United Nations IGF Dynamic Coalition Pilots a Decentralized Autonomous Organization (DAO)

Dec 21, 2023 | Business

The United Nations Internet Governance Forum (IGF) Dynamic Coalition on Blockchain Assurance & Standardizationannounces the initiation of a groundbreaking project aimed at establishing a Distributed Autonomous Organization (DAO). The pilot project is a collaborative effort showcasing how public sector organizations can leverage blockchain technology and DAO principles to foster transparent, rules-based, and high-integrity governance structures.

UN – IGF Dynamic Coalitions are multistakeholder groups operating within the framework of the UN Internet Governance Forum, addressing specific issues related to internet governance. These coalitions are independent entities within the UN-IGF and bring together diverse stakeholders to collaborate on focused topics, fostering dialogue and producing outputs such as reports and guidelines.

A Distributed Autonomous Organization (DAO) is an organization governed by a set of rules encoded as smart contracts on a blockchain, operating on principles of decentralization and automation. In a DAO, decision-making and governance processes are encoded into smart contracts on a blockchain, enabling members to participate in the organization’s activities without the need for traditional hierarchical structures. DAOs typically utilize digital tokens for voting and decision-making, and their rules are transparently and immutably recorded on the blockchain. This decentralized approach aims to create trust, transparency, and efficiency, allowing members to collectively manage resources, make decisions, and execute actions based on predefined rules without the need for centralized control.

According to one of the groups co-leaders, Mr. Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio who also is the CIO of the United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund, “This initiative signifies a pivotal step toward establishing innovative and secure governance models, ensuring that blockchain technology can be harnessed for the benefit of public sector organizations. The UN IGF DC-BAS remains committed to fostering collaboration, transparency, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies.”

The Dynamic Coalition is hosted by the Government Blockchain Association (GBA), a non-profit that helps the public and private sector connect, communicate, and collaborate. The GBA provides the infrastructure support for the organization. The Dynamic Coalition is also co-led by the GBA Executive Director, Gerard Dache and along with Mr. Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio, they lead a public, open forum multi-stakeholder coalition from around the world that meets on a monthly basis.

The technology being used for this pilot project is donated by a GBA member, Gosh, an Ethereum Layer 2 solution that allows developers to run smart contracts on-chain for free. The pilot will also liaise with other GBA working groups, including:

  • Application Architecture
  • Digital Asset Management
  • DAO Governance
  • Legal & Legislative

Anyone can join the group by requesting access to the UN IGF BAS-DC Google Group. For more information about the Dynamic Coalition , please visit https://intgovforum.org/en/content/dynamic-coalition-on-blockchain-assurance-and-standardization-dc-bas

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Dino Cataldo Dell’Accio
Chief Information Officer
United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund
dellaccio@un.org 

Mr. Gerard Dache
Executive Director
Government Blockchain Association
gerard.dache@GBAglobal.org  


Topic: Press release summary

Hong Kong – Update on United Christian Hospital missing patient incident

Dec 16, 2023 | International

Update on United Christian Hospital missing patient incident

************************************************************


The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
 
     The spokesman for United Christian Hospital (UCH) made the following update today (December 16) regarding a patient leaving the hospital without notification:
      
     The 35-year-old female patient who left the hospital earlier this morning without notification has returned to the ward shortly after 7pm tonight.

United Financial Group NO FICO Required, residential loans, 7 days closing, up to $2 million-

Nov 29, 2023 | Books, Business

United Financial Group has paved the way for developers and investors to continue to succeed by offering flexible options to support borrowers. We offer unique debt financing solutions for real estate projects across the U.S.

NEW YORK – Nov. 27, 2023 – PRLog — United Financial Group Introduces Flexible Financing Solutions for Real Estate Projects

United Financial Group, a leading financing company based in New York, is pleased to announce its commitment to supporting developers and investors with flexible debt financing options for real estate projects across the United States. Specializing in residential rehab, fix and flip, commercial bridge, hard money, and construction loans for multi-family, apartments, hotels, offices, and warehouses, United Financial Group aims to provide tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of borrowers.

As part of their new loan programs for December 2023, United Financial Group offers fast loan closings in just 7 days, without being FICO score driven and without ratio considerations. They cater to borrowers seeking investment properties, rehab loans, and quick lines of credit for down payments and closing costs. Additionally, United Financial Group provides business funding solutions with collateral options.

The program highlights include:

– Competitive rates starting as low as 8.99%
– Loan amounts ranging from $50,000 to $2 million
– Nationwide coverage
– No minimum FICO score requirement
– Availability of both 30-year fixed and short-term options
– YSP/Brokers protected

United Financial Group specializes in hard money straight asset-based lending, offering loan-to-value ratios of up to 70% (with an extended program allowing for 75-80%*), and 100% combined loan-to-value allowed. Stated income, no-documentation loans are available, with FICO scores not being a determining factor. United Financial Group accepts all property types, including residential, multi-family, commercial, industrial, and land.

For borrowers seeking home equity loans for investment properties, primary residences, or second homes, United Financial Group provides attractive options. These loans feature interest rates of up to 11%, a minimum FICO score requirement of 600, no-documentation requirements, and fully amortized payments based on a 30-year term. The closing process typically takes 2 to 3 weeks.

United Financial Group also introduces new programs effective from December 2023 for commercial projects. These programs offer attractive terms such as flexible loan terms of up to 5 years, no prepayment penalties, loan-to-value ratios of up to 85%, rates starting from 6% per annum, fees as low as 2%, and loan sizes ranging from $1 million to $50+ million nationally. Real estate collateral is accepted, and various property types, including multifamily, churches, condos, offices, retail spaces, hotels, industrial properties, mixed-use developments, and land, are eligible.

United Financial Group’s financing solutions provide short-term, competitively priced funding to execute business plans, stabilize assets, and bring projects to successful completion. The company’s risk-managed approach emphasizes multifamily, industrial, and office collateral in regions experiencing strong population and GDP growth.

For more information about United Financial Group’s flexible financing solutions, please contact their dedicated team at 1844-323-3863 or visit their website at https://unitedfinancialgroup.us/united-home.

About United Financial Group:

United Financial Group is a leading financing company headquartered in New York, specializing in providing tailored debt financing solutions for real estate projects. With a focus on residential rehab, fix and flip, commercial bridge, hard money, and construction loans, United Financial Group offers flexible options to support diverse borrower needs. Their risk-managed approach and commitment to exceptional customer service set them apart in the industry.

Contact:

United Financial Group
Phone: 1844-323-3863
Website: https://unitedfinancialgroup.us/united-home

United Nations Receives Vital Education Rankings: NJ MED’s Third Quarter Report Highlights Nations’ Education Performance

Oct 12, 2023 | Business

 NJ MED, a leading global education research NGO, has released its highly anticipated Third Quarter Rankings for 2023, shedding light on the educational performance of nations worldwide. These rankings are a critical tool for the United Nations (UN) in its mission to promote and support education initiatives on a global scale.

The NJ MED Third Quarter Rankings, which focus on nations that submit their annual education data to the United Nations, provide valuable insights into the state of education across the globe. Despite only 25% of nations participating, the results are indicative of broader trends and key areas that demand attention.

The rankings are categorized into three vital education levels: early childhood enrollments, high school graduation rates, and college graduation rates. By highlighting the top-performing nations, these rankings serve as a blueprint for educational excellence that can inspire and inform policies and strategies worldwide.

NJ MED’s World Top 20 Third Quarter Rankings for 2023:
1. Netherlands
2. Belgium
3. Slovenia
4. Norway
5. Denmark
6. Germany
7. Ireland
8. Spain
9. Latvia
10. Sweden
11. South Korea
12. Iceland
13. France
14. Lithuania
15. Poland
16. Australia
17. United Kingdom
18. Greece
19. Israel
20. Portugal

The United Nations recognizes the critical importance of education in achieving its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all. Access to reliable, comprehensive data on education performance is essential for monitoring progress and identifying areas in need of intervention.

By collaborating with organizations like NJ MED and leveraging their expertise and rankings, the United Nations can better allocate resources, target educational support, and foster international cooperation. The NJ MED Third Quarter Rankings for 2023 are an invaluable resource for the UN, offering a glimpse into which nations are excelling in education and providing a roadmap for others to follow.

These rankings not only celebrate the achievements of top-performing nations but also serve as a global call to action, inspiring nations to improve their education systems and ensure that every child has access to quality education.

For more information on NJ MED’s Third Quarter Rankings for 2023 and their impact on global education initiatives, please visit: https://worldtop20.org/worldbesteducationsystem/

New Jersey Minority Educational Development
Shomari Moore
856-541-3926
www.worldtop20.org

ContactContact

Categories

  • Education

The United Nations and JCDecaux launch Global Road Safety campaign to address the first cause of mortality for young people aged 5-29

Sep 21, 2023 | Business

Paris – WEBWIRE –

The United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Road Safety, Mr Jean Todt, and Jean-Charles Decaux, co-CEO of JCDecaux, launched a new UN Global Road Safety campaign to address road traffic crashes, which are the leading cause of death for people aged 5 to 29 around the world.

Road traffic crashes kill 1.35 million people every year and injure over 50 million, often for life. Developing countries account for 93% of the victims. The most vulnerable road users (pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) and the poor are disproportionately affected worldwide.

Over the next two years, the campaign will appear on billboards and in public areas in 80 countries worldwide thanks to a global partnership with JCDecaux. Displayed in about 1,000 cities, the campaign will be translated into 30 languages.

Contributing to the European Mobility Week

The campaign was launched today in Brussels during the European Mobility Week (16-22 September), with the participation of Adina Vălean, European Commissioner for Transport. On this occasion, the campaign is on display in the streets of Brussels and at Brussels Airport, as well as in the streets of Lige, Antwerp and Lier.

The Special Envoy declared: Road safety is not high enough on the political agenda in most countries. While we know the remedies to road crashes, action is lagging behind. With this campaign, together with the celebrities that are joining us, and our partners JCDecaux and Saatchi & Saatchi, we are trying to revert this and mobilize the political will that is needed to increase actions and financing to save millions of lives, in line with the objectives of the Decade of Action for Road Safety.

Speaking at the press conference of the launch, EU Commissioner for Transport Adina Vlean said: During this years European Mobility Week, around 3,000 cities from 50 countries will be encouraging their citizens to try out more sustainable ways of moving around. Walking and cycling are two such options. But sustainability must go hand-in-hand with safety, and sadly vulnerable road users are still over-represented in road fatality statistics: in the EU, pedestrians account for around 18% of fatalities, and cyclists for 9%. I welcome this global campaign to turn this around to help us learn from each other, raise awareness of how to keep all road-users safe, and ultimately to save lives.

Jean-Charles Decaux, co-CEO of JCDecaux said: We are very proud to partner with the United Nations and Jean Todt, the United Nations Secretary-Generals Special Envoy for Road Safety, to launch this international road safety campaign thats relevant to everyone. No matter how we travel, this important cause affects us all, from pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers to people using new forms of mobility or making shared trips. We can all play a part in reducing the terrible consequences faced by so many families around the world. This campaign underlines how our sustainable media can use its power and mass reach to raise awareness of the safety rules that must be respected at all times and the care that must be taken, in order to ensure a safe and pleasant public space for us all.

#MakeaSafetyStatement

Under the motto #MakeaSafetyStatement, the campaign gathers celebrities to encourage road users to adopt simple and effective rules to stay safe on the road.

The first participating celebrities include:

  • Naomi Campbell, supermodel
  • Ousmane Dembl, football icon
  • Patrick Dempsey, actor
  • Novak Djokovic, tennis legend
  • Didier Drogba, football legend
  • Michael Fassbender, actor
  • Julie Gayet, actress
  • Charles Leclerc, F1 driver
  • Marc Mrquez, motorcycle racer
  • Kylie Minogue, musician
  • Youssou NDour, musician
  • Mick Schumacher, F1 driver
  • Michelle Yeoh, Oscar-winning actress & UNDP Goodwill ambassador

They #MakeaSafetyStatement to:

  • wear a seat belt
  • drive slow
  • wear a helmet
  • not text and drive
  • not drive under the influence
  • not drive tired

and call on fans, followers and the public to adopt the same habits.

Note to editors

About some of the main causes of road crashes

Speeding

  • The death risk for pedestrians hit by car fronts rises rapidly as vehicle speed increases (4.5 times from 50 km/h to 65 km/h).
  • In Europe, some 30% of road fatalities (19,800 in 2021) are caused byexcessive or inappropriate speed.

Driving under the influence

  • Driving under the influence of alcohol and any psychoactive substance or drug increases the risk of a crash.
  • A 2022 study by U.S. highway safety regulators (NHTSA) found that more than half the people injured or killed in traffic crashes had one or more drugs, or alcohol, in their bloodstreams.

Distracted driving

  • Drivers using mobile phones are approximately 4 times more likely to be involved in a crash
  • Texting is the most alarming distraction. Sending or reading a text takes eyes off the road for 5 seconds. At 55 mph, thats like driving the length of an entire football field with eyes closed.
  • In the U.S., distracted driving is estimated to play a role in 25%-30% of fatal crashes, according to the National Distracted Driving Coalition(NDDC).

About the Special Envoy
UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, appointed in 2015 Jean Todt as his Special Envoy for Road Safety. He was reconfirmed in this role by Antnio Guterres, in 2017 and in 2021. In 2018, together with 14 UN organizations, the Special Envoy launched the UN Road Safety Fund (UNRSF). The Special Envoy contributes, among other things, to mobilize sustained political commitment to make road safety a priority; to advocate and raise awareness of UN legal instruments on road safety; to share established good practices in this area; to striving to generate adequate funding through strategic partnerships between the public, private and non-governmental sectors. Special Envoy brochure and Twitter account.

About UNECE
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is the custodian of the United Nations road safety legal instruments, applicable worldwide, which offer countries a basis to legislate to increase the safety of roads, vehicles and traffic.

It hosts the only permanent United Nations intergovernmental forum on road safety (Working Party on Road Traffic Safety) and the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations. UNECE also hosts the secretariats of the Special Envoy for Road Safety and of the UN Road Safety Fund.

About JCDecaux
JCDecaux a French family-owned company founded in 1964 and the No.1 outdoor advertising company worldwide is committed to improve the quality of life for people wherever they live, work and travel by offering innovative, sustainable street furniture and services that are meeting citizens expectations and financed by brands and their advertisement. With a presence in more than 80 countries, JCDecaux is the only company in the world to operate exclusively in the outdoor advertising sector and to develop all of its activities: street furniture, transport advertising and billboards. For almost 60 years, the products and services offered to cities by JCDecaux have been considered the benchmark for quality, aesthetics and functionality. As a sustainable media in contact with more than 850 million people every day and true to its mission of improving the quality of life for all citizens, JCDecaux enhances and promotes responsible outdoor advertising and places social and environmental quality at the core of its solutions and its business. Since 2023, JCDecaux is an official partner of the UN Joint SDG Fund, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals across its Group.