Connect with us

Technology

COP16 to Begin in Saudi Arabia as World Seeks Urgent Solutions to Land Degradation, Desertification and Drought

Published

on

Global dignitaries, policymakers, scientists and NGOs descend on Riyadh ahead of ‘critical’ UN meeting to restore land

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Dec. 2, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The largest-ever meeting of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is set to kick-off in Riyadh, with an action-packed agenda to drive multilateral action on land degradation, drought and desertification. Dignitaries, policymakers, global institutions, businesses, NGOs and key stakeholders are arriving in Saudi Arabia’s capital ahead of a critical conference to accelerate global land restoration and drought resilience initiatives.

Running from the 2nd to the 13th of December, the first few days of UNCCD COP16 are set to see a number of high-profile summits, ministerial dialogues, and announcements to address the pressing challenges associated with land degradation, degradation and drought. On December 2nd, Saudi Arabia’s UNCCD Presidency will launch the groundbreaking Riyadh Global Drought Resilience Initiative, to accelerate international action on drought resilience, and ensure a more cohesive and proactive global approach to tackling drought.

Bolstering global drought resilience is a focal point of COP16, and the high-level One Water Summit will take place in Riyadh on December 3rd to address global water scarcity and water challenges. Originally announced on the sidelines of COP28 in partnership with Saudi Arabia, the summit aims to enhance global water governance and will feature involvement from the President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the President of the World Bank Ajay Banga.

In tandem, the Saudi Green Initiative (SGI) Forum (2–3 December) will include hundreds of policymakers, business leaders and subject matter experts from across the world in the dedicated SGI Pavilion in the COP16 Green Zone to explore the progress made by the SGI energy and environmental tracks, sharing best practices and future projections. The Second International Forum on Greening Technologies is also set to take place in the Green Zone between the 6–8 December, including dozens of tailored sessions to explore solutions, innovations, and lessons learned from global greening projects, alongside showcasing the scientific research associated with restoration projects around the world.

“This is a critical moment to address land degradation, drought and desertification,” said Dr. Osama Faqeeha, Deputy Minister for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and Advisor to the UNCCD COP16 Presidency. “For too long these devastating global crises have not received the attention they deserve on the international stage. As hosts, we welcome the world to Riyadh to help find lasting solutions. We will deliver the largest UNCCD COP to date, to mobilize multilateral action on land restoration and drought resilience,” Dr. Faqeeha added.

Saudi Arabia’s COP16 Presidency is also set to strengthen the Action Agenda, by encouraging governments and non-state actors to champion initiatives that deliver lasting solutions for land degradation, desertification and drought. As part of the COP16 Presidency, Saudi Arabia intends to work with the champions of these initiatives to strengthen the synergies among them over the next two years.

“The Action Agenda under COP16 sets out an ambitious vision and goals to harness the collective energies of non-state actors, including businesses, farmers, regions, cities, financial institutions, investors, civil society and indigenous people, to catalyse practical solutions and drive measurable progress towards the goals of the UNCCD,” said Nigel Topping, Ambition Loop Founder and former UN Climate Change High-Level Champion at COP26.

COP16 in Riyadh is the first UNCCD conference to be held in the Middle East region, the first to feature a Green Zone and the largest multilateral conference ever hosted by Saudi Arabia. According to the UNCCD, land degradation affects nearly 40% of the planet and impacts the lives of over 3.2 billion people. Every year 100 million hectares of land are degraded, with drought frequency and intensity increasing by nearly a third since 2000.

About COP16 Riyadh

The UNCCD COP16 conference is taking place from December 2–13, 2024, at Boulevard Riyadh World, Saudi Arabia. The conference, themed Our Land. Our Future, will mark the 30th anniversary of the UNCCD and aims to secure multilateral action on critical issues such as drought resilience, land tenure, and sand and dust storms. 

For more information about UNCCD COP16 or to register your interest in attending the Green Zone, please visit UNCCDCOP16.org

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2556588/5024165/UNCCD_COP16__Logo.jpg

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cop16-to-begin-in-saudi-arabia-as-world-seeks-urgent-solutions-to-land-degradation-desertification-and-drought-302319381.html

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

Vivalink Recognized with 2024 Global Healthcare IT Solutions Award by Frost & Sullivan

Published

on

By

Vivalink honored for enabling technology leadership with its innovative remote patient monitoring solutions

CAMPBELL, Calif., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Vivalink, a leading provider of digital healthcare solutions, receives Frost & Sullivan’s 2024 Global Healthcare IT Solutions Enabling Technology Leadership Award. This distinction highlights Vivalink as a leader in the global remote patient monitoring (RPM) market for worldwide clinical applications of hospital-at-home, cardiac monitoring and clinical trials.

Frost & Sullivan’s Enabling Technology Leadership Award recognizes companies that apply their technology in new ways to improve existing products and services and elevate the customer experience. Its primary criteria includes Vivalink’s leveraging of technology to improve efficiency, application diversity and creativity, as well as its customer impact through performance, customer experience and brand equity.

Vivalink’s medical-grade wearable technology enables providers to deliver patient-centered care for hospital-at-home services, ambulatory cardiac monitoring, and remote clinical trials. Unlike traditional RPM systems, Vivalink offers continuous, real-time monitoring for a variety of specialties, including cardiology, oncology and neurology, while supporting chronic condition management, early interventions, and specialized applications.

“Frost & Sullivan commends Vivalink for its strategic focus on addressing critical unmet needs and limitations within traditional remote patient monitoring systems, thus accelerating its leadership in the increasingly competitive space,” said Dr. Rishi Pathak, research director at Frost & Sullivan. “With its flexible, versatile, and scalable Biometrics Data Platform and unique business model, the company strategically positions its platform as a convenient, cost-effective, and advanced solution, helping Vivalink capture significant market share.”

This award highlights Vivalink’s commitment to innovation, creativity, and ability to launch new solutions with far-reaching impact and application. Through its evolving solutions, Vivlink enables the integration of RPM technologies for modern healthcare delivery and optimized patient care.

“It is an honor to be recognized as a global leader of health IT solutions, highlighting our commitment to providing informed, continuous data that drives modern healthcare delivery models,” said Jiang Li, PhD and CEO of Vivalink.

For a copy of the detailed award write-up, see: www.vivalink.com/HealthIT_Award

About Vivalink
Vivalink is a provider of digital healthcare solutions for remote patient monitoring in healthcare and clinical trials. By combining medical wearables, advanced algorithms, and clinical applications, we provide a more effective and accessible approach to patient care worldwide.

About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan is the Growth Pipeline Company™. We power our clients to a future shaped by growth. Our Growth Pipeline as a ServiceTM provides the CEO and the CEO’s growth team with a continuous and rigorous platform of growth opportunities, ensuring long-term success. To achieve positive outcomes, our team leverages over 60 years of experience, coaching organizations of all types and sizes across 6 continents with our proven best practices. To power your Growth Pipeline future, visit Frost & Sullivan at http://www.frost.com.

Media Contact:
pr@vivalink.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vivalink-recognized-with-2024-global-healthcare-it-solutions-award-by-frost–sullivan-302347191.html

SOURCE Vivalink

Continue Reading

Technology

IDEMIA Awarded 10-Year Blanket Purchase Agreement from the General Services Administration for Next-Generation Identity Proofing for Login.Gov

Published

on

By

IDEMIA offers trusted identity proofing and verification platforms backed by decades-long history of partnership with government agencies.

RESTON, Va., Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — IDEMIA Public Security North America, a leader in identity security and authentication services, has been awarded a 10-year blanket purchase agreement (BPA) worth up to $194.5 million from the General Services Administration (GSA) for its identity proofing capabilities. IDEMIA is one of 8 technology providers selected by GSA to accelerate the deployment of next-generation identity proofing technologies for Login.gov, a secure sign-in platform used by the public to create a single digital account that can be used to access multiple federal, state and local government agency sites.

After a rigorous qualification process by GSA, IDEMIA was selected for its robust and trusted identity proofing and verification technology, designed to ensure that individuals are who they say they are and prevent identity-related fraud, and its long-standing history of more than 60 years serving government agencies. IDEMIA’s Identity and Verification (ID&V) solution incorporates document authentication technology with comprehensive checks, such as digital tampering detection, document identification, font anomaly detection, liveness detection, and face capture. It complies with the highest security standards and is certified by the Kantara Initiative as compliant with NIST SP 800-63 rev. 3 Component Service at Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2).

IDEMIA’s identity proofing technology supports both active and passive facial liveness detection during authentication to ensure the person behind the camera is an actual individual. This technology has been awarded Level 1 and Level 2 compliance by iBeta in accordance with the ISO/IEC 30107-3 standards and most recently the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Department (DHS S&T). In addition, IDEMIA has incorporated accessibility and usability design feedback from Applause, a world leader in testing and digital quality, to ensure that IDEMIA’s identity proofing technology conforms with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

“We look forward to serving GSA as a committed technology partner, supporting their digital transformation efforts to improve identity verification and customer experience of Login.gov, which is accessed by millions of users,” shared Donnie Scott, CEO, IDEMIA Public Security North America.

IDEMIA’s ID&V solutions are trusted by public and private organizations across the globe. It serves as the backbone of IDEMIA’s Mobile ID issuance technology, which has been rolled out in New York, Arizona, Delaware, Iowa, and Mississippi, with more states to launch in the coming months.

To learn more about IDEMIA’s Identity and Verification solutions, click here.

About IDEMIA Public Security North America
IDEMIA Public Security North America is a leader in identity security and authentication services to governments and private companies operating in North America. Our mission is to Unlock the World, Make It Safer – helping people access what matters most, more quickly, more safely, and more securely, in both the physical and the digital worlds. Our best-in-class technology helps to authenticate and secure physical and digital transactions. IDEMIA is recognized by the National Institute of Standards (NIST) as a top-ranking participant in the Institute’s passenger facilitation simulation testing as well as in its regular Biometrics Technology Evaluations rankings, reinforcing the trustworthiness and reliability of IDEMIA’s facial recognition solutions for government and consumers alike.  

Learn more at www.na.idemia.com / Follow @Idemia_NA on Twitter and on LinkedIn.

Media contact:  
Genevieve de Vera
IDEMIA Public Security North America
(978) 808-7047
genevieve.devera@us.idemia.com

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/idemia-awarded-10-year-blanket-purchase-agreement-from-the-general-services-administration-for-next-generation-identity-proofing-for-logingov-302347160.html

SOURCE IDEMIA Identity & Security USA LLC

Continue Reading

Technology

Topaz Labs to Expand Addison, TX Headquarters from 7,000 to 27,000 Square Feet; Add 130 High-Tech Jobs

Published

on

By

The Town of Addison secures Topaz Labs with a $200,000 grant to build amenities and collaborative spaces for a new office.

ADDISON, Texas, Jan. 9, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Topaz Labs, the leading provider of AI-powered photo and video enhancement technology, and the Town of Addison announce an award of a $200,000 Amenities and Collaboration Grant to Topaz Labs to support the expansion of its headquarters, nearly tripling its current size.

” Topaz Labs is exactly the kind of company we love to see grow here in Addison,” said Wayne Emerson, Director of Economic Development at the Town of Addison. Their innovative work in AI and commitment to the Town make them the perfect partner.

The company will lease 28,208 square feet of office space — up from their current 7,000 square feet and expects to invest at least $2.5 million to customize the space with innovation labs and collaborative workspaces for staff. Topaz Labs will become the sole office tenant at Building 900, the newest building in Village on the Parkway, a vibrant mixed-use destination offering premier shopping, dining, and entertainment experiences.

As AI continues to be a booming industry nationally and locally in DFW, Topaz Labs expects to add 130 high-tech jobs by the end of 2027, further contributing to Addison’s reputation as a hub for innovation and technology.

” Topaz Labs is exactly the kind of company we love to see grow here in Addison,” said Wayne Emerson, Director of Economic Development at the Town of Addison. Their innovative work in AI and commitment to the Town make them the perfect partner. We’re also thrilled for their employees, who will enjoy working in a brand-new, highly amenitized building surrounded by great restaurants, entertainment options, and walkable amenities at Village on the Parkway.”

” We’re so excited for the future of Topaz Labs in Addison,” said Eric Yang, CEO at Topaz Labs. “We sought a vibrant, safe, and energetic community with like-minded professionals doing their best work. We’ve found all of that in Addison.”

” This transformative lease aligns seamlessly with Topaz Labs’ rapid growth in the AI industry, as well as our partnership with the Town of Addison. We are honored to have represented them in securing this exceptional space for their headquarters,’ said Nick Lee, President – Office Division and Principal at NAI.

Topaz Labs will begin occupying its new office space in May of 2025.

About Addison

Addison, Texas, is the Address for Success—a vibrant 4.4-square-mile urban hub offering over 200 restaurants, 22 hotels, 12 million square feet of office space, and upscale residential options. Home to Addison Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in Texas, and providing prime access to a diverse and highly skilled workforce, Addison is a strategic location for businesses to thrive. Addison is a premier destination in North Texas, known for its world-class special events and exceptional amenities. Learn more at http://www.addisoned.com/

About Topaz Labs

Topaz Labs is the innovator in AI image and video enhancement software for enterprise-scale and professional videographers, cinematographers, post-production specialists, and consumer photographers alike to improve images and video at a speed and scale never before seen. Topaz Labs allows users to upscale, sharpen, and remove noise from blurry or otherwise imperfect images and videos. The company has 1.5 million customers worldwide. For more information, please visit www.topazlabs.com.

About NAI

NAI Robert Lynn, established in 1962, is a leading commercial real estate firm specializing in Dallas/Fort Worth. With a comprehensive range of services—including office, retail, industrial, property management, capital markets, corporate services, site selection, land, and consulting— the firm combines local expertise with global reach to deliver tailored solutions for clients. Their deep-rooted presence and proactive market approach have solidified their reputation as industry leaders. For more information, please visit www.nairl.com.

Media Contact

Wayne Emerson, Town of Addison, 1 9724507076, wemerson@addisontx.gov, addisoned.com

View original content:https://www.prweb.com/releases/topaz-labs-to-expand-addison-tx-headquarters-from-7-000-to-27-000-square-feet-add-130-high-tech-jobs-302346695.html

SOURCE Town of Addison

Continue Reading

Trending