Latest news with #WISH
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
WISH hosts panel at Osaka expo to address attacks on health in armed conflict
OSAKA: The World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), a Qatar Foundation's (QF) global healthcare initiative, discussed the escalating attacks on health amid armed conflict around the world, during a panel session held at the Qatar Pavilion in the Expo 2025 Osaka. Titled 'Protecting Health in Armed Conflict', the panel brought together representatives from Medecins Sans Frontieres, the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). The panel built on WISH's ongoing efforts to raise global awareness of attacks on health, following a recent official side event at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva and the release of a joint report on the issue by WISH and WHO. The discussion at the Osaka Expo is part of a broader WISH strategy to foster a coalition of organizations and experts committed to protecting health workers and facilities in conflict zones. Speaking during the panel, CEO of WISH Dr Slim Slama said: "An attack on healthcare is an attack on the very foundation of humanity. Each strike not only destroys hospitals and endangers health workers, but also robs entire communities of safety, dignity, and hope. Protecting medical care in conflict is a legal and moral obligation - when we fail to act, we allow suffering to multiply and justice to fade." Alongside Dr Slama, panelists included Medecins Sans Frontieres Advocacy Director Chika Suefuji; former WHO EMRO Regional Emergency Director Dr Rick Brennan; UNRWA Medical Director Dr Akihiro Seita, and International Committee of the Red Cross Head of Communications Hitomi Makabe. The discussion was moderated by WISH Director of Partnerships and Outreach Dr. Sunoor Verma. In turn, UNRWA Medical Director DrAkihiro Seita emphasized the importance of safeguarding healthcare workers and facilities in conflict zones: "As a Japanese physician working with UNRWA in Gaza, I have witnessed health workers serve amid unimaginable danger. Their courage is a daily reminder that protecting healthcare is not only about medicine â€' it is about defending dignity, humanity, and hope. From Gaza to Osaka, we are united by a shared responsibility to stand against the erosion of these values." Wrapping up the session, Dr Slama said: "Today's panel under the roof of Qatar Pavilion is a critical step in uniting the global health and humanitarian community to advocate for the protection of health in times of war. We call on all stakeholders to join this coalition and uphold international humanitarian law."
Qatar Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Qatar Tribune
Call to protect health workers, facilities in armed conflict at QF's WISH panel session at Osaka Expo
Tribune News Network Osaka, Japan Leading voices in global healthcare have spotlighted the escalating attacks on health amid armed conflict around the world at the Osaka Expo, during a panel session hosted by Qatar Foundation's World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH). Held at the event's Qatar Pavilion, the panel, titled 'Protecting Health in Armed Conflict', brought together representatives from Médecins Sans Frontières, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNRWA, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, as well as the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) – Qatar Foundation's (QF) global healthcare initiative. The panel built on WISH's ongoing efforts to raise global awareness of attacks on health, following a recent official side event at the 78th World Health Assembly in Geneva and the release of a joint report on the issue by WISH and WHO. The discussion at the Osaka Expo is part of a broader WISH strategy to foster a coalition of organisations and experts committed to protecting health workers and facilities in conflict zones. Speaking during the panel, Dr. Slim Slama, CEO of WISH, said: 'An attack on healthcare facility is an attack on the very foundation of humanity. Each strike not only destroys hospitals and endangers health workers, but also robs entire communities of safety, dignity, and hope. Protecting medical care in conflict is a legal and moral obligation – when we fail to act, we allow suffering to multiply and justice to fade.' Other panellists alongside Dr. Slama included Chika Suefuji, advocacy director, Médecins Sans Frontières; Dr. Rick Brennan, former WHO EMRO Regional Emergency director; Dr. Akihiro Seita, medical director, UNRWA, and Hitomi Makabe, head of Communications, International Committee of the Red discussion was moderated by Dr. Sunoor Verma, director of Partnerships and Outreach, WISH. Dr. Akihiro Seita emphasised the importance of safeguarding healthcare workers and facilities in conflict zones. 'As a Japanese physician working with UNRWA in Gaza, I have witnessed health workers serve amid unimaginable danger. Their courage is a daily reminder that protecting healthcare is not only about medicine – it is about defending dignity, humanity, and hope. From Gaza to Osaka, we are united by a shared responsibility to stand against the erosion of these values.' Speaking about the purpose of the WISH-led Osaka Expo session, Dr. Slama said, 'Today's panel under the roof of Qatar Pavilion is a critical step in uniting the global health and humanitarian community to advocate for the protection of health in times of war. We call on all stakeholders to join this coalition and uphold international humanitarian law.'
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco Releases 2024 Impact Report
SAN FRANCISCO, June 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) today released its 2024 Impact Report, which shines a spotlight on the privately capitalized cooperative wholesale bank's daily support for local financial institution members; $103.3 million in grants awarded for affordable housing, homeownership, and economic development; robust engagement with stakeholders; and a workforce empowered to meet the evolving needs of its members with agility and impact. 'Our 2024 Impact Report demonstrates the value we deliver to our members and the communities they serve,' said Joseph Amato, interim president and CEO of FHLBank San Francisco. 'Because of the financial services we provide to our members every day – including advances and letters of credit – we are able to invest directly in programs and initiatives that strengthen communities by increasing the supply of affordable housing, expanding access to homeownership, and fueling economic growth and opportunity.' In 2024, FHLBank San Francisco partnered with its members to award $103.3 million in grants for housing, economic development programs and other initiatives including: Affordable Housing Program (AHP) General Fund and Nevada Targeted Fund: $61.3 million in grants awarded to create, preserve, or purchase nearly 3,900 affordable housing units. WISH and Middle-Income Downpayment Assistance programs: $31.2 million in matching grants delivered to 791 first-time homebuyers. AHEAD economic development grants: $7.3 million in grants awarded to 84 nonprofits to support innovative, community-based economic development initiatives that strengthen local communities. FHLBank San Francisco members also accessed $1.4 billion in the Bank's discounted advances and letters of credit products to create nearly 1,100 owner-occupied and 2,900 rental housing units and to support other community lending and economic development activities, including funding small business loans. Together with its members – primarily community-based financial institutions – FHLBank San Francisco continues to make a positive impact across its three-state district of Arizona, California, Nevada, and other areas where its members do business. To learn more about how FHLBank San Francisco accomplishes its mission of providing members with reliable access to liquidity, essential financial services and expertise, and resources for housing and community and economic development, download the full 2024 Impact Report at About Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions — commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions — propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant and resilient. CONTACT: Contact: Mary Long longm@ (415) 616-2556 Chris Hammond hammondc@ (415) 616-3763Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
11-04-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Elizabeth Pike Named Global Winner of the 2024 IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions Award
International Olympic Committee news Professor Elizabeth Pike PhD, a leading expert in sport and gender from the University of Hertfordshire (Great Britain), is the Global Winner of the 2024 International Olympic Committee (IOC) Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (GEDI) Champions Award. On the eve of International Women's Day, the IOC is celebrating Pike, alongside five continental winners who are all breaking barriers in #SportForAllWomenAndGirls. A Professor in Sport, Health and Exercise, Pike has dedicated her career to creating life-changing opportunities for women in sport and empowering female coaches. While gender parity was reached for athletes competing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, only 13 per cent of coaches were women. As the project director of the Women in Sport High-Performance (WISH) programme, a mentorship and training programme for female coaches supported by Olympic Solidarity, Pike has helped tackle this under-representation. Some 120 female coaches from 22 sports and 59 countries have graduated from the programme, equipped with the tools needed to take on roles at the highest level of their sport. Ten WISH graduates were in coaching roles at Paris 2024. Elizabeth Pike's dedication to creating opportunities for women in sport, especially through the WISH programme, greatly contributes to strengthening gender equality in sport. Her work has made a significant impact on the lives of many female coaches, and we celebrate her remarkable achievements today. Thomas BachIOC President Pike emphasised that her work, part of a larger team effort, is aimed at helping others reach their full potential. 'I feel very honoured the IOC has recognised the part that I have played in helping to unlock the full potential of really talented individuals,' Pike said. 'What we do is try to work with the women to identify what tools, resources and support they need to succeed at the high-performance level – as a coach, but also as a leader,' Pike added. Pike is also the co-founder of the Anita White Foundation and Fund, which supports female leaders in sport around the world; a co-developer of the Women's Sport Leadership Academy with the Females Achieving Brilliance network; and the research lead for the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport. The 2024 continental winners alongside Pike are: Empowering women to coach at elite levels Pike, who was interested in sport from a young age, was struck by the systemic gender inequality in sports research during her university studies. She embarked on an academic career focusing on the power of sport for social inclusion. Her background has given her excellent insight into the barriers facing women in coaching. 'The WISH programme is very much about not fixing the woman, but fixing the system. So we talk to them about how we can dismantle these obstacles to create this more inclusive and equitable system,' Pike said. WISH was launched in 2022, following a successful pilot in 2019, to support the Olympic Movement's drive to achieve gender equality at all levels in sport. The coaches from WISH are not only making changes for themselves and their athletes, but they also inspire other women and girls in sport. They do this by starting to work with the cultures and the systems in their countries and their sports to demonstrate the value and the positive impact of gender equality. Professor Elizabeth Pike PhDGlobal Winner of the 2024 IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Champions Award While the WISH programme focuses on elite coaching, female representation at the grassroots level is also crucial. 'For there to be real change for women coaching at all levels, there are multiple stages, and having women coaching at the grassroots level is absolutely key to all of this,' Pike said. 'The first thing we need to do is to raise awareness of the issue – to advocate for and showcase successful women coaches locally and globally. Then, we need to challenge those stereotypes and highlight the importance of gender diversity and sports leadership at all levels, including at grassroots. Then we need to instigate the deliberate practice to address the issue, through sustained investments, National and International Federations having gender-equality action plans, and the importance of male allies.' The power of grassroots sport Pike has witnessed the power of grassroots sport in her own work with the Anita White Fund. The Fund supports women leaders globally, promoting social inclusion through projects which focus on grassroots sport for women and girls, many of whom are living with disabilities. The projects foster networking and coalition building, often combining sports development with economic advancement opportunities for women. Such grassroots projects are vital in giving women and girls the opportunities linked to participating in sport. 'We know that girls who play sports develop confidence, can learn to work in teams, tend to stay in school longer and often get better jobs,' Pike said. 'We also know engagement in sports has significant physical, mental and social benefits for older women, particularly in those activities that emphasise social interaction, and that in itself can challenge gender and age stereotypes to advance gender equality across all ages.' Celebrating inspiring changemakers Known as the IOC Women and Sport Awards from 2000 to 2021, the IOC GEDI Champions Awards celebrate the outstanding work of inspiring changemakers who are committed to promoting the advancement of gender equality, diversity and inclusion in and through sport. Six GEDI Award winners are announced each year – one at world level and one each for Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania. The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organisation made up of volunteers which is committed to building a better world through sport. It redistributes more than 90 per cent of its income to the wider sporting movement, which means that every day the equivalent of USD 4.2 million goes to help athletes and sports organisations at all levels around the world. Videos Photos Flickr.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Democratic Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to discuss her book in Indy. Here's how to attend
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is scheduled to visit Indianapolis in April to promote the young adult version of her 2024 book "True Gretch." Whitmer, who is term-limited, has been floated among potential 2028 presidential candidates for the Democratic Party. Whitmer will discuss her book, which details her career, with former WISH "Indy Style" host Tracy Forner at 6:30 p.m. on April 3 in the Clowes Auditorium at the Central Library in downtown Indianapolis. The event is organized by Kids Ink Children's Bookstore. The event is free, but a ticket is required. More information is available at Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany. Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, curated by IndyStar political and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to promote book in Indianapolis
