U.N. Member States Remove Islamic Republic of Iran from Commission on the Status of Women

Today, the United Nations Member States acknowledged the courage of the Iranian women and girls leading this revolution and acted in favor of women’s rights by voting to revoke the regime’s membership on its preeminent body on gender issues.

NEW YORK, Dec. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —

This fall, a coalition of Iranian women, along with Vital Voices Global Partnership and For Freedoms launched a campaign calling for the immediate removal of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) from the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) after the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini and ensuing protests. The following is a statement issued by the group in response to today’s vote by the Commission in favor of the IRI’s removal: 

Today the United Nations and its Member States heeded the call of Iranian women to remove the Islamic Republic of Iran from the U.N. Commission on the Status of Women. Earlier this year, to the dismay of women’s rights advocates around the world, the Islamic Republic began a second four‑year term on the 45‑member entity that serves as the preeminent global body dedicated to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. The final decision included 29 Member States voting in favor of removing the Islamic Republic of Iran from the Commision.

Today’s vote marks a pivotal step forward with the U.N. Member States removing a country from the Commission with an appalling record on women’s rights from its membership. Every day that the Islamic Republic of Iran was a member of the Commission on the Status of Women, the body lost credibility.

As we previously stated in an open letter published in The New York Times, the IRI’s long‑standing, systematic oppression of women and the absence of tangible improvements after decades of engagement, should have disqualified them from election to the Commission on the Status of Women.

Yesterday, Iranian women currently imprisoned inside the notorious Evin prison came out with tremendous courage in listing their names in support of this effort.

For decades, gender inequality and discrimination against women have been legally enshrined in the IRI. Under the regime’s penal code and other laws and regulations, Iranian women’s rights are severely restricted in marriage, divorce, inheritance and custody. In addition, they must comply with the IRI’s mandatory hijab laws from the onset of puberty.

Yet, the IRI was elected to the Commission on the Status of Women.

Today, we commend the Member States for upholding their duty to mandate and defend values that support gender equality and for standing on the right side of history by showing their outrage in the face of blatant state violence.

This is a critical moment for leaders in the international community to continue to vocally and unequivocally demonstrate their support for women’s rights by standing in solidarity with Iranian women and girls.

In solidarity with Iranian women and girls who are courageously demonstrating for their fundamental human rights, we condemn the brutal violence against peaceful protesters and the violence at the forceful hands of the Islamic Republic’s regime that includes executions, targeted attacks on women’s bodies, sham trials, mass imprisonment, sexual assault, beatings and torture.

To world leaders who are watching, we urge you to continue to meet the courage of the women leading this revolution and act within your realm of power and influence in favor of women’s rights, fairness and equality.

To the Iranian women who are on the ground continuing to fight tirelessly for basic human rights, we will continue to listen to you, support you, and boldly move in ways that provoke justice, fairness and equality for you and all women, all life and all freedom.

In Solidarity,

– Coalition of Iranian women leaders alongside Vital Voices and For Freedoms
www.womenlifefreedom.today

Visual Assets Available for Use: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqiBdtq2nnI

Attachments

Woman Life Freedon
Vital Voices, For Freedoms, and a Coalition of Iranian Women
media@vitalvoices.org

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8714699

Michael Martin appointed as new CEO of St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Unit

Basseterre, Dec. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Michael Martin has been appointed to take the helm at St Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment Unit and lead the evolution of the country’s investment migration programme.

The twin-island nation is on a drive to enhance its Citizenship by Investment Programme, so it continues to be the benchmark of the global investor immigration industry.

The Prime Minister welcomed Martin at an event at the Citizenship by Investment Unit and expressed his excitement as Martin’s appointment, which comes at a time when the country is evolving its Citizenship by Investment Programme so that it not only attracts intelligent investors but benefits local citizens as well.

The Prime Minister also expressed his confidence in Martin who has been described as the perfect candidate to help the nation realise its goal of providing a programme that will uplift the Kittitian and Nevisian society through beneficial investment options that bring tangible value, while also offering an enriching base to international investors.

At the briefing, the new Head of the Citizenship by Investment Unit thanked the Prime Minister for trusting him with “this very important assignment” and expressed his excitement about taking on the new task.

Martin also stated that a situational analysis would be conducted to assess the status of the Unit and determine the best way forward to “maximize efficiency and effectiveness”.

“This is an operation that is very important to the development of the country, and to the people of the country. We will have to rebrand and refocus the programme, define our strategic goals, and create some new investment options that would be aligned to those strategic goals. ”

The Citizenship by Investment Programme is expected to undergo a complete evolution. Martin spoke of the strategic plans he has in store for the Unit and reiterated that the focus is on advancing the country. “We will be looking at emerging markets and redefining our target client. There must be some exclusivity to it,” he added.

St Kitts and Nevis welcomed a new administration in August that is working tirelessly to revamp the country’s citizenship by investment programme. Now, in the third iteration of its evolution, after four decades of erudition and development, St Kitts and Nevis administration is using creativity and boldness to ensure that the programme transcends to the modern age; and that the security infrastructure is enhanced and strengthened.

A local Kittian, Martin has strong financial acumen and brings a wealth of experience in strategic planning and compliance. He is touted as being the man to bring greater stability to the CBI Unit which will now have more legislative and administrative oversight.

Martin’s past experience as a service provider in the investment migration industry and his local roots make him the right candidate to understand what our external stakeholders require from us as well as knowing how we can use this programme to uplift our people.

Martin will lead a team of efficient and focused experts who will ensure that the programme increases processing efficiency and accuracy while also maintaining strong due diligence processes so that only investors of the highest calibre are accepted.

St Kitts and Nevis’ Citizenship by Investment Programme will be underpinned by three fundamental principles including sustainability, good governance and pragmatism.

The enhanced Citizenship by Investment Programme has been crafted under a sustainable model that will ensure that St Kitts and Nevis continues to be the envy of the international community by injecting high levels of integrity and administrative improvements.

The Programme is to be structured to allow for greater transparency and accountability, which make the hallmarks of a good governance framework that solidifies the foundation of any successful Citizenship by Investment Programme.

Investment options are to be tailored to align with market realities while preserving the platinum brand St Kitts and Nevis has developed and nurtured for four decades, operating the oldest Citizenship by Investment programme in the world.

Martin has served in top management positions in several companies, including the National Caribbean Insurance Company, National Bank Trust Company, and Sagicor Life Inc. He was previously a director of the Insurance Association of the Caribbean, Honorary Secretary of the Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park Society Council of Management, and director for First Federal Cooperative Credit Union.

He holds a graduate diploma from the International Compliance Association and Manchester Business School, a certificate in International Trust Management from the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners and a certificate in Managing Financial Services from the University of the West Indies.

St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment programme was founded in 1984 and remains one of the most sought-after programmes of its kind in the world. The programme continues to be one of the most awarded, having taken the top spot in the CBI Index, a comprehensive ranking system that evaluates operational citizenship by investment programmes around the world.

St Kitts and Nevis programme continues to be underpinned by a strong multi-layered due diligence process in partnership with top due diligence firms from the United Kingdom and the United States.

PR St Kitts and Nevis
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
mildred.thabane@csglobalpartners.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8714576

JETEX WELCOMES THE WORLD’S FIRST LOUIS VUITTON POP-UP AT A PRIVATE JET TERMINAL

Private jet flyers enjoy exclusive access to the most dazzling travel selection.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Jetex, an award-winning global leader in executive aviation, is proud to host the world’s first Louis Vuitton pop-up store at its flagship Jetex VIP Terminal in Dubai.

Passengers traveling with Jetex can look forward to getting inspired by Louis Vuitton iconic travel pieces, designed to make private jet flying even more glamorous. From timeless monogram trunks and exotic leather creations to a wide range of city guides and unique Objets Nomades, everyone will find something special from the wide collection of exquisite travel accessories available at the Louis Vuitton pop-up store.

“As Jetex breaks records in terms of passenger numbers, we seek new opportunities to surprise and delight both regular and new clients alike. I am exceptionally pleased that Louis Vuitton chose our FBO in Dubai to unveil its worlds’ first pop-up store at a private aviation terminal,” said Adel Mardini, Founder and CEO of Jetex.

With over 100 international private jet flights and more than 1,000 passengers daily, Jetex VIP Terminal in Dubai is currently one of the busiest globally. In addition to tranquil private lounges, elegant hospitality and curated art exhibitions, Jetex works closely with the leading luxury brands to develop solid, long-term partnerships.

About Jetex:

An award-winning global leader in executive aviation, Jetex is recognized for delivering flexible, best-in-class trip support solutions to customers worldwide. Jetex provides exceptional private terminals (FBOs), aircraft fueling, ground handling and global trip planning. The company caters to both owners and operators of business jets for corporate, commercial and personal air travel. To find out more about Jetex, visit www.jetex.com and follow us on InstagramTwitterFacebook, and LinkedIn.

Press Enquiries:
Oleg Kafarov
Director of Portfolio Development & Corporate Communications
T: +971 4 212 4900   Email: teamorange@jetex.com

Attachment

Oleg Kafarov - Director of Portfolio Development & Corporate Communications
Jetex
+971 4 212 4900
teamorange@jetex.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8714491

FOTON signed a joint development agreement, accelerating European new energy business

BEIJING, Dec. 14, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — On 29 November 2022, FOTON signed an agreement with European partner for the development of a new electric light commercial vehicle. The agreement consolidates the partnership set up by the two groups in September 2017 for joint development of innovative solutions for the light commercial vehicles market. Over the coming months, the two parties will finalize the technical documentation for the project and the contracts by Spring 2023.

FOTON EV truck launched at the Green Logistics Expo 2022 in Padua, Italy.

This new agreement will consolidate the partnership established by the two groups in May 2018 to develop and produce new light commercial vehicle products for the European market, based on FOTON’s mini-truck product platform. After more than two years of joint development, the first city truck of the two parties NP6 launched in Europe on January 26, 2021, which fully in compliance with European standards.

Just this November at the Green Logistics Expo 2022 in Padua, Italy, FOTON brought the all-electric trucks developed for the European market, showing its signs of entering the European new energy market.

Back in June of this year, FOTON has already started to emerge in Europe. On June 3, FOTON debuted two pure electric trucks specifically developed for the European market at the IFAT exhibition in Munich, Germany. Since then, FOTON has kicked off its entry into the European new energy market.

It’s known that the European Union reached a deal to effectively ban new combustion-engine cars from 2035, which means that the European new energy vehicle market is shifting into the fast lane. FOTON has already met its standards for new energy technology, product quality and supply chain. As an access card to the European market, WVTA is internationally recognized as one of the most valuable certification systems in the world and accepted throughout the EU without the need for further testing. A range of FOTON’s new energy products, including pure electric trucks, VANs and buses, have received WVTA certification and have been put into operation in countries like Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

It’s understood that FOTON is also gradually improving its operation, sales and service network in Europe. In the coming years, FOTON will strive to achieve breakthroughs in European markets such as Italy, Poland and Germany, and gradually seize the European new energy market by building up an industrial chain in the high-end market.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1968447/FOTON_electric_truck.jpg

LeddarTech Apresenta Novos Produtos de Fusão e Percepção de Sensores e o Software LeddarVision premiado da CES de 5 a 8 de janeiro em Las Vegas na CES 2023

QUEBEC, Dec. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A LeddarTech ®, líder global no fornecimento da tecnologia de software ADAS e AD mais flexível, robusta e precisa, tem o prazer de anunciar sua participação na CES 2023 de 5 a 8 de janeiro em Las Vegas, onde exibirá seu software de nível automotivo que viabiliza ADAS e AD no estande # 5475, LVCC West Hall.

O tema do estande da LeddarTech na CES: “Accelerating Safer ADAS Deployment With High-Performance Low-Level Fusion and Perception Software.” (Aceleração da Implantação Segura do ADAS com Software de Fusão e Percepção de Baixo Nível de Alto Desempenho.)

Visite o estande da LeddarTech:

SEJA TESTEMUNHA DA INTRODUÇÃO DE UM NOVO PRODUTO: Família de Soluções de Visão Frontal LeddarTech LVF para Aplicações de Nível 2-2+ ADAS

A família de produtos LVF é uma pilha de fusão e percepção de visão frontal flexível e escalável, abrangente, para aplicações de nível de entrada para assistência rodoviária premium ADAS L2/L2+ e NCAP/GSR. A família de produtos LVF fornece recursos e desempenho de alta qualidade com o menor custo de hardware.

LVF-E – uma pilha de fusão e percepção de visão frontal para assistência rodoviária ADAS L2/L2+ de nível básico e NCAP 2025/GSR 2022 de 5 estrelas.

LVF-H – uma pilha de fusão e percepção complementar premium da família de produtos de visão frontal com configuração ampliada de sensor.

VEJA: Demonstrações do Painel Interativo de Fusão e Percepção de Dados de Baixo Nível da LeddarVision, Prêmio de Inovação da CES 2023

A LeddarVision™ é uma solução de fusão e percepção de sensores de baixo nível para ADAS industriais automotivos e off-road e aplicações de condução L2-L5 autônoma. Várias demonstrações mostrarão como a solução LeddarVision supera outras soluções que viabilizam aplicações ADAS e AD. A tecnologia LeddarVision recebeu o cobiçado prêmio Sensor Perception da Tech.AD USA no mês passado, em Detroit. No início de 2022, a nossa tecnologia LeddarVision também foi reconhecida pela Volkswagen Group Innovation Tel Aviv 2022 Konnect e CARIAD Startup Challenge, bem como pela Shenzhen Automotive Electronics Industry Association.

ASSISTA AO LeddarCar Live: Representantes de fornecedores e OEMs automotivos de Nível 1-2 estão convidados a fazer uma reserva para uma demonstração no mundo real da tecnologia de software de fusão e percepção de baixo nível LeddarVision da LeddarTech. O espaço é limitado, faça sua reserva para a demonstração prática do LeddarCar agora.

Representantes da CES estão convidados a marcar uma reunião em uma das suas duas salas de reunião “no local” para demonstrações de produtos, entrevistas com analistas de mídia e indústria, ou discussões com investidores.

“A CES 2023 é o fórum ideal para a LeddarTech compartilhar nossas incrivelmente únicas e múltiplas soluções e produtos de software de percepção e detecção de baixo nível para aplicações ADAS e AD”, disse Charles Boulanger, CEO da LeddarTech. “Tenho certeza de que os OEMs e os Tier 1-2 automotivos ficarão impressionados com a nossa tecnologia revolucionária”, ele acrescentou.

Sobre a LeddarTech

A LeddarTech, uma empresa global de software fundada em 2007, desenvolve e fornece soluções abrangentes de percepção que permitem a implantação de ADAS e aplicações de condução autônoma. O software de nível automotivo da LeddarTech aplica algoritmos de IA e visão computacional para gerar modelos 3D altamente precisos do ambiente, permitindo uma melhor tomada de decisão e navegação mais segura. Esta tecnologia de alto desempenho, escalonável e econômica é aproveitada pelos OEMs e Nível 1-2 para a implementação eficiente de soluções de veículos automotivos e off-road.

A LeddarTech é responsável por várias inovações de sensor remoto, com mais de 140 patentes concedidas ou solicitadas que aprimoram os recursos de ADAS e AD. A percepção confiável é fundamental para tornar a mobilidade global mais segura, eficiente, sustentável e acessível: é isso que leva a LeddarTech a se tornar a solução de software de fusão e percepção de sensores mais amplamente adotada.

Para mais informação sobre a LeddarTech visite www.leddartech.com, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook e YouTube.

Contato:
Daniel Aitken, Vice-Presidente, Marketing Global, Comunicações e Relacionamento com o Investidor, LeddarTech Inc.
Tel.: + 1-418-653-9000 ramal 232 daniel.aitken@leddartech.com

Contato e site de relações com investidores: InvestorRelations@leddartech.com
https://investors.leddartech.com/

Os logotipos Leddar, LeddarTech, LeddarSteer, LeddarEngine, LeddarVision, LeddarSP, LeddarCore, LeddarEcho, VAYADrive, VayaVision, XLRator e afins são marcas comerciais ou marcas comerciais registradas da LeddarTech Inc. e suas subsidiárias. Todas as outras marcas e nomes de produtos são ou podem ser marcas comerciais ou marcas comerciais registradas usadas para identificar produtos ou serviços de seus respectivos proprietários.

Foto deste comunicado disponível em https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/22263e34-474e-40f9-91d4-0ce7212fab53

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8714312

Record Number of Journalists Jailed Globally

Criminalization of journalism is on the rise around the globe with a record 363 journalists jailed, according to data published Wednesday.

In its annual census of journalists jailed in retaliation for their work, the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recorded its highest tally since it began compiling data in 1992. The 363 in jail as of midnight December 1 mark a 20% increase from last year, according to the report.

“Imprisonment is the most extreme manifestation of this trend, but it is not the only thing,” Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director at CPJ, told VOA as he discussed the rise in arrests and attacks on media.

“Vaguely worded legislature” and new laws banning “fake news” have made journalism a punishable offense in some countries, while spyware and criminal defamation cases are used to silence and intimidate journalists, CPJ found.

The world’s top jailer this year was Iran with 62 journalists behind bars, 24 of whom are women. The majority were arrested for covering the ongoing protests that began in late-September after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, died while in state custody.

Iranian authorities have detained 71 journalists since protests began, but some of those were later released.

Journalists are among an estimated 18,000 citizens arrested during protests across Iran, according to numbers from the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a non-governmental organization in Iran.

“We have journalists [in Iran] who are bearing witness, who are exposing [the protests], and who are critical in making sure there are records of the event,” de la Serna told VOA.

Among the women arrested in Iran are Niloofar Hamedi of the Shargh newspaper, and Elahe Mohammadi from the Hammihan newspaper. Hamedi was the first to report on Amini’s death, while Mohammadi covered her funeral.

Both were detained in late September and are being held in Evin prison. They have been charged with “propaganda against the system and conspiracy to act against national security” — charges that could result in the death penalty.

Female journalists under arrest are at greater risk of abusive practices, said Kiran Nazish, founding director of The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ).

Her organization has spoken with lawyers for both male and female journalists in Iran who described the treatment of those in custody, including police and security guards sexually assaulting women.

Media arrests have turned Iran into “a black hole of sorts,” Nazish said via email. Information is dwindling as it becomes more dangerous for journalists and activists to get information out of the country.

She said the CFWIJ has heard from many reporters in Iran, though, that journalism is not a job, it is a duty.

VOA reached out to Iran’s mission at the U.N. for comment but did not receive a response.

Censorship and surveillance

The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders, which uses a different methodology to CPJ in documenting cases, also registered record highs of both jailings and killings in 2022.

Among those imprisoned are freelancers who contributed to VOA, including two reporters in Vietnam and Sithu Aung Myint, who is serving three sentences totaling 12 years for his coverage of opposition to the military rule in Myanmar.

“Despite the questionable charges brought against these three individuals and the threats that our journalists face in Vietnam, Myanmar and the many other places where press freedom is in short supply, VOA remains committed to delivering accurate and objective news,” a spokesperson for VOA public affairs said in a statement.

Asia as a continent had the highest number of journalists imprisoned — 119 this year. China, which topped CPJ’s annual list over the past three years, was pushed into second place after Iran this year. Beijing is detaining 43 journalists.

“It’s important to know the numbers in China are extremely hard to confirm, so we can assume that there are probably many cases that we don’t know about,” said de la Serna. CPJ cites media censorship and citizen surveillance as factors that make it difficult to gather information about arrests.

China’s embassy did not immediately respond to VOA’s request for comment.

Myanmar, a country that had zero journalists behind bars in 2020, ranked in the top three for the second consecutive year with 42 imprisoned, up from 26 last year.

The junta has repeatedly said it doesn’t jail reporters for their work. But dozens of journalists have been arrested since the military coup in February 2021. Most are sentenced under amended laws against incitement and false news.

De la Serna said it’s not only the numbers that tell the story, but it’s also important to look at context and case-by-case specifics to gauge the impact of arrests on independent media within a country.

In Eritrea, for example, all 16 journalists on record have been imprisoned since the early 2000s. The journalists are denied access to family and lawyers, and they have been held for decades without trial, CPJ has found.

In Guatemala, a single journalist remains behind bars. De la Serna said the arrest is a high-profile case meant to send a message to others ahead of next year’s election.

José Rubén Zamora, founder and president of the newspaper el Periódico, reported on alleged corruption involving the country’s president and attorney general. Zamora has been charged with money laundering, blackmail, and influence peddling.

Another alarming trend is the number of ethnic minorities imprisoned. In Turkey — fourth on this year’s census with 40 behind bars — authorities detained 25 Kurdish journalists, most on terror-related charges.

CPJ’s Turkish representative, Ozgur Ogret, told VOA that operations in Ankara and the city of Diyarbakir contributed to the country more than doubling from 18 journalists in jail in 2021 to 40 this year.

“These two investigations were almost as extensive as the operations carried out against the Kurdish press … in the early 2010s,” Ogret noted. “There are concerns [in Diyarbakir] that the operations will continue during the election.”

He added that those detained in June are still awaiting indictments.

Turkey’s embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.

In Iran, nine of those arrested are Kurdish. All three of the journalists imprisoned in Iraq are from the northern Kurdistan region.

Journalists from VOA’s sister networks, including contributors to Radio Free Asia and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in Belarus, are among those behind bars.

“Reporting the news is not a crime,” said USAGM CEO Amanda Bennett. The number of journalists behind bars “represents an indictment of the governments responsible for these cruelties,” Bennett said in a statement to VOA. “These wrongs underscore the true power that unbiased news and information hold over the regimes who seek to hide it.”

Source: Voice of America

WHO Chief Says His Uncle Was Slain in Ethiopia’s Tigray

The head of the World Health Organization said on Wednesday that Eritrean troops had “murdered” his uncle in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.

Eritrean Information Minister Yemane Gebremeskel did not respond to requests for comment on the allegation.

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, a former Ethiopian minister who comes from Tigray, has been a vocal critic of Ethiopia’s role in the conflict that has killed tens of thousands and displaced millions.

In the closing minutes of a Geneva press briefing focused on COVID-19, Tedros said that he nearly canceled the event because he was “not in good shape” after hearing of his uncle’s “murder.”

“I hope that this [peace] agreement will hold and this madness will stop, but it’s a very difficult moment for me,” Tedros told reporters, adding that more than 50 other people had been killed in the same incident.

The Ethiopian government and regional forces from Tigray agreed in November to cease hostilities last month in a major breakthrough. However, troops from Eritrea, to the north, and forces from the neighboring Ethiopian region of Amhara, to the south, who fought alongside Ethiopia’s military in Tigray, were not party to the cease-fire.

Witnesses and aid workers in the northern region told Reuters that despite the truce, Eritrean forces have been looting towns and arresting and killing civilians in the towns they still control across the region.

Ethiopia’s government spokesman Legesse Tulu, military spokesman Colonel Getnet Adane and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s spokeswoman Billene Seyoum did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tedros’ remarks.

Asked for details of the incident on the sidelines of the event, Tedros said that his younger uncle with whom he grew up had been killed by Eritrean soldiers in a village in Tigray. He declined to give the location because he said he feared the village would face retaliation.

That followed the killing of his cousin last year in Tigray when a church was blown up, he said, without giving further details.

The Ethiopian government, which opposed Tedros’ second term as head of the global health agency, has accused him of trying to procure arms and diplomatic backing for rebel forces — charges he has denied.

Source: Voice of America