“The ‘Russia-ASEAN: World of Opportunities’ Forum became one of the largest business events of its kind in the country and region in recent years, providing a unique platform to enhance trade relations between Russia and Southeast Asian countries. In 2023, Russia’s trade turnover with ASEAN countries reached a record high, growing by 14.6% compared to the previous year. This positive trend continued in the first half of 2024, with a 20.5% increase. The business forum was a response to the growing interest of Russian businesses in ASEAN countries, particularly Malaysia, and further solidified Russia’s strengthening trade position in Southeast Asia. I am confident that the Forum will serve as a significant discussion platform for addressing and broadly covering issues related to deepening trade and investment ties between Russia and ASEAN countries across various sectors,” said Anton Kobyakov , Advisor to the President of the Russian Federation. The Forum’s business agenda centered on trade and export interaction, energy, digital transformation, information security, technology, and innovations. Dedicated sessions also explored healthcare, tourism, education, and the impact of alumni communities in fostering international business connections. “Russia-Malaysia relations are dynamically progressing across a wide range of areas, providing optimism for their future. I believe this Forum served as an excellent starting point for creating and implementing new projects, fostering cooperation, and promoting open dialogue between the business community and government representatives. I hope the event’s outcomes bring ASEAN countries and Malaysia closer to Russia, enabling the peoples of our nations to learn more about each other and explore new horizons for mutually beneficial relationships,” emphasized Nail Latypov , the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Malaysia. He described Kuala Lumpur as a fitting choice for the event, noting that Malaysia will assume the ASEAN chairmanship in 2025 and highlighting the city’s strategic location as a regional hub, within a two-hour flight of any ASEAN capital. The main highlight of the Forum was the plenary session, which featured participants such as Alexey Gruzdev , Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation; Ayrat Khayrullin , Minister of Digitalization of Public Administration, Information Technologies, and Communications of the Republic of Tatarstan; Tan Sri Nazir Razak , Founder and Chairman of Ikhlas Capital and Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council Malaysia; Oudet Souvannavong , President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council; Alexander Stuglev , Chairman and CEO of the Roscongress Foundation; and Abu Bakar Yusof , Deputy Director of the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE). Daniyar Akkaziev , Executive Director of the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, moderated the session. The business program on the first day continued with a panel discussion titled “The Energy Dimension of Strategic Partnership between Russia and ASEAN: Lessons Learned and New Directions” and the EAEU-ASEAN business dialogue. Discussions focused on exploring new formats of cooperation among businesses for sustainable, long-term development. The second day of the Forum featured panels on enhancing cooperation between Russia and Southeast Asian countries in digital transformation, healthcare, and medicine. Additional focus was given to strategies for increasing tourist flows and fostering educational partnerships. The “World of Opportunities: Russia-ASEAN” International Business Forum was held with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation and the Trade Representation of the Russian Federation in Malaysia. The Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (MATRADE) served as the co-organizer. The Forum’s general partner was the Tatarstan Trade House, while program partners included the Russia-ASEAN Business Council, the Eurasian Economic Commission, and Coalstar LLC. Hashtag: #RoscongressFoundation The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The Roscongress Foundation is a socially oriented, non-financial development institution and the largest organizer of Russian, international, congress, exhibition, business, public, youth, sports, and cultural events. It was established in 2007 by presidential decree to promote economic potential, advance national interests, and strengthen Russia’s image. The Foundation comprehensively studies, analyzes, and highlights issues on Russian and global economic agendas. It facilitates business project administration, investment promotion, social entrepreneurship, and charitable initiatives. Events organized by the Foundation attract participants from 209 countries and territories, with over 15,000 media representatives working at Roscongress venues annually. More than 5,000 experts from Russia and abroad are involved in its analytical and expert activities. The Foundation collaborates with UN structures and other international organizations, develops diverse partnerships with 212 foreign economic institutions, industrial and business associations, and financial and trade organizations in 86 countries. Domestically, it partners with 293 Russian public organizations and federal and regional executive and legislative bodies of the Russian Federation. Official Roscongress Telegram Channels: In Russian – t.me/Roscongress, in English – t . me / RoscongressDirect , in Spanish – t . me / RoscongressEsp , and in Arabic – t . me / RosCongressArabic . Official website and information-analytical system: roscongress . org .
A chorus of support is growing behind actress Blake Lively after she filed a complaint alleging sexual harassment and a smear campaign against "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni. Actress Amber Heard on Monday became the latest celebrity to speak out on behalf of the "Gossip Girl" alum over what she says was a coordinated social media effort to tarnish her name. Over the weekend, Lively filed a complaint claiming that Baldoni and a lead producer had behaved unacceptably during the filming of box office hit "It Ends With Us." The allegations included that Baldoni -- who also directed the film -- had spoken inappropriately about his sex life, and had sought to alter the film to include sex scenes that were not in the script and had not been agreed to. They also detailed how lead producer Jamey Heath had watched Lively while she was topless, despite having been asked to turn away. But the complaint goes into great detail -- including with texts and emails -- on a PR campaign to wreck her reputation and to divert attention from any public comments she might make about the men's alleged misbehavior. This was "a carefully crafted, coordinated, and resourced retaliatory scheme to silence her, and others from speaking out about the hostile environment that Mr Baldoni and Mr Heath created," the complaint says. It includes allegations that the two men hired a crisis PR team that amplified or planted negative stories about Lively on social media platforms. "You know we can bury anyone," Melissa Nathan, a member of the team, is alleged to have said, according to messages contained in the complaint. Heard's ex-husband Johnny Depp hired the same PR team during the high-profile defamation trial between the couple in 2022, in which a jury unanimously found that Heard defamed Depp over allegations he abused her. "Social media is the absolute personification of the classic saying 'A lie travels halfway around the world before truth can get its boots on,'" Heard said in a statement carried by NBC News. "I saw this firsthand and up close. It's as horrifying as it is destructive." Heard's support came on the heels of a joint statement by America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn and Alexis Bledel, who starred with Lively in "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants." "As Blake's friends and sisters for over 20 years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation," they wrote on Instagram. "Throughout the filming of 'It Ends with Us', we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice." A lawyer for Wayfarer, the studio behind the film, said in a statement released to the New York Times that neither the studio, its executives, nor its PR team did anything to retaliate against Lively. "These claims are completely false, outrageous and intentionally salacious with an intent to publicly hurt and rehash a narrative in the media," lawyer Bryan Freedman wrote. The complaint was lodged with the California Civil Rights Department, and is a precursor to a lawsuit. Major Hollywood talent agency WME -- which represents Lively -- has reportedly dropped Baldoni as a client. hg/aha
In yet another blow to tech giants, Google parent company Alphabet Inc. (GOOGL.US) is now under investigation by the European Union for its alleged secret advertising collaboration with Meta Platforms Inc. (META.US), formerly known as Facebook. The European Commission has launched a probe into these allegations, demanding that Google provide extensive information regarding its partnership with Meta in the realm of online advertising.As the referee blows the whistle to start the match, all eyes are on Krunic. Will he rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of his legacy at AC Milan? Only time will tell. But one thing is for certain - his return to San Siro is a momentous occasion, a testament to his skill, perseverance, and unwavering dedication to the beautiful game.
In conclusion, the 6.09GB update for "Black Myth: Wu Kong" marks a significant milestone in the game's development, offering players a fresh and exciting gameplay experience. The game's exclusive debut on the Epic Games Store further enhances its accessibility and reach, inviting more players to embark on an unforgettable journey through a world steeped in mystery and adventure.In response to the growing importance of retirement planning and the need for comprehensive financial security in old age, the bank is pleased to announce that a video conference on the full implementation of the personal pension system will be held in mid-month. This conference aims to provide valuable information and guidance to all our customers regarding the upcoming changes in the personal pension system and how they can best prepare for a secure and stable retirement.
The latest data from the E-commerce Logistics Index reveals a continuous uptrend in online consumption in China. With more consumers turning to e-commerce platforms for their shopping needs, the demand for fast and reliable logistics services has never been higher. This trend is fueled by factors such as increasing internet penetration, rising disposable incomes, and the convenience of online shopping.
Vance’s Failed First Test Fuels Doubts About White House Power
On June 28 2023, Microsoft and LinkedIn launched the AI Skills Initiative certificate program, a library of free videos for professionals who are beginners in generative AI . The program aims to teach participants how to apply generative AI to their work. As of December 2024, Microsoft expanded its library to form the AI Skills Navigator portal. What are the Career Essentials in Generative AI program by Microsoft and LinkedIn? The Microsoft AI Skills Initiative, developed with LinkedIn, consists of five modules. Every module includes a video, and some are supplemented with quizzes, a workbook file, or both. Completing all five modules gives the learner a Professional Certificate in Generative AI to display on LinkedIn Learning. The content presented in the AI Skills Initiative certification skews toward Microsoft’s Copilot instead of its major rival, Google’s Gemini . The Professional Certificate on Generative AI training will be available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Simplified Chinese, and Japanese and will be free through 2025. SEE: Learn how generative AI is transforming cloud security . (TechRepublic) “We have the opportunity to provide foundational information to everyone, everywhere, to help us all stay ahead of the skills gaps and harness its creativity to retrieve helpful information,” said Naria Santa Lucia, general manager of digital inclusion at Microsoft, in an email to TechRepublic. “As we are learning, the technology is learning from us, too, and we have the power to shape how the technology can best support us.” SEE: 2025 was the year of agentic AI . The LinkedIn training course is part of Microsoft’s Skills for Jobs program, which includes a training module for teachers, trainers, and facilitators exploring artificial intelligence . Note that some of the material focuses on Microsoft Azure and Azure OpenAI. Generative AI skills are among companies’ top three training priorities More than 75% of companies plan to adopt AI in the next five years, according to the World Economic Forum. Training employees to use AI and big data is the third-highest company skills-training priority companies plan to focus on over this period, as highlighted in the WEF Future of Jobs 2023 report . That statistic includes generative AI and related technologies, such as machine learning , which fall under the same umbrella. The importance of AI in the workplace is further underscored by Microsoft’s May 2024 Work Trend Index, which found that 75% of knowledge workers use AI at work. However, 53% of people surveyed who use AI at work worry that using it makes them look replaceable. Additionally, some workers (45%) are still concerned they will lose their jobs to AI. On the other hand, a proportionate number of hiring leaders (55%) say they’re concerned about not having enough talent to fill roles in 2025. In last year’s Work Trend Index, 49% of people were concerned about AI making their jobs obsolete. At the same time, 70% are open to the possibility of delegating some tasks to AI to reduce their workloads. To address these challenges and opportunities, Microsoft proposes upskilling in AI to remediate imbalances. One element of skills training somewhat unique to generative AI is the practice of prompt engineering . “Unlike other enterprise software, generative AI tools require the user to train the tool itself,” said Shravan Goli, chief operating officer at Coursera, in an email to TechRepublic in 2023. “Without good prompts, the tool won’t be able to help employees boost productivity in a meaningful way, and increasing productivity is one of the most promising components of generative AI for workers today.” SEE: This customizable prompt engineer hiring kit from TechRepublic Premium He also noted that generative AI skills training requires ethical oversight, which Coursera considers in its own free training modules . “As with any emerging technology, society is still navigating its broader implications and managing guardrails,” Goli said. “In order to leverage this incredibly powerful tool while still ensuring responsible use by employees, I believe organizations need to carefully outline ethical guidelines.” Note: This story was originally published in 2023 and updated for 2024.
After 15 rounds of Premier League matches, Chelsea under the management of Thomas Tuchel are on an impressive run, sitting at the second position in the league table. The team's current form and performance have drawn parallels to the successful era under former head coach Roberto Di Matteo in the 2012-2013 season.The pressure is mounting on Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti, as he faces a tough challenge in steering his team back on track. Ancelotti, known for his tactical acumen and calm demeanor, is now faced with the task of motivating his players and finding a way to get the best out of them. The Italian coach, who is no stranger to high-pressure situations, must now rally his troops and instill a sense of belief and determination in the squad.