May 18, 2021 – Djibouti News Gazette

May 18, 2021

Kasisto Establishes Itself as the Intelligent Digital Assistant Leader for Banking on the African Continent

Kasisto makes key organizational hires within the African market as the firm experiences significant growth and selection of KAI by 3 of the top 5 financial institutions within this important region

NEW YORK and JOHANNESBURG, May 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Kasisto, creators of KAI, the leading digital experience platform for the financial services industry, announced today that 3 of the top 5 financial institutions within the African market; Absa, Nedbank and Standard Bank, have now selected KAI and its conversational AI technology to power their Intelligent Digital Assistant experiences.

This important milestone reflects the growing need for digital assistants across the financial services industry and the accelerated adoption of these experiences on the African continent.

In fact, in a recent McKinsey report, Africa emerged as the world’s second fastest banking market, with the banked population in the region expected to swell by more than 150 million people, from nearly 300 million in recent years to 450 million by 2022 – with demand for digital banking surging.

“Our KAI-powered intelligent digital assistant, Abby, has transformed the ways we engage and service our customers. We have experienced significant digital engagement with our clients and we continue to see an increase in usage month over month,” said Johan Viljoen, Head of Channel Design – Africa Regional Office. “Kasisto has become a critical partner in our journey to provide our customers the best digital experience within our banking markets.”

With nearly 30 million customers collectively, Absa, Nedbank and Standard Bank are setting the gold standard for digital engagement within the South African banking market and the African continent. By choosing Kasisto’s KAI and newly launched solution, Enlighten; the ultimate intelligent digital assistant solution, to power their digital engagement strategies these banking leaders are redefining the banking digital experience in their operating environments, with banks across the region following suit.

To support the growing demand, Kasisto is establishing a corporate presence in South Africa that will be led by Justin Arnoldi, Managing Director, Africa and Middle East. In addition to this key hire, Byron Wolff will also be joining the Kasisto team as Customer Strategy Manager and will be responsible for leading Kasisto’s customer strategy and success in the region.

“The African banking market is transforming the way digital banking is experienced by customers on the continent. Kasisto has emerged as a leading partner for transformation within the top African banks, including financial institutions in the Middle East. This is an exciting time for both financial organizations and Kasisto in the region, and I am honored and excited to lead Kasisto’s African and Middle East operations and continue our success!” said Justin Arnoldi, Managing Director, Kasisto.

“The need for intelligent digital assistants, especially in areas of the world where banking customers have a “digital first” expectation presents a great growth opportunity for Kasisto. Our early success with Absa has now led us to establishing Kasisto as a leader within Africa,” says Zor Gorelov, chief executive officer for Kasisto. “We are establishing an organization on the ground to ensure the ongoing success of our current and new customers and to drive expansion across the entire region.”

To learn more about Kasisto, visit:

https://www.kasisto.com/

About Kasisto

Kasisto was founded in 2013 with a mission to humanize digital experiences across the financial services industry. KAI, our industry leading digital experience platform, is chosen by financial institutions across the globe, such as DBS Bank, J.P. Morgan, Emirates NBD, Standard Chartered, TD Bank, and Manulife Bank among others, for its proven out of the box virtual assistants, and track record to drive business results while improving customer experiences. The platform is engaging with millions of banking customers around the world, all the time, across multiple channels, in different languages, and is optimized for performance, scalability, security, and compliance. KAI is built with the deepest Conversational AI portfolio in the industry.

Contact: PR@kasisto.com

Logo – http://https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1016640/Kasisto_Logo.jpg

May 18, 2021

Marshmello To Headline Unprecedented UEFA Champions League Final Opening Ceremony Presented By Pepsi®

– PLATINUM-CERTIFIED MUSIC PRODUCER, ARTIST AND DJ TO TAKE THIS YEAR’S OPENING CEREMONY TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH ONE-OF-A-KIND PERFORMANCE –

PURCHASE, N.Y., May 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — #FORTHELOVEOFIT – Today, UEFA and Pepsi® reveal that award-winning global superstar Marshmello will headline this year’s UEFA Champions League final Opening Ceremony presented by Pepsi. The platinum-certified artist/producer known for smash hits ‘Happier,’ ‘Silence’ and ‘Friends,’ will present a one-of-a-kind performance on Saturday, May 29^th, preceding one of the world’s most watched live sporting events – the UEFA Champions League final. Now in its fifth year, the Pepsi-presented Opening Ceremony will see Marshmello deliver a virtual six-minute spectacle using the latest in immersive technology, a first for both Pepsi and UEFA.

Marshmello commented: “This really has been a year like no other. I’m looking forward to giving my sport, music, and pure entertainment fans a show like they have never seen. Thanks to Pepsi and UEFA, that is exactly what I am going to bring to the world – a performance that everyone can enjoy.”

To announce his performance, Marshmello is seen in a creative video mulling over options for his next show. Suggestions come from a few familiar faces, including all-time GOAT Leo Messi, world champion Paul Pogba, and Borussia Dortmund sensation Jadon Sancho, as well as members of global music group Now United. With the closing scene featuring the award-winning artist alongside the iconic UEFA Champions League Trophy, anticipation for an epic show is building for fans around the world to experience.

PepsiCo’s Vice President, Marketing, Global Beverages, Natalia Filippociants, said: “Pepsi has been building the Opening Ceremony platform alongside UEFA since 2016, and this year’s show will take it to the next level. Pepsi knows entertainment – and at times when the world needs it the most, Pepsi brings joy and levity. While there might be fewer people in the stadium this year, there will be no less energy and excitement. Marshmello is the perfect artist to kick start this year’s UEFA Champions League final with heart-pounding joy and a set list filled with anthems of celebration that transcend genre, appealing to football and music audiences globally. Fans should watch for more exciting announcements – including some special guests – so stay tuned.”

The UEFA Champions League final is one of the most hotly anticipated annual sporting events in the world, and this year’s match will air in over 200 countries and territories. The Opening Ceremony presented by Pepsi will be broadcast just minutes before the biggest game in European club football gets underway. The 2021 Opening Ceremony runs across the international Pepsi trademark, which includes Pepsi, Pepsi Black / MAX and Diet Pepsi.

“We are excited to be collaborating with Pepsi for another year, uniting music, entertainment and sport to delight fans all over the world,” said UEFA marketing director Guy-Laurent Epstein. “Our close partnership has had great success in bringing huge names and epic performances to the UEFA Champions League final, and we know that Marshmello will put on an unforgettable show.”

Building upon the brand’s global UEFA Champions League partnership, 2021 saw Pepsi launch its global football campaign, ‘Music Keeps Us Fizzing.’ A fresh ad titled ‘Fizz to Life‘ features Leo Messi, Paul Pogba, Shanice van de Sanden and Jadon Sancho, with a fast-paced combination of football and music showing how football fan culture is more than just a 90-minute game.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/uefachampionsleague and the official Pepsi social pages around the world. Join the conversation online with #FORTHELOVEOFIT.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Beth Porter: Beth.Porter@pepsico.com

About PepsiCo
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $70 billion in net revenue in 2020, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker, Tropicana and SodaStream. PepsiCo’s product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 23 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

Guiding PepsiCo is our vision to Be the Global Leader in Convenient Foods and Beverages by Winning with Purpose. “Winning with Purpose” reflects our ambition to win sustainably in the marketplace and embed purpose into all aspects of our business strategy and brands. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com.

About Marshmello
Marshmello’s star continues to rise as the famously masked artist breaks boundaries across the industry, with chart-topping singles and collaborations with the likes of Juice WRLD, Halsey, Demi Lovato, Bastille, Kane Brown, Selena Gomez, and more. Marshmello has clocked almost a staggering 10.5 billion streams across Spotify alone, and with almost 45 million monthly listeners on the platform, he’s one of the top 30 most-streamed artists in the world on Spotify and the 3rd most subscribed artist on YouTube. Featured on the cover of the Forbes magazine “30 Under 30” issue, Marshmello has proved to not only be an innovative producer, but a forward-thinking businessman. With his own brand of chocolate-filled marshmallows, “Stuffed Puffs”, he’s also launched a children’s entertainment channel, Mellodees.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1510565/Pepsi_Mello_004.jpg

May 18, 2021

Viasat Obtains Full Suite of Operating Licenses in Nigeria; Plans to Deliver High-Quality Satellite Internet to Help Create Digital and Social Inclusion

ABUJA, Nigeria and CARLSBAD, Calif., May 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Working in partnership with the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Viasat Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT), a global communications company, proudly announced today it was granted a full suite of operating licenses—Internet Service Provider (ISP) license, VSAT license and three Earth Stations in Motion (ESIM) licenses—in order to bring high-quality satellite internet connectivity to Nigerian communities where limited or no internet service is currently available.

The NCC granted Viasat multiple licenses to operate within the 28GHz Ka-band satellite frequency band. The 28GHz Ka-band spectrum has enabled satellite broadband to be the fastest growing segment of satellite communications, and the leading global broadband solution to connect the estimated 3.6 billion people in the world left behind by terrestrial infrastructure.

With access to the 28GHz Ka-band spectrum, Viasat will be positioned to expand its satellite-based internet connectivity service to more regions and citizens across Africa—ahead of the launch of ViaSat-3, its ultra-high capacity global satellite constellation comprised of three communications satellites. A ViaSat-3 satellite, aimed to serve Africa, as well as Europe and the Middle East, is planned for launch in 2022.

“We are proud to be working with the NCC and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy to help the Nigerian government achieve their broadband goals to improve the quality of life of its citizens,” said Rick Baldridge, president and CEO, Viasat. “We believe our proven satellite internet solution, will bring cost-effective internet services to Nigerian towns where large gaps exist between demand and the affordability and availability of internet services. We want to thank the NCC for granting us the license framework required, and for preserving 28GHz Ka-band spectrum for satellite-based services that will greatly contribute to breaking down barriers required to achieve digital and social inclusion for all of Nigeria.”

Since being granted the licenses, Viasat has begun a trial program to connect five unserved Nigerian communities covering approximately 15,000 people. Viasat plans to provide details on the trials later this year.

About Viasat

Viasat is a global communications company that believes everyone and everything in the world can be connected. For 35 years, Viasat has helped shape how consumers, businesses, governments and militaries around the world communicate. Today, the Company is developing the ultimate global communications network to power high-quality, secure, affordable, fast connections to impact people’s lives anywhere they are—on the ground, in the air or at sea. To learn more about Viasat, visit: www.viasat.com, go to Viasat’s Corporate Blog, or follow the Company on social media at: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter or YouTube.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to the safe harbors created under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include, among others, statements that refer to the launch timing of the ViaSat-3 satellite that will serve Africa; the upcoming launch of satellite internet service in Nigeria; the benefits and quality of service; timing and details of initial internet service trails; ability to expand satellite-based internet service in more regions of Africa; and the ability to close the digital and social gaps within Nigeria. Readers are cautioned that actual results could differ materially and adversely from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ include: risks associated with the construction, launch and operation of satellites, including the effect of any anomaly or operational failure; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business, suppliers, consumers, customers, and employees or the overall economy; contractual problems, product defects, manufacturing issues or delays, regulatory issues, technologies not being developed according to anticipated schedules, or that do not perform according to expectations; and increased competition and other factors affecting the Nigerian and African connectivity sector, generally. In addition, please refer to the risk factors contained in Viasat’s SEC filings available at www.sec.gov, including Viasat’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. Viasat undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements for any reason.

Copyright © 2021 Viasat, Inc. All rights reserved. Viasat, the Viasat logo and the Viasat signal are registered trademarks of Viasat, Inc. All other product or company names mentioned are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners.

May 18, 2021

CGTN：Les promesses de la Chine comptent, car elle tient ses engagements

BEIJING, 17 mai 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Il y a plus de 2 000 ans, Confucius disait “yan bi xin, xing bi guo”, ce qui signifie “il faut être fidèle à sa parole et déterminé dans son travail”.

“La civilisation chinoise souligne que ‘la parole doit être tenue, la promesse doit être tenue’ et que ‘rien n’est fiable avec des gens malhonnêtes’,” a déclaré le président chinois Xi Jinping.

La Chine est restée fidèle à l’expression tout au long de son processus de développement, et le plan quinquennal du pays est un exemple frappant de la manière dont les engagements sont tenus.

Des promesses tenues

Élaboré tous les cinq ans depuis 1953, le plan quinquennal, caractéristique majeure du système de gouvernance chinois, fixe des objectifs de croissance et définit les politiques de développement. Depuis lors, 13 plans au total ont été mis au point, à l’exception de la période allant de 1963 à 1965, et plus important encore, mis en œuvre.

Par exemple, la lutte du pays contre la pauvreté. Sortir tous les résidents ruraux de la pauvreté en 2020 faisait partie du 13e plan quinquennal de la Chine (2016-2020). Après huit ans de travail, les quelque 100 millions de résidents ruraux pauvres de Chine ne vivent plus sous le seuil de pauvreté actuel depuis 2020.

La Chine a également tenu ses engagements dans les affaires mondiales.

Lors du sommet de Copenhague en 2009, la Chine a annoncé deux objectifs qu’elle ambitionnait d’atteindre en 2020 : augmenter la part des énergies renouvelables dans la consommation à 15 % et réduire de 40 à 45 % l’intensité en carbone par rapport à 2005.

Les statistiques pour 2019 étaient respectivement de 15,3 % et 48,1 %, ce qui signifie que le pays a non seulement atteint les objectifs, mais les a dépassés.

Par rapport à 2005, les émissions de gaz à effet de serre par unité de PIB avaient chuté de 48 % en 2019 en Chine, selon le ministère chinois de l’Écologie et de l’Environnement.

Le 14e plan quinquennal de la Chine, de nouvelles promesses à tenir

Cette année, la Chine se lance dans un nouveau voyage vers la modernisation socialiste via le 14e plan quinquennal (2021-2025).

Les objectifs à atteindre au cours des prochaines années comprennent le maintien du taux de chômage urbain à moins de 5,5 % et une croissance annuelle de 7 % des dépenses de recherche et développement.

Le pays a également promis de réduire la consommation d’énergie par unité de PIB de 13,5 % et de réduire les émissions de dioxyde de carbone de 18 % pour bâtir une économie verte et ouvrir la voie à la réalisation de son objectif d’émissions de carbone d’ici 2030.

“La Chine s’efforcera d’atteindre un pic d’émissions de dioxyde de carbone avant 2030 et d’atteindre la neutralité carbone avant 2060”, a déclaré M. Xi lors du sommet des dirigeants sur le climat en avril dernier.

Avec des plans aussi ambitieux, la Chine a besoin d’un travail acharné pour tenir la promesse.

“Au cours de la période du 14e Plan quinquennal, nous devons adhérer à une philosophie centrée sur le peuple, qui leur permet de profiter des fruits du développement. Nous devons déployer des efforts solides pour améliorer les conditions de vie des populations tout en favorisant un développement de haute qualité. Et nous devons nous concentrer davantage sur les problèmes de subsistance qui préoccupent généralement les gens en adoptant des mesures plus ciblées, en les mettant en œuvre une à une et en travaillant dur année après année, afin que le peuple ait toujours un sentiment plus fort d’épanouissement, de bonheur et de sécurité, ” dit Xi.

https://francais.cgtn.com/n/BfJEA-BEA-EEA/EABfIA/index.html

Vidéo – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_zihOSl1w

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1511794/image1.jpg

May 18, 2021

Spain, Morocco Square Off After 6,000 Migrants Arrive by Sea

MADRID – Spain faced a humanitarian and diplomatic crisis Tuesday after thousands of Moroccans took advantage of relaxed border controls in their nation to swim or paddle in inflatable boats onto European soil.

By Tuesday morning, around 6,000 people had crossed the border into the Spanish city of Ceuta since the first arrivals began early Monday, the Spanish government said, including 1,500 thought to be teenagers. The city of 85,000 people lies in North Africa on the Mediterranean Sea, separated from Morocco by a double-wide, 10-meter (32-feet) fence.

The sudden influx of migrants has deepened the diplomatic row between Rabat and Madrid in the wake of Spain’s decision to allow in for medical treatment the chief of a militant group that fights for the independence of Western Sahara. Morocco annexed the sprawling nation on the west coast of Africa in 1975.

Migrants soaked with seawater still kept reaching Ceuta on Tuesday although in smaller numbers than the day before due to heightened vigilance on the Spanish side of the border, where additional police and military were deployed.

“It’s such a strong invasion that we are not able to calculate the number of people that have entered,” said the president of Ceuta, an autonomous city of barely 20 square kilometers (7.7 square miles).

“The army is in the border in a deterrent role, but there are great quantities of people on the Moroccan side waiting to enter,” Juan Jesús Vivas told Cadena SER radio.

Vivas, a conservative, said the residents of Ceuta were in a state of “anguish, concern and fear.” He linked the sudden influx to Rabat’s shift on controlling migration after Spain gave compassionate assistance to Brahim Ghali, the head of the Polisario Front that has fought Morocco over control of Western Sahara.

The Spanish government itself officially rejects the notion that Morocco is punishing Spain for a humanitarian move.

Interior Minister Fernando Grande Marlaska said Tuesday that authorities had processed the return of 1,600 migrants by Tuesday morning and that the rest would follow soon, because Morocco and Spain signed an agreement three decades ago to return all those who swim into the territory.

Many African migrants regard Ceuta and nearby Melilla, also a Spanish territory, as a gateway into Europe. In 2020, 2,228 chose to cross into the two enclaves by sea or by land, often risking injuries or death. The year before the figure peaked at 7,899, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry.

On Tuesday, another 80 Africans also crossed into Melilla, 350 kilometers (218 miles) east of Ceuta on the North African coast, by jumping over the enclave’s double fence.

Source: Voice of America