June 2023 – Angola Newswire

June 30, 2023

Verifone Launches New Brand

Verifone unveils new brand and enterprise website to exemplify its class-leading payments platform offering

Verifone new logo

New Verifone brand identity

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla., June 30, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Today, Verifone rebrands to highlight its innovative payment solutions by introducing a new logo, brand identity and global website to align with an updated vision. Verifone is now the “Payments Architect and Commerce Expert” partner for all businesses everywhere. Verifone’s robust product and services portfolio delivers on that promise as it spans digital payment solutions, secure payment devices, cloud-hosted Payments as a Service, merchant acquiring, point of sale technology, advanced business insights through data science, managed services practices, and more.

After rebuilding its entire offering and company culture under new leadership, the refreshed brand identity matches the innovation and passion of a new Verifone. Consumer recognition and trust in the Verifone name needed to be preserved while simultaneously highlighting Verifone’s heightened digital focus, future-first approach and leading position in the marketplace. The new iconography conveys the connected, modular and evolving nature of payments in modern life, and it shows the architectural role Verifone plays in payments and commerce. All of this comes together on Verifone’s new global website where consumers, merchants and other stakeholders are introduced to a new, more user-friendly Verifone experience. The new brand is extensible across business units and around the world.

Verifone T650m Mobile Payment Device

With half a trillion dollars in transactions traversing its cloud via payment devices or Verifone-powered websites and apps, Verifone truly enables global commerce. Verifone stands out in the payments space where most businesses still piece together fragmented offerings from multiple providers to address complex customer needs. Verifone is the single provider with a comprehensive, flexible toolset that streamlines and reduces costs for any enterprise to accept payments.

“The world of commerce evolves constantly, and it is this dynamic environment that we’ve simplified and continue to revolutionize. Verifone started in the Fintech space over four decades ago, rapidly evolving our service offerings to meet the needs of all large and small businesses,” said Mike Pulli, Verifone CEO. “We are the critical commerce partner for businesses worldwide, offering solutions with a futureproof architecture. Our new brand matches our digital-first thinking, employee-focused mindset, and accelerated innovation. Our customers, and their customers, rely on Verifone every day.”

Verifone has focused intensely on new, innovative payment capabilities and features in recent years, significantly expanding the solution stack and enabling new markets. The company’s commerce expertise means its solutions can easily be adapted across nearly every vertical. From complex, global, omni-commerce retailers to a local vendor at a farmers’ market, Verifone futureproofs payment ecosystems and tech stacks.

Verifone M440 Multilane Payment Device

To experience Verifone’s new identity, watch the introduction video https://vimeo.com/verifone/newbrandlaunch and visit the new corporate global website at https://www.verifone.com/en/global. New country-specific websites will go live in the coming weeks and months.

About Verifone

Verifone is the payments architect shaping ecosystems for online and in-person commerce experiences, including everything businesses need – from secure payment devices to eCommerce tools, acquiring services, advanced business insights, and much more. As a global FinTech leader, Verifone powers omni-commerce growth for companies in over 165 countries and is trusted by the world’s best-known brands, small businesses, and major financial institutions. The Verifone platform is built on a four-decade history of innovation and uncompromised security, annually managing more than 12B transactions worth over $500B on physical and digital channels.

Verifone Media Contact:
Email: Press@Verifone.com

Photos accompanying this announcement are available at:

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e7b9f429-f5f1-4860-b995-5062fdf2a9ef

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/fd30d469-60f2-47dd-b38d-3ad8691781c7

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8867578

June 30, 2023

St Kitts and Nevis announces extension to Citizenship by Investment Programme Sustainable Growth Fund Limited Time Offer due to unprecedented demand

Basseterre, June 29, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International investors have been clamouring to take advantage of one of the best deals in the investment migration industry this year – St Kitts and Nevis’ Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) Limited Time Offer (LTO) which allows investors to gain approval for alternative citizenship in the country in as little as 60 days for a reduced fee.

In December 2022, the St Kitts and Nevis Head of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIU), Michael Martin, announced the enactment of the updated St Kitts and Nevis Citizenship by Investment Regulations 2023, which included the introduction of the LTO for the SGF investment option effective 1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023.

On 29 June 2023, Michael Martin made the following comment regarding the LTO:

“We have received an overwhelming response and demand for our Sustainable Growth Fund investment option through the Limited Time Offer and felt that we had to extend the offering for another seven months until 31 January 2024. International investors continue to see the value of the world’s first and finest Citizenship by Investment Programme and this proves it”.

The SGF remains the quickest and easiest route to alternative citizenship in St Kitts and Nevis and now until 31 January 2024, a main applicant can acquire alternative citizenship by contributing only US$125,000 to the SGF and receiving approval in principle within 60 days of acknowledgement by the CIU of submission of their application.

Under the LTO, the minimum SGF contributions are as follows:

Single applicant – US$ 125,000
Main applicant and a spouse – US$150,000

Main applicant and up to three dependants – US$170,000
Each additional dependant under 18 – US$10,000
Each additional dependant over 18 – US$25,000

Revenue from the SGF has facilitated economic development and social upliftment in the country. The SGF is used to provide financial support to educational institutions, and medical facilities, as well as support infrastructural development, increase tourism, preserve local culture and heritage and support sustainable growth initiatives in the twin-island nation.

Discerning investors are seeing the benefits of being part of St Kitts and Nevis’ success story. Following upgrades to the CBI Regulations, the country now offers one of the most secure and best-regulated investment migration offerings in the world.

This means that international investors looking to hedge their bets in a stable and growing economy should look no further than St Kitts and Nevis.

This extension is a fantastic opportunity for investors to obtain citizenship through the LTO. This is a final extension and from 1 February 2024, the minimum SGF contribution will increase to the amounts prior to the LTO period.

The country is making sure that it has only the best to offer international entrepreneurs and families who have realised that global powerhouses are no longer illustrious investment options due to security risks. Investors want to ensure that they can safeguard their families and wealth in a global economy that has been offering nothing but uncertainty since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Smaller governments such as that of St Kitts and Nevis have found ways, through CBI, to protect themselves from global shocks, offer favourable business policies aimed at growing corporations in international markets and, by using international funds channelled to the SGF, can diversify and grow their economy to meet global needs.

St Kitts and Nevis continues to create a name for itself as a financial nexus in the Caribbean with an attractive CBI programme underpinned by a sound legal framework and robust multi-layered due diligence.

For nearly 40 years, St Kitts and Nevis has been the pioneer of the global investor immigration industry and those who recognise this are taking advantage of the LTO.

Chantal Mabanga
Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
+44 (0) 207 318 4343
chantal.mabanga@csglobalpartners.com

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 8867177

June 30, 2023

National Assembly speaker highlights Parliamentary system in democracy

National Assembly Speaker Carolina Cerqueira highlighted Friday in Lisbon, Portugal, the role of Parliamentary system in democracy, described as the voice of voters, diversity, dialogue and concert.

Carolina Cerqueira was addressing a celebration session of the International Day of Parliamentarianism, which took place at the headquarters of the Portuguese Parliament.

The Speaker stressed that they are voices of political representation in diversity, in the political debate that generate perspectives for new ideas, better approaches, dialogue and of conciliation, all these ingredients contributing to the solidity of parliamentary democracy.

“It is a noise, sometimes deafening, but always necessary, so that everything changes in a better direction, especially people’s lives, the process of development of societies and countries”, stressed the leader of the Angolan Parliament.

According to Carolina Cerqueira, there is an urgent need for everyone to work on their translation, in order to have an understandable version, which must be at the same time faithful, but fluid, integrated, more formal, genuine, publishable and, above all, scrutinous.

On the other hand, she considers it unfair not to point out the evolution of the form of the Government that thinks of people, women and men dedicated to keeping democracy alive, with acts and words spoken in plenary, listening to them, debating them and immortalizing them in ideas and later in relevant actions.

“Gender equality is implemented with economic and social development, along with a new culture of full respect for the human person and for their full personal and professional fulfillment”, she said.

Carolina Cerqueira took the opportunity to reinforce the invitation for the Parliamentarians to attend the 147th Assembly of the World Parliamentary Union in October in Luanda.

The presence of guests at this event, she said, will serve to deepen the political debate on the progress and main difficulties of contemporary parliamentary system and its numerous challenges, in particular, the promotion and preservation of peace and its impact on the lives of populations around the world.

Various speakers are expected to address this solemn session. They include leaders of parliaments from Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

There were also speeches delivered by Edite Estrela, as vice speaker of the Portuguese parliament, and Duarte Pacheco, speaker of the Inter-parliamentary Union.

As part of her presence in Portugal, Carolina Cerqueira participated, for two days, in various activities included in the programme of commemorations of the International Day of Parliamentarism.

The meeting was attended by the Angola to Portugal, Maria de Jesus Ferreira, and a group of MPs from parties with seats in the Angolan Parliament

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 30, 2023

Government pledges to allocate 910,000 land plots for self-construction

At least 910, 000 plots of land will be made available across the country by 2027, the minister of Public Works, Urban Planning and Housing, Carlos Alberto dos Santos said on Thursday.

Delivering his speech at the mobility project award ceremony for the provinces of Zaire, Bengo and Luanda, held in Nzeto, northern Zaire province, the minister said the move is part of the self-construction programme aimed to reduce the housing deficit estimated at 2.2 million of units.

He said the programme will benefit many citizens, mainly young people.

The minister recalled the ongoing construction project of 3,000 homes for the province of Zaire, including 1,500 for the municipality of Mbanza Kongo and the same number for Soyo.

The mobility project in the provinces of Zaire, Bengo and Luanda is part of the rehabilitation of 93 kilometers of road in these three regions of the country.

The overall package of this project, estimated at 127.2 million euros, includes revamp of Cacuaco/Kifangondo (Luanda) section, in charge of construction firm Mota-Engil Angola, SA and supervised by DAR Angola

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 30, 2023

Environment minister concerned about flora destruction

Angolan minister of Environment Ana Paulo de Carvalho Thursday in Soyo, northern Zaire province, discouraged the destruction of flora and biodiversity, calling for strict Law enforcement on environmental crimes in the country.

The minister made the appeal at the end of a mangrove planting campaign, as part of the closing programme of activities ahead of the World Environment Day, held under the slogan: “All Hands Together to Save Our Planet.

Ana Paula de Carvalho expressed concern over the extinction of some forest species in the municipality of Nzeto (Zaire) and other regions of the country’s coast, as result of human interference.

She also said that the rigorous application of the law on environmental crimes would reduce offences against the environment throughout the country.

The official explained, on the other hand, that in a first phase, the Ministry has opted for educational campaigns to raise awareness among individual and collective entities.

She recalled that in addition to help and renew oxygen, mangroves and other forest species also protect the marine ecosystem, stressing the need for their preservation to avoid the emigration of some animal species.

Ana Paula de Carvalho said that many companies and individuals ignore the environment, despite the awareness and education actions the Provincial Governments and associations carry out in the communities.

The minister’s 48-hour visiting agenda to Soyo, northern Zaire province, includes to launch “Educar para Reciclar” programme and a lecture on the “national strategy and action plan on biodiversity

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 30, 2023

President urges for responsible use of social media

Angolan head of State João Lourenço Friday in Luanda called for responsible use of the Social Media, ahead of celebration of this tool on Friday (June 30).

João Lourenço reiterated the appeal to take advantage of Social Media for academic, cultural and professional advancement, as well as promoting business.

In personal Facebook account, the Statesman encouraged the users of Social Media to take advantage of this tool to connect with the world of science and innovation.

João Lourenço discouraged the use of these virtual public spaces with negative things, propagation of lies, intrigue, intolerance and hatred.

The date for celebration of the World Social Media Day was created by the website Mashable in 2010 as a way to recognise the digital revolution that has made media a social environment.

The day is celebrated by organising informal gatherings of people from around the world by technological means or in person.

Some events are streamed live online and are open to all, to make the date truly social

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 30, 2023

Protocol on operation of “Tata Uhayele” project signed

A partnership protocol for implementing the Tata Uhayele project was signed Friday in Lobito, coastal Benguela province.

Signed the protocol were the Ngana Zenza Foundation for Community Development (FDC), the Ministry of Transport and the Benguela Railway (CFB).

The objective of Tata Uhayele (Take care of your health, in the Umbundu national language) is to provide health care to vulnerable communities along the Lobito Corridor, covering the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico.

Medical assistance will be carried out in two clinical carriages operated by the CFB and ensured by specialised personnel.

Addressing the ceremony, Angola’s First Lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, expressed her appreciation and gratitude for the participation of the partners.

She added that Tata Uhayele is a train of hope with which it intends to contribute sustainably in improving social assistance in the country.

In order to achieve this goal, Ana Dias Lourenço defended cooperation, adding that the success entails everyone’s involvement and participation.

Ana Dias Lourenço appealed to private companies specialised in the health sector to join this initiative, adding that “their support is crucial and will demonstrate the power of collaboration and partnerships to achieve significant results”.

“As founder and President of FDC, I am committed to promote initiatives such as the Tata Uhayele project and to work to ensure that everyone has access to the health care they need”, she emphasised.

In his speech, the minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, said that the health is a good that, being universal, does not always reach those who need it.

“What we are witnessing today is a small step, of the much that we have to do, but which, if well implemented, will contribute to increasing the life expectancy of local populations and for their quality and development to be achieved objectives.” , he stated.

The mobile clinics have a team of thirteen professionals – two electrical doctors, an ophthalmologist, a general practitioner, two laboratory technicians.

While for nursing, pediatrics, ophthalmology, sterilisation, pharmacy and reception, there is a technician for each area.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

June 30, 2023

Djerba: action plan for development of sustainable tourism soon

An action plan for the development of sustainable tourism in Djerba, based on the principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management – Maritime Spatial Planning (ICZM-MSP), will be presented by the National Institute of Marine Sciences et Technology (INSTM) on July 4.

The plan, which was drawn up using a participatory approach and aims to promote sustainable development in coastal and marine areas, will be presented to all stakeholders at a workshop to be held in Djerba, the INSTM said in a press release issued Friday.

To promote sustainable tourism in Djerba, the institute has also implemented an approach to assess the sustainability of tourism, notably through the creation of a “sustainability index” measuring various factors such as environmental impact and socio-economic benefits.

These actions are part of the Co-Evolve4BG project, coordinated by the INSTM and funded by the European Union under the 2014-2020 ENPI CBC “Mediterranean Basin” programme.

The four-year Co-Evolve4BG project was launched in 2019 with a consortium of nine partners from Mediterranean countries.

It aims to analyse and promote the co-evolution of human activities and natural systems in coastal tourist areas, thus enabling the sustainable development of tourism activities based on ICZM principles and promoting Blue Growth in the Mediterranean.

The Co-Evolve4BG project is part of a wider project, “Med Coast for Blue Growth” (MC4BG), which has been endorsed by the 43 countries of the Union for the Mediterranean. In addition to experts, the main target groups are national, regional and local authorities and civil society organisations.

The actions planned under this project aim to improve the development of coastal and maritime tourism and promote the creation of jobs in this sector, while adapting to climate change.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

June 30, 2023

Agriculture: supplying local market with chemical fertilisers at heart of ministerial working session

A ministerial working session devoted to the issue of supplying the local market with chemical fertilisers during the 2023-2024 agricultural season was held on Friday at the Government Palace in La Kasbah, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Najla Bouden.

The members of the government taking part in this meeting were briefed on the progress of preparations for the next agricultural season, particularly in terms of the supply of chemical fertilisers for the local market, based on the sales of the Tunisian Chemical Group during the 2022-2023 season and the forecast fertiliser requirements for this season set by the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries.

A series of recommendations were made at the end of the meeting. In particular, these included speeding up the building up of fertiliser stocks to cover the needs of the 2023-2024 field crop season, ordering the adoption of the “Fertiliser” computer system to monitor the distribution of fertilisers on the Tunisian market, from producer to end consumer, and keeping the prices of basic chemical fertilisers unchanged in order to deal with the difficulties encountered by farmers as a result of successive periods of drought.

It was also decided to put in place a well-defined action plan based on the sector’s priorities, in particular, the digitisation of the various agricultural sectors to ensure modern, competitive and sustainable agriculture.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

June 30, 2023

Ministry of Transport announces new appointments

The Ministry of Transport announced the following appointments on Friday:

– Farhat Zouaghi as CEO of the Tunisian Shipping Company (CTN)

– Haythem Hamrouni as CEO of the Gabès Regional Transport Company

– Mongi Jendoubi, as CEO of the Siliana Regional Transport Company

– Sofien Yacoubi, as CEO of the Gafsa Regional Transport Company “ElGawafel

– Mohamed Raouf Dhahri, as CEO of the Kairouan Regional Transport Company

– Moez Lidine Elleh Abdessalem, as CEO of the Sahel Transport Company.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse