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Alfa Romeo “MILANO” History in a name

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Alfa Romeo

In April 2024 in Milan, Alfa Romeo will unveil to the world the first Sport Urban Vehicle in its history, which will also be available in a 100% electric version

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POISSY, France, January 18, 2024/APO Group/ — 

Its name will be MILANO. Alfa Romeo (www.AlfaRomeo.com) has chosen a name with a strong historical value for the brand’s first Sport Urban Vehicle, faithful to its sporting DNA, which will also be available in a 100% electric version; A clear tribute to its hometown, ambassador of Made in Italy around the world, international capital of design, symbol of innovation and sustainability, and leader in the automotive transition to electric; Since 1910, the Alfa Romeo logo has consisted of the Cross, the historical symbol of the capital of Lombardy, and the Biscione serpent, the coat of arms of the noble Visconti family. For over 60 years (from 1910 through 1972), the city’s name formed an integral part of the logo; Alfa Romeo MILANO will be unveiled to the international press in April 2024, in Milan itself; Alfa Romeo will be taking advantage of this opportunity to take stock of the founding of Stellantis in 2021: solidity and discipline in the implementation of the announced plan, full compliance with the transition process to electric, quality targets achieved and acknowledged globally; Finally, a focus on 2023, now coming to an end with figures showing solid global growth: up 34% compared to 2022 in the year to date to November.

In April 2024 in Milan, Alfa Romeo will unveil to the world the first Sport Urban Vehicle in its history, which will also be available in a 100% electric version. It will be named MILANO, a genuine tribute to the city where it all began on June 24, 1910.

With Alfa Romeo MILANO, the brand rejoins the B-segment, the biggest in Europe, with a new proposal that fully embodies the brand’s DNA of noble Italian sportiness.  The first 100% electric Sport Urban Vehicle that represents the new gateway to the Alfa Romeo world for everyone, Alfisti fans and beyond, who has been awaiting the brand’s return to the segment.

Jean-Philippe Imparato | Alfa Romeo CEO

With the arrival of MILANO in 2024, Alfa Romeo completes a line-up capable of meeting the desires of all our enthusiasts and much more. MILANO is intended as a symbolic ‘welcome back’ to all our Alfisti fans. As owners of the Giulietta and Mito, they have been waiting to confirm their love for Alfa Romeo. It also serves as a ‘welcome’ to anyone looking for a unique sporting experience in this segment and the distinctive beauty of Italian design.

MILANO is the first milestone in the brand’s transition process to electric and, like the Tonale, has the important task of further strengthening Alfa Romeo’s global presence.

The choice of the name “MILANO”, encapsulated in the brand’s history.

Little marks the identity of an automaker more than its identifying logo.

Since 1910, the Alfa Romeo emblem has included two of the symbols that identify Milan: The cross, the historical symbol of the capital of Lombardy, and the Biscione serpent, the coat of arms of the noble Visconti family and one of the city’s most iconic emblems. For over 60 years (1910–1972), the name MILANO featured in the lower part of the logo. Through 1918, it was accompanied by the acronym “A.L.F.A.” (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili), then from 1919 by “ALFA ROMEO.”

Always a symbol of the avant-garde, Milan now acts as an international manifesto of modernity, innovation, and sustainability. Considered one of the icons of the arts and of Made in Italy around the world, Milan has always played a crucial cultural role in the fields of fashion, design, and music.

Alfa Romeo has chosen Milan, its home, to embark on a new, exciting, and daring chapter in its history: reinterpreting sportiness in the 21st century.

This decision therefore goes beyond the iconic names of past models and those of mountain passes used more recently, to link up once again with its Italian origins. Its bold ambition is to export around the world the values that have always made it a unique brand.

The brand’s balance sheet, almost three years after Stellantis was founded

MILANO is the first milestone in the brand’s transition process to electric and, like the Tonale, has the important task of further strengthening Alfa Romeo’s global presence

The brand’s commercial performance in 2023 serves as natural recognition of the work of a team whose solidity and discipline has enabled them to pursue the strategies of a long-term product plan decided on when Stellantis was founded in 2021. One by one, the most important goals achieved during this period have been:

  • Bringing the brand back to profitability. This objective was achieved in the second half of the same year, 2021.
  • An approved and funded long-term product plan, named by Alfa Romeo as “From 0 to 0”, with the bold objective to go from “0” electrified vehicles in 2021 to a line-up with “0” emissions in 2027, to become the fastest transition to electric in the entire automotive landscape. With one new product every year:

2022 – The Tonale Hybrid and Plug-In Hybrid Q4 made their debut.

2023 – Alfa Romeo returned to the world of ‘custom-built cars,’ presenting the 33 Stradale (BEV – ICE).

2024 – debut of the first 100% electric Alfa Romeo (Alfa Romeo MILANO).

2025 – unveiling of the first vehicle exclusively available in a 100% electric version.

2027 – The Alfa Romeo range will be 100% electric.

  • Uncompromising quality standards guide all the brand’s strategic actions with great rigor, and the results were immediately acknowledged globally. Indeed, in November 2022 Alfa Romeo ranked first among the premium brands in the J.D. Power Sales Satisfaction Index, rising nine positions in the rankings and obtaining 25 points more than in 2021, the sharpest improvement in the premium segment.

One year later, Alfa Romeo took the top step on the podium in the overall rankings of premium brands and third place in the entire industry, according to the J.D. Power U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS). It rose by 24 places, the largest growth recorded in the IQS research into the industry.

  • Increase in residual value, made possible by a strict stock management policy and line-up strategy.

Evident growth in 2023

All this served as a suitable foundation for the outstanding commercial performance Alfa Romeo is recording ahead of the end of an intense and challenging 2023:

 up 34% compared to 2022 in the year to date to November, a figure that confirms the solid growth in global sales.

Europe has contributed a robust increase of 53%.

Middle East & Africa is confirmed as the region experiencing the fastest growth, with a rise of 95%. Also contributing with growth of 6%, the India Asia Pacific region, where Alfa Romeo is strengthening its presence in Singapore and Hong Kong.

In North America, the Tonale’s debut in September was greeted with great enthusiasm, and likewise in China where the line-up has now been completed by the arrival of the Tonale. Both regions represent areas of strategic importance, where Alfa Romeo is making major investments to create the ideal conditions for growth.

The History of Milan in the Alfa Romeo Logo

Little marks the identity of an automaker more than the brand name on the grille. For A.L.F.A. first, later for Alfa Romeo, the coat of arms was intended to reaffirm the manufacturer’s origins in Milan. Over the years, its variations reflected the events that took place in the history of the company and of Italy. The cross of the Municipality of Milan, the Visconti Biscione serpent, and the Alfa Romeo lettering (A.L.F.A. only through 1918) have always remained the brand’s hallmarks since its foundation.

On June 24, 1910, the new company A.L.F.A. (Anonima Lombarda Fabbrica Automobili) was officially registered and the managing director Ugo Stella asked Giuseppe Merosi to draw up a coat of arms to adorn the radiator of its future cars. The history books tell us that the young draughtsman Romano Cattaneo told Merosi that he had been struck by the Visconti Biscione serpent he had seen on the Torre della Filarete in Piazza Castello as he waited for the #14 tram one morning. The Piacenza designer not only took on the suggestion but sketched the coat of arms there and then for his associate. At the same time, he added a red cross on a white background, surrounding the whole thing with a blue roundel bearing the lettering “A.L.F.A.” and “MILANO” in gold, separated by two Savoy knots. The sketch was approved by the nobleman Ugo Stella, and Cattaneo himself was entrusted with the final design for production. The first major change was in 1919: the company passed under the control of Nicola Romeo and the lettering “ALFA ROMEO” appeared on the coat of arms. In 1925, the GP Tipo P2 won the first Grand Prix World Championship, and a laurel wreath was added around the brand’s symbol to celebrate. After World War 2, the coat of arms underwent a complete overhaul: the Savoy knots gave way – with the advent of the Italian Republic – to two wavy lines, whereas the coat of arms was stylized and made of die-cast metal, painted in a single color. From 1950, the enameled brass branding returned in the 1900, replaced in 1960 by an identical version made of plastic. In 1972, when the Alfasud plant opened in Pomigliano d’Arco, the “MILANO” lettering disappeared. At the same time, the Biscione serpent was simplified, with its second coil no longer rolled round itself. In 1982, a further stylization was added: the laurel wreath gave way to a line of gold. On June 24, 2015, a new evolution of the logo was unveiled during the launch of the Giulia at the recently opened Alfa Romeo Museum.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Alfa Romeo.

Energy

High-Level Minister Roundup to Headline African Energy Week 2026

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African Energy Chamber

African Energy Week 2026 will convene ministers from Algeria, Ghana, Senegal, Zambia and Niger to spotlight oil, gas expansion, reforms and investment opportunities continentwide

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 13, 2026/APO Group/ –A high-level ministerial roundup will take center stage at this year’s African Energy Week (AEW) 2026 – taking place in Cape Town from 12–16 October –, convening some of the continent’s most influential energy leaders at a defining moment for Africa’s oil, gas and power sectors. As hydrocarbon expansion converges with accelerating energy transition strategies, the gathering is set to spotlight real-time project execution, regulatory reform and cross-border infrastructure that are actively reshaping Africa’s energy future.

 

Confirmed ministers to date include Algeria’s Minister of Energy and Renewable Energies Mourad Adjal, Ghana’s Minister for Energy and Green Transition Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, Senegal’s Minister of Energy, Petroleum and Mines Birame Soulèye Diop, Zambia’s Minister of Energy Makozo Chikote and Niger’s Minster of Petroleum Hamadou Tinni.

 

Fresh from a March OPEC+ decision to lift output to 977,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), Algeria enters AEW 2026 amid a $60 billion sector transformation. The country is also advancing a 500-well exploration drive and accelerating its 1.48 GW “Project of the Century” solar rollout. Gas exports to Europe remains central to the country, supported by hydrogen corridor planning and refinery expansion aimed at boosting capacity to 50 million tons by 2029.

 

Following license extension for Jubilee and TEN to 2040 and the late-2025 restart of the Tema Oil Refinery, Ghana is pushing a $3.5 billion upstream reinvestment plan while settling $500 million in gas arrears. A 1,200 MW state thermal plant and expanded gas processing at Atuabo anchor its gas-to-power shift, alongside a renewed upstream push in the Voltaian Basin.

The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital

 

Senegal’s delegation comes on the back of strong production momentum, with the Sangomar oil field delivering 36.1 million barrels in 2025, outperforming forecasts, while the Greater Tortue Ahmeyim LNG development ramped up to 2.9 million tons per annum following first gas. Dakar is now prioritizing domestic gas through refinery upgrades at the SAR refinery and preparations for Sangomar Phase 2 to push output beyond 100,000 bpd.

 

Zambia is redefining its power mix after drought-induced hydro shortfalls. New solar capacity – including the 200 MW Chisamba expansion and 136 MW Itimpi Phase 2 – is part of a broader 2,500 MW diversification drive. Cabinet has approved major regional fuel pipelines, while the Energy Single Licensing System fast-tracks approvals. Lusaka targets 10 GW generation by 2030, with solar and wind rising to one-third of supply.

Niger’s presence reflects its emergence as a serious oil exporter, with the fully operational 1,950-km Niger-Benin pipeline now moving up to 90,000 bpd to international markets. Alongside uranium expansion and renewed cooperation with Algeria on upstream assets, Niamey is advancing digital oversight reforms and reinforcing energy sovereignty amid evolving geopolitical dynamics.

 

“The participation of these distinguished ministers underscores the scale of opportunity unfolding across Africa’s energy landscape and the urgency of aligning policy with capital,” says NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman, African Energy Chamber. “Their leadership reflects a continent moving decisively from strategy to execution, creating a platform where investors can engage directly with the policymakers shaping Africa’s next wave of oil, gas and energy growth.”

 

At AEW 2026, this ministerial cohort will be well-positioned to offer investors direct insight into Africa’s most dynamic energy markets – where new barrels, new pipelines and new megawatts are reshaping regional growth trajectories in real time.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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Enlit Africa 2026 Programme: 280+ speakers, African nuclear 2.0, Bruce Whitfield Business Breakfast

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Enlit Africa

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Enlit Africa (https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g) has released its full 2026 conference programme, featuring 280+ speakers across 8 specialised tracks including a new African Nuclear 2.0 session covering Koeberg’s 20-year life extension and Ghana’s nuclear vendor selection process.

 

The event, taking place 19-21 May 2026 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, expects 7,200+ attendees and 250+ exhibitors, making it Africa’s largest gathering of energy and water professionals.

Award-winning business journalist and best-selling author Bruce Whitfield will deliver the opening address at the Project & Investment Network Business Breakfast on 19 May, kicking off three days of strategic sessions, deal-making platforms, and technical masterclasses.

New programme content includes:

African Nuclear 2.0 – A dedicated session examining the transition from planning to execution, featuring:

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s successful 20-year life extension (Units 1 and 2 now licensed until 2044/2045)

Ghana’s progression to Phase 3 of its nuclear programme, evaluating US, Chinese, and Russian technology bids

West African Power Pool‘s 10 GW regional nuclear capacity target

Small Modular Reactor (SMR) deployment readiness across African grids

Independent Transmission Projects (ITP) – A new session exploring how private investment is unlocking Africa’s transmission bottleneck, featuring global case studies from India’s PowerGrid and lessons for scaling grid capacity across the continent.

Generation Masterclasses – Five interactive roundtables on gas-to-power, nuclear, hydro power, clean coal, and hydrogen.

AI in Africa’s Power Grid – Examining practical deployment realities, real-time analytics, and predictive maintenance applications already in operation across African utilities.

Conference sessions and technical hub sessions on the expo floor are CPD-accredited by the South African Institute of Electrical Engineers (SAIEE) and the South African Institution of Civil Engineering (SAICE).

Co-located platforms:

Water Security Africa features country playbooks from Namibia (55-year potable reuse programme), Uganda (NRW reduction from 42% to 32%), Cape Town (Day Zero recovery strategies), and sector-specific stewardship sessions with Harmony Gold, Heineken, Mediclinic, and Growthpoint Properties.

Project & Investment Network (P&IN), part of the new Level 2 Executive Experience, connects project developers, investors, African utility CEOs, and DFIs through structured matchmaking, ministerial dialogues, and project briefings. Over the past two years, P&IN has facilitated $3 billion in project pitches.

Utility CEO Forum brings together 35+ confirmed utility CEOs under Chatham House Rule for candid, off-the-record strategic discussions on unbundling, prosumer management, and financial sustainability.

Municipal Forum addresses South African municipalities’ distribution, metering, and revenue challenges, including sessions on NRW management, tariff reform, Cost of Supply studies, and electrifying informal settlements.

Technical Hub sessions on the exhibition floor offer free, CPD-accredited training across Power, Renewable Energy & Storage, and Water tracks, with confirmed speakers from Eskom, ENGIE SA, ACTOM, National Transmission Company South Africa (NTCSA), RenEnergy, and Matla Energy.

Site visits on 22 May include Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and the V&A Waterfront desalination plant.

Pass options:
Free expo pass registration: https://apo-opa.co/4bl2bYu

Free expo passes provide access to 250+ exhibitors and CPD-accredited Technical Hub sessions.

Delegate Pass:
Early bird registration closes 3 April 2026. Delegate passes start at R15,100 (Silver), with P&IN Executive passes at R32,000 including access to the Bruce Whitfield breakfast, Level 2 executive lounge, and investor matchmaking.

Download the full programme: https://apo-opa.co/3NwCble

Register: https://apo-opa.co/4cEX08g

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group.

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Binance Secures Second Major Legal Victory in U.S. Court Under Anti-Terrorism Act in Two Weeks

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Binance

US Federal Court in Alabama Dismisses All Claims Against Binance in Latest Lawsuit Victory

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, March 12, 2026/APO Group/ –Binance (www.Binance.com), the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, announced today that a U.S. federal court in Alabama has dismissed all claims against the company in a lawsuit alleging violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). This marks Binance’s second major legal victory in an  ATA matter within one week, following their victory in the Southern District of New York.

A Full and Complete Legal Victory

In a detailed 19-page ruling, the Court found the plaintiffs’ complaint to be legally and factually deficient. The court’s decision to dismiss every claim across the board represents a decisive legal victory for Binance.

Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process

The judge described the filing as a “shotgun pleading.” The complaint failed to clearly specify the claims and improperly grouped all defendants together without distinguishing individual conduct or liability. The ruling also emphasized that the plaintiffs did not meet the basic pleading standard to provide a “short and plain statement” of their claims.

Following the ruling, the court granted the plaintiffs until April 10, 2026, to file an amended complaint addressing the deficiencies identified. However, the judge warned that failure to adequately address these issues would result in dismissal of the entire case.

Building on Momentum and Upholding Legal Integrity

“This decision reinforces our unwavering commitment to protecting Binance and our community from unsubstantiated and bad-faith lawsuits,” shared Eleanor Hughes, General Counsel at Binance. “Sanctions compliance and terrorism financing are serious matters of law – they require evidence, legal rigour, and due process. Courts have now examined these claims on two separate occasions and found them to be without merit. These outcomes speak for themselves. We will not tolerate attempts to misuse the legal system to target our industry, and we remain as committed as ever to transparency, security, and lawful conduct in everything we do”.

This latest decision follows closely on the heels of Binance’s comprehensive victory in New York (https://apo-opa.co/46Xg0ev), where the Court similarly rejected allegations that the company assisted, participated in, or conspired with terrorists. Together, these rulings reflect Binance’s strong resolve to protect its platform and community.

Binance has consistently invested in industry-leading compliance infrastructure, regulatory engagement, and legal governance. The company will continue to vigorously defend itself against any attempts to bring unfounded claims or misrepresent its operations.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Binance.

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