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No progress on water security in most countries assessed while complacency about crisis persists, finds BSI study

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HERNDON, Va., Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The US has been rated as facing the highest level of water security challenge alongside relatively limited progress towards solutions in new analysis published by BSI and Waterwise. No improvement was found in the water security of 31 countries in the last year in the 2024 Water Security and Solutions Indicator, with the US scoring 53 out of 85, followed by China at 50 and India at 52. The study combines publicly available data with international polling of 9,300 people, finding a concerning disconnect between the reality of the challenge, public understanding of its severity, and the action required to turn things around.

Although 60% of respondents recognize water security as an important global issue, and three quarters specifically cite drought in their country as an issue, under half (45%) said addressing water security was as important as addressing climate change. Only 15% globally say they see water security discussed regularly by politicians or media, despite the fact that annual water use rose by around 3,500 billion m3 globally between 1900 and 2024 and will worsen with climate change. This equates to adding 895m3 of water demand each second or an Olympic sized swimming pool (2500m3) every 2.79 seconds.

Global water demand is projected to grow by around 1%, or 400 billion m3, per annum. On this basis, new calculations show the world could add 1268 m3 of water demand per second, equating to one Olympic sized swimming pool every two seconds.

The polling data suggests gaps between the reality of the global water security challenge and public comprehension of its scale – 74% were confident in their country’s freshwater supply, but this included 85% in India, 82% in Australia, and 73% in the US.

Of the 41 countries assessed for the water security challenge, the greatest increase in score was Spain, which went up by five points. 13 received higher scores representing greater water insecurity in 2024 – including Türkiye, Japan, the Netherlands and Belgium. Decreases, indicating water security improvements, were only seen in nine countries, including Sweden, Switzerland and Norway.

Positively, more than half of people (53%) believe individuals should take steps to reduce wastage. 73% globally support water use labels on products, reflecting a strong desire for actionable solutions. Similarly, 68% would be willing to spend more on brands acting on water efficiency and two thirds (67%) would purchase items using less water intensive materials even at greater cost.

Susan Taylor Martin, Chief Executive, BSI said: “While we are seeing pockets of progress towards a water secure world, there is more to do to promote understanding and positive change. This begins with awareness and recognition of the scale of the challenge, and how it fits into broader conversations about climate change and sustainability, from there our politicians and leaders can pave the way for action.

“While there is no single solution, we can and should take action today — from implementing water efficiency labelling to improving consumer choices, to advancing wastewater management in pharmaceutical development. There is much we can achieve collectively. At BSI, we believe individuals and organizations can come together to drive progress toward a sustainable future, where the supply of fresh water meets growing demands.”

Nicci Russell, CEO, Waterwise said: “Progress is frustratingly slow in most of the world and in other parts, the challenges posed by water security are actually growing. What is crystal clear from the research is that a key part of the solution is making sure that we use the water that we do have wisely in our homes and workplaces.”

Globally, Britons (21%) and the Japanese (15%) were least confident in their understanding of their country’s level of water security, potentially indicating the impact of insufficient political and media focus. Additionally, a quarter globally lacked confidence in their country’s infrastructure for ensuring water security, with the lowest confidence levels reported in the UK (32%) and Japan (44%).

BSI sets out tangible areas for action, including calling on media, policymakers and businesses to shape the conversation and raise awareness by incorporating water security into climate discussions. Additionally, BSI is urging consumers to be supported to make sustainable choices, for example via mandatory water efficiency labels, to boost consumer awareness and market innovation.

Explore the data on BSI’s dedicated dashboard.

CONTACT: Jennifer Lipman, jennifer.lipman@bsigroup.com

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Deputies strive to heed, meet people’s needs

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Use of online services ensures more efficient collection of residents’ views

BEIJING, Oct. 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

Upon hearing the recent story of an elderly couple having to climb 17 stories in the sweltering heat after the elevator in their apartment building broke down in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, local lawmaker Jiang Yuqin sprang into action.

Jiang, along with concerned colleagues and maintenance workers, visited the property in the Zoujiajiao community on Aug 28 and discovered that the elevator was old and damaged.

Repair and maintenance work was immediately ordered for all elevators in the community, and Jiang visited the couple, who are both almost in their 80s, to seek their suggestions on how to better improve the safety of various community facilities.

“This is all part of my routine in serving the community, and also my duty as a deputy to the Suzhou People’s Congress,” said the 47-year-old.

In China’s political system, the people exercise State power through the National People’s Congress, the country’s top legislature, and people’s congresses at provincial, city, county and township levels, ensuring that their interests are reflected in the decision-making process. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the NPC.

Data released by Xinhua News Agency in March showed that there were over 2.7 million people serving as deputies across the five levels of people’s congresses in China, including nearly 3,000 deputies to the NPC.

Deputies in China’s people’s congress system are tasked with engaging and interacting with local people and communities to best understand their needs, and seek their suggestions on a range of issues so that the deputies can present their views in the congress. This format of governance is referred to as whole-process people’s democracy.

This engagement with people and communities is ever expanding with the use of online services as well as face-to-face interaction, Jiang said.

Enriching the ways of connecting deputies with the people was called for by President Xi Jinping while he was delivering an important speech on Saturday at a meeting to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the founding of the NPC.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said that people’s congresses at all levels should support deputies in performing their duties and helping them enrich the ways they connect with the people.

Noting that the people’s congress system is an important institutional guarantee for realizing whole-process people’s democracy, Xi urged people’s congresses to put the people first, maintain close ties with the people and listen to their suggestions and opinions.

He also called on deputies to fully exercise their duties, better serving as the bridge between the people and the country.

For a deputy like Jiang, the major obligation is to listen to people’s ideas, provide a voice for them and help them solve difficulties in their work and life.

“I came from the people and was elected by the people,” said Jiang.

To provide some 10,000 people in the residential area with more convenient channels to raise their problems and submit advice, she has posted QR codes at the gates of each apartment building.

By scanning the code, people can access an online platform where they can report any challenges they encounter, including broken lights in corridors or leaking pipes at home. Jiang and her colleagues are dedicated to tackling the problems within a few hours.

Although these online services have contributed a lot to her work efficiency, Jiang said that visiting households and moving around the community must be continued, as face-to-face conversations are always conducive to understanding more about the opinions of the people and figuring out the roots of their difficulties.

Simple or minor matters in the community can be addressed directly by Jiang and her team. But for complex issues beyond her capacity, she said that she will conduct surveys and submit suggestions to Suzhou’s people’s congress, the city’s legislature, to solve them through joint efforts or optimizing relevant regulations.

For example, after receiving complaints about the haphazard parking of electric scooters posing safety risks, Jiang quickly invited some residents’ representatives and property staff to select locations within the community for organized parking of the vehicles, with the installation of additional charging facilities.

In another case, when she decided to assist stay-at-home mothers in seeking jobs after their children start school during the day, she said that this required a great deal of study and research.

“I need to know what time the women are available and what kind of work they are capable of. I also need to communicate with businesses around our community and find out if they are willing to provide opportunities for flexible employment,” she said.

As she conducted her research, she realized that it is not just a minority of young mothers who want to reenter the workforce, so she is planning to solicit ideas and opinions from more women and employers, in order to form a suggestion on the issue and submit it to the city’s legislature.

She said that the process has shown how the people’s congress system works, since its sound operation is an important means to realizing whole-process people’s democracy and also a key to guaranteeing the running of the country by the people.

Even as the ways of collecting people’s opinions have become more diverse with the rapid development of internet technologies, Tang Renqing, 72, another deputy to the Suzhou people’s congress, said that the principle of serving the people has never changed since the establishment of the system, nor can it be changed.

“Deputies, regardless of their profession or age, should be with the people, listen to their opinions and help them solve problems through the system,” he added. “Only in this way can we meet people’s aspirations for a better life, and ensure that the people are the masters of the country.”

Key channel for voices

The system is designed to include people from various backgrounds and cover a diverse cross-section of society. Working in a part-time capacity, deputies at each level are key channels for people’s voices. They are both entitled and obliged to stand for the people’s interests and express their views.

Since September 1954, when about 1,200 deputies elected by universal suffrage gathered in Beijing to attend the first session of the first NPC, the people’s congress system has provided an important institutional guarantee that has allowed the CPC to lead the people in realizing fast economic development and long-term social stability.

In recent years, Chinese lawmakers have also stepped up efforts to further uphold and improve the system by amending the Legislation Law and rules for members of the NPC Standing Committee, with the adoption of a decision on increasing reviews of normative documents to ensure that they are consistent with the Constitution.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/deputies-strive-to-heed-meet-peoples-needs-302267503.html

SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn

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Digital Domain Teams Up with AWS to Scale Autonomous Virtual Human Technology and Introduces Generative AI-Powered Features

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HONG KONG, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Digital Domain Holdings Limited (“Digital Domain”, stock code: 547), a global leader in visual effects and transformative experiences, recognized for nearly two decades of pioneering work in the virtual human space, today announced its collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to migrate its Autonomous Virtual Human (AVH) technology to the cloud. This collaboration, leveraging AWS’s advanced cloud infrastructure and generative AI and machine learning (ML) services, aims to propel the evolution and global reach of Digital Domain’s AVH technology and expand its use for multiple industries, including entertainment, gaming, healthcare, hospitality, and commercial applications.

As the innovator behind Zoey, the groundbreaking virtual human introduced in 2022, this collaboration marks a significant milestone for Digital Domain. AWS’s cloud services, particularly Amazon Bedrock, provide the necessary adaptability to drive AVH’s growth. With its high-performing foundation models, Amazon Bedrock significantly enhances virtual humans’ capabilities in real-time interactions. Additionally, Digital Domain is using Amazon Polly to help enhance voice outputs, and is considering using Amazon Rekognition for facial recognition and video-based services. AWS’s robust security and compliance features will safeguard Digital Domain’s data, reinforcing the integrity and scalability of the AVH platform. Through a successful partnership with Slalom, a leading technology consulting firm, Digital Domain has efficiently transitioned all AVH workloads to AWS in just nine months, enabling the company to scale AVH technology to meet the burgeoning global demand for real-time, AI-powered customer interactions.

By leveraging AWS’s cloud infrastructure, Digital Domain will unlock the flexibility, efficiency, and performance necessary to expand AVH capabilities. This scalability not only ensures a promising future for AVH technology but also opens up a world of exciting possibilities for its growth. By moving to the cloud, Digital Domain can offer AVH technology with greater speed, reliability, and cost efficiency, allowing clients in hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, and other business sectors to integrate these advanced digital humans into their operations seamlessly. This global accessibility means businesses worldwide can harness AVH technology to deliver personalized, real-time interactions at scale, enhancing customer service, boosting engagement, and elevating brand experiences. Whether it’s offering virtual concierge services, interactive customer support, or immersive storytelling, businesses can now more easily tap into this potent technology, adapting it to their unique needs and enhancing their operations.

“This collaboration with AWS marks a significant milestone for Digital Domain and our ambitions in virtual human technology,” said Daniel Seah, CEO of Digital Domain. “By migrating our Autonomous Virtual Human technology to the cloud, we are not only enhancing its scalability and performance but also expanding its accessibility to a global audience. AWS’s involvement is instrumental in pushing the boundaries of what’s possible, enabling us to create even more immersive and interactive experiences for our clients and their audiences. This collaboration will also allow us to establish new industry standards in the hospitality and travel sectors worldwide with our partnership with Plaza Premium Group, one of the largest independently run pay-in lounge operations in airports globally.”

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Digital Domain in this transformative journey to the cloud,” said Samira Bakhtiar, General Manager of Media & Entertainment, Games, and Sports at AWS. “As virtual humans play a larger role across industries to engage directly with customers, Digital Domain is ensuring that everyone has access to its visionary AVH technology by combining it with the most secure, extensive, and reliable global cloud infrastructure, as well as AWS’s generative AI and ML services. We look forward to working with Digital Domain to further expand AVH’s capabilities and bring virtual humans to more AWS customers.”

Digital Domain’s AVH technology represents a leap forward in creating lifelike virtual humans capable of real-time interaction. Through this collaboration with AWS and the use of advanced AI and ML tools, Digital Domain is set to redefine the standards of virtual human experiences, unlocking new possibilities in storytelling, customer engagement, and interactive entertainment.

Press Kit
https://wdrv.it/cf91884ad 

ABOUT DIGITAL DOMAIN

Digital Domain is a pioneer in creating transportive experiences. Over the past 30 years, Digital Domain has grown to lead the visual effects industry, expanding the arm of virtual humans and visualization globally. Digital Domain’s rich legacy comprises hundreds of feature films and episodes, thousands of advertisements, game cinematics, and experimental immersive experiences. A creative force in cutting-edge technologies, Digital Domain has brought exceptional artistry to Academy Award-winning blockbusters of Titanic, What Dreams May Come, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Marvel Cinematic Universe titles crushed all-time worldwide box office, such as the Avengers franchise, and Stranger Things made a splash with Season IV. 

Digital Domain stands as a trailblazer, achieving the remarkable distinction of being the first independent visual effects studio. Since 2016, the company has charted a pioneering course into the realms of virtual reality technology and artificial intelligence, revolutionizing the creation of emotionally expressive and photorealistic virtual humans in real-time.

Digital Domain is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Stock code: 547) and is headquartered in Hong Kong. Digital Domain maintains operations in multiple cities including Los Angeles, Vancouver, Montreal, Beijing, Shanghai, Hyderabad, and more. For more information, visit the official website – www.digitaldomain.com.

For more information about Digital Domain’s AVH technology and its collaboration with AWS, please visit www.digitaldomain.com.

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SOURCE Digital Domain

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Hyundai Mobis Unveils 65 Groundbreaking Technologies Driving Mobility Competitiveness

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Hosted ‘R&D Tech Day’ on the 2nd at Uiwang Research Center, showcasing 14 world-first technologies and other vital components.Focused R&D on the three pillars of electrification: ‘batteries, drive systems, and power conversion,’ enhancing flexibility to meet customer and market demands.Increased annual investment in future-oriented R&D by 15%, approaching 1.7 trillion KRW this year, with R&D personnel exceeding 7,000.

SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Mobis has unveiled 65 mobility technologies slated for commercialization within the next two to three years. This milestone achievement results from concentrating this year’s record-high R&D investment of approximately 1.7 trillion KRW on electrification and electronics. Hyundai Mobis remains committed to its R&D strategy, which aims to proactively secure future competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global automotive industry.

On the 4th, Hyundai Mobis held the ‘2024 R&D Tech Day’ at its Uiwang Research Center in Gyeonggi Province, inviting major domestic media outlets. Tech Day is an event where Hyundai Mobis traditionally showcased its research and development achievements to clients every other year. This year, however, the company opened the event to external stakeholders, demonstrating its confidence in the results of its future mobility R&D development outcomes.

The Electrification Research Building, where the Tech Day was held, is a specialized research facility dedicated to next-generation electrification technologies, completed at the end of last year. It plays a pivotal role by consolidating the development of key electrification components, including R&D, testing and evaluation, and quality analysis, all under one roof.

Hyundai Mobis chose ‘Collective Inspiration’ as the theme for this Tech Day, symbolizing the integrated collaboration across all related departments in R&D to provide a comprehensive mobility integrated solution.

The exhibition featured seven themes and presented 65 key technologies in sectors such as electrification, electronics, and safety, including 14 world-first innovations. A Hyundai Mobis representative explained, “These achievements were made possible by advancing preemptive projects aligned with mobility trends, fostering a flexible R&D culture, and securing top talent through substantial investments.”

Announcement of Three Core Electrification Component R&D Strategies… Prioritizing In-House Design and Manufacturing to Lead Internationally

On the same day, Hyundai Mobis announced its three core development strategies for electrification components: drive systems, battery systems, and power conversion systems. Building on the expertise gained since developing hybrid battery systems, motors, and inverters in 2011, Hyundai Mobis aims to lead the industry with electrification solutions specialized for unit components, systems, Advanced Automotive Mobility (AAM), and robotics.

Lee Young-Kook, Vice President of Hyundai Mobis’s Electric Powertrain Engineering Division stated, “Despite external environmental changes such as the Chasm, hundreds of researchers at the Uiwang Research Center are diligently pursuing uninterrupted R&D activities,” adding, “Hyundai Mobis’s competitiveness in electrification components is recognized as top-tier by global customers, and many international clients, including those from Europe, are expected to attend this year’s R&D Tech Day.”

Among Hyundai Mobis’s three core electrification component strategies, the drive system is represented by a 3-in-1 integrated drive system combining motors, reduction gears, and inverters. Key focuses include miniaturizing the system, high-efficiency electromagnetic design, oil cooling, and power module technology. Building on this, specialized drive systems for PBVs and AAMs are also under development.

The battery system strategy emphasizes thermal management stabilization technology. The goal is to develop systems with inherent heat resistance and flame retardancy to prevent thermal transfer rather than merely delay it. Additionally, Cell-to-Pack technology, which skips the module stage to directly assemble packs from cells, is concentrating on increasing energy density. Future initiatives include next-generation battery cells and advanced technologies utilizing recycled batteries as new business ventures.

The power conversion system strategy focuses on developing the next-generation Integrated Charging Control Unit (ICCU), which incorporates the Electric Vehicle Communication Controller (EVCC). This advancement is expected to realize Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) connectivity for electric vehicles, linking cars with charging infrastructure and smart home functionalities. Concurrently, Hyundai Mobis is accelerating the development of necessary power semiconductors.

Hosting a Large-Scale Exhibition to Attract Global Clients… Actively Leveraging Overseas Order Opportunities

Over recent years, Hyundai Mobis has consistently participated in global exhibitions, including CES. These events serve dual purposes: enhancing brand recognition among general audiences and actively utilizing them as business channels for securing orders from international clients.

The unprecedented number of exhibits unveiled at this year’s R&D Tech Day is a testament to this strategy. Of the total 65 exhibits, 21 were electronic components, the highest proportion. The majority showcased technologies in autonomous driving, advanced sensors, parking assistance systems, next-generation displays, and connectivity encompassing infotainment innovations.

Key products included a high-performance front radar with an extended detection range of 350 meters, an infrared camera with improved recognition capabilities under adverse weather conditions, generative AI specialized for vehicle care, and a 3D display with an expanded field of view.

Electrification components were presented in next-generation product lines tailored to market trends and customer requirements. Notable examples included in-wheel motors capable of crab steering, next-generation drive systems for compact trucks specialized for urban transportation, and bidirectional ICCUs with high power density.

In the safety and chassis sectors, Hyundai Mobis attracted attention by introducing world-first technologies in major core component areas such as airbags, lamps, braking, and steering systems. Highlights included a passenger-side airbag designed to reduce brain injuries during collisions, communication headlamps that interact with surrounding road conditions using HD LEDs, a third-generation regenerative braking system, and a rear-wheel steering system recognized as an innovative technology by North American automotive publication Automotive News.

Additionally, other standout innovations included a core device made from nickel-free metal powder without using expensive rare metals like nickel for inductors, ultra-high-speed battery charging cooling technology, e-corner systems enabling crab steering, and the next-generation infotainment integrated system M.Vics 4.0, all of which captivated the audience’s attention.

Media Contact 
Choon Kee Hwangckhwang@mobis.com
Myong Sun Song: sms@mobis.com

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