss the development of AI technologies and the inclusiveness of the scientific world.

    One of the key events of the conference will be the poster session – a platform where the best works of Russian scientists in the field of artificial intelligence, implemented in 2024, will be presented.

    Gleb Gusev, Senior Managing Director – Director of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Sber

    “The AI Lab participated in the event last year. Due to the positive feedback from last year’s successful participation, a decision was made to expand the format of interaction with Fall into ML in 2024 and sponsor the event.

    The Fall into ML conference is a targeted event to promote Sber’s scientific brand, within which the AI Lab integrates its scientific section Financial AI, holds lectures and workshops where you can share your experience and talk about publications and research that are in demand at Sber, while simultaneously receiving feedback from experts and colleagues in the industry.”

    In 2023, Fall into ML brought together over 50 authors of publications at A*-level conferences. Over three days, over 300 participants attended thematic workshops, panel discussions, sections and a poster session. See how it was in 2023 on link.

    Undergraduate and graduate students, and researchers in the field of artificial intelligence can register and participate in Fall into ML 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.hse.ru/nevs/expertise/965602534.html

    EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and or sentence structure not be perfect.

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri Delivers Remarks at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics 23rd Annual Compliance & Ethics Institute

    Source: United States Attorneys General 4

    Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

    Thank you for inviting me to speak at the Society of Corporate Compliance and Ethics (SCCE). The work you do at SCCE supports compliance and ethics professionals across industries. I’m so pleased to be here with the practitioners virtually who work every day to establish and maintain effective corporate compliance programs that help prevent misconduct before it begins.

    The Criminal Division is on the front lines of the Justice Department’s efforts to hold culpable individuals and companies accountable for corporate crime. We also develop innovative policies both to encourage companies to be good corporate citizens and to enhance the department’s corporate enforcement work. Today, I plan to talk about how these efforts support a key aspect of our mission — to prevent and deter corporate crime by incentivizing corporations to invest in robust compliance programs and report misconduct when it occurs. Companies are the first line of defense against corporate crime. And compliance professionals are charged with holding the line on compliance and good corporate culture. We know how important it is for compliance programs to be robust and well-resourced and for compliance officers and their staff to be empowered.

    That is why we are transparent about how we evaluate compliance programs and what we believe makes a compliance program successful. It’s why our corporate enforcement policies are available on our website. It’s why — in every corporate resolution — we describe the company’s cooperation and remediation and how we evaluated it. And it’s why each of our resolutions requires companies to commit to forward-looking compliance obligations designed to address the misconduct and improve the compliance program.

    I’d like to begin with our Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs, or ECCP. I’m sure many of you are familiar with it — it is an invaluable resource for companies. And it is the roadmap Criminal Division prosecutors use to evaluate a company’s compliance program, including the questions prosecutors will ask as they assess a compliance program in determining how to resolve a criminal investigation.

    Because when we prosecute corporate crime, we ask not just what happened but why it happened and what the company has done to prevent misconduct from recurring. A critical component of our corporate resolutions involves an assessment of the corporation’s compliance program, at both the time of the misconduct and the time of resolution.

    Just as we expect corporations to continuously review and update their compliance programs to account for emerging risk factors, we regularly evaluate our policies and enforcement tools, including the ECCP, to account for changing circumstances and new risks.

    I’m pleased to announce today that we have updated our ECCP to address some of these emerging risks. Our updated ECCP, which is available on our website, includes critical additions in three main areas.

    First, in March, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco announced that prosecutors will consider how companies mitigate the risk of misusing artificial intelligence and directed the Criminal Division to include an assessment of disruptive technology risks — including AI — in the ECCP. Today, I’m unveiling the results. Our updated ECCP includes an evaluation of how companies are assessing and managing risk related to the use of new technology such as artificial intelligence both in their business and in their compliance programs.

    Under the ECCP, prosecutors will consider the technology that a company and its employees use to conduct business, whether the company has conducted a risk assessment of the use of that technology, and whether the company has taken appropriate steps to mitigate any risk associated with the use of that technology. For example, prosecutors will consider whether the company is vulnerable to criminal schemes enabled by new technology, such as false approvals and documentation generated by AI. If so, we will consider whether compliance controls and tools are in place to identify and mitigate those risks, such as tools to confirm the accuracy or reliability of data used by the business. We also want to know whether the company is monitoring and testing its technology to evaluate if it is functioning as intended and consistent with the company’s code of conduct.

    Second, following the recent announcement of our whistleblower awards program, the ECCP now includes questions designed to evaluate whether companies are encouraging employees to speak up and report misconduct or whether companies employ practices that chill reporting. Our prosecutors will closely consider the company’s commitment to whistleblower protection and anti-retaliation by assessing policies and training, as well as treatment of employees who report misconduct. We will evaluate whether companies ensure that individuals who suspect misconduct know how to report it and feel comfortable doing so including by showing that there is no tolerance for retaliation.

    Third, under the updated ECCP, our prosecutors will assess whether a compliance program has appropriate access to data, including to assess its own effectiveness. We have added questions about whether compliance personnel have adequate access to relevant data sources and the assets, resources, and technology that are available to compliance and risk management personnel. As part of this assessment, we will also consider whether companies are putting the same resources and technology into gathering and leveraging data for compliance purposes that they are using in their business.

    We have also updated the ECCP to expand upon an important concept — that companies should be learning lessons from both the company’s own prior misconduct and from issues at other companies to update their compliance programs and train employees.

    Next, I want to give you an update on two Criminal Division pilot programs: our Compensation Incentives and Clawbacks Pilot Program and our Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program.

    In March 2023, we announced a three-year compensation clawback pilot program. We are now halfway through the pilot period and can report some observations.

    The program has two parts. First, each of our corporate resolutions now requires that the company include criteria related to compliance in its compensation and bonus system. In short, we are asking companies to provide clear metrics both to reward compliance-promoting behavior and to deter misconduct. We included similar language in some corporate resolutions before we launched the pilot program, but it is now required in every Criminal Division resolution. Since the program’s launch, we have included this requirement in nine corporate resolutions.

    Let me pause on that for a second. As a result of corporate cases brought by the Criminal Division, nine companies across five industries are upping their game in using their compensation systems to promote compliance. These companies — whether their core business is tech, finance, crypto, manufacturing, or energy — are considering how to align compensation not just with the company’s financial performance, but with conducting business in an ethical manner. And they are setting the tone for others in the marketplace.

    Early indications are that these innovations are changing corporate behavior. For example, one company under agreement with the Criminal Division required consideration of adherence to compliance standards and reporting of misconduct in its annual reviews. As a result of these efforts, and a company-wide messaging campaign, the company is seeing more reports of potential compliance issues.

    We have also seen many companies incorporating into their compensation systems performance reviews that include an assessment of how employees demonstrate the company’s core values. For example, one company incorporated a performance review metric that measured employees across categories including individual and team performance, goal accomplishment, and demonstration of core values. Ratings on these metrics factored into both compensation and promotion decisions. We are asking companies to continuously evaluate the real-world effectiveness of such incentives, share that feedback with us, and adjust their compensation metrics.

    Companies that make compliance a critical factor in determining compensation are sending the message to employees and management that engaging in ethical behavior is critical to success in business. These companies are fostering strong cultures of compliance and promoting leaders who demonstrate ethical values.

    Turning to the second part of the pilot program, we provide a fine reduction to companies that recoup or withhold compensation from culpable employees and others who had supervisory authority over the employees engaged in the misconduct and knew of, or were willfully blind to, the misconduct. Companies that take advantage of this aspect of the pilot program will receive a fine reduction equal to the amount of the withheld compensation. This is also something we look at when we consider a company’s remediation. Because taking steps to hold individuals financially accountable is a critical way a company can send a strong message to employees that it is committed to compliance.

    To date, two companies have received fine reductions under the pilot program, both in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) cases. Albemarle proactively implemented procedures to freeze future bonuses for those suspected of misconduct, who directly oversaw employees engaged in the misconduct, or who were aware of red flags but failed to prevent the misconduct. They were rewarded with a reduction in their criminal monetary penalty equal to the amount of the bonuses that were withheld. Albemarle was also awarded a 45% reduction from the low end of the applicable penalty range — the highest percentage reduction to date — in light of its substantial cooperation and significant remediation.

    SAP also withheld compensation from culpable employees and defended the decision through litigation. These actions sent a clear message to other SAP employees — and employees of companies everywhere — that misconduct will have individual financial consequences. As a result, SAP not only received a fine reduction equal to the amount of withheld compensation. This was also an important aspect of the company’s remediation that supported our decision to award a 40% fine reduction.

    By holding culpable individuals financially accountable — along with those who were in a position to report or stop the misconduct — companies send a clear message that there will be consequences for those who do not stand against misconduct.

    We also have another critical new tool to harness financial incentives in connection with our corporate enforcement work: our Corporate Whistleblower Awards Pilot Program, or CWA. The program has been up and running for only a few weeks, but we are already receiving good tips.

    Whistleblower programs are effective. Programs at other agencies have received thousands of tips, paid out hundreds of millions of dollars in awards, and resulted in holding culpable actors accountable for misconduct. But as successful as those programs are, they do not cover the full range of white collar and corporate crime that the department prosecutes. The CWA seeks to fill those gaps. Our program covers four priority areas of white collar enforcement that are not covered by an existing whistleblower program: abuses of the financial system by financial institutions and insiders; foreign corruption and bribery schemes; domestic corruption; and health care schemes targeting private insurers. And if a whistleblower has information about misconduct that is not covered by an existing whistleblower program but does not fall within one of these four categories, we want to hear from them.

    We designed our whistleblower program to encourage internal reporting and to incentivize companies to invest in strong internal reporting structures. A whistleblower who makes an internal report at their company will be eligible for an award if they report to the department within 120 days of their internal report. And critically, making an internal report before coming forward to the department is a factor that will increase the amount of a potential whistleblower award.

    And companies that receive internal reports also have a powerful incentive to come forward to the department. We understand that in considering whether to make a voluntary self-disclosure, companies assess not only the benefits of self-reporting, but also the risk that the department will learn about the misconduct from other sources, like whistleblowers. We expect that the CWA will alter that calculus. That’s why, alongside our whistleblower program, we announced an amendment to our Corporate Enforcement and Voluntary Self-Disclosure Policy, or CEP. Under that amendment, where a company receives an internal whistleblower report and then reports the misconduct to the department within 120 days, and before the department reaches out to the company, it will be eligible for the greatest benefit under the CEP — a presumption of a declination — so long as it fully cooperates and remediates. This is a significant benefit to companies and a departure from our usual approach, because a company can qualify for a presumption of a declination even if the whistleblower comes to the department first.

    Our whistleblower program also reflects how seriously the department takes the risks that whistleblowers face — and the ways that compliance departments can mitigate those risks. First, we will protect whistleblowers’ identities to the fullest extent allowable under law. Second, we will closely monitor any actions a company takes against whistleblowers who try to do the right thing by raising an alarm within the company. As described in our updated ECCP, compliance departments have an important role here — to implement robust policies that protect employees who report misconduct and to train employees on those policies. Under our updated ECCP, we will closely evaluate a company’s commitment to whistleblower protection and anti-retaliation, as well as whether a company has fostered a “speak up” culture. But if a company retaliates against a whistleblower, we will take all appropriate steps: the company will lose credit for cooperation and remediation and could face sentencing enhancements — and even prosecution — for obstruction of justice.

    We have received tips from over 100 individuals to date, with more coming in every day. If those employees are also reporting internally, which we have incentivized them to do, we hope companies are taking their reports seriously and plan to come forward to the department.

    Let me now turn to some of our corporate resolutions and the lessons compliance officers can take from them. In our corporate resolutions, we recognize and reward different levels of cooperation and remediation.

    Let me start with the greatest benefit we provide: a declination under our CEP. To qualify for a CEP declination, a company must not only voluntarily self-disclose the conduct. It must also fully cooperate and timely and appropriately remediate.

    Last month, we announced a declination under the CEP in an investigation involving the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In addition to timely and voluntarily disclosing evidence of a potential FCPA violation to the department, BCG’s full and proactive cooperation and timely and appropriate remediation resulted in the department’s decision to decline prosecution.

    BCG’s remediation included termination of the personnel involved in the misconduct and compensation-based penalties that included requiring certain BCG partners to give up their equity in the company, denying financial benefits normally accorded to BCG employees who leave the firm, and withholding bonuses.

    A company that does not voluntarily self-disclose misconduct can receive up to a 50% reduction of its fine depending on the extent of its cooperation and remediation. Every company starts at zero and must earn any benefit. From our resolutions, you can identify factors that set strong cooperation and remediation apart from less impressive efforts. Let me touch on a couple of examples.

    SAP, which I mentioned earlier, earned a 40% reduction in the criminal penalty — near the maximum reduction available for companies that do not voluntarily self-disclose. The company immediately began to cooperate after news reports publicized some of the allegations and took steps to proactively cooperate that made a real difference in our ability to advance our independent investigation. The company also moved quickly to remediate the misconduct, including by promptly disciplining responsible employees, reducing its risk profile, and expanding the data analytics capabilities of its compliance program.

    On the other end of the spectrum, Trafigura received a reduction of only 10% for cooperation and remediation. Trafigura’s cooperation credit was limited because the company failed to preserve and produce certain evidence in a timely manner during early phases of the investigation. And the company’s early posture in resolution negotiations caused significant delays and required our prosecutors to expend substantial efforts and resources to develop additional evidence. The company’s remediation was also mixed. While Trafigura improved its compliance program, it was slow to discipline certain employees.

    Through our resolutions, we seek to highlight what a company did, or failed to do, to get more or less credit for cooperation and remediation. We do that to provide transparency and to guide other companies, and to make clear that we provide the greatest benefits to companies that act with urgency and truly go above and beyond.

    Rest assured, we take notice of companies that make the right choices and invest in and support effective compliance programs. When compliance officers have the necessary resources to do their jobs — and a seat at the table in the boardroom to have their voices heard — companies are better situated to prevent, detect, and stay ahead of misconduct when it occurs. And companies that do those things — and move quickly to cooperate and remediate when misconduct occurs — will put themselves in the best position to achieve the most favorable outcomes when dealing with the Criminal Division’s investigations and prosecutions.

    From our whistleblower and clawback pilot programs to our updated ECCP, we are using more tools than ever before to identify corporate misconduct and to encourage companies to be good corporate citizens. Companies that step up and own up to misconduct send a powerful message about the importance of a robust compliance program and an ethical corporate culture.

    I hope today you’ll take this message back to your companies: now is the time to make the necessary compliance investments to help prevent, detect, and remediate misconduct. And when you uncover misconduct: call us before we call you.

    MIL Security OSI

  • MIL-OSI: Karolinska Development divests its holding in the Danish dermatology company Henlez

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, September 23 2024. Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) announces the divestment of all its shares in the portfolio company Henlez ApS. Following the transaction, Karolinska Development’s investment portfolio consists of eleven holdings.

    Karolinska Development invested in Henlez ApS in 2022, in syndication with the Nordic venture capital firm Eir Ventures. Henlez is a privately held Danish dermatology company focused on hidradenitis suppurativa.

    Prior to the divestment, Karolinska Development’s ownership in Henlez amounted to 15 %.

    For further information, please contact:

    Viktor Drvota, CEO, Karolinska Development AB
    Phone: +46 73 982 52 02, e-mail: viktor.drvota@karolinskadevelopment.com 

    Johan Dighed, General Counsel and Deputy CEO, Karolinska Development AB
    Phone: +46 70 207 48 26, e-mail: johan.dighed@karolinskadevelopment.com

    TO THE EDITORS

    About Karolinska Development AB
    Karolinska Development AB (Nasdaq Stockholm: KDEV) is a Nordic life sciences investment company. The company focuses on identifying breakthrough medical innovations in the Nordic region that are developed by entrepreneurs and leadership teams. The Company invests in the creation and growth of companies that advance these assets into commercial products that are designed to make a difference to patients’ lives while providing an attractive return on investment to shareholders.

    Karolinska Development has access to world-class medical innovations at the Karolinska Institutet and other leading universities and research institutes in the Nordic region. The Company aims to build companies around scientists who are leaders in their fields, supported by experienced management teams and advisers, and co-funded by specialist international investors, to provide the greatest chance of success.

    Karolinska Development has a portfolio of eleven companies targeting opportunities in innovative treatment for life-threatening or serious debilitating diseases.

    The Company is led by an entrepreneurial team of investment professionals with a proven track record as company builders and with access to a strong global network.

    For more information, please visit www.karolinskadevelopment.com

    Attachment

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Salary.com to Showcase Award-Winning Compensation Solutions at This Week’s HR Technology Conference & Exposition 2024

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    WALTHAM, Mass., Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — In today’s rapidly changing labor market, staying ahead of the curve requires insightful analysis based on real-time compensation data. With this growing need for trusted data and intuitive software, Salary.com will highlight its award-winning solutions, including its latest offering, SalaryIQ™, during this week’s HR Technology Conference & Exposition.

    Attendees will be able to see how the Salary.com platform, which draws over 10 billion compensation data points from 225+ industries, manages all aspects of the compensation process, from job description and compensation package creation to employee surveys, pay equality analysis, employee upskilling and more. This includes Salary.com’s recently released SalaryIQ real-time job posting solution, which continuously scans job boards, company career sites and other publicly available data to deliver actionable insights to end users. With this expanded data resource, HR teams are able to predict staffing needs, anticipate future trends and streamline processes.

    Salary.com will also host the breakout session “How to Conduct a Pay Equity Audit” on September 25, 2024, from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. PT. Led by Katie Stukowski, Vice President of Solutions Consulting, this session will guide attendees through the essential steps of conducting a pay audit. Attendees will learn how to navigate project management and identify critical problems, prepare for audits, address systemic issues in compensation practices and foster pay equity within their organizations.

    In addition, employment attorney Heather Bussing, who recently co-authored the book “Get Pay Right” with Salary.com CEO Kent Plunkett, will present “Start with the Money: Pay Equity as the Foundation of Fairness.” In this session, taking place on September 24, 2024, from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. PT, during the Women in HR Technology Summit, Bussing will delve into the importance of pay equity and how effective salary assessments can drive fairness in the workplace.

    Carol Ferrari, VP, Product Marketing at Salary.com, commented, “To get pay right, employers need access to integrated compensation data and technology solutions. At this week’s HR Technology Conference & Exposition, attendees will have multiple opportunities to get answers to their most pressing pay questions directly from the Salary.com team. We’re looking forward to helping this year’s attendees make fair pay a reality.”

    Conference attendees interested in learning about Salary.com are encouraged to participate in these educational sessions and meet with company representatives at Booth No. 4911 during expo hours. To pre-book a demo, visit https://www.salary.com/business/events/hr-technology-conference

    About Salary.com 

    Salary.com has been solving the complex human capital needs of global organizations for more than 20 years. The company leads the industry in compensation data, software and services. Over 30,000 organizations in 22 countries use Salary.com’s solutions to confidently hire and retain talent so they can better compete in a constantly changing landscape.

    Salary.com provides more than 10 billion data points across more than 225 industries using our powerful, proprietary AI framework to get pay right. The company’s flagship product, CompAnalyst®, empowers organizations with a suite of tools that simplify hiring, eliminate compensation guesswork, and increase retention. Employee trust depends on fair pay and Salary.com’s solutions get pay right. Please visit www.salary.com/business.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI: Twaao Exchange: Deploys Next-Generation Security System to Enhance User Trust

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Recently, Twaao Exchange successfully launched a new security protection system. This system integrates artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, enabling real-time monitoring and detection of abnormal trading activities. Committed to providing a secure trading environment for its users, the upgrade of Twaao not only enhances platform security but also strengthens user trust in the platform.

    The security system employs state-of-the-art AI learning algorithms capable of analyzing vast amounts of data in real-time and quickly identifying potential security threats. By deeply learning user behavior and recognizing patterns, the system can promptly detect and prevent any abnormal activities, effectively mitigating various security risks.

    Twaao is dedicated to offering a safe and reliable trading environment for its users, continuously optimizing technical and management measures to elevate the overall security level of the platform. The launch of the new system not only boosts the platform defense capabilities but also increases user trust and satisfaction.

    The Head of Security at Twaao stated, “Security is the cornerstone of our platform. By incorporating advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies, we can more accurately identify and address potential security threats, providing users with a safer trading environment. This upgrade is not just a technological advancement but also a testament to our commitment to our users.”

    In addition to technological upgrades, Twaao has strengthened its security management measures. The platform has introduced multi-factor authentication mechanisms to ensure that every transaction undergoes rigorous review and confirmation. Furthermore, Twaao has established comprehensive risk assessment and emergency response mechanisms to swiftly handle various emergencies and safeguard user assets.

    In terms of information security, Twaao employs multi-layered protection measures to ensure that personal information and transaction data of users are always secure. The platform uses internationally leading data encryption technology to prevent data breaches and tampering, and through real-time monitoring and regular audits, it ensures system security and stability.

    Looking ahead, Twaao will continue to invest in security technology and management, continually enhancing the platform security level. By collaborating with leading international security institutions, Twaao will introduce more advanced technologies and management experiences to offer users safer and more reliable trading services. Additionally, Twaao will strengthen user education to raise security awareness, helping users better protect their assets.

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Secretary-General’s remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future’s Action Days [bilingual as delivered, scroll down for all-English and all-French]

    Source: United Nations

    Excellencies, Dear Friends, all protocol observed,

    Welcome to the Summit of the Future Action Days – which kicked-off yesterday with the youth-led afternoon. A day full of ideas, energy, hope and expectation – and a perfect reminder of why we are here.

    Today promises to be just as dynamic.

    Looking out, I see world leaders. I see mayors and legislators. I see civil society, the private sector, academics, artists, activists and young people. 

    You come from every corner of the world, every generation and every walk of life. 

    Friends, this is what effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism must look like.
     
    Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.

    Because we saw a world in trouble:

    Torn apart by conflict and inequalities;

    Threatened by climate chaos and unregulated technologies;

    With the Sustainable Development Goals in peril – with many countries now mired in disastrous debt and a cost-of-living crisis.

    We saw our multilateral institutions ailing – unable to respond to contemporary challenges, let alone those of tomorrow.

    We saw faith in multilateral solutions eroding.

    And we saw trust in each other dissipating just when we needed it most.

    So, we began a journey to reform.

    To renew the international system: so that it meets the moment, and is fit for the future.

    We need multilateralism that is more inclusive, more effective, and more networked – with stronger links between international institutions and with the people.
     
    That means greater representation of developing countries. And it means a stronger voice for all of you and what you represent.

    This ambition was rooted in some clear truths.

    The world belongs to us all. People want a say in the decisions that affect them.

    And while governments have primary responsibility that we do not deny, we will not solve today’s global problems without contributions from all of society:

    From civil society and young people, delivering change, promoting accountability, demanding better, standing up for truth and justice – and using new technologies to organize for a better world.

    From business and finance – critical to combatting the climate crisis and shaping our digital future for the benefit of all.
     
    And from scientists, innovators and academics, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and developing solutions to the great challenges that we face – from hunger and disease, to online hate. 

    Dear friends,

    Over the past four years, the people in this room — and your colleagues around the world — participated in the most consultative process ever undertaken by the United Nations.

    We’ve seen:
    A total of 1.5 million people from every one of our Member States involved in discussions and consultations everywhere … 

    Hundreds of civil society groups inputting into the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations…

    And thousands of written contributions.

    Together you have pushed for vision and ambition. And I thank you for that.

    We have now three milestone texts that are on the table. 

    Which must open the door to changes our world in a way that it desperately needs.

    The Pact for the Future must lay the ground for reform:

    Reform of the outdated United Nations Security Council – to make it more effective but also more representative of what the world is today;

    Reform of our international financial institutions – so that they supercharge resources for sustainable development and for climate action;

    Reform of the rules governing outer space – currently a chaotic free-for-all; 

    And reform how we respond to complex global shocks and work together on peace and security.

    On the other hand, the Global Digital Compact must be a blueprint for closing digital divides, and the first universal agreement on Artificial Intelligence – laying the foundations for a global platform centered at the UN that can bring all actors together.

    The Declaration on Future Generations must commit leaders to take tomorrow into account as they make decisions today.

    And gender equality and human rights must weave through every aspect of those texts. Reflecting the fact that they are fundamental to every area of life.

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Les enjeux qui sont au cœur de ces textes – la justice, les droits, la paix et l’égalité – animent mon travail depuis des décennies et me poussent toujours à aller de l’avant.

    Je sais qu’il en va de même pour beaucoup d’entre vous.

    Je n’abandonnerai pas –– et je sais que vous non plus.

    L’adoption de ces textes ne marquera pas la fin du parcours – mais plutôt un nouveau départ.

    Il nous incombera ensuite de donner vie à ces textes.  De passer des mots à l’action. Et de les utiliser pour mettre l’humanité sur une meilleure voie.

    Votre engagement, votre détermination et votre pression continus seront essentiels.

    Ce travail commence avec ces Journées d’Action.

    Nous sommes impatients de connaître vos idées et vos solutions – sur ce que ces nouveaux cadres signifient pour vous et sur la manière dont, ensemble, vous pouvez contribuer à les mettre en œuvre. 

    On ne bâtira pas un multilatéralisme renouvelé du jour au lendemain – ni par les seuls gouvernements. 

    Il sera alimenté et porté par vous tous – et par les groupes que vous représentez.

    Nous nous sommes battus pour plus d’ambition.

    À présent, luttons pour plus d’action – ensemble.

    Au nom de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, merci de vous joindre à nous dans cette mission vitale.

    *****
    [all-English]

    Excellencies, Dear Friends, all protocol observed,

    Welcome to the Summit of the Future Action Days – which kicked-off yesterday with the youth-led afternoon. A day full of ideas, energy, hope and expectation – and a perfect reminder of why we are here.

    Today promises to be just as dynamic.

    Looking out, I see world leaders. I see mayors and legislators. I see civil society, the private sector, academics, artists, activists and young people. 

    You come from every corner of the world, every generation and every walk of life. 

    Friends, this is what effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism must look like.
     
    Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.

    Because we saw a world in trouble:

    Torn apart by conflict and inequalities;

    Threatened by climate chaos and unregulated technologies;

    With the Sustainable Development Goals in peril – with many countries now mired in disastrous debt and a cost-of-living crisis.

    We saw our multilateral institutions ailing – unable to respond to contemporary challenges, let alone those of tomorrow.

    We saw faith in multilateral solutions eroding.

    And we saw trust in each other dissipating just when we needed it most.

    So, we began a journey to reform.

    To renew the international system: so that it meets the moment, and is fit for the future.

    We need multilateralism that is more inclusive, more effective, and more networked – with stronger links between international institutions and with the people.
     
    That means greater representation of developing countries. And it means a stronger voice for all of you and what you represent.

    This ambition was rooted in some clear truths.

    The world belongs to us all. People want a say in the decisions that affect them.

    And while governments have primary responsibility that we do not deny, we will not solve today’s global problems without contributions from all of society:

    From civil society and young people, delivering change, promoting accountability, demanding better, standing up for truth and justice – and using new technologies to organize for a better world.

    From business and finance – critical to combatting the climate crisis and shaping our digital future for the benefit of all.
     
    And from scientists, innovators and academics, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and developing solutions to the great challenges that we face – from hunger and disease, to online hate. 

    Dear friends,

    Over the past four years, the people in this room — and your colleagues around the world — participated in the most consultative process ever undertaken by the United Nations.

    We’ve seen:

    A total of 1.5 million people from every one of our Member States involved in discussions and consultations everywhere… 

    Hundreds of civil society groups inputting into the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations…

    And thousands of written contributions.

    Together you have pushed for vision and ambition. And I thank you for that.

    We have now three milestone texts that are on the table. 

    Which must open the door to changes our world in a way that it desperately needs.

    The Pact for the Future must lay the ground for reform:

    Reform of the outdated United Nations Security Council – to make it more effective but also more representative of what the world is today;

    Reform of our international financial institutions – so that they supercharge resources for sustainable development and for climate action;

    Reform of the rules governing outer space – currently a chaotic free-for-all; 

    And reform how we respond to complex global shocks and work together on peace and security.

    On the other hand, the Global Digital Compact must be a blueprint for closing digital divides, and the first universal agreement on Artificial Intelligence – laying the foundations for a global platform centered at the UN that can bring all actors together.

    The Declaration on Future Generations must commit leaders to take tomorrow into account as they make decisions today.

    And gender equality and human rights must weave through every aspect of those texts. Reflecting the fact that they are fundamental to every area of life.

    Excellencies, friends,

    The issues at the heart of these texts – justice, rights, peace and equality – have animated my work for decades – driving me forward.

    The same is true for many of you.

    I will not give up, and I know you won’t either.

    The adoption of these texts will not be the end of the journey.

    It will simply be the end of the beginning.

    Our next task is to breathe life into them. To put words into action.  And use them to set the world on a better course.

    Your continued engagement, commitment and pressure, will be vital.

    That work starts with these Action Days.

    We look forward to hearing your ideas and solutions – on what these new frameworks mean for you, and how, together, you can help to make them a reality. 

    A renewed multilateralism will not be built in a day – or by governments alone. 

    It will be fueled and carried forward by all of you and the groups you represent.

    We have fought for ambition.

    Now let’s fight for action – together.

    On behalf of the United Nations, thank you for joining us in this vital task.

    *****
    [all-French]

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Bienvenue aux Journées d’action du Sommet de l’avenir, qui ont démarré hier par l’après-midi placée sous le signe de la jeunesse. Hier fut une journée pleine d’idées, d’énergie, d’espoirs et d’attentes – qui nous a rappelé, on ne peut mieux, pourquoi nous sommes ici.

    La journée d’aujourd’hui promet d’être tout aussi dynamique.

    En vous observant, je vois des dirigeants du monde. Je vois des maires et des législateurs. Je vois représentés la société civile, le secteur privé, les milieux universitaires, le monde des arts, les militants et les jeunes.

    Vous venez de tous les coins du monde – toutes générations confondues – et de tous horizons.

    Chers amis, voilà à quoi ressemble un multilatéralisme en réseau, efficace et inclusif.

    Il y a quatre ans, nous avons lancé le processus qui nous rassemble aujourd’hui.

    Parce que nous avons vu un monde en difficulté :

    Déchiré par les conflits et les inégalités ;

    Menacé par le chaos climatique et la présence de technologies échappant à toute réglementation ;

    Les Objectifs de développement durable sont en péril – de nombreux pays se trouvant aujourd’hui embourbés dans une dette catastrophique et une crise du coût de la vie.

    Nous avons vu nos institutions multilatérales fragilisées, incapables de répondre aux défis d’aujourd’hui, et encore moins à ceux de demain.

    Nous avons vu s’éroder la confiance dans les solutions multilatérales.

    Et nous avons vu la foi en l’autre se dissiper, au moment où nous en avions le plus besoin.

    Voilà pourquoi nous avons entrepris de procéder à une réforme :

    De rénover le système international, pour qu’il soit en phase avec notre époque et soit paré pour l’avenir.

    Il nous faut un multilatéralisme plus inclusif, plus efficace et plus interconnecté, marqué par des liens plus étroits entre institutions internationales et avec les populations.

    Qui passe par une plus grande représentation des pays en développement. Et par une voix qui résonne davantage, pour chacun d’entre vous et qui vous représente.

    L’ambition qui nous animait s’appuyait sur quelques vérités évidentes :

    Que la planète appartient à toutes et tous. Et que les individus veulent avoir leur mot à dire dans les décisions qui les concernent.

    Bien que les gouvernements aient un rôle de premier plan à jouer que nous ne pouvons nier, nous ne résoudrons pas les problèmes du monde d’aujourd’hui sans la contribution de la société dans son ensemble :

    De la société civile et des jeunes : pour motiver le changement, encourager les comportements responsables, être plus exigeants, défendre la vérité et la justice – et utiliser les nouvelles technologies afin de préparer un monde meilleur.

    Des entreprises et du monde de la finance : qui sont essentiels pour lutter contre la crise climatique et façonner notre avenir numérique au profit de toutes et tous.
    Et des scientifiques, des innovateurs et des universitaires : pour repousser les limites de nos connaissances et élaborer des solutions aux grands défis face auxquels nous nous trouvons – qu’il s’agisse de la faim et des maladies ou des discours de haine en ligne.

    Chers amis,

    Au cours des quatre dernières années, vous ici présents – et vos collègues à travers le monde – avez participé aux consultations les plus exhaustives jamais entreprises par l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

    À cette occasion :

    Pas moins de 1,5 million de personnes représentant l’ensemble de nos États Membres ont pris part aux débats et aux consultations…

    Des centaines de groupes de la société civile ont contribué au Pacte pour l’avenir, au Pacte numérique mondial et à la Déclaration sur les générations futures…

    Et des milliers de contributions écrites ont été produites.

    Ensemble, vous avez repoussé les limites de la vision et de l’ambition. Et pour cela, je vous dis : merci !

    Nous avons maintenant trois textes importants sur la table.

    Voilà qui doit ouvrir la voie aux changements dont notre monde a désespérément besoin.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir doit jeter les bases d’une réforme :

    Réforme du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, désormais dépassé, pour qu’il soit plus efficace, mais aussi plus représentatif du monde d’aujourd’hui ;

    Réforme de nos institutions financières internationales, pour qu’elles puissent renforcer les ressources destinées au développement durable et à l’action climatique ;

    Réforme des règles régissant l’espace extra-atmosphérique, qui est actuellement une foire d’empoigne générale ;

    Réforme des méthodes que nous employons pour parer aux chocs mondiaux complexes et pour œuvrer, ensemble, à la paix et à la sécurité.

    Par ailleurs, le Pacte numérique mondial doit constituer un cadre d’action pour la réduction des fractures numériques et le premier accord universel sur l’intelligence artificielle, qui jette les bases d’une plateforme mondiale centrée sur l’ONU et rassemblant tous les acteurs.

    La Déclaration sur les générations futures doit engager les dirigeants à considérer l’avenir lorsqu’ils prennent leurs décisions aujourd’hui.

    Enfin, l’égalité des genres et les droits humains doivent sous-tendre tous les aspects de ces textes, démontrant ainsi qu’ils sont fondamentaux dans tous les domaines de la vie.

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Les enjeux qui sont au cœur de ces textes – la justice, les droits, la paix et l’égalité – animent mon travail depuis des décennies et me poussent toujours à aller de l’avant.

    Je sais qu’il en va de même pour beaucoup d’entre vous.

    Je n’abandonnerai pas –– et je sais que vous non plus.

    L’adoption de ces textes ne marquera pas la fin du parcours – mais plutôt un nouveau départ.

    Il nous incombera ensuite de donner vie à ces textes. De passer des mots à l’action. Et de les utiliser pour mettre l’humanité sur une meilleure voie.

    Votre engagement, votre détermination et votre pression continus seront essentiels.

    Ce travail commence avec ces Journées d’Action.

    Nous sommes impatients de connaître vos idées et vos solutions – sur ce que ces nouveaux cadres signifient pour vous et sur la manière dont, ensemble, vous pouvez contribuer à les mettre en œuvre. 

    On ne bâtira pas un multilatéralisme renouvelé du jour au lendemain – ni par les seuls gouvernements. 

    Il sera alimenté et porté par vous tous – et par les groupes que vous représentez.

    Nous nous sommes battus pour plus d’ambition.

    À présent, luttons pour plus d’action – ensemble.

    Au nom de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, merci de vous joindre à nous dans cette mission vitale.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at the opening of the Summit of the Future’s Action Days [bilingual as delivered, scroll down for all-English and all-French]

    Source: United Nations – English

    xcellencies, Dear Friends, all protocol observed,

    Welcome to the Summit of the Future Action Days – which kicked-off yesterday with the youth-led afternoon. A day full of ideas, energy, hope and expectation – and a perfect reminder of why we are here.

    Today promises to be just as dynamic.

    Looking out, I see world leaders. I see mayors and legislators. I see civil society, the private sector, academics, artists, activists and young people. 

    You come from every corner of the world, every generation and every walk of life. 

    Friends, this is what effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism must look like.
     
    Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.

    Because we saw a world in trouble:

    Torn apart by conflict and inequalities;

    Threatened by climate chaos and unregulated technologies;

    With the Sustainable Development Goals in peril – with many countries now mired in disastrous debt and a cost-of-living crisis.

    We saw our multilateral institutions ailing – unable to respond to contemporary challenges, let alone those of tomorrow.

    We saw faith in multilateral solutions eroding.

    And we saw trust in each other dissipating just when we needed it most.

    So, we began a journey to reform.

    To renew the international system: so that it meets the moment, and is fit for the future.

    We need multilateralism that is more inclusive, more effective, and more networked – with stronger links between international institutions and with the people.
     
    That means greater representation of developing countries. And it means a stronger voice for all of you and what you represent.

    This ambition was rooted in some clear truths.

    The world belongs to us all. People want a say in the decisions that affect them.

    And while governments have primary responsibility that we do not deny, we will not solve today’s global problems without contributions from all of society:

    From civil society and young people, delivering change, promoting accountability, demanding better, standing up for truth and justice – and using new technologies to organize for a better world.

    From business and finance – critical to combatting the climate crisis and shaping our digital future for the benefit of all.
     
    And from scientists, innovators and academics, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and developing solutions to the great challenges that we face – from hunger and disease, to online hate. 

    Dear friends,

    Over the past four years, the people in this room — and your colleagues around the world — participated in the most consultative process ever undertaken by the United Nations.

    We’ve seen:
    A total of 1.5 million people from every one of our Member States involved in discussions and consultations everywhere … 

    Hundreds of civil society groups inputting into the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations…

    And thousands of written contributions.

    Together you have pushed for vision and ambition. And I thank you for that.

    We have now three milestone texts that are on the table. 

    Which must open the door to changes our world in a way that it desperately needs.

    The Pact for the Future must lay the ground for reform:

    Reform of the outdated United Nations Security Council – to make it more effective but also more representative of what the world is today;

    Reform of our international financial institutions – so that they supercharge resources for sustainable development and for climate action;

    Reform of the rules governing outer space – currently a chaotic free-for-all; 

    And reform how we respond to complex global shocks and work together on peace and security.

    On the other hand, the Global Digital Compact must be a blueprint for closing digital divides, and the first universal agreement on Artificial Intelligence – laying the foundations for a global platform centered at the UN that can bring all actors together.

    The Declaration on Future Generations must commit leaders to take tomorrow into account as they make decisions today.

    And gender equality and human rights must weave through every aspect of those texts. Reflecting the fact that they are fundamental to every area of life.

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Les enjeux qui sont au cœur de ces textes – la justice, les droits, la paix et l’égalité – animent mon travail depuis des décennies et me poussent toujours à aller de l’avant.

    Je sais qu’il en va de même pour beaucoup d’entre vous.

    Je n’abandonnerai pas –– et je sais que vous non plus.

    L’adoption de ces textes ne marquera pas la fin du parcours – mais plutôt un nouveau départ.

    Il nous incombera ensuite de donner vie à ces textes.  De passer des mots à l’action. Et de les utiliser pour mettre l’humanité sur une meilleure voie.

    Votre engagement, votre détermination et votre pression continus seront essentiels.

    Ce travail commence avec ces Journées d’Action.

    Nous sommes impatients de connaître vos idées et vos solutions – sur ce que ces nouveaux cadres signifient pour vous et sur la manière dont, ensemble, vous pouvez contribuer à les mettre en œuvre. 

    On ne bâtira pas un multilatéralisme renouvelé du jour au lendemain – ni par les seuls gouvernements. 

    Il sera alimenté et porté par vous tous – et par les groupes que vous représentez.

    Nous nous sommes battus pour plus d’ambition.

    À présent, luttons pour plus d’action – ensemble.

    Au nom de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, merci de vous joindre à nous dans cette mission vitale.

    *****
    [all-English]

    Excellencies, Dear Friends, all protocol observed,

    Welcome to the Summit of the Future Action Days – which kicked-off yesterday with the youth-led afternoon. A day full of ideas, energy, hope and expectation – and a perfect reminder of why we are here.

    Today promises to be just as dynamic.

    Looking out, I see world leaders. I see mayors and legislators. I see civil society, the private sector, academics, artists, activists and young people. 

    You come from every corner of the world, every generation and every walk of life. 

    Friends, this is what effective, inclusive, networked multilateralism must look like.
     
    Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.

    Because we saw a world in trouble:

    Torn apart by conflict and inequalities;

    Threatened by climate chaos and unregulated technologies;

    With the Sustainable Development Goals in peril – with many countries now mired in disastrous debt and a cost-of-living crisis.

    We saw our multilateral institutions ailing – unable to respond to contemporary challenges, let alone those of tomorrow.

    We saw faith in multilateral solutions eroding.

    And we saw trust in each other dissipating just when we needed it most.

    So, we began a journey to reform.

    To renew the international system: so that it meets the moment, and is fit for the future.

    We need multilateralism that is more inclusive, more effective, and more networked – with stronger links between international institutions and with the people.
     
    That means greater representation of developing countries. And it means a stronger voice for all of you and what you represent.

    This ambition was rooted in some clear truths.

    The world belongs to us all. People want a say in the decisions that affect them.

    And while governments have primary responsibility that we do not deny, we will not solve today’s global problems without contributions from all of society:

    From civil society and young people, delivering change, promoting accountability, demanding better, standing up for truth and justice – and using new technologies to organize for a better world.

    From business and finance – critical to combatting the climate crisis and shaping our digital future for the benefit of all.
     
    And from scientists, innovators and academics, pushing the boundaries of our knowledge and developing solutions to the great challenges that we face – from hunger and disease, to online hate. 

    Dear friends,

    Over the past four years, the people in this room — and your colleagues around the world — participated in the most consultative process ever undertaken by the United Nations.

    We’ve seen:

    A total of 1.5 million people from every one of our Member States involved in discussions and consultations everywhere… 

    Hundreds of civil society groups inputting into the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations…

    And thousands of written contributions.

    Together you have pushed for vision and ambition. And I thank you for that.

    We have now three milestone texts that are on the table. 

    Which must open the door to changes our world in a way that it desperately needs.

    The Pact for the Future must lay the ground for reform:

    Reform of the outdated United Nations Security Council – to make it more effective but also more representative of what the world is today;

    Reform of our international financial institutions – so that they supercharge resources for sustainable development and for climate action;

    Reform of the rules governing outer space – currently a chaotic free-for-all; 

    And reform how we respond to complex global shocks and work together on peace and security.

    On the other hand, the Global Digital Compact must be a blueprint for closing digital divides, and the first universal agreement on Artificial Intelligence – laying the foundations for a global platform centered at the UN that can bring all actors together.

    The Declaration on Future Generations must commit leaders to take tomorrow into account as they make decisions today.

    And gender equality and human rights must weave through every aspect of those texts. Reflecting the fact that they are fundamental to every area of life.

    Excellencies, friends,

    The issues at the heart of these texts – justice, rights, peace and equality – have animated my work for decades – driving me forward.

    The same is true for many of you.

    I will not give up, and I know you won’t either.

    The adoption of these texts will not be the end of the journey.

    It will simply be the end of the beginning.

    Our next task is to breathe life into them. To put words into action.  And use them to set the world on a better course.

    Your continued engagement, commitment and pressure, will be vital.

    That work starts with these Action Days.

    We look forward to hearing your ideas and solutions – on what these new frameworks mean for you, and how, together, you can help to make them a reality. 

    A renewed multilateralism will not be built in a day – or by governments alone. 

    It will be fueled and carried forward by all of you and the groups you represent.

    We have fought for ambition.

    Now let’s fight for action – together.

    On behalf of the United Nations, thank you for joining us in this vital task.

    *****
    [all-French]

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Bienvenue aux Journées d’action du Sommet de l’avenir, qui ont démarré hier par l’après-midi placée sous le signe de la jeunesse. Hier fut une journée pleine d’idées, d’énergie, d’espoirs et d’attentes – qui nous a rappelé, on ne peut mieux, pourquoi nous sommes ici.

    La journée d’aujourd’hui promet d’être tout aussi dynamique.

    En vous observant, je vois des dirigeants du monde. Je vois des maires et des législateurs. Je vois représentés la société civile, le secteur privé, les milieux universitaires, le monde des arts, les militants et les jeunes.

    Vous venez de tous les coins du monde – toutes générations confondues – et de tous horizons.

    Chers amis, voilà à quoi ressemble un multilatéralisme en réseau, efficace et inclusif.

    Il y a quatre ans, nous avons lancé le processus qui nous rassemble aujourd’hui.

    Parce que nous avons vu un monde en difficulté :

    Déchiré par les conflits et les inégalités ;

    Menacé par le chaos climatique et la présence de technologies échappant à toute réglementation ;

    Les Objectifs de développement durable sont en péril – de nombreux pays se trouvant aujourd’hui embourbés dans une dette catastrophique et une crise du coût de la vie.

    Nous avons vu nos institutions multilatérales fragilisées, incapables de répondre aux défis d’aujourd’hui, et encore moins à ceux de demain.

    Nous avons vu s’éroder la confiance dans les solutions multilatérales.

    Et nous avons vu la foi en l’autre se dissiper, au moment où nous en avions le plus besoin.

    Voilà pourquoi nous avons entrepris de procéder à une réforme :

    De rénover le système international, pour qu’il soit en phase avec notre époque et soit paré pour l’avenir.

    Il nous faut un multilatéralisme plus inclusif, plus efficace et plus interconnecté, marqué par des liens plus étroits entre institutions internationales et avec les populations.

    Qui passe par une plus grande représentation des pays en développement. Et par une voix qui résonne davantage, pour chacun d’entre vous et qui vous représente.

    L’ambition qui nous animait s’appuyait sur quelques vérités évidentes :

    Que la planète appartient à toutes et tous. Et que les individus veulent avoir leur mot à dire dans les décisions qui les concernent.

    Bien que les gouvernements aient un rôle de premier plan à jouer que nous ne pouvons nier, nous ne résoudrons pas les problèmes du monde d’aujourd’hui sans la contribution de la société dans son ensemble :

    De la société civile et des jeunes : pour motiver le changement, encourager les comportements responsables, être plus exigeants, défendre la vérité et la justice – et utiliser les nouvelles technologies afin de préparer un monde meilleur.

    Des entreprises et du monde de la finance : qui sont essentiels pour lutter contre la crise climatique et façonner notre avenir numérique au profit de toutes et tous.
    Et des scientifiques, des innovateurs et des universitaires : pour repousser les limites de nos connaissances et élaborer des solutions aux grands défis face auxquels nous nous trouvons – qu’il s’agisse de la faim et des maladies ou des discours de haine en ligne.

    Chers amis,

    Au cours des quatre dernières années, vous ici présents – et vos collègues à travers le monde – avez participé aux consultations les plus exhaustives jamais entreprises par l’Organisation des Nations Unies.

    À cette occasion :

    Pas moins de 1,5 million de personnes représentant l’ensemble de nos États Membres ont pris part aux débats et aux consultations…

    Des centaines de groupes de la société civile ont contribué au Pacte pour l’avenir, au Pacte numérique mondial et à la Déclaration sur les générations futures…

    Et des milliers de contributions écrites ont été produites.

    Ensemble, vous avez repoussé les limites de la vision et de l’ambition. Et pour cela, je vous dis : merci !

    Nous avons maintenant trois textes importants sur la table.

    Voilà qui doit ouvrir la voie aux changements dont notre monde a désespérément besoin.

    Le Pacte pour l’avenir doit jeter les bases d’une réforme :

    Réforme du Conseil de sécurité de l’ONU, désormais dépassé, pour qu’il soit plus efficace, mais aussi plus représentatif du monde d’aujourd’hui ;

    Réforme de nos institutions financières internationales, pour qu’elles puissent renforcer les ressources destinées au développement durable et à l’action climatique ;

    Réforme des règles régissant l’espace extra-atmosphérique, qui est actuellement une foire d’empoigne générale ;

    Réforme des méthodes que nous employons pour parer aux chocs mondiaux complexes et pour œuvrer, ensemble, à la paix et à la sécurité.

    Par ailleurs, le Pacte numérique mondial doit constituer un cadre d’action pour la réduction des fractures numériques et le premier accord universel sur l’intelligence artificielle, qui jette les bases d’une plateforme mondiale centrée sur l’ONU et rassemblant tous les acteurs.

    La Déclaration sur les générations futures doit engager les dirigeants à considérer l’avenir lorsqu’ils prennent leurs décisions aujourd’hui.

    Enfin, l’égalité des genres et les droits humains doivent sous-tendre tous les aspects de ces textes, démontrant ainsi qu’ils sont fondamentaux dans tous les domaines de la vie.

    Excellences, chers amis,

    Les enjeux qui sont au cœur de ces textes – la justice, les droits, la paix et l’égalité – animent mon travail depuis des décennies et me poussent toujours à aller de l’avant.

    Je sais qu’il en va de même pour beaucoup d’entre vous.

    Je n’abandonnerai pas –– et je sais que vous non plus.

    L’adoption de ces textes ne marquera pas la fin du parcours – mais plutôt un nouveau départ.

    Il nous incombera ensuite de donner vie à ces textes. De passer des mots à l’action. Et de les utiliser pour mettre l’humanité sur une meilleure voie.

    Votre engagement, votre détermination et votre pression continus seront essentiels.

    Ce travail commence avec ces Journées d’Action.

    Nous sommes impatients de connaître vos idées et vos solutions – sur ce que ces nouveaux cadres signifient pour vous et sur la manière dont, ensemble, vous pouvez contribuer à les mettre en œuvre. 

    On ne bâtira pas un multilatéralisme renouvelé du jour au lendemain – ni par les seuls gouvernements. 

    Il sera alimenté et porté par vous tous – et par les groupes que vous représentez.

    Nous nous sommes battus pour plus d’ambition.

    À présent, luttons pour plus d’action – ensemble.

    Au nom de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, merci de vous joindre à nous dans cette mission vitale.

    MIL OSI Africa

  • MIL-OSI USA: Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR) Sara Minkara Traveled to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to Promote Disability Rights in the C5+1 Framework

    Source: United States Department of State (4)

    Office of the Spokesperson

    From September 10-15, Special Advisor on International Disability Rights (SAIDR) Sara Minkara traveled to Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to meet with government officials, civil society, and the media to explore opportunities for further developing disability-inclusive policies and programming nationally and in the C5+1 framework.

    In Turkmenistan, SAIDR Minkara met with government officials and members of civil society on current initiatives to increase economic and social opportunities for persons with disabilities. In Uzbekistan, she met with government officials and civil society on expanding disability inclusion as it relates to inclusive education and the digital economy. She also met with First Daughter Shakhnoza Mirziyoyeva on the importance of changing the narrative on how society views persons with disabilities.

    For further information, please follow the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor on X and Facebook at @StateDRL, or email DRL-Press@state.gov.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the local 2030 Coalition Side Event on the occasion of the UN Summit of the Future’s Action Days [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    SHAPING LOCAL PATHWAYS FOR A MORE EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE, AND SECURE FUTURE FOR ALL – ‘LOCALIZING THE PACT FOR THE FUTURE’

    H.E Ms. Eva Granados Galiano, Secretary of State for International Cooperation of Spain
    .E Jader Fontenelle Barbalho Filho, Minister of Cities of Brazil,
    Ugur Ibrahim Altay, President of United Cities and Local Governments,
    Anaclaudia Rossbach, Executive Director of UN-Habitat,
    Excellencies,
    Colleagues,

    I extend my appreciation to the Governments of Spain and Brazil for their invaluable collaboration with UN-Habitat, the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, and other members of the Local 2030 Steering Committee for organizing this event during the Summit of the Future Action Days.

    Coinciding with the International Day of Peace, we should recognize how local and regional governments often serve as defenders of peace and mediators of peace, protecting people in the context of conflict and providing invaluable support to people on the move.

    Excellencies, colleagues,

    It is no secret that we have a lot of work to do between now and 2030.

    With only 17% of the SDG targets on track to 2030, urgent and transformative action is imperative.

    It is also our commitment following the2023 SDG Summit, when we agreed on transformative and accelerated actions for the SDGs.

    And this is exactly the spirit that guided the creation of the Local2030 Coalition, brings together the UN systems with partners for SDG Localization.

    Under our Coalition, a combined set of actors are championing the SDGs at the local level.

    We are witnessing a diverse range of actors co-creating, incubating and investing in scalable solutions.

    With a projected increase in the global population of 2.4 billion people by 2050, and urban populations reaching 6.5 billion, our capacities to deliver require effective multi-level governance to help us manage the demand for public services, with the financing to ratchet the pace of acceleration.

    As we look ahead to pave the way for a better future, let me stress four points.

    First, work across your networks and with national governments and parliaments to anchor the potential for growth and inclusion around key and urgent transitions –from renewable energy, to green and blue economies, to sustainable food systems.

    Use the Local 2030 Coalition to unlock new opportunities for change.  Through the UN Joint SDG Fund, supported by the Government of Spain, 30 UN Country Teams are already integrating SDG transitions.

    Second, include local leadership, including local governments, and youth in decision-making processes and SDG implementation to drive impact, with measures for accountability.

    Yesterday’s youth Action Day provided tangible opportunities to advance our shared goals and they spoke extensively about that inclusion and what that meant

    Third, create frameworks for collaboration, innovation and investment, ensuring that we measure progress across social, environmental, and economic indicators.  

    The Local2030 Coalition Knowledge and Scientific Network is pioneering evidence-based strategies and capacity-building to support such learning.

    Fourth, advance the recommendations of the Secretary-General’s Advisory Group on Local and Regional governments. A new social contract that is people-centered must foster dialogue, intergenerational conversations and create the space for voices to be heard and acted upon.

    Excellencies,

    Colleagues, dear friends,

    At the Summit of the Future Action Days, youth and civil society activists challenged conventional thinking and spoke for change that leaves no one behind.

    Next year, the 2nd World Social Summit and the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development will demonstrate the power of local transformations aligned to the SDGs.

    COP29 and COP30 will also offer invaluable opportunities to respond to the aspirations of local actors and communities on the frontline of socio-economic and ecological crises.

    The G20 Summit in Rio will also provide a platform this year to champion further reforms, as well as a connection to the urban agenda through the U20.

    The success of the 2030 Agenda will also depend on our collective actions.

    Together, we know we can achieve the SDGs; ensuring that all communities thrive in a future that is just, equitable and sustainable.   

    ***
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Summit of the Future Action Day – “A Sustainable Future for All” [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    Excellencies, Distinguished guests, Dear Colleagues,

    Welcome to the Summit of the Future Action Days and thank you for joining us for this session devoted to sustainable development, intergenerational solidarity and the future we can build together.

    We meet at a pivotal time. With only six years to go, the rallying cry of Agenda 2030 – leaving no one behind – has fallen abysmally short. Only 17 percent of our SDG targets are on track.

    Hunger is rising. Fossil fuel use and global temperatures are soaring. Conflicts are spreading. And the fight for gender equality is floundering. Worst of all, our commitment to leave no-one behind – the rallying cry of Agenda 2030 – has fallen short.

    In 2015, the world’s poorest countries were converging on incomes in the richest countries, albeit slowly.

    Today, economic fortunes around the world are diverging.

    Of the world’s poorest 75 countries, a third are poorer today than they were five years ago.     

    This simply cannot go on.

    Over the last 9 months, Member States have been negotiating the Pact for the Future and the state of development today has been at the heart of the discussions;

    Indeed, a Summit that asked Member States to think about emerging and future challenges, from artificial intelligence, to modern weapons, and humans’ forays into space, has prompted reflections on the state of development today:

    How new technologies might supercharge development progress, or create new and lasting inequalities;

    How delivering on our sustainable development goals can renew a sense of trust and build a foundation of global solidarity. that can help us confront new threats together;

    How the need for strong multilateral cooperation to deliver sustainable development in a world increasingly shaped by global shocks and risks.

    Delivering the SDGs is vital, but will require deeper cooperation, especially when it comes to finance.

    Finance is the engine for the SDGs. Yet the SDG financing gap has ballooned over the last several years – and is now estimated at between 3 and 5 trillion dollars a year.

    We need bold investments in all areas including food security, green energy and digital connectivity.

    But the challenge goes beyond a simple problem of dollars and cents.

    The international financial system cannot provide the safety net that many countries – particularly developing countries – need today to pursue the SDGs.  

    On this issue, the Pact of the Future sends an unequivocal message: it’s time for an urgent reform of the international finance architecture.

    To strengthen the voice and representation of developing countries;

    To mobilize far greater levels of financing for the SDGs, and direct that financing to countries most in need;

    To enable countries to borrow sustainably, and with confidence, to invest in their long-term development;

    To provide effective and equal support to countries during systemic shocks;

    And to meet the urgent challenge of climate change.

    Over the next few hours, we will hear about some of the exciting developments already underway, such as reforms to make our multilateral development banks bigger, better and bolder.

    Or proposals for global solidarity levies to help finance underfunded global investments in a way that is fair and transparent. And new ways to boost private investment in the SDGs.

    With bold goals we need bold new ideas. Today’s event is a platform for the brilliant minds on this topic, from stakeholders to experts, to share their ideas.

    We will hear from academics developing new proposals; civil society members working directly with communities; and policymakers navigating policy and regulatory hurdles.

    The ambition and the momentum doesn’t stop today. At next year’s Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, we must take forward this momentum to deliver a new financing framework that can deliver the goals and carry us into the next decade.

    So today, I hope you will join me in a commitment to invest in hope, invest in sustainable development, and invest in a better future for all.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2024-2 in Kosrae [Image 1 of 6]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on


    KOSRAE, Federated States of Micronesia (Sept. 19, 2024) – U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Juan Madrigal, left, from Fresno, Calif., and U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Victor Tahays, from Miami, Fla., both biomedical engineer technicians assigned with Pacific Partnership 2024-2, pose for a photo next to a new dental chair they installed at Kosrae State Dental Clinic in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 19, 2024. Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon/Released)

    Date Taken: 09.18.2024
    Date Posted: 09.21.2024 16:03
    Photo ID: 8655514
    VIRIN: 240919-N-GC639-1026
    Resolution: 6720×4480
    Size: 1.28 MB
    Location: KOSRAE, FM

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  • MIL-OSI Security: PP24-2 Small Boat Safety Training [Image 8 of 11]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on


    240918-N-BB269-1069
    KOSRAE, Federated States of Micronesia (Sept. 18, 2024) – U.S. Coast Guard Marine Science Technician 2nd Class Michel Plazas, from Orlando, Fla., hands out safety whistles while conducting a small boat safety workshop with local mariners at Okat Marina during Pacific Partnership 2024-2 in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 18, 2024. The workshop was hosted to educate and familiarize the community with at-sea life saving and search and rescue aid information. Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Chief Mass Communication Specialist Raymond D. Diaz III/Released)

    Date Taken: 09.18.2024
    Date Posted: 09.20.2024 20:56
    Photo ID: 8655178
    VIRIN: 240918-N-BB269-1069
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  • MIL-OSI Security: Pacific Partnership 2024-2 in Kosrae [Image 2 of 6]

    Source: United States Navy (Logistics Group Western Pacific)

    Issued by: on


    KOSRAE, Federated States of Micronesia (Sept. 19, 2024) – U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Juan Madrigal, center, from Fresno, Calif., and U.S. Navy Chief Hospital Corpsman Victor Tahays, center right, from Miami, Fla., both biomedical engineer technicians assigned with Pacific Partnership 2024-2, pose for a photo next to a newly installed dental chair with the staff at Kosrae State Dental Clinic in Kosrae, Federated States of Micronesia, Sept. 19, 2024. Now in its 20th iteration, the Pacific Partnership series is the U.S. Navy’s largest annual multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness mission conducted in the Indo-Pacific. Pacific Partnership works collaboratively with host and partner nations to enhance regional interoperability and disaster response capabilities, increase security and stability in the region, and foster new and enduring friendships in the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Ryan D. McLearnon/Released)

    Date Taken: 09.18.2024
    Date Posted: 09.21.2024 16:03
    Photo ID: 8655515
    VIRIN: 240919-N-GC639-1069
    Resolution: 6097×4065
    Size: 980.58 KB
    Location: KOSRAE, FM

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  • MIL-OSI USA News: Joint Fact Sheet: The United  States and India Continue to Expand Comprehensive and Global Strategic  Partnership

    Source: The White House

    Today, United States President Joseph R. Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirmed that the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership, the defining partnership of the 21st century, is decisively delivering on an ambitious agenda that serves the global good.  The Leaders reflected on a historic period that has seen the United States and India reach unprecedented levels of trust and collaboration.  The Leaders affirmed that the U.S.-India partnership must be anchored in upholding democracy, freedom, the rule of law, human rights, pluralism, and equal opportunities for all as our countries strive to become more perfect unions and meet our shared destiny.  The Leaders commended the progress that has made the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership a pillar of global security and peace, highlighting the benefits of increased operational coordination, information-sharing, and defense industrial innovation.  President Biden and Prime Minister Modi expressed unrelenting optimism and the utmost confidence that the tireless efforts of our peoples, our civic and private sectors, and our governments to forge deeper bonds have set the U.S.-India partnership on a path toward even greater heights in the decades ahead.
     
    President Biden expressed his immense appreciation for India’s leadership on the world stage, particularly Prime Minister Modi’s leadership in the G-20 and in the Global South and his commitment to strengthen the Quad to ensure a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific. India is at the forefront of efforts to seek solutions to the most pressing challenges, from supporting the global response to the COVID-19 pandemic to addressing the devastating consequences of conflicts around the world. President Biden commended Prime Minister Modi for his historic visits to Poland and Ukraine, the first by an Indian Prime Minister in decades, and for his message of peace and ongoing humanitarian support for Ukraine, including its energy sector, and on the importance of international law, including the UN charter.  The Leaders reaffirmed their support for the freedom of navigation and the protection of commerce, including critical maritime routes in the Middle East where India will assume co-lead in 2025 of the Combined Task Force 150 to work with Combined Maritime Forces to secure sea lanes in the Arabian Sea.  President Biden shared with Prime Minister Modi that the United States supports initiatives to reform global institutions to reflect India’s important voice, including permanent membership for India in a reformed U.N. Security Council.  The Leaders voiced their view that a closer U.S.-India partnership is vital to the success of efforts to build a cleaner, inclusive, more secure, and more prosperous future for the planet.   
     
    President Biden and Prime Minister Modi applauded the success of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) in deepening and expanding strategic cooperation across key technology sectors, including space, semiconductors, and advanced telecommunications. Both Leaders committed to enhance regular engagements to improve the momentum of collaboration in fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum, biotechnology, and clean energy. They highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration with like-minded partners, including through the Quad and a U.S.-India-ROK Trilateral Technology initiative launched earlier this year to build more secure and resilient supply chains for critical industries and ensure we collectively remain at the leading edge of innovation.  The Leaders directed their governments to redouble efforts to address export controls, enhance high technology commerce, and reduce barriers to technology transfer between our two countries, while addressing technology security, including through the India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue.  Leaders also endorsed new mechanisms for deeper cyberspace cooperation through the bilateral cybersecurity dialogue. The Leaders recommitted to expand the manufacturing and deployment of clean energy, including finding opportunities to expand U.S.-India cooperation in solar, wind and nuclear energy and the development of small modular reactor technologies.
     
    Charting a Technology Partnership for the Future
     

    • President Biden and Prime Minister Modi hailed a watershed arrangement to establish a new semiconductor fabrication plant focused on advanced sensing, communication, and power electronics for national security, next generation telecommunications, and green energy applications. The fab, which will be established with the objective of manufacturing infrared, gallium nitride and silicon carbide semiconductors, will be enabled by support from the India Semiconductor Mission as well as a strategic technology partnership between Bharat Semi, 3rdiTech, and the U.S. Space Force.
    • The Leaders praised combined efforts to facilitate resilient, secure, and sustainable semiconductor supply chains including through GlobalFoundries’ (GF) creation of the GF Kolkata Power Center in Kolkata, India that will enhance mutually beneficial linkages in research and development in chip manufacturing and enable game-changing advances for zero and low emission as well as connected vehicles, internet of things devices, AI, and data centers. They noted GF’s plans to explore longer term, cross-border manufacturing and technology partnerships with India which will deliver high-quality jobs in both of our countries.  They also celebrated the new strategic partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the India Semiconductor Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in connection with the International Technology Security and Innovation (ITSI) Fund. 
    • The Leaders welcomed steps our industry is taking to build safe, secure, and resilient supply chains for U.S., Indian, and international automotive markets, including through Ford Motor Company’s submission of a Letter of Intent to utilize its Chennai plant to manufacture for export to global markets.  
    • The Leaders welcomed progress toward the first joint effort by NASA and ISRO to conduct scientific research onboard the International Space Station in 2025. They appreciated the initiatives and exchange of ideas under the Civil Space Joint Working Group and expressed hope that its next meeting in early 2025 will open additional avenues of cooperation.  They pledged to pursue opportunities to deepen joint innovation and strategic collaborations, including by exploring new platforms in civil and commercial space domains.  
    • The Leaders also welcomed efforts to enhance collaboration between our research and development ecosystems. The Leaders also welcomed efforts to enhance collaboration between our research and development ecosystems. The Leaders also welcomed efforts to enhance collaboration between our research and development ecosystems.  They plan to mobilize up to $90+ million in U.S. and Indian government funding over the next five years for the U.S.-India Global Challenges Institute to support high-impact R&D partnerships between U.S. and Indian universities and research institutions, including through identifying options to implement the Statement of Intent signed at the June 2024 iCET meeting.  The Leaders also welcomed the launch of a new U.S.-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers. The Leaders also welcomed the launch of a new U.S.-India Advanced Materials R&D Forum to expand collaboration between American and Indian universities, national laboratories, and private sector researchers. 
    • The Leaders announced the selection of 11 funding awards between the National Science Foundation and India’s Department of Science and Technology, supported by a combined $5+ million grant to enable joint U.S.-India research projects in areas such as next-generation telecommunications, connected vehicles, machine learning.  The Leaders announced the award of 12 funding awards under the National Science Foundation and Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, research collaboration with a combined outlay of nearly $10 million to enable joint U.S.-India basic and applied research in the areas of semiconductors, next generation communication systems, sustainability & green technologies and intelligent transportation systems.  Furthermore, NSF and MeitY are exploring new opportunities for research collaboration to enhance and synergize the basic and applied research ecosystem on both sides.
    • The Leaders celebrated that India’s Department of Biotechnology (DBT) along with National Science Foundation of the United States announced the first joint call for collaborative research projects in February 2024 to address complex scientific challenges and innovate novel solutions that leverage advances in synthetic and engineering biology, systems and computational biology, and other associated fields that are foundational to developing future biomanufacturing solutions and advance the bioeconomy. Under the first call for proposals, joint research teams responded enthusiastically and results are likely to be announced by the end of 2024.
    • The Leaders also highlighted additional cooperation we are building across artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, and other critical technology areas. They highlighted the second convening of the U.S.-India Quantum Coordination Mechanism in Washington in August and welcomed the announcement of seventeen new awards for binational research and development cooperation on artificial intelligence and quantum via the U.S.-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund (IUSSTF).  They welcomed new private sector cooperation on emerging technologies, such as through IBM’s recent conclusion of memoranda of understanding with the Government of India, which will enable IBM’s watsonx platform on India’s Airawat supercomputer and drive new AI innovation opportunities, enhance R&D collaboration on advanced semiconductor processors, and increase support for India’s National Quantum Mission. 
    • The Leaders commended ongoing efforts to build more expansive cooperation around 5G deployment and next-generation telecommunications; this includes the U.S. Agency for International Development’s plans to expand the Asia Open RAN Academy with an initial $7 million investment to grow this workforce training initiative worldwide, including in South Asia with Indian institutions.
    • The Leaders welcomed progress since the November 2023 signing of an MOU between the Commerce Department and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to enhance the two countries’ innovation ecosystems under the “Innovation Handshake” agenda.  Since then, the two sides have convened two industry roundtables in the U.S. and India to bring together startups, private equity and venture capital firms, corporate investment departments, and government officials to forge connections and to accelerate investment in innovation.

    Powering a Next Generation Defense Partnership

    • President Biden welcomed the progress towards India concluding procurement of 31 General Atomics MQ-9B (16 Sky Guardian and 15 Sea Guardian) remotely piloted aircraft and their associated equipment, which will enhance the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities of India’s armed forces across all domains. 
    • The Leaders recognized the remarkable progress under the U.S.-India Defense Industrial Cooperation Roadmap, including ongoing collaboration to advance priority co-production arrangements for jet engines, munitions, and ground mobility systems.  They also welcomed efforts to expand defense industrial partnerships, including the teaming of Liquid Robotics and Sagar Defence Engineering for the co-development and co-production of unmanned surface vehicle systems that strengthen undersea and maritime domain awareness. The Leaders applauded the recent conclusion of the Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), enhancing the mutual supply of defense goods and services. Both Leaders committed to advance ongoing discussions on aligning their respective defense procurement systems to further enable the reciprocal supply of defense goods and services.
    • President Biden welcomed India’s decision to set a uniform Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 5 percent on the maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sector, including on all aircraft and aircraft engine parts thereby simplifying the tax structure and paving the way for building a strong ecosystem for MRO services in India. The Leaders also encouraged the industry to foster collaboration and drive innovation to support India’s efforts to become a leading aviation hub.  The Leaders welcomed commitments from U.S. industry to further increase India’s MRO capabilities, including for the repair of aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
    • The Leaders hailed the teaming agreement on the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft recently signed between Lockheed Martin and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, the two companies that co-chair the U.S.-India CEO Forum.  Building on longstanding industry cooperation, this agreement will establish a new Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility in India to support the readiness of the Indian fleet and global partners who operate the C-130 Super Hercules aircraft.  This marks a significant step in U.S.-India defense and aerospace cooperation and reflects the two sides’ deepening strategic and technology partnership ties.
    • The Leaders lauded the growing defense innovation collaboration between our governments, businesses, and academic institutions fostered by the India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) initiative launched in 2023, and noted progress achieved during the third INDUS-X Summit in Silicon Valley earlier this month. They welcomed the enhanced collaboration between the Indian Ministry of Defence’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) and US Department of Defence’s Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) through the Memorandum of Understanding signed at the Silicon Valley Summit. The efforts via the INDUSWERX consortium to facilitate pathways for defense and dual-use companies in the INDUS-X network to access premier testing ranges in both countries, were appreciated.
    • The Leaders also recognized the clear fulfillment of the shared goal to build a defense innovation bridge under INDUS-X through the launch of “joint challenges” designed by the U.S. DoD’S DIU and the Indian MoD’s Defence Innovation Organization (DIO).  In 2024, our governments have separately awarded $1+ million to U.S. and Indian companies that developed technologies focused on undersea communications and maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR).  Building on this success, a new challenge was announced at the most recent INDUS-X Summit that focused on Space Situational Awareness (SSA) in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO).  
    • The Leaders welcomed ongoing efforts to deepen our military partnership and interoperability to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific, noting that India hosted our most complex, largest bilateral, tri-service exercise to date during the March 2024 TIGER TRIUMPH exercise.  They also welcomed the inclusion of new technologies and capabilities, including a first-ever demonstration of the Javelin and Stryker systems in India, on the margins of the ongoing bilateral Army YUDH ABHYAS exercise. 
    • The Leaders welcomed the conclusion of the Memorandum of Agreement regarding the Deployment of Liaison Officers, and the commencement of deployment process of the first Liaison Officer from India in US Special Operations Command (SOCOM).
    • The Leaders commended work to advance cooperation in advanced domains, including space and cyber, and looked forward towards the November 2024 bilateral cyber engagement to enhance the U.S.-India cyber cooperation framework. Areas of new cooperation will include threat information sharing, cybersecurity training, and collaboration on vulnerability mitigation in energy and telecommunications networks. The Leaders also noted the second U.S.-India Advanced Domains Defense Dialogue in May 2024, which included the first-ever bilateral defense space table-top exercise. 

    Catalyzing the Clean Energy Transition

    • President Biden and Prime Minister Modi welcomed the U.S.-India Roadmap to Build Safe and Secure Global Clean Energy Supply Chains, which launched a new initiative to accelerate the expansion of safe and secure clean energy supply chains through U.S. and Indian manufacturing of clean energy technologies and components.  In its initial phase, the U.S. and India would work together to unlock $1 billion of multilateral financing to support projects across the clean energy value chain for renewable energy, energy storage, power grid and transmission technologies, high efficiency cooling systems, zero emission vehicles, and other emerging clean technologies.
    • The Leaders also highlighted the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)’s partnership with India’s private sector to expand clean energy manufacturing and diversify supply chains.  To date, DFC has extended a $250 million loan to Tata Power Solar to construct a solar cell manufacturing facility and a $500 million loan to First Solar to construct and operate a solar module manufacturing facility in India.
    • The Leaders lauded the strong collaboration under the Strategic Clean Energy Partnership (SCEP), most recently convened on September 16, 2024 in Washington DC to strengthen energy security, create opportunities for clean energy innovation, address climate change and create employment generation opportunities, including through capacity building, and collaboration between industry and R&D.
    • The Leaders welcomed collaboration on a new National Center for Hydrogen Safety in India and affirmed their intent to utilize the new Renewable Energy Technology Action Platform (RETAP) to enhance collaboration on clean energy manufacturing and global supply chains, including through public-private task forces on hydrogen and energy storage.
    • The Leaders also announced a new Memorandum of Cooperation between the U.S. Agency for International Development and the International Solar Alliance aimed at promoting more responsive and sustainable power systems that leverage diverse renewable energy sources. 
    • The Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to accelerate the development of diverse and sustainable supply chains for critical minerals under the Minerals Security Partnership targeting strategic projects along the value chain.  The Leaders looked forward to the signing of the Critical Minerals Memorandum of Understanding at the forthcoming U.S.-India Commercial Dialogue and pledged to hasten bilateral collaboration to secure resilient critical minerals supply chains through enhanced technical assistance and greater commercial cooperation.
    • The Leaders welcomed the progress made on joint efforts since 2023 for India to work toward IEA membership in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement on an International Energy Program.
    • The two Leaders reaffirmed their commitment to accelerating the manufacturing and deployment of renewable energy, battery storage and emerging clean technology in India. They welcomed the ongoing progress between India’s National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to provide up to $500 million each to anchor the Green Transition Fund as well as encourage private sector investors to match these efforts. Both sides look forward to the expeditious operationalization of the Green Transition Fund.

    Empowering Future Generations and Promoting Global Health and Development

    • The Leaders welcomed India’s signature and ratification of the Agreements under Pillar III, Pillar IV and the overarching Agreement on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). The Leaders underscored that IPEF seeks to advance resilience, sustainability, inclusiveness, economic growth, fairness, and competitiveness of the economies of its signatories. They noted the economic diversity of the 14 IPEF partners that represents 40 percent of global GDP and 28 percent of global goods and services trade.
    • President Biden and Prime Minister Modi celebrated the new U.S.-India Drug Policy Framework for the 21st Century and its accompanying Memorandum of Understanding, which will deepen collaboration to disrupt the illicit production and international trafficking of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals, and deepen a holistic public health partnership. 
    • The two Leaders signaled their commitment to the objectives of the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drugs Threats and work towards combatting the threat of synthetic drugs and their precursors through mutually agreed initiatives to promote public health through coordinated actions.
    • The Leaders applauded the first-ever U.S.-India Cancer Dialogue held in August 2024, which brought together experts from both countries to increase research and development to accelerate the rate of progress against cancer.  The Leaders applauded the recently launched Bio5 partnership between the United States, India, ROK, Japan, and the EU, driving closer cooperation on pharmaceutical supply chains.  The Leaders applauded the Development Finance Corporation’s $50 million loan to Indian company Panacea Biotech to manufacture hexavalent (six-in-one) vaccines for children, reaffirming our joint commitment to advance shared global health priorities, including bolstering support for primary healthcare.
    • The leaders welcomed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises and Small Business Administration for promoting cooperation between U.S. and Indian small and medium-size enterprises by improving their participation in the global market place through capacity building workshops in areas such as trade and export finance, technology and digital trade, green economy and trade facilitation. The MoU also provides for the joint conduct of programs for women entrepreneurs to empower them and facilitate trade partnership between women-owned small businesses of the two countries.  The Leaders celebrated that, since the June 2023 State visit, the Development Finance Corporation has invested $177 million across eight projects to support Indian small businesses and drive economic growth.
    • The Leaders welcomed enhanced cooperation on agriculture between the U.S. Department of Agriculture and India’s Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, in areas such as climate-smart agriculture, agriculture productivity growth, agriculture innovation, and sharing best practices related to crop risk protection and agriculture credit. The two sides will also enhance cooperation with the private sector through discussions on regulatory issues and innovation to enhance bilateral trade.
    • The Leaders welcomed the formal launch of the new U.S.-India Global Digital Development Partnership, which aims to bring together U.S. and Indian private sector companies, technology and resources to deploy the responsible use of emerging digital technologies in Asia and Africa.
    • The Leaders welcomed strengthened trilateral cooperation with Tanzania through the Triangular Development Partnership, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development and India’s Development Partnership Administration to jointly address global development challenges and foster prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. The partnership focuses on advancing renewable energy projects, including solar energy, to enhance energy infrastructure and access in Tanzania, thereby bolstering energy cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.  They also desired to explore the expansion of the triangular development partnership in areas of health cooperation, particularly for critical technical areas of mutual interest including digital health and capacity building of nurses and other frontline health workers.
    • The Leaders acknowledged the July 2024 signing of a bilateral Cultural Property Agreement that will facilitate implementation of the 1970 Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export, and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property.  The agreement marked the culmination of years of diligent work by experts from both countries and fulfills President Biden’s and Prime Minister Modi’s commitment to enhance cooperation to protect cultural heritage highlighted in the joint statement when they met in June 2023. In this context, the leaders welcomed the repatriation of 297 Indian antiquities from the U.S. to India in 2024.
    • The Leaders look forward to building on India’s ambitious G20 presidency to deliver on shared priorities for the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro, including: bigger, better, and more effective MDBs, including by following through on Leaders’ pledges in New Delhi to boost the World Bank’s capacity to help developing countries address global challenges, while recognizing the imperative of achieving the sustainable development goals; a more predictable, orderly, timely and coordinated sovereign debt restructuring process; and a pathway to growth for high-ambition developing countries that are facing financing challenges amid mounting debt burdens by increasing access to finance and unlocking fiscal space taking into account country specific circumstances.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: UN Summit of the Future: AI opportunity for everyone

    Source: Google

    Editor’s note: This week in New York City, leaders from around the world are gathering for the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) — including the first ever “Summit of the Future” — where Google CEO Sundar Pichai delivered a keynote address today.

    What follows is a transcript of the remarks, as prepared for delivery.

    Introduction

    Mr. Secretary-General, President of the General Assembly, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen — it’s a privilege to join you today.

    I’m energized by the summit’s focus on the future. We have a once-in-a- generation opportunity to unlock human potential, for everyone, everywhere.

    I believe that technology is a foundational enabler of progress. Just as the internet and mobile devices expanded opportunities for people around the world, now AI is poised to accelerate progress at unprecedented scale.

    I’m here today to make the case for three things:

    • Why I believe AI is so transformative
    • How it can be applied to benefit humanity and make progress on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
    • And where we can drive deeper partnerships to ensure that the technology benefits everyone

    Expanding opportunity through technology

    But first let me share why this is so important — to me personally, and to Google as a company.

    Growing up in Chennai, India, with my family, the arrival of each new technology improved our lives in meaningful ways. Our first rotary phone saved us hours of travel to the hospital to get test results. Our first refrigerator gave us more time to spend as a family, rather than rushing to cook ingredients before they spoiled.

    The technology that changed my life the most was the computer. I didn’t have much access to one growing up. When I came to graduate school in the US, there were labs full of machines I could use anytime I wanted — it was mind blowing. Access to computing inspired me to pursue a career where I could bring technology to more people.

    And that path led me to Google 20 years ago. I was excited by its mission: to organize the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful.

    That mission has had incredible impact:

    Google Search democratized information access, and opened up opportunities in education and entrepreneurship. Platforms like Chrome and Android helped bring one billion people online.

    Today, 15 of our products serve more than half a billion people and businesses each. And six of them – such as Search, Maps and Drive – each serve more than 2 billion. There’s no cost to use them, and most of our users are in the developing world.

    The AI opportunity

    Today we’re working on the most transformative technology yet: AI.

    We’ve been investing in AI research, tools, and infrastructure for two decades because it’s the most profound way we can deliver on our mission — and improve people’s lives.

    I want to talk today about four of the biggest opportunities we see, many of which align with the SDGs.

    One is helping people access the world’s information and knowledge in their own language.

    Using AI, in just the last year, we have added 110 new languages to Google Translate, spoken by half a billion people around the world. That brings our total to 246 languages, and we’re working toward 1,000 of the world’s most spoken languages.

    A second area is accelerating scientific discovery to benefit humanity.

    Our AlphaFold breakthrough is solving big challenges in predicting some of the building blocks of life, including proteins and DNA. We opened up AlphaFold to the scientific community free of charge, and it’s been accessed by more than two million researchers from over one hundred and ninety countries. Thirty percent are in the developing world – for example over 25,000 researchers just in Brazil. Globally, AlphaFold is being used in research that could help make crops more resistant to disease, discover new drugs in areas like malaria vaccines and cancer treatments, and much more.

    A third opportunity is helping people in the path of climate-related disaster, building on the UN’s initiative for “Early Warnings for All.” Our Flood Hub system provides early warnings up to seven days in advance, helping protect over 460 million people in over 80 countries.

    And for millions in the paths of wildfires, our boundary tracking systems are already in 22 countries on Google Maps. We also just announced FireSat technology, which will use satellites to detect and track early-stage wildfires, with imagery updated every 20 minutes globally, so firefighters can respond. AI gives a boost in accuracy, speed and scale.

    Fourth, we see the opportunity for AI to meaningfully contribute to economic progress. It’s already enabling entrepreneurs and small businesses …empowering governments to provide public services… and boosting productivity across sectors. Some studies show that AI could boost global labor productivity by 1.4 percentage points, and increase global GDP by 7%, within the next decade.

    For example, AI is helping improve operations and logistics in emerging markets, where connectivity, infrastructure and traffic congestion are big challenges. Freight startup Gary Logistics in Ethiopia is using AI to help move goods to market faster and bring more work opportunities to freelance drivers.

    These are just early examples. And there are so many others across education, health and sustainability. As technology improves, so will the benefits.

    The risks of AI

    As with any emerging technology, AI will have limitations … be it issues with accuracy, factuality, and bias … as well as the risks of misapplication and misuse, like the creation of deep fakes.

    It also presents new complexities, for example the impact on the future of work.

    For all these reasons, we believe that AI must be developed, deployed, and used responsibly, from the start.

    We’re guided by our AI Principles, which we published back in 2018. And we work with others across the industry, academia, the UN, and governments in efforts like the Frontier Model Forum, the O.E.C.D., and the G7 Hiroshima Process.

    Preventing an AI divide

    But I want to talk about another risk that I worry about.

    I think about where I grew up, and how fortunate I was to have access to technology, even if it came slowly.

    Not everyone had that experience. And while good progress has been made by UN institutions like the I.T.U., gaps persist today in the form of a well known digital divide.

    With AI, we have the chance to be inclusive from the start, and to ensure that the digital divide doesn’t become an AI divide. This is a challenge that needs to be met by the private sector and public sector working together. We can focus in three key areas:

    First is digital infrastructure.

    Google has made big investments globally in subsea and terrestrial fiber optic cables.

    One connects Africa with Europe, and two others will be the first intercontinental fiber optic routes that connect Asia Pacific and South America, and Australia and Africa.

    These fiber optic routes stitch together our network of 40 cloud regions around the world that provide digital services to governments, entrepreneurs, SMBs and companies across all sectors.

    In addition to compute access, we also open up our technology to others. We did this with Android; and now our Gemma AI models are open to developers and researchers, and we will continue to invest here.

    A second area is about investing in people.

    That starts with making sure people have the skills they need to seize new opportunities.

    Our Grow with Google program has already trained one hundred million people around the world in digital skills.

    And today I’m proud to announce our Global AI Opportunity Fund. This will invest one hundred and twenty million dollars to make AI education and training available in communities around the world. We’re providing this in local languages, in partnership with nonprofits and NGOs.

    We’re also helping to support entrepreneurs for the AI revolution. In Brazil, we worked with thousands of women entrepreneurs to use Google AI to grow their businesses. In Asia, where fewer than six percent of start-ups are founded by women, we’re providing many with mentorship, capital, and training.

    An enabling policy environment

    The third area is one where we especially need the help of the member countries and leaders in this room: creating an enabling policy environment. One that addresses both the risks and worries around new technologies, and also encourages the kinds of applications that improve lives at scale.

    This requires a few things:

    • Government policymaking that supports investments in infrastructure, people, and innovation that benefits humanity,
    • Country development strategies and frameworks like the Global Digital Compact that prioritize the adoption of AI solutions,
    • And smart product regulation that mitigates harms and resists national protectionist impulses — that could widen an AI divide and limit AI’s benefits.

    We are excited to be your partner, and to work with you to make sure bold innovations are deployed responsibly so that AI is truly helpful for everyone.

    The opportunities are too great … the challenges too urgent … and this technology too transformational, to do anything less.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI USA: The Wilmington Declaration Joint Statement from the Leaders of Australia, India, Japan, and the United  States

    US Senate News:

    Source: The White House
    Today, we—Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. of the United States—met for the fourth in-person Quad Leaders Summit, hosted by President Biden in Wilmington, Delaware.
    Four years since elevating the Quad to a leader-level format, the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before and is a force for good that delivers real, positive, and enduring impact for the Indo-Pacific. We celebrate the fact that over just four years, Quad countries have built a vital and enduring regional grouping that will buttress the Indo-Pacific for decades to come.
    Anchored by shared values, we seek to uphold the international order based on the rule of law. Together we represent nearly two billion people and over one-third of global gross domestic product. We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific that is inclusive and resilient. Through our cooperation, the Quad is harnessing all of our collective strengths and resources, from governments to the private sector to people-to-people relationships, to support the region’s sustainable development, stability, and prosperity by delivering tangible benefits to the people of the Indo-Pacific.
    As four leading maritime democracies in the Indo-Pacific, we unequivocally stand for the maintenance of peace and stability across this dynamic region, as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity. We strongly oppose any destabilizing or unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by force or coercion. We condemn recent illicit missile launches in the region that violate UN Security Council resolutions. We express serious concern over recent dangerous and aggressive actions in the maritime domain. We seek a region where no country dominates and no country is dominated—one where all countries are free from coercion, and can exercise their agency to determine their futures. We are united in our commitment to upholding a stable and open international system, with its strong support for human rights, the principle of freedom, rule of law, democratic values, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and peaceful settlement of disputes and prohibition on the threat or use of force in accordance with international law, including the UN Charter.
    Reflecting the Vision Statement issued by Leaders at the 2023 Quad Summit, we are and will continue to be transparent in what we do. Respect for the leadership of regional institutions, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF), and the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), is and will remain at the center of the Quad’s efforts.
    A Global Force for Good
    Health Security
    The COVID-19 pandemic reminded the world how important health security is to our societies, our economies, and the stability of our region. In 2021 and 2022, the Quad came together to deliver more than 400 million safe and effective COVID-19 doses to Indo-Pacific countries and almost 800 million vaccines globally, and provided $5.6 billion to the COVAX Advance Market Commitment for vaccine supply to low and middle-income countries. In 2023, we announced the Quad Health Security Partnership, through which the Quad continues to deliver for partners across the region, including through the delivery of pandemic preparedness training.
    In response to the current clade I mpox outbreak, as well as the ongoing clade II mpox outbreak, we plan to coordinate our efforts to promote equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured mpox vaccines, including where appropriate expanding vaccine manufacturing in low and middle-income countries.
    Today we are proud to announce the Quad Cancer Moonshot, a groundbreaking partnership to save lives in the Indo-Pacific region. Building on the Quad’s successful partnership during the COVID-19 pandemic, our collective investments to address cancer in the region, our scientific and medical capabilities, and contributions from our private and non-profit sectors, we will collaborate with partner nations to reduce the burden of cancer in the region.
    The Quad Cancer Moonshot will focus initially on combatting cervical cancer—a preventable cancer that continues to claim too many lives—in the Indo-Pacific region, while laying the groundwork to address other forms of cancer as well. The United States intends to support this initiative, including through U.S. Navy medical trainings and professional exchanges around cervical cancer prevention in the region starting in 2025, and through U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) openness to finance eligible private sector-driven projects to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, including cervical cancer. Australia is announcing the expansion of the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer Program (EPICC) with support of the Australian Government and the Minderoo Foundation to AUD 29.6 million, to cover up to eleven countries in the Indo-Pacific in helping advance the elimination of cervical cancer and support complementary initiatives focused on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. India commits to providing HPV sampling kits, detection kits, and cervical cancer vaccines worth $7.5 million to the Indo-Pacific region.  India, through its $10 million commitment to the WHO’s Global Initiative on Digital Health, will offer technical assistance to interested countries in the Indo-Pacific region for the adoption and deployment of its Digital Public Infrastructure that helps in cancer screening and care. Japan is providing medical equipment, including CT and MRI scanners, and other assistance worth approximately $27 million, including in Cambodia, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, and is contributing to international organizations such as the Gavi Vaccine Alliance. Quad partners also intend to work, within respective national contexts, to collaborate in advancing research and development in the area of cancer and to increase private sector and non-governmental sector activities in support of reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the region. We welcome a number of new, ambitious commitments from non-governmental institutions, including the Serum Institute of India, in partnership with Gavi, which will support orders of up to 40 million HPV vaccine doses, subject to necessary approvals, for the Indo-Pacific region, and which may be increased consistent with demand. We also welcome a new $100 million commitment from Women’s Health and Empowerment Network to address cervical cancer in Southeast Asia.
    Altogether, our scientific experts assess that the Quad Cancer Moonshot will save hundreds of thousands of lives over the coming decades.
    Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR)
    Twenty years since the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, when the Quad first came together to surge humanitarian assistance, we continue to respond to the vulnerabilities caused by natural disasters in the Indo-Pacific. In 2022, the Quad established the “Quad Partnership on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief in the Indo-Pacific” and signed Guidelines for the Quad Partnership on HADR in the Indo-Pacific, which enable Quad countries to rapidly coordinate in the face of natural disasters. We welcome Quad governments working to ensure readiness to rapidly respond, including through pre-positioning of essential relief supplies, in the event of a natural disaster; this effort extends from the Indian Ocean region, to Southeast Asia, to the Pacific.
    In May 2024, following a tragic landslide in Papua New Guinea, Quad partners collectively contributed over $5 million in humanitarian assistance. Quad partners are working together to provide over $4 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people of Vietnam in light of the devastating consequences of Typhoon Yagi. The Quad continues to support partners in the region in their longer-term resiliency efforts.
    Maritime Security
    In 2022, we announced the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) to offer near-real-time, integrated, and cost-effective maritime domain awareness information to partners in the region. Since then, in consultation with partners, we have successfully scaled the program across the Indo-Pacific region—through the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, with partners in Southeast Asia, to the Information Fusion Center—Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram. In doing so, the Quad has helped well over two dozen countries access dark vessel maritime domain awareness data, so they can better monitor the activities in their exclusive economic zones—including unlawful activity. Australia commits to boosting its cooperation with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency to enhance regional maritime domain awareness in the Pacific through satellite data, training, and capacity building.
    Today we are announcing a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI), to enable our partners in the region to maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad partner initiatives, to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behavior. We look forward to India hosting the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025. Furthermore, we welcome the launch of a Quad maritime legal dialogue to support efforts to uphold the rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific. In addition, Quad partners intend to layer new technology and data into IPMDA over the coming year, to continue to deliver cutting edge capability and information to the region.
    We are also announcing today that the U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard, plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025, to improve interoperability and advance maritime safety, and continuing with further missions in future years across the Indo-Pacific.  
    We also announce today the launch of a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project, to pursue shared airlift capacity among our nations and leverage our collective logistics strengths, in order to support civilian response to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently across the Indo-Pacific region.
    Quality Infrastructure
    The Quad remains committed to improving the region’s connectivity through the development of quality, resilient infrastructure.
    We are pleased to announce the Quad Ports of the Future Partnership, which will harness the Quad’s expertise to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific, in collaboration with regional partners. In 2025, we intend to hold a Quad Regional Ports and Transportation Conference, hosted by India in Mumbai. Through this new partnership, Quad partners intend to coordinate, exchange information, share best practices with partners in the region, and leverage resources to mobilize government and private sector investments in quality port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region.
    We applaud the expansion of the Quad Infrastructure Fellowships to more than 2,200 experts, and note that Quad partners have already provided well over 1,300 fellowships since the initiative was announced at last year’s Summit. We also appreciate the workshop organized by the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in India, working to empower partners across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen power sector resilience.
    Through the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, we continue to support and strengthen quality undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific, the capacity, durability, and reliability of which are inextricably linked to the security and prosperity of the region and the world. In support of these efforts, Australia launched the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre in July, which is delivering workshops and policy and regulatory assistance in response to requests from across the region. Japan will extend technical cooperation to improve public ICT infrastructure management capacity for an undersea cable in Nauru and Kiribati. The United States has conducted over 1,300 capacity building trainings for telecommunication officials and executives from 25 countries in the Indo-Pacific; today the U.S. announces its intent, working with Congress, to invest an additional $3.4 million to extend and expand this training program.
    Investments in cable projects by Quad partners will help support all Pacific island countries in achieving primary telecommunication cable connectivity by the end of 2025. Since the last Quad Leaders’ Summit, Quad partners have committed over $140 million to undersea cable builds in the Pacific, alongside contributions from other likeminded partners. Complementing these investments in new undersea cables, India has commissioned a feasibility study to examine expansion of undersea cable maintenance and repair capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.
    We reaffirm our support for the Pacific Quality Infrastructure Principles, which are an expression of Pacific voices on infrastructure.
    We underscore our commitment to an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, reliable and secure digital future to advance our shared prosperity and sustainable development across the Indo-Pacific. In this context, we welcome the Quad Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure.
    Critical and Emerging Technologies
    Today, we are proud to announce an ambitious expansion of our partnership to deliver trusted technology solutions to the broader Indo-Pacific region.
    Last year, Quad partners launched a landmark initiative to deploy the first Open Radio Access Network (RAN) in the Pacific, in Palau, to support a secure, resilient, and interconnected telecommunications ecosystem. Since then, the Quad has pledged approximately $20 million to this effort.
    Quad partners also welcome the opportunity to explore additional Open RAN projects in Southeast Asia. We plan to expand support for ongoing Open RAN field trials and the Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA) in the Philippines, building on the initial $8 million in support that the United States and Japan pledged earlier this year. The United States also plans to invest over $7 million to support the global expansion of AORA, including through establishing a first-of-its-kind Open RAN workforce training initiative at scale in South Asia, in partnership with Indian institutions.
    Quad partners will also explore collaborating with the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation to ensure the country’s readiness for nationwide 5G deployment.
    We remain committed to advancing our cooperation on semiconductors through better leveraging of our complementary strengths to realize a diversified and competitive market and enhance resilience of Quad’s semiconductor supply chains. We welcome a Memorandum of Cooperation between Quad countries for the Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network.
    Through the Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen Agriculture (AI-ENGAGE) initiative announced at last year’s Summit, our governments are deepening leading-edge collaborative research to harness artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensing to transform agricultural approaches and empower farmers across the Indo-Pacific. We are pleased to announce an inaugural $7.5+ million in funding opportunities for joint research, and welcome the recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between our science agencies to connect our research communities and advance shared research principles.
    The United States, Australia, India, and Japan look forward to launching the Quad BioExplore Initiative—a funded mechanism that will support joint AI-driven exploration of diverse non-human biological data across all four countries.
    This project will also be underpinned by the forthcoming Quad Principles for Research and Development Collaborations in Critical and Emerging Technologies.
    Climate and Clean Energy
    As we underscore the severe economic, social, and environmental consequences posed by the climate crisis, we continue to work together with Indo-Pacific partners, including through Quad Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Package (Q-CHAMP), to enhance climate and clean energy cooperation as well as promote adaptation and resilience. We emphasize the significant benefits of transitioning to a clean energy economy for our people, our planet, and our shared prosperity. Our countries intend to strengthen our cooperation to align policies, incentives, standards, and investments around creating high-quality, diversified clean energy supply chains that will enhance our collective energy security, create new economic opportunities across the region, and benefit local workers and communities around the world, particularly across the Indo-Pacific.
    We will work together, through policy and public finance, to operationalize our commitment to catalyzing complementary and high-standard private sector investment in allied and partner clean energy supply chains. To this end, Australia will open applications for the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program in November, providing AUD 50 million to support projects that develop and diversify solar panel, hydrogen electrolyzer and battery supply chains in the Indo-Pacific. India commits to invest $2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Japan has committed to $122 million grants and loans in renewable energy projects in Indo-Pacific countries. The United States, through DFC, will continue to seek opportunities to mobilize private capital to solar, as well as wind, cooling, batteries, and critical minerals to expand and diversify supply chains.
    We are pleased to announce a focused Quad effort to boost energy efficiency, including the deployment and manufacturing of high-efficiency affordable, cooling systems to enable climate-vulnerable communities to adapt to rising temperatures while simultaneously reducing strain on the electricity grid.
    We jointly affirm our commitment to addressing the challenges posed by climate change and ensure the resilience and sustainability of port infrastructure. Quad partners will leverage our learning and expertise to forge a path towards sustainable and resilient port infrastructure, including through the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
    Cyber
    In the face of a deteriorating security environment in the cyber domain, Quad countries intend to enhance our cybersecurity partnership to address common threats posed by state-sponsored actors, cybercriminals, and other non-state malicious actors. Our countries commit to taking concrete steps to increase our collective network defense and advance technical capabilities through greater threat information sharing and capacity building. We plan to coordinate joint efforts to identify vulnerabilities, protect national security networks and critical infrastructure networks, and coordinate more closely including on policy responses to significant cybersecurity incidents affecting the Quad’s shared priorities.
    Quad countries are also partnering with software manufacturers, industry trade groups, and research centers to expand our commitmentto pursuing secure software development standards and certification, as endorsed in the Quad’s 2023 Secure Software Joint Principles. We will work to harmonize these standards to not only ensure that the development, procurement, and end-use of software for government networks is more secure, but that the cyber resilience of our supply chains, digital economies, and societies are collectively improved. Throughout this fall, Quad countries each plan to host campaigns to mark the annual Quad Cyber Challenge promoting responsible cyber ecosystems, public resources, and cybersecurity awareness. We are constructively engaging on the Quad Action Plan to Protect Commercial Undersea Telecommunications Cables, developed by the Quad Senior Cyber Group, as a complementary effort to the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience. Our coordinated actions to protect global telecommunications infrastructure as guided by the Action Plan will advance our shared vision for future digital connectivity, global commerce, and prosperity. 
    Space
    We recognize the essential contribution of space-related applications and technologies in the Indo-Pacific. Our four countries intend to continue delivering Earth Observation data and other space-related applications to assist nations across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen climate early warning systems and better manage the impacts of extreme weather events. In this context, we welcome India’s establishment of a space-based web portal for Mauritius, to support the concept of open science for space-based monitoring of extreme weather events and climate impact.
    Quad Investors Network (QUIN)
    We welcome private sector initiatives—including the Quad Investors Network (QUIN), which facilitates investments in strategic technologies, including clean energy, semiconductors, critical minerals, and quantum. The QUIN is mobilizing a number of investments to promote supply chain resilience, advance joint research and development, commercialize new technologies, and invest in our future workforce.
    People-to-People Initiatives
    The Quad is committed to strengthening the deep and enduring ties between our people, and among our partners. Through the Quad Fellowship, we are building a network of the next generation of science, technology, and policy leaders. Together with the Institute of International Education, which leads implementation of the Quad Fellowship, Quad governments welcome the second cohort of Quad Fellows and the expansion of the program to include students from ASEAN countries for the first time. The Government of Japan is supporting the program to enable Quad Fellows to study in Japan. The Quad welcomes the generous support of private sector partners for the next cohort of fellows, including Google, the Pratt Foundation, and Western Digital.
    India is pleased to announce a new initiative to award fifty Quad scholarships, worth $500,000, to students from the Indo-Pacific to pursue a 4-year undergraduate engineering program at a Government of India-funded technical institution.
    Working Together to Address Regional and Global Issues
    Today we reaffirm our consistent and unwavering support for ASEAN centrality and unity. We continue to support implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and are committed to ensuring the Quad’s work is aligned with ASEAN’s principles and priorities.
    We underscore ASEAN’s regional leadership role, including in the East Asia Summit, the region’s premier leader-led forum for strategic dialogue, and the ASEAN Regional Forum. As comprehensive strategic partners of ASEAN, our four countries intend to continue to strengthen our respective relationships with ASEAN and seek opportunities for greater Quad collaboration in support of the AOIP.
    We recommit to working in partnership with Pacific island countries to achieve shared aspirations and address shared challenges. We reaffirm our support for Pacific regional institutions that have served the region well over many years, with the PIF as the region’s premier political and economic policy organization, and warmly welcome Tonga’s leadership as the current PIF Chair in 2024-2025. We continue to support the objectives of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent. We and our governments will continue to listen to and be guided at every step by Pacific priorities, including climate action, ocean health, resilient infrastructure, maritime security and financial integrity. In particular, we acknowledge climate change remains the single greatest threat to the livelihoods, security and wellbeing of the peoples of the Pacific and applaud Pacific island countries’ global leadership on climate action.
    We remain committed to strengthening cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. We strongly support IORA as the Indian Ocean region’s premier forum for addressing the region’s challenges. We recognize India’s leadership in finalizing the IORA Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (IOIP) and express our support for its implementation. We thank Sri Lanka for its continued leadership as IORA Chair through this year and look forward to India’s assuming the IORA Chair in 2025.  
    As Leaders, we are steadfast in our conviction that international law, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the maintenance of peace, safety, security and stability in the maritime domain, underpin the sustainable development, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. We emphasize the importance of adherence to international law, particularly as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), to address challenges to the global maritime rules-based order, including with respect to maritime claims. We are seriously concerned about the situation in the East and South China Seas. We continue to express our serious concern about the militarization of disputed features, and coercive and intimidating maneuvers in the South China Sea. We condemn the dangerous use of coast guard and maritime militia vessels, including increasing use of dangerous maneuvers. We also oppose efforts to disrupt other countries’ offshore resource exploitation activities.We reaffirm that maritime disputes must be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, as reflected in UNCLOS. We re-emphasize the importance of maintaining and upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, other lawful uses of the sea, and unimpeded commerce consistent with international law. We re-emphasize the universal and unified character of UNCLOS and reaffirm that UNCLOS sets out the legal framework within which all activities in the oceans and the seas must be carried out. We underscore that the 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea is a significant milestone and the basis for peacefully resolving disputes between the parties.
    Together, with our global and regional partners, we continue to support international institutions and initiatives that underpin global peace, prosperity and sustainable development. We reiterate our unwavering support for the UN Charter and the three pillars of the UN system. In consultation with our partners, we will work collectively to address attempts to unilaterally undermine the integrity of the UN, its Charter, and its agencies. We will reform the UN Security Council, recognizing the urgent need to make it more representative, inclusive, transparent, efficient, effective, democratic and accountable through expansion in permanent and non-permanent categories of membership of the UN Security Council. This expansion of permanent seats should include representation for Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean in a reformed Security Council.
    We stand for adherence to international law and respect for principles of the UN Charter, including territorial integrity, sovereignty of all states, and peaceful resolution of disputes. We express our deepest concern over the war raging in Ukraine including the terrible and tragic humanitarian consequences. Each of us has visited Ukraine since the war began, and seen this first-hand; we reiterate the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace in line with international law, consistent with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We also note the negative impacts of the war in Ukraine with regard to global food and energy security, especially for developing and least developed countries. In the context of this war, we share the view that the use, or threat of use, of nuclear weapons is unacceptable. We underscore the importance of upholding international law, and in line with the UN Charter, reiterate that all states must refrain from the threat of or use of force against the territorial integrity and sovereignty or political independence of any state.
    We condemn North Korea’s destabilizing ballistic missile launches and its continued pursuit of nuclear weapons in violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). These launches pose a grave threat to international peace and stability. We urge North Korea to abide by all its obligations under the UNSCRs, refrain from further provocations and engage in substantive dialogue. We reaffirm our commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula consistent with relevant UNSCRs and call on all countries to fully implement these UNSCRs. We stress the need to prevent any proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies related to North Korea in the region and beyond. We express our grave concern over North Korea’s use of proliferation networks, malicious cyber activity and workers abroad to fund its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs. In that context, we urge all UN Member States to abide by the relevant UNSCRs including the prohibition on the transfer to North Korea or procurement from North Korea of all arms and related materiel. We express deep concern about countries that are deepening military cooperation with North Korea, which directly undermines the global nonproliferation regime. As the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts tasked with monitoring violations of North Korea-related UNSCR sanctions was not renewed, we reiterate our commitment to continued implementation of the relevant UNSCRs which remain in full force. We reconfirm the necessity of immediate resolution of the abductions issue.
    We remain deeply concerned by the worsening political, security and humanitarian situation in Myanmar, including in Rakhine State, and again call for an immediate cessation of violence, the release of all those unjustly and arbitrarily detained, safe and unhindered humanitarian access, resolution of the crisis through constructive and inclusive dialogue among all stakeholders, and a return to the path of inclusive democracy. We reaffirm our strong support for ASEAN-led efforts, including the work of the ASEAN Chair and the Special Envoy of the ASEAN Chair on Myanmar. We call for full implementation of all commitments under the ASEAN Five-Point Consensus. The ongoing conflict and instability have serious implications for the region, including increases in transnational crime such as cybercrime, the illegal drug trade, and human trafficking. We restate our appeal to all States to prevent the flow of arms and dual-use material, including jet fuel. We remain resolute in our support for the people of Myanmar and commit to continuing to work with all stakeholders in a pragmatic and constructive way, to find a sustainable solution to the crisis in a process which is led by the people of Myanmar and returns Myanmar to the path of democracy.
    We call upon all States to contribute to the safe, peaceful, responsible, and sustainable use of outer space. We remain committed to fostering international cooperation and transparency, as well as confidence-building measures with the goal of improving the security of outer space for all States. We reaffirm the importance of upholding the existing international legal framework for outer space activities, including the Outer Space Treaty, and the obligation of all States Parties to the Treaty not to place in orbit around the Earth any objects carrying nuclear weapons or any other kinds of weapons of mass destruction, install such weapons on celestial bodies, or station such weapons in outer space in any other manner.
    The Quad reaffirms its commitment to fostering a resilient information environment including through its Countering Disinformation Working Group by supporting media freedom and addressing foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, which undermines trust and sows discord in the international community. We recognize these tactics are intended to interfere with domestic and international interests, and we are committed, together with our regional partners, to leverage our collective expertise and capacity to respond. We reaffirm our commitment to respect international human rights law, strengthen civil society, support media freedom, address online harassment and abuse, including technology-facilitated gender-based violence, and counter unethical practices.
    We unequivocally condemn terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. We are committed to international cooperation and will work with our regional partners in a comprehensive and sustained manner to strengthen their capability to prevent, detect and respond to threats posed by terrorism and violent extremism, including threats posed by the use of new and emerging technologies for terrorist purposes, consistent with international law. We are committed to working together to promote accountability for the perpetrators of such terrorist attacks. We reiterate our condemnation of terrorist attacks including the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai and in Pathankot, and our commitment to pursuing designations, as appropriate, by the UN Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee.  We welcome the constructive discussions held at the first Quad Working Group on Counter-Terrorism and the fourth tabletop exercise in Honolulu last year, and look forward to Japan hosting the next meeting and tabletop exercise in November 2024.
    We share great interest in achieving peace and stability in the Middle East. We unequivocally condemn the terror attacks on October 7, 2023. The large-scale loss of civilian lives and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is unacceptable. We affirm the imperative of securing the release of all hostages held by Hamas, and emphasize that the deal to release hostages would bring an immediate and prolonged ceasefire in Gaza. We underscore the urgent need to significantly increase deliveries of life-saving humanitarian assistance throughout Gaza as well as the crucial need to prevent regional escalation. We urge all parties to comply with international law, including international humanitarian law, as applicable. We welcome UNSCR S/RES/2735 (2024), and strongly urge all parties concerned to work immediately and steadily toward the release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire. We call on all parties to take every feasible step to protect the lives of civilians including aid workers, and facilitate the rapid, safe and unimpeded humanitarian relief to civilians. We also encourage other countries, including those in the Indo-Pacific, to increase their support in order to address the dire humanitarian need on the ground. We underscore that the future recovery and reconstruction of Gaza should be supported by the international community. We remain committed to a sovereign, viable and independent Palestinian state taking into account Israel’s legitimate security concerns as part of a two-state solution that enables both Israelis and Palestinians to live in a just, lasting, and secure peace. Any unilateral actions that undermine the prospect of a two-state solution, including Israeli expansion of settlements and violent extremism on all sides, must end. We underscore the need to prevent the conflict from escalating and spilling over in the region.
    We condemn the ongoing attacks perpetrated by the Houthis and their supporters against international and commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, which are destabilizing the region and impeding navigational rights and freedoms and trade flows, and jeopardize the safety of vessels and people on board including sailors.
    We reaffirm our commitment to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the achievement of its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We underscore the importance of achieving the SDGs in a comprehensive manner without selectively prioritizing a narrow set of such goals, and reaffirm that the UN has a central role in supporting countries in their implementation. With six years left, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and accelerating progress toward all the SDGs in a comprehensive manner that is balanced across three dimensions – economic, social and environmental. From global health to sustainable development and climate change, the global community benefits when all stakeholders have the opportunity to contribute to addressing these challenges. We affirm our commitment to contributing to and implementing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and to achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. We underscore our commitment to strongly engaging constructively in the discussion on advancing sustainable development, including at the Summit of the Future. The Quad continues to realize a safe and secure world where human rights and human dignity are protected, based on the central premise of the SDGs: “Leave no one behind.”
    We, the Quad Leaders, remain dedicated to working in partnership with Indo-Pacific countries in deciding our future and shaping the region we all want to live in.
    Enduring Partners for the Indo-Pacific
    Over the past four years, Quad Leaders have met together six times, including twice virtually, and Quad Foreign Ministers have met eight times in the last five years. Quad country representatives meet together on a regular basis, at all levels, including among ambassadors across the four countries’ extensive diplomatic networks, to consult one another, exchange ideas to advance shared priorities, and deliver benefits with and for partners across the Indo-Pacific region. We welcome our Commerce and Industry ministers preparing to meet for the first time in the coming months. We also welcome the leaders of our Development Finance Institutions and Agencies deciding to meet to explore future investments by the four countries in the Indo-Pacific. Altogether, our four countries are cooperating at an unprecedented pace and scale.
    Each of our governments has committed to working through our respective budgetary processes to secure robust funding for Quad priorities in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure an enduring impact. We intend to work with our legislatures to deepen interparliamentary exchanges, and encourage other stakeholders to deepen engagement with Quad counterparts.
    We look forward to the next Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting hosted by the United States in 2025, and the next Quad Leaders’ Summit hosted by India in 2025. The Quad is here to stay.

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Deputy Secretary-General’s remarks at the Closing Session of the 2nd Summit of the Future Action Day [as prepared for delivery]

    Source: United Nations secretary general

    H.E Ms. Mia Motley, Prime Minister of Barbados
    H.E Mr. Nangolo Mbumba  President of Namibia
    President of the General Assembly,
    Excellencies,
    Dear friends,

    Thank you all for your work and contributions.

    These Action Days have showcased the power of inclusive and networked multilateralism.

    They have demonstrated the potential and power of partnership. 

    They have reminded us of the immense potential of collaboration – of what we can achieve when we come together, united in purpose, across sectors, generations, and continents.

    And your diverse contributions reflect the richness of what can be achieved when everyone is brought to the table in an inclusive dialogue.

    Yesterday, youth-led conversations forced us to face our collective responsibilities to deal with present challenges and in doing so, take action also to secure a brighter future.

    They showed what meaningful youth engagement looks like in action; and underscored the indispensable role young people play in improving our world, and bringing and informing concrete solutions.

    Today, we focused on the core issues to be resolved to allow financing to flow for sustainable development – climate finance, taxes, debt.  We also addressed the need to take profit of the potential of technology while managing its risks, and to bring peace to a more complex and interconnected world.

    The discussions throughout the day have explored innovative tax cooperation schemes, solutions to global debt challenges, options for the expansion of climate financing and for increased representation of developing countries in the global financial architecture.

    The relevance of intergenerational approaches, dismantling patriarchal power structures and putting young people at the forefront of discussions about the future featured strongly in the conversations under the Peace and Security Pillar.

    You have also spoken about putting an end to terrorism, protecting civilians in armed conflict, and addressing new and emerging threats, including in the digital sphere.  And you have insisted that a secure future depends on our ability to build trust, solidarity, and collective action.

    Finally, we heard how cutting-edge technology solutions like satellite internet, blockchain, and artificial intelligence are advancing the SDGs, yet much work needs to be done to bridge the digital divide. Personal stories from women and girls across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America demonstrate what is possible by scaling-up access and capacities around digital technologies. 

    All this while bearing in mind our responsibility toward future generations – the 10 billion people who will inhabit our planet by the end of this century.

    What I can promise you is that we will carry your insights and ideas forward to the Summit of the Future – starting tomorrow.

    Because your input is central to building a better world.

    Friends,

    Four years ago, we began the process that brings us here today.

    The Secretary-General called for a more inclusive and networked multilateral system to increase our collective effectiveness.

    This call was rooted in a recognition of how the world was changing:

    In the fact that the power and the ideas to solve global problems lies in many different hands.

    And in the fact that our world is in desperate need of transformation.

    Changes that will allow us to accelerate action to deliver the promised of the Sustainable Development Goals.

    To achieve the SDGs, countries will need to invest.

    So we must wrestle with our financial architecture that is no longer fit for purpose.

    We need to take this opportunity to pivot.

    Since this process began, the United Nations has provided a platform for the broadest possible engagement, inclusion and collaboration.

    And you have responded – putting forward ideas, announcements, initiatives and coalitions.

    Countless civil society networks and groups, including the Major Groups and Other Stakeholders and the Impact Coalitions from the UN Civil Society Conference, have all been mobilized, heard, and have shaped outcome of the Summit of the Future.

    All of you – and the constituencies you represent – have participated in every step of the process in different formats.

    You have pushed for ambition in the three new texts we are hopeful Member States will soon adopt – the Pact for the Future, the Global Digital Compact, and the Declaration on Future Generations.

    Over these past two days alone, over 8,000 individuals came to the UN Headquarters.

    More than 60 events took place inside the UN with an additional 100 more across New York and a further 30 around the world.

    In short: the UN made the call for inclusive multilateralism and you have delivered.

    For that, I thank you sincerely.

    And I ask you to keep it up.
     
    We need your continued drive, engagement, commitment and pressure, to implement the new texts and hold us to account. 

    You have proven time and again that you are willing to work together with governments, the United Nations and all other actors to build a better world.

    And it is essential that we continue: that we keep strengthening the dialogue between political decision-makers and the whole of civil society within the multilateral system.

    This is vital to rebuilding trust and hope, and restoring legitimacy to international institutions, ensuring that global decisions reflect the concerns, values, and experiences of people worldwide.

    And, above all, to demonstrating that multilateralism can deliver for everyone – everywhere – and it can leave no one behind, and to shape a better future.

    Let’s keep working together to make that a reality.

    Thank you.

    ***
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: 2024 Quad Leaders’  Summit

    Source: The White House

    On September 21, 2024, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. hosted Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India in Wilmington, Delaware, for the fourth Quad Leaders’ Summit.
     
    The Quad was established to be a global force for good. This year, the Quad is proudly executing tangible projects that benefit partner countries across the Indo-Pacific—including in the Pacific, Southeast Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region. The Quad is working together at unprecedented scope and scale to deliver on Indo-Pacific partners’ priorities. Together, the Quad is leading ambitious projects to help partners address pandemics and disease; respond to natural disasters; strengthen their maritime domain awareness and maritime security; mobilize and build high-standard physical and digital infrastructure; invest in and benefit from critical and emerging technologies; confront the threat of climate change; bolster cyber security; and cultivate the next generation of technology leaders.
     
    ENDURING PARTNERS FOR THE INDO-PACIFIC
     
    Over the past four years, Quad Leaders have met six times, including twice virtually. Quad Foreign Ministers have met eight times, most recently in Tokyo in July. Quad country representatives convene on a regular basis, at all levels, to consult one another, exchange ideas to advance shared priorities, and deliver benefits for partners across the Indo-Pacific region. All Quad governments have institutionalized the Quad at all levels and across a diverse array of departments and agencies. Today, Quad Leaders announced new initiatives to solidify these habits of cooperation and to set up the Quad to endure for the long-term.
     

    • Each Quad government has committed to work through their respective budgetary processes to secure robust funding for Quad priorities in the Indo-Pacific region to ensure an enduring impact.
    • The Quad governments also intend to work with their respective legislatures to deepen interparliamentary exchanges, and encourage other stakeholders to deepen engagement with Quad counterparts. Yesterday, Members of Congress announced the creation of a bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Quad Caucus.
    • In the coming months, Quad Commerce and Industry ministers will meet for the first time.
    • Quad Leaders also welcome the leaders of the Quad Development Finance Institutions and Agencies deciding to meet to explore future investments by the four countries in the Indo-Pacific, including in health security, food security, clean energy, and quality infrastructure. This builds on a previous meeting in 2022 between the heads of the Export Finance Australia, the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific, India Export-Import Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, and U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC).
    • The United States will host the 2025 Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, and India will host the 2025 Quad Leaders Summit.

    GLOBAL HEALTH & HEALTH SECURITY

    In 2023, the Quad announced the Quad Health Security Partnership to strengthen coordination and collaboration in support of health security in the Indo-Pacific. The Quad Health Security Partnership is delivering on its commitments to strengthen the Indo-Pacific’s ability to detect and respond to outbreaks of diseases with epidemic or pandemic potential, including through a set of new initiatives announced today.

    Quad Cancer Moonshot

    • The Quad is launching the historic Quad Cancer Moonshot, a collective effort to leverage public and private resources to reduce the number of lives lost to cancer in the Indo-Pacific, with an initial focus on cervical cancer. Altogether, the Quad Cancer Moonshot announced today is projected to save hundreds of thousands of lives over the coming decades. More information can be found here.

    Pandemic Preparedness

    • Quad countries are committed to supporting health security and resiliency efforts across the region, including continued support for the Pandemic Fund.
    • The Quad reaffirms commitment to bolstering health security across the Indo-Pacific region. In 2024, the Quad Health Security Partnership advanced regional resilience through the second pandemic preparedness table top exercise, building on the success of the Quad Vaccine Partnership to enhance prevention, early detection, and response to potential disease outbreaks, and is exploring developing Standard Operating Procedures for Pandemic Response. The Quad’s collaborative efforts included training health specialists from the Indo-Pacific to strengthen regional capabilities for health emergencies.
    • India will host a workshop on pandemic preparedness and release a white paper outlining emergency public health responses.
    • Australia is increasing the pool of public health specialists who are ready to deploy, in-country or in the region, in response to disease outbreaks, with the first training session to commence in Darwin, Australia, in the coming days.
    • In coordination with Quad partners, the United States is pledging over $84.5 million to partner with fourteen countries in the Indo-Pacific region to strengthen capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

    Mpox

    • In response to the current clade I mpox outbreak, as well as the ongoing clade II mpox outbreak, the Quad plans to coordinate our efforts to promote equitable access to safe, effective, quality-assured mpox vaccines, including where appropriate expanding vaccine manufacturing in low and middle-income countries.

    HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE AND DISASTER RELIEF (HADR)

    Twenty years ago, the Quad first came together to respond to the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, surging humanitarian assistance to affected countries. In 2022, Quad Foreign Ministers signed the Guidelines for the Quad Partnership on HADR in the Indo-Pacific. In May 2024, following a tragic landslide in Papua New Guinea, Quad countries coordinated their response in accordance with these guidelines. The Quad collectively provided over $5 million in humanitarian assistance. Quad partners continue to support Papua New Guinea in its longer-term resiliency efforts. The Quad continues to deepen HADR coordination and support partners in the region in their longer-term resiliency efforts.

    • Quad governments are working to ensure readiness to rapidly respond, including through pre-positioning of essential relief supplies, in the event of a natural disaster; this effort extends from the Indian Ocean region, to Southeast Asia, to the Pacific.
    • In the coming months, Quad HADR experts will conduct a tabletop exercise to prepare for potential future disasters in the region.
    • Quad partners are working together to provide over $4 million in humanitarian assistance to support the people of Vietnam in light of the devastating consequences of Typhoon Yagi.

    MARITIME SECURITY

    Quad partners are working side-by-side with partners throughout the region to bolster maritime security, improve maritime domain awareness, and uphold a free and open Indo-Pacific.

    Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness and Maritime Training

    • Quad Leaders launched the Indo-Pacific Partnership for Maritime Domain Awareness (IPMDA) at the 2022 Quad Leaders’ Summit in Tokyo. This initiative provides partners with near-real-time, cost-effective, cutting-edge radio frequency data, enabling them to better monitor their waters; counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing; respond to climate change and natural disasters; and enforce their laws within their waters.
    • Since the announcement, in consultation with partners, the Quad has successfully scaled the program across the Indo-Pacific region—through the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, with partners in Southeast Asia, to the Information Fusion Center—Indian Ocean Region, Gurugram. In doing so, the Quad has helped well over two dozen countries access dark vessel maritime domain awareness data, so they can better monitor the activities in their exclusive economic zones—including unlawful activity.
    • In the next phase of implementation, announced today, the Quad intends to layer new technology and data into IPMDA over the coming year, to continue to deliver cutting edge capability and information to the region. The Quad intends to leverage electro-optical data and advanced analytic software to sharpen the maritime domain awareness picture for partners.
    • Today the Quad announced a new regional Maritime Initiative for Training in the Indo-Pacific (MAITRI) to enable our partners in the region Indo-Pacific partners to maximize tools provided through IPMDA and other Quad partner initiatives, to monitor and secure their waters, enforce their laws, and deter unlawful behavior. The Quad countries look forward to India hosting the inaugural MAITRI workshop in 2025. 
    • Quad countries are coordinating comprehensive and complementary training across the full suite of legal, operational, and technical maritime security and law enforcement knowledge domains. Quad partners have pledged to expand engagement with regional maritime law enforcement fora, share best practices, and improve civil maritime cooperation.

    Indo-Pacific Logistics Network

    • The Quad launches today a Quad Indo-Pacific Logistics Network pilot project, to pursue shared airlift capacity among the four nations and leverage collective logistics strengths, in order to support civilian response to natural disasters more rapidly and efficiently across the Indo-Pacific region. This effort will complement existing efforts with Indo-Pacific partners.

    Coast Guard Cooperation

    • The U.S. Coast Guard, Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard plan to launch a first-ever Quad-at-Sea Ship Observer Mission in 2025 in the Indo-Pacific to improve interoperability. Through this effort, members of Japan Coast Guard, Australian Border Force, and Indian Coast Guard will spend time on board a U.S. Coast Guard vessel operating in the Indo-Pacific.  The Quad intends to continue with further missions in the Indo-Pacific.

    QUALITY INFRASTRUCTURE

    The Quad is delivering quality, resilient infrastructure to the region to increase connectivity, build regional capacity, and meet critical needs.

    • This year, the Quad countries’ export credit agencies (ECAs) signed and are implementing a Memorandum of Cooperation, which supports supply chain resilience, critical and emerging technologies, renewable energy, and other high-quality projects in the Indo-Pacific. Quad ECAs are strengthening communication on pipeline information and provision of relevant financing for projects in the Indo-Pacific region, and will pursue joint business promotion efforts that involve industry experts, project developers, and other major market players.
    • The Quad released joint Principles for Development and Deployment of Digital Public Infrastructure, underscoring the Quad’s commitment to an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, safe, reliable, and secure digital future to advance shared prosperity and sustainable development.
    • The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure organized a workshop in India to empower partners across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen power sector resilience.

    Quad Ports of the Future Partnership

    • The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership will harness the Quad’s expertise to support sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific, in collaboration with regional partners.
    • In 2025, Quad partners intend to hold the inaugural Regional Ports and Transportation Conference, hosted by India in Mumbai.
    • Through this new partnership, Quad partners intend to coordinate, exchange information, share best practices with partners in the region, and leverage resources to mobilize government and private sector investments in quality port infrastructure across the Indo-Pacific region.

    Quad Infrastructure Fellows

    • The Quad Infrastructure Fellowship was announced at the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit to improve capacity and deepen professional networks across the region to design, manage, and attract investment in infrastructure projects. Over the past year, it has expanded to more than 2,200 experts, and Quad partners have already provided well over 1,300 fellowships.

    Undersea Cables and Digital Connectivity

    • Through the Quad Partnership for Cable Connectivity and Resilience, Quad partners continue to support and strengthen quality undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific, the capacity, durability, and reliability of which are inextricably linked to the security and prosperity of the region and the world.
    • In support of these efforts, Australia launched the Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre in July, which is delivering workshops and policy and regulatory assistance in response to requests from across the region.
    • Japan has conducted capacity building trainings to enhance connectivity and resilience in the Indo-Pacific through cooperation with specialized agencies and international organizations. Japan intends to further extend technical cooperation to improve public information and communication technology infrastructure management capacity for an undersea cable in Nauru and Kiribati.
    • The United States has conducted over 1,300 capacity building trainings for telecommunication officials and executives from 25 countries in the Indo-Pacific; today the U.S. announces its intent, working with Congress, to invest an additional $3.4 million to extend and expand this training program.
    • Investments in cable projects by Quad partners will help support all Pacific island countries in achieving primary telecommunication cable connectivity by the end of 2025. Since the last Quad Leaders’ Summit, Quad partners have committed over $140 million to undersea cable builds in the Pacific, alongside contributions from other likeminded partners.
    • Complementing these investments in new undersea cables, India has commissioned a feasibility study to examine expansion of undersea cable maintenance and repair capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

    CRITICAL AND EMERGING TECHNOLOGY

    The Quad is working in lockstep to stay at the forefront of technology innovation, and remains committed to harnessing emerging technologies for the benefit of people across the Indo-Pacific, and deploying these technologies to facilitate economic prosperity, openness, and connectivity.

    Open Radio Access Network (RAN) and 5G

    • In 2023, Quad partners announced the first-ever Open RAN deployment in the Pacific, in Palau, to support a secure, resilient, and interconnected telecommunications ecosystem. Since then, the Quad has committed approximately $20 million to this effort. Building on this initiative, the Quad announces an expansion of Open RAN collaboration to deliver trusted technology solutions.
    • The Quad plans to expand support for ongoing Open RAN field trials and the Asia Open RAN Academy (AORA) in the Philippines, building on the initial $8 million in support that the United States and Japan pledged earlier this year.
    • In addition, the United States plans to invest over $7 million to support the global expansion of AORA, including through establishing a first-of-its-kind Open RAN workforce training initiative at scale in South Asia, in partnership with Indian institutions.
    • Quad partners also welcome the opportunity to explore additional Open RAN projects in Southeast Asia.
    • Quad partners will also explore collaborating with the Tuvalu Telecommunications Corporation to ensure the country’s readiness for nationwide 5G deployment.

    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    • Through the Advancing Innovations for Empowering NextGen Agriculture (AI-ENGAGE) initiative announced at the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit, Quad governments are deepening leading-edge collaborative research to harness artificial intelligence, robotics, and sensing, to transform agricultural approaches and empower farmers across the Indo-Pacific. The Quad announces an inaugural $7.5+ million in funding opportunities for joint research, and highlights the recent signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation among the four countries’ science agencies to connect research communities and advance shared research principles.
    • The Quad recognizes the importance of advancing international efforts to achieve safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems, including through the outcomes of the Hiroshima AI Process, GPAI New Delhi Ministerial Declaration 2023, and UN General Assembly resolution 78/625 on “Seizing the opportunities of safe, secure and trustworthy artificial intelligence systems for sustainable development.” The Quad seeks to further deepen international cooperation on artificial intelligence systems and interoperability among artificial intelligence governance frameworks.
    • Quad countries, through the Standards Sub-Group, launched two Track 1.5 dialogues on AI and Advanced Communications Technologies to promote international standardization cooperation, including frameworks for AI conformity assessment.

    Biotechnology

    • The Quad partners look forward to launching the BioExplore Initiative – a joint effort supported by an initial $2 million in funding to use AI technology to study and analyze biological ecosystems across all four countries. This initiative will help advance our ability to discover and use the diverse capabilities found in living organisms to yield new products and innovations with the potential to diagnose and treat disease, develop resilient crops, generate clean energy, and much more. The initiative will also aim to build technological capacity across the Quad nations. 
    • This project will also be underpinned by the forthcoming Quad Principles for Research and Development Collaborations in Critical and Emerging Technologies, which advances sustainable, responsible, safe and secure collaborations in biotechnologies and other critical technologies among the Quad and across the region.

    Semiconductors

    • Quad Leaders welcome the finalization of a Memorandum of Cooperation for the Semiconductor Supply Chains Contingency Network to facilitate collaboration in addressing semiconductor supply chain risks.

    The Quad Investors Network

    The Quad Investors Network (QUIN) is a nonprofit initiative launched at the 2023 Quad Leaders’ Summit. The QUIN aims to accelerate investments in critical and emerging technologies across the Indo-Pacific region, bringing together investors, entrepreneurs, technologists, and public institutions from the Quad countries to support innovation that aligns with the Quad’s shared values and promotes economic growth, resilience, and regional stability. This year, the QUIN supported ten major strategic investments and partnerships across the Quad in the critical minerals, renewable energy, cybersecurity, and aerospace sectors.

    • The QUIN has advanced additional frameworks to foster the development of new technologies and facilitate investment partnerships for emerging startups, including through finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding for the creation of a startup campus in Tokyo, supported by the QUIN and the Chiba Institute of Technology’s Center for Radical Transformation.
    • The QUIN is also working to establish a new venture accelerator in Tokyo through a collaboration between the University of Tokyo, Northeastern University, and the QUIN.  These collaborations will not only fuel technological advancements but also strengthen the economic ties among the Quad nations, contributing to a more integrated and resilient Indo-Pacific region. 
    • Finally, the QUIN developed a Quantum Center of Excellence, which produced a report this year highlighting ways each Quad country’s Quantum ecosystems can work together to collectively leverage capital and expertise.

    CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY

    The Quad recognizes the existential threat climate change poses to the world, the Indo-Pacific, and in particular island nations in the Pacific and in the Indian Ocean region, and is taking ambitious steps to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change, promote clean energy innovation and adoption, and support sustainable development.

    Climate Adaptation

    • The Quad intends to expand its Early Warning Systems and the Climate Information Services Initiative (CIS), announced at the 2023 Leaders’ Summit. This will help improve Pacific Island countries’ access to high-quality climate data and services, and increase partners’ capacity to prepare for and respond to climate change and its impacts.
    • The United States plans to provide 3D-printed automatic weather stations to the Pacific in 2025 to support local weather and climate forecasts, and also train experts in Fiji with the goal of operating a regional center to develop and deploy this technology.
    • Australia is also strengthening Early Warning Systems through Weather Ready Pacific, a Pacific-led initiative supported by the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in 2021 that drives and delivers on the EWS4ALL UN initiative in the Pacific.
    • Japan is also enhancing cooperation with Pacific Island countries under its “Pacific Climate Resilience Initiative”, inter alia, by strengthening disaster risk reduction and preparedness through satellite technology and by promoting clean energy through capacity building and installation of renewable energies.
    • The Quad also plans to train experts in Kiribati, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu to better monitor and forecast flash floods, for timely and accurate warnings, reducing human and economic losses from flash floods.

    Clean Energy

    • Our countries intend to strengthen our cooperation to align policies, incentives, standards, and investments around creating high-quality, diversified clean energy supply chains that will enhance our collective energy security, create new economic opportunities across the region, and benefit local workers and communities around the world, particularly across the Indo-Pacific. We will work together, through policy and public finance, to operationalize our commitment to catalyzing complementary and high-standard private sector investment in allied and partner clean energy supply chains. We note the uniquely complementary capabilities Quad partners share across the battery supply chain, and pledge to focus near-term efforts on strengthening mineral production, recycling, and battery manufacturing across our respective industries.
    • Quad Leaders announced a Quad Clean Energy Supply Chain Diversification Program last year, which aims to support the development of secure and diversified clean energy supply chains in the Indo-Pacific region. Australia will open applications for the Quad Clean Energy Supply Chains Diversification Program in November, providing AUD 50 million to support projects that develop and diversify solar panel, hydrogen electrolyzer and battery supply chains. Secure and diversified clean energy supply chains are an integral part of achieving the Indo-Pacific’s collective energy security, emissions reduction goals and transition to a net zero future.
    • India commits to invest $2 million in new solar projects in Fiji, Comoros, Madagascar, and Seychelles.
    • Japan has committed to $122 million grants and loans, both public and private, in renewable energy projects in the Indo-Pacific.
    • The United States, through the DFC, has extended a $250 million loan to Tata Power Solar to construct a solar cell manufacturing facility and a $500 million loan to First Solar to construct and operate a solar module manufacturing facility in India, and continues to seek opportunities to mobilize private capital to solar, as well as wind, cooling, batteries, and critical minerals to expand capacity and diversify supply chains.
    • The Quad announces an initiative to boost energy efficiency, including the deployment and manufacturing of affordable, high-efficiency, cooling systems, to enable climate-vulnerable communities to adapt to rising temperatures while simultaneously reducing strain on the electricity grid. The United States intends to invest an initial $1.25 million of technical assistance financing to this effort.

    CYBER SECURITY

    The Quad is working together to build a more resilient, secure, and complementary cyber security environment for Quad countries and partners.

    • The Quad has [developed/released] the Quad Action Plan to Protect Commercial Undersea Telecommunications Cables, to advance the Quad’s shared vision for future digital connectivity, global commerce, and prosperity.
    • Quad countries are also partnering with software manufacturers, industry trade groups, and research centers to expand the Quad’s commitment to pursuing secure software development standards and certification, as endorsed in the Quad’s 2023 Secure Software Joint Principles.
    • Quad partners will work to harmonize these standards to not only ensure that the development, procurement, and end-use of software for government networks is more secure, but that the cyber resilience of our supply chains, digital economies, and societies are collectively improved.
    • Throughout this fall, each Quad country plans to host events to mark the annual Quad Cyber Challenge promoting responsible cyber ecosystems, public resources, and cybersecurity awareness. This year’s Cyber Challenge campaigns will focus on establishing career pathway programs to increase the number and diversity of global cybersecurity professionals, including increased participation by women, in this rapidly growing field. Last year’s Quad Cyber Challenge included over 85,000 participants across the Indo-Pacific region.
    • Capacity building projects like the Quad Cyber Bootcamp and the international conference on cyber capacity building in the Philippines are important initiatives to enhance cybersecurity and workforce development in the Indo-Pacific region.
    • The Quad is undertaking joint efforts to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities to national security and protection of critical infrastructure networks, and coordinate more closely including on policy responses to sharing of cyber threat information on significant cybersecurity incidents affecting shared priorities.

    COUNTERING DISINFORMATION

    The Quad is working together to foster a resilient information environment, including through its Countering Disinformation Working Group, by supporting media freedom and addressing foreign information manipulation and interference, including disinformation, which undermines trust and sows discord in the international community.

    PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE TIES

    Quad countries are building enduring ties between their peoples. Stakeholders from Quad countries have participated in International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and other exchanges, on topics related to cyber security, workforce development for critical and emerging technologies, women in STEM, government transparency and accountability, combating disinformation, and regional maritime governance.

    The Quad Fellowship

    • Together with the Institute of International Education, which leads implementation of the Quad Fellowship, Quad governments welcome the second cohort of Quad Fellows and the expansion of the program to include students from ASEAN countries for the first time. The Government of Japan is supporting the program to enable Quad Fellows to study in Japan. The Quad welcomes the generous support of private sector partners for the next cohort of fellows, including Google, the Pratt Foundation, and Western Digital.
    • The Quad looks forward to the Quad Fellowship Summit in Washington, DC, in October, organized by the Institute of International Education.

    Additional People-to-People Initiatives

    • India announces a new initiative to award fifty Quad scholarships, worth $500,000, to students from the Indo-Pacific to pursue a 4-year undergraduate engineering program at a Government of India-funded technical institution.

    SPACE

    The Quad recognizes the essential contribution of space-related applications and technologies in the Indo-Pacific. The four countries plan to continue delivering Earth Observation data and other space-related applications to assist nations across the Indo-Pacific to strengthen climate early warning systems and better manage the impacts of extreme weather events.

    • The Quad welcomes India’s establishment of a space-based web portal for Mauritius to support the concept of open science for space-based monitoring of extreme weather events and climate impact.

    Space Situational Awareness Initiative

    • Quad partners intend to share expertise and experience in space situational awareness (SSA), contributing to long-term sustainability of the space environment. Cooperation is intended to leverage SSA and space traffic coordination capabilities in the civil domain, including to help avoid collisions in outer space and manage debris.

     
    COUNTERING TERRORISM
     
    The Quad hosted its first Counter Terrorism Working Group (CTWG) in 2023 and will meet annually to discuss CT threats, Quad CT good practices, and ways the Quad can work together to mitigate acts of terrorism through information sharing, consequence management and strategic messaging.  The Quad CTWG currently focuses on countering the use of unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS), chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear devices (CBRN), and the internet for terrorist purposes. The Quad CTWG discusses new CT lines of effort on which to collaborate, hosts technical workshops for establishing CT good practices, and explores ways to engage non-Quad members with Quad-established CT expertise.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: Quad Countries Launch Cancer Moonshot Initiative to Reduce the Burden of Cancer in the  Indo-Pacific

    Source: The White House

    Today, the United States, Australia, India, and Japan are launching a groundbreaking effort to help end cancer as we know it in the Indo-Pacific, starting with cervical cancer, a largely preventable disease that continues to be a major health crisis in the region, and laying the groundwork to address other forms of cancer as well. This initiative is part of a broader set of announcements made at the Quad Leaders Summit.

    The Quad Cancer Moonshot will serve to strengthen the overall cancer care ecosystem in the Indo-Pacific by improving health infrastructure, expanding research collaborations, building data systems, and providing greater support for cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and care.
     
    Cervical cancer, while preventable through vaccination and usually treatable if detected early, remains the third leading cause of cancer deaths among women in the Indo-Pacific region. Fewer than one in 10 women in the Indo-Pacific have completed their human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination series, and fewer than 10% have undergone recent screening. Many countries in the region face challenges related to healthcare access, limited resources, and disparities in vaccination rates. Through this initiative, Quad countries will work to address these gaps by promoting HPV vaccination, increasing access to screenings, and expanding treatment options and care in underserved areas.

    Altogether, our scientific experts assess that the Quad Cancer Moonshot will save hundreds of thousands of lives over the coming decades.
     
    These steps build on the Biden-Harris Administration’s steadfast commitment to ending cancer as we know it. More than two years ago, President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden reignited the Cancer Moonshot with the goals of reducing the cancer death rate in the United States by at least half—preventing more than 4 million cancer deaths—by 2047, and improving the experience of people who are touched by cancer.

    Cancer is a global challenge that requires collective action and cooperation beyond any single nation’s effort. By working together, the Quad aims to implement innovative strategies to prevent, detect, treat and alleviate the impact of cancer on patients and their families.  Quad partners also intend to work, within respective national contexts, to collaborate in advancing research and development in the area of cancer and to increase private sector and non-governmental sector activities in support of reducing the burden of cervical cancer in the region. Today Quad countries are pleased to announce the following ambitious commitments from our governments and non-government contributors:
     
     
    QUAD COUNTRIES

    • Quad countries intend to continue their strong commitments to Gavi including with HPV vaccines in the Indo-Pacific, with the United States making an early pledge of at least $1.58 billion over five years.
    • In addition, Quad countries will work together with United Nations agencies on bulk purchasing of HPV diagnostics to bring down the cost of cervical cancer screening, and work with the International Atomic Energy Agency to improve access to and quality of medical imaging and radiation therapy.

    United States

    • The Department of Defense, through the U.S. Navy, intends to support HPV vaccine expert exchanges with Indo-Pacific partners, starting in 2025. This partnership will enable healthcare professionals from partner nations to receive hands-on training, build capacity, and strengthen healthcare systems across the Indo-Pacific, focusing on preventive health services like HPV vaccination. The initiative aims to bolster regional cooperation on cancer and promote health security in the region.
    • The Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Oncology Center of Excellence intends to arrange a technical visit to India within the next twelve months to set up collaborations with stakeholders under FDA’s ‘Project Asha’.  Working together with the FDA India Office, leading oncologists, patient advocacy groups, clinical trial sponsors, and government stakeholders, this new partnership will focus on capacity-building efforts, including education on the design, conduct, and management of clinical trials, promoting international standards, helping streamline approval processes, sharing regulatory expertise, and increasing cancer clinical trial access.
    • The U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) intends to expand its support as a leading funder of global cancer research and global cancer research training in the Indo-Pacific region. This portfolio currently includes nearly 400 active projects involving investigators and institutions in South Asia, East Asia, and the Pacific, including major investments specifically focused on testing cervical cancer vaccination, screening, and treatment interventions and strategies that can meet the needs of women and girls worldwide. The NCI will also expand its support for global cancer control efforts more broadly through scientific support provided to countries via the International Cancer Control Partnership, International Agency for Research on Cancer, and World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center.
    • The NCI will expand ongoing collaborations with nations in the Indo-Pacific region to provide evidence-based cancer information for health professionals and people affected by cancer to this global audience.  NCI will aim to support the public education needs of the Quad Cancer Moonshot Initiative by providing its expert-curated, comprehensive, and authoritative cancer information to health professionals and patients in the Indo-Pacific. This will include a comprehensive collection of information on cancer topics such as adult and pediatric cancer treatment, screening, prevention, genetics, supportive and palliative care, and integrative, alternative, and complementary therapies, including extensive information related to the screening, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer. 
    • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will support HPV vaccination programs, improve vaccine distribution and strengthen cancer surveillance and prevention systems in the Indo-Pacific region. This will include working with the Philippines Ministry of Health on an HPV vaccination program evaluation, focusing on behavioral and social drivers to inform future vaccine distribution. CDC will also contribute to broader cancer control efforts by supporting cancer control plan development to strengthen the overall cancer care ecosystem in the region.
    • CDC intends to provide technical assistance and disseminate best practices informed by pilot cervical cancer screening studies in the U.S. Pacific territories and freely associated states, as well as continuing to support CDC-funded national cancer control programs in U.S. Pacific Island Jurisdictions (PIJs). These efforts will involve sharing evidence-based strategies to improve early detection of cervical cancer. In addition, CDC intends to disseminate an implementation guide that can assist PIJ efforts to improve their screening capacity and encourage partnerships to promote cervical cancer screening, including guidance on how to build medical and laboratory capacity to conduct primary HPV testing and follow-up tests, and improve data systems to monitor screening to enhance cancer prevention and care infrastructure.
    • The U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will look to support eligible private sector-driven projects to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer, including cervical cancer. In particular, DFC will look to accelerate the deployment of innovative approaches and technologies to underserved communities.
    • The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) will look to provide critical financial and technical support to expand HPV vaccination access. The U.S. government, through USAID has made an unprecedented pledge of at least $1.58 billion to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, which will bolster global efforts to increase vaccine coverage, including HPV vaccines, in low- and middle-income countries, helping to protect millions of women and girls from cervical cancer across the Indo-Pacific and beyond.
    • The State Department, through Global Health Security and Diplomacy (GHSD)-President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), will share best practices on the rapid scale-up of cervical cancer screening and treatment efforts among people living with HIV, including commodity procurement and health system strengthening in low-and-middle-income countries. This collaboration will enhance the integration of cervical cancer screening into existing HIV treatment programs, increasing access to life-saving interventions. It will also focus on improving supply chains for essential medical supplies needed for screening and treatment.

    Australia

    • Through Australian Government and philanthropic contributions, total funding commitments to the Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer (EPICC) consortium will expand to AUD $29.6 million. EPICC is a new program that builds on decades of research and clinician leadership to advance the elimination of cervical cancer across the Indo-Pacific by improving HPV-related policies, planning and readiness in any country in the region. EPICC is piloting HPV programs for future scale-up in Timor-Leste and Solomon Islands, expanding sub-national vaccination programs to support country readiness in Malaysia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea, and supporting the establishment of national sustained HPV elimination programs in Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Nauru. EPICC works across six priority areas to eliminate cervical cancer, including strengthening primary prevention through HPV vaccination support, secondary prevention of cervical cancer through HPV screening and treatment for pre-cancer, laboratory strengthening for cervical cancer screening and diagnosis, digital health work to generate data for decision making and strengthened models of care, supporting cervical cancer management (across both treatment and palliative care), and policy and modelling support across all pillars of the cervical cancer elimination pathway.
    • With a total Australian Government commitment of AUD 16.5 million [$11 million], the expanded EPICC project will extend its reach to more women in the Indo-Pacific. It will also support partner organizations in the region working on cervical cancer elimination to participate in the next Global Forum on Cervical Cancer Elimination, which will have a strong Indo-Pacific focus.
    • Through their charity Minderoo Foundation, Dr. Andrew Forrest AO and Nicola Forrest AO are expanding a lifesaving contribution to EPICC with a further AUD13.1 million [$8.81 million]. This additional funding will see EPICC expanded to up to 11 countries in the region and brings Minderoo’s total commitment to AUD21.7 million. The expanded program will see 140,000 women in the Pacific region screened over the next 4 years, as well as the establishment of national elimination programs and the empowerment of governments to sustain the program for future generations of women and girls.

    India

    • India will share technical expertise in digital health through its National Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) portal. As part of its $10 million commitment to support the World Health Organization (WHO) led Global Initiative on Digital Health, India will provide technical assistance to the Indo-Pacific region. This includes offering technical support for the use of its National Non-Communicable Disease portal, which tracks long-term data on cancer screening and care.
    • India commits to providing HPV sampling kits, detection tools and cervical cancer vaccines worth $7.5 million to the Indo-Pacific region. This significant contribution aims to strengthen local efforts to prevent and detect cervical cancer and empower communities with affordable, accessible tools for early detection and prevention, while supporting vaccination programs to reduce the disease burden across the region.
    • India is scaling up population-based screening for oral, breast, and cervical cancers through its National Progamme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases. In particular, India uses the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIA) method for cervical cancer screening, which is simple, cost effective and efficient and allows healthcare workers to detect early signs of cervical cancer without the need for advanced laboratory infrastructure, making it a model for other regions in the Indo-Pacific.
    • India is expanding access to specialized cancer treatment centers under its “Strengthening of Tertiary Care Cancer Centres” program. The Government of India is supporting both states and union territories to improve treatment capacity across the county, ensuring that people from all parts of the country, including underserved areas, can receive high-quality care.
    • India is committed to affordable cancer treatment through Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY). As part of its broader health coverage efforts, PMJAY, India is committed to providing affordable cancer treatments to its citizens, ensuring financial protection for those most in need.
    • India’s commitment to cervical cancer elimination is further supported by implementation research led by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). The research is focused on enhancing cervical cancer screening, early diagnosis and initiation of treatment. The results and findings will be shared with the Indo-Pacific countries in the coming years, to strengthen regional collaboration.

    Japan

    • Japan is providing medical equipment, including Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners, and other assistance worth approximately $27 million, to countries in the Indo-Pacific region. These countries include Cambodia, Vietnam, and Timor-Leste, as well as contributing to international organizations.
    • Through the Japan International Cooperation Agency and other organizations, Japan has committed approximately $75 million from FY2019 to FY2023 in the Indo-Pacific to combatting cancer including cervical cancer. This includes providing relevant medical equipment and facilities, medical diagnosis, health system strengthening, and technical assistance.
    • Japan is committed to improving the access to vaccines and promoting the women’s health including the prevention and control of cervical cancer through Global Health Initiatives or International Organizations such as Gavi, UNFPA, IPPF. Japan intends to continue its commitment to support this initiative.
    • Toward the achievement of universal health coverage, Japan intends to strengthen capacity for addressing cancer including cervical cancer in the Indo-Pacific region by health system strengthening.  Japan will also continue to support combatting cancer including cervical cancer in the region through National Cancer Center Japan’s partnership with each Quad country’s cancer related institution.

    NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

    Collaboration with the private and non-profit sectors of all Quad countries is indispensable to the success of this initiative, as their collective innovation, resources, and commitment will be critical in advancing progress against cancer in the Indo-Pacific region. Quad countries are pleased to announce the following actions from non-government contributors:

    Improving Access to Cancer Screening and Prevention

    • The World Bank is significantly increasing its commitment to cervical cancer prevention and treatment in the Indo-Pacific region through a comprehensive health systems approach, including $400 million in HPV-related investments globally over the next three years. In line with its broader goal to provide quality, affordable health services to 1.5 billion people by 2030, the World Bank, along with the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Women, Children, and cervical cancer. With projects in countries such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and the Philippines, the World Bank is supporting cervical cancer screening, HPV vaccination, and treatment by integrating these services into primary healthcare systems. This includes expanding access to screening for underserved populations, strengthening service delivery, and leveraging partnerships to improve diagnostics and treatment. In addition, the World Bank is working to address supply chain challenges and ensure the sustainable production and distribution of HPV vaccines, with a focus on increasing access across the region. Through this approach, the World Bank aims to create sustainable and equitable health systems that can address the growing burden of cervical cancer and support long-term health outcomes for women and girls across the Indo-Pacific.
    • Women investors and philanthropists of the Women Health and Economic Empowerment Network (WHEN) will deploy a joint investment of more than $100 million over the next three years, with funding targeted for cervical cancer in Southeast Asia. These funds will be working to fill essential gaps for improving the prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment of cervical cancer. WHEN’s women investors and philanthropists will deploy grant, concessional, and investment capital into HPV screening, medical imaging, pathology, radiotherapy, training for healthcare workers, and the solarization of health facilities.
    • The Serum Institute of India, in partnership with Gavi, will support the procurement of up to 40 million doses of the HPV vaccine for distribution across the Indo-Pacific region. This commitment can be expanded based on demand, ensuring a steady supply of vaccines to address the cervical cancer burden in underserved areas. By increasing access to lifesaving vaccines, this commitment will help prevent cervical cancer and promote equitable healthcare across the region.
    • The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, alongside other donors and countries earlier this year, committed to support cervical cancer elimination. The foundation announced it intends to commit up to US$180 million over four years to help accelerate the global uptake of HPV vaccines, develop new prophylactic HPV and therapeutic vaccines and diagnostic tools and fund clinical studies.
    • Sabin Vaccine Institute, through the Global HPV Consortium (GHC), will support a new country-based coalition to promote cervical cancer elimination. The Cervical Cancer Elimination Consortium-India (CCEC-I) will collaborate with the Government of India, wherever appropriate, to pilot “100 Cervical Cancer Mukt (Cancer Free) Districts” through their integrated SAVE Strategy: Screening, Access to Treatment, Vaccination, Education. This is in continuation of GHC’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, having previously collaborated with Indonesia’s Ministry of Health to support development of their National Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan.
    • Jhpiego, in partnership with the Philippines Department of Health and with support from Roche, is increasing awareness, demand and access for cervical cancer screening by educating women on the importance of HPV testing and the risk of cervical cancer. The Centralized Laboratory Model of Screening project is expanding coverage of cervical cancer screening with introduction of the  WHO elimination strategy-recommended high performance HPV testing, and thermal ablation treatment for precancers, in five highly urbanized Local Government Units of the Philippines – with strengthened referral pathways to ensure a pathway to treatment. 
    • Illumina is committed to supporting the development and adoption of genomic diagnostic tests to fulfill the promise of precision medicine in the Indo-Pacific Region. The objective of this initiative is to ensure that advanced-stage (>50%) and non-HPV driven (~5%) cervical cancer patients receive correct diagnoses and possible suitable therapies such as Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors and immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). Similar initiatives are being explored with gynecological oncology organizations in Australia and Japan. 
    • Roche Diagnostics is expanding its cervical cancer screening and diagnosis initiatives in the Indo-Pacific region. Roche Diagnostics will expand efforts in the Indo-Pacific to increasing access to screening and raising awareness building on the experience gained in partnership with Japan including on  providing education to women, training healthcare workers, and developing digital solutions for efficient follow-up care; and in partnership with  Australia on promoting cervical cancer screening among under-screened and never-screened groups, including Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and culturally diverse communities.
    • Becton Dickinson & Co. (BD) is making comprehensive investments in cervical cancer screening in the Indo-Pacific.  BD is working with Obstetric and Gynecological Societies to deliver education for clinicians on cervical cancer screening best practices, with an aim of reaching over 1,200 clinicians and support staff by early 2025. BD is also investing in pilots to inform the design of large-scale HPV screening rollout and programs to reach under-served communities. Through their longstanding partnership with Direct Relief, BD is working with the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) to facilitate screening for over 20,000 women. Under the program, 400 screening camps will offer screening, diagnosis and mental health support.

    Improving Cancer Care Delivery

    • Project ECHO will accelerate cervical cancer elimination in the Indo-Pacific region through 10 new learning networks that facilitate effective and accessible prevention and care. More than 180 public health organizations in 33 countries leverage the ECHO Model, an evidence-based training and mentorship framework for community-based health care professionals, to improve cancer care delivery. By 2028, Project ECHO will launch at least 10 new communities of practice, with local partners and ministries of health in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and other Indo-Pacific countries to accelerate cervical cancer elimination, including programs for HPV vaccine implementation, treatment of precancerous lesions, and use of essential curative therapies.
    • The American Cancer Society is committed to reduce the global burden of HPV-related cancers by increasing support of civil society organizations globally, including in the Indo-Pacific Region. Support for these organizations, initially focused on cancer civil society organizations and medical societies, includes catalytic grants and technical assistance for implementing evidence-based, low-cost behavioral interventions aimed at optimizing the demand and uptake of life-saving prevention services through widespread healthcare provider trainings. 
    • The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) will update its global guidelines on the Management and Care of Women with Invasive Cervical Cancer to incorporate new recommendation-changing scientific evidence on optimal approaches to the treatment of cervical cancer. Once completed, ASCO will work with its members, including their Asia Pacific Regional Council, and partner oncology societies in the Indo-Pacific to support the usage of these guidelines, along with companion guidelines on primary and secondary prevention of cervical cancer, by cancer clinicians for improved patient outcomes in the region.
    • The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is expanding its Rays of Hope initiative to strengthen radiotherapy and medical imaging capacities in the Indo-Pacific region. Through this initiative, 13 countries and territories have requested support, and efforts are already underway to raise awareness and increase cervical cancer screening rates. The IAEA has designated cancer institutes in Japan, and India as Rays of Hope Anchor Centres, serving as hubs for capacity building in education, training, research, innovation, and quality assurance.
    • The Union for International Cancer Control is committed to working with its 1150 members across 172 countries to address inequities and drive global action in cervical cancer elimination, including in the Indo-Pacific region over the next three years as part of the ‘Elimination Partnership in the Indo-Pacific for Cervical Cancer’. Leveraging flagship convening platforms, established learning opportunities, alongside its rich network and proven ability to collaborate across sectors, UICC will support national partners to improve access to care, sustain progress and ultimately, reduce the burden of cancer for populations around the world.

    Increasing Capacity for Cancer Research, Infrastructure, and Training

    • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and Australia’s Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney launch a $40 million public-private partnership that will advance international clinical trials of precision oncology and liquid biopsy technologies, including for the detection and elimination of cervical cancer. A generous donation of $20 million to each institution from Australian philanthropists Mr. Gregory John Poche and the late Mrs. Kay Van Norton Poche, will support this public-private partnership, accelerating the development of cutting-edge diagnostic and treatment tools for the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
    • Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS) will support organizations in the Indo-Pacific region in their ability to prevent, detect, and treat cervical cancer, will provide cloud computing credits and enable access to AWS and datasets via the Registry of Open Data on AWS. Researchers are using AWS to identify patterns and variances from datasets secured from the Cancer Genome Atlas and others through AWS.
    • Pfizer will expand the INDovation initiative to build oncology capacity at the primary care level in the Indo-Pacific. INDovation was launched by Pfizer two years ago to support local startups. Under the program, Pfizer has awarded nearly $1 million in grants to startups, including those related to cervical cancer, and worked in partnership with the government and universities. Pfizer is now expanding the program to focus on oncology with the goal of strengthening primary care health centers. Under this phase, Pfizer will award grants to up to 10 startups that can deploy solutions to help enhance early diagnosis and patient services at the primary care setting with potential deployment across primary health centers in the region.
    • Elekta will expand radiotherapy capacity in the Indo-Pacific, closing an important treatment gap in the region to contribute to eliminating cervical cancer. Initiatives include establishing radiotherapy training centers in Southeast Asia, conducting treatment courses with regional medical centers and implementing cloud-based platforms to improve quality of care in radiotherapy through knowledge sharing, and peer review sessions among the member centers of the Asia-Pacific radiation oncology network.
    • MD Anderson commits to expanding their cervical cancer research, training and education programs to the Indo-Pacific region. MD Anderson currently collaborates with the Ministry of Health of Indonesia on the implementation and evaluation of cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment programs and helps train medical providers in-country to perform colposcopy, ablation, loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), and surgery. MD Anderson commits to expanding these programs to ministries of health in the Indo-Pacific interested in partnerships to eliminate cervical cancer.

    Increasing Cancer Awareness and Education to Empower People

    • Hologic, a global leader in diagnostic and medical imaging solutions for cervical and breast cancer, is working with government agencies and health care providers in the Indo-Pacific region to educate and raise awareness on cervical cancer. Hologic is currently expanding access to innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence in cervical cancer screening to scale population-based programs to overcome provider shortages in the Indo-Pacific region. In addition, Hologic commits to the continued publication of the Global Women’s Health Index, a comprehensive global survey about women’s health, filling a critical gap in what the world knows about the health and well-being of the world’s women and girls.
    • The Global Initiative Against HPV and Cervical Cancer will promote HPV vaccination, cervical screening and early treatment projects with partners and collaborators in the Indo-Pacific Region. These efforts will include organizing the Asia-Pacific Workshop in Bangkok to share knowledge and best practices within the region and expanding awareness efforts to further enhance awareness initiatives throughout the Indo-Pacific.

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News

  • MIL-OSI: Crypto Content Creator Campus (CCCC) Launches as the Premier Annual Gathering for Crypto Influencers

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, Sept. 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Crypto Content Creator Campus (CCCC), a groundbreaking initiative designed to empower and inspire the next generation of crypto influencers, is thrilled to announce its official launch in Dubai this fall. Taking place from November 8th to 10th, CCCC will serve as the premier annual gathering for the crypto community. It offers a unique platform for crypto content creators, influencers, and key opinion leaders (KOLs) to learn, network, and grow together, shaping the future of the industry.

    As a team of industry experts and visionaries, CCCC is dedicated to fostering a thriving ecosystem for content creators within the Web3 and crypto space. Our mission is to provide an educational retreat that equips creators with the tools to drive crypto adoption and expand the crypto ecosystem.

    CCCC: Learn x Mingle x Grow

    CCCC will offer sponsors and participants an unparalleled opportunity to:

    • Masterclass With World-Class Celebrities: Discover the secrets to personal branding and content strategies from world-renowned celebrities and influencers.
    • Mingle With Founders of Major Ecosystems: Connect with ecosystem pioneers and discover how they are shaping the future of blockchain and Web3.
    • Learn From Top Executives: Learn from industry leaders including top executives from YouTube, TikTok, and X, alongside over 200 global content creators.
    • Showcase Your Skills: Participate in the Content Creator Hacker House with top content creators and global KOLs and compete for a $70,000 prize while contributing to the future of crypto.
    • Elevate Your Brand: Partner with CCCC as a sponsor and gain unparalleled exposure to a highly engaged crypto community.

    The team is proud to announce that CCCC has already received overwhelming support from the blockchain industry. Leading crypto exchanges have signed on as title sponsors, while key players from the Layer 2 and DeFi ecosystems have also shown their support by joining as sponsors with varying levels of participation.

    “CCCC will provide a thought-provoking and transformative experience for crypto influencers,” said Phoebe Peng, spokesperson for CCCC. “We provide a supportive community and platform that empowers creators to not only expand the future of the crypto industry but to redefine what’s possible in the digital age.”

    CCCC is now accepting sponsorship applications and ticket purchases. For more information or to register, users can visit https://www.cccc.buzz/

    About Crypto Content Creator Campus (CCCC)

    Crypto Content Creator Campus (CCCC) is led by a team of industry experts and visionaries dedicated to shaping the future of content creation within the Web3 and crypto sphere. Driven by a shared passion for creating a high-value community, CCCC curated a campus that promises an experience unlike any other.

    For more details about CCCC, users can visit: https://www.cccc.buzz/

    For inquiries, users can contact: hello@cccc.buzz

    Contact

    PR Rep
    Tony Au
    Crypto Content Creator Campus
    tony.au@bybit.com

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s smart tourism applications offer unique experiences to foreign travelers

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

    TIANJIN, Sept. 22 — Wearing an elegant white dress, Umuhoza, a Rwandan businesswoman, took a photo in front of a smart photo device, which soon generated a photo depicting her as a valiant and chivalrous female with traditional Chinese features.

    “When people travel to China, they really want to take memories back home. The device can take a picture of you and then transform you into a Chinese kind of person. I really love it,” Umuhoza said.

    Umuhoza runs a travel website. She helps tourists from Asian countries travel to African countries, including Rwanda, Egypt and Tanzania. At the same time, her website has a “China package,” catering to travelers from Africa who want to go to China.

    At the 2024 China Culture & Tourism Industries Exposition held earlier this month in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, many foreign visitors were overwhelmed by the novel technologies adopted in China’s tourism sector.

    “That’s amazing. I am very interested in autonomous driving cars and many smart tourism scenes. Perhaps new trade cooperation can be carried out in the future,” Umuhoza said.

    TELLING PEOPLE MORE ABOUT CHINA

    Putting on a virtual reality headset, Elena Jitari-Parry, a full-time travel blogger from Moldova, was instantly drawn to various places to experience the magnificent landscapes of China’s mountains and rivers.

    “So beautiful. It felt so authentic here,” Jitari-Parry said.

    She also quickly learned about securing travel tips for exploring Tianjin via an intelligent tourism companion system, which simply requires a person to ask questions at a booth provided by Midu, a company focusing on artificial intelligence and large language models.

    “Traveling in China can be so easy for foreigners! The digitalization and intelligence services of Chinese tourist attractions have become a new trend, enabling foreigners like me to enjoy a more comfortable and convenient travel experience in China,” Jitari-Parry said.

    With the desire to further explore China, Jitari-Parry chose to be a full-time travel blogger, documenting her travels and experiences in China. “Foreigners are very interested in China’s technological development. I always advise my audience to come to China and see something different.”

    The deep integration of technology and the cultural tourism sector not only creates a variety of experiential consumption scenarios, but also meets people’s new needs for personalized travel, immersive experiences and creative consumption.

    Data showed that by the end of 2023, the scale of China’s digital cultural tourism market had exceeded 1 trillion yuan (about 140 billion U.S. dollars), accounting for more than 30 percent of the entire cultural tourism industry.

    EXPERIENCING SMART, CONVENIENT SERVICES

    In the exhibition area of Meituan, one of China’s leading online services platforms, high-end technologies such as drones and autonomous delivery vehicles became the focus of foreign bloggers’ lenses.

    Ruben Diaz Jr. from the United States was amazed by it. “Some of these things are brand new to me. Tourists can specify drones to deliver the items they need directly to the scenic areas, which is definitely more convenient.”

    A staff member at the Meituan booth said that currently Meituan drones are operating on more than 30 routes in cities such as Beijing, Shenzhen, Shanghai and Guangzhou, and have completed over 300,000 orders in total.

    Thanks to the rapid development of smart tourism in China, tourists have become accustomed to using online payments, ticket purchases and guided tours during their travels.

    Data from iResearch, an industry research and consulting institute, showed that in 2023, the total number of monthly uses and total usage time of online travel apps had grown by more than 30 percent year on year on average.

    Some Chinese online travel service companies also use digital technologies to meet the growing travel needs of foreign visitors in China.

    In May, Tongcheng Travel launched an international travel reservation platform named HopeGoo, which supports payments in 16 global currencies and via various operating languages.

    Richard Santana, a product designer and blogger from the United States, said that with these online services, foreigners will be more willing to go to China, while their travels in China will also be more convenient.

    Ma Yiliang, chief statistician of the China Tourism Academy, said that “digitalization plus cultural tourism” has become a development trend.

    As “China Travel” has surged to be a hot global social media topic, demand for inbound tourism to China has increased significantly.

    “With the smarter and more convenient experience in China, foreign tourists can find a more open, more confident and safer China during their travels,” said Ma.

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry achieves 100 days target on Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry achieves 100 days target on Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats

    Cabinet Approved recently Continuation of Wildlife Habitat Development Scheme with Rs. 2602.98 Crore Outlay for 15th Finance Commission Cycle

    Scheme to Feature Key Components: Project Tiger, Project Elephant, and Wildlife Habitat Development

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 2:38PM by PIB Delhi

    The Cabinet in its meeting held on September 11, approved continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats for the 15th Finance Commission cycle for an overall outlay of Rs. 2602.98 crores. The said scheme includes the critical Project Tiger sub component along with Project Elephant and Development of Wildlife Habitat. This was one of the items included in the 100-day action plan of the Government.

     

    While strengthening the existing fundamental and core components of the scheme, the scheme envisages to boost technological interventions in different thematic areas over the current and next financial year in our tiger and wildlife bearing forests.

     

    The Project Tiger already has an inherent use of technology in day-to-day management practices such as the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers, Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) mobile application. The latter is in sync with the Digital India initiative and was extensively used for collection of field level ecological data during the 5th cycle of the All-India Tiger Estimation in 2022. The All-India Tiger Estimation itself is technologically intensive with the extensive deployment of camera traps across tiger habitats of the country. This exercise also makes use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for species level identification. Conservation genetics has also been significantly used in the field of tiger conservation wherein a SOP for translocating tigers based on their genetic composition has been issued. Further, genetics has also been used to determine tiger numbers in low density landscapes as well as for determining the food ecology of the species. These interventions are proposed to be enhanced under the said scheme.

    The Project Tiger component also supports the ambitious Project Cheetah in the country which shall be continued under the umbrella scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats. The areas for Cheetah introduction are proposed to be expanded as per the Cheetah Action Plan under the said scheme and efforts shall be made to strengthen monitoring protocols using advanced radio telemetry protocols.

     

    The Project Dolphin under the Development of Wildlife Habitat component is proposed to be supported by provisioning equipment such as Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) and passive acoustic monitoring devices for enumeration of dolphins as well as their habitat. Project Lion, also under the ambit of the Development of Wildlife Habitat shall be strengthened as per activities envisaged in the document titled “Lion @ 2047: A vision for Amrut Kaal”. Human-elephant conflict under the Project Elephant component is envisaged to leverage information and communication technology interventions. While these have been tested on an experimental basis, the same shall be deployed on a larger scale.

     

    55 tiger reserve, 33 elephant reserves and 718 protected areas and their zones of influence stand to benefit. The forests of these areas are a bulwark against the adversities of climate change besides ensuring water security of the nation. In addition, the cause of keystone species occupying these landscapes, especially the tiger, the elephant, the cheetah, the snow leopard and the lion, which act as an indicator of these ecosystems will be furthered. Not only this, lesser known species, especially those identified for the Species recovery programme under the Development of Wildlife Habitat component, stand to gain with the continuation of the scheme.

    The scheme has a livelihood generation of more than 50 lakh man days through direct engagement in addition to indirect employment through eco-tourism and ancillary activities.

    The continuation of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats reiterates the commitment of the Government towards tiger and wildlife conservation ensuring that economy and ecology grow together.

    The overall outlay for the three components for the 15th Finance Commission cycle as well as its remaining period:

    S. No.

    Name of Scheme

    Central Share

    State Share

    Total

    1

    Project Tiger

    1575.00

    955.00

    2530.00

    2

    Project Elephant

    182.58

    54.00

    236.58

    3

    Development of Wildlife Habitat

    845.4

    273.02

    1118.42

    * All figures in Rs. Crores              Total:

    2602.98

    1282.02

    3885.00

     

    Component of EFC

    2024-25

    2025-26

    Project Tiger

    365.00

    365.00

    Project Elephant

    40.00

    40.12

    Development of Wildlife Habitat

    195.00

    183.16

    Total

    (All figures in Rs. crores)

    600

    588.28

     

    *****

    NB/GS

    (Release ID: 2057291) Visitor Counter : 63

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Singh Patel addresses Regional Conclave on “Enhancing Regional Collaboration & Harmonization in Standard Setting Process” at the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Singh Patel addresses Regional Conclave on “Enhancing Regional Collaboration & Harmonization in Standard Setting Process” at the Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 in New Delhi

    The conclave reaffirms a stronger, more collaborative approach to food safety and standards within the Asia region. It is a vital milestone in our collective journey towards a safer and healthy food system for not just our region, but also for the entire world: Smt. Anupriya Patel

    “We must enhance our regional collaboration by pooling our resources, sharing technical expertise and aligning our strategies as only through unity and cooperation we can elevate the region’s role in shaping international food standards”

    “We need to look ahead at the new and emerging sectors. Standards must be developed for areas like aquaculture, processed foods and organic farming while addressing new technologies like bio-technology and sustainable farming”

    “Only through unity and cooperation we can elevate the region’s role in shaping International food standards”

    Posted On: 21 SEP 2024 2:48PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Anupriya Patel addressed the Regional Conclave on “Enhancing Regional Collaboration & Harmonization in Standard Setting Process” in the ongoing Second Edition of Global Food Regulators Summit 2024 hosted by Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) alongside the World Food India 2024 event being organised by Ministry of Food Processing Industries at Bharat Mandapam, here today. The purpose of the regional conclave is to enhance regional collaboration and harmonization in food safety and standard setting process.

    Underlining the importance of the conclave, Smt. Anupriya Patel stated that, “the Asian region is responsible for a significant portion of the world’s food production. With this prominence comes the responsibility to ensure food safety, promote health, and uphold fair trade practices that align with international standards. The conclave reaffirms a stronger, more collaborative approach to food safety and standards within the Asia region. It is a vital milestone in our collective journey towards a safer and healthy food system for not just our region, but also for the entire world.”

    Smt. Patel emphasized that “despite the potential we hold as a region, the challenges like vast differences in regulatory frameworks, institutional capacities and technical expertise across the region and the lack of awareness among national stakeholders regarding the food-safety standards limit our ability to comply with international food safety standards. To address these challenges, we must enhance our regional collaboration by pooling our resources, sharing technical expertise and aligning our strategies” as “only through unity and cooperation we can elevate the region’s role in shaping international food standards.”

     

     

    Smt. Patel further said that “we need to look ahead at the new and emerging sectors. Standards must be developed for areas like aquaculture, processed foods and organic farming while addressing new technologies like bio-technology and sustainable farming. These advancements are critical as we strive to make our food systems safe, more resilient and sustainable for the future.” She added that “the conclave will drive meaningful progress towards harmonizing food-safety across the region that will facilitate seamless trade and also strengthen food-safety for all our populations.”

    Shri G. Kamala Vardhan Rao, CEO, FSSAI stated that “the issues faced by Asia are different from the issues faced by the other regions of the world.  It is an opportune time for discussing those regional-level issues that can have global impacts. The conclave will be a learning experience for discussing and addressing issues like emerging markets, emerging food products, standardization procedures, quality assurance and the methodologies.”

     

    Mr. Steve Wearne, Chairperson, Codex Alimentarius Commission, Food Standards Agency (Global Affairs), UK noted that “the Asian region has diverse cultures, climate and food production systems. Each of the member countries bring unique knowledge to the table. This regional conclave provides an opportunity and platform for discussing food standards and quality control that are vitally important for addressing the vast differences in regulatory frameworks, institutional capacities and technical expertise across the region.”

    Highlighting the regional and international importance of the summit, Dr. Vincent Arbuckle, DDG, New Zealand Food Safety, Ministry of Primary Industries, New Zealand, stated that “ the summit marks an excellent opportunity to learn from one another to demonstrate food safety leadership, to share insights and deepen our understanding of each other’s systems, fostering greater capability-building, enhancing government-cooperation and harmonization that will lead to improving the functions and systems for the benefit of consumers, food businesses and facilitating international trade.”

     

     

    Dr. Alka Rao, Codex – SPS Contact Point and Advisor, Science and Standards & Regulations Division, FSSAI; senior officials from the Union Health Ministry and dignitaries from various countries were present on the occasion.

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     MV

     HFW/ GFRS Regional Conclave /21st September 2024/1

    (Release ID: 2057293) Visitor Counter : 19

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Steel in coordination with SAIL organized ‘Swachhata Run’ under ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ 2024 campaign

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 22 SEP 2024 3:24PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Steel in coordination with Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), a Maharatna CPSE, organized a ‘Swachhata Run’ at Nehru Park in New Delhi.  The event was led by Shri Sandeep Poundrik, Secretary, Steel. Shri Amarendu Prakash, Chairman, SAIL, senior officers from the Ministry of Steel and SAIL along with a large number of employees actively participated.

    As part of the ‘Swachhata Hi Seva’ 2024 campaign, SAIL is conducting several activities across its Plants and Units from September 17 to October 2, 2024. The ‘Swachhata Run’ was one of several initiatives undertaken by Ministry of Steel and SAIL aimed at promoting cleanliness and awareness.

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    MG

    (Release ID: 2057547) Visitor Counter : 73

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News