[Politics] :
The leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan will hold a three-way discussion on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) summit in Lima, Peru. According to Seoul’s presidential office, President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru ...

[more...]

Global cotton markets saw slight declines and stabilisation in recent weeks, with NY/ICE December futures trading between 67–75 cents/lb since June, now at 71 cents/lb. The global A Index dipped from 85 to 83 cents, while China's index dropped from 101 to 97 cents due to a weaker yuan. Indian and Pakistani spot prices also declined, but both rupees remained stable against the dollar.

In This Article: TOKYO (Reuters) - Mizuho Financial Group reported a 62% jump in second-quarter net profit on Thursday on strong lending demand and higher margins helped by a July interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan. Japan's third-largest lender by assets reported a group net profit of 277…

Aided by festive demand, domestic passenger vehicle wholesales rose marginally year-on-year to 3,93,238 units in October, industry body SIAM said on Wednesday. The overall passenger vehicle dispatches by companies to dealers stood at 3,89,714 units in October last year. Total two-wheeler sales rose 14 per cent year-on-year to 21,64,276 units last month, as compared to 18,95,799 units in October 2023, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) said in a statement.

Dewing, K; Hadlari, T; Pearson, D G; Matthews, W. Geological Society of America Bulletin 2019 p. 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1130/B35017.1
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20160081.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20160081.jpg" title="Geological Society of America Bulletin 2019 p. 1-20, https://doi.org/10.1130/B35017.1" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Dafoe, L T; Williams, G L. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8702, 2020, 41 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/321758
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/of8702.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/of8702.jpg" title="Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8702, 2020, 41 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/321758" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Dalton, A S; Margold, M; Stokes, C R; Tarasov, L; Dyke, A S; Adams, R S; Allard, S; Arends, H E; Atkinson, N; Attig, J W; Barnett, P J; Barnett, R L; Batterson, M; Bernatchez, P; Borns, H W, Jr; Breckenridge, A; Briner, J P; Brouard, E; Campbell, J E; Carlson, A E; Clague, J J; Curry, B B; Daigneault, R A; Dubé-Loubert, H; Easterbrook, D J; Franzi, D A; Friedrich, H G; Funder, S; Gauthier, M S; Gowan, A S; Harris, K L; Hétu, B; Hooyer, T S; Jennings, C E; Johnson, M D; Kehew, A E; Kelley, S E; Kerr, D; King, E L; Kjeldsen, K K; Knaeble, A R; Lajeunesse, P; Lakeman, T R; Lamothe, M; Larson, P; Lavoie, M; Loope, H M; Lowell, T V; Lusardi, B A; Manz, L; McMartin, I; Nixon, C; Occhietti, S; Parkhill, M A; Piper, D J W; Pronk, A G; Richard, P J H; Ridge, J C; Ross, M; Roy, M; Seaman, A; Shaw, J; Stea, R R; Teller, J T; Thompson, W B; Thorleifson, L H; Utting, D J; Veillette, J J; Ward, B C; Weddle, T K; Wright, H E, Jr. Quaternary Science Reviews vol. 234, 106223, 2020 p. 1-27, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106223

Hadlari, T; Arnott, R W C; Matthews, W A; Poulton, T P; Root, K; Madronich, L I. Lithosphere vol. 2021, no. 1, 8356327, 2021 p. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.2113/2021/8356327
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210465.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210465.jpg" title="Lithosphere vol. 2021, no. 1, 8356327, 2021 p. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.2113/2021/8356327" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Bingham-Koslowski, N. GAC®-MAC 2021, London, Canada: Exploring Geosciences Through Time and Space/GAC®-MAC 2021, London, Canada : Explorer les géosciences à travers le temps et l'espace; Geological Association of Canada-Mineralogical Association of Canada, Joint Annual Meeting, Abstracts Volume vol. 44, 2021 p. 40
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210167.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210167.jpg" title="GAC®-MAC 2021, London, Canada: Exploring Geosciences Through Time and Space/GAC®-MAC 2021, London, Canada : Explorer les géosciences à travers le temps et l'espace; Geological Association of Canada-Mineralogical Association of Canada, Joint Annual Meeting, Abstracts Volume vol. 44, 2021 p. 40" height="150" border="1" /></a>

McKay, R; Enkelmann, E; Hadlari, T; Matthews, W; Mouthereau, F. Tectonics vol. 40, issue 4, e2020TC006582, 2021 p. 1-18, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006582
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210041.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210041.jpg" title="Tectonics vol. 40, issue 4, e2020TC006582, 2021 p. 1-18, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020TC006582" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Dafoe, L T; Williams, G L. 35th IAS Meeting of Sedimentology Virtual Meeting, book of abstracts; by Bábek, O (ed.); Vodrázková, S (ed.); 2021 p. 127
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20200740.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20200740.jpg" title="35th IAS Meeting of Sedimentology Virtual Meeting, book of abstracts; by Bábek, O (ed.); Vodrázková, S (ed.); 2021 p. 127" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Dafoe, L T; Williams, G L. The Atlantic Geoscience Society (AGS), 47th Colloquium and Annual Meeting, program with abstracts/La Société Géoscientifique de l'Atlantique, 47th Colloquium and Annual Meeting, program with abstracts; 2021 p. 17-18
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20200739.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20200739.jpg" title="The Atlantic Geoscience Society (AGS), 47th Colloquium and Annual Meeting, program with abstracts/La Société Géoscientifique de l'Atlantique, 47th Colloquium and Annual Meeting, program with abstracts; 2021 p. 17-18" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Dafoe, L T; Dickie, K; Williams, G L. GAC-MAC-IAH-CNC-CSPG, Halifax 2022; 2022 p. 79
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210585.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210585.jpg" title="GAC-MAC-IAH-CNC-CSPG, Halifax 2022; 2022 p. 79" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Midwinter, D; Hadlari, T; Dewing, K. Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8855, 2022, 17 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/329398
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_329398.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_329398.jpg" title="Geological Survey of Canada, Open File 8855, 2022, 17 pages, https://doi.org/10.4095/329398" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Dafoe, L T; Dickie, K; Williams, G L. Marine and Petroleum Geology 155, 106310, 2022 p. 1-40, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106310
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210365.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20210365.jpg" title="Marine and Petroleum Geology 155, 106310, 2022 p. 1-40, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2023.106310" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Gregersen, U; Knutz, P C; Pedersen, G K; Nøhr-Hansen, H; Ineson, J R; Larsen, L M; Hopper, J R; Bojesen-Koefoed, J A; Dam, G; Funck, T; Hovikoski, J. Geological synthesis of Baffin Island (Nunavut) and the Labrador-Baffin Seaway; by Dafoe, L T (ed.); Bingham-Koslowski, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 608, 2022 p. 247-309, https://doi.org/10.4095/321849
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_321849.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_321849.jpg" title="Geological synthesis of Baffin Island (Nunavut) and the Labrador-Baffin Seaway; by Dafoe, L T (ed.); Bingham-Koslowski, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 608, 2022 p. 247-309, https://doi.org/10.4095/321849" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Dafoe, L T; Dickie, K; Williams, G L; McCartney, T. Geological synthesis of Baffin Island (Nunavut) and the Labrador-Baffin Seaway; by Dafoe, L T (ed.); Bingham-Koslowski, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 608, 2022 p. 137-180, https://doi.org/10.4095/321829
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_321829.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_321829.jpg" title="Geological synthesis of Baffin Island (Nunavut) and the Labrador-Baffin Seaway; by Dafoe, L T (ed.); Bingham-Koslowski, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 608, 2022 p. 137-180, https://doi.org/10.4095/321829" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Bingham-Koslowski, N; Zhang, S; McCartney, T. Geological synthesis of Baffin Island (Nunavut) and the Labrador-Baffin Seaway; by Dafoe, L T (ed.); Bingham-Koslowski, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 608, 2022 p. 79-106, https://doi.org/10.4095/321827
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_321827.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_321827.jpg" title="Geological synthesis of Baffin Island (Nunavut) and the Labrador-Baffin Seaway; by Dafoe, L T (ed.); Bingham-Koslowski, N (ed.); Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 608, 2022 p. 79-106, https://doi.org/10.4095/321827" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Jabulani, a youth from South Africa affected by HIV, receives help and care from the OM team ministering in his community.

Rahul Gandhi had vacated the Wayanad LS seat after he also won the Rae Bareli constituency in the 2024 general election and therefore, necessitated a bypoll in the hill constituency.

As a small business, you are uniquely positioned to be able to compete for above average margins, and this should be your focus.

complete article

"Margin Call" is a fictionalized account of the meltdowns of Merrill Lynch, Bear Stearns, Lehman Brothers and AIG in September 2008. The Halloween scare is just how close the financial world came to the brink of chaos. Stars Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons, Stanley Tucci, Simon Baker and Demi Moore. Opens 11/4 at the Circle Cinema in Tulsa.

(Telecompaper) Amdocs is targeting pro forma sales growth of 1 percent to 4.5 percent in the 2025 fiscal year, but is predicting a GAAP revenue decline of between 7.7 and 10.9 percent...

Members of the community reflect on the margins of our existence; where seemingly-forgotten people dwell; and yet, in the margins is where they find their faith strengthening...

Aim/Purpose: The article is designed to contradict the existing opinion that “transdisciplinarity is a marginal direction of contemporary science.” Background: The difficulties of implementing transdisciplinarity into science and education are connected with the fact that its generally accepted definition, identification characteristics, and methodological features are still missing. In order to eliminate these disadvantages of transdisciplinarity, its prime cause and initial idea had to be detected. Then an attempt was made to analyze correspondence of the existing opinions about transdisciplinarity with the content of its prime cause and initial ideas. Methodology: The bibliometric content analysis of the literature reviews on the subject of transdisciplinary was used in order to determine correspondence of the opinions about transdisciplinarity with the meaning of its prime cause and initial ideas, as well as to generalize these opinions. This method allowed detecting and classifying opinions into 11 groups including 39 stereotypes of transdisciplinarity. For substantiation of transdisciplinary approaches consistency with the approaches of the contemporary science C.F. Gauss random variables normal distribution was used. The “Gauss curve” helped to show the place of transdisciplinary and systems transdisciplinary approaches in the structure of academic and systems approaches. The “Gauss curve” demonstrated the step-by-step broadening of the scientific worldview horizon due to sequential intensification of synthesis, integration, unification, and generalization of the disciplinary knowledge. Contribution: Based on rethinking the results from bibliometric content analysis of the literature reviews, the generalized definition of transdisciplinarity could be formulated, as well as the definition for the transdisciplinary and systems transdisciplinary approaches could be given. It was shown that transdisciplinarity is a natural stage for development of contemporary science and education, and the transdisciplinary approaches were capable to suggest the methods and tools to solve the complex and poorly structured problems of science and society. Findings: Many existing stereotypes of transdisciplinarity do not meet its prime cause and initial ideas. Such stereotypes do not have deep philosophic and theoretical substantiation, as well as not suggesting the transdisciplinary methods and tools. Thus, the authors of such stereotypes often claim them to be transdisciplinary or suggest perceiving them as transdisciplinarity. This circumstance contributed to the fact that many disciplinary scientists, practitioners, and initiators of higher education view transdisciplinarity as a marginal direction of contemporary science. Based on the generalized definition of transdisciplinarity, as well as its prime cause and initial ideas, we managed to show that transdisciplinarity is presented in contemporary science in the form of two different approaches: the transdisciplinary approach and the systems transdisciplinary approaches. The objective of the transdisciplinary approach is ensuring science development at the stage of synthesis and integration of disciplinary knowledge. The objective of the systems transdisciplinary approach is ensuring solving of modern society problems using unification and generalization of disciplinary knowledge. Recommendation for Researchers: The researchers should consider that within the limits of the transdisciplinary approach the disciplinary specialists are managed. Within the limits of the systems transdisciplinary approach the disciplinary knowledge is managed. Thus, the transdisciplinary approach is efficient for organization and research with participation of the scientists of complementary disciplines. An example for such research can be a team of researchers of medical disciplines and complimentary disciplines from chemistry, physics, and engineering. The systems transdisciplinary approach is efficient for organization and performance of research with participation of scientists of non-complementary disciplines, for example, economics, physics, meteorology, chemistry, ecology, geology, and sociology. Future Research: In terms of the main initial idea, transdisciplinarity is formed as a global approach. The global approach should have a traditional institutional form: it should be a science discipline (meta-discipline) and have carriers with the transdisciplinary worldview. Training for such carriers can be organized by the universities within the limits of the systems transdisciplinarity departments and Centers of Systems Transdisciplinary Retraining for Disciplinary Specialists. Thus, it is reasonable to initiate discussion for the idea to reform the disciplinary structure of the universities considering creation of such departments and centers.

KUALA LUMPUR: The ringgit opened marginally higher against the US dollar today despite the US Dollar Index’s (DXY) strengthening, which should accelerate demand for the greenback.

At 8 am, the local note traded slightly better at 4.4330/4465 against the greenback compared with Tuesday’s close of 4.4365/4400.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd chief economist Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid said higher demand for the US dollar is expected as comments from US Federal Reserve (Fed) officials indicated that the prospect of an interest rate cut highly depends on upcoming economic data.

“Minneapolis Fed president Neel Kashkari suggested that he will look at the upcoming inflation data before making any decision on the interest rate.

“As such, ringgit and other emerging market currencies will likely stay weak in the near term,” Mohd Afzanizam told Bernama.

He added investors will monitor the US Consumer Price Index (CPI) print tonight, with consensus pencilling in a 2.6 per cent rise in October from 2.4 per cent previously, while Core CPI may be sustained at 3.3 per cent.

At the opening, the ringgit traded higher against a basket of major currencies.

It was higher against the British pound at 5.6463/6635 from 5.6889/6934 at Tuesday’s close, better against the euro to 4.7061/7204 from 4.7111/7148 and firmer against the Japanese yen to 2.8661/8752 from 2.8788/8812.

The ringgit also traded higher against ASEAN currencies.

Against the Thai baht, it rose to 12.7162/7637 from 12.7456/7608 at Tuesday’s close and strengthened against the Singapore dollar at 3.3107/3210 from 3.3143/3174.

The local unit marginally increased vis-a-vis the Philippine peso to 7.53/7.56 from 7.54/7.55 and was slightly higher against the Indonesian rupiah to 280.8/281.9 from 281.0/281.5 previously.

Associated Builders and Contractors reported Sept. 10 that its Construction Backlog Indicator fell to 8.2 months in August, according to an ABC member survey conducted from Aug. 20 to Sept. 5. The reading is down one month from August 2023.

Product quality (97%) continues to be the most influential factor in deciding to sell/promote a particular brand/manufacturer of residential carpet, according to the just-completed Carpet and Area Rug Market Study conducted by BNP Media Market Research for National Floor Trends.

Children's Geographies; 06/01/2021
(AN 151284197); ISSN: 14733285
Academic Search Premier

Children's Geographies; 02/01/2022
(AN 154441562); ISSN: 14733285
Academic Search Premier

[International] :
Media outlets in Japan have reported that talks are underway for a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and President Yoon Suk Yeol on the margins of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) Summit in Peru. Japan’s Kyodo News said the two sides are discussing details of the potential ...

[more...]

Strengthening and expanding critical safety net programs is necessary to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on children and families, says a new report that examines the substantial toll the pandemic has taken on their health and well-being, especially those in marginalized communities.

MarginPoint, a provider of mobile-enabled, collaborative inventory management and field management solutions, is focused on helping plumbing industry pros to manage inventory replenishment, optimize business processes and drive revenue. 

Global cotton markets saw slight declines and stabilisation in recent weeks, with NY/ICE December futures trading between 67–75 cents/lb since June, now at 71 cents/lb. The global A Index dipped from 85 to 83 cents, while China's index dropped from 101 to 97 cents due to a weaker yuan. Indian and Pakistani spot prices also declined, but both rupees remained stable against the dollar.

La directora del Teatro Circo Price y el actor firman un libro y obra teatral, que homenajea a las leyendas mundiales y se presenta como guía de futuro Leer

TotalEnergies' profits hit by lower refining margins in Europe

Location: Electronic Resource- 

Commenting on Q2 performance, Stove Kraft's managing director Rajendra Gandhi said, “With positive market momentum supporting us, we remain committed to driving volume and value growth in revenue and margins in the upcoming quarters." He further said that ​​the company's expansion of Pigeon outlets through the COCO and COFO model has been promising. During this quarter, the firm added 22 new stores, bringing our total to 213.

“We have been able to grow a little from 15.4% to 16.7% in H1. But this is coming more from the operational efficiencies point of view. And also a very little from probably I can say, there is an advantage currently where the raw material prices are at most low. This is the advantage we have been able to get in H1. ”

“We will first want to focus on growth in terms of top line and margins will take care of themselves. With a lot of operating efficiencies coming in, margin should take care of itself but we follow our mantra of “nothing at the cost of market and nothing at the cost of margin. So we will balance both together.”

Dieter Bohn joins the show to talk about his excellent new documentary, *Springboard: The Secret History of the First Real Smartphone* — a history of Handspring and the creators of the original PalmPilot.

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with A.B. Stoddard, columnist at The Bulwark, about the election results and if it means there has been a durable political realignment.

The trends of the Premier League season so far that make for interesting reading.

Digital governance must not marginalize smaller states Expert comment LToremark 19 May 2021

For effective and inclusive digital governance, multi-stakeholderism must raise its game.

Last month, the G7 announced it is to work towards a trusted, values-driven digital ecosystem. While this is commendable, the G7 must recognize that key international digital governance decisions should involve all states whose populations will be affected. Not doing so is to deny the legitimate interests of those populations and may cause a lack of trust in international digital governance that embeds longer-term instability.

While a multi-stakeholder approach to digital governance is important, it must be structured in a way that allows for meaningful representation of states’ interests and ensures their representatives have the opportunity and capacity to take part. As the internet becomes fundamental to life in every country of the world, international digital governance is increasingly important to all governments and excluding some states’ perspectives may engender wider risks to international security and governance.

The ‘glitter ball’ of digital governance

International digital governance is playing catch-up with the digital sphere it needs to govern. Its starting point is a ‘glitter ball’ of governance initiatives: a large number of complex facets with overlapping impacts – and an almost impenetrable core. Governance initiatives (see infographic) include governance of the internet itself and its uses, international cybersecurity, international human rights, data management, as well as the impact of digital developments in areas such as armed conflict, trade and health.

Many of the bodies involved – such as the Internet Governance Forum, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and technical standards bodies – include a wide range of stakeholders, yet there is no one accessible, central body. Furthermore, certain key issues, such as the role and responsibilities of tech platforms, are barely touched upon by international governance mechanisms. There is also currently only a limited role for traditional UN multilateral decision-making, a process which builds in a role for smaller states.

The sheer number of forums involved, each with a different set of working methods and rules on participation, makes it difficult to fully grasp what digital governance looks like as a whole. The UN secretary-general’s High-level Panel on Digital Cooperation recognized the complexity of digital cooperation arrangements and the barriers to inclusion facing small and developing countries as well as under-represented groups. In response, the June 2020 UN Roadmap on Digital Cooperation accepts the need to streamline digital governance while ensuring marginalized voices are heard.

The UN is considering potential models for future governance, each of which would – reassuringly – involve multi-stakeholder participation, dedicated funds to boost participation, consolidation of discussions currently split between different forums and a minor coordinating role for the UN.  

Building in roles for smaller states

As the UN designs new digital governance architecture, it is particularly important to build in roles for small and medium states. Core constituencies affected by decisions should be at the centre and governments – as guardians of public interest – should have a key say in the decision-making process. The distrust generated by built-in power imbalances needs to be addressed, as does the dominance of voices from the Global North in bodies such as ICANN.   

There has been some progress made to increase participation. For example, the Freedom Online Coalition includes a number of developing countries and the 2020 Internet Governance Forum included input from 175 states.

However, participation is not only a matter of having a seat at the table. As discussed at the March 2021 UN Open-ended Working Group on ICTs in the context of international security, capacity-building is vital. The group’s conclusions include the suggested development of a global cyber capacity-building agenda with information sharing and norms guidance under the auspices of the UN. Representatives of small and medium states need a roadmap to understand in which forums they can defend and pursue their interests, and the financial help to do so if necessary.

Managing multi-stakeholder participation

A multi-stakeholder approach has been fundamental to digital governance from the start and has played a vital role in helping to secure the openness and universality of the internet. This approach is rightly seen as essential to effective governance because it introduces diverse expertise, allows the interests of all impacted sectors to be taken into account and helps ensure decisions are accepted by those affected.

However, as identified in a Chatham House report on inclusive global governance, multi-stakeholderism needs to raise its game. One of its downsides is that in the cacophony some important voices may not be heard because they lack resource or capacity to speak up. There is a perennial risk of debate and decision-making being captured by the wealthiest companies or the most powerful states. At present, small and medium states are under-represented in multi-stakeholder forums and it is important that those managing such forums seek to identify and include previously excluded voices.

Multi-stakeholderism should not come at the expense of efficiency. While it does not have to mean huge, inefficient meetings or endless discussion, it should also not mean that smaller, less well-funded voices are not heard. Instead, such processes should enable representation of appropriate interest groups, complemented by wider meetings (such as regional meetings, or sector-specific meetings) as needed. While inclusivity and transparency are key, synergies between regional and global forums can work well –  for example, some countries have adopted national versions of the Internet Governance Forum –  and so too can hybrid models such as the Freedom Online Coalition, which meets both as government members and for regular multi-stakeholder dialogue.

A multi-stakeholder approach should also not lose sight of the key role of states – and where mandated, sub-state entities – in making public policy decisions.

An important role for the UN

For 75 years, the UN has acted as a bulwark of international security and shared values, and a promoter of economic and social development. If misused, technology has the potential to undermine this bulwark, to facilitate conflict, erode rights and undermine development. The UN must encourage the harnessing of technology for society’s benefit, while leading a collective effort to guard against the risks through the retention and growth of a universal, open internet – particularly in the face of growing digital authoritarianism exacerbated by COVID-19.

The UN can also help protect against a commercial culture that threatens to trample fundamental freedoms of privacy and autonomy in its pursuit of wealth and to widen economic and social gulfs by leaving large swathes of the world behind. If the UN is to play this role effectively – and for the benefit of all its members ­– it requires the active participation of all states, large and small.

If the response variable is in the CLASS statement variable list before the class variables that also appear in the MODEL statement, and an OM-data-set is used, least squares means results for several of the statistical procedures are incorrect.

View CME Group's Performance Bonds and Margins FAQ.