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LG Showcase MEA 2024 returns with first-hand experiences of LG Electronics’ latest innovations

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2 years ago

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LG

The LG Electronics flagship event hosted in Abu Dhabi showcased all major product lineups

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, May 3, 2024/APO Group/ — 

LG Showcase MEA 2024 recently welcomed guests and partners in Abu Dhabi to in-person experience the latest and greatest the brand has to offer.

The two-day event held at Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel in Abu Dhabi, UAE had over 500 guests who witnessed all of LG Electronics’ new innovations that will be rolled out in the region. The LG Showcase, returning after a successful event last year, created a common platform for experiencing LG Electronics’ unique customer focused innovations and reaffirms the company’s vision to bring innovative products to the market that enhances the customer’s overall experience. The event revolved around the theme of Reinventing Together, which expresses the brand’s commitment and passion toward its customers and their requirements.

Mr. Il Hwan Lee, Chief Executive Officer, LG MEA Region said: “We saw a huge success when we returned the LG Showcase MEA event last year and we are elated to see the same success in this year’s event as well. It is a great pleasure to showcase our latest innovations and give our guests the chance to experience them all firsthand. We are happy to see the love and appreciation received for each product and look forward to bringing more to this region overall.” He further added, “This event is a platform that showcases not just our products, but also reiterates our commitment to our customers. This event also serves as a platform for networking with our business partners and fostering relationships, another vital element of our work.”

The large-scale event was also home to multiple exhibition zones, where LG Electronics’ products were displayed in their ideal use-case scenario. This included a hero zone with the 97-inch LG SIGNATURE WIRELESS OLED M, the world’s-first consumer TV with Zero Connect technology which enables the transfer of 4K video and audio, wirelessly at 120Hz. Also on display was LG’s innovative StanbyME Go, the 27-inch FHD smart screen that comes in a carry bag design and a three-hour battery built in that allows for the ultimate in portability and making it a perfect companion for outdoor use, such as picnics and BBQs. The event highlighted the latest in LG Electronics’ innovation in processors and software with the new α (Alpha) 11 processor that will be used in its flagship TVs and the latest WebOS respectively. The α (Alpha) 11 processor will be actively used in flagship TVs for powerful AI features that enhance the viewing experience, while the new WebOS brings a revamped home screen with wider title cards and smoother tiles. The new WebOS will expand into 300 TV brands and 3,500 content partners, including local partners and has an active user growth increase in the MEA region by 20 times.  

A dedicated zone for audio visual products was also present, including the latest in XBOOM speakers which deliver bold and loud sounds with strong bass. This included the LG XBOOM XL9T, the most powerful-in-class party speaker, its smaller variant, the LG XBOOM XL5S with a 200W output, topped off with a dynamic pixel lighting effect that offers animation patterns, visual EQ or even characters, making it the perfect accessory for hanging out with friends or a must-have at parties.

LG CineBeam Q, the much awaited, stylish and smallest 4K portable projector from LG was a key attraction. This mighty 4K laser projector not only delivers stunning picture quality, but also a range of streaming features, while its minimalist design fits into any home design ethos.

The IT zone on the other hand showcased the latest lineup of LG UltraGear OLED gaming monitors including the new 32GS95UE, the world’s first VESA certified Dual Mode gaming monitor as well as the LG MyView Smart Monitor, a must-have for productivity and entertainment. To top it off, LG Electronics demonstrated the LG MAGNIT (model LSAL006), a stunning 4K (3840 x 2160) resolution Micro LED display, that delivers unparalleled picture quality through the brilliance of Micro LED technology, ideal for both personal and professional use.  For retail use, LG displayed the OLED transparent screens, which was highlighted in the LG café experience zone.

The exhibition zone also included an area for home appliances, including washing machines and air conditioning solutions as well as the brand’s premium built-in solutions. Featured in this zone was the MoodUP™ refrigerator, which adds a unique personality to any home kitchen with the ultimate in customisation by allowing users to choose from 22 colours for the upper door panel and 19 colours for the lower panel. In addition to its visual aesthetic, the new LG MoodUPTM Refrigerator comes with three LED panel doors and a transparent fourth door. Also on display was the LG built-in-kitchen package, a unique lineup that comprises of an InstaView™ oven, QuadWash™ dishwasher, bottom-freezer refrigerator and microwave oven, making it easier for customers to build an all-inclusive experience powered by LG Electronics.

On display was also its Residential Air Conditioning units, such as the ARTCOOL lineup which features the LG DUAL Inverter Compressor™, a critical element that brings powerful cooling without affecting efficiency. Also on display was LG’s new WashTower™ Compact laundry solution, which focuses on efficiency and space by combining both a washer and dryer with an all-in-one control panel and advanced AI in a single unit with a capacity of 13-kilograms for the washer and 10-kilogram capacity for the dryer.

 LG Electronics also set up Life Style zones, with a range of products appropriate for them. This included the ThinQ powered home setup, an elegant café setup as well as a camping setup.

For more details about LG Electronics’ range of products please visit: www.LG.com

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of LG Electronics.

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Afreximbank Posts Robust Q1 2026 Results with 25% Growth in Net Income and Improved Profitability

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Afreximbank

The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment

The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate

CAIRO, Egypt, May 22, 2026/APO Group/ –African Export-Import Bank (“Afreximbank” or the “Bank”) (www.Afreximbank.com) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) announced its results for the three months ended 31 March 2026. The results demonstrate continued resilience, disciplined balance sheet management and strong deal execution despite a challenging global operating environment.

 

The Group continued to expand its lending activities in Q1 2026, resulting in total credit exposure growing by 2% to reach a portfolio of US$42 billion, up from US$41 billion as of 31 December 2025. This performance reflects Afreximbank’s leading role as a Development Finance Institution (DFI) in financing trade and trade-enabling infrastructure, and its strategic contribution to economic resilience across Africa and the Caribbean.

Average loans and advances for Q1 2026 stood at US$32 billion, up 8% compared to the same period in the prior year, driving the recorded growth in interest income. The Group’s liquidity position remained strong, with cash and cash equivalents of US$5.6 billion, representing 14% of total assets, consistent with FY2025 and above the Bank’s strategic minimum.

Asset quality also remained strong, with the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio at 2.40%, broadly in line with 2.43% at FY2025 and below industry average.

Shareholders’ funds increased to US$8.6 billion at 31 March 2026, up from US$8.4 billion at FY2025, supported by internally generated capital of US$268.9 million and new equity investments received during the quarter, underscoring the Bank’s continued ability to mobilise capital from its shareholders in support of its growth and development mandate.

The Group delivered strong profitability during the quarter.  Notwithstanding declining benchmark rates, total interest income rose by 14% year-on-year to reach US$813.6 million, while net interest income increased by 24% to US$510.0 million, compared with US$411.2 million in the first quarter of 2025. The Group’s cost-to-income ratio remained contained at 19%, well within the Group’s strategic ceiling of 30%. As a result, Profit for the period increased to US$268.9 million, up from US$215.4 million in Q1 2025.

The Group continued to maintain a strong capital position, with a capital adequacy ratio of 23% as at 31 March 2026, in line with the Bank’s long-term capital management targets.

During the quarter, Afreximbank continued to demonstrate its counter-cyclical role in response to external shocks. In March 2026, the Bank launched a US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme to help member countries mitigate adverse spillover effects from the Gulf crisis. The facility is designed to support liquidity, stabilise trade and payments, and address supply-side disruptions, particularly in energy, tourism and aviation, fertilisers, food and other critical imports.

The Bank also continued to deploy targeted financing and advisory support to strengthen trade flows, industrial capacity and economic resilience across Africa and CARICOM. Regional integration received further momentum following South Africa’s ratification of the Bank’s Establishment Agreement in February 2026, bringing one of Africa’s largest and most diversified economies into the Bank’s membership and giving the Bank full continental coverage.

Highlights of the results for Afreximbank Group are shown below:

Financial Performance Metrics

Q1’2026

Q1’2025
Gross Income (US$ million)

874.1

784.9
Net Income (US$ million)

268.9

215.4
Return on average equity (ROAE)

13%

12%
Return on average assets (ROAA)

2.62%

2.38%
Cost-to-income ratio

19%

16%

 

Financial Position Metrics

Q1’2026

FY’2025
Total Assets (US$ billion)

41.7

42.3
Total Liabilities (US$ billion)

33.0

33.9
Shareholders’ Funds (US$ billion)

8.6

8.4
Non-performing loans ratio (NPL)

2.40%

2.43%
Cash/Total assets

14%

14%
Capital Adequacy ratio (Basel II)

23%

          23%

 

Mr. Denys Denya, Afreximbank’s Senior Executive Vice President, commented:

“Against a backdrop of continued global uncertainty, heightened geopolitical risks and tight financial conditions, the Group delivered a resilient first-quarter performance, underpinned by disciplined balance sheet management, sound asset quality and strong capital and liquidity buffers. The growth in net interest income and profitability demonstrates the strength of our operating model and the continued relevance of our mandate. Our swift launch of the US$10 billion Gulf Crisis Response Programme further underscores Afreximbank’s counter-cyclical role in supporting member countries during periods of disruption. We remain focused on stabilising trade flows, easing liquidity pressures and advancing the industrial and economic transformation of Africa and the Caribbean.”

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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Via Licensing Alliance Expands Voice Codec Program with New Licensee, New Licensors, Publishes Comprehensive Pool Rate Structure

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Via Licensing Alliance

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 May 2026 – Via Licensing Alliance (Via) today announced continued momentum for its Voice Codec patent pool, including the addition of a new unnamed licensee and new licensors, NovaVoice Limited and Cordial IP, further growing the program’s patent stack and market penetration from its initial five, large global licensors.

The addition of the new licensee, unnamed at this time, reflects growing industry adoption of the collaborative licensing pathway Via’s Voice Codec program creates for accessing IP rights to critical voice technologies. This addition reflects a growing market uptake of advanced voice technologies, including EVS and IVAS, driven by rising demand as 5G and 5G-Advanced technologies are adopted worldwide.

Additionally, Via continues to prioritize transparency and has published its full rate structure for the Voice Codec pool, providing further clarity and predictability for implementers and to the broader market. For implementers, the full rate structure allows for complete visibility as they consider the appropriate royalty structure to choose from to meet their product level costs, evaluate future growth paths for their product lines, or plan their geographical expansion plan needs. This level of disclosure not only reduces uncertainty in licensing decisions but also enables more consistent benchmarking, reinforcing confidence in fair, market-aligned SEP licensing practices. The program’s royalty rates are listed on Via’s website at https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#license-fees.

The addition of the new licensors indicates increased interest from patent holders in licensing their voice technology SEPs through highly efficient, aggregated licensing vehicles such as patent pools. Future growth in both the licensor list and the number of patents consolidated through the pool license will continue to enhance the value of the Voice Codec License for implementers. Via’s Voice Codec program licensors are listed here: https://www.via-la.com/licensing-programs/voice-codec/#licensors.

Via’s Voice Codec pool covers Enhanced Voice Services (EVS), which supports voice communications across more than one billion and growing active devices globally, as well as Immersive Voice and Audio Services (IVAS), which will play a central role in next-generation voice and spatial audio applications.

“We are pleased to welcome these new entrants to our pool, which signal continued growth and momentum our Voice Codec program,” said Kevin Mack, President of Via Licensing Alliance. “This pool license offers strong value relative to other market options and represents the only collaborative licensing solution for EVS and IVAS technologies, making it a smart and efficient pathway for companies seeking to license critical voice capabilities.”

EVS remains a foundational technology for high-quality voice communications in 5G and 5G-Advanced networks, with adoption continuing to expand as 5G, 5G-Advanced and future network iterations reach global scale. As spatial audio and advanced voice technologies expand into 6G and a broader range of non-cellular devices, the importance of IVAS technologies is expected to increase, with Via’s pool offering an early and effective licensing pathway.

For more information about the Voice Codec patent pool, including information for prospective licensees, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

About Via Licensing Alliance:
Via Licensing Alliance is the collaborative licensing leader, dedicated to accelerating global technology adoption, fostering participation, and generating return on innovation with balanced licensing solutions for innovators and manufacturers of all sizes around the globe. Via has operated dozens of licensing programs for a variety of technologies. Via is an independently managed company owned by industry-leading participants with over 25 years of intellectual property licensing leadership. For more information about Via, please visit https://www.via-la.com.

 

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Joint statement welcoming the Republic of Togo’s announcement on Visa facilitation for African nationals

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2 days ago

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May 22, 2026

By

Togo

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda

LOMÉ, Togo, May 21, 2026/APO Group/ –The AfCFTA Secretariat and African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) welcome the announcement by the Government of the Republic of Togo, under the leadership of H.E. Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Council of the Republic of Togo, regarding measures to facilitate visa-free entry for all nationals of African States holding valid passports, as announced by the Minister of Security on 18 May 2026.

The announcement was made in Lomé on the sidelines of Biashara Afrika 2026, the continent’s premier trade and business platform, which has brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, investors, and stakeholders from across Africa to advance dialogue on intra-African trade, investment, and regional integration.

Throughout the engagements, participants underscored the importance of facilitating the movement of African citizens, entrepreneurs, and investors as an important enabler of intra-African trade and economic cooperation. Against this backdrop, the announcement reflects the growing continental momentum towards strengthening connectivity and deepening African integration.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank, to which Togo is a State Party and a Member State, envision a continent where goods, services, capital, and people move more freely across borders in support of an integrated African market. Measures that facilitate mobility and connectivity continue to contribute towards advancing the broader mandate of both institutions; the attainment of the aspirations of Agenda 2063.

The AfCFTA Secretariat and Afreximbank commend the Government and people of the Republic of Togo for hosting Biashara Afrika 2026 and for their continued commitment to advancing Africa’s economic integration agenda.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.

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