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PR Newswire

Zong 4G’s education program in Pakistan’s underserved communities

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BEIJING, Aug. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from chinadaily.com.cn:

As a child growing up in a small village in Rehri Goth union council in a coastal belt of District Karachi Malir, Pakistan. I faced numerous obstacles, including poverty and limited access to educational resources. Despite these challenges, I had a burning desire to learn, and I dreamt of a brighter future for myself and my family. With 60% of the population unable to read or write, and rural areas facing even more challenges with a mere 49% literacy rate, Pakistan’s education system faced massive challenges. Inadequate infrastructure, lack of trained teachers, and scarce resources trapped millions in a cycle of poverty and limited opportunities.

My journey to education was no different from that of countless other children in my village. I was always curious and eager to learn, but the lack of a computer lab at my school meant that I was missing out on crucial digital literacy skills. I didn’t even know what a computer was, let alone how it worked. That was until a ray of hope shone upon my life. Zong 4G, as part of its sustainability endeavor, partnered with the HANDS Foundation to establish a computer lab at my school. This was a game-changer for me and my fellow students.

When the computer lab was inaugurated back in November 2022, my life took a dramatic turn. I immersed myself in learning computer skills with unwavering determination. With the support of Zong 4G’s connectivity, I delved into the world of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and internet browsing. My thirst for knowledge was insatiable, and I quickly gained proficiency in these basic but essential digital tools.

The impact of learning how to use a computer on my life was profound. It opened up a whole new world of opportunities for me. I could now access information and resources that were previously beyond my reach. I gained valuable skills that would be instrumental in shaping my future. With each passing day, my confidence soared. I was no longer limited by my circumstances. I had the tools I needed to pursue my dreams, and I was determined to make the most of them. My teachers were amazed by my progress, and I became an inspiration to my peers.

My story, however, did not end here. I was not content with just acquiring skills for myself. I wanted to give back to my community and make a difference in the lives of others. I started using my newfound knowledge to teach my fellow classmates and even my elders about computers and digital literacy. I hoped to become a beacon of hope in my village, inspiring others to embrace the power of education and technology.

My hard work and dedication paid off. In just six months, I had been transformed from a curious and determined student to a confident and skilled young individual. My life had been transformed, and I was now equipped with the tools to pursue my dreams and help others along the way.

I will forever be grateful to Zong 4G for changing my life. Their support has empowered me to break free from the limitations of my circumstances and pursue my dreams. I am determined to make the most of this opportunity and use my skills to make a positive impact in my community and beyond.

My story is a testament to the incredible impact that Zong 4G’s sustainability projects across the One Belt, One Road initiative in Pakistan have had. It is a story of resilience, determination, and the transformative power of education. Thanks to Zong 4G’s efforts to bridge the digital divide, I and many other underprivileged children now have a brighter future ahead of them.

PR Newswire

CGTN: Chengdu Universiade unites world with sports

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BEIJING, July 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — The 31st International University Sports Federation (FISU) Summer World University Games officially opened in Chengdu, the capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on Friday night, as declared by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Postponed twice due to COVID-19 concerns, the Summer Universiade is currently at the center of global attention.

The event, which runs from July 28 to August 8, has attracted around 6,500 athletes from over 113 countries and regions to participate across 18 disciplines. It is not only a sports event for young people around the world, but also an important platform for cultural exchanges.

Care for young people

President Xi, who believes that young people are “the future of our nation and of the world,” has expressed his care for them on many occasions.

“For the Party and the country, young people deserve the best protection and bear our highest expectations. They are like the young trees thriving on Earth that will eventually grow into towering trees to provide shelter for those in need,” he said at a ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Youth League of China in 2022.

When meeting the country’s county-level officials in 2015, he advised young people to avoid staying up late or becoming too stressed at work.

For many young people, Xi is like a friend from whose words they can find inspiration.

“We should educate and guide young people to view the world properly, to understand the national conditions comprehensively, and to grasp the trend of the era,” Xi said in a speech at a gathering to commemorate the centenary of the May Fourth Movement in May 2019.

“Young friends, let your youth shine even more in the sacrifice for the country, the people, the Chinese nation and humanity,” he said near the end of the speech.

Speed up building a leading sports power

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, China has attached great significance to the cause of sports.

It has pledged to become a leading sports power by 2050, according to an official outline issued in September 2019.

Noting the role of the people’s health in social development and national prosperity, Xi stressed that sport is an important way to improve people’s health, and an important method to fulfill their aspirations for a better life and promote well-rounded human development.

The successfully held Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in February and March 2022 are vivid demonstrations, during which China’s goal of involving 300 million people in ice and snow activities has come true, with people’s sense of contentment notably enhanced.

For Chengdu, sports venues for the Games will also benefit the public. As the city strives to build itself into a world-famous city of sports events, a large number of sports venues have been newly built and renovated, enabling residents to enjoy sports free of charge or at low fees.

Promote civilizational mutual learning

The Chengdu Universiade will contribute to cultivating friendship among young athletes and university students from home and abroad, promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations, and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, according to a press conference about the preparations for the event in April.

The concept of a community with a shared future for mankind proposed and expounded by Xi in 2017 at the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, is China’s answer to the challenges and problems facing the world.

As the international community responded to the unprecedented public health crisis while striving to promote socioeconomic development in recent years, Xi’s vision has been widely accepted worldwide.

The ideal of the Chengdu Universiade also echoes the Global Civilization Initiative, a major public product proposed by Xi in March this year.

“Countries need to uphold the principles of equality, mutual learning, dialogue and inclusiveness among civilizations, and let cultural exchanges transcend estrangement, mutual learning transcend clashes, and inclusiveness transcend any sense of superiority,” said Xi.

PR Newswire

Chasing Dreams in Tibet

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BEIJING, July 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on the dream-chasing stories of Tibetan youngsters:

Tibet is a vast but mysterious land in southwestern China. There, Tibetan youngsters are chasing their dreams.

Gesangciren comes from a herdsman family. As a child, he used to lie on the grass fields and gaze at planes flying over the sky. Back then, he only dared to imagine that one day, he himself would pilot a plane. In 2017, a policy of poverty alleviation via general aviation was carried out in Tibet, bringing new opportunities for over 20 youngsters from poor Tibetan families, including Gesangciren. From pilot training to short intercity flights, then to high-altitude long-distance flights, Gesangciren finally became one of the first batch of general aviation pilots in Tibet after repeated practice drills and rounds of screening.

One could say Gesangciren transformed his life with the help of national policy and aid projects, while Zhaxilamu, a Tibetan girl also from a herdsman family, changed her life via the internet. In Tibet, every village now has access to mobile reception. Zhaxilamu shares her daily life on short video platforms: Herding sheep, making Tibetan pastry zanba and fixing butter tea… These ordinary episodes of Tibetan life have garnered over a million followers on social media. With improved transportation and logistics in Tibet, deliveries have become more convenient, so Zhaxilamu also managed to do a great job in livestream influencing, which could help her fellow villagers market local agricultural products on the platforms. Now, she is trying to open a B&B as an additional income source for the villagers.

Danzengyixi, a cultural inheritor of traditional Tibetan Opera, is also grabbing the tide of the internet age to further promote and develop the art. It is said that he has been fond of Tibetan Opera since childhood. One time by coincidence, an opportunity came up, allowing him to learn the art from a Tibetan Opera master.

Now, Tibetan culture, with Tibetan Opera as a hallmark, has received support from the CPC and the Chinese government, and more and more young people are participating in the promotion of the art. After graduating from college in Beijing, Danzengyixi chose to go back to Tibet to further research on and promote Tibetan Opera. He compiled works, partnered with artists home and abroad, and innovated the performing art of Tibetan Opera. It is his ambition to reinvent Tibetan Opera by injecting new vitality into it.

Besides them, there is also Luobuzhandui, an English teacher who started his own business in Lhasa, hoping to open Tibetan children up to a larger world; and Cirendajie, a Tibetan teenager studying in Beijing, who received a reply to his letter from China’s Shenzhou spacecraft Taikonauts in the Tiangong space station… More stories about dreams like these are appearing every minute.

Over the past seven decades or so, absolute poverty was eradicated in Tibet; the Qinghai-Tibetan railway was completed on the Tibetan plateau, and mobile and internet reception became more accessible for ordinary people. In the new era, the CPC and the Chinese government have kept up their pace in improving public services, providing higher quality education and health care; they have made efforts to promote communication, interaction and integration among different ethnic groups, helping premium Tibetan culture gain respect while being passed on and developed. The realization of those dreams relies on the concerted efforts of the government, society and individuals. Meanwhile, it is exactly the realization of dreams that shows people the progress of modernization with Chinese characteristics in Tibet.

The vivid Tibetan life is captured in each and every Tibetan person.

China Mosaic
http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm

Chasing Dreams in Tibet
http://www.china.org.cn/video/2023-07/27/content_95603830.htm

PR Newswire

LG Innotek published the 2022-2023 Sustainability Report

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  • Achieved 20% carbon neutrality within one year after the declaration and increased shareholder-friendly policies such as the 10% dividend payout ratio
  • Increased investment in R&D by 33% from the previous year to strengthen the competitiveness of future business

SEOUL, South Korea, July 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — LG Innotek (CEO Jeong Cheol-dong) announced on the 21st that it had published the ‘2022-2023 Sustainability Report’ that covers the performance of ESG (Environmental·Social·Governance) management.

LG Innotek published the 2022-2023 Sustainability Report
LG Innotek published the 2022-2023 Sustainability Report

LG Innotek achieved meaningful results previous year by performing substantial ESG management activities to enhance corporate value.

In the environmental field, LG Innotek joined ‘RE100’ and decided to use renewable electricity in all workplaces by 2030. At the same time, LG Innotek declared that it would achieve 100% Carbon Neutrality by 2040. LG Innotek also joined the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to systematically carry out carbon neutrality activities.

LG Innotek has already achieved the goal quickly by recording the renewable electricity conversion rate of 22% (RE22) and carbon neutrality rate of 20%.

In 2022, LG Innotek received the ‘Minister Prize from the Ministry of Environment’ as the leading company in resource circulation in recognition of its efforts for resource circulation, such as the development of a waste management system, reusing process subsidiary materials, and reducing the use of plastic packaging materials.

Besides, Gumi, Pyeongtaek, and Gwangju plant of LG Innotek have obtained the ‘ZWTL (Zero Waste to Landfill)’ certification from UL(Underwriters Laboratories) Solutions, a global safety certification body. In particular, the Pyeongtaek plant acquired the highest grade ‘Platinum’ last year by achieving 100% resource circulation following the Gumi plant.

In the social field, there is noteworthy in this Sustainability Report that employees participated a lot of social contribution activities. Since the company’s online social contribution portal had launched in 2022, more than 3,000 employees have actively participated in various forms of social contribution activities, such as online donation funding and non-face-to-face volunteering.

LG Innotek was selected as the most excellent company for 6 consecutive years in the Win-Win Growth Index operated by Korea Commission for Corporate partnership.

Furthermore, LG Innotek received Grand Prize from the Great Place to Work in Korea Award in recognition of its excellent corporate culture.

In the field of governance, LG Innotek has focused on creating a transparent and sound business environment. As a result, LG Innotek received ISO 37301 (Compliance Management System) certification, Excellent Anti-corruption Company at the Business Integrity Society Summit (BIS) hosted by United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Korea, and ISO 22301 (Business Continuity Management System) certification last year.

LG Innotek has also strengthened shareholder-friendly policies. In 2022, LG Innotek paid a total of KRW 98.2 billion as a dividend per share, which is a significant increase from the previous year (KRW 71 billion). As a result, LG Innotek successfully implemented its dividend policy of maintaining a dividend payout ratio of 10% or more until 2024.

In addition to ESG management, the Sustainability Report highlights LG Innotek’s various efforts to secure the competitiveness of future business.

LG Innotek invested KRW 752.8 billion in R&D last year to advance original technology and identify new value-added businesses in future growth areas. The amount had a 33% increase from 2021 (KRW 564.2 billion). During the same period, LG Innotek also expanded industry-university collaboration significantly by doubling the number of industry-university projects.

“LG Innotek will continue ESG management faithfully as ‘Global No.1 Material and Component Company’ that provides differentiated customer value.” said CEO Jeong Cheol-dong.

PR Newswire

Conversation with Jane | Spain Welcome Travellers to Explore Off-The-Beaten-Path

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Through the “Conversation with Jane” series, Trip.com Group CEO Jane Sun will engage leaders and individuals from diverse backgrounds and industries – with one goal in mind: an open discussion on the most trending topics.

MADRID, July 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — In this edition, the focus is on tourism, a topic close to Jane’s heart and one relevant to Spain’s Secretary of State for Tourism, Rosana Morillo. During their meeting in Madrid earlier this month, the two leaders exchanged views on tourism, technology, among other topics.


From “sun and beach” tourism to a quality-focused industry

Spain is one of the world’s most-visited countries in the world, according to the country’s official statistics. After the pandemic, Spain’s tourism has seen a strong rebound, with two famous destinations, Barcelona and Madrid, listed in the top five most-booked summer destinations by Trip.com’s European customers.

“The travel forecast for this summer season is spectacular,” Ms. Morillo shared with Ms. Sun. “The number of visitors has surpassed the pre-pandemic level, and most importantly, travellers are spending more on travel this summer when compared to 2019.” However, Ms. Morillo added that the quantity of visitors isn’t their only focus. Currently, Spain’s tourism strategy has evolved from “mass, sun and beach” tourism to sustainable and quality tourism.

“Spain has a diverse range of landscapes and culture. While we have well-established destinations, we need to focus not just on increasing the number of visitors to these places but also on improving the quality of their experience. We should also aim to attract more travellers to explore off-the-beaten-path destinations,” said Ms. Morillo.

Having visited various parts of Spain, Ms. Sun agreed that the country has many hidden gems waiting to be discovered, adding that Trip.com Group has been preparing for the return of Chinese travellers to Spain since the outbreak of the pandemic. The online travel service provider has launched successful campaigns to keep customers interested in the country through content marketing strategies. These include influencer campaigns on its travel content platform, launching an official StarHub account for Spain, and creating curated lists for customers to explore travel inspiration in Spain.

While Spain has always been one of the most popular destinations for Chinese travellers, has there been a shift in their travel patterns or preferences in recent years?

Ms. Sun said, “The new generation of Chinese travellers seeks authentic and unique experiences in Spain. We provide them with the most exciting travel inspiration and reliable recommendations through our advanced technology and marketing capacity.”


Technology reshaping the future of tourism

Technology is revolutionising the tourism industry, and Trip.com Group is leading the way by using cutting-edge AI technology to enhance the customer experience. In 2016, the company pioneered the widespread adoption of AI technology for customer service, and over 75% of flight and hotel-related issues raised by customers are resolved through the AI chatbot today, without the need for these customers to speak to a customer service agent.

Earlier this year, Trip.com launched “TripGen”, a real-time AI travel assistant that provides users with instant suggestions on pre-trip decisions and in-trip arrangements. This innovative tool has made the entire travel process more enjoyable and stress-free.

Ms. Morillo agrees that technology is transforming the tourism industry in all aspects, not only from the stages of pre-booking, booking, and customer service, but it is also reshaping the ways of talent training and destination development.

“Technology will not only change the way people buy products but also the future of destinations. For example, we have seen many cities implementing technologies to direct the flow of passengers and improve mobility in the city, which will ultimately enhance the travel experience,” Ms. Morillo commented.


Women are the backbone of an organisation

Ms. Morillo assumed the State Secretary for Tourism role in December 2022, following a successful career spanning multiple sectors, including software, investment banking, and hospitality. “I think everybody should work in the public sector at some point in his or her life, because you can give back to the society and make a difference,” said Ms. Morillo.

Ms. Morillo is a strong advocate for gender equality in the workplace and encourages more women to take up leadership positions. “While the gender ratio in middle management teams in Spain is equal, it becomes increasingly unbalanced at higher management levels. This needs to change,” Ms. Morillo shared.

The Spanish government recently approved a draft Equal Representation Law that aims to promote more equal representation of women and men in politics, business, and other spheres of public life. While Ms. Morillo views this as a positive step, she believes that more needs to be done to create a truly gender-inclusive workplace.

Ms. Sun agrees and believes that striving for equal gender representation in senior management teams is the right thing to do and will lead to more rational and considerate decision-making for governments, companies, and organisations.

“With more than half of Trip.com Group employees and one-third of middle managers being female, women are the backbone of our business,” said Ms. Sun. “I look forward to further enhancing the figure in the near future.”

During their discussion, Ms. Sun also shared with Ms. Morillo’s the Group’s recently launched Childcare Subsidy programme. Under this new scheme, full-time employees with newborn children after 1 July 2023 will receive a subsidy of RMB 10,000 for each child on their first, second, third, fourth and fifth birthdays. The Group plans to invest RMB 1 billion as subsidies to support its employees in family planning and promote working families.

Over the years, Trip.com Group has introduced several family-friendly policies, including hybrid work and assisted reproduction benefits.

“As we have always said, our employees are our greatest asset. The launch of this new initiative is a testament to our commitment to supporting our employees to achieve their family and career goals,” said Ms. Sun. “Going forward, we will continue to create family-friendly workplaces across our various offices.”

About Trip.com Group

Trip.com Group is a leading global travel service provider comprising of Trip.com, Ctrip, Skyscanner and Qunar. Across its platforms, Trip.com Group helps travellers around the world make informed and cost-effective bookings for travel products and services and enables partners to connect their offerings with users through the aggregation of comprehensive travel-related content and resources, and an advanced transaction platform consisting of apps, websites and 24/7 customer service centres. Founded in 1999 and listed on NASDAQ in 2003 and HKEX in 2021, Trip.com Group has become one of the best-known travel groups in the world, with the mission “to pursue the perfect trip for a better world”. Find out more about Trip.com Group here: group.trip.com.

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PR Newswire

China Daily: Fengtai employs host of methods to find and retain talent

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BEIJING, July 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A talent acquisition campaign in Fengtai, one of Beijing’s six core districts, was launched in July, accompanied with a series of events such as a talent conference held on Monday.

The Lize Financial Business District in Fengtai district
The Lize Financial Business District in Fengtai district

August and September will see more activities featuring Fengtai interns, campus open days and alumni return days. A group of support facilities such as a youth entrepreneurship salon and youth entrepreneurship and employment service station will be rolled out.

Prior to this, some introducing activities have been ongoing, such as the “Students Returning Home” WeChat app and the opening of the “Students Returning Home” hotline, as well as the unveiling of 90 talent stations.

In recent days, people can see posters of “Welcome students back to Fengtai” on the streets of Beijing. At some bus stops, promotional videos are playing on electronic screens, which show the longing for talent and development in the district.

Faced with an accelerating pace of technological revolution and industrial transformation, economic and social development has a greater desire for talents than before. How to retain talents has become an important aspect for Fengtai to achieve high-quality development.

At the talent conference, 49 talent teams and 30 special talent teams were selected for the Fengze Plan. They will be given support in terms of career development, personal growth and social security service.

The selected talents come from various industries, including the four leading industries of finance, technology, culture and commerce in Fengtai district, as well as important public services such as education and medical care.

Ning Yupeng, head of Beijing Zhyu Technologies, has been involved in the field of commercial cryptography and internet of things-supported technologies for many years. The company officially settled in Fengtai in early 2021.

“I was attracted by the industrial structure and industrial clustering in Fengtai,” Ning said. For him, being selected for the Fengze Plan is not only an incentive but a validation of his decision to move the company to Fengtai.

The company is located in Lize Financial Business District, which is regarded as the capital’s second financial district. As of June 25, the number of settled enterprises in Lize reached 1,048. Financial and technology enterprises account for more than 70 percent of the total.

Ning learned that several enterprises in the field of commercial cryptography had settled here before his move and the industry has shown a trend of concentration. Moving the company here would make it easier for cooperation and the company’s growth.

“The policies of talent and tax rebates in Fengtai are particularly attractive. These industrial policies give companies more confidence in recruitment, employment and retention,” Ning said. He added that Fengtai’s investment promotion policies were inspiring and he could feel the pragmatic working style of government departments.

Creating value for young talents

As one of the series of activities under the campaign, on July 4, Fengtai district opened 90 talent stations, which provide services such as policy consultation, conference and exhibition space, leisure and entertainment, and business negotiations for enterprises and talents.

On the opening day, the station located in Zhongguancun Fengtai Science Park received the first group of students for a visit. With spacious and comfortable negotiation venues and rich and detailed policy displays, companies and talents in the park can make appointments to use the multifunctional conference area and guest lounge for negotiations.

This talent station is located centrally, making it convenient for companies in the park. The spacious area, expanding more than 1,000 square meters, has abundant natural light. The bright color scheme creates a relaxed atmosphere, which is suitable for business negotiations.

On July 3, the “Students Returning Home” mini-app was launched on WeChat. It collects talent’s needs such as recruitment, internships, housing, cooperation and investment. It integrates platforms for industry project cooperation, innovative entrepreneurship and investment matching, and the student volunteer service.

This year, the number of college graduates in China reached a record high of 11.58 million, raising the issue of graduate employment. During the graduation season, Fengtai district will organize innovative online and offline recruitment activities such as a “job fair night market and “livestreaming job introduction” to provide better services.

Fengtai district has signed cooperation agreements with eight universities — including Peking University, Tsinghua University, Renmin University of China, Beijing Normal University — and six enterprises to establish innovation and practice bases, and cooperated with experts from nine key educational institutions to provide guidance for students.

In recent years, Fengtai district has provided comfortable and affordable housing for various talents through means such as guaranteed rental housing. Currently, more than 1,900 sets of housing have been allocated to key enterprises in the district.

Earlier this year, Fengtai district launched its first pilot housing project for new graduates. The complex has well-equipped facilities including a gym, communal kitchen, meeting room and reading area, meeting the needs of young people.

For foreign talents working in China, Fengtai district has designated a window in the government service center to provide an exclusive one-stop service point.

In April, Beijing Fengtai International Talent Development Group was established in the district. The group operates in a market-oriented manner and collaborates with government, institutions and enterprises to jointly promote talent policies.

Sun Yingqi, a graduate of Peking University, works in Fengtai. In her opinion, Fengtai is a place that encourages and protects innovation, and is full of vitality and energy.

After graduating from Renmin University of China, Liu Yingran came to work in Fengtai. She said that choosing Fengtai means she can integrate her dreams into the development layout of the region.

Contact （8610）63397070 to learn more about “Students Returning Home”.

PR Newswire

Webb Fontaine Awarded New Contract by Ethiopian Government to Strengthen Trade Facilitation

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DUBAI, UAE, July 6, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Webb Fontaine, a global leader in AI-powered trade solutions, is proud to announce that it has been awarded a contract with the Ethiopian government to continue its crucial work in the enhancement of the Customs system. This partnership marks a significant milestone in Webb Fontaine’s ongoing commitment to driving trade facilitation and economic growth in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia, with its incredibly large volumes of trade transactions, presents immense opportunities for economic expansion. Recognizing this potential, Webb Fontaine is honored to have the opportunity to continue its collaboration with the Ethiopian government in further advancing the country’s Customs system.

Pascal Minvielle, COO of Webb Fontaine, expresses his pride, saying, “We are incredibly proud of the achievements realized through our previous contract with Ethiopia Customs, where we successfully implemented a new Customs system. This new contract signifies a pivotal moment in our partnership, as we focus on developing and expanding upon the foundations we have established. Webb Fontaine is fully committed to working alongside the Ethiopian government to drive trade facilitation and foster sustainable economic growth.”

The second contract emphasizes the mutual dedication of Webb Fontaine and the Ethiopian government to leverage cutting-edge technology and innovative solutions to streamline trade processes and enhance Customs operations. By further developing the Customs system, Webb Fontaine aims to optimize efficiency, increase transparency, and improve revenue collection, ultimately driving economic prosperity in Ethiopia.

The successful implementation of the new Customs system under the previous contract has already demonstrated its transformative impact on trade facilitation in Ethiopia. This new contract represents a continuation of the partnership’s shared vision to build on the system’s success, harnessing its potential to revolutionize trade processes and strengthen Ethiopia’s position in the global market.

Webb Fontaine is committed to delivering state-of-the-art solutions powered by AI and innovative data analytics. Through this ongoing collaboration, the Ethiopian government will benefit from advanced tools and technologies that facilitate seamless trade operations, effective risk management, and simplified document submission and verification.

This partnership is a testament to Ethiopia’s commitment to digital transformation and Webb Fontaine’s dedication to supporting the country’s ambitious trade facilitation goals. Together, they will continue to enhance the Customs system, driving economic growth, attracting investments, and fostering stronger international trade relationships.

PR Newswire

Lunit’s AI-Powered Lung Cancer Screening Solution Significantly Affects Radiologists’ Diagnostic Determination – Published in Radiology

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– Recent study conducted by Seoul National University Hospital provides strong evidence that high-accuracy AI model improves radiologists’ chest X-ray analysis performance

SEOUL, South Korea, July 3, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Findings from a recent study demonstrate that medical AI solutions with only high diagnostic accuracy can significantly improve the reading performance of radiologists.

Lunit's chest X-ray AI analysis solution 'Lunit INSIGHT CXR'
Lunit’s chest X-ray AI analysis solution ‘Lunit INSIGHT CXR’

Lunit (KRX:328130.KQ), a global provider of AI-powered cancer diagnostics solutions, today announced the publication of a study exploring the impact of medical AI solutions’ accuracy on radiologists’ diagnostic determination. The study, conducted by Seoul National University Hospital from December 2015 to February 2021, was recently published in ‘Radiology,’ a renowned peer-reviewed journal in medical imaging.

The study involved a cohort of 30 doctors, including 20 board-certified radiologists with 5 to 18 years of expertise and 10 radiology residents with 2 to 3 years of training. A total of 120 retrospectively collected chest radiographs were assessed, with 60 obtained from patients with lung cancer and the remaining 60 showing no abnormalities.

During the first session, the 30 readers were divided into two groups and analyzed 120 chest X-rays each without the assistance of AI. In the subsequent session, each group reinterpreted the images with the aid of either a high-accuracy or low-accuracy AI model.

The high-accuracy AI model utilized in the study was Lunit INSIGHT CXR, Lunit’s commercially available AI solution for chest X-ray analysis. In contrast, the low-accuracy model was trained using only 10% of the data available to Lunit INSIGHT CXR. The AUROC (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve), a commonly used metric for diagnostic accuracy, of Lunit INSIGHT CXR was 0.88, while the low-accuracy AI model only reached 0.77.

The study revealed that using the higher-accuracy AI model, Lunit INSIGHT CXR, significantly improved radiologists’ performance. The AUROC was remarkably advanced from 0.77 to 0.82 when assisted by the high-accuracy AI model.

Conversely, the radiologists from the other group did not experience any performance improvement when utilizing the low-accuracy AI model, as the AUROC remained at 0.75. Moreover, the group that employed the high-accuracy AI model demonstrated a higher susceptibility to AI suggestions. The radiologists accepted 67% of AI recommendations that contradicted the initial reading results, compared to 59% acceptance of the group that utilized the low-accuracy AI model.

Moreover, the study findings highlighted that factors such as radiologists’ individual expertise, experience with AI, or attitudes toward AI had negligible impact on their reading performance in the second session. Instead, the accuracy of the AI model and the radiologists’ initial diagnostic accuracy emerged as the primary determinant shaping the final diagnostic determination.

These findings underscore the significance of the AI model’s performance when radiologists use AI as a second reader. Furthermore, the study demonstrates how such AI assistance can increase radiologists’ susceptibility to AI suggestions, ultimately contributing to more accurate diagnoses.

“The study backs that irrespective of radiologists’ individual characteristics, the utilization of high-performance AI significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy and fosters a greater acceptance of AI within medical practices,” said Brandon Suh, CEO of Lunit. “At Lunit, we are committed to developing AI-powered solutions that not only improve patient outcomes but also augment the expertise of healthcare professionals. This publication is a testament to our dedication to advancing the field of cancer diagnostics through cutting-edge technology.”

Radiology, owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA), is a prestigious publication with a distinguished Impact Factor of 29.146, making it the number one ranked journal in the field of medical imaging.

About Lunit

Lunit is a deep learning-based medical AI company on a mission to conquer cancer, one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Our focus is on developing AI solutions for precision diagnostics and therapeutics, ensuring the right diagnosis, and treatment, at the right cost for each patient. Lunit focuses on developing advanced medical image analytics and AI-based biomarkers via cutting-edge technology.

Founded in 2013, Lunit has been acknowledged around the world for its advanced, state-of-the-art technology and its application in medical images. Its technology has been recognized at international AI competitions surpassing giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft. As a medical AI company grounded on clinical evidence, the company’s findings are presented in major peer-reviewed journals such as the Journal of Clinical Oncology and JAMA Network Open, and global conferences including ASCO and AACR.

After receiving FDA clearance and the CE Mark, our flagship products, Lunit INSIGHT CXR and Lunit INSIGHT MMG, are clinically used in approximately 2,000 hospitals and medical institutions across 40+ countries. Lunit is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea with offices and representatives worldwide.

PR Newswire

Chinese scientists: Technology-driven and law-based system key to lake ecosystems, biodiversity protection

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BEIJING, June 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A news report from China.org.cn on the role of technologies and laws on the lake ecosystems and biodiversity protection:

“We should integrate our technological resources and build up a sound technological support system, accelerating the building of relevant law & regulation systems for lake protection and management,” Zhang Ganlin, director and researcher of the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), notes in an article released by the Bulletin of Chinese Academy of Sciences (BCAS, in Chinese), a think tank journal supervised and sponsored by the CAS, which focuses on strategic and decision-making research.

Among important land resources and as key geographical units of land surface systems, lakes(including artificial reservoirs) are important surface water resources, and they are also an important part of the earth surface system consisting of “mountains,rivers, forests, farmland, lakes, grassland and sand,” as Zhang points out in his article “Ecological and Environmental Changes and Protection Measures of Lakes in China.” The article also notes that lakes play an irreplaceable role in water resource supply, flood control and drought alleviation, water quality purification, and biodiversity protection.

Given the important roles and significance of lakes in socio-economic development, the article, based on long-term lake research and monitoring data, proposes the strategies for the protection, management, and restoration in response to the problems faced by lake ecosystems in China.

In recent years, the overall condition of the ecological environment of lakes in our country has been becoming better, and the protection to lakes has achieved remarkable results. For example, the water quality of Poyang Lake, which is located in the eastern plains of China has shown a trend of improvement in recent years, and the annual average concentration of total phosphorus, the main pollutant, has declined slightly. From 2012 to 2020, the inter-annual variation of wetland vegetation biomass in Poyang Lake was flat, and the variation range was relatively small. Since 2012, the importance value of the dominant species of the typical plant communities in Poyang Lake wetland have remained above 0.6, showing a relatively stable community structure and playing an important supporting role in the stability of the ecosystem structure and the maintenance of ecological functions in the lake.

The paper also reveals that for the past decades, China has strengthened ecological conservation and environment protection at all times and in all dimensions and regions. Since 2021, China has achieved initial success in the critical battle against water pollution. Major action plans on addressing water pollution have been fully implemented. Also, the country has redoubled efforts to preserve and restore lake ecosystems and protect biodiversity, with the integrated protection and restoration of various ecosystems and implementation of a series of fundamental, pioneering, and long-term programs.

First, a significant increase can be seen in the total amount of available freshwater resources in lakes. There are 2,670 natural lakes over 1 km2 of area in China, and 98,600 reservoirs with an increase of 10,100 over 2011. Thanks to the lake protection and water quality improvement, the proportion of centralized drinking water sources from lakes and reservoirs across China has increased from 33% to 40% in the past five years, which serves nearly 50% of the population of the country.

Second, the lakes under priority control have reported steady improvement of water quality. For instance, the “three lakes” (the Taihu Lake, Chaohu Lake and Dianchi Lake), have registered significantly checked eutrophication trend. With the increase in the transparency of about 70% of large and medium-sized lakes in China in the past 10 years, the lakes have become clearer overall.

Third, with the restoration of the aquatic vegetation in lakes and the steady rise in the biodiversity of major lakes, the lakes have reported improvement of ecological service functions. This has been approved by the fact that about 43% and 40% showed a significant improvement of aquatic vegetation between 2010-2014 and between 2015-2019, respectively.

However, China still needs to continue with science and technological innovation in lake ecological environment management and protection. There are significant rooms for development of higher level processing materials, key technologies, and equipment, and relevant basic and applied research.

Therefore, Chinese scientists have put forward several key approaches to exploring the paths to high-quality development for lake watersheds with low resource consumption and environmental costs.

Among all the suggestions, the article attaches great importance to building a technology-driven and law-based system, in an effort to protect lake ecosystems and biodiversity in China.

More efforts should be made to set up sound systems in the following areas: performance evaluation and accountability for ecological conservation, compensation for ecological conservation, designation of river and lake managing chiefs. Meanwhile, corresponding laws and regulations should be further formulated or revised.

The article further explains that it is necessary to strengthen the role of technology in supporting the lake-type ecological environment protection, that is to say, to integrate all possible technological resources and build up a sound technological support system, and vigorously promote the technology-based lake manager system to further enhance the scientific management and protection of lakes.

National legislation for lake protection should also be promoted, accelerating the building of relevant law & regulation systems for lake protection and management and improve the mechanism for the alignment between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice in lake watershed protection.

On the institutional level, it is advised to adopt an “ecological bank” model and improve the compensation system for the ecological benefits of lakes.

Chinese scientists: Technology-driven and law-based system key to lake ecosystems, biodiversity protection
http://belt.china.org.cn/2023-06/25/content_89263128.htm 

PR Newswire

Artmarket.com: according to our long-term data, art made in 1964 has generated more auction turnover than art made in any other year of the 20th century

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PARIS, June 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — May’s auction results in New York showed that after all the records set by the Paul G. Allen, Anne H. Bass, and Thomas Ammann collections, 2023 began with relative sobriety. In an interview with journalist Amy Shaw for the Art Newspaper at Art Basel, art dealer Dominique Lévy said he detects the presence of a “clear correction”. Artprice takes this opportunity to review the acceleration of the art market since the beginning of the 21st century, via a quick look at the works that the market values the most.

Auction turnover (2000-2022) by year of creation in painting
Photo – https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/artmarket-com-according-to-our-long-term-data-art-made-in-1964-has-generated-more-auction-turnover-than-art-made-in-any-other-year-of-the-20th-century-2.jpg 

Auction turnover (2000-2022) by year of creation in painting
Auction turnover (2000-2022) by year of creation in painting

“The analysis of auctions results is a fascinating way to examine the evolution of Art History”, explains thierry Ehrmann, President of Artmarket.com and Founder of Artprice. “Our databases, have collected objective and comprehensive Fine Art auction data for more than 30 years from all over the world. They therefore provide an extraordinary tool for studying the appetites of collectors and revealing what our contemporaries value the most”.

The triumph of Pop Art

In 1964, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Rauschenberg, and Ed Ruscha were at the peak of their careers and these four artists all have auction price records for works created that year, in the midst of the Cold War, just a few months after the assassination of President J.F. Kennedy. These records, to which must be added more than thirteen thousand other auction results for artworks made that year, make 1964 the year-of-creation that generated the greatest volume of auction turnover in the period 2000 to 2023 (twenty-two years), all creative periods combined: $2.48 billion.

Having fetched the second best art auction result of all time at $195 million on 9 May 2022 at Christie’s in New York, Andy Warhol’s Shot sage blue Marilyn (1964) is now a sort of figurehead for that year (1964). Although from a market perspective the previous two years were just as important for Warhol, 1964 is also remembered in the art world for another reason: in 1964 Robert Rauschenberg won the Grand Prize at the Venice Biennale. Indeed, promoted by Leo Castelli (and perhaps even supported by the CIA), in 1964 Pop Art imposed itself in the art world thereby consolidating a significant shift of art (and the art market) to the West… a transfer of power from Paris to New York on the international scene. The way this transfer came about has been the subject of intense discussion.

Top 15 auction prices for artworks produced in 1964 
Photo – https://techent.tv/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/artmarket-com-according-to-our-long-term-data-art-made-in-1964-has-generated-more-auction-turnover-than-art-made-in-any-other-year-of-the-20th-century.jpg

Top 15 auction prices for artworks produced in 1964
Top 15 auction prices for artworks produced in 1964

Abstraction, Pop Art and Expressionism

In the mid-1960s, several major artists of the first half of the 20th century were still creating important works. Pablo Picasso, Alberto Giacometti, and René Magritte were still active. In Asia, Li Keran and Fu Baoshi were perpetuating the art of traditional Chinese painting by giving it very personal touches of modernity, while in Europe Zao Wou-Ki and some of his compatriots were exploring Lyrical Abstraction. In England, a new generation was making its mark: David Hockney was 27 in 1964, Frank Auerbach was 33 and Lucien Freud was 42. They were just at the beginning of their careers, but that year Francis Bacon, aged 55, painted some of his best portraits.

In the United States, Mark Rothko, Barnett Newman, Willem De Kooning, and Clyfford Still were still exploring Abstract Expressionism and Jackson Pollock had passed away a few year back, while a new artistic revolution was emerging: Pop Art. It was this movement that truly imposed America on the international art scene and the international art market. The works themselves were often brilliant and eye-catching but they also often contained covert or less-covert criticism of the American dream. In France, Pierre Soulages has already painted his best canvases, but a new Expressionist scene was beginning to emerge in Germany, with Gerhard Richter and Sigmar Polke, Georg Baselitz, and Anselm Kiefer, among others. Their work unfolded over many years and therefore did not produce the same concentration of market value as the American Pop Art movement.

The success of this movement was notably due to a relatively small number of series of works on which collectors focused heavily, and these series were created by the great names of American Pop Art and were generally worked and reworked for a few years… around 1964.

Sources

Art Basel may be busy, but cautious sales reflect a complex market picture, Amy Shaw, The Art Newspaper, le 15 June 2023.
https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2023/06/15/art-basel-may-be-busy-but-cautious-sales-reflect-a-complex-market-picture

1964: Pop Art arrives in Europe, a betrayal as seen from France, Thomas Snégaroff, France Info, 2 October 2015.
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-radio/histoires-d-info/1964-le-pop-art-debarque-en-europe-une-trahison-vue-de-france_1788541.html

Market analysis of works created by the Warhol-Basquiat duo exhibited at the Louis Vuitton Foundation, Artprice, 25 April 2023
https://www.artprice.com/artmarketinsight/works-co-signed-by-jean-michel-basquiat-and-andy-warhol-are-currently-showing-at-the-fondation-louis-vuitton-in-paris

Images:

[https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/06/image1-1964-artmarket-com-auction-turnover-by-year-of-creation-in-painting.png]
[https://imgpublic.artprice.com/img/wp/sites/11/2023/06/image2-1964-artmarket-com-top-15-auction-prices-artw Roy Lichtenstein orks-produced-in-1964.png]

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Artmarket is a global player in the Art Market with, among other structures, its Artprice department, world leader in the accumulation, management and exploitation of historical and current art market information in databanks containing over 30 million indices and auction results, covering more than 817,000 artists.

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