Technology

Countdown to COP29: Accelerating Action Together to Fulfill the UAE Consensus Promise

Published

5 hours ago

September 30, 2024

ABU DHABI, UAE, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In less than 50 days, world leaders will convene at COP29 to deliver a reinvigorated vision to accelerate climate action. Over the past week, leaders from the UAE have been in the US for high-level engagements, from the White House in Washington to the United Nations in New York, discussing advancements across climate finance, the UAE Consensus and global commitment to keep 1.5°c with reach, clean energy, green technology, nature and biodiversity, transforming food systems, and water resiliency. This lays the groundwork for the COP29 in Baku, which will present a vital opportunity to enhance collective ambitions, elevate more voices, and enable a new era of climate action, building global resilience for all.

At COP28 in Dubai, the UAE galvanized 198 Parties to deliver the historic UAE Consensus and pledged to keep 1.5°c within reach, accelerating a new era of ambitious climate action. Demonstrating the success of multilateralism and inclusion, the UAE Consensus set the world on a clear path, establishing ambitious targets to enable the world to reach Net Zero by 2050 as well as triple renewables and double energy efficiency by 2030. It also included commitments to end deforestation by the end of this decade, and significant firsts for climate finance, with the fund for loss and damage announced on the first day of COP28. This fund will help some of the most climate exposed nations respond to the impacts of climate change, recognizing the role of credit rating agencies for the first time, and scaling-up adaptation finance to meet evolving demands faced by climate-vulnerable communities.

COP28 set about the delivery of a new era in climate action, encouraging voices from across industries, sectors, youth and communities to engage in open conversation to seek new solutions to co-create climate resilience. To ensure continuity, action, and sustained multilateral cooperation, the COP Presidencies Troika also emerged out of COP28, mandating the UAE in conjunction with Azerbaijan and Brazil, as the presidents of COP29 and COP30, to lock in continuity and drive climate action. This ‘Roadmap to Mission 1.5°c’ will transform the UAE Consensus from agreement into tangible, sustained action and bring accountability to the next round of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), due by February 2025.

His Excellency Abdulla Al Balalaa, Assistant Minister for Energy and Sustainable Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “The COP28 ambition looked to revitalize a global approach on climate change priorities. From the UAE Consensus to the Action Agenda, we wanted to bring diverse voices globally to the table and spearhead a new, more inclusive model for how we convene on climate. Together, this defines the challenge as an opportunity to reimagine how we can unite to build global resilience, future-proof our communities, and safeguard our planet for future generations. COP29 is an exciting milestone to continue accelerating action together and co-creating climate resilience, bridging global priorities and capabilities and ensuring that our multilateral partnerships translate into impactful, equitable outcomes.”

Through the COP28 Presidency’s Action Agenda, climate action has been catalyzed across the pillars of: fast tracking a just and orderly energy transition; fixing climate finance to make it more available, affordable, and accessible; focusing on people, nature, lives and livelihoods; and fostering full inclusivity in climate action. COP28 also saw the swift adoption of the fund for loss and damage hosted by the World Bank with 19 countries, committing approximately $800 million pledged to date, including $100 million from the UAE, as well as the UAE’s creation of ALTÉRRA, a $30-billion private investment vehicle to catalyze climate finance in developing economies. All these efforts led to the mobilization of an unparalleled $85.1 billion for climate action and the launch of 11 pledges and declarations, elevating multilateral climate change mitigation and adaptation commitments to new heights.

Meeting with H.H. President Mohamed bin Zayed al Nahyan of the United Arab Emirates at the White House in Washington last week, US President Biden described the UAE as ‘a nation of trailblazers, always looking to the future,’ President Biden referred to the nations’ joint efforts: ‘growing cooperation in AI, in clean energy, in space, and investing in infrastructure to connect regions…shoulder to shoulder in the same most difficult places.’

The UAE plans to invest more than US$163 billion in clean and renewable energy over the next several years to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, pledging to triple the production capacity of renewable energy by 2030. The National Food Security Strategy 2051 aims to develop a comprehensive national system to enable sustainable food production through modern technology. In partnership with the US, the UAE has also launched the global initiative Agriculture Innovation Mission for Climate (AIM for Climate/AIM4C) and committed to investing $16 billion in climate-smart agriculture and food systems to improve agriculture and food security. The initiative has garnered the support of more than 600 state and non-state actors and partners, bringing in more than $17 billion in investments.

His Excellency Abdulla Al Balalaa concluded: “As the international community turns to COP29, taking stock of the progress we have achieved against these targets – and the gaps that still need to be addressed – will be essential for the discussions this year. The UAE Consensus must continue to act as our guiding North Star, serving as an overarching framework to deliver on our collective ambition for transformative climate action, and building a more just and equitable future for all.”

For more information, please contact: media@uaeclimate.com

Accelerating Action Together

The UAE invites all to the collective ambition of a new era of climate action.Building upon our ambitious Net Zero 2050 commitments, global collaborations at COP28, and the UAE Consensus, we accelerate action together to keep 1.5°c within reach to build global resilience and safeguard a more optimistic future for lives, livelihoods, and planet.Guided by the wisdom and values of those who came before, the UAE is a nation working together to build a climate-resilient economy and safeguard a more just and equitable future for our grandchildren’s children.Learn more at www.uaeclimate.com @UAEClimate (FB, IG, LinkedIn) and @UAE_Climate (X) #AcceleratingActionTogether.

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Technology

FREE LIVE SPORTS LAUNCHES TODAY, GIVING FANS AN UNMATCHED SELECTION OF 100+ FREE STREAMED CHANNELS OF PRO, AMATEUR AND EMERGING SPORTS

Published

1 second ago

September 30, 2024

Fans-First Focus of FAST Platform, Led By Streaming Industry Leaders, Will Shake Up Televised Sports

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Capitalizing on the universal appeal of sports — from top-tier professional and college to amateur and emerging sports — streaming industry leaders Cathy Rasenberger (Rasenberger Media, LLC), Ryan James and James Patrick (OTT Studio, LLC), and Geoff Clark (acTVe) announced the launch today of Free Live Sports. It is a free sports streaming platform offering an unmatched selection of 100+ live sports channels, plus rights to thousands of premium on-demand sports movies, docs, series and highlights — all at no cost to viewers — giving fans unparalleled access to premium sports action from around the globe, anytime, anywhere.

Entertainment and Sports

Having secured the rights to 100+ channels of subscription-free sports and lifestyle programming (68 are live, 34 will be onboarded by the end of October), Free Live Sports already has a huge selection of sports genres. These range from Football to Futbol, Motorsports to MMA, Fishing to Poker, Extreme Sports to eSports, Raquet Sports, Billiards, Cricket, College Sports, Major League Sports, and more. A sampling of the sports channels include: ACCDN, Big 12 Network, Willow Sports, Glory Kickboxing, PFL, Boxing TV, Mike Tyson TV, Motorsport.tv, MAVTV, MotoAmerica, PokerGo, Tennis Channel, Court Sports Network, Powder, SURFER, NitroCircus TV, Teton Gravity, World of Free Sports, CampusLore, Origin Sports, Billiard TV, Cornhole TV, ChessTV, Wired2Fish, Horse and Country, TNA Wrestling; Strongman Champions League, ChessTV, Perfect Game, BLEAV, SportsGrid Live, Outdoor America, Pursuit Up and more. In short, passionate fans of nearly every sport category will find compelling, must-watch programming to satisfy their hunger.

Already, Free Live Sports is the largest, most comprehensive FAST and VOD dedicated sports platform in the world, available in more than 75 countries, with a focus on established markets for CTV advertising. Its content is available across multiple devices: web, mobile, connected TVs, and set top boxes. Free Live Sports is prioritizing its expansion in the U.S. where the FAST business is exploding, with new app launches on ROKU and FIRE TV. Android, VIZIO, IOS, tvOS and other platforms are launching soon.

The Free Live Sports platform has a fans-first strategy that provides viewers unparalleled access to sports action, starting at launch. Through their new joint venture, called Sports Studio, Inc., the four partners recently acquired the UK-based Sports Tribal platform, the premier free sports streaming platform in the EU with a robust lineup of channels and a global footprint. The Sports Studio partners are building Free Live Sports on that formidable foundation, adding dozens of new premium sports and lifestyle channels.

“From the outset, we are providing fans with the opportunity to experience their favorite sports and competitions,” Free Live Sports founders and partners Cathy Rasenberger, Ryan James, James Patrick, and Geoff Clark said in a joint statement. “With our combined expertise in launching, marketing, operating, and optimizing cable and streaming channels and OTT apps, we are rapidly establishing ourselves as the primary FAST destination for millions of passionate sports fans.”

To supercharge the growth of its unrivaled lineup of ad-free sports channels and VOD, the Sports Studio team is leveraging the consumer marketing power of its existing companies’ owned and operated network of U.S. streaming services. The team plans to capitalize on its strong relationships with leading OEMs and third-party FAST streaming services to expand the reach of their programming partners’ content as well as O&O FAST channels in development.

“Our fans-first focus is why we are looking forward to partnerships with major sports leagues in the U.S. that already have, or are developing, their own branded FAST channels. Free Live Sports can help them broaden their reach and attract new fans within our rapidly growing user base,” the partners’ statement concluded.

ABOUT SPORTS STUDIO, INC.:
Sports Studio Inc. is dedicated to delivering and monetizing free, high-quality sports programming across linear and on-demand platforms. As the owner and operator of Free Live Sports, the world’s leading Free Ad-Supported Sports Streaming Television platform, we bring live, on-demand, and exclusive sports content to a global Audience — at no cost to the viewer. In addition, we provide a powerful avenue for brands to engage directly with sports fans, creating meaningful connections between advertisers and their target audience. Visit sportsstudio.tv

CONTACTS:

Jonathan Taylor

Michael Saltzman

jtaylor@robertsontaylorpartners.com

michael@saltzmanpr.com

(310) 880-4951

(310) 702-5789

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SOURCE Sports Studio, Inc.

Technology

Aimbridge Hospitality Introduces Aimbridge Intelligence Data and Reporting Tool

Published

60 mins ago

September 30, 2024

New industry-leading data tool provides expanded functionality designed for owners

PLANO, Texas, Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Aimbridge Hospitality, a leading, global hotel management company and the world’s largest third-party hotel operator, is strengthening its technology leadership in the industry with a newly developed proprietary data reporting platform called Aimbridge Intelligence, built to provide greater transparency and collaboration with owners.

Housed in OwnView, a dedicated portal exclusively available to Aimbridge owners, Aimbridge Intelligence creates new opportunities for owners with seamless access to information, including key performance data intended to offer greater flexibility and self-service capabilities to complement the work of property support teams.

“We are constantly striving to be the most trusted hotel operator in the industry, and we are committed to solving challenges and celebrating successes with our owner partners, which led to the creation of OwnView and Aimbridge Intelligence to further prioritize their needs,” said Craig S. Smith, Aimbridge CEO. “This technology offering is another important step we are taking as part of a new chapter at Aimbridge, providing transparent, collaborative solutions for our owners while holding ourselves accountable in our performance-driven culture.”

Built on Power BI to automate data integration and updates, Aimbridge Intelligence gives owners near real-time access to STR performance, RevPAR Index, profitability, guest service, and turnover data. Through this data tool, owners can view the metrics associated with their individual hotels or an entire portfolio, allowing for expedited implementation of relevant strategies to address areas of opportunity.

Today marks a first-generation edition of Aimbridge Intelligence, and future features will incorporate AI and machine learning for demand forecasting, with other possible expansions of functionality to include more comprehensive data sets for deeper comparisons and trend tracking.

“We set out to build a groundbreaking data product that would solve our long-standing desire to provide owners this information and data in this format, enhancing their understanding of hotel performance, profitability, and services, with an elevated level of transparency,” said Keryn McNamara, Aimbridge Chief Information Officer. “With Aimbridge Intelligence, owners have direct access to the data they’ve been seeking, allowing for deeper analysis along with increased efficiency and speed in accessing relevant information. We are proud of our teams for developing this transformational tool intended to better serve our owners and enhance data accessibility.”

To learn more about Aimbridge Hospitality and its commitment to provide owners with the most comprehensive, performance-driven service in the industry, visit aimbridgehospitality.com.

About Aimbridge Hospitality

Aimbridge Hospitality is the world’s leading global hospitality management company. A trusted operator of over 80 globally recognized lodging brands and distinctive luxury and lifestyle assets, Aimbridge delivers compelling results for hotel owners by leveraging proprietary data and insights as an authority in key markets and destinations, while creating exceptional guest experiences. Aimbridge continually strives to set the new standard in hospitality excellence, leading the industry into the future through a wealth of unmatched resources and best-in-class supplier agreements, while recruiting and developing top industry talent in all key verticals and geographies. To learn more, visit www.aimbridgehospitality.com. Connect with Aimbridge on LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Aimbridge Hospitality

Technology

SCSP Hosts Quarterly Board of Advisors Meeting

Published

60 mins ago

September 30, 2024

ARLINGTON, Va., Sept. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On Friday, September 27th, the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) convened its quarterly Board of Advisors meeting in Arlington, Virginia. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Eric Schmidt, and participants included Bob Work, Dr. Nadia Schadlow, Mac Thornberry, Michele Flournoy, and SCSP’s panel experts and advisors.

The topics of the day’s discussions included MIT Technology Review’s 125th-anniversary issue on “The Next 125 Years of Technology,” the future of U.S.-China relations and China’s technological advances, the current state of AI, including for national defense, the road to artificial general intelligence, and the impact of AI on the workforce.

“China’s emergence as a strategic competitor presents a multifaceted challenge for the United States. The size of its economy, its rapid technological advancements, and increasing military capabilities have eroded traditional U.S. advantages across a range of industries and geopolitical domains,” said SCSP Board of Advisor Member Nadia Schadlow. “To maintain our competitive edge, the United States must adopt a comprehensive strategy that addresses China’s economic, military, and diplomatic initiatives, while fostering alliances and partnerships to counter its influence. Today’s discussions continue our work towards a strategy to navigate this increasingly complex techno-economic and geopolitical landscape.”

Presenters at the meeting included high-level government officials, national security specialists, and technology journalists including: MIT Review Executive Editor Amy Nordrum; White House Office and Science and Technology Policy Deputy Director Stephen P. Welby; the 18th US Trade Representative Ambassador Robert Lightheizer; Joint Staff Director for Joint Force Development Lieutenant General Dagvin R.M. Anderson; Financial Times China-Europe correspondent James Kynge; Situational Awareness Founder Leopold Aschenbrenner; and Stanford University Professor Dr. Erik Brynjolfsson.

“Achieving artificial general intelligence will be the most consequential milestone of this decade for our economy, society, and security – and it is essential that America continue to lead the way in this pursuit,” said SCSP President Ylli Bajraktari.

For more information about SCSP, please contact Senior Director for Communications and Public Affairs Tara Rigler at tmr@scsp.ai. To subscribe to the SCSP newsletter, please click here.

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SOURCE Special Competitive Studies Project