Source: Europol
The Polish Border Guard, supported by Europol, has successfully targeted a large criminal network smuggling migrants from Belarus and Russia into the EU. The investigation was conducted within the framework of a Europol Operational Task Force, made up of authorities from Austria, Czechia, Germany, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. A Europol expert supported the operation on the ground in…
Source: China State Council Information Office 2
The 2024 Silk Road Rediscovery Tour of Beijing kicked off in the capital city of China on the evening of October 21. The event, themed “Explore a Modernized City of Opportunities”, welcomed prominent international influencers from Albania, Brazil, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Russia, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Türkiye, the United States, and Uzbekistan, to embark on a journey of discovery in Beijing.
Foreign influencers and other attendees launching the event together
Since 2016, ten consecutive sessions of the Silk Road Rediscovery Tour of Beijing have been held, participated by a total of 125 international influencers from 51 Belt and Road partner countries so far.
Mukhammad Obidov, Chief Editor of Uzbekistan National News Agency and Chairman of the Fergana Journalists’ Association, delivered a speech as the representative of all the participating influencers.
Mukhammad Obidov, Chief Editor of Uzbekistan National News Agency and Chairman of the Fergana Journalists’ Association, spoke of the increasing interest of Uzbek people towards their neighboring countries, especially China, and suggested creating an alliance of Central Asian and Chinese journalists as well as a unified information platform to help deepen understanding among the members of this proposed alliance.
Kanat Sakhariyanov, Director of Kazakhstan’s Atameken TV, delivered a speech.
Kanat Sakhariyanov, Director of Kazakhstan’s Atameken TV, said in his speech that Beijing is a city marked by the convergence of ancient history and cutting-edge technologies, and that the residents of Beijing are good at living with each other in harmony through tolerance and mutual respect. Since 2019, Atameken TV has aired more than 20 documentaries about China along with regular news programs such as “On the Silk Road” and “China News”, as part of efforts to strengthen understanding between the two countries.
Lucas Eleuterio Fernandes, a Brazilian influencer, delivered a speech.
Lucas Eleuterio Fernandes, a journalist and presenter of TV Globo and a social media influencer from Brazil, is also a popular social media influencer with 2.1 million followers on Instagram. He began his world tour from China in 2010 and returned here 14 years later to find “astounding Chinese development and transformation”. According to Fernandes, “Many people still have misconceptions about this country, but I want to say that China is a place everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.”
This year’s Silk Road Rediscovery Tour of Beijing will run from October 21 to 25, and the participating influencers will experience Beijing’s unique urban charm blending ancient heritage and modern achievements from multiple angles and through a number of landmarks, including the three major cultural venues in Beijing Municipal Administrative Center, ZGC E-Town International Robot Industrial Park, GTVerse Center, the Palace Museum, the Olympic Tower, the No. 3 Blast Furnace and the Big Air Shougang in Shougang Park, etc.
Source: Australian Government – Minister of Foreign Affairs
Penny Wong, Foreign Minister: Look, can I say how wonderful it is to be here in Samoa as it hosts its first ever Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the first time this has been held in a Pacific Island country. And Australia has been really pleased to partner with Samoa, and we are really pleased – I’m really pleased to be here, and I know the Prime Minister is very pleased to be able to join us this evening.
I want to thank a woman for whom I have such great regard, Prime Minister Fiamē, for her leadership, for her hospitality, for her thoughtful hosting of this meeting and, the way in which she has sought to elevate Pacific priorities and voices on the international stage.
It’s certainly been a busy day today. It kicked off with a meeting about investment, finance and investment, hosted by David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary. And we recognise that economic integration and investment are central to development, are central to alleviating poverty and enabling opportunity. And we’re partnering with the United Kingdom to develop a new Commonwealth Investment Network to support Commonwealth members, particularly smaller states who often have challenges accessing finance, accessing investment, to do just that – to attract and access investment.
I’ve also been at the first session of the Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting. Obviously, that’s in preparation for the Leaders’ Meeting tomorrow. Top of the agenda is, as you would expect here in Pacific, climate. And as you would have heard me say from the first day I was – I stood in the Pacific as Foreign Minister, and I’ve consistently recognised this as I have travelled throughout the Pacific, climate change is an existential threat. It is the number one national security threat, it is the number one economic threat to the peoples of the Pacific and to many members of the Commonwealth.
We heard today from a number of African countries, including Zambia, about the escalating impacts of climate change, the effects on food insecurity. And I’m really pleased that we are able to announce a new Africa-Australia partnership for climate responsive agriculture. This is to be developed by the Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research, and it will address food insecurity in the region.
Can I talk about what this means? One of the things Australia is good at is agriculture in very dry climates – for obvious reason. It is one of the areas we have an expertise, and this – I’m very excited about this partnership because it leverages a particular Australian expertise into a continent for which food insecurity is an ongoing and rising challenge. It’s another example of our commitment as a government to helping partners around the world in the fight against climate change. It’s about shaping the world for the better.
I’ve also spoken to Pacific leaders about the ways in which Australia is transitioning our entire economy. It’s a big task, started later than it should have, but we are committed to making the very large change.
I’ve had productive meetings with counterparts from Malta and Solomon Islands, and I’ve just returned from an event hosted by Samoa attended by Her Majesty the Queen, advocating for women and girls in the Commonwealth where we talked about the challenges facing women and girls, including violence against women, and we spoke about Australia’s progress in tackling cervical cancer.
I’m looking forward to the rest of the program, and happy to take your questions shortly.
I just want to make one comment about another matter, which is the deeply troubling news about North Korea’s contribution to Russia’s illegal and immoral war in Ukraine. This is a deeply concerning development to see not only Russia continue its illegal and immoral war but to see a state such as North Korea be invited by President Putin, encouraged by President Putin, to join or to support this illegal war. And Australia stands with the remained of the international community not only against Russia’s war but against North Korea’s involvement in what is an illegal and immoral and disruptive war.
Happy to take questions.
Journalist: My name is Deidre from TV1, a local reporter. I just wanted to ask, first question is: what kind of support has Australia provided for Samoa for CHOGM, aside from providing assistance in terms of police officers who have come and helped?
Foreign Minister: Sure, yes, well, obviously that’s the more – most visible recent assistance, which I have to be really clear about is not just Australia. This is a multi-country initiative. It’s obviously contributions from many Pacific Island countries. When we announced the Pacific Policing Initiative at the Pacific Islands Forum I think the Prime Minister and certainly I’ve made the comment, you know, this is Pacific led. And that’s the approach we’ve seen in Samoa. So, it’s good to see these police cooperating on the ground.
But the behind-the-scenes assistance or contribution obviously was primarily towards the arrangement of CHOGM and supporting – providing support at a diplomatic level. I can – we can talk to you about that in more detail.
I want to say, though, to you, your country has done an extraordinary job. For a country of this size to be able to host a conference like this, you really all should be very proud. And I’ve no doubt knowing the Pacific and Samoa, this is a whole-of-nation effort, isn’t it? Like everybody steps up. I was talking to Prime Minister Fiamē, and she spoke about everybody stepping forward. And that’s what you see. And your diplomatic influence, your diplomatic standing, is far bigger than your population in terms of the proportion of the world. I see that at the UN when your Prime Minister speaks and your diplomats speak, and I see that in this conference.
So, my congratulations to my very good friend Prime Minister Fiamē, but also to the people of Samoa for what has been a fantastic CHOGM, and I hope tomorrow goes as well. I’m sure it will.
Journalist: Foreign Minister, just on the Falepili Union, Feleti Teo has said this morning that he believes that Australia does have a commitment or at least an implied commitment under the text of the Falepili Union to take a hard look at fossil fuel exports, not just Australia’s own internal commitments. What’s your response? Is there any sort of implied commitment in the Falepili Union towards fossil fuel exports? Do you disagree with that analysis?
Foreign Minister: I think whether it’s the PIF declarations or the public statements we have made, I think we all understand the existential threat that climate change poses to the peoples of the Pacific. I think we all understand the effects of climate change in Australia which we have seen. We’re not a government like Mr Abbott’s and Mr Morrison’s or that has the views Mr Dutton has demonstrated where the science of climate change isn’t accepted, and the experience of Pacific peoples is diminished. Do you remember him saying – talking about making jokes about water lapping at the door?
So, we understand the extent of this. I’ve spoken at length to the Prime Minister of Tuvalu about the transition in the Australian economy, and it is a very big transition. And I wish we had – you know, when we came to government, we had seen not just 30 per cent renewables but much more because we have to get to in excess of 80 per cent by the end of the decade. But that’s the transition we’re in and we will engage in it.
On the broader issue of fossil fuel usage, not just in Australia but globally, of course we all have to, we all have to peak our emissions and reduce them, and Australia’s emissions peaked in 2005. We know that there are countries which are still increasing their supply, their coal-fired power stations. Of course, we all know that the whole world has to respond.
The point I’ve made previously is that there are two emerging economies in the world which, you know, account for 40 per cent of global emissions – India and China. And in order for us to have a chance at restraining global temperature rise, we all have to commit to reducing emissions and to transitioning to cleaner energy. So, we’re up for that. It will take longer than I would have liked because, you know, obviously nothing was done for 10 years.
Journalist: But can Australia shrug its shoulders in terms of those exports and simply say there is no problem with Australia expanding fossil fuel projects if there’s an appetite for it? The point that I think that Prime Minister Teo is making is that on the one hand Australia points to its own record, on the other hand, you’ve got countries like India and China continuing to expand fossil fuels. He doesn’t perhaps care who takes responsibility; the cycle has to be brought to a close.
Foreign Minister: Yeah, I think we all have to take responsibility, which is why you also see Australia partnering with other countries to try and work with others to transition the global energy supply to renewable energy. You would have seen I work with Singapore; you’d see that we’re working with Germany. You know, Chris Bowen has spoken at length about the work that he is doing internationally.
I wish we were – you know, when I was Climate Minister between 2007 and 2010, including the famous Copenhagen conference, I wish that what we were trying to get agreed then had been agreed and you and I would be having a very different conversation. But that isn’t what happened globally. That isn’t what happened in Australia, and we went backwards as a country. We know we have a lot of work to do. And I’ve been upfront with every partner in the Pacific. Of course, I listen, I hear what they say. And I think they also see in us a partner who wants to make this transition. And we will. We will.
Journalist: Foreign Minister, in terms of Pacific Engagement Visa, I know our government does not want to participate in the first wave. So, my question is: have you received or has the government of Australia received any update from our government? And if the government did not, is Australia – will Australia be pushing for the Samoan government to support the visa?
Foreign Minister: Yeah, Mr Dziedzic asked me those “if” questions, and I usually tell him off for doing that. But look, as a matter of principle, the Pacific Engagement Visa responds to a longstanding call from Pacific Island nations about wanting a different relationship with Australia. And you would have seen the fact demonstrated by the number of people who have sought to come to Australia in those countries where we have those arrangements. It’s been massive low oversubscribed and, you know, I understand that.
I’ve also been very clear from the beginning, just like PALM, this is a question for the sending country. If people want it, we will work with whichever country, whichever Pacific Island nation, to set up the arrangements in ways they feel comfortable with. If countries don’t wish to go down this path, it’s not a compulsory path for us.
We responded. A number of countries have very enthusiastically taken it up. It’s entirely a matter for others whether they choose to or not and, if they do, how they want it to work.
Journalist: Just to follow up on that, if our government does not want to support it, is Australia willing to reconsider if individuals want to participate?
Foreign Minister: No, we want this to be something – it’s a government-to-government arrangement for the process of it and the arrangements associated with it, so we wouldn’t want to see that. But, you know, we’re also – we’re not – there’s no deadline for – in the sense that we’re not saying, ‘unless you – you have to do it by this year or never at all.’ It’s a policy that’s in place. I anticipate that countries may work through some of the issues and then may decide that they want to be part of this in time to come. But that’s entirely a matter for them.
Journalist: Just finally, if I might, Foreign Minister, on the question of Australia’s broader Pacific policy, can you give us a sense, when the Falepili Union was signed the Prime Minister and others made it clear that Australia was looking at if not signing similar agreements, then perhaps integrating more closely with the Pacific. There have been murmurs, obviously, about similar agreements with countries like Nauru and others. Can you give us a sense of where that program is up to and how Australia envisions this?
Foreign Minister: That’s a good question. And it’s one that the whole country and both parties of government need to be part of. And unfortunately, we’ve not had an opposition that’s been willing, for example, to understand the importance of the Pacific Engagement Visa.
Your question goes to the – is the right one though – how do you envisage the relationship? And we envisage the relationship as family, as close as we are able to be, recognising the sovereignty of all nations. And we see the benefit in different types of integration with the countries of the Pacific. Now, they’ll not always be the same. So, we have obviously a particular set of arrangements with some countries which are simply PALM or the Pacific Engagement Visa. With Tuvalu, we have a much deeper integration where there is much more that we have put on the table and that Tuvalu has put on the table as well.
So obviously it will not be the same approach for each country. Countries will make their own decisions. But we see real benefit in responding to Pacific countries’, I suppose, aspirations for the relationship.
Journalist: What are your expectations for the conference tomorrow? Regarding the continued fighting of the Pacific Islands towards climate change? What are your expectations of the outcome?
Foreign Minister: Well, I hope that the leader’s communique or statement will be forward leaning on climate. I hope it will be collective in the sense that we recognise – I’ve seen a lot of things over the years – and it really goes to the question Mr Dziedzic asked earlier where we point the finger at each other but actually all of us have to respond on climate, all major economies, in particular. And I hope also that some of the progress that the Pacific has made in relation to sovereignty in the face of sea level rise, which we have backed in, I hope there is progress on that as well in terms of Leaders’ discussion. I know it’s a big step, but I think the Pacific has done a lot of quite innovative international legal work in ensuring that countries can retain sovereignty and retain their, you know, sovereignty over their EEZ, even in the face of sea level rise and that whatever we can do with the Pacific to continue to broaden that out I think is a good thing. And you would have seen that we’ve done that at the PIF and we’ve done that in the Falepili treaty.
Journalist: One more question please –
Foreign Minister: Last one.
Journalist: What are your thoughts on Samoa’s government’s concerns of brain drain for RSE program and also – last one – have you visited one of the villages that is representing Australia in the rural area?
Foreign Minister: No, no, I haven’t done – I haven’t been out of Apia, I’m afraid, on this visit. Some of the concerns that countries who are considering whether how to handle labour mobility programs, there are a range of concerns. You named one of them. What I have said at the PIF and privately and in meetings is we want these programs to work for you. So, we don’t offer access to the labour market because we are demanding labour; we see this as a partnership and as an economic development opportunity. So, we want the programs to work for you. So, however countries wish to have those programs designed within the limits of the program, we’ve sought to facilitate that. So, that’s how we do it. Okay? Thanks, everybody.
Source: United States Attorneys General 7
Remarks as Prepared for Delivery
Thank you for that generous introduction. It’s great to be home in New York.
The leaves are changing. The Yankees are in the World Series. And we’re here to talk about corporate criminal enforcement.
It doesn’t get any better than this.
Today, I’m honored to be here to take stock of the Department’s programmatic overhaul of corporate criminal enforcement in recent years, to discuss how that overhaul is designed to empower compliance programs and professionals, and to take a look around the corner to what’s ahead.
There’s an old adage, laced with irony and sometimes attributed to an ancient Chinese curse: “May you live in interesting times.” Over the past few years, we at the Justice Department — indeed, all of us in America — have been on the receiving end of that adage. We all, truly, are living in interesting times.
The volatility and rate of change in the geopolitical landscape and the world economy can be head-spinning: here a regional armed conflict, there a natural disaster, and everywhere transformative leaps in technology.
Perhaps the opportunities seem greater than ever — but so, certainly, do the risks.
And one key area where risks have spread and morphed is in the field of corporate crime.
Corporate crime, of course, is not new. But it’s constantly evolving. So, we must skate to where the puck is going, not to where it’s been.
To meet the moment, over the past few years, the Department has engaged in an overhaul of our corporate criminal enforcement program by modernizing and adapting.
We’ve done that by emphasizing clarity, consistency, and transparency in our policies.
We’ve done that by increasing the consequences for bad actors — whether individual or corporate — and by providing new incentives for good corporate citizenship and investments in compliance.
And we’ve done that by recalibrating and surging resources to address today’s corporate crime threats — and tomorrow’s.
In doing so, we’ve created a clear roadmap of the Department’s expectations for every CEO, General Counsel, Board Member, and Chief Compliance Officer who’s navigating a fast-changing world and must mitigate risk and stay on the right side of the law.
* * *
Let me start with the balance of consequences and incentives — where we’ve increased punishment for bad actors and enhanced incentives for ethical corporate behavior.
To be clear, when it comes to corporate criminal enforcement, Job #1 is individual accountability.
Corporate crime hurts real people — and corporate crimes are committed by real people.
So the Department’s top priority in corporate criminal enforcement is holding individuals accountable.
Accountability not only promotes fairness, it also drives deterrence.
We’ve empowered our prosecutors to focus on the worst offenders committing the biggest crimes, no matter how high they rank on the corporate org chart — no matter how challenging and time-consuming the case.
This approach is resource intensive. Prosecuting the most important cases against the most sophisticated wrongdoers requires breaking down complex criminal schemes, understanding cutting-edge markets and technology, and analyzing terabytes of data.
So we’ve adapted enforcement policies to promote swift individual prosecutions.
We’ve given good actors more avenues to help us go after the bad guys — through innovative whistleblower programs and consistent, transparent, and predictable voluntary self-disclosure policies.
And we’ve made clearer than ever before what we expect from companies cooperating with government investigations to accelerate investigations of wrongdoers.
This updated approach has generated real returns, with timely convictions of: the CEOs of the world’s two largest cryptocurrency platforms — FTX and Binance; the CEO and the COO of Theranos;
Prosecuting the most culpable individuals is not only the right thing to do, it has the greatest deterrent impact by changing behavior and preventing misconduct.
To increase accountability and deterrence, we’ve also clarified the rules of the road for corporate enforcement.
In prior years, a disjointed, patchwork Department approach to key tools like whistleblowing, voluntary self-disclosure, and monitor selection limited their effectiveness.
When corporate misconduct was detected, the benefits of whistleblowing or self-reporting to the Justice Department were often opaque and unpredictable.
The Department’s response seemed to depend on which office or even which prosecutor was assigned to the case.
Without written, public policies across most of the Department, self-reporting seemed like a roll of the dice without even a sense for the odds.
It was time for change.
Over the past few years, we’ve moved methodically to establish a very different paradigm –— one with consistent, transparent, and predictable rules of the road.
For the first time, every Justice Department component has a published Voluntary Self-Disclosure policy that sets forth exactly what a company needs to do to self-report misconduct — and what a company can expect if they do so.
For the first time, incentive compensation systems are assessed and upgraded as part of every Criminal Division resolution, because compensation systems can either promote compliance or reward risky — sometimes criminal — behavior.
And companies that claw back compensation from executives involved in wrongdoing can reduce penalties by the amount of those clawbacks, providing new incentives to make wrongdoers — not innocent shareholders — pay the price.
For the first time, all independent compliance monitors across the Department must be chosen under consistent, published selection processes and based on the application of public and transparent factors.
And for the first time, the Justice Department instituted a Department-led whistleblower program with clear incentives for dropping a dime on corporate crime.
Today, individuals and companies know when, where, and how to “do the right thing,” to borrow a phrase from my fellow Brooklynite Spike Lee.
We’ve also broadened the gap between the benefits an ethical company can access and the penalties a compliance-flouting company faces.
Investing in compliance and practicing good corporate citizenship should be the clear product of basic arithmetic — not some complex calculus problem with too many unknown variables to solve.
We aim to empower General Counsels and Chief Compliance Officers to make a simple and powerful business case to boards and C-suites: the case for investing in compliance programs, for calibrating compensation plans to promote compliance and deter wrongdoing, and for swiftly reporting detected misconduct to Justice Department.
As Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco put it in connection with the ground-breaking prosecution of TD Bank earlier this month: “If the business case for compliance wasn’t clear before — it should be now.”
* * *
Let me take a few minutes to delve deeper into the Department’s new whistleblowing and voluntary self-disclosure paradigm.
First, whistleblowing. We know it works. Whistleblower reports to the government lead to prosecutions and civil enforcement actions. Internal reports help companies address misconduct before it gets out of hand.
But gaps in whistleblower reporting opportunities left whole areas of corporate criminal misconduct unaddressed, with potential whistleblowers lacking a clear reporting path and a clear reason to blow the whistle.
So this year, the Justice Department launched a two-part whistleblower program — with different rules and incentives for whistleblowers not involved in the criminal activity they’re reporting and for those who were.
For whistleblowers not involved in the reported misconduct, Deputy Attorney General Monaco launched the first-ever Department whistleblower awards program — aimed at building on successful programs at the Securities and Exchange Commission and Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
The awards program is based on a simple premise: if an individual helps the Department discover corporate misconduct — otherwise unknown to us — then that person would qualify to receive a percentage of the resulting forfeiture.
This program not only incentivizes individuals to step forward, it puts pressure on companies to do the same – because a company can still qualify for voluntary self-disclosure credit if it reports the conduct within 120 days of the whistleblower report to the Department.
Now, by its very terms, this awards program doesn’t apply to individuals who were meaningfully involved in the criminal conduct itself. For that, we’ve launched whistleblower non-prosecution pilots in the Criminal Division and many of our most active U.S. Attorneys’ Offices.
Those offices are offering non-prosecution agreements to certain individuals involved in misconduct who report previously undiscovered wrongdoing.
In the same way a company could receive a declination, individuals with knowledge of misconduct can do the same — by stepping up, owning up, and helping us prosecute the most serious wrongdoers.
All this fits seamlessly with the newly clear, transparent, and cross-Department approach to voluntary self-disclosures by companies, instituted at Deputy Attorney General Monaco’s direction.
Voluntary self-disclosures drive successful criminal prosecutions of culpable individuals. They speed money back to victims and disgorge ill-gotten gains. They bring misconduct to a halt and tighten compliance programs with added government oversight.
So, where a company voluntarily self-discloses misconduct previously unknown to the Department — absent aggravating circumstances and after remediation, disgorgement, and victim compensation — it can avoid a guilty plea or indictment.
And such a voluntary self-disclosure to the Criminal Division can also qualify a company for the presumption of a declination of prosecution.
Early signs indicate these newly consistent and transparent programs are working.
Corporate voluntary self-disclosures to the Criminal Division are increasing every year, with more than twice as many last year as compared to 2021.
In the first few months of the Justice Department’s whistleblower awards program, we’ve already received more than 200 tips.
And U.S. Attorneys’ Offices report that individual voluntary self-disclosures have resulted in promising ongoing investigations.
Notably, the programs complement each other, setting up a virtuous cycle.
As the Deputy Attorney General has said, “when everybody wants to be first in the door, no one wants to be second” — regardless of whether you’re an innocent whistleblower, a potential defendant looking to minimize criminal exposure, or an audit committee chair at a company where the misconduct took place.
Our approach also involves increasing punishment for companies that are repeat bad actors or who flout compliance.
Calibrating a successful program of incentives and consequences requires increasing the penalties for corporate entities that aren’t getting the message.
And we’ve moved out on that as well.
Egregious corporate conduct demands a stiff punitive response.
So multinational companies like LaFarge, TD Bank, and Binance have pleaded guilty to egregious crimes involving material support for terrorism, money laundering conspiracy, and sanctions violations, respectively — with combined penalties of almost $7 billion.
Penalties also are levied to deter future misconduct. So, when a company breaks the law a second time or violates the terms of a prior resolution, we’ve made sure they pay a far steeper price.
Powerful companies like Boeing and Ericsson have experienced that approach in action — pleading guilty to charges that stemmed from recidivist conduct or violations of deferred prosecution agreements.
Corporate criminal charges and guilty pleas are no longer “specials” for certain customers —they’re now on the main, everyday menu.
Today’s overhauled corporate enforcement program at the Justice Department means clearer and more transparent policies; predictable benefits for whistleblowers and incentives for companies that voluntarily self-disclose; and a far bigger gulf between the criminal outcomes for good and bad actors.
All of it adds up to a clear business case for investing early and often in compliance.
* * *
I also want to highlight our surge of resources to address the dramatic expansion of corporate crime risks related to national security and emerging technology.
In returning to government some two and a half years ago, I was struck by how often our corporate criminal investigations now implicate the country’s national security interests.
The crimes vary — from sanctions violations to money laundering to material support for terrorism.
The corporate defendants range across industry – from construction and shipping to agriculture and telecommunications.
And the national security risks run the gamut – from money laundering for Russian interests to trafficking in Iranian crude oil to sanctions evasion to support the North Korean nuclear program.
To meet the moment, the Department has surged resources to address the challenge.
We’ve surged prosecutors into the Criminal Division’s Bank Integrity Unit, which prosecutes violations of the Bank Secrecy Act — including the recent, groundbreaking conviction of TD Bank.
We’ve added more than 25 white collar prosecutors and a Chief Counsel for Corporate Criminal Enforcement to our National Security Division to inject energy and expertise in corporate enforcement.
We’ve launched extraordinarily successful enforcement initiatives, involving Main Justice components, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and partner law enforcement agencies, to address particularly dangerous national security threats: initiatives like Task Force KleptoCapture, which has brought criminal charges against 100 individuals and entities who violated Russia-related sanctions or export controls — and seized, restrained, or obtained forfeiture orders against more than $650 million in assets. And initiatives like the Disruptive Technology Strike Force, which is laser focused on keeping the most sensitive technologies out of the world’s most dangerous hands, charging two dozen complex and high-impact cases since its launch last year.
Every company’s legal and compliance functions should sit up and take note: national security risks are not only here — they’re accelerating.
And they’re being supercharged by emerging technologies like artificial intelligence.
* * *
Now you might ask: what should compliance professionals be doing today to prepare for tomorrow?
As you may know, we recently updated the Criminal Division’s guidance on evaluating corporate compliance programs — known as the ECCP — in part to ensure that companies are focused on mitigating risks associated with the use and misuse of AI and other emerging technologies.
Now, the ECCP doesn’t tell companies how to design and implement their compliance programs. Instead, the guidance poses questions that companies should be asking themselves throughout the compliance program life cycle — from design to execution.
The Justice Department’s overhauled corporate criminal enforcement program places a particular premium on certain questions that executives and board members need to be asking:
I want to close by speaking directly to the compliance leaders here today.
Thank you for the work you do every day to promote compliance in companies across America and around the globe.
It’s not always easy to be the voice of compliance in the room.
But when you do your jobs effectively, you not only serve your clients well, you protect our nation.
At the Justice Department, our overhaul of corporate enforcement should empower you — along with other compliance-promoting corporate leaders — with stronger tools and greater sway to advocate for investment in compliance; to advance ethical behavior; to detect, deter, and report corporate misconduct; to defend against emerging national security and AI-related threats; and ultimately to promote good corporate citizenship.
We look forward to continuing our work with all of you on this important effort.
Thank you, once again, for being here today.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
In October, as part of the international festival Robofinist, the hackathon “StarLine Unmanned” was held, bringing together teams from all over Russia. Polytechnic was represented by two teams from the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, Materials and Transport of SPbPU – “Turtleboys” and “Just robotics”.
The hackathon’s objective was to develop a system for autonomously rescuing a robot from a labyrinth. Participants were provided with two robots: a “rescuer” equipped with a lidar and a depth camera, and a “rescued” robot equipped only with encoder odometry.
The Turtleboys team consists of first-year Master’s students of the Higher School of Automation and Robotics Egor Pykhalov, Ivan Shevtsov, Georgy Kazantsev and IMMIT 2024 graduate Sergey Zemsky. The team demonstrated impressive results and took second place, just short of the championship.
There wasn’t enough time to fully debug the solution on real robots, but victory was so close, the guys shared.
The team would like to thank the Polytech Tower for providing equipment that helped prepare for the hackathon.
“Just robotics” are first-year master’s students of the Higher School of Architecture and Rural Affairs (HSAR) Vladislav Malykhin, Anton Tyurin and this year’s graduate of the Institute of Metallurgy and Metallurgy (IMMT) Artem Kondratyev. They also demonstrated a high level of preparation and creativity.
The StarLine Unmanned Hackathon has become an excellent platform for showcasing talent and sharing experiences among young specialists in the field of robotics.
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.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
On October 22, 2024, 1st and 3rd year students of the educational programs “Urban Studies and City Management”, “State and Municipal Administration”, accompanied by associate professors of the Department of State and Municipal Administration Irina Milkina and Bayrta Ubushaeva visited the Management Center of the City Economy Complex (MCC UHS).
The center was created to promptly respond to problems related to monitoring the operation of housing and communal services facilities in Moscow. Analysts monitor various deviations around the clock, as well as analyze the causes of incidents and make forecast estimates. Today, a single technological platform combines all key sources of information. This facilitates the process of making strategic management decisions online.
As part of the excursion, the students visited the 112 Service call center, the data processing center, and the situation room of the Central Control Center of the State Emergency Service.
The students were shown the importance of coordinating the work of all services using specific examples, as well as the use of modern technologies to prevent problems. Often we do not notice the colossal work that is being done to improve the comfort of life of city residents. The participants of the excursion also learned that all the work of the Control Center is strictly regulated in order to promptly and effectively make decisions on the work of city services.
The employees spoke about the importance of the work of not only the Central Office of the KGH, but also the “112 Service”. The work schedule of this capital service is 24 hours a day, since it is designed to provide emergency assistance and respond to calls at any time, so operators must always be at the workplace. And in order for operators to work effectively and not be overloaded after processing a dozen emotional calls, it is important that the work schedule and rest schedule are strictly observed, so when one employee is resting, another one comes to replace him.
Students noted that despite the complexity and specificity of the work, the creation of this Center helps to improve the efficiency of urban management thanks to a modern information system.
Malika Yarmukhamedova, 3rd year student: “I was pleased with the tour! I think that visiting this complex is very useful for development in urban studies. We were clearly shown all the components of the urban economy of the city of Moscow and the efficiency of their use. A puzzle of how city services function and coordinate came together in my head.”
Ulyana Laryushina, 3rd year student: “Many thanks to the Center’s staff for clearly demonstrating how city services management functions. It was interesting to learn about modern technologies used in this area and to understand how decisions are made in emergency situations.”
Ilya Dubodelov, 3rd year student: “I was pleased to talk to real specialists in the field of municipal services. I learned a lot of new things in this area, and was also amazed by the technologies used by the Center for Management of the Municipal Services Complex, and the overall coherence of all departments.”
The State University of Management thanks the Department of Housing and Public Utilities of the City of Moscow, the State Budgetary Institution “MAC” and the State Budgetary Institution “System 112” for the opportunity to visit an important facility for managing the capital’s municipal economy.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/24/2024
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.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Leading Engineer, Assistant Professor of the Department of Geotechnics, Scientific Secretary of the Conference Philipp Kalach, Anatoly Osokin, Rashid Mangushev, Evgeny Rybnov, Askar Zhusupbekov, Alexander Vikhrov
On October 23, the National (All-Russian) Scientific and Technical Conference with international participation “Modern Methods of Design, Underground Construction and Reconstruction of Foundations and Bases” opened at SPbGASU.
Welcoming the participants, Rector of SPbGASU Evgeny Rybnov emphasized that since 2003, holding conferences on geotechnics at our university has become a tradition. During this period, 17 all-Russian and international conferences have been held, which invariably arouse the interest of specialists in the field of mechanics and soils, foundations, foundations and engineering geology.
“The large number of participants confirms the importance of geotechnics as the most important area of construction science and serves as a tribute to the scientific traditions and achievements of the Department of Geotechnics of St. Petersburg State University of Civil Engineering, founded in 1934. Over the years, famous scientists in our country and abroad, honored scientists of the RSFSR, professors Tsytovich, Vasiliev, Maslov, Dalmatov, Sotnikov, Mangushev, worked on it. In the last two years, the department has been headed by Honored Builder of Russia, laureate of awards from the Government of Russia and St. Petersburg, Candidate of Technical Sciences Anatoly Ivanovich Osokin. Since its formation, the department has been one of the leading departments of our university, which has trained many engineers, candidates and doctors of technical sciences. The department has created and is successfully developing a scientific school for the development of current issues in construction geotechnics. First of all, this is research on improving foundation construction on weak and highly compressible soils, including pile foundations and foundations for high-rise buildings, research on the development of deformations of structures and their prediction, research on frozen and thawing soils and their use as foundations for structures. The department is also conducting research on improving methods for constructing underground structures, consolidating foundation soils and strengthening the foundations of buildings during their reconstruction, and developing numerical methods for calculating the foundations of underground structures. Over the past 15 years, employees of the department have published numerous textbooks and teaching aids, monographs, reference books on geotechnics, which have become reference books for engineers and teachers of universities in Russia, the CIS countries and the Far Abroad,” said Evgeniy Rybnov.
He specified that the conference will provide an opportunity for geotechnical specialists to exchange the latest scientific achievements, establish new useful contacts, and also get acquainted with historical and recently built unique objects of St. Petersburg.
As reported by the corresponding member of RAASN, the head of the scientific school, the director of the Scientific and Production-Consulting Center of Geotechnology of SPbGASU, professor Rashid Mangushev, over the past 20 years the university and the department of geotechnics have regularly held such conferences. This year the conference is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the department. It is attended by specialists from 23 cities and 13 countries, including the Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, South Korea, Malaysia, Mongolia. More than 110 reports will be heard.
The President of the Russian Society for Soil Mechanics, Geotechnics and Foundation Engineering, Vyacheslav Ilyichev, called St. Petersburg a monument to geotechnics.
“To build such a city now, we would need surveys, soil research methods, and computer programs. That didn’t exist back then, but the city was built: for centuries and beautifully. Geotechnics has been developing for many years, and the leading universities of St. Petersburg, where outstanding scientific schools have been created and highly qualified specialists are trained, play a major role in this. Domestic science has always been the basis of our country’s technological independence. And we continue to serve as this basis,” noted Vyacheslav Ilyichev.
A member of the Council of the National Association of Surveyors and Designers (NOPRIZ), President of the Association of SRO “Baltic Association of Designers”, a graduate of LISI (now SPbGASU), who previously held the positions of dean, vice-rector of our university, Alexander Vikhrov confirmed that decades ago, young specialists really did not have any tools except a slide rule. But science developed, and before his eyes such tools appeared and improved
“90 years – is it a lot or a little? For history – a particle. Despite the solid anniversary, the department is only at the beginning of its development, it keeps up with the times and continues to make a great contribution to solving modern problems of the industry, city, country, world,” says Alexander Vikhrov.
SPbGASU and, in particular, the Department of Geotechnics have been interacting with the Committee for State Control, Use and Protection of Historical and Cultural Monuments (KGIOP) of St. Petersburg for many years, the acting chairman of the committee, Alexey Mikhailov, emphasized in his welcoming address. He noted the high level of involvement of students and postgraduates in current urban issues in the field of urban development and adaptation of cultural heritage sites to modern use.
“Our city is quite young, but it contains almost 10% of all historical and cultural monuments of the country. Along with preserving the cultural heritage and historical environment, we must develop the infrastructure of the metropolis for the comfortable life of citizens and tourists. To successfully solve this problem, we need to be guided by modern scientific research in the field of soil mechanics and geotechnics, exchange experience in the design, construction and reconstruction of complex geotechnical objects in various engineering and geological conditions,” said Alexey Mikhailov.
The President of the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association, Honorary Doctor of St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, and graduate of the department, Askar Zhusupbekov, confirmed that the Department of Geotechnics has always been famous for its outstanding world-class scientists and talented students.
“Continuing the traditions, the department is developing. Last year, the Kazakhstan Geotechnical Association held a large-scale international scientific and technical conference, which was attended by 982 people from 88 countries. And I would like to proudly note that the most representative and largest delegation was from your university. SPbGASU demonstrates high scientific achievements and knows how to organize effective scientific and practical platforms within its walls, which include the current conference,” concluded Askar Zhusupbekov.
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.
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
The final part of the internship of Russian specialists in the Republic of Belarus took place in Minsk and facilities close to the country’s capital.
On October 21, members of the Russian delegation took part in a contact exchange with companies representing businesses and potential B2B partners from Belarus. The event was opened by the Director of the Federal Resource Center, Alexey Bunkin. The head of the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in the Republic of Belarus, Yury Makushin, also addressed the Russian and Belarusian participants with an opening speech.
During the event, the current state of foreign trade relations between Russia and Belarus, promising export and import directions, the peculiarities of local buyers’ perception of Russian products, issues of certification, logistics and mutual settlements were discussed, and numerous personal meetings, conversations and exchange of contacts took place.
Then a visit to the office of the Free Economic Zone “Minsk” took place. The deputy head of the FEZ administration spoke in detail about its functioning, features in comparison with other zones, answered questions from members of the Russian delegation.
Next, the internship participants visited the production facilities of ZAPAGROMASH LLC, the CIS leader in the production of agricultural machinery, including for feeding and keeping cattle, and Minsk Tractor Plant OJSC, the oldest enterprise in the republic and the largest manufacturer of agricultural machinery.
During the visits, the delegation members learned about the history of the companies, examined samples of manufactured equipment and a number of production shops, including assembly shops, and discussed issues of interest to them with the management of the enterprises, with special attention paid to the topic of ensuring social security for workers.
In the evening of the same day, Alexey Bunkin held a briefing with the internship participants, during which the results of the work were summed up, the achieved results were presented, and the prospects for the development of subsequent similar projects were discussed.
On the final day of the internship, October 22, the delegation visited the Great Stone Industrial Park. They were given a thorough introduction to the history of the park’s creation and its present day, had a dialogue with the deputy head of the administration with answers to numerous questions, and toured the territory.
The Russian delegation then moved to the building of the Belarusian State University of Economics and took part in a session on business education as part of the Second Forum of the Scientific and Educational Consortium “Eurasian Network University”, held by the State University of Management. Leading specialists from a number of consulting companies in the Republic of Belarus spoke to the internship participants.
Also in the BGEU building, the vice-rector of the State University of Management Dmitry Bryukhanov and Alexey Bunkin presented certificates of advanced training in the program “Economic cooperation in the agro-industrial complex” to the participants of the Presidential program for training management personnel.
The business program of the internship of Russian specialists in Minsk ended in the same place where it began – in the building of the Trade Mission of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus. The meeting was attended by the representative of the Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation in the Republic of Belarus Ilya Fedorov, the head of the department for promoting direct foreign investment and import substitution of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food of the Republic of Belarus Anastasia Dedyulya, the head of the production and marketing department of the KUP “Myasomolprom” of the Minsk Regional Executive Committee Tatyana Volozgina, a number of heads of commercial and manufacturing enterprises from the agro-industrial complex.
The Russian and Belarusian participants once again considered possible areas and prospects for cooperation, and exchanged contacts for further interaction. Moreover, the discussion was based on information and experience gained during their stay in Belarus.
The results of the intensive practice-oriented internship of Russian specialists in Belarus were familiarization with successful examples of entrepreneurship, establishment of contacts with both representatives of local businesses and Russian representative bodies that ensure the state interests of Russia in the sphere of foreign economic activity in Belarus.
Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 10/24/2024
Internships for Russian specialists in the Republic of Belarus took place in Minsk and facilities close to the country’s capital.
On October 21, members of the Russian delegation took part in a contact exchange with companies representing businesses and potential B2B partners from Belarus….
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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.
Source: China State Council Information Office
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday urged China and India to strengthen communication and cooperation, enhance strategic mutual trust, and facilitate each other’s pursuit of development aspirations.
Xi made the remarks when meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit.
Xi pointed out that as time-honored civilizations, large developing countries and important members of the Global South, China and India both stand at a crucial phase of their respective modernization endeavors.
It is in the fundamental interest of the two countries and two peoples to keep to the trend of history and the right direction of bilateral relations, he said, urging the two sides to shoulder their international responsibility, set an example in boosting the strength and unity of developing countries, and contribute to promoting a multipolar world and greater democracy in international relations.
Xi stressed that China-India relations are essentially a question of how the two large developing countries and neighbors, each with a 1.4-billion-strong population, treat each other.
Development is now the biggest shared goal of China and India, he said, noting that the two sides should continue to uphold their important understandings, including that China and India are each other’s development opportunity rather than threat, and cooperation partner rather than competitor.
He also urged the two countries to maintain a sound strategic perception of each other, and work together to find the right and bright path for big, neighboring countries to live in harmony and develop side by side.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
Modi, for his part, noted that maintaining the steady growth of India-China relations is critical to the two countries and peoples. It not only concerns the well-being and future of 2.8 billion people, but also carries great significance for peace and stability of the region and even the world at large, he added.
Against a complex international landscape, cooperation between India and China, two ancient civilizations and engines of economic growth, can help drive economic recovery and promote multipolarity in the world, Modi said.
He said that India is willing to strengthen strategic communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, and expand mutually beneficial cooperation with China.
India will give every support for China’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization presidency and strengthen communication and cooperation with China in BRICS and other multilateral frameworks, he added.
The two leaders commended the important progress the two sides had recently made through intensive communication on resolving the relevant issues in the border areas. Modi made suggestions on improving and developing the relationship, which Xi agreed to in principle.
The two sides agreed to make good use of the Special Representatives mechanism on the China-India boundary question, ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, and find a fair and reasonable settlement.
The two sides agreed on holding talks between their foreign ministers and officials at various levels to bring the relationship back to sound and steady development at an early date.
The two sides agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation in multilateral fora to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.
The two sides were of the view that this meeting is constructive and carries great significance. They agreed to view and handle China-India relations from a strategic height and long-term perspective, prevent specific disagreements from affecting the overall relationship, and contribute to maintaining regional and global peace and prosperity and to advancing multipolarity in the world.
Source: China State Council Information Office 3
Leaders of BRICS countries pose for a group photo during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, Russia, Oct. 23, 2024. The summit was hosted by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (via video conference), Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. [Photo/Xinhua]
BRICS leaders have issued a joint declaration covering a wide range of issues from the reform of the United Nations (UN) to ongoing global conflicts, following the association’s summit that took place on Wednesday in Kazan.
The declaration included 134 provisions in total, one of which addressed the reform of the UN.
“We reaffirm our support for a comprehensive reform of the UN, including its Security Council, with a view to making it more democratic, representative, effective and efficient,” the document read. This involves expanding the representation of developing countries to better respond to global challenges.
In addition, leaders reiterated their absolute condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and called for the prompt adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism within the UN.
Alongside essential reforms, BRICS members called for the UN to play an important role in the global governance of artificial intelligence.
The declaration also focused on global conflicts including those in the Middle East and Ukraine.
“We remain concerned about at the rise of violence and continuing armed conflicts in different parts of the world,” the declaration read. BRICS leaders reaffirmed their commitment to resolving dispute peacefully through diplomacy.
Leaders expressed deep concern about the ongoing tensions in the Gaza Strip and called for an immediate ceasefire and a cessation of all hostilities.
The leaders noted the importance of the establishment of a sovereign and independent State of Palestine within the internationally recognized borders of June 1967, and expressed support for Palestine’s full membership in the UN.
Member states also recalled national positions on the Ukrainian crisis, and “noted with appreciation relevant proposals” aimed at a peaceful settlement of the conflict through diplomacy.
The BRICS leaders further expressed grave concern over the harmful impact of illegal unilateral sanctions on the global economy, noting that they negatively affect economic growth, energy, food security, and exacerbate poverty.
BRICS members stressed the need to prevent an arms race in space and called for the creation of a document ensuring space security.
The provisions included various economic initiatives designed to strengthen the role of developing countries in the global economy and promote equitable conditions for all.
BRICS members called for the reform of the Bretton Woods institutions to increase the contribution of the developing countries to the global economy.
They welcomed the establishment of a new BRICS investment platform, which will use the existing institutional infrastructure of the New Development Bank to boost investment flows into BRICS countries and countries of the Global South.
They called for the reform of the current international financial architecture so it can “meet the global financial challenges” and become more inclusive and just.
Member countries also supported Russia’s proposal on the creation of a BRICS grain exchange, adding that the trading platform could later be expanded to include other agricultural sectors.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
President Ramaphosa delivers the Country’s statement during the 24th BRICS summit open session in Kazan in the Russian Federation.
Source: Eastern Economic Forum
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Source: Rosneft
Headline: Rosneft Supports Project to Create Genomic Database of Arctic Organisms
Rosneft, together with Innopraktika, a non-governmental development institute, and the Centre for Whole-Genome Sequencing, has launched a unique project to create a genomic database of living organisms in the Russian Arctic. This information is essential for long-term planning for the sustainable development of the region and the conservation of its fragile ecosystems.
In the first phase, specialists in different taxonomic groups will analyse the biodiversity of the Arctic and select the most valuable species for study.
Priority work includes the assembly of the complete polar bear genome, which will be carried out by staff from the Centre for Whole-Genome Sequencing. The high-performance computing cluster, one of the top 20 supercomputers in Russia, enables fast and high-quality processing of huge amounts of information and obtaining the most accurate data for subsequent interpretation.
Specialists from Lomonosov Moscow State University and other leading research institutes in the country were also involved to create a roadmap for the new project and identify priority research areas. Using cutting-edge genetic technologies, scientists will study the mechanisms of speciation and the ability of Arctic animals to adapt to harsh environmental conditions, clarify the taxonomic status of individual species, and develop recommendations for monitoring the health of Arctic ecosystems.
The new environmental initiative is part of Rosneft’s comprehensive research programme in the Russian Arctic. The Company’s Arctic Research Centre is carrying out the most ambitious programme of research in the region since Soviet times, with more than 50 major expeditions over the past 10 years and unprecedented geographical coverage of hydrometeorological, geological and biological research.
Reference:
The creation of genetic databases and whole-genome sequencing are designed to preserve genetic information to protect endangered species. Scientists are studying their evolution and characteristics, investigating the extent of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems, and calculating ways to mitigate potential threats.
In recent years, many projects have been launched to analyse genomic data (Bird 10,000 Genomes Project (B10K) in China, international mammalian genome analysis project Zoonomia Project, etc.), but this is the first initiative to study the genomes of organisms from the Russian Arctic.
Rosneft
Information Division
September 11, 2024
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
The Federal Accreditation Service (Rosaccreditation) confirmed the competence and expanded the scope of accreditation of the SPbGASU Testing Center. The corresponding order was received on October 17.
As reported by the employee of the Testing Center, Associate Professor of the Department of Construction Materials Technology and Metrology Irina Aubakirova, the Testing Center of SPbGASU has been accredited in the national accreditation system since May 2015. This year, it once again confirmed its competence, which was the merit of all three divisions: the sector of testing construction materials and products, the sector of mechanical testing of building structures, the sector of physical and technical testing of building structures.
“The competence confirmation procedure proves that the accredited person consistently complies with the requirements of GOST ISO/IEC 17025-2019 and the accreditation criteria. However, by the time of the inspection, it is necessary to analyze the technical equipment of all departments (the availability of verification, calibration and certification of all measuring instruments and testing equipment) in accordance with the scope of accreditation, update the regulatory framework and verify test methods according to newly introduced standards. An important task for the entire Testing Center was to demonstrate the implemented management system. In 2024, the management system documents were updated: Quality Manual, Testing Center Regulation, internal audits were conducted, risks and opportunities were analyzed, information on customer satisfaction was collected, and the competence of the personnel was assessed,” said Irina Aubakirova.
“This is a guarantee that we conduct experiments in full compliance with all standards. We have not had a single complaint, a 100% hit,” noted the director of the Test Center, Sergey Bezpalchuk.
The Testing Center is a structural subdivision of SPbGASU. It conducts independent tests of construction products: materials, products, structures, independent of manufacturers and consumers.
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.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin P. Gallagher, Professor of Global Development Policy and Director, Global Development Policy Center, Boston University
At the 2021 UN Climate Summit, Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley called for more and better use of special drawing rights (SDRs), the International Monetary Fund’s reserve asset.
The special drawing right is an international reserve asset created by the IMF. It is not a currency – its value is based on a basket of five currencies, the biggest chunk of which is the US dollar, followed by the euro. It is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. Special drawing rights can provide a country with liquidity.
Countries can use their special drawing rights to pay back IMF loans, or they can exchange them for foreign currencies.
As Mottley is the newest president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and Vulnerable Group of 20 (V20) finance ministers, which represents 68 climate-vulnerable countries that are among those with the most dire liquidity needs, including 32 African countries, her call would be directly beneficial to African countries.
In August 2021, as the shock from the COVID-19 pandemic battered their economies, African countries received a lifeline of US$33 billion from special drawing rights. This amounts to more than all the climate finance Africa receives each year, and more than half of all annual official development assistance to Africa.
This US$33 billion did not add to African countries’ debt burden, it did not come with any conditions, and it did not cost donors a single cent to provide.
IMF members can vote to create new issuances of special drawing rights. They are then distributed to countries in proportion to their quotas in the IMF. Quotas are denominated in special drawing rights, the IMF’s unit of account.
Quotas are the building blocks of the IMF’s financial and governance structure. An individual member country’s quota broadly reflects its relative position in the world economy. Thus, by design, the poorest and most vulnerable countries receive the least when it comes to quotas and voting shares.
Special drawing rights cannot solve all of Africa’s economic challenges. And their highly technical nature means they are not always well understood. But at a time when African countries are facing chronic liquidity challenges – most countries in the region are spending more on debt service payments than they are on health, education, or climate change – our new research shows that special drawing rights can play an important role in establishing financial stability and enabling investments for development.
Financial stability includes macroeconomic stability (such as low inflation, healthy balance of payments, sufficient foreign reserves), a strong financial system and resilience to shocks.
African leaders are approaching a critical year-long opportunity: in November, the first Group of 20 (G20) summit will convene (with the African Union in attendance as a member for the first time). Then in December South Africa assumes the G20 presidency.
Read more: South Africa will be president of the G20 in 2025: two much-needed reforms it should drive
As African leaders advocate for reforms to the international financial architecture, maximising the potential of special drawing rights should be a central component of their agenda.
African countries’ finances are facing tough times. External debt in sub-Saharan Africa has tripled since 2008. The average government is now spending 12% of its revenue on external debt service. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and rises in interest rates and the prices of commodities, like food and fertiliser, have all contributed to this trend.
Debt restructuring mechanisms have also proved inadequate. Countries like Zambia and Ghana got stuck in lengthy restructurings. Weak institutional capacity and poor governance also impede efficient use of public resources.
At the same time, African economies need to increase investment to advance development, support a young and growing population, develop climate resilience and take advantage of the opportunity presented by the energy transition.
To meet the resources for a just energy transition and the attainment of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, investment in climate and development will have to increase from around 24% of GDP (the average for Africa in 2022) to 37%.
Special drawing rights have proved to be an important tool in addressing these challenges. Research by the IMF and others shows that African countries significantly benefited from the special drawing rights they received in 2021 to stabilise their economies. And this happened without worsening debt burdens or costing advanced economies any money, particularly as they cut development aid.
However, advanced economies exercise significant control over the availability of special drawing rights. The IMF’s quota system determines both voting power and their distribution. Advanced economies control most of the IMF’s quotas.
The advanced economies made the right decision in 2021 and in 2009 to issue new special drawing rights and the time has come again.
African and other global south leaders need to make a strong case for another issuance of special drawing rights at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington.
In addition to a new issuance of special drawing rights, advanced economies still need to be pressured to re-channel the hundreds of billions of special drawing rights sitting idle on their balance sheets into productive purposes.
The 2021 allocation of special drawing rights amounted to US$650 billion in total. But only US$33 billion went to African countries due to the IMF’s unequal quota distribution. Meanwhile advanced economies with powerful currencies and no need for special drawing rights received the lion’s share.
The African Development Bank has spearheaded one such proposal alongside the Inter-American Development Bank. Under this plan, countries with unused special drawing rights could re-channel them to the African Development Bank as hybrid capital, allowing the bank to lend around $4 for each $1 of special drawing rights it receives.
The IMF approved the use of special drawing rights as hybrid capital for multilateral development banks in May. But it set an excessively low limit of 15 billion special drawing rights across all multilateral development banks.
Even so, advanced economies have been slow to re-channel special drawing rights. The close to $100 billion that have been re-channelled – mostly to IMF trust funds – is meaningful.
But it still falls short of what should have been re-channelled.
In the long term, IMF governance reforms are needed to avoid a repeat of the inefficient distribution of special drawing rights.
Read more: The World Bank and the IMF need to keep reforming to become fit for purpose
As African countries rightly push to change shortcomings of the international financial architecture, new special drawing rights issuances should be at the centre of such a strategy. The IMF’s 2021 special drawing rights issuance showed the tool’s scale and importance. And special drawing rights re-channelling has had positive effects in easing debt burdens and freeing up financing to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With 2030 approaching and the window shrinking for climate action, global leaders should be using all the tools at their disposal, including special drawing rights, to build a more resilient future.
– IMF isn’t doing enough to support Africa: billions could be made available through special drawing rights
– https://theconversation.com/imf-isnt-doing-enough-to-support-africa-billions-could-be-made-available-through-special-drawing-rights-241428
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Louis Bayman, Associate Professor in Department of Film Studies, University of Southampton
This year’s London Film Festival boasted 254 feature and short films, with an all-time high of 44% of the films screened by female and non-binary directors. But the festival’s most newsworthy event concerned a film that wasn’t screened at all.
To the dismay of its director, Havana Marking, the documentary Undercover: Exposing the Far Right was cancelled at the last minute with festival staff citing safety concerns in the wake of the summer riots. The documentary seeks to expose the political influence of a shadowy US-UK network that promotes racist scientific views. Although it missed out on its opportunity for a theatrical showing, the film is now airing on Channel 4 and is receiving good reviews.
Like all festivals, there were prizes to be won and the festival jury awarded best feature film to Memoir of a Snail. This is the first time that a stop-motion animation has won the award. Directed by Adam Elliot and featuring the voice of Succession star Sarah Snook, the jury praised it as “emotionally resonant and constantly surprising”, adding that it “tackles pertinent issues such as bullying, loneliness and grief head-on.”
Read more:
Overtly handmade and so very moving: Adam Elliot’s Memoir of A Snail is a stop motion triumph
This may turn out to be an unpopular decision with critics, given how many of them complained about the emotional nature of the festival’s opening night gala film, Steve McQueen’s wartime drama Blitz. McQueen’s genius for realising the restrictive nature of particular historical moments is always achieved with a special intensity, whether with Irish political prisoners in Hunger or the pre-emancipation US of 12 Years a Slave.
Blitz takes as its setting three days in London in 1940, featuring a child who manages to flee evacuation and has to find his way through a bombed-out London back home to his mother. The film even alludes to Charles Dickens as the boy tries to dodge the ne’er-do-wells of the city streets.
The boy is bi-racial and the film’s representation of the Black life of the city is a corrective to more commonplace images of a monocultural wartime Britain. But its family drama conjures more pathos than is usual for McQueen. The film thus revises, if not destroys, the myth of national unity that has grown up around the blitz. It incorporates racial and class divisions but the critical consensus seemed to be that its sentimentality let the film down.
Alternatively, The Apprentice, the true story of the rise of Donald Trump under the tutelage of cutthroat lawyer Roy Cohn, showed considerable restraint depicting its uniquely polarising protagonist. The film finds Trump dodging lawsuits in the crisis-ridden New York of the 1970s, only to prosper in the greed-is-good real estate boom of the 1980s.
Sebastian Stan’s Trump avoids caricature, almost garnering affection before eventually becoming the babbling fountain of profound vacuity that we recognise today. With excellent performances from Jeremy Strong as Cohn and Maria Bakalova as Ivana Trump the film succeeds most as a revisitation of the iconic images of New York’s modern history through the prism of Trump. This revisitation occurs first in its retro imitation of early Martin Scorsese films and then with the grain of a boardroom melodrama shot on VHS.
The festival also included some righteously powerful political denunciations.
The Seed of the Sacred Fig deserves special mention as an acutely powerful portrait of a family undergoing the increasingly suspenseful stirrings of rebellion amid the “women, life, freedom” protests in Iran.
I’m Still Here, a return to directing from City of God’s Walter Salles, presents the intersection of the personal and the political in a very different way. The film tells the true story of the leftwing congressman Rubens Paiva’s disappearance by the Brazilian military dictatorship in 1971 and the heartbreaking tension of his family’s life-long search for answers.
Other notable returns from veteran directors included Mike Leigh’s depiction of the struggles of mental illness in Hard Truths, a blend of social realism and fairytale set in Gravesend, and Pedro Almodóvar’s first English-language film The Room Next Door. Two films that achieved a particular buzz among festival attendees and that are set to achieve a wide general release are Anora, Sean Baker’s comedy drama about a mismatched marriage between a lapdancer and a Russian oligarch’s son, and Conclave, set around the choosing of a new Pope starring Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci.
I had some personal favourites of the films that garnered fewer headlines. The first is All We Imagine As Light, an allusive portrait of the dislocating effects of modern city life among three female friends in Mumbai. Another is Four Mothers, a remake of the Italian comedy Mid-August Lunch transposed to Ireland. Featuring an aspiring writer whose friends go on holiday and leave their elderly mothers for him to look after, its blend of humour and sensitivity achieves exquisite delicacy.
And finally, The Surfer wins my award for the cinema’s potential for delirious incoherence. Set entirely in a car park overlooking a beach, this comedy-thriller-folk horror explores suburban aspirational masculinity through a characteristically demented star turn by Nicolas Cage.
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Louis Bayman does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. BFI London Film Festival 2024 – a cinema academic’s look at the year ahead on the big screen – https://theconversation.com/bfi-london-film-festival-2024-a-cinema-academics-look-at-the-year-ahead-on-the-big-screen-242049
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Kevin P. Gallagher, Professor of Global Development Policy and Director, Global Development Policy Center, Boston University
At the 2021 UN Climate Summit, Barbados prime minister Mia Mottley called for more and better use of special drawing rights (SDRs), the International Monetary Fund’s reserve asset.
The special drawing right is an international reserve asset created by the IMF. It is not a currency – its value is based on a basket of five currencies, the biggest chunk of which is the US dollar, followed by the euro. It is a potential claim on the freely usable currencies of IMF members. Special drawing rights can provide a country with liquidity.
Countries can use their special drawing rights to pay back IMF loans, or they can exchange them for foreign currencies.
As Mottley is the newest president of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and Vulnerable Group of 20 (V20) finance ministers, which represents 68 climate-vulnerable countries that are among those with the most dire liquidity needs, including 32 African countries, her call would be directly beneficial to African countries.
In August 2021, as the shock from the COVID-19 pandemic battered their economies, African countries received a lifeline of US$33 billion from special drawing rights. This amounts to more than all the climate finance Africa receives each year, and more than half of all annual official development assistance to Africa.
This US$33 billion did not add to African countries’ debt burden, it did not come with any conditions, and it did not cost donors a single cent to provide.
IMF members can vote to create new issuances of special drawing rights. They are then distributed to countries in proportion to their quotas in the IMF. Quotas are denominated in special drawing rights, the IMF’s unit of account.
Quotas are the building blocks of the IMF’s financial and governance structure. An individual member country’s quota broadly reflects its relative position in the world economy. Thus, by design, the poorest and most vulnerable countries receive the least when it comes to quotas and voting shares.
Special drawing rights cannot solve all of Africa’s economic challenges. And their highly technical nature means they are not always well understood. But at a time when African countries are facing chronic liquidity challenges – most countries in the region are spending more on debt service payments than they are on health, education, or climate change – our new research shows that special drawing rights can play an important role in establishing financial stability and enabling investments for development.
Financial stability includes macroeconomic stability (such as low inflation, healthy balance of payments, sufficient foreign reserves), a strong financial system and resilience to shocks.
African leaders are approaching a critical year-long opportunity: in November, the first Group of 20 (G20) summit will convene (with the African Union in attendance as a member for the first time). Then in December South Africa assumes the G20 presidency.
Read more:
South Africa will be president of the G20 in 2025: two much-needed reforms it should drive
As African leaders advocate for reforms to the international financial architecture, maximising the potential of special drawing rights should be a central component of their agenda.
African countries’ finances are facing tough times. External debt in sub-Saharan Africa has tripled since 2008. The average government is now spending 12% of its revenue on external debt service. The COVID-19 pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and rises in interest rates and the prices of commodities, like food and fertiliser, have all contributed to this trend.
Debt restructuring mechanisms have also proved inadequate. Countries like Zambia and Ghana got stuck in lengthy restructurings. Weak institutional capacity and poor governance also impede efficient use of public resources.
At the same time, African economies need to increase investment to advance development, support a young and growing population, develop climate resilience and take advantage of the opportunity presented by the energy transition.
To meet the resources for a just energy transition and the attainment of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, investment in climate and development will have to increase from around 24% of GDP (the average for Africa in 2022) to 37%.
Special drawing rights have proved to be an important tool in addressing these challenges. Research by the IMF and others shows that African countries significantly benefited from the special drawing rights they received in 2021 to stabilise their economies. And this happened without worsening debt burdens or costing advanced economies any money, particularly as they cut development aid.
However, advanced economies exercise significant control over the availability of special drawing rights. The IMF’s quota system determines both voting power and their distribution. Advanced economies control most of the IMF’s quotas.
The advanced economies made the right decision in 2021 and in 2009 to issue new special drawing rights and the time has come again.
African and other global south leaders need to make a strong case for another issuance of special drawing rights at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington.
In addition to a new issuance of special drawing rights, advanced economies still need to be pressured to re-channel the hundreds of billions of special drawing rights sitting idle on their balance sheets into productive purposes.
The 2021 allocation of special drawing rights amounted to US$650 billion in total. But only US$33 billion went to African countries due to the IMF’s unequal quota distribution. Meanwhile advanced economies with powerful currencies and no need for special drawing rights received the lion’s share.
The African Development Bank has spearheaded one such proposal alongside the Inter-American Development Bank. Under this plan, countries with unused special drawing rights could re-channel them to the African Development Bank as hybrid capital, allowing the bank to lend around $4 for each $1 of special drawing rights it receives.
The IMF approved the use of special drawing rights as hybrid capital for multilateral development banks in May. But it set an excessively low limit of 15 billion special drawing rights across all multilateral development banks.
Even so, advanced economies have been slow to re-channel special drawing rights. The close to $100 billion that have been re-channelled – mostly to IMF trust funds – is meaningful.
But it still falls short of what should have been re-channelled.
In the long term, IMF governance reforms are needed to avoid a repeat of the inefficient distribution of special drawing rights.
Read more:
The World Bank and the IMF need to keep reforming to become fit for purpose
As African countries rightly push to change shortcomings of the international financial architecture, new special drawing rights issuances should be at the centre of such a strategy. The IMF’s 2021 special drawing rights issuance showed the tool’s scale and importance. And special drawing rights re-channelling has had positive effects in easing debt burdens and freeing up financing to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With 2030 approaching and the window shrinking for climate action, global leaders should be using all the tools at their disposal, including special drawing rights, to build a more resilient future.
Abebe Shimeles received funding from African Economic Research Consortium. He is affiliated with Institute of Labor Studies, IZA
Kevin P. Gallagher does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. IMF isn’t doing enough to support Africa: billions could be made available through special drawing rights – https://theconversation.com/imf-isnt-doing-enough-to-support-africa-billions-could-be-made-available-through-special-drawing-rights-241428
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
President Ramaphosa’s opening remarks during the 16th BRICS Summit Plenary in Kazan, Russia
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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
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Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of the Government Commission on the protection of Lake Baikal
Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev held a meeting of the Government Commission on Lake Baikal Protection. The event was attended by the heads of three regions belonging to the Baikal Natural Territory, State Duma deputies, and representatives of relevant departments.
“This water body is a unique natural resource of our country and plays a major socio-economic role in the development of nearby regions. Therefore, of course, preserving Lake Baikal is an important state task that requires a comprehensive approach and close cooperation of all interested parties,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
In particular, it was noted that the reconstruction of the Bolsherechensky fish hatchery in Buryatia will almost double the artificial reproduction of the Baikal omul, one of the main symbols of the lake. Work on the facility should be completed by the end of this year.
The government commission meeting also discussed the issue of construction and modernization of treatment facilities in the Baikal natural territory. Within the framework of the national project “Ecology”, activities are being implemented in three regions – Zabaikalsky Krai, Irkutsk Region and the Republic of Buryatia – a total of six facilities.
In addition, the participants considered the issue of developing tourism infrastructure on Baikal. The Ministry of Economic Development has developed a corresponding draft “road map”, which provides for the creation of conditions for increasing visitor numbers to the Baikal natural territory. “It is important to understand how these activities are linked to the need to reduce the load on the lake’s ecosystem,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
The draft road map for the development of tourism infrastructure on Lake Baikal must be submitted to the Government for approval by December 20.
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.
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Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
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Marat Khusnullin took part in the government hour in the State Duma
During the government hour held in the State Duma, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin delivered a report in which he spoke about the key areas of the new comprehensive national project “Infrastructure for Life”, as well as measures aimed at improving the quality of housing and communal services.
“At the request of the President, we are currently completing the development of a comprehensive national project – “Infrastructure for Life”, in which one of the main blocks will be the modernization of the communal infrastructure. Over the decades, a considerable number of problems have accumulated there, including the depreciation of the main fund. However, all of them should be considered much more broadly than just the repair of individual objects. Within the framework of the new national project, we intend to create a regulatory and legislative framework, where we will outline a detailed “road map” for housing and communal services. Another very important issue regarding the industry is social. We must clearly verify how we will protect the population here. Government support measures also need to be updated,” said Marat Khusnullin.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that it is also extremely important to increase the level of executive discipline at the local level. According to him, the modernization of housing and communal services should become a priority for each region in the coming decades.
In addition, it is necessary to update the general plans and schemes for heat, water supply and sanitation, take additional measures to attract extra-budgetary investments, and build a system of more precise control over the fulfillment of social obligations to citizens in terms of housing and communal services.
The Deputy Prime Minister noted the high level of communication between the State Duma, the Government and relevant departments, as well as the systematic approach to joint work, including on the current national projects “Housing and Urban Environment” and “Safe High-Quality Roads”.
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.
Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Khartoum (Agenzia Fides) – The shooting down of a Russian cargo plane over Darfur (western Sudan) sheds light on the international alliances that are fueling the Sudanese civil war that broke out in April 2023.The plane, an “Ilyushin IL-76” belonging to a company registered in Kyrgyzstan (New Way Cargo), had taken off from Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates) to Amdjarass (Chad). The aircraft was shot down on October 21 over Malha in North Darfur, allegedly by a missile fired by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who mistakenly thought it was a Sudanese army plane.The crew of this plane is usually five men. Currently, only the identities of two crew members are known: a Russian and a Kyrgyz, who was carrying an ID card identifying him as an engineer from a Kyrgyz company based in the United Arab Emirates.The plane was en route to Amdjarass in Chad, not far from the border with Sudan, where the United Arab Emirates sends humanitarian aid to the Sudanese population using the local airport (Aéroport International Maréchal Idriss Deby), which has the longest and best paved runway in all of Chad. Humanitarian aid which, according to independent investigations, conceals arms deliveries to Sudanese paramilitaries. The Emirates are considered to be one of the sponsors of the Rapid Support Forces, which is therefore said to have made a serious mistake by shooting down the plane. The militia said in a statement that it had shot down a foreign fighter plane that was supporting the Sudanese army. They also claimed, without providing any evidence, that the plane dropped “barrel bombs” on the civilian population. The Sudanese Air Force, meanwhile, uses Antonov cargo planes, not Ilyushin (like the one shot down), as improvised combat aircraft, which drop barrels filled with explosives from the tailgate during flight.While the Rapid Support Forces are supported by the United Arab Emirates and the Russian private military company Wagner-Group, the Sudanese army receives support from Egypt, Turkey and Iran, while the Ukrainian special forces publish videos from time to time in which their men can be seen taking action against Russian mercenaries who support the Rapid Support Forces. So, apart from the internal origin of the conflict, Sudan is also part of the “world war in pieces”. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 23/10/2024)
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (12th District of Michigan)
Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-06) today sent a letter to Department of Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo thanking the Department for its efforts to address the risks posed by connected vehicle technology from China and Russia, and urging the Department to finalize its rule prohibiting the sale and import of these vehicles without delay and provide a briefing to the relevant Congressional caucuses on the rulemaking status and implementation strategy.
“I am writing to express my strong support for the Department of Commerce Bureau of Industry and Security’s (BIS) Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) aimed at prohibiting the sale and import of connected vehicles incorporating specific hardware and software components with a sufficient nexus to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) or Russia,” Dingell writes. “As our vehicles become smarter and more connected, it is crucial that we address the national security risks posed by these components. This initiative directly addresses significant national security concerns stemming from the increasing prevalence of Chinese Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in the global automotive market.”
“Nearly 70% of vehicles on American roads are now connected — they rely on internet-enabled services and advanced software to manage functions such as navigation, vehicle diagnostics, and even autonomous driving features,” Dingell continues. “The data these connected vehicles and their technologies generate also include highly sensitive information. When this technology is manufactured or controlled by companies with close ties to the CCP, our data becomes vulnerable to foreign access and exploitation.”
“Given the gravity of these implications, I ask if the Department would provide a briefing to the relevant Congressional caucuses, such as the Auto Caucus and the Autonomous Vehicle (AV) Caucus on the NPRM, its implementation strategy, and the ongoing assessment of risks posed by Chinese and Russian-controlled components in connected vehicles. This briefing would allow Members of Congress to better understand the nuances of the rule and offer any potential assistance,” Dingell concludes. “I also strongly encourage the Department to finalize this rulemaking process without delay, given the urgency of the threat posed by these technologies. The potential threats require a swift response, and I am ready to assist in any way possible to streamline the process and ensure its effective enforcement. Should any legislative support be required to strengthen or clarify the rule’s provisions, I am committed to working collaboratively with both parties in both chambers of Congress to ensure its success.”
View the full text of the letter here.
Dingell wrote to the Department of Commerce in August urging the Administration to take action to address the privacy and security risks and trade implications posed by connected vehicle technology manufactured and controlled by foreign adversaries, including China.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT AN OFFER, WHETHER DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, NEW ZEALAND, RUSSIA, SINGAPORE, OR SOUTH AFRICA OR IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH OFFER PURSUANT TO LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS IN SUCH RELEVANT JURISDICTION WOULD BE PROHIBITED BY APPLICABLE LAW.
LEXINGTON, Ky., Oct. 23, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ventrifossa BidCo AG (the “Bidder”), a holding company controlled by MiddleGround Capital (“MiddleGround“) has secured 10.00 percent of all shares of STEMMER IMAGING AG (“STEMMER”; ISIN DE000A2G9MZ9 / GSIN A2G9MZ) in its voluntary public takeover offer for STEMMER (“Takeover Offer”). The additional acceptance period ended on October 18, 2024. In addition, the Bidder has signed a purchase agreement for approximately 69.36 percent of the shares with the majority shareholder of STEMMER, PRIMEPULSE SE. Together, with the shares it already holds, the Bidder has now secured a total of 83.54 percent of STEMMER shares.
All required merger control and foreign direct investment clearances have been obtained and the Takeover Offer is not subject to any further conditions. The settlement of the Takeover Offer is currently expected to occur on November 5, 2024.
About MiddleGround
MiddleGround Capital is a private equity firm based in Lexington, Kentucky with over $3.7 billion of assets under management. MiddleGround makes majority investments in middle market B2B industrial and specialty distribution businesses. MiddleGround works with its portfolio companies to create value through a hands-on operational approach and partners with its management teams to support long-term growth strategies. For more information, please visit: https://middleground.com.
About STEMMER IMAGING AG
STEMMER IMAGING AG is the leading international systems house for machine vision technology. With a background of all-round engineering expertise, STEMMER IMAGING AG delivers the entire spectrum of machine vision services for both, industrial and non-industrial applications – from value-added services to the development of subsystems and its own products, based on an extensive commercial range of products. For more information, please visit: https://www.stemmer-imaging.com/.
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Important Note
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares in STEMMER, whether directly or indirectly in or into the United States of America, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore or South Africa, in jurisdictions where such offer pursuant to legislation and regulations in such relevant jurisdictions would be prohibited by applicable law.
The Takeover Offer itself as well as its terms and conditions and further provisions concerning the Takeover Offer is set out in in detail in the offer document as approved by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht). Investors and holders of shares in STEMMER are strongly advised to thoroughly read the offer document and all other relevant documents regarding the Takeover Offer since they will contain important information. Shareholders not resident in Germany wanting to accept the Offer must make inquiries on relevant and applicable legislation, including but not limited to whether governmental consent is required and possible tax consequences. The Takeover Offer is not made, directly or indirectly, and sale will not be accepted from, or on behalf of, shareholders in any jurisdiction where presenting the Takeover Offer or acceptance thereof would be in conflict with the laws of such jurisdictions.
The Takeover Offer is exclusively subject to the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany. Any agreement that is entered into as a result of accepting the Takeover Offer will be exclusively governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany and is to be interpreted in accordance with such laws.
The Takeover Offer and the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being made and have not been approved by an “authorized person” for the purposes of section 21 of the UK Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the “FSMA“). Accordingly, the information and documents contained in the offer document are not being distributed to, and must not be passed on to, the general public in the United Kingdom unless an exemption applies. The communication of the information and documents contained in the offer document is exempt from the restriction on financial promotions under section 21 of the FSMA on the basis that it is a communication by or on behalf of a body corporate which relates to a transaction to acquire day to day control of the affairs of a body corporate; or to acquire 50 per cent or more of the voting shares in a body corporate, within article 62 of the FSMA (Financial Promotion) Order 2005.
The Takeover Offer described herein is made on the basis of the exemptions to publish a prospectus in Switzerland set out in article 36 para. 1 lit. b of the Swiss Financial Services Act (“FinSA“). None of the offering documentation or information relating to the Takeover Offer constitutes a prospectus pursuant to the FinSA. No such documentation or information has been nor will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority.
Source: Rosneft
Headline: Rosneft Opens Master’s Programme for Foreign Students in Ufa
The Rosneft Scientific Institute in Ufa has opened a master’s programme in Petroleum Engineering for international students at the Ufa State Petroleum Technological University (USPTU). Ten applicants from Egypt, Nigeria and Cameroon were the first students on the programme.
As part of the programme, Company specialists will work with university lecturers to teach students how to design, develop and produce onshore and offshore oil and gas fields, work with Rosneft’s digital software products, learn about innovative well drilling technologies and much more.
Classes will be held in English. In this way, the specialised educational programme will be available to the majority of foreign students who do not speak Russian.
To date, Rosneft Ufa Institute has opened 11 special and multi-disciplinary departments in the leading universities of the Republic of Bashkortostan: Ufa University of Science and Technology and Ufa State Petroleum Technological University. The departments reach more than 750 students. The most proactive will be invited for internships and paid apprenticeships. This year, more than 40 top graduates joined the Institute. Their theses proposed innovative solutions to the Company’s production challenges.
Rosneft
Information Division
September 3, 2024
Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
At the end of October, the Russian Culture Day festival was held in the HSE building on Pokrovsky Boulevard. The traditional holiday, organized by Directorate for Internationalization of the National Research University Higher School of Economics, is designed to help foreign and Russian students learn more about our country and its color, make new acquaintances and get a boost of emotions.
Today, almost 5,000 foreign students study at the HSE Moscow campus. To help them adapt to a new country, HSE offers them the opportunity to get to know multicultural Russia as part of the Russian Culture Day festival. On October 17, in the atrium on Pokrovka, participants had the opportunity to take part in master classes on assembling and painting a wooden hut, making a bast doll and wax candles, and also take lessons on playing the button accordion, balalaika, and wooden spoons. In addition, they could enjoy pies, bagels, and drinks in a Russian teahouse, play quizzes on Russian literature and music, cuisine, and geography, and guess the paintings and meanings of rare Russian words.
Foreign students studied each topic with interest and took souvenir photos wearing kokoshniks. Edna Jacob came to Russia from Tanzania as part of the HSE International Preparatory Year program (International Prep Year). “A teacher from HSE told us about today’s event, and we were all excited. I’ve already made a wooden hut and painted it,” she shared. “I’ve fallen madly in love with HSE, there are wonderful people and teachers here. I see that they teach us with a special passion for their work.”
Zhang Yifan came to HSE from China. “This is my second month at HSE, and I will be studying for a total of four months as part of an exchange program. I am studying sociology here as a postgraduate. HSE is different from my university. I was a little worried before coming to Moscow, but now I am very inspired, I like it here,” she said.
Other HSE students also shared their impressions of the festival.
— I can study history in lectures, or I can sit here and make dolls out of bast, immersing myself in the atmosphere. It’s great that HSE organizes such festivals. One of the best things about HSE is that there is constant life here, something is always happening, and every time you want to stop and participate.
— I have already managed to make a candle from wax with my own hands, decorated it, I am thinking of using it in the interior of my home. A good and interesting event, everyone here is involved in the process of creating different products, very soulful.
— It’s atmospheric and cozy, everyone here is cheerful, playing something. I took part in all the activities: guessing cities, famous people, books. HSE is distinguished by such events, every day is a holiday. They help you relax between classes, thanks to HSE for such an opportunity.
— I played the accordion here. I can play the piano, but the accordion is completely different, you can’t even see the keys where to press. It was an unforgettable experience, I really liked it. I also tried to play the spoons and bells, it was also fun. The mood is positive, I like it here.
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.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Nicolas Forsans, Professor of Management and Co-director of the Centre for Latin American & Caribbean Studies, University of Essex
Cuba’s national grid collapsed four times in as many days last week, after the island’s largest power plant, Antonio Guiteras, failed. Millions of Cubans are still without power, with food rotting in powerless fridges and many lacking access to clean water.
The Communist government closed schools on October 18 and ordered non-essential public sector activities to stop as work began on restoring the grid. But this was hindered by the arrival of Hurricane Oscar on Sunday night, which unleashed heavy rain and strong winds across eastern Cuba.
Antonio Guiteras is now back online, and Cuban energy officials say electricity has been restored in most of the capital city, Havana, and some outlying areas. But they have warned against too much optimism.
Cuba’s five thermoelectric power plants are obsolete and crumbling. And with oil products accounting for over 80% of power generation, the island depends on Venezuela for fuel shipments. But shipments have been cut in half this year as Venezuela struggles to ensure its own supply, forcing the Cuban government to seek far more expensive fuel on the spot market.
The problem is that the Cuban government is running out of money as it grapples with the island’s worst economic crisis in 30 years, so power cuts of up to 20 hours a day are now common. Indeed, Lazaro Guerra, Cuba’s top electricity official, has said that Cubans “should not expect that when the system comes back online the blackouts will end”.
The roots of this crisis can be traced back to the cold war when Fidel Castro overthrew the US-backed government of Fulgencio Batista in January 1959. Convinced that the Cuban revolution was the most advanced among all far-left movements in Latin America, the former Soviet Union sided with the island and provided it with industrial goods and technical assistance.
Cuba’s relations with the US worsened dramatically, and by July 1960 it had announced the expropriation of US industrial, banking and commercial operations on the island. Within a few months, the Cuban state had taken over all sugar mills, most industry and trade, half of the land, and every bank and communication network in the country.
Retaliation swiftly followed. The US introduced its first embargo on all exports to Cuba in 1960, with exceptions for food and medicine. And this was followed in 1962 by a ban on all trade and financial transactions with the island. In 1964, the then US president, Lyndon B. Johnson, ordered a multilateral policy of “economic denial”, severely inhibited Cuba’s efforts to foster economic relations with other countries.
The island would receive considerable amounts of aid from the Soviet bloc over the next 30 years. But this only deepened Havana’s dependence on a single export product: sugar, which was purchased at an inflated price as part of the aid programme. In return, Cuba purchased the crude oil it needed to operate its electricity plants.
But, by the time the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, Cuba had failed to diversify its industrial structure and move away from its low productivity, monocultural economy. The country enjoyed limited self-sufficiency even in the production of food, with all means of production in the state’s hands.
With the disappearance of its main oil supplier, Cuba was also forced to increase its domestic oil production and turn to Venezuela to meet its energy needs. The US embargo, which has been in place for 62 years, has cost Cuba an estimated US$130 billion (£100 billion), and has limited its access to basic goods and services.
During Barack Obama’s second term as US president, there was a step change in relations between the two countries. Diplomatic relations resumed from 2014 and the embargo was eased, including restrictions on the ability of Cuban-Americans to travel back to the island and send remittances.
This kicked off a boom in private sector activities in Cuba and prompted reforms by the Cuban government aimed at restructuring the economy. However, the government was unwilling to reduce its grip on the centrally planned economy, and the reforms moved too slowly to produce any meaningful improvement.
Then, in his final week in office in 2021, Donald Trump reimposed trade restrictions targeting tourism, remittances, and energy supplies, as well as adding Cuba to the list of “state sponsors of terrorism”. The move led to severe shortages and inflation, both of which were worsened by the pandemic.
Logistical bottlenecks disrupted supplies and inflated shipping costs further. Heavily dependent on tourism, Cuba suffered a severe depletion of its foreign currency reserves.
The economic situation has continued to decline. Export earnings in 2023 were still US$3 billion short of their pre-pandemic level, and Cuba’s economic output is not expected to return to its level before the pandemic until after 2025.
Half a million people – most of whom were young – left the country for the US between 2021 and 2022. And thousands more have made their way to Brazil, Russia, Uruguay and elsewhere in an exodus that is unprecedented in the history of the island.
The future outlook looks bleak, yet the government is keen to quash dissent. Speaking during the latest blackouts, Cuba’s current president, Miguel Díaz-Canel, said: “We will not accept or allow anyone to act by provoking acts of vandalism, and much less disturbing the civil tranquillity of our people … And that is a principle of our revolution.”
Díaz-Canel was reelected by lawmakers in April 2023 for a second and final term. But the weak state of Cuba’s economy will pose significant challenges for his government, testing its strength and the legitimacy of its hold on power.
Cuba’s relations with the US are also likely to remain strained. In an attempt to curb Cuba’s outreach to Russia and China for predominantly economic assistance, the US president, Joe Biden, has loosened some sanctions. But this could all change with a Republican victory in the upcoming US election.
Nicolas Forsans does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Cuba’s power grid collapse reveals the depth of the country’s economic crisis – https://theconversation.com/cubas-power-grid-collapse-reveals-the-depth-of-the-countrys-economic-crisis-241819
Source: The White House
Via Teleconference
9:09 A.M. EDT
MODERATOR: Good morning, everyone. Thanks so much for joining today’s call to discuss the G7’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans effort for Ukraine.
As a reminder, this call is going to be on the record, and it is embargoed until its conclusion.
The speaker on today’s call is Daleep Singh, who’s the White House Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics. He’ll have a few words at the top, and then we’ll take some of your questions.
With that, Daleep, I’ll turn it over to you.
MR. SINGH: Thanks, Eduardo. Thanks, everybody, for joining.
Since Russia’s invasion began over two years ago, the United States has rallied the world to defend Ukraine’s freedom, leading a coalition of allies and partners to surge security, economic, and humanitarian assistance, while spearheading unprecedented efforts to impose costs on Russia for its senseless aggression.
At the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Apulia this June, the United States proposed an idea to ensure Putin pays for the damage he’s caused in Ukraine by committing we issue $50 billion in loans to Ukraine, backed by the interest earned on the Russian sovereign assets we collectively immobilized just after the invasion began. We call these Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loans.
Today, we’re announcing that of the $50 billion G7 commitment, the United States plans to provide a loan of $20 billion. The other $30 billion in loans will come from a combination of our G7 partners, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.
To be clear, nothing like this has ever been done before. Never before has a multilateral coalition frozen the assets of an aggressor country and then harnessed the value of those assets to fund the defense of the aggrieved party, all while respecting the rule of law and maintaining solidarity. And as a result, Ukraine will receive the assistance it needs now without burdening our taxpayers.
As we committed in June, the G7 will begin disbursing assistance for the benefit of Ukraine by the end of this year so that we can meet Ukraine’s urgent needs as we approach the winter, while sending an unmistakable signal: The United States and its G7 partners will not fatigue. We will continue to use our creativity and collaboration to support Ukraine’s fight for independence and sovereignty. And tyrants are responsible for the damages they cause, not U.S. taxpayers.
It’s also a testament to this administration’s belief that multilateralism is a force multiplier. We couldn’t have done this by ourselves. The income used to repay these loans will be generated from frozen Russian assets held in the European Union. This is another example of how Putin’s war of aggression has unified and strengthened the resolve of G7 countries and our partners to defend shared values. It’s also a model for how we can rally our closest allies towards a shared purpose while ensuring that each country contributes its fair share.
Let me give you a few more details, and then I’ll be happy to take your questions.
So, the United States will provide at least $10 billion of our loan via economic support. The World Bank recently established what’s called a financial intermediary fund for Ukraine, which will be the vehicle through which we will disburse U.S. loan proceeds for economic support to Ukraine.
The financial intermediary fund, or FIF, will be subject to robust accountability and transparency measures, much like those used for existing U.S. economic assistance to Ukraine.
The United States also hopes to provide up to $10 billion
of our loan as U.S. military support, but our ability to do that relies on Congress taking action before mid-December on certain legislative changes that allow us to make loans for military support under the contours of this broader G7 initiative.
To be clear, either way, the U.S. will provide $20 billion in support for Ukraine through this effort, whether it’s split between economic and military support or provided entirely via economic assistance.
In terms of next steps, the United States will now work with Ukraine to sign loan agreements in order to execute the loan and begin disbursing funds for the benefit of Ukraine before the end of this year. More details will be available at the conclusion of the G7 finance ministers meeting later this week or early next.
Let me stop there and take your questions.
MODERATOR: Thanks. If folks have questions, please use the “raise your hand” function on Zoom and we’ll turn to you.
First up, we’ll go to Alan Rappeport. You should be able to unmute yourself.
Q Hi. Thanks very much, Daleep. A couple things. One, can we expect a G7 statement today saying that this is fully done? Because I know, yesterday, Secretary Yellen said it was 99 percent done.
And then, second of all, can you explain how the U.S. has gotten around the need to appropriate any funds to account for the risk associated with the loan? I know there were concerns about the EU needing to extend its sanctions renewal period, or something like that, to minimize the risk.
MR. SINGH: (Inaudible.) (Audio muted) — from partners, if we had sufficiently strong repayment assurances from the immobilized assets. And since the Leaders’ Summit, we’ve engaged in intensive diplomacy and technical negotiations every day with our partners to secure the strongest possible repayment assurances.
Let me just mention a few. Number one, the EU Council released a statement at the end of June, and again in October, from all 27 EU heads of state to keep Russia’s central bank assets immobilized until there’s a just peace with a free and sovereign Ukraine and until Russia pays for the damages it’s caused. This represents an expansion of the G7 leaders’ commitment to the entire EU, including Hungary.
Number two, equal burden sharing. So, the EU committed to provide at least $20 billion in loans alongside the United States, which means the Europeans have equal skin in the game and, therefore, fully aligned incentives to keep the assets immobilized until we get fully repaid.
Number three, we’ve worked with Ukraine on loan agreements under which, at the conclusion of this war, Ukraine would use settlement proceeds it receives from Russia towards repayment of these loans.
Number four, we’ve negotiated loan terms with our partners that further reduces any fiscal risks to the U.S. taxpayer.
And number five, history. You know, the EU has had sanctions in place against Russia for almost 10 years now. Every six months, those sanctions need EU unanimity to get rolled over for another six months. And, yes, there’s grandstanding and drama, but the EU has built a track record of staying the course, and that adds to our confidence that Russia’s sovereign assets will remain immobilized until Russia ends its war and pays for the damages it’s caused.
One last point, Alan. I’m sorry to belabor this, but it’s a really important question. While we have found a way to move forward without legal changes to the EU sanctions regime, we will keep pushing for those changes to get made.
MODERATOR: Alan, I think we had a little bit of trouble hearing the first part of your question, if you could ask that again.
Q Oh, sorry. Yeah. I think maybe — or maybe you were muted in the first part of your response. I was trying to understand if there was going to be a G7 statement today and if this is fully done now. I know Secretary Yellen said it was 99 percent done yesterday.
MR. SINGH: Oh, I’m sorry if you didn’t hear me. You should expect further statements today, both from the United States and from the G7.
MODERATOR: Next up we’ll go to Victoria. You should be able to unmute yourself.
Q Hi. Thank you. I just had a couple of questions. First, I was wondering if you could explain a bit the part you talked in the beginning on the Congress contribution side of things. What needs to happen from Congress exactly for the $10 billion, the second half, to come through the military aid part? Is it a matter of using appropriations that have happened already, different appropriations? If you could just explain that. And just to clarify that if that doesn’t happen, you could give the other ten through economic support.
And then, just a second question on the timing of things. I’m just wondering if you could talk us through how frontloaded you expect this load to be, as in, you know, do you think over the next couple of months we’re going to get a big chunk of it over to Ukraine? Just the timeline of the disbursements. Thank you.
MR. SINGH: Sure. So, on the second part of your question, we expect to disburse at least half of our $20 billion loan to the World Bank Trust Fund this December, and possibly the entire amount.
And this kind of gets to your first question: We do need authority from Congress to raise the amount of foreign military financing we can provide to Ukraine and also to make certain technical changes that would allow us to split the loan in half between economic assistance and security assistance. And we’ll be having conversations with Congress between now and December to assess those odds.
MODERATOR: Next up, we’ll go to Colby Smith.
Q Hi. Thank you so much. I just wanted — a couple questions just to follow up on — in terms of assessing the odds. Did you have, kind of, an initial assessment as it stands today? And how do you kind of — do you expect that support to come through?
And then, just more specifically on the economic support side of things, can you just mention a couple of specifics there in terms of how you expect this money to be used?
MR. SINGH: Sure. Thanks, Colby. So, I just want to be clear: The only question we’re talking about here is the split between economic assistance and security assistance. We’re going to provide $20 billion either way.
But, you know, we’ll work with Congress over the next few months to assess whether we can get sufficient authority through foreign military financing loan guarantee authorities to provide half of our assistance through military support.
In terms of your question, Colby, on what kinds of projects could the economic assistance support, you know, I would highlight a couple: Energy assistance. So, we all know Ukraine is at risk of being plunged into cold and darkness this winter. Helping to fund the rapid repairs that will be needed to stabilize the grid and also to provide passive protection against drone attacks for substations and transformers. That’s an urgent priority that we hope this assistance can help meet.
There are a number of other initiatives that relate to Ukraine’s infrastructure that can create the conditions for an eventual economic recovery that we expect this fund can also support through World Bank project support.
And there are many other projects that we can assess, but those are just a couple of examples.
MODERATOR: And our last question will go to Daniel. You should be able to unmute yourself.
Q Hi. How are you doing? Thank you for taking my question. I wanted to ask about any potential Russian reprisals. I know that was a large consideration when you guys were determining the mechanism for these loans. Are you guys expecting any kind of retaliation? And do you guys have any preparations for that, whether it be European assets or American? Thank you very much.
MR. SINGH: Well, Russia has been expropriating assets, seizing assets, really, from close to the beginning of its invasion. So, nothing — nothing new would change on that front if they continue to do so.
I would just make clear, though, that the revenues that we are using to repay these loans, under European law, these revenues don’t belong to Russia. It’s actually contractual law. The interest earned doesn’t belong to Russia but rather the custody in Belgium. And so, we don’t view this as a seizure of Russia’s assets, per se.
MODERATOR: Thanks, everyone. Thanks for joining. If there are any follow-up questions, do reach out to us, and we’ll get back to you.
As a reminder, this call was on the record, and the person you heard from was Daleep Singh, Deputy National Security Advisor for International Economics. The embargo on this call is now lifted. Thanks again.
9:23 A.M. EDT
Source: The White House
Nearly 80 years ago, our forebearers gathered for the first United Nations General Assembly. With the horrors of World War II weighing on their hearts and the hopes of humanity resting on their shoulders, they opened the General Assembly by declaring, “The whole world now waits upon our decisions… looking to us to show ourselves capable of mastering our problems.” Today, we reflect on the history of this storied institution. And together, we recommit to sustaining and strengthening it to master the challenges of our time.
Under my Administration, the United States has been a leader at the United Nations — rallying global action to advance democratic values, safeguard human rights, and address the issues our world faces. That includes standing against Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine and Hamas’ despicable terrorist attack on Israel. At the United Nations, we have been working to secure a ceasefire in Gaza, with the release of hostages, and we have been pushing to expand humanitarian access and assistance. The United States has also played a key role in helping bring security to the people of Haiti and addressing the conflict and dire humanitarian situation in Sudan, where millions are displaced and facing famine.
But we know people need more than the absence of war. They need the chance to live with dignity. They need to be protected from the ravages of climate change, hunger, and disease. That is why my Administration has invested over $150 billion to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, including ending poverty, eliminating hunger, promoting health and well-being, and promoting gender equality. We also forged a historic consensus on the first-ever General Assembly Resolution on Artificial Intelligence to help people everywhere seize the potential — and minimize the risks — of this technology.
As we look ahead, countries need to work together to continue reforming the United Nations to be more effective. The United States will keep pushing for a stronger, more inclusive United Nations, including a reformed and expanded United Nations Security Council. And the Security Council, like the United Nations itself, needs to focus on making peace, brokering deals to end wars and suffering, stopping the spread of the most dangerous weapons, and stabilizing troubled regions.
Finally, the United Nations’ work is carried out by brave and committed United Nations humanitarian workers, development professionals, peacekeepers, and members of special political missions. And every day, they risk their own lives to save the lives of others, undertaking often dangerous work. Like nations around the world, the United States honors their sacrifices and those of their families.
Today and every day, let us remember that the forces holding us together are stronger than those pulling us apart. Let us continue to work together to unleash the power of humanity and give people the opportunity to live freely, think freely, breathe freely, and love freely. And in the face of difficult challenges, let us prove that we are capable of building a better world together.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2024, as United Nations Day. I urge the governors of the United States and its territories, and the officials of all other areas under the flag of the United States, to observe United Nations Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this
twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-four, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
Source: Republic of South Africa (video statements)
President Ramaphosa delivers the Country’s statement during the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan in the Russian Federation.
Source: Microsoft
Headline: As US election nears, Russia, Iran and China step up influence efforts
With two weeks until Election Day 2024, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) observes sustained influence efforts by Russia, Iran, and China aimed at undermining U.S. democratic processes. Since our last two reports, the U.S. government has taken many actions revealing cyber and influence activity from foreign adversaries related to election 2024. Most recently, that includes revealing malicious Iranian cyber actors’ sending of “stolen, non-public material from former President Trump’s campaign” to both individuals then associated with President Biden’s campaign and U.S. media organizations, and the indictment of three Iranian actors for the hack-and-leak operation targeting the Trump-Vance campaign.
We also noted in our last report that while Iranian actors have focused their cyber-influence operations on the Trump campaign, Russian actors decisively pivoted toward the Harris campaign once she entered the race. Since then, Russian actors continue to integrate generative AI into their content, Iranian groups ramp up their preparations to enable cyber-influence operations, while Chinese actors shift focus to several down-ballot candidates and members of Congress. Russian actors have notably attempted to target the Harris-Walz campaign by attacking the candidates’ characters.
History has shown foreign actors’ ability to rapidly distribute deceptive content can significantly impact public perception and electoral outcomes. With a particular focus on the 48 hours before and after Election Day, voters, government institutions, candidates, and parties must remain vigilant against deceptive and suspicious activity online. Early detection and fact-checking remain essential to countering these efforts and maintaining election integrity.
We discuss this activity in our fifth election report by the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) released today.
Russian operatives continue to take steps to undermine the Harris-Walz campaign. Russian actors continue to create AI-enhanced deepfake videos about Vice President Harris. In one video, Harris is depicted as allegedly making derogatory comments about former President Donald Trump. In another from a Kremlin-aligned troll farm we track as Storm-1516, Harris is accused of illegal poaching in Zambia. Finally, another video spreads disinformation about Democratic vice president nominee Tim Walz, gaining more than 5 million views on X in the first 24 hours.
While most of these videos received minimal engagement, they underscore Russia’s ongoing use of both traditional and AI-generated content to influence U.S. audiences and stoke political discord. We have also seen some actors shifting their content publishing strategy from Telegram to X to reach U.S. audiences.
Iran has proved that it can run multiple operations against varying targets simultaneously. Despite escalating tensions with Israel, Iran continues its efforts to influence U.S. audiences. Most recently, MTAC observed Iranian activity, disguised as “Bushnell’s Men,” calling on Americans to boycott the elections due to the candidates’ support for Israel. The group’s previous efforts to incite anti-Israeli protests at universities further illustrate their use of divisive social issues to sow conflict among communities in the U.S.
Additionally, the Iranian cyber group Microsoft tracks as Cotton Sandstorm has been actively scouting election-related websites and media outlets, suggesting preparations for more direct influence operations as Election Day nears. The actor’s history of election interference and their pattern of cyber-influence operations underscores the persistent threat they pose.
Chinese influence operations have focused on down-ballot Republican candidates and members of Congress that advocate for anti-Chinese policies. This includes campaigns against Rep. Barry Moore, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, and Sen. Marco Rubio (not currently up for re-election this cycle). Actors have parroted antisemitic messages, amplified accusations of corruption, and promoted opposition candidates. While not always resulting in high levels of engagement, these efforts demonstrate China’s sustained attempts influence U.S. politics across the board.
During times of heightened emotion, conflict, and competition, manipulated images, audio, and video often travel further and faster across audiences than during an average news cycle. Foreign actors have proven nimble and capable of inserting deceptive content and distributing it rapidly during these moments. We expect Russia, Iran, and China to continue their efforts, including using AI, and may employ tactics that seek to cast doubt about the integrity of the election’s outcome. MTAC will continue to monitor this activity and provide updates publicly to promote education and protect institutions from any form of foreign interference.
Microsoft will not endorse a candidate or political party.
