September 9, 2024. RE: PIMCO Funds: Global Investors Series plc (the “Company”) – Proposed Merger of the Dynamic Multi-Asset Fund and the Strategic Income Fund IMPORTANT: This document requires your immediate attention. If you have any questions about the content of this document, you should seek independent professional advice. All terms used in this document have the same meanings as in the Prospectus unless otherwise herein defined.

August 21, 2024. ARIZONA, US This marks another significant step towards providing a high-performance interface that will enhance the control of digital devices for people with quadriplegia to help restore their autonomy. (Fig 04) Alex playing Counter-Strike. Last month, Alex,* the second participant in our PRIME Study,** received his Neuralink implant (Link). The surgery, conducted at the Barrow Neurological Institute , went well — Alex was discharged the following day, and his recovery has been smooth. With the Link, he has been improving his ability to play video games and began learning how to use computer-aided design (CAD) software to design 3D objects. This marks another significant step towards providing a high-performance interface that will enhance the control of digital devices for people with quadriplegia to help restore their autonomy. The overarching aim for the PRIME Study is to demonstrate that the Link is safe and useful in daily life, as noted in our last blog post . In this blog post, we share updates from the experience of our second participant across three key dimensions that support this aim: Out-of-the-box experience Repertoire of capabilities Thread retraction mitigations Out-of-the-Box Experience From the first moment Alex connected his Link to his computer, it took less than 5 minutes for him to start controlling a cursor with his mind. Within a few hours, he was able to surpass the maximum speed and accuracy he’d achieved with any other assistive technology on our Webgrid task. Similar to Noland, our first participant, Alex broke the previous world record for brain-computer interface (BCI) cursor control with a non-Neuralink device on day one of using the Link. After the first research session concluded, Alex continued testing the capabilities of the Link independently, using it to play the first-person shooter game Counter-Strike . “I’m already super impressed with how this works.”— Alex, PRIME Study participant Repertoire of Capabilities Alex enjoys building things. Before his spinal cord injury, he worked as an automotive technician, fixing and tinkering with various types of vehicles and large machinery. Since then, he has wanted to learn how to design 3D objects using computer-aided design (CAD) software so he could work on projects without needing to rely extensively on his support system. However, the level of control offered by his assistive technologies made this challenging. On day two of using the Link, Alex used the CAD software Fusion 360 for the first time and managed to design a custom mount for his Neuralink charger , which was then 3D printed and integrated into his setup. We are working with Alex to increase his productivity with the Link by mapping intended movements to different types of mouse clicks (e.g., left, right, middle), thereby expanding the number of controls he has and enabling him to quickly switch between various modes in CAD software (e.g., zoom, scroll, pan, click-and-drag).  In his free time, Alex continues to use CAD software to turn his design ideas into reality. We hope that in time, the Link helps many people create in their areas of interest and expertise, and we’re excited to work with more people to help them reconnect with their passions. “Taking an idea, putting it as a design, and actually having a physical item as a finished product makes me feel like I’m building things again.”  — Alex, PRIME Study participant (Fig 02) In this video, Alex uses his Link to carve out the center of the custom mount for his Neuralink charger (finished product shown in Fig 03). On the right side of his screen is a mode switcher — a user interface element developed by Neuralink — which he leverages to quickly change the functionality of his mouse. In this video, Alex uses his Link to carve out the center of the custom mount for his Neuralink charger (finished product shown in Fig 03). On the right side of his screen is a mode switcher — a user interface element developed by Neuralink — which he leverages to quickly change the functionality of his mouse. (Fig 03) To the right of Alex’s laptop is a 3D-printed charger mount that he designed using his Link. Alex also enjoys playing first-person shooter games, which generally require the use of numerous inputs, including two separate joysticks (one for aiming and the other for moving) and an array of buttons. Before receiving the Link, Alex enjoyed playing these games using an assistive device called the Quadstick — a mouth operated joystick with sip-and-puff pressure sensors and a lip position sensor for clicking. However, a key limitation of the controller is that it only has one joystick, restricting Alex to either moving or aiming at any given time. Switching from moving to aiming involves letting go of the joystick and then sipping or puffing into a separate straw to toggle the functionality. Now, Alex is able to use the Link in combination with his Quadstick to move and aim simultaneously, unlocking a more intuitive gameplay experience.  “Just running around is so enjoyable because I can look side to side, and not need to move Quadstick left and right… I can [think about where to] look and it goes where I want it to. It's insane.” — Alex, PRIME Study participant Thread Retraction Mitigations With our first participant, Noland, we observed a degree of thread retraction that temporarily reduced his BCI performance. The threads have stabilized, and the performance of Noland’s Link has since recovered — more than doubling the prior world record for BCI cursor control.  To reduce the probability of thread retraction in our second participant, we implemented a number of mitigations, including reducing brain motion during the surgery and reducing the gap between the implant and the surface of the brain. We discussed these measures in greater detail in our live update prior to our second participant’s surgery.  Promisingly, we have observed no thread retraction in our second participant. Looking Forward To further enhance our participants’ experience using their digital devices, we are continuing to expand the controls that are available to them. We are working on decoding multiple clicks and multiple simultaneous movement intents to deliver full mouse and video game controller functionality. We are also developing algorithms to recognize handwriting intent to enable faster text entry. These capabilities would not only help restore digital autonomy for those who are unable to use their limbs, but also restore the ability to communicate for those who are unable to speak, such as people with neurological conditions like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) . Additionally, we plan to enable the Link to interact with the physical world, allowing users to feed themselves and move more independently by controlling a robotic arm or their wheelchair. “The Link is a big step on the path of regaining freedom and independence for myself.” — Alex, PRIME Study participant Join the Neuralink Community If you are excited to restore autonomy to those with unmet medical needs, consider applying to our open roles . If you are interested in shaping the future of assistive technologies by participating in a Neuralink clinical trial, please join our Patient Registry . * Name shared at the request of the participant. ** The PRIME Study — an investigational medical device trial for our fully implantable, wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) — aims to evaluate the safety of our implant and surgical robot, and assess the initial functionality of our BCI for enabling people with quadriplegia to control external devices with their thoughts. We do not guarantee any benefit by participating in the PRIME Study. Source Link: https://neuralink.com/blog/prime-study-progress-update-second-participant/

STOXX Ltd. has announced an unscheduled component change in the SDAX index.  10 July 2024, Zug STOXX Ltd. has announced an unscheduled component change in the SDAX index.  SYNLAB AG will leave the SDAX because it does not meet the requirement „existing listing on the Regulated Market of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE)” any more ( rulebook , section 5.4.2 Breaches of basic criteria).  The following change will be made.  Deletion Addition SYNLAB AG Medios AG About STOXX STOXX® and DAX® indices comprise a global and comprehensive family of more than 17,000 strictly rules-based and transparent indices. Best known for the leading European equity indices EURO STOXX 50®, STOXX® Europe 600 and DAX®, the portfolio of index solutions consists of total market, benchmark, blue-chip, sustainability, thematic and factor-based indices covering a complete set of world, regional and country markets. STOXX and DAX indices are licensed to more than 550 companies around the world for benchmarking purposes and as underlyings for ETFs, futures and options, structured products, and passively managed investment funds. STOXX Ltd., part of the ISS STOXX group of companies, is the administrator of the STOXX and DAX indices under the European Benchmark Regulation.  stoxx.com About ISS STOXX ISS STOXX GmbH, through its group companies, is a leading provider of comprehensive and data-centric research and technology solutions that help capital market participants identify investment opportunities, detect qualitative and quantitative portfolio company risks, and meet evolving regulatory requirements. With roots dating back to 1985, we today deliver world-class benchmark and custom indices across asset classes and geographies and serve as a premier source of independent corporate governance, sustainability, cyber risk, and fund intelligence research, data, and related offerings. Our products and services give clients the scale and leverage they need to grow their business more effectively and efficiently. ISS STOXX, which is majority owned by Deutsche Börse Group, is comprised of more than 3,400 professionals operating across 33 global locations in 19 countries. Its approximately 6,400 clients include many of the world’s leading institutional investors who turn to ISS STOXX for its objective and varied offerings, as well as companies focused on ESG, cyber, and governance risk mitigation as a shareholder value enhancing measure. Clients rely on ISS STOXX’s expertise to help them make informed decisions to benefit their stakeholders.   Legal disclaimer:  STOXX Ltd., ISS STOXX GmbH, ISS STOXX Index GmbH, Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research partners or data providers do not make any warranties or representations, express or implied, with respect to the timeliness, sequence, accuracy, completeness, currentness, merchantability, quality or fitness for any particular purpose of its index data and exclude any liability in connection therewith. STOXX Ltd., ISS STOXX GmbH, ISS STOXX Index GmbH, Deutsche Börse Group and their licensors, research partners or data providers are not providing investment advice through the publication of indices or in connection therewith. None of their products or services recommends, endorses, approves or otherwise expresses any opinion regarding any issuer, securities, financial products or trading strategies. In particular, the inclusion of a company in an index, its weighting, or the exclusion of a company from an index, does not in any way reflect an opinion of STOXX Ltd., ISS STOXX GmbH, ISS STOXX Index GmbH, Deutsche Börse Group or their licensors, research partners or data providers on the merits of that company and may not be relied on as such. Financial instruments based on the STOXX® indices, DAX® indices or on any other indices supported by STOXX are in no way sponsored, endorsed, sold or promoted by STOXX Ltd., ISS STOXX GmbH, ISS STOXX Index GmbH, Deutsche Börse Group or their licensors, research partners or data providers.  Source Link: https://www.deutsche-boerse.com/dbg-en/media/press-releases/Unscheduled-component-change-in-SDAX-4027094

May 20, 2024. BALI, Indonesia The Bandung Spirit Water Summit: Collaborative Efforts to Find Solutions to Water Issues in Small and Outer Islands PRESS RELEASE COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 10TH WORLD WATER FORUM NO.92/SP/TKM-WORLDWATERFORUM2024/05/2024 on The Bandung Spirit Water Summit: Collaborative Efforts to Find Solutions to Water Issues in Small and Outer Islands The Bandung Spirit Water Summit, which takes place on 21 May, will focus on global collaborative efforts to find solutions for water issues in small and outer islands. The summit is part of the 10th World Water Forum held in Nusa Dua, Bali from 18 to 25 May 2024. Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the 10th World Water Forum, Basuki Hadimuljono, and Han Seung-soo, Chairman of the High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel (HELP) and former Prime Minister of Korea, will officially open the Bandung Spirit Water Summit. Minister Basuki emphasized the importance of integrated water resource management in the smallest and outermost islands in order to address climate change and sea-level rise. Water resource management faces challenges such as disaster management regulations, data collection, analysis, capacity building, and coordination among stakeholders. "To achieve this, cooperation is needed in the development of strategic planning focused on enhancing the awareness of integrated water resource management in small and outer islands when facing climate change and sea-level rise," said Basuki at the 23rd High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel (HELP) on Water and Disasters in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre on Sunday, 19 May. The Indonesian government also initiated the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Water and Climate Resilience, which aims to integrate environmental and socio-economic aspects in addressing climate change. "Thus, networking and collaboration between stakeholders consisting of the government, private sector, and academia are needed to become a centre for technology development, capacity building, implementation of effective solutions for climate change, and sustainable and inclusive natural resources challenges," Basuki added. Professor Kenzo Hiroki from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and HELP Coordinator mentioned that the high-level panel has a special meaning as it elevates and promotes water issues to a platform of political solidarity and shared prosperity. The Bandung Spirit Water Summit will serve as a new political corridor to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through water. "In this forum, world leaders, international organizations, experts, and stakeholders will engage in dialogue and produce The Spirit of Bandung: a call to action," said Kenzo. By gathering heads of state, stakeholders, and experts, The Bandung Spirit Water Summit will formulate proposals and real actions. The summit has five main focuses: water and peace, climate change and disaster risk reduction, sanitation and water for all, finance and governance, and youth. The term "Bandung Spirit" refers to the collaborating and mutually beneficial efforts of participating countries in the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference. Minister Basuki had previously echoed the Bandung Spirit on various occasions, including the 21st HELP on Water and Disasters in Madrid in 2023. "The spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung will serve as the foundation for the organization of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali in 2024, not only as a philosophical basis but also as a fundamental concept for the forum," Basuki said. Basuki believes that the spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference remains relevant in addressing shared problems that require global consensus as solutions, including through the World Water Forum. This meeting transforms all policies, spirit, and passion to collectively embrace the future, making water a source of life and peace.(Yandi/Elvira Inda Sari/TR/SW/MB) **** For further information, please contact: Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong  (0816785320). PCO of the 10th World Water Forum - Dede Ariwibowo (08111830020) Source Link: https://media.worldwaterforum.org/en/contents/siaran-pers-660047517afb1/siaran-pers-world-water-forum-ke-10-the-bandung-spirit-water-summit-upaya-kolaboratif-cari-solusi-masalah-air-di-pulau-pulau-kecil-dan-terluar-664ab6284c62d

May 14, 2024. JAKARTA, Indonesia PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (BCA) presents the BCA 2024 Prize Festival program as an appreciation for the customers. Through this program, customers who own Stages BCA, Stages Gold BCA, and Stages Xpresi BCA accounts automatically have the opportunity to win various attractive prizes from motorcycles to luxury cars. BCA President Director Jahja Setiaatmadja stated, "BCA has been able to expand and improve to this day thanks to the trust and support of all our customers. As a form of appreciation and gratitude to our loyal customers, BCA launched the BCA Prize Festival. We want to give all customers the chance to win various attractive prizes. We also present this program as a form of our efforts to maintain the enormous trust of BCA customers." From 1 May-31 August 2024, BCA customers who save or perform transactions earn points that can be converted into lucky draw coupons in September 2024. The prize coupon will be drawn to determine the winner of the program. Various prizes are provided for this program, namely Vespa LX125 for 70 lucky customers, 12 Mercedes-Benz A-Class A 200 Sedans, and 5 units of Mercedes-Benz CLA 200. The number of points customers earn is calculated based on the average balance and number of monthly transactions. Customers are entitled to 10 points for a minimum average balance of IDR 1 million, multiples apply. For each additional average balance of at least IDR 500 thousand, customers will get 5 points. Customers will also get 1 (one) point for every QRIS payment transaction, BCA Debit, bill, and top-up voucher purchase, and transfer to BCA Virtual Account made. Customers are entitled to 2 (two) times the points if they make transactions using myBCA. “We hope that customers can take advantage of this Gebyar Prize BCA momentum by transacting and increasing their balance as much as possible. This event is a form of our gratitude to our beloved customers. "We hope this program can help customers achieve their dreams, and increase public interest in saving and transacting using various BCA products and services," said Jahja Setiaatmadja. BCA continuously urges customers to be aware of fraudulent schemes on behalf of the BCA Gift Gebyar Program. For more detailed information about the Gebyar Prize BCA Program, please visit https://www.bca.co.id/id/Campaign/2024/gebyar- Prize-bca. Additionally, if customers find suspicious individuals on behalf of BCA or the Gebyar Prize BCA Program, they can contact the Halo BCA contact center via 1500888 and haloBCA application, WA Halo BCA 0811 1500 998, X (Twitter) account @HaloBCA, webchat www. bca.co.id, or e-mail via halobca@bca.co.id. About PT Bank Central Asia Tbk (As of 31 March 2024) BCA is one of the leading commercial banks in Indonesia with the core business of transaction banking. BCA also offers a full range of financial services in consumer, SME, commercial and corporate segments. By the end of March 2024, BCA has the privilege of serving more than 38 million customer accounts, processing around 90 million of daily transactions through a network of 1,258 branches, 19,055 ATMs as well as internet & mobile banking services and Halo BCA contact center that can be accessible 24 hours. BCA's presence is complemented by a number of subsidiaries focusing on vehicle financing, sharia banking, securities, general and life insurance, digital bank, remittance as well as venture capital business. BCA is committed to building lasting relationships with customers, putting people first, and making a positive impact on society at large. With around 27,000 employees, BCA's vision is to be the bank of choice and a major pillar of the Indonesian economy PT BANK CENTRAL ASIA TBK Group Corporate Communication and Social Responsibility - CSR Corporate Communication Alamat : Jl. MH Thamrin No. 1 Menara BCA Lt. 22 Jakarta Pusat 10310 Telepon : (021) 2358-8000Fax : (021) 2358-8339E-mail : corcom_bca@bca.co.id Source Link: https://www.bca.co.id/en/tentang-bca/media-riset/pressroom/siaran-pers/2024/05/16/03/00/gebyar-hadiah-bca-kembali-hadir-nasabah-bisa-menangkan-vespa-hingga-mercedes-benz

May 16, 2024. TOKYO, Japan Aim to provide JPY 2 trillion in funding for production Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. (President & Group CEO: Masahiro Kihara) aims to provide JPY 2 trillion in financing for the production and supply of hydrogen and related technologies by 2030. This goal reflects our understanding of the growth in these funding needs. Hydrogen and related technologies have been identified as a key component for decarbonization across various sectors, including power generation, transportation, and industry, as countries around the world move toward achieving carbon neutrality. Despite ongoing R&D and feasibility studies in Japan and other countries, hydrogen's widespread adoption is currently hindered by issues that include, aside from the need to generate demand and reduce costs through innovation, companies' ability to secure necessary funding. As outlined in the Mizuho Sustainability Focus 2023 report, entitled "Sustainability: Path to industrial competitiveness", Mizuho identifies hydrogen as a key component for achieving widespread decarbonization across various sectors. Based on this perspective, we have pursued the following initiatives to promote its extensive use in society. Mizuho's recent initiatives in hydrogen and related technologies Given the growing urgency to set up supply chains for hydrogen and related technologies, which require substantial investment for production facilities, financial institutions have an essential role to play in providing funding. At Mizuho, we aim to offer JPY 2 trillion in financing for the production and supply of hydrogen and related technologies by 2030. By adopting this proactive approach, we will contribute to the development of the supply chains and accelerate hydrogen adoption in society. To achieve this ambitious aim, we are focusing on three key areas: (1) Developing business strategies focused on hydrogen and related technologies, (2) Establishing a group-wide framework dedicated to supporting hydrogen and related technologies, and (3) Expanding our pool of personnel specialized in related areas. Going forward, we will further expand our initiatives to promote the construction of supply chains for hydrogen and related technologies. 1: "Hydrogen and related technologies" refers to areas including hydrogen, ammonia, and e-methane. Source Link: https://www.mizuhogroup.com/news_release/20240516release_eng.html

April 11, 2024. TOKYO, Japan. JPX Working Papers highlight research and studies on changes in the market and regulatory environment with the aim of raising competitiveness. Conducted by officers and employees of JPX, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, as well as outside researchers, JPX Working Papers are intended to draw comments widely from academia, research institutions, and other market participants and observers. Japan Exchange Group, Inc. (JPX) today published JPX Working Paper, Vol.42 "Impact of optimization of the tick size for TOPIX Mid 400 constituents". * This Japanese version was released on January 31, 2024. JPX Working Papers highlight research and studies on changes in the market and regulatory environment with the aim of raising competitiveness. Conducted by officers and employees of JPX, its subsidiaries, and affiliates, as well as outside researchers, JPX Working Papers are intended to draw comments widely from academia, research institutions, and other market participants and observers.The contents and opinions of the published papers belong to the individual authors and do not represent the official views of Japan Exchange Group, etc. JPX Working Papers https://www.jpx.co.jp/english/corporate/research-study/working-paper/index.html (Reference) Japanese Website https://www.jpx.co.jp/corporate/research-study/working-paper/index.html Contact Corporate Strategy Department, Japan Exchange Group, Inc. TEL:+81-3-3666-1361 Source Link: https://www.jpx.co.jp/english/corporate/news/news-releases/0010/20240411-01.html

April 14, 2024. GUJARAT, India It's time to de-dust your dreams one by one and pack your bags to one destination at a time. Is your Goa trip planned a century ago still on hold? The times are passing so fast, and your travel dreams are rusting in the back of your head. The dreams are meant to be turned into real memories, not unfulfilled regrets. What is the one thing that stops you from booking that flight? Is it money, time, or just laziness? If it's money, then say no more. People these days are more focused on investing in experiences rather than in bank accounts. And, there is an easy way to travel to your dream destination without compromising your financial security or stability. We’ve heard about personal loans and travel loans to fund your travel plans. But what if we tell you there is a better alternative than all those? And it is Gold Loans. We Indians are very much fond of gold as an asset or luxury. Be it a wedding, anniversary, or any other auspicious occasion or celebration, the best choice of gifts for us Indians is Gold. Almost all households must have gold jewelry tucked safely in their cupboards or bank lockers. Although gold is a great asset and increases its value over time, sitting idly at your home or bank lockers will never bring you any kind of interest income. However, it can be used as collateral to get loans by signing up for gold loans. Why should you opt for gold loans over other alternatives? Convenience Gold loans are the easiest and fastest way of availing loan money. You can apply for gold loans online from the comfort of your home, and the money will be disbursed to your bank account within a few hours. Additionally, they only require minimal documentation. Bare minimum eligibility Unlike other loans, you don’t need a job or a minimum amount of salary to apply for the loan. All you need is gold. And considering the quality of your gold, the amount is received accordingly. No credit history required That’s a huge relief for many borrowers. Even if you have very poor credit with low income, if you have gold, you can fund it for your financial needs. This feature sets the gold loan apart from others. Low interest rates Another interesting feature about gold loans is that they’re very affordable with only very low fixed interest rates starting as low as 8% p.a. They have the lowest interest rates among other personal loans. Flexible The repayment methods and tenure terms for gold loans are flexible. You can either opt for monthly EMIs, term repayments or bullet repayments as you may please. More often than not, you can repay easily within the tenure of 6-12 months. By means of taking a gold loan, you can receive your desired amount as fast as the same day the idea of a destination merely crosses your mind. That way, you can even do last-minute trip planning without taking a huge toll on your bank account balance or your mental health. However, gold may be an easy financial solution for short-term financial needs for sure, but it’s essential to be financially responsible while taking loans. We can’t stress this enough- always assess your financial situation before taking a loan. Only go for the repayment options that your income or financial situation allows you to. Also, to have more secure loan terms, it’s important to choose an established trustworthy market leader instead of going for local money lenders. Karnataka Bank, a century-old bank in India, offers gold loans at affordable rates and flexible terms. With their Gold Loan options, you can get the money disbursed to your account quickly and easily. It's time to de-dust your dreams one by one and pack your bags to one destination at a time.Happy Vacation! Source Link: https://karnatakabank.com/blog/Financing-Travel-Adventures-with-GoldLoans

April 15-20, 2024. WASHINGTON DC, US The 2024 IMF-World Bank Spring Meetings will take place from April 15-20. The Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) bring together central bankers, ministers of finance and development, parliamentarians, private sector executives, representatives from civil society organizations and academics to discuss issues of global concern, including the world economic outlook, poverty eradication, economic development, and aid effectiveness. Also featured are seminars, regional briefings, press conferences, and other events focused on the global economy, international development, and the world's financial system. The main ministerial meetings and events will take place April 17-19 with other events and activities taking place during the week, April 15-20. Source Link: https://meetings.imf.org/en/2024/Spring/About

February 27, 2024. SINGAPORE Hyo Joo Kim of South Korea poses with the winner's trophy after winning the HSBC Women's World Championship at Sentosa Golf Club on May 02, 2021 in Singapore. Photo Credit: Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images After a thrilling finish at the Honda LPGA Thailand that saw Patty Tavatanakit win for the first time on Tour since 2021 in her home country, the LPGA Tour heads to Singapore for the 16th playing of the HSBC Women’s World Championship. The event, which is often referred to as “Asia’s Major,” will see a 66-player field compete for a share of a $1.8 million purse and features two-time defending champion Jin Young Ko, Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions winner Lydia Ko and Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings No. 1 Lilia Vu. Take a look at who else is in the field this week at the HSBC Women’s World Championship. Past Champions (3): Jin Young Ko (2023, 2022), Hyo Joo Kim (2021), Jiyai Shin (2009) 2024 LPGA Tour Winners (2 of 3): Lydia Ko (Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions), Patty Tavatanakit (Honda LPGA Thailand) 2024 LPGA Tour Rookies (1 of 26): Mone Inami Rolex Women’s World Golf Rankings Top 10 (8 of 10): Lilia Vu (No. 1), Celine Boutier (No. 3), Ruoning Yin (No. 4), Minjee Lee (No. 5), Jin Young Ko (No. 6), Lydia Ko (No. 7), Hyo Joo Kim (No. 9), Xiyu Lin (No. 10) HSBC Women’s World Championship Debuts: Aditi Ashok, Celine Borge, Xingtong Chen (a), Peiyun Chien, Lauren Coughlin, Mone Inami, Grace Kim, Stephanie Kyriacou, Yuna Nishimura, Bianca Pagdanganan, Alexa Pano, Haeran Ryu, Linnea Strom, Albane Valenzuela, Miranda Wang, Chanettee Wannasaen, Ruoning Yin Sponsor Exemptions Xingtong Chen (a), In Gee Chun, Muni He, Emily Kristine Pedersen, Miranda Wang Written By: Sarah Kellam@sarahkellam Sarah Kellam is a Kentucky native and played collegiate golf at Northern Kentucky University. She currently serves as a Manager of Digital Content and prior to the LPGA, Sarah worked as a freelance content creator. Source Link: https://www.lpga.com/news/2024/field-breakdown-2024-hsbc-womens-world-championship

January 31, 2024. IMO video highlight importance of the Maritime Single Window for trade by sea. This year 2024 marks a milestone in the acceleration of digitalization in shipping – the mandatory “Maritime Single Window”. The requirement under the Convention on Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL), requires Governments to use a single digital platform or “Maritime Single Window” to share and exchange information with ships when they call at ports, since 1 January 2024. This will streamline procedures to clear the arrival, stay and departure of ships and greatly enhance the efficiency of shipping worldwide. The Maritime Single Window is mandatory from 1 January 2024. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said: “Digitalization is critical for greater efficiency in shipping. The Maritime Single Window delivers information between ships, ports and government agencies quickly, reliably and smoothly.” More than 4.6 million port calls were recorded globally in 2022. Typically, ships spend at least one full day in port (more or less depending on the ship type). IMO has supported countries to implement the Maritime Single Window. In November 2023, a generic Maritime Single Window (MSW) platform was handed over to the Port of Lobito in Angola, following a Single Window for Facilitation of Trade (SWiFT) project which was supported by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) and IMO. The initiative built upon an earlier successful project coordinated by IMO that saw successful delivery in 2019 of a Maritime Single Window system in Antigua and Barbuda. The Facilitation Committee of IMO has issued guidelines to assist Member States to implement the MSW, including the revised guidelines for setting up a maritime single window and the guidelines on authentication, integrity and confidentiality of information exchanges via maritime single windows and related services. Facilitation Convention The Facilitation Convention was adopted in 1965 and contains Standards and Recommended Practices with rules and procedures for simplifying formalities, documentary requirements and procedures on ships’ arrival, stay and departure. The Convention has been updated continuously, embracing digitalization and automation for procedures. (Read more) The annex to the Convention makes it mandatory for public authorities to establish, maintain and use single window systems for the electronic exchange of information required on arrival, stay and departure of ships in ports. In addition, public authorities will have to combine or coordinate the electronic transmission of the data to ensure that information is submitted or provided only once and reused to the maximum extent possible. Other amendments to the Facilitation Convention, which entered into force on 1 January 2024, include those addressing lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic and new and amended Recommended Practices to prevent corruption and illicit activities in the maritime sector. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic The updated annex to the FAL Convention includes provisions derived from lessons learned during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. Contracting Governments and their relevant public authorities are required to allow ships and ports to remain fully operational during a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), in order to maintain complete functionality of global supply chains to the greatest extent possible. Public authorities are also required to designate port workers and ships' crew as key workers (or equivalent), regardless of their nationality or the flag of their ship, when in their territory. Best practice recommendations aim to prevent obstacles to crew movement for repatriation, crew change and travel, and encourage dissemination of information about public health matters and expected protection measures by ship operators. The amendments concerning arrival and departure of persons require public authorities to inform passengers about vaccination requirements sufficiently in advance of departure and vaccinators to use the International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis in order to assure uniform acceptance. Tackling maritime corruption Updates to the FAL Convention take a systemic approach to addressing the issue of corruption associated with the ship-shore interface in ports. Contracting Governments are now required to encourage public authorities to assess the risks of corruption and address them by developing and implementing preventive measures to strengthen integrity, transparency and accountability. Public authorities are required to coordinate efforts to detect, investigate and sanction corruption related to ships' calls in the port, including through national and international cooperation. Video  transcript When ships enter and leave ports, vital information must be exchanged with various entities ashore. Port authorities, pilots, maritime administrations and health authorities require information about the vessel, cargoes, dangerous goods, crew, passengers and more for safety, security and environmental protection reasons. The way this information is shared is crucial. Digitalization is key. It not only reduces errors, it improves the quality of the information being exchanged. Since 2019, IMO requires data related to clearance of ship, cargo and persons to be exchanged electronically between the ships reporting parties, such as the master, ship agents and ship owners and the authorities offshore. And from 1 January 2024, the single window is mandatory in all ports. With a maritime single window, data is submitted through a single portal without duplication and distributed to the correct authorities. To share, exchange and understand the data, ships and ports need to use international harmonized standards, different groups of stakeholders have different objectives and different work processes. That is why IMO and the standards bodies ISO UNECE and WCO have agreed on an IMO data set and an IMO reference data model known as the IMO Compendium, ensuring that IT systems from different stakeholders can exchange data with shared meaning. IMO encourages all stakeholders to adopt the IMO Compendium when building digital systems and their maritime single window. This will make it possible for all to communicate. Because no matter which standard or system is based on, the data can be exchanged. Check IMO guidelines for help on setting up a maritime single window. Learn from the experiences of Member States around the world who have done so successfully and help make simpler, more efficient maritime trade a reality. Source Link: https://www.imo.org/en/MediaCentre/PressBriefings/Pages/Maritime-Single-Window-advancing-digitalization-in-shipping.aspx

February 20, 2024. RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil The foreign affairs ministers of the world's main economies will land in Rio de Janeiro for the first G20 ministerial meeting under the Brazilian presidency. The event will have special security arrangements and extensive coverage by the foreign press: around 350 media professionals from the four corners of the world are expected to attend. Among the confirmed authorities are US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov. Everything is ready to welcome the foreign affairs ministers of the world's largest economies in the Marina da Glória in Rio de Janeiro for the first G20 ministerial meeting under the Brazilian presidency. The guests will participate this Wednesday (21) and Thursday (22) in the most important meeting of the Sherpas Track before the Summit that will bring together heads of State and government in November, also in Rio de Janeiro. Among those confirmed are US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who will visit President Lula in Brasilia before going on to the meeting in Rio de Janeiro, and Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov. Besides the ministers of Foreign Affairs and representatives from the 19 countries that compose the G20 plus the African Union and the European Union, authorities from the countries invited by the Brazilian presidency and representatives from the twelve international organizations invited will also be present. Foto: Audiovisual/G20 Around 350 press professionals from all over the world have been accredited to cover the meeting. TV, radio, internet portals, printed newspapers, podcasts and social networks from countries such as Russia, Japan, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, China, England, the United States and the United Arab Emirates will be at the event. The youth press from the Andar project, in a partnership between G20 Brasil communications and Rio de Janeiro City Hall, will also be covering the meeting. Given the relevance of the meeting, the Brazilian Intelligence Agency (ABIN) carried out Vulnerability Assessment Reports (RAVs) of the location of the event, the same protocol followed for the next ministerial meeting, this time of the Finance Track, at Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo, on February 28 and 29. The RAVs aim to point out to those responsible for the organization the main vulnerabilities of the chosen locations, making it possible to mitigate them in advance. The reports are also shared with partner agencies of the Brazilian Intelligence System (Sisbin) in charge of the security of the invited authorities. Program restricted to foreign affairs ministers Tomorrow (Wednesday), the meeting will take place between 14:00 and 18:30. On Thursday (22), the debates occur between 8 am and 1 pm. The meetings are closed, but the foreign affairs ministers of each country decide whether to grant interviews to the press during the program. The Brazilian sherpa, Ambassador Mauricio Carvalho Lyrio, will hold a press conference for journalists accredited at the event today at 3pm, on the expectations of the Brazilian presidency of the G20 for the meeting. Brasil's Foreign Affairs Minister, Mauro Vieira, is expected to give a keynote speech on the first day of the meeting. A dinner will be offered to the foreign affairs ministers at the end of the first day of the event and bilateral or multilateral meetings between countries will happen throughout the event, in a place reserved at Marina da Glória for this purpose, both to build consensus on themes pertinent to the G20 and to sign agreements in different sectors. Continuous programming On Friday (23), after completing the foreign affairs ministers' meeting, the event "G20 Countries and Biofuels Diplomacy", organized by Columbia University in partnership with the Climate Hub, Columbia Global Center Rio and Rio de Janeiro City Hall, will begin in the capital of Rio de Janeiro at the Palácio da Cidade. Among those confirmed are the ambassadors of Indonesia and India, the countries that held the last two presidencies of the G20, the Secretary of Climate, Energy and Environment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, sherpas from G20 countries and experts on the subject. The seminar seeks to reflect on how the G20 countries can collaborate to accelerate the energy transition. This year, one of the actions of the Brazilian presidency is the Bioeconomy Initiative. Source Link: https://www.g20.org/en/news/final-preparations-the-first-g20-ministerial-meeting-starts-tomorrow-21-in-rio