December 1, 2022

HALO TAKES AN AGGRESSIVE STANCE AGAINST TRADEMARK INFRINGERS

American E-liquid Brand Fights to Protect Intellectual Property on a Global Scale

Tampa, Florida, Dec. 01, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Pure Labs takes action to protect the intellectual property of its flagship E-liquid brand, Halo, relentlessly prosecuting multiple trademark infringers.

Pure Labs recently brought civil action and successfully defended its intellectual property rights against US-based vape company, The Blinc Group, Inc. It was discovered that Blinc was illegally using the Halo mark in the branding of its vaping device kit and accessories, marketed as the “Halo System”, “TipHalo”, and “BaseHalo”. Akerman LLP represented Pure Labs against Blinc by negotiating a substantial settlement payment, as well as Blinc’s agreement to immediately cease the use of the infringing branding, destroy or rebrand all infringing packaging and inventory, and abandon numerous trademark applications similar to Pure Labs Halo trademarks.

An ongoing lawsuit between Pure Labs and French company, So Smoke, is progressing through the French Judicial System. Pure Labs asserted that So Smoke has been illegally using Halo’s logo, trademarks, and flavoring in E-liquid products under the Reservoir Freaks brand. Pure Labs has been working diligently with French counsel to pursue legal action, resulting in a search and seizure of the product in question and forcing So Smoke to repackage the litigious products.

Pure Labs employs a dedicated in-house team to continually monitor and thwart intellectual property theft involving any of its trademarks. “Ensuring that Halo customers around the world can confidently vape Halo’s award-winning tobacco and menthol e-liquids as they complete their journey of ending their addiction to combustible cigarettes has always been a top company initiative.”, stated Jeffrey Stamler, Co-Founder of Pure Labs.

About Pure Laboratories

Operating since 2009, Pure Laboratories (Pure Labs) is a state-of-the-art 110,000-sq. ft. manufacturing and distribution facility located in Gainesville, Florida. Nicopure Labs, a subsidiary of Pure Labs, is an industry-leading tobacco and menthol e-liquid manufacturer, globally recognized for the production of its American-made, award-winning vaporization products. With a 10,000-sq. ft. ISO 7 cleanroom, Pure Labs is synonymous with quality manufacturing. Pure Labs’ corporate headquarters are based in Tampa Florida, with additional operations located in Europe.

For additional information about carrying Halo’s premium American-made E-liquid and innovative line of vaporizer devices, please email Halo’s principal distribution partner, Syndicate Distribution at sales@syndicatedistribution.com.

For additional information on Pure Laboratories’ full capabilities visit www.PureLabs.com.

For media inquiries, please email press@purelabs.com.

Samantha Knight
Pure Labs
press@purelabs.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8706279

December 1, 2022

TRADE X Opens New Automotive Trading Facilities in Kenya

The TRADE X global automotive trading platform creates a strategic hub in Kenya, which will serve automotive dealers within key East African countries

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — TRADE X, a B2B cross-border automotive trading platform based in Ontario, Canada, today announced that it has opened a new Kenyan trading corridor, which includes both a shared bonded warehouse in Mombasa and an office in Nairobi, as the company expands its reach across the African continent.

TRADE X provides auto dealers, car rental companies, fleet owners and mobility solution providers with a seamless end-to-end process for the sourcing and distribution of cross-border vehicle inventory. With the highest GDP in East Africa, Kenya serves as a strategic location, providing a direct-access route to trade with landlocked countries such as South Sudan and Uganda, where it is legal to drive vehicles registered in neighboring countries.

Over the past few months, TRADE X has focused on developing a presence in Kenya and building broader trust within the automotive industry. In May, TRADE X began buying and shipping inventory to Kenya as the company works toward making right-hand drive vehicles available on its platform.

“Our focus is on building trust with dealers and helping them to understand the process and pricing structure,” said Andrew Agbro, Vice President for Trade and Business Development at TRADE X. “Every dealer we work with has applauded us not just for our prices but for the quality of our vehicles. For example, we don’t accept vehicles that have been in accidents — and we are still more cost efficient than our competitors.”

In Kenya, the bulk of automobiles originate in Japan. Unlike other African markets, Kenya has strict import requirements. Vehicles must not be older than seven years, and cars must pass an inspection process before being shipped into the country. Vehicles that are shipped to Kenya without first passing an inspection are destroyed.

TRADE X is focused not only on tapping into the supply coming out of Japan, but to opening new trade routes between Kenya and countries such as the U.K, Australia, Thailand, South Africa, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

“Kenya is a high-quality and discerning market,” said TRADE X SVP of Global Business Development Eric Gosselin. “Because the inspection process in Kenya is so rigorous, Kenyans prefer to purchase foreign pre-owned vehicles rather than buy locally. We are excited to set up our East African base in Kenya as we move closer to adding right-hand-drive vehicles to our platform.”

In Kenya, popular automotive brands include Toyota, Honda, Mazda, Nissan and Subaru. TRADE X is looking to further expand the variety of makes and models available to Kenyan car buyers.

Interested automotive dealers in West Africa can sign up at tradexport.com to begin procuring vehicles, accelerating inventory turnover and driving revenues.

The company’s AI-driven ‘Brain’ software provides dealers, fleet owners, and mobility solutions providers first-ever support in all aspects of vehicle trading. This includes trade financing, compliance, customs requirements, international payments processing, vehicle inspections, digital trade documentation, and homologation. TRADE X provides peace of mind and security for users, whether they are trading within their own continent or overseas. TRADE X simplifies the experience and ensures each transaction is transparent, compliant, insured, and monitored from start to finish.

About TRADE X

With headquarters in Ontario, Canada, TRADE X is the first global vehicle marketplace to aggregate cross-border supply and demand for car dealers, fleet owners, rental companies, mobility solution providers, importers, and exporters, opening new trading corridors to buy and sell vehicles. The TRADE X ‘Brain’ platform is a machine-learning, AI-driven technology that connects buyers and sellers through a transparent marketplace that aids sellers in finding the world’s highest bidders and gives buyers access to the best vehicle source markets and price arbitrage opportunities. Users can quickly and seamlessly transact online in a secure environment with all the complexities of international trade – compliance, anti-money laundering regulations, vehicle inspection, currency exchange, digital trade documentation, payments, and financing – all managed by TRADE X. The company serves authorized buyers and sellers everywhere with a user-friendly app available 24/7 via mobile, tablet, or desktop. TRADE X’s largest investors include Aimia Inc., a publicly traded holding company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: AIM). To learn more, please visit www.tradexport.com.

Media Contact:
Siobhan Nolan
JConnelly
(862) 217 9585
snolan@jconnelly.com

TRADE X Contact:
Shelley Keller
Director, Corporate Communications + Brand
shelley.keller@tradexport.com

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December 1, 2022December 2, 2022

EPA Seeks to Mandate More Use of Ethanol, Other Biofuels

The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday proposed increasing the amount of ethanol and other biofuels that must be blended into the nation’s fuel supplies over the next three years, a move welcomed by renewable fuel and farm groups but condemned by environmentalists and oil industry groups.
“This proposal supports low-carbon renewable fuels and seeks public input on ways to strengthen the program,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said in a statement. “With this proposal, EPA seeks to provide consumers with more options while diversifying our nation’s energy mix.”
The proposal also includes new incentives to encourage the use of biogas from farms and landfills, and renewable biomass such as wood to generate electricity to charge electric vehicles. It’s the first time the EPA has set biofuel targets on its own instead of using numbers from Congress. The agency opened a public comment period and will hold a hearing in January.
Goal includes reducing fuel prices
The goal of the existing Renewable Fuel Standard is to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change, expand the country’s fuel supply, strengthen energy security and reduce fuel prices for consumers. Ethanol is a key part of the economy in many Midwestern states, consuming about 40% of the nation’s corn supply.
But environmentalists argue it’s a net ecological and climate detriment because growing all that corn fosters unsustainable farming practices, while the oil industry says ethanol mandates constrain free market forces and limit consumer choice, and that higher blends can damage older vehicles.
Geoff Cooper, president and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, told reporters on a conference call that the EPA’s plan creates a “clear pathway for sustainable growth for our industry when it comes to the production and use of low-carbon fuels like ethanol.” He said it also bolsters the industry’s push for year-round sales of gasoline with a 15% ethanol blend, as well as sales of the 85% ethanol blend E85.
“As the administration is working to address climate change, we’ve long known that biofuels will play an important role in reducing greenhouse gases while having the added benefit of providing expanded opportunities for farmers,” National Farmers Union President Rob Larew said in a statement.
Climate campaigner calls plan ‘toxic’
Environmental groups said the plan offers false solutions to climate change.
“This is a toxic plan directly at odds with the Biden Administration’s commitment to Environmental Justice,” Sarah Lutz, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said in a statement. “Charging electric vehicles with forests and factory farms should be a non-starter.”
Geoff Moody, senior vice president of the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers, said the Renewable Fuel Standard was meant to be a liquid fuels program, not an electric vehicle program. He urged the EPA to go back as it develops the final rule and reject “yet another massive regulatory subsidy for electric vehicle manufacturers.”
The EPA proposes to set the total target for all kinds of renewable fuels at 20.82 billion gallons for 2023, including 15 billion gallons from corn ethanol.
The target would grow to 22.68 billion gallons for 2025, including 15.25 billion gallons of corn ethanol. The plan also calls for growth in cellulosic biofuels — which are made from fibrous plant materials — biomass-based diesel and other advanced biofuels.
Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, which is the top corn and ethanol producing state in the United States, said in a statement that the EPA should have gone further to require even more use of advanced biofuels to move freight, which he said would help lower prices for consumer goods.
Cooper said there’s probably no way to meet the proposed higher targets without more use of E15 and E85 instead of the conventional 10% ethanol mix. That makes it important to eliminate regulations that block summertime sales of E15, he said.
So, he predicted, the EPA’s proposal should bolster prospects for legislation introduced this week by Democratic U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and GOP Senator Deb Fischer of Nebraska to allow year-round sales of E15 nationwide. E15 sales are usually prohibited between June 1 and September 15 because of concerns that it adds to smog in high temperatures.
Eight Midwestern governors asked the EPA in April to allow year-round sales of E15 in their states. But Cooper said the new bill would provide a “nationwide fix” that even the American Petroleum Institute considers preferable to the current patchwork of temporary waivers and ad hoc solutions.

Source: Voice of America

December 1, 2022December 2, 2022

China Blames Foreigners for Inciting Protests

China’s rulers are accusing “hostile forces,” including foreigners, of inciting street demonstrations in more than three dozen Chinese cities and many more universities in the biggest domestic political challenge for Beijing since 1989’s Tiananmen Square protests.
At stake is the legitimacy of the ruling Chinese Communist Party as protesters question its management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has used repressive methods such as repetitive mass testing, quarantines, and lockdowns resulting in large-scale unemployment and economic loss.
Jolted, the government is handling the new situation cautiously. Though several instances of police violence have taken place, state repression has not reached the magnitude initially feared. The government is depending more on propaganda to evoke nationalistic sentiments and using politically divisive methods to address some of the problems highlighted by protesters, according to analysts.
“We must resolutely crack down on infiltration and sabotage activities by hostile forces in accordance with the law, resolutely crack down on illegal and criminal acts that disrupt social order and effectively maintain overall social stability,” the CCP’s Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission (CPLAC) said in a statement released Tuesday.
Bucknell University political scientist Zhiqun Zhu said the statement is a direct reference to foreign forces attempting to fan the flames of political unrest.
“The definitions of ‘infiltration’ and ‘sabotage activities’ are very broad. Even a foreign journalist reporting on site is viewed with suspicion,” Zhu told VOA. “Social media postings and commentaries on the protests are also considered adding fuel to the fire.
“In this context, foreigners offering critical comments about the protests or making contacts with protesters are easily blamed for instigating, shaping and guiding the demonstrations,” he said.
By blaming unrest on foreigners and foreign governments, analysts said, Beijing can whip up nationalist sentiments that weaken the protest movement.
An estimated 43 protests across 22 Chinese cities unfolded between Saturday and Monday, according to the Canberra-based Australian Strategic Policy Institute, and some analysts say the protests have since spread to more cities and towns.
China’s leadership is trying to meet some protest demands to lift COVID-19 requirements such as lockdowns, mass testing and quarantines, and several locked-down areas and restaurants in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou — a manufacturing hub hit hard by the latest COVID-19 outbreaks — reopened Wednesday.
“I believe that in the next few days most of the locked-down areas across China will be reopened,” Hu Xijin, former editor in chief of the Global Times and a strong Communist Party voice, said in a video statement on the paper’s website.
Hu indicated this would likely be done to maintain social stability. “As lockdowns are coming to an end, the biggest factor for public discontent will be eliminated. It will have a very positive effect on maintaining social stability,” he said.
Instead of using batons to keep protesters in line — a normal strategy for Chinese riot officers — police are busy identifying possible rebels and troublemakers and checking phones to find out whether they have been circulating protest images on virtual private networks and accessing banned sites such as Facebook and Twitter.
Tuesday’s statement by CPLAC said agency officials had emphasized that “political and legal organs must take effective measures to … resolutely safeguard national security and social stability.”
Will protests persist?
Analysts differ on whether the protests — which are demanding democratic freedoms and an end to censorship — are likely to continue.
“It is unlikely that there will be more large-scale protests in the near future,” Zhu said. “New policies are being rolled out to loosen COVID-19 controls. It is also expected that the ‘zero-COVID’ policy will be replaced by more scientific and pragmatic measures,” he said.
Others disagree.
“More protests will emerge in different parts of China in the coming days, although the authorities may try to suppress them,” said Jagannath Panda, head of the Stockholm Center for South Asian and Indo-Pacific affairs at the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Sweden. “The Communist Party’s image has taken a severe beating because of widespread unemployment and the government’s repression.”
Salih Hudayar, an activist leader of the Uyghur Muslims of Xinjiang, said China might even use the military to suppress the protest movement. The suppression of Uyghurs has drawn the attention of human rights activists and several foreign governments.
“The Chinese government has already started to crack down on the protests by intimidating protesters and arresting many of them,” said Hudayar, prime minister of the self-styled East Turkistan Government in Exile.
“Because there is not any meaningful political support from the international community, it’s highly likely that the Chinese government will use military force to suppress the protests in the coming weeks, if not days,” he said.

Source: Voice of America

December 1, 2022

Vantage introduces Social Trading to make trading more interactive

Vantage App is also available on more phone models

PORT VILA, Vanuatu, Dec. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Vantage (or “Vantage Markets”), the multi-asset broker, has launched social trading on the Vantage App, making it an all-in-one trading app that supports both regular trading and social trading.

Lian Jie, Assistant App Marketing Director, Vantage

Social trading is an innovative feature that turns trading into a social event. Experienced traders can share their trading strategies as signal providers. Novice traders will be able to follow numerous signal providers, gain insights from experienced investors, and trade their strategies by mirroring the trades of others.

The Vantage App offers access to over 1000 trading instruments including CFDs on Forex, Commodities, Indices, Energy, Shares, ETFs and Bonds.

It has an intuitive in-app navigation and provides a comprehensive range of charts, technical tools, order types, personalised trading reports and alerts. Available in 14 languages, the Vantage App also offers market analysis and market news powered by Trading Central and FX Street.

With the growing demand for mobile trading in mobile-centric markets, the Vantage App is now supported on OPPO, VIVO, Huawei, Xiaomi, and Samsung devices, on top of iOS and Android devices. Vantage introduces Social Trading to make trading more interactive

Lian Jie, Assistant App Marketing Director at Vantage explains how the new feature is revolutionizing the traditional CFD industry. “As our active investor profile gets younger, our clients have been more willing to explore and adopt innovative trading methods like social trading, going beyond traditional trading methods. At Vantage, we understand how technology and innovation can transcend boundaries, so we have utilized the power of technology in our Vantage App to meet the needs of the next generation and provide a seamless and convenient experience for all our clients.”

About Vantage

Vantage (Vantage Global Limited (VFSC 700271) ) is a global, multi-asset broker offering clients access to a nimble and powerful service for trading CFDs on Forex, Commodities, Indices, Shares, ETFs and Bonds.

With more than 13 years of market experience, Vantage now has over 1,000 employees across more than 30 global offices.

Vantage is more than a broker. It provides a trusted trading ecosystem, an award-winning mobile trading app, and a user-friendly trading platform that enables clients to take advantage of trading opportunities. Download the Vantage App on App Store or Google Play.

trade smarter @vantage

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December 1, 2022

ICANN Launches Initiative to Advance Africa’s Digital Transformation

Coalition for Digital Africa to Collaborate for Greater Internet Access, Connectivity

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Dec. 1, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) today launched the Coalition for Digital Africa, an initiative aimed at expanding the Internet in Africa. Conceived by ICANN, the Coalition is an alliance of like-minded organizations committed to building a robust and secure Internet infrastructure to bring more Africans online.

Home to the youngest population on the planet, 70 percent of whom are under age 30, Africa has one of the fastest-growing Internet penetration rates in the world. Internet connectivity is growing by leaps and bounds – from 1.2 percent in 2000 to 43 percent in 2021 – driven by a digitally savvy, young, and educated urban workforce for whom adopting and using online services is second nature.

“The Coalition for Digital Africa provides an opportunity for new ways of cooperating and collaborating among diverse stakeholders,” said ICANN President and CEO Gӧran Marby. “Though the Coalition was initiated by ICANN, its success is dependent on synergistic work with other organizations – be they local, regional, or international – who are united in their aim to enhance Africa’s Internet infrastructure, increase the rate of Internet access, bolster Internet security, and raise the level of participation from Africa in multistakeholder policymaking development.”

The Coalition will further promote innovation aimed at building technical capacity and encourage entrepreneurialism by enabling people to access the Internet using their own languages and scripts. While its official launch took place during a press conference at the 17th annual Internet Governance Forum, the Coalition already has rolled out activities in pursuit of its goals.

To make the Domain Name System (DNS) infrastructure in Africa more robust so that it can cater to the rapid growth, the Coalition announced the installation of an ICANN Managed Root Server (IMRS) cluster in Kenya last month. Another cluster is planned for a second location in Africa next year. These clusters enable regional Internet queries to be answered within the region, rather than being dependent on networks and servers in other parts of the world. The IMRS clusters will also reduce the impact of potential cyberattacks in Africa.

“The launch of the Coalition brings us one step closer to strengthening the Internet infrastructure in Africa. The Coalition provides an important vehicle to enable a better protected DNS and more secure Internet infrastructure in Africa,” said Mr. John Omo, Secretary General, African Telecommunications Union. Further noting that the establishment of the Coalition will play the important role of enhancing confidence in many online systems that are now being mainstreamed, even as the continent looks forward to growing Internet penetration in Africa from the current 43% to globally competitive levels.

The Coalition’s focus is on creating meaningful connectivity throughout Africa. The Coalition will begin by working to better adapt the Internet in Africa to enable digital inclusivity and creating opportunities to spur the growth of local content and businesses. Key to that effort is Universal Acceptance, or UA, which ensures that all valid domain names and email addresses, regardless of length or script, can be used by all Internet-enabled applications, devices, and systems. With UA, people who are already connected, and those who will be connected in the future, can communicate over the Internet and access local content in their preferred languages and scripts.

One way the Coalition will tackle this is through a project led by the Association of African Universities aimed at making email and other systems within higher education UA-ready. This is an essential step toward ensuring an Internet that is both useful and empowering for all people.

“This is an important and welcome initiative for Africa. Improving the technical capacity of higher education institutions across the continent is imperative for a digital Africa,” said Olusola Bandele Oyewole, Secretary General of the Association of African Universities. “We are happy to take part in this journey to give African Internet users the opportunity to be part of a truly global, inclusive, and multilingual Internet.”

The Coalition for Digital Africa comprises governments, regional and international organizations, and the local Internet community. Inaugural partners of the Coalition also include the African Information Network Centre, AfRegistrar Association, Africa Top Level Domain, Africa Telecommunications Union, Association African Universities, Association Française pour le Nommage Internet en Coopération, International Telecommunication Union-Development Sector, and Network Startup Resource Center.

More information is available at www.coalitionfordigitalafrica.africa.

About ICANN

ICANN’s mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you have to type an address – a name or a number – into your computer or other device. That address must be unique, so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a not-for-profit public-benefit corporation and a community with participants from all over the world.

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December 1, 2022

l’ICANN lance une initiative pour favoriser la transformation numérique de l’Afrique

La Coalition pour l’Afrique numérique travaillera à l’amélioration de l’accès et de la connectivité à Internet

ADDIS-ABEBA, Éthiopie, 1er décembre 2022 /PRNewswire/ — La Société pour l’attribution des noms de domaine et des numéros sur Internet (ICANN) a lancé aujourd’hui la Coalition pour l’Afrique numérique, une initiative destinée à développer l’Internet en Afrique. Conçue par l’ICANN, la Coalition est une alliance d’organisations animées par les mêmes idées et engagées à développer une infrastructure Internet robuste et sécurisée, capable de permettre la connexion d’un plus grand nombre d’Africains.

Avec une population qui compte 70 % de jeunes de moins de 30 ans, l’Afrique a l’un des taux de pénétration de l’Internet les plus élevés au monde. La connectivité à Internet y progresse à pas de géant – de 1,2 % en 2000 à 43 % en 2021 – portée par une force de travail urbaine jeune, éduquée et férue de numérique, pour qui l’adoption et la consommation de services en ligne sont devenus une seconde nature.

« La Coalition pour l’Afrique numérique est l’occasion de mettre en place de nouveaux modes de coopération et de collaboration entre différentes parties prenantes », a déclaré Gӧran Marby, président-directeur général de l’ICANN. « Si la Coalition a été lancée par l’ICANN, son succès dépend toutefois du travail en synergie avec d’autres organisations – locales, régionales ou internationales – qui œuvrent ensemble au renforcement de l’infrastructure Internet de l’Afrique, à l’augmentation du taux d’accès, au renforcement de la sécurité en ligne et à l’amélioration du niveau de participation de l’Afrique à l’élaboration de politiques multipartites. »

La Coalition favorisera en outre l’innovation en matière de renforcement des capacités techniques et encouragera l’entrepreneuriat en permettant aux utilisateurs d’accéder à Internet dans leurs propres langues et écritures. Même si son lancement officiel a eu lieu lors d’une conférence de presse à l’occasion du 17e Forum annuel sur la gouvernance de l’Internet, la Coalition a déjà entrepris des activités en vue d’atteindre ses objectifs.

Pour consolider l’infrastructure du système des noms de domaine (DNS) en Afrique et lui permettre de répondre à une forte croissance, la Coalition a annoncé le mois dernier l’installation d’une grappe d’instances du serveur racine géré par l’ICANN (IMRS) au Kenya. Une autre grappe est prévue l’année prochaine sur un autre site en Afrique. Grâce à ces grappes, les requêtes Internet peuvent être traitées dans la région, sans qu’il y ait besoin d’avoir recours à des réseaux et à des serveurs situés dans d’autres parties du monde. Les grappes IMRS réduiront l’impact d’éventuelles cyberattaques dans toute l’Afrique.

« Le lancement de la Coalition représente un pas de plus vers le renforcement de l’infrastructure Internet en Afrique. La Coalition constitue un excellent moyen de mettre en place un DNS mieux protégé et une infrastructure Internet plus sûre en Afrique », a indiqué M. John Omo, secrétaire général de l’Union africaine des télécommunications. Il a également fait remarquer que la création de la Coalition jouera un rôle important dans le renforcement de la confiance à l’égard de nombreux systèmes en ligne qui sont en cours de diffusion, alors même que le continent africain envisage de faire passer le taux actuel de pénétration d’Internet de 43 % à des niveaux mondialement compétitifs.

L’objectif de la Coalition est de garantir une connectivité significative dans toute l’Afrique. Dans un premier temps, la Coalition s’attachera à adapter l’Internet en Afrique afin de favoriser l’inclusion numérique et de créer des opportunités pour stimuler la croissance des entreprises et la création de contenus locaux. Un élément déterminant de cet effort est l’acceptation universelle (UA), qui garantit que tous les noms de domaine et les adresses électroniques valides, sans distinction de longueur ou d’écriture, puissent être utilisés par toutes les applications, tous les dispositifs et tous les systèmes connectés à Internet. L’UA permet aux personnes déjà connectées et à celles qui le seront à l’avenir de communiquer sur Internet et d’accéder à des contenus locaux dans la langue et l’écriture de leur choix.

Pour y parvenir, la Coalition s’appuiera entre autres sur un projet mené par l’Association des universités africaines, qui vise à rendre le courrier électronique et les autres systèmes de l’enseignement supérieur compatibles avec l’UA. Il s’agit d’une avancée majeure pour garantir un Internet qui soit à la fois utile et porteur d’autonomie pour tous.

« Cette initiative est importante et positive pour l’Afrique. Renforcer les capacités techniques des établissements d’enseignement supérieur du continent est un impératif pour l’Afrique numérique », a déclaré Olusola Bandele Oyewole, secrétaire général de l’Association des universités africaines. « Nous sommes heureux de contribuer à ce projet qui permettra aux internautes africains de faire partie d’un Internet véritablement mondial, inclusif et multilingue. »

La Coalition pour l’Afrique numérique regroupe des gouvernements, des organisations régionales et internationales, ainsi que la communauté Internet locale. Parmi les partenaires fondateurs de la Coalition figurent également le Centre d’information du réseau africain, l’Association des bureaux d’enregistrement accrédités par l’ICANN en Afrique, l’Association africaine de noms de domaine de premier niveau, l’Union africaine des télécommunications, l’Association des universités africaines, l’Association Française pour le Nommage Internet en Coopération, le secteur Développement de l’Union internationale des télécommunications et le Network Startup Resource Center.

Pour de plus amples informations, consultez le site www.coalitionfordigitalafrica.africa.

À propos de la ICANN

La mission de l’ICANN consiste à garantir un Internet mondial sûr, stable et unifié. Pour contacter une personne sur Internet, vous devez saisir une adresse sur votre ordinateur ou autre dispositif : un nom ou un numéro. Cette adresse doit être unique pour permettre aux ordinateurs de s’identifier entre eux. L’ICANN coordonne ces identificateurs uniques à l’échelle mondiale. La société ICANN a été fondée en 1998 en tant qu’organisation à but non lucratif reconnue d’utilité publique. Elle rassemble au sein de sa communauté des participants du monde entier.

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December 1, 2022

Les jeunes du monde entier souhaitent faire la différence

PÉKIN, 1er décembre 2022 /PRNewswire/ — « Nous devons contribuer en trouvant notre passion, en ayant de grands rêves, puis en commençant doucement, et en aimant autrui en cours de route, et nous pouvons sans aucun doute avoir un impact sur le monde à un tout autre niveau », a déclaré Geresu Dagmawit Mesfin lors de la finale du quatrième concours d’expression orale en anglais pour les jeunes du China Daily Belt and Road, qui s’est tenu en ligne du 26 au 27 novembre.

Geresu Dagmawit Mesfin, 24 ans, originaire d’Éthiopie, Wang Zhisheng, 21 ans, originaire de Chine, et Gabriella Madombwe, 19 ans, originaire d’Afrique du Sud, ont été les trois gagnants parmi les six finalistes. Près de 40 jeunes de plus de 30 pays et régions avaient participé à la demi-finale.

Sur le thème « Les jeunes font la différence », tous les finalistes se sont exprimés sur la manière dont les jeunes peuvent contribuer à rendre le monde meilleur en proposant et en apportant des changements positifs.

Dans son discours, Wang Zhisheng appelle les jeunes des quatre coins du monde à contribuer à un avenir meilleur pour cette planète que tous les êtres humains pourront partager. « Je crois que les jeunes peuvent et doivent faire une énorme différence. »

« La jeunesse, c’est voir le monde à travers sa propre perspective, une perspective imperturbable qui n’a pas été entachée par les restrictions de la réalité, a affirmé Gabriella Madombwe. Optimisme, espoir, courage, idéalisme, énergie ; c’est ainsi que je vois la jeunesse. »

Au terme de la compétition finale, l’un des juges, Mark Levine, professeur à l’université Minzu de Chine, a fait l’éloge de l’événement et des participants.

« Ce concours fut unique, extrêmement intéressant et instructif. Les participants sont venus du monde entier. »

Le concours d’expression orale en anglais pour les jeunes du China Daily Belt and Road, organisé pour la première fois il y a trois ans, a constitué une importante plateforme publique pour les jeunes du monde entier, leur permettant d’échanger des idées, d’approfondir leur compréhension mutuelle et de parfaire leurs compétences en matière de communication. Cet événement annuel a attiré des participants de 51 pays et régions.

L’événement de cette année a débuté en janvier. Des épreuves préliminaires ont été organisées hors ligne en Malaisie, en Russie, en Serbie et en Afrique du Sud, ainsi que dans neuf universités chinoises. Après cet événement, les participants auront l’occasion de prendre part à d’autres activités afin d’acquérir une meilleure compréhension de la Chine sur le plan linguistique et culturel.

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December 1, 2022

Zoom named a Leader in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for UCaaS, Worldwide

Zoom Celebrates its Third Consecutive Time in the Leaders Quadrant

SAN JOSE, Calif., Nov. 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: ZM), today announced that analyst firm Gartner has named Zoom a Leader in the 2022 Gartner® Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS), Worldwide for the third time in a row. The UCaaS report evaluated 12 companies in the unified communications space, and Zoom has been recognized as both a Leader and a Visionary in this space for its UCaaS offerings. Zoom’s offerings in this space include enterprise-grade solutions like Zoom Team Chat, Zoom Phone, Zoom Meetings, and Zoom Whiteboard.

For this year’s Magic Quadrant, the meetings category has been rolled into the Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) category, which now includes enterprise telephony, meetings, unified & instant messaging, mobility, and communications-enabled business processes.

“We are proud to be included in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaaS and believe it solidifies our influence in this space,” said Greg Tomb, President of Zoom. “Zoom continues to prioritize and pair ease of use with innovation to build a platform that meets emerging collaboration demands and further delivers customer happiness.”

To read a complimentary copy of the 2022 Gartner Magic Quadrant for UCaas report, please click here.

Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Unified Communications as a Service, Worldwide, [Rafael Benitez, Megan Fernandez], [November 28, 2022] Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. GARTNER and Magic Quadrant are registered trademarks and service marks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

About Zoom
Zoom is for you. Zoom is a space where you can connect to others, share ideas, make plans, and build toward a future limited only by your imagination. Our frictionless communications platform is the only one that started with video as its foundation, and we have set the standard for innovation ever since. That is why we are an intuitive, scalable, and secure choice for large enterprises, small businesses, and individuals alike. Founded in 2011, Zoom is publicly traded (NASDAQ:ZM) and headquartered in San Jose, California. Visit zoom.com and follow @zoom.

Zoom Public Relations
Kelsey Knight
Corporate PR Lead
press@zoom.us

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8706308

December 1, 2022

LG SUPPORTS YOUNG TECHNOLOGY LEADERS THROUGH 2022 GLOBAL IT CHALLENGE

Attracting More than 320 Participants From Around the World, GITC Continues to Empower Youth with Disabilities for Eleventh Year

SEOUL, South Korea, Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — LG Electronics recently hosted the final round of the 11th Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities (GITC). The two-day event saw inspiring, young participants from all over the world test their skills for computer-based activities in a series of timed challenges. Adopting a hybrid online and offline format, several key participating countries including Korea, Indonesia and Vietnam set up venues locally as well.

Abiyu Ezar Firdausi from Indonesia awarded as the Super Challenger in the 2022 GITC through livestream.

Following the success of the GITC’s preliminary round in August, registrations were high for the competition’s last stage. Ultimately, more than 320 participants from 16 countries were invited to join in the final round which was held online. After competing in four challenges – eTool, eLifeMap, eContent and eCreative – the young contestants gathered both in-person and online for an awards ceremony that acknowledged this year’s winners while also allowing everyone to come together and share experiences.

The eTool challenge tests entrants’ ability to make and edit presentations using Microsoft PowerPoint and utilize functions and formulae to calculate and organize data in Microsoft Excel. eLifeMap involves conducting advanced text and image searches online to solve daily problems, while eContent evaluates one’s capacity to create and edit videos dealing with a specific topic. Lastly, the eCreative challenge, which is divided into two sections, tasks participants with coding a self-driving car program (eCreative_SmartCar) and with developing an idea for a technology to make life more convenient for persons with disabilities (eCreative_IoT).

Illustration showing the countries that have participated in the GITC as well as the history of the program.

LG Corporation, in conjunction with South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, has been leading the GITC since 2011. The program was established to help youth with disabilities by bridging the digital gap, enhancing their ability to utilize IT to improve their employment and higher education opportunities. Run by LG Electronics and the GITC Organizing Committee, and now in its eleventh year, the competition has attracted a total of around 4,000 young participants to date.

Using the GITC as a stepping stone for academic and professional pursuits, participants have continued to challenge themselves to accomplish their dreams after the competition. Faiza Pulri Adila from Indonesia, who won the all-around championship in the 2018 GITC, is studying nanotechnology engineering at Airlangga University in Indonesia. In addition, Cheenmanee Tnanapon from Thailand, the first person with developmental disabilities to win the all-round championship in the 2016 GITC, is taking the lead in raising disability awareness by appearing on popular Thai TV programs.

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“I’ve worked very hard for many days with my friends for the competition because I thought this opportunity was perfect for me to keep pushing myself to improve my skills,” said Varinporn Thongjamnong, a 19 year-old from Thailand and winner of all-around championship in the 2022 Global IT Challenge. “I’m honored to be this year’s Global IT Winner, which I’m confident will motivate me to study even harder to achieve my dreams.”

“Technologies can help all of us to overcome obstacles in our daily lives and is something of a universal language that transcends borders, culture and many other differences,” said Kim In-kyu, chairman of the GITC Organizing Committee. “We hope that the wonderful young people who entered this year’s competition feel motivated and empowered to take on even greater challenges in the future.”

As highlighted in LG’s Better Life Plan 2030, the GITC is one of the company’s many initiatives in the key areas of accessibility and inclusion. LG is investing heavily in future generations as part of its comprehensive social contribution framework, and will continue to operate various events and programs specifically designed to assist and support the next generation of leaders by strengthening their skills and capabilities.

To learn more about the GITC, visit LG Newsroom or www.globalitchallenge.com.

About LG Electronics, Inc.

LG Electronics is a global innovator in technology and consumer electronics with a presence in almost every country and an international workforce of more than 75,000. LG’s four companies – Home Appliance & Air Solution, Home Entertainment, Vehicle component Solutions and Business Solutions – combined for global sales of over USD 63 billion in 2021. LG is a leading manufacturer of consumer and commercial products ranging from TVs, home appliances, air solutions, monitors, service robots, automotive components and its premium LG SIGNATURE and intelligent LG ThinQ brands are familiar names world over. Visit www.LGnewsroom.com for the latest news.

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