Tag Archive for: leaders

Visit by Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan to the Cook Islands for the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, 9 to 11 November 2023

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Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan visited Cook Islands from 9 to 11 November 2023 to attend the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders Meeting, marking the first time that Singapore participated in the PIF Leaders Meeting as a Dialogue Partner.

 

Minister Balakrishnan delivered remarks at the 2050 Pacific Prosperity High-Level Thematic Dialogue on 10 November 2023. He highlighted that Singapore viewed relations with the PIF as strategic. As fellow Small Island Developing States, Singapore and the Pacific Islands share a commitment to tackling global challenges, particularly the existential issue of climate change. Over the past 30 years, Singapore has shared our development experience with more than 5,800 Pacific officials under the Singapore Cooperation Programme.

 

Minister Balakrishnan announced the launch of a three-year customised technical assistance package for the Pacific named the “Singapore-Pacific Resilience and Knowledge Sharing” (SPARKS) package. The SPARKS package comprises courses in climate resilience, cybersecurity and international law. These courses will support the Pacific’s capacity building efforts in priority areas under the PIF’s 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the blueprint for charting the region’s future. The transcript of Minister Balakrishnan’s remarks and a factsheet on the SPARKS package are at Annexes A and B.

 

During his visit, Minister Balakrishnan met several leaders from the Pacific, including PIF Chair and Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown, Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, French Polynesia President Moetai Brotherson, Kiribati President Taneti Maamau, New Caledonia President Louis Mapou, Tonga Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, Palau Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Gustav Aitaro, Solomon Islands Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Jeremiah Manele, and PIF Secretary General Henry Puna. Minister Balakrishnan had good discussions with these leaders on the Pacific’s priorities as well as how Singapore can work with them both bilaterally and multilaterally.

 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE

11 NOVEMBER…

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Czech Republic courts young African leaders with maiden ‘Cool Czechia’ study trip

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Between 1948 and 1989, Czechoslovakia – as it was then known – was under communist rule. For decades, there was an absence of opposition while restrictions were in place to prevent Czechs and Slovaks from travelling to non-communist countries.

But in November 1989, a hunger for change and an end to the status quo spread across the country like wildfire. Although sparked by peaceful demonstrations organised by students, renowned dissidents such as the iconic Vaclav Havel would eventually inspire the movement to grow into a clamour for political restructuring and an end to communist leadership.

By November 28 of that year, the agitation yielded fruit as the federal assembly removed the provision in the constitution which regarded the Communist Party as the controlling authority in the country. The movement would later be coined the Velvet Revolution, acclaimed as a remarkable non-violent transition of power.

Given its experience with oppression and subjugation, it is perhaps no surprise that Czechia opened its doors to the Ukrainians following the Russian invasion of the country in February 2022. Since the outbreak of the war, the country has admitted more than half a million refugees from Ukraine, with over 100,000 fully employed across different parts of Czech.

The 18-month-old war and its ripple effects have seen many Western nations realigning and restrategising their partnerships across the world.

The African allure

As Africa improves its economic and geopolitical outlook, many foreign nations are looking to boost their alliances and gain the continent’s support in multilateral fora. The Czech Republic is not left out.

Through a multi-faceted strategy, Czech is looking to expand its partnership with Africa while creating a long-lasting positive impact on the continent.

And what better demographic to forge a relationship with than young Africans on track to become important voices in their respective countries?

Enters ‘Cool Czechia: Young African Leaders Study Trip’ – an initiative conceptualised by the ministry of foreign affairs of the Czech Republic.

From July 26 to August 3, several young African leaders were invited to history-rich Prague –…

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Top election leaders worry ‘terrifying’ AI will dupe voters

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Top election leaders worry ‘terrifying’ AI will dupe voters

Semi-annual gathering of election leaders focuses on use of generative artificial intelligence, growing withdrawals from key election fraud prevention alliance


Chief National Investigative Correspondent

The potential use of content-generating artificial intelligence and deepfake videos to sway or dupe voters is a growing concern of secretaries of state across the country, according to interviews with a dozen and a half top election leaders at their semi-annual gathering held this week in the nation’s capital. “This is the number one issue that we’re talking about behind the scenes at this conference,” said Kentucky Secretary of State Michael Adams. “It’s a big concern,” echoed David Scanlan, secretary of state in New Hampshire. Scott Schwab, the secretary of state in Kansas and newly-installed president of the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS), said the challenge of AI in campaigns and elections is “very real, very fast.”Nebraska Secretary of State Robert Evnen warned, “It can also be very damaging and destructive.”Legislation focuses on deepfakesPhil McGrane, who oversees Idaho elections as secretary of state, said he recently tried out a generative AI tool – and quickly discovered its fallibility. “I had it write a bio of me, and it provided information that was written very persuasively but was, in fact, inaccurate.”A few states are starting to take legislative action. In Washington, Steve Hobbs, the secretary of state, said he helped introduce legislation, signed into law in May by Gov. Jay Inslee, that “goes after the deepfakes” by requiring disclosure of manipulated videos in political ads. Such AI-distorted videos make it appear a speaker said something that, in reality, they did not. “We have to get ahead of this threat,” Hobbs said.WATCH FULL INTERVIEWS WITH TOP STATE ELECTION LEADERS AT THE END OF THIS STORY.“I think that it’s just going to…

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7 Aerospace and Defense Leaders: Leading the Skies and Securing the Nation

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Aerospace and defense leaders are indispensable in bolstering national security and safeguarding the well-being of United States citizens. They are at the forefront of supplying cutting-edge equipment, advanced weaponry, and sophisticated systems to maintain aerial supremacy and assert dominance in the face of imminent threats. Their unwavering commitment to innovation and expertise empowers the nation’s military forces and reinforces the defense capabilities of one of the world’s foremost military powers.

Let’s delve into the profiles of seven exceptional individuals who have emerged as vanguards in these critical industries. Learn about their remarkable contributions, groundbreaking achievements, and the indelible impact they have made in leading the skies and securing the nation.

1. John Albers, President & Chief Executive Officer at Albers Aerospace

John Albers, President & Chief Executive Officer at Albers Aerospace; aerospace and defense leaders

Photo from Albers Aerospace Official Website

John Albers is an accomplished industry veteran with over two decades of senior leadership and operational experience in the aerospace and defense markets. He serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer at Albers Aerospace.

Before serving in private aerospace and defense sectors, Albers has been with the military for most of his career. He served in increasing responsibilities for different U.S. Navy and Marine Corps divisions. Ultimately, he retired in July 2014 as the military team leads for the CH-53K PM program of the Marine Corps.

After serving in the military, he was assigned the Senior Manager position in Systems Engineering at Raytheon and Business Development Executive at Camtech LLC. In 2014, he assumed the responsibility of President and Chief Executive Officer at Albers Aerospace.

Albers Aerospace’s President & Chief Executive Officer Roles and Responsibilities

As the President and Chief Executive Officer at Albers Aerospace, John Albers leads the company’s portfolio for three business units: (1) manufacturing; (2) engineering, aviation, and MRO (maintenance, repair, and operations); and (3) innovative technologies. He’s also the company’s founder and majority owner.

About Albers Aerospace

Albers Aerospace offers broad capabilities and solutions…

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