September 22, 2021. BEIJING, China. The award ceremony of the 3rd Content-Technology Competition which focused on the direction of "smart Party construction", directed by People's Daily and sponsored by People venture Capital, was successfully held in The New Media Building in Beijing on September 22. After the evaluation by the Academy, DSeeLab's Holographic Smart Screen won the "Innovation Award". DSeeLab has developed a series of holographic display products for Party construction by taking advantage of 3D holographic imaging technology. At present, it has become one of the first batch of settled products in the Experience Center of Smart Party Construction of People's Daily. Source Link: https://www.dseelab.com/about/news

July 12, 2022. SINGAPORE. Volocopter, the pioneer of urban air mobility (UAM), announced today that it has partnered with Singapore’s Institute of Technical Education (ITE) to launch a VoloCity public exhibition including free guided tours in the Lion City. This is Volocopter’s first exhibition to feature its commercial air taxi model in Asia, and the company’s first-ever long-term exhibition to open its doors to the public anywhere in the world. First Volocopter Volocity exhibition in Asia opens in Singapore @Volocopter Singapore’s Minister for Trade and Industry and German Ambassador to Singapore attended the opening ceremony Interactive exhibition features 3D VoloPort model and chance to sit in the VoloCity at Aerospace Hub, ITE College Central Public can sign up for the free tours to access the exhibition Located at Aerospace Hub, ITE College Central, the exhibition features a 3D VoloPort scale model and detailed information on both the UAM industry and Volocopter. Visitors will also have the chance to sit in the aircraft and get a sense of what this new form of transportation will be like. Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Gan Kim Yong, and German Ambassador to Singapore Dr. Norbert Riedel, both attended the opening ceremony alongside other senior representatives from Singapore government agencies and Volocopter’s partners. Gan Kim Yong— Minister for Trade and Industry “Singapore welcomes innovative companies like Volocopter which seek to build entirely new industries here. We are excited about the prospects of developing an Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) ecosystem in Singapore, and hope that through this exhibit, the public can learn more about this new form of urban mobility.” Dr. Norbert Riedel— German Ambassador to Singapore “Singapore and Germany enjoy excellent bilateral relations and are important trade partners. We are pleased to see continued cooperation in various sectors, especially in emerging industries such as urban air mobility. We believe both countries stand to benefit from these deepened collaborations.” Singapore is one of the first launch cities for Volocopter. The German company conducted Asia’s first crewed public test flight of an air taxi in a city centre over Singapore’s iconic Marina Bay in 2019, and has been working very closely with the city. It is committed to launching the UAM services in Singapore in the next couple of years. It has recently released a dedicated roadmap that revealed its UAM services could generate an estimated SGD 4.18 billion in cumulative economic benefits and create up to 1,300 jobs in Singapore by 2030. Christian Bauer— Chief Commercial Officer of Volocopter “This is the perfect time to showcase our VoloCity in Singapore, as our latest local market survey showed a significant uptick in the proportion of respondents who are excited to try an air taxi service. We hope to increase public awareness and education on this new form of mobility and the many ways it will benefit Singapore. We are partnering with local institutions and organizations as we build our UAM ecosystem. ITE is an ideal place to display our aircraft, as we hope to inspire the next generation of aviation talent to engage with the emerging UAM industry. ” Low Khah Gek— Chief Executive Officer of ITE “ITE is privileged to host the VoloCity’s first Asian exhibition on our campus. It will boost our plans to equip students with the relevant skill sets and provide the industry know-how and exposure that will encourage applied learning. There is no better way to inspire a visionary approach to technology than having the cusp of it physically in the campus.” With its two seats and 18 rotors, the fully electric VoloCity is Volocopter’s first commercial product and is currently working toward achieving certification from the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), with the aim of launching commercially in the next couple of years. Starting August 2022, Volocopter will be offering free guided tours on a regular basis. Anyone interested in taking one is invited to sign up here. Mr Gan Kim Yong, SIngapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, takes a seat in the Volocity @Volocopter From left to right: Mr. Christian Bauer, Chief Commercial Officer, Volocopter. Mr Gan Kim Yong, Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry. Ms. Low Khah Gek, Chief Executive Officer, ITE. Mr. Oliver Reinhardt, Chief Risk and Certification Officer, Volocopter. @Volocopter. Source Link: https://www.volocopter.com/newsroom/first-volocity-exhibition-asia/

March 02, 2021. FLORIDA, US. Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) is pleased to announce the company has entered an agreement to provide Macquarie AirFinance with four B737-800SF freighter conversions to help meet the growing demand in e-commerce and express cargo. The aircraft will be converted to freighters by the authorized AEI Conversion Center, Commercial Jet in Miami, Florida. Passenger-to-freighter conversions form a natural progression of Macquarie AirFinance’s portfolio strategy, enabling the useful life of aircraft to be extended up to 40 years. “We welcome Macquarie AirFinance to the AEI family of satisfied customers and are glad they have chosen the AEI B737-800SF freighter conversion,” remarked Robert T. Convey, AEI Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing. “Beyond the benefits of lower fuel consumption and operating costs compared to older 737 Classic freighters, the AEI B737-800SF freighter was designed for operational dependability in real-world environments, which is especially beneficial in the fast-paced segment of express cargo.” John Willingham, Chief Executive Officer of Macquarie AirFinance, said: “We are pleased to partner with AEI to offer our customers in the air cargo sector a proven and efficient way to expand their operations and replace less efficient aircraft. We are seeing particularly strong demand in the express freight sector as the e-commerce industry continues to grow. As one of the largest lessor owners of mature 737-800 aircraft, it makes business sense to extend their life and continue to evolve our offering.” The AEI converted B737-800SF freighter offers a main deck payload of up to 52,700 lbs. (23,904 kg) and incorporates 11 full height 88” x 125” container positions, plus an additional position for an AEP/AEH. The conversion also incorporates new floor beams aft of the wing box, a large 86” x 137” main cargo door with a single vent door system. AEI’s forward-thinking design allows for containers to be loaded into the aircraft a full 16.5” aft of the forward door jamb, ensuring ground operators have sufficient manoeuvring room which minimises potential door and aircraft strikes. Additionally, the AEI B737-800SF includes a flexible Ancra Cargo Loading System, a rigid 9g barrier, five supernumerary seats as standard, a galley, and full lavatory. About AEI Aeronautical Engineers, Inc. (AEI) is a global leader in the aircraft passenger-to-freighter conversion business and is the oldest conversion company in existence today. Since the company’s founding in 1958, AEI has developed over 130 Supplemental Type Certificates (STCs) and has modified over 510 aircraft with the STCs. AEI helps its customers extend aircraft life and increase the overall value of aircraft assets by continuously focusing on dependable and flexible product offerings. AEI currently offers passenger-to-freighter conversions for the Boeing 737-800, 737-400, 737-300, MD-80 series, and CRJ200 aircraft. www.aeronautical-engineers.com. About Macquarie AirFinance Macquarie AirFinance Limited, an aviation lessor founded in 2006, provides aircraft and capital to the world’s airlines and advisory and management services to aircraft owners. The company owns, manages and leases commercial jet aircraft internationally through offices in Europe, Asia and North America. Macquarie AirFinance is owned by Macquarie Group (50%), PGGM Infrastructure Fund (25%) and Sunsuper (25%). For further information, visit www.macquarie.aero. Source Link: https://www.macquarie.com/sg/en/about/news/2021/aei-to-provide-macquarie-airfinance-with-freighter-conversions.html

July 04, 2022. JAKARTA, Indonesia. Students only Mobile Legend. Source Youtube: Telkomsel Kalbar

July 8, 2022. MARYLAND, US. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency), will soon reveal unprecedented and detailed views of the universe, with the upcoming release of its first full-color images and spectroscopic data. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA (Canadian Space Agency), will soon reveal unprecedented and detailed views of the universe, with the upcoming release of its first full-color images and spectroscopic data. Below is the list of cosmic objects that Webb targeted for these first observations, which will be released in NASA’s live broadcast beginning at 10:30 a.m. EDT Tuesday, July 12. Each image will simultaneously be made available on social media as well as on the agency’s website. These listed targets below represent the first wave of full-color scientific images and spectra the observatory has gathered, and the official beginning of Webb’s general science operations. They were selected by an international committee of representatives from NASA, ESA, CSA, and the Space Telescope Science Institute. Carina Nebula. The Carina Nebula is one of the largest and brightest nebulae in the sky, located approximately 7,600 light-years away in the southern constellation Carina. Nebulae are stellar nurseries where stars form. The Carina Nebula is home to many massive stars, several times larger than the Sun. WASP-96 b (spectrum). WASP-96 b is a giant planet outside our solar system, composed mainly of gas. The planet, located nearly 1,150 light-years from Earth, orbits its star every 3.4 days. It has about half the mass of Jupiter, and its discovery was announced in 2014. Southern Ring Nebula. The Southern Ring, or “Eight-Burst” nebula, is a planetary nebula – an expanding cloud of gas, surrounding a dying star. It is nearly half a light-year in diameter and is located approximately 2,000 light years away from Earth. Stephan’s Quintet: About 290 million light-years away, Stephan’s Quintet is located in the constellation Pegasus. It is notable for being the first compact galaxy group ever discovered in 1877. Four of the five galaxies within the quintet are locked in a cosmic dance of repeated close encounters. SMACS 0723: Massive foreground galaxy clusters magnify and distort the light of objects behind them, permitting a deep field view into both the extremely distant and intrinsically faint galaxy populations. The release of these first images marks the official beginning of Webb’s science operations, which will continue to explore the mission’s key science themes. Teams have already applied through a competitive process for time to use the telescope, in what astronomers call its first “cycle,” or first year of observations. More information on how to join NASA for the release of Webb’s first images is available online. For more about Webb’s status, visit the “Where Is Webb?” tracker. The James Webb Space Telescope is the world's premier space science observatory. Webb will solve mysteries in our solar system, look beyond to distant worlds around other stars, and probe the mysterious structures and origins of our universe and our place in it. Banner image: File photo of the primary mirror of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope from March 2020, following a deployment test. Credit: NASA/Chris Gunn By Thaddeus Cesari NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md. Last Updated: Jul 8, 2022 Editor: Rob Garner Source Link: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/2022/nasa-shares-list-of-cosmic-targets-for-webb-telescope-s-first-images

June 23, 2022. MADRID, Spain. Through a scalable platform based on 5G, the sustainable incorporation of different types of mobile autonomous devices is managed. • It is an integrative and enabling solution for the automation of 5G intralogistics management that increases the flexibility, efficiency and traceability of internal logistics processes in Industry 4.0. • Through a scalable platform based on 5G, the sustainable incorporation of different types of mobile autonomous devices is managed. • The technology provided by Telefónica and NTT DATA facilitates the incorporation and management of mobile robots, thus enabling flexible automation of internal logistics processes and giving the end user full visibility and control of the operation. Telefónica and NTT DATA are executing a proof of concept (PoC) with CIE Automotive, a global automotive supplier. At its facilities in Itziar (Guipúzcoa), a 5G intralogistics management platform has been developed and is being implemented as an integrating and enabling solution for the automation of the transport of finished products from the end of the production line to the warehouse. The objective of the solution is to increase the flexibility, efficiency and traceability of internal logistics processes through the intelligent management of multiple sensors and mobile devices, such as AGVs (automated guided vehicles) and AMRs (autonomous mobile robots). The solution is designed for customers in various industrial segments such as automotive, manufacturing, distribution centers and ports, among others, to gain capacity in the automation of their production processes. The technology provided by Telefónica and NTT DATA facilitates the incorporation and management of mobile robots, providing a scalable platform that helps to improve internal logistics processes, thanks to the sustainable incorporation of different types of mobile autonomous devices, integrating them into the management systems and other sensors of an industrial plant, and providing the user with visibility and control of all operations in real time via 5G, a key element due to the large volume of information, the density of devices, the large coverage required by this type of space and the immediacy required by the entire intralogistics ecosystem. NTT DATA contributes with its portfolio of technology solutions applied to supply chain and manufacturing, considering the use of digitisation capabilities, analytics and business management solutions, such as SAP, to integrate, centralise and process information from the production process and the AGV navigation system. For its part, Telefónica, through its Telefónica Tech and Telefónica Empresas subsidiaries, provides its Industry 4.0 capabilities, connectivity and partner ecosystem to develop a scalable solution that integrates 5G-enabled operational process automation capabilities. It relies on its partner DTA, a leading provider of industrial mobility technology, to offer AMR devices that can be integrated into the intralogistics platform and are enabled to communicate via 5G. The technology provided by Telefónica and NTT DATA facilitates the incorporation and management of mobile robots, thus enabling flexible automation of internal logistics processes and giving the end user full visibility and control of the operation. The platform has the ability to integrate with factory systems and signals and intelligently manage orders for optimal orchestration of autonomous mobile robots of multiple brands and types. Jon Ezkerra, R&D project coordinator of the CIE Automotive group, highlights that “The proof of concept being developed in collaboration with Telefónica and NTT Data will be validated in one of the automated welding cells for the manufacture of fuel rails at the CIE Norma plant located in Itziar (Gipuzkoa) and will connect through the use of 5G technology with the plant’s management system to perform intra-logistics movement via AGVs, will allow connection through the use of 5G technology, with the plant’s management system to carry out intra-logistical movement by means of AGVs, establishing the continuous flow of supply and collection of finished product packaging for stacking at height in the warehouse.” Andrés Escribano, director of New Business and Industry 4.0 at Telefónica Tech, said: “This initiative will allow us to bring logistics automation solutions to many of our customers in a simple and flexible way. The application of 5G connectivity will help to solve the challenges faced in this field of Industry 4.0.” Marc Guimerá Vicente, partner of the Telecommunications Sector at NTT DATA, said: “This initiative is an example of how a solution leveraging the capabilities of 5G technology brings tangible benefits and great advantages when it comes to digitising and connecting productive operations in various sectors. For NTT DATA Spain it is key to work together with a technology partner such as Telefónica Tech to develop 5G use cases and offer services and solutions that support our customers in their daily challenges and sustainable growth.” NTT DATA and Telefónica will evolve and industrialise the solution with the aim of making it available to all its customers. The roadmap envisages the integration of more connected factory and fleet management functionalities, as well as increasing the integration interface with other AGV/AMR systems. Source Link: https://www.telefonica.com/en/communication-room/telefonica-and-ntt-data-integrate-5g-in-cie-automotives-internal-logistics/

September 16, 2022. LONDON, UK. After seven years, the Barclays Accelerator, powered by Techstars, has reached a $4bn market cap valuation. We look back on the programme that has supported nearly 200 fintech startups and led to successes including unicorn status, an IPO launch and a “game-changing experience”. When Barclays linked up with startup accelerator specialist Techstars in 2014 to launch a fintech accelerator, it was, according to Sonal Lakhani, because the team wanted to build on the bank’s culture of innovation, “learning even more about fintech – and working with startups in a constructive way”. Lakhani, who is Global Head of Programmes and Strategic Initiatives at Barclays Innovation Office, remembers the formation of the 13-week accelerator programme as being “like a mini-MBA, shrinking down the process of going from an idea to actually founding a business and then getting it funded”. Celebrating seven years of the Barclays Accelerator: in numbers $4bn market cap valuation from alumni companies. 10 companies are chosen for each 13-week programme. 19 programmes have taken place in London, New York, Tel Aviv and Cape Town. 191 fintech startups have graduated from the Barclays Accelerator, powered by Techstars. 146 Accelerator companies are still trading. After seven years and 19 programmes, split between London, New York, Tel Aviv and Cape Town, 191 companies have graduated from the initiative, officially known as the Barclays Accelerator, powered by Techstars. Between them, alumni companies have amassed a market cap valuation – the estimated value if all their shares were available on the open market – of over $4bn and contributed heavily to the changing face of financial services. Over the years, she says, the model has changed to allow Barclays to work in partnership with the fintechs and support the companies coming up with new ideas, new business models and new technology. “We tried to create an environment that fosters the growth of companies when they come out of the programme. In doing this, we can also ensure that our own products and services stay relevant to our consumer base, as well as supporting job creation.” "We tried to create an environment that fosters the growth of companies when they come out of the programme." Sonal Lakhani Global Head of Programmes and Strategic Initiatives at Barclays Innovation Office Sonal Lakhani is Global Head of Programmes and Strategic Initiatives at Barclays Innovation Office. Finding unicorns A star graduate of the 2015 New York Accelerator is Chainalysis, which recently became the network’s first unicorn company, exceeding a billion-dollar valuation. Describing his firm as “a data platform for blockchains, looking at and trying to understand all the data in crypto and finding risks and opportunities”, co-founder Michael Gronager says that Chainalysis has recently undergone three $100m funding rounds, growing in valuation from $1bn to $2.2bn to $4.2bn. This exponential growth is not uncommon in fintech, and even without Chainalysis, the Accelerator portfolio – most of which entered Barclays’ buildings as pre-seed companies – has a market cap of more than $2bn, doubling since 2019. Joff Hamilton-Dick is the co-founder of SparkChange, a provider of specialist carbon investment products and data, which was part of the 2019 London Accelerator. He remembers the experience as being “a game changer for us”. "Having really good mentors as part of the programme has been crucial over the years. That network will always be in our DNA as a company." Michael Gronager CEO, Chainalysis Chainalysis, co-founded by Michael Gronager, is the Accelerator network’s first unicorn company. The speed of interactions with mentors and potential investors was a key asset, he says. “In week two of the programme, they had something called ‘mentor madness’ and lined up 90 meetings with senior business leaders and entrepreneurs. They'll come and sit at your desk – the rate at which you can forage around and make second-degree connections was simply unprecedented for us. “There was one person in particular who has irrevocably changed the shape of our business: everything from the people we've hired to our investors, to the advisers we brought on board, to client traction we're getting – just from one person in ‘mentor madness’ in this well-oiled, well-organised accelerator.” Barclays stayed involved with SparkChange, leading a $4.5m seed investment round, and supporting a company that Lakhani says “is a great example of where finance can play an important role in the sustainability agenda”. Unique connections The graduate class of 2015 has recently celebrated its first IPO, with the listing of cryptocurrency exchange and brokerage Safello in a heavily oversubscribed float on the Nasdaq First North Growth Market in Stockholm. CEO Frank Schuil remembers the Barclays Accelerator, powered by Techstars, as “a very energetic experience”. He says: “You're all in the same boat with great entrepreneurs who are trying to build amazing companies with amazing mentors. “There were some unique connections that you get from being in such an intense environment for three months, and we had a very successful batch of companies. Another cool thing was the access to the Barclays network – it was a great opportunity to launch a proof of concept with a really big partner.” "Another cool thing was the access to the Barclays network – it was a great opportunity to launch a proof of concept with a really big partner." Frank Schuil CEO, Safello Frank Schuil is CEO of Safello – which recently launched its IPO. SparkChange’s Hamilton-Dick also remembers the proximity to Barclays as being “a key way to learn about the market and how big banks are thinking about our product, and also what are the wrong rabbit holes to explore”. Gronager looks back on the accelerator as a vital time in Chainalysis’ growth to unicorn status. “It was great to build friendships with other founders in the process,” he says, “and see how they’ve managed to grow their companies over time. Working with Barclays was also key for us to develop our sales strategy into financial institutions.” Lakhani says that the pandemic has offered “an opportunity to pause and think about our strategy and what we’re trying to achieve” as the fintech ecosystem matures. “We have listened to feedback from our fintech community, both within and outside Barclays,” she explains. “We want to be able to continue to support the early-stage creation of startups, but we also want to produce a new programme that's focusing on scaleups and how to best support those scaling companies.” In the meantime, lessons learned in the mini-MBA, coupled with constant access to the alumni network, mentors and investors, continue to pay dividends even for multi-billion-dollar companies such as Chainalysis. “Having really good mentors as part of the programme has been crucial over the years in being able to reach out for questions and guidance,” says Gronager. “That network will always be in our DNA as a company.” Source Link: https://home.barclays/news/2021/09/The-Accelerator-was-a-game-changer-for-us/

December 30, 2021. ATHENS, Greece. Kinima Allagis (Change Movement) by Panhellenic Socialist Movement With the aim of further raising the awareness of citizens towards the pandemic, in order to strengthen the vaccination program, PASOK - Movement for Change, is launching a related online campaign entitled "We are getting vaccinated. We are breaking fear and misinformation" - "An appointment of solidarity and life". Source Link: http://www.pasok.gr/

July 08, 2022. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia. As part of Rangkaian Kita, Rangkaian Malaysia, visitors to the showcase can digitally create individualised, unique batik motifs, and see it come to life on an immersive projection wall! Visitors can digitally create individualised, unique batik motifs and see it come to life on an immersive projection wall Test real-time AR technology, take part in games and win attractive prizes, discover a variety of Maxis promotions Batik showcase part of Rangkaian Kita, Rangkaian Malaysia campaign, which celebrates the diversity and unique requirements of Malaysians from all walks of life and empowering them with Maxis’ all-ways connected network With the long weekend around the corner, here’s a treat that Penangites can look forward to: As part of Maxis’ Rangkaian Kita, Rangkaian Malaysia (RKRM) campaign that was launched earlier this year and in celebration of Malaysia’s rich diversity of communities, Maxis invites the public to a one-of-a-kind interactive experience at Queensbay Mall, Penang, and to discover the wonderful possibilities of technology and creativity. Visitors to the showcase can digitally create individualised, unique batik motifs, and see it come to life on an immersive projection wall! In addition, they can also test out real-time Augmented Reality (AR) technology at a virtual AR photobooth, take part in games and win prizes, as well as discover a variety of ongoing Maxis promotions in person at pop-up kiosks. The Penang showcase which is being held from 7 – 11 July, is part of series of Maxis’ Batik Rangkaian Malaysia roadshow taking place in various locations across the country. “We are really excited to have Penang as one of the stopovers of our showcase. Penang has always been an important region for Maxis and we remain committed to supporting consumers and businesses in this region and empowering them with our all-ways connected network and digital solutions. The batik creation hub and digital showcase is simply our way of celebrating and appreciating the diversity and unique requirements of Malaysians from all walks of life,” said Leonard Chin, Maxis’ Head of Northern Region. The Penang showcase is the sixth stop of the nationwide roadshow. Before this, the batik showcase has travelled to Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu, Kuantan, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching. The following are schedules for the upcoming showcases: Earlier this year, Maxis launched its RKRM brand campaign as a commitment to empowering all Malaysians and businesses in the country to be connected in every possible way, at all times. RKRM represents the reinforcement and deepening of Maxis’ Always Be Ahead brand purpose. It is a campaign driven by its evolution from a mobile telecommunications provider into a connectivity and digital solutions expert that offers solutions for every segment, powered by its leading 4G network and fibre coverage as well as the best 5G innovation. To learn more about Rangkaian Kita Rangkaian Malaysia, watch our film which showcases Maxis’ initiatives over the years in connecting a diverse network of communities. For more information on the campaign, please visit: https://www.maxis.com.my/network

June 08, 2022. BALI, Indonesia. Guided by the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, The G20 FMM 2022 aims to enhance further collaboration through dialogue to revive multilateralism in addressing global challenges. Dear Journalist, The G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) will be held in Bali on July 7-8, 2022. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia is organizing the meeting within the framework of Indonesia G20 Presidency. Guided by the theme “Recover Together, Recover Stronger”, The G20 FMM 2022 aims to enhance further collaboration through dialogue to revive multilateralism in addressing global challenges. Media who have already completed the G20 Indonesia Presidency accreditation process will need to register to the event using their existing account. Please log in to your account via https://registration.g20-indonesia.id/deo-login. Unaccredited media who wish to participate, should sign up and finish the registration steps through www.g20.org/registration. Registration is needed and please be advised that the on-site registration is unvailable. The Deadline for media registration is by June 27, 2022 11:59 PM Indonesia Time (GMT+7). Please refer to the Media Registration Guidelines and for Official Media Invitation Letter which can be accessed at click here. Accreditation also ensures access to all G20 FMM 2022, including media release, media advisories, images and footages. Thank you very much for your time and attention. We look forward to your presence. Sincerely, Secretariat of the G20 Presidency of Indonesia Source Link: https://g20.org/media-announcement-g20-foreign-ministers-meeting-2022/

June 30, 2022. SANTIAGO, Chile. Road map for action on population and development. At the conclusion of the fourth session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development, countries urged for strengthening multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation. Representatives of Latin American and Caribbean countries reaffirmed the Montevideo Consensus as the basis for a comprehensive road map for national and regional action on population and development matters, on the final day of the fourth session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development, which concluded this Thursday at the headquarters of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in Santiago, Chile. In their resolutions, countries recognized the strategic role of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development as a framework for implementing actions that would contribute to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic’s repercussions on the population’s living conditions and its exercise of rights, the multiple axes of inequality, and the three dimensions of sustainable development – economic, social and environmental – with a view to recovery and social and economic transformation. Furthermore, they called for enhancing fulfillment of the priority measures of the Montevideo Consensus through the execution of specific actions, the adequate allocation of resources, and the creation and strengthening of institutional mechanisms for its implementation and follow-up, especially with regard to assisting populations severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The closing ceremony was led by Raúl García-Buchaca, Deputy Executive Secretary for Management and Programme Analysis of ECLAC; Harold Robinson, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA); and David Guachalla, Vice Minister of Planning and Coordination of Bolivia, in his capacity as Chair of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Population and Development. At the meeting, which brought together more than 1,300 people – half of them in person – the authorities emphasized that amid an unprecedented international context such as the one marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is necessary to strengthen multilateralism, solidarity and international cooperation to achieve full implementation of the Montevideo Consensus, the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development beyond 2014, and the 2030 Agenda’s Sustainable Development Goals. The three-day event drew the participation of more than 220 delegates from 30 member countries of ECLAC and one associate member, in addition to around 100 representatives of the United Nations System, 18 from cooperation agencies, and more than 640 representatives of civil society, academia and the private sector. They were joined by thousands of people who followed the meeting on social platforms and via public transmission of the sessions. “We have once again reaffirmed our commitment to the Montevideo Consensus, which, together with the 2030 Agenda, are indispensable and very relevant tools for undertaking the tasks needed for a transformative recovery that places equality, sustainability and people at the center,” Raúl García-Buchaca, ECLAC’s Deputy Executive Secretary for Management and Programme Analysis, affirmed in his closing remarks. Meanwhile, Harold Robinson, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean of UNFPA, pointed up countries’ “strong reaffirmation” of the Conference’s validity and emphasized that the Montevideo Consensus, which has been embraced as the instrument that changes Latin America and the Caribbean’s historical path, “will only be useful once it becomes our collective destination.” David Guachalla, Vice Minister of Planning and Coordination of Bolivia, underlined that at the fourth session of the Regional Conference on Population and Development – nine years after the first such gathering – “Bolivia is being passed the baton and assumes with great respect, gratitude and commitment the Chair of the Presiding Officers, a task we will carry out with the utmost responsibility.” The document of resolutions approved by participating countries encourages the region’s governments to put special emphasis on strengthening their systems for sociodemographic and vital statistics, and to develop and strengthen the capacities of national statistical systems and national statistics offices to produce population data, disaggregated by sex, age, area of residence (urban or rural areas), income, ethno-racial identity, migratory status, disability and other characteristics that are relevant to the population’s diversity and are needed to make an accurate assessment of the implementation of the Montevideo Consensus. It also congratulates ECLAC on developing and implementing the virtual platform to contribute to follow-up of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development, a space that brings together the main initiatives reported by countries and achievements made with regard to the population, their living conditions, the exercise of their rights and their development. In other words, it procures to systematize the processes and outcomes achieved in the region towards fulfillment of the commitments assumed in relation to the Montevideo Consensus. The resolutions also recognize the crucial role of civil society organizations, the private sector and academia in the implementation, follow-up, evaluation processes and dissemination of the Montevideo Consensus on Population and Development. While Bolivia serves as Chair of the Presiding Officers of the Regional Conference on Population and Development, the Vice Chairs will be held by Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Saint Lucia, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Source Link: https://www.cepal.org/en/pressreleases/authorities-reaffirm-montevideo-consensus-basis-comprehensive-road-map-action

July 07, 2022. MOSCOW, Russia. They will discuss why it is important to develop creative technology. Sber is taking part in the Russian Creative Week, which will be held in Moscow on July 7-10 and will see seven Sber panel sessions and two workshops with speakers from Sber and partner companies, Russian and international experts. They will discuss why it is important to develop creative technology in Russian regions, talk about cross-disciplinarity in the creative process and the importance of the national code in a professional journey, creating corporate design processes and features of future interfaces, the importance of research and an inclusive approach, trends in typography and type design in creative industries. The events of the Russian Creative Week will gather Pyotr Koltypin, vice president, Chairman of the Volgo-Vyatka Bank of Sberbank; Evgeniy Domnikov, head of Creative Technology Development, Sberbank; Alexander Eremenko, head of Brand Development, Sberbank; Maxim Kozlov, head of the Sber AR/VR Lab; Yaroslav Sizov, design cluster leader, SberBank Online; Yuliana Slashcheva, chair of the Soyuzmultfilm Film Studio, CEO of the Gorky Film Studio; Ilya Mikhailov, design director at SberDevices; and other experts from Sber and partner companies. Sessions and master classes of Sber and the events with experts from Sber and partner companies will be webcast at https://promo.sber.ru/creativityweek. Evgeniy Domnikov, head of Creative Technology Development, Sberbank: “Sber has gained a unique expertise. Our team’s multidisciplinary efforts thrive in the following domains: communications, product, digital, industrial, sound and type design, CX / UX research, AR / VR, motion, game and 3D design, visual effects, digital avatars, etc. Sber’s design ecosystem features communities, accelerators, laboratories, and knowledge platforms for innovative projects. Sber has been the first choice employer for creative professionals for the last few years. We are ready to share our experience to develop the creative industries in Russia together.” The Russian Creative Week has the following sessions scheduled: July 7, 2:30–3:30 pm – “International Outlook on Design and its Future (Russia, China, Mexico)”. The session will address cross-disciplinarity in the creative process and the importance of the national code in a professional journey. July 7 4:50–5:40 pm — “Regions vs the Capital. Where do Creative Technologies Live?” A session about the importance of developing creative technology in the regions of Russia and if the creative industry can facilitate the development of local economies. July 7 5:20–6:20 pm — “Creating Corporate Design Processes”: how many tasks can design tools address; should a product evolve from the design or should the design follow a product; building an effective design system. July 8, 11:00–12:00 am — “Designer of the Future: How Will the Trends Change, Where to Study to Become a Designer, What Skills do Businesses Need”: should a designer be able to draw and code; what skills will designers need in the near future; do multidisciplinary designers exist? July 8 7:20–6:20 pm — “Device and Digital Product Design: Interfaces of the Future”: what is an interface; should users adapt to the interface or should the interface adapt to the user; are users ready to interact with voice, gesture or neural interfaces; what other ways of interaction will come to being, and how can you tell a beautiful fantasy from a useful tool. July 8 6:10–7:10 pm — “Research Practice and an Inclusive Approach as the Key to Successful Service Development”: how timely research can affect the success of a product; what methods and tools can be applied to understand your user; how to develop a product based on user data and what it means to “think about each user”. July 10, 3:00–4:00 pm — “Typography and Type Design in Creative Industries”: why buy fonts for a project and can a typeface replace a designer; what to prefer, developing your own font or buying a ready-made one; legal aspects of font use. Other master classes scheduled at the Russian Creative Week are “Technology Trends in a Metaverse” by Sber AR/VR Lab (July 9, 5:00–6:00 pm) and “Work Practice at Sber’s R&D Laboratory: Methodologies and Tools” by Sberbank’s Customer Experience Lab (July 10 1:20–2:20 pm). Register for free on the website of the event to participate in the Russian Creative Week in person. Source Link: https://www.sberbank.ru/en/press_center/all/article?newsID=85235862-5ab8-4619-945b-5925b259386a&blockID=1539®ionID=77&lang=en&type=NEWS