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◆ Summit of the Future 2024
The Summit of the Future is a high-level UN event aimed at forging a new international consensus on delivering a better present and safeguarding the future. The Summit is scheduled for 22–23 September 2024, preceded by a preparatory ministerial meeting on 18 September.
The Digital Watch observatory will deliver just-in-time reporting from the Summit of the Future, a pivotal event focused on building a shared consensus for a better future for humanity. Read more and register to receive updates from the Summit of the Future 2024!
◆ 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79)
The general debate of the UN General Assembly provides an opportunity for heads of state and government, and ministers to gather at the UN Headquarters to discuss global issues. The theme of this year’s general debate is ‘Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development, and human dignity for present and future generations’.
The Digital Watch observatory will deliver just-in-time reporting from the UNGA 79. Bookmark the dedicated UNGA 79 page to read the reports!
Best wishes on Malta’s National Holidays!
In the month when Malta celebrates two national holidays (Victory Day – 8 September, and Independence Day – 21 September), we would like to extend Diplo’s best wishes to our Maltese students, lecturers, and partners. On this occasion, we are pleased to present:
- Malta’s digital profile on the Digital Watch Observatory
- A mapping of diplomatic missions from Malta and to Malta
With best wishes,
DiploTeam
Diplo Academy upcoming courses and programmes
⭐ Diplo’s 2024 autumn online courses!
Register now to reserve your place in our popular autumn courses!
◆ Application deadlines for certificates issued by Diplo: 4 October 2024
For further information and to apply, click the course titles above or visit Diplo’s course catalogue.
◆ Need financial assistance? Scholarships available!
Thanks to the support from the government of Malta, partial scholarships are available for applicants from developing countries to attend upcoming Diplo online courses. These scholarships cover 30%–60% of course fees and can be applied to most online courses in 2024. Browse our course catalogue and contact us at admissions@diplomacy.edu for further information.
Upcoming events
◆ Human Rights in the Age of Disinformation: A Case Study Analysis
The evolution of the internet has played a crucial role in facilitating access to and the dissemination of information. With support from Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH Moldova, Diplo has conducted comprehensive research on online content governance, shedding light on the interplay between disinformation and other digital policy areas, such as online business models, cybersecurity, and human rights. The research explores digital policy approaches that could help combat misinformation and disinformation while protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Join us on Monday, 30 September, 12:00–13:00 UTC (14:00–15:00 CEST). Read more and register!
◆ 500th issue of DiploNews
It was September 1999, 25 years ago, when DiploNews (this very publication) was born! Twenty-five years later, we are celebrating an important milestone: 500 issues. Join us in the celebration! Stay tuned for more information on the dedicated page!
◆ Book launch: ‘Tech Diplomacy: Actors, Trends, and Controversies’
Gain valuable insights and participate in a thought-provoking discussion on tech diplomacy with Dr Jovan Kurbalija on Tuesday, 1 October 2024, at 12:00 UTC (14:00 CEST).
Dr Kurbalija observes that, while the recent conflict between Elon Musk and the Brazilian government has sparked heated debate on freedom of expression, many commentators have overlooked the strategic reconfiguration of global power between governments and tech companies. In his new book, Kurbalija provides a critical, informed, and impartial analysis of tech diplomacy. Read more and register!
◆ UN Cybercrime Convention: What Does It Mean and How Will It Impact All of Us?
After three years of negotiations initiated by Russia in 2017, UN Member States at the Ad Hoc Committee (AHC) have adopted the draft of the first globally binding legal instrument on cybercrime. This convention will be presented to the UN General Assembly for formal adoption later this year.
Join us on Tuesday, 22 October, at 10:00 UTC (12:00 CEST) for a virtual expert discussion to hear from several delegates involved in the negotiation process and to understand the contents of the agreed draft convention and its practical implications for all of us. Read more and register!
Visit the Upcoming Events page to read about all of Diplo’s events.
Main takeaways from our recent events
◆ Kautilya in Modern Governance and Diplomacy
Prof. Subrata Mitra explored Kautilya’s Arthashastra and its enduring influence on modern governance and diplomacy, emphasising the relevance of ancient wisdom in today’s political landscape. Read the event summary, watch the recording, and test our AI assistant based on Kautilya’s texts!
Blogs and publications
◆ Durov and X-Brazil Cases: The End of the Illusion of Cyberspace?
Is cyberspace an illusion? Following the arrest of Pavel Durov and the Brazilian government’s threat to ban X, Jovan Kurbalija examines the dangers of the illusion of cyberspace and what we can do to mitigate the risks stemming from it. Read the blog post!
◆ The End of Freedom in Cyberspace?
Is cyberspace still a realm of freedom, or has it become defined by control and surveillance? With commercialisation and geopolitical tensions rising, are we trading too much privacy for security? Petru Dumitriu analyses. Read the blog post!
◆ The Decline (and Fall?) of the Term ‘Ambassador’
The term ‘ambassador’ has fallen far from its original diplomatic prestige and is now often used for celebrities or corporate PR. Has its true meaning become a casualty of commodification? Aldo Matteucci analyses. Read the blog post!
◆ The Dangers of Believing States Always Act Rationally
Blindly believing in state rationality can lead to disaster. Historical mistakes, from Brest-Litovsk to unrestricted warfare, show the dangers of ignoring past lessons. Aldo Matteucci analyses. Read the blog post!
◆ Digital Public Infrastructure: An Innovative Outcome of India’s G20 Leadership
India’s G20 leadership has elevated the concept of Digital Public Infrastructure from a latent term to a globally recognised driver of socioeconomic development. Expectations are now shifting to Brazil to maintain and build upon this momentum. Read Akanksha Singh’s DW analysis!
◆ Digital Watch newsletter – Issue 92 – September 2024
In our September issue, we analyse how Durov’s arrest and the ban of X in Brazil signal the end of the illusion of cyberspace, examine the debates at the final session of the Ad Hoc Committee on Cybercrime, explore the new WTO digital trade agreement, explain the lessons learned from the Crowdstrike outage in July 2024, and mark our calendars for the Summit of the Future. Read issue 92 of the Digital Watch Monthly newsletter!
◆ DW Weekly #177 – 13 September 2024
In the latest issue of DW Weekly: EU secures victories against Google and Apple. Australia targets social media giants over misinformation. Microsoft hosts a cybersecurity summit following a global IT outage. South Korea hosts a global summit on AI in warfare. Read DW Weekly #177!
◆ ConfTech Digest #39, August/September
What have Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Cisco Webex, and Zoom come up with recently? The ConfTech Digest delves into: improved email notifications, AI-driven meeting summaries, automatic picture-in-picture mode, live reactions, Calendar and Gallery view, and more! Read issue #39 of the ConfTech Digest!
Latest videos
◆ AI shorts #8: Spot our AI avatar!
Su Sonia Herring takes us deeper into the world where the lines between real and artificial are really starting to blur.
Don’t miss…
◆ UN Human Rights Council: High-level discussion on AI and human rights
Jovan Kurbalija spoke on AI at the UN Human Rights Meeting, focusing on the impact of AI on existing human rights, the need to consider new types of human rights, and the importance of safeguarding what defines us as humans, including our ‘imperfection’. Consult the report here!
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