DALI Alliance lighting awards opens with new categories for 2024

DALI Lighting Awards 2024

The DALI Lighting Awards 2024 is open for entries

LONDON, Aug. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — DALI Alliance, the global industry organization for DALI, the internationally-standardized protocol for digital communication between lighting control devices, announces that the annual DALI Lighting Awards are officially open for 2024 with a number of new categories.

The traditional application categories have been consolidated to five awards: Residential, Commercial Interior, Commercial Exterior, Industrial & Infrastructure, and Horticulture. This year’s Awards will also include the following innovation categories:

  • Best Use of D4i: Recognizing innovative applications of DALI D4i technology, including enhanced data communication, energy management, and advanced control capabilities.
  • Best Emergency Lighting Integration: Celebrating solutions that incorporate emergency lighting, ensuring safety, reliability, and compliance with standards during emergencies.
  • Best Human Centric Design: Honoring projects that prioritize human well-being in health, comfort, and productivity through lighting.
  • Best Integration into Other Building Systems Highlighting projects that excel in integrating lighting data with other building systems, such as HVAC, security, and energy management.
  • Innovation in Lighting: Recognizing cutting-edge technologies and advancements in lighting control solutions.
  • Sustainability and Energy Efficiency: Highlighting projects that excel in sustainability, conservation, and environmental impact.
  • Smart and Connected Lighting: Honoring advancements in smart lighting systems, IoT integration, and connected lighting solutions.
  • Non-networked Lighting:  Celebrating innovative applications in small or stand-alone spaces.

These new categories align with the growth of technologies, advancements, and innovations that are being adopted by the lighting sector.

This year’s submissions will no longer be submitted to a specific category. Entries will be placed by judges into applicable categories, allowing the possibility of a single project to win multiple awards.

Paul Drosihn, general manager of DALI Alliance, said: “We are very excited to launch this year’s DALI Lighting Awards with a refreshed approach. We are confident these changes will make it more straightforward for those across the lighting industry to enter, and gain recognition for their work.”

The awards entry deadline is 7 October 2024.

For more information and to enter the awards, visit https://www.dali-alliance.org/awards2024/.

About the DALI Alliance

The DALI Alliance is an open, global consortium of lighting companies that aims to grow the market for lighting-control solutions based on Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) technology. The DALI Alliance promotes the adoption of DALI-2, D4i, and DALI+ certification programs and supports the use of open, interoperable lighting control systems.

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Mavenir and Whitestack Expand the Ecosystem of Open Network Functions

Successful integration of key Mavenir network functions into Whitestack’s Open Telco Cloud platform based on Intel technology

RICHARDSON, Texas, Aug. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Mavenir, the cloud-native network infrastructure provider building the future of networks, and Whitestack, an open source-based developer of Telco Cloud solutions, today announce successful completion of a technology alignment that enables Mavenir’s Cloud-Native IMS solution to be seamlessly integrated into Whitestack’s Telco Cloud platform – demonstrating Mavenir’s pivotal expertise in facilitating cloud-native deployments. The collaboration was initiated as part of a deployment with a leading Tier 1 operator in Latin America and harnesses the power and performance capabilities of the Intel Xeon processor and Intel Ethernet technology.

Empowering mobile operators to deploy telco workloads on its cloud solutions is a fundamental aspect of Mavenir’s cloud-native strategy. Today’s announcement marks the achievement of full integration with Whitestack’s Telco Cloud solution – offering telco operators a wider array of flexible options for deploying Mavenir’s solutions – and underscores the continued expansion of the telecom ecosystem aimed at liberating operators from legacy or monolithic solutions

The two companies are capitalizing on industry momentum, following significant announcements from operators adopting cloud infrastructure for critical network functions. This trend is generating substantial interest from traditional operators. To meet this clear demand, Mavenir and Whitestack are offering a compelling performance-to-cost ratio, making the transition to cloud solutions an easy decision.

“We are very pleased to have completed the integration process in a reasonable timeframe, thanks in part to our experience with other Telco Clouds and Whitestack’s flexibility in adjusting their data plane configuration to maximize our performance,” said Brandon Larson, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Mavenir’s Cloud, AI & IMS Business Strategy. He added: “As the industry moves towards cloud infrastructure, cloud solutions must be adapted to be suitable for telco workloads,” says Brandon Larson. “In order to accomplish this, it takes companies like Mavenir that have developed a specialized skillset in both cloud and telco.”

Mavenir’s Cloud-Native IMS solution is based on a microservices architecture comprising Containerized Network Functions (CNFs) that adopt cloud-native principles, offering voice services that leverage the intrinsic benefits of Kubernetes to ensure high availability. This solution operates on Whitestack’s Telco Cloud platform under an automated deployment model.

“One of the many key aspects of a Telco Cloud, compared to a regular private cloud, is the ability to utilize advanced techniques for accelerating network function performance,” said José Miguel Guzmán, Telco/NFV Business Development Manager, Whitestack. “Each application has its own processing, memory, disk, and traffic profile. In WhiteCloud, we have granular control over these aspects, allowing us to provide each VNF or CNF with the optimal hardware settings to maximize their throughput, mixing and matching legacy and new-generation servers.”

“Server configurations based on Intel Xeon processors include new features designed to accelerate user traffic. When combined with the Intel Infrastructure Power Manager software and Intel Ethernet E810 Controller, these configurations allow service providers to drive optimization of their infrastructure for performance, energy efficiency and space in the telco data center,” said Alex Quach, VP Network and Edge Group, Intel.

Whitestack has emerged as a key player in the open infrastructure space in Latin America, supplying dozens of Tier 1 data centers in the region with a Telco Cloud solution based on open-source technology. Its offering includes whitebox networking, high-capacity optics systems, and COTS servers powered by Intel Xeon processors.

Mavenir, Whitestack and Intel will be participating at the Open Telco Cloud Summit 2024 in Mexico City on September 3rd 2024 – register to attend in person or virtually.

Intel, the Intel logo, and other Intel marks are trademarks of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries. 

ABOUT MAVENIR

Mavenir is building the future of networks today with cloud-native, AI-enabled solutions which are green by design, empowering operators to realize the benefits of 5G and achieve intelligent, automated, programmable networks. As the pioneer of Open RAN and a proven industry disruptor, Mavenir’s award-winning solutions are delivering automation and monetization across mobile networks globally, accelerating software network transformation for 300+ Communications Service Providers in over 120 countries, which serve more than 50% of the world’s subscribers. For more information, please visit www.mavenir.com.

ABOUT WHITESTACK

Whitestack’s flagship Telco Cloud solution integrates both VNFs (virtual machine-based) and CNFs (container-based) using proven industry-standard deployment models. As the most widely deployed Telco Cloud solution in Latin America, it boasts certifications from industry giants HPE and DELL, ensuring top-tier performance and reliability.

Whitestack’s Open Networking solutions revolutionize network infrastructure. Deploy in open DC Fabrics with advanced Spine & Leaf configurations, or enhance optical access and aggregation networks with our state-of-the-art open switches (whiteboxes). All seamlessly managed by our open SDN controller, Whitesdn, for unparalleled automated network provisioning. For more information visit www.whitestack.com.

Mavenir PR Contacts:
Emmanuela Spiteri
[email protected]

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID “9220049

Explosive Growth of Crypto Millionaires in 2024

LONDON, Aug. 27, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — There are now 172,300 individuals worldwide holding over USD 1 million in crypto assets — a 95% increase compared to last year — with the number of Bitcoin millionaires soaring by 111% to 85,400, according to the Crypto Wealth Report 2024 published by international wealth and investment migration specialists Henley & Partners.

The total market value of crypto assets has now reached a staggering USD 2.3 trillion, an 89% increase when compared to the USD 1.2 trillion reported in the firm’s inaugural report last year. The upper echelons of crypto wealth have also expanded dramatically, with the number of crypto centi-millionaires (those with crypto holdings of USD 100 million or more) rising by 79% to 325, and even the rarefied cohort of crypto billionaires seeing a 27% increase to 28 globally.

Dominic Volek, Group Head of Private Clients at Henley & Partners, says the rapid growth has been fueled by the introduction of crypto ETFs in major financial markets, ushering in significant institutional capital. “The cryptocurrency landscape of 2024 bears little resemblance to its predecessors. Bitcoin’s rise to over USD 73,000 in March set a new all-time high, while the long-awaited approval of spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs in the USA unleashed a torrent of institutional capital. Anticipation now builds for potential Solana ETFs joining the Wall Street party. These milestones have seeded a new era of crypto adoption, one where digital assets increasingly cross-pollinate with traditional finance and global mobility.”

Head of Research at New World Wealth, Andrew Amoils, says the millionaire band performed best over the past year, while billionaire growth was much lower and mainly driven by Bitcoin. “Of the six new crypto billionaires created over the past year, five came from Bitcoin, underscoring its dominant position when it comes to attracting long-term investors who buy large holdings.”

Digital gold rush creates sizeable crypto elite

Commenting in the report, António Henriques, CEO of Bison Bank and Chairman of Bison Digital Assets, points out that “in the rapidly evolving world of finance, cryptocurrencies are challenging the dominance of traditional fiat currencies. As these two financial realms intersect, we are witnessing the dawn of a new era in global finance, where the innovative potential of digital assets meets the stability of traditional money.”

Jean-Marie Mognetti, CEO and Co-founder of CoinShares, points out that “the SEC’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs marks 2024 as a transformative year for the digital asset industry, paving the way for broader institutional adoption. Bitcoin’s potential to enhance the performance of traditional investment portfolios underscores its growing significance in the financial world.”

While Bitcoin often dominates headlines, Lark Davis, cryptocurrency investor and founder of Wealth Mastery, highlights the critical role of another major player: “Ethereum is a keystone asset of the market. The majority of what is built in crypto is built on Ethereum, based on Ethereum, or bridges liquidity back to Ethereum.” This insight illustrates the complex ecosystem that has developed around cryptocurrencies, extending far beyond simple currency alternatives.

Borderless assets drive demand for global citizenship

Henley & Partners has seen a significant uptick in crypto-wealthy clients seeking alternative residence and citizenship options in 2024. To make sense of this changing crypto landscape, the firm has unveiled its second annual Henley Crypto Adoption Index. This comprehensive tool evaluates investment migration programs through the lens of the crypto investor, considering factors such as public adoption, infrastructure, innovation and technology, regulatory environment, economic factors, and tax-friendliness.

The index showcases Singapore’s continued dominance as the premier cryptocurrency hub, achieving the top score of 45.7 out of 60. Singapore excels in areas such as technological innovation, regulatory framework, and infrastructure development. Following closely is Hong Kong (SAR China), distinguished by its strong economic fundamentals and investor-friendly tax policies. The UAE secures the 3rd position, offering significant tax advantages and a rapidly expanding digital economy. Notably, none of these three countries levies capital gains tax, which is a significant advantage, especially for crypto investors and high-net-worth individuals.

Read the Full Press Release online

Contact:

Sarah Nicklin
Group Head of PR
[email protected]
+27 72 464 8965

GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000987810

Croissance extraordinaire du nombre de millionnaires crypto en 2024

LONDRES, 27 août 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — 172 300 personnes dans le monde détiennent désormais plus d’un million de dollars US en actifs crypto, soit une hausse de 95 % par rapport à l’année dernière, tandis que le nombre de millionnaires en Bitcoin a enregistré un bond de 111 % à 85 400, selon le rapport 2024 sur la richesse en cryptomonnaies (Crypto Wealth Report) publié par Henley & Partners, spécialiste international en matière de patrimoine et de migration des investissements.

La valeur totale du marché des actifs crypto a désormais atteint le chiffre stupéfiant de 2 300 milliards de dollars, une hausse de 89 % par rapport aux 1 200 milliards de dollars indiqués dans le tout premier rapport publié l’année dernière. Les échelons supérieurs de la fortune en cryptomonnaies se sont également développés de manière spectaculaire, les centi-millionnaires (ceux dont les avoirs crypto s’élèvent à plus de 100 millions de dollars) ayant atteint le nombre de 325, en hausse de 79 %, et même la cohorte moins nombreuse des milliardaires en cryptomonnaies compte désormais 28 personnes dans le monde, soit une hausse de 27 %.

Selon Dominic Volek, Responsable du groupe Clients privés chez Henley & Partners, cette rapide envolée a été alimentée par l’introduction des ETF crypto sur les principaux marchés financiers, ce qui a permis d’attirer d’importants capitaux institutionnels. « L’environnement des cryptomonnaies en 2024 ne ressemble guère à celui des années précédentes. La hausse du Bitcoin à plus de 73 000 dollars en mars a marqué un nouveau record, tandis que l’approbation tant attendue des fonds négociés en bourse (ETF) Bitcoin et Ethereum au comptant aux États-Unis a déclenché un torrent de capitaux institutionnels. On s’attend maintenant à la possibilité que les ETF Solana se joignent à la fête à Wall Street. Ces événements marquants ont suscité une nouvelle ère d’adoption des cryptomonnaies, dans laquelle les actifs numériques se mêlent de plus en plus à la finance traditionnelle et à la mobilité mondiale ».

Andrew Amoils, Responsable de la recherche chez New World Wealth, affirme que le groupe des millionnaires a connu la plus forte hausse au cours de l’année écoulée, tandis que la croissance du groupe des milliardaires a été beaucoup plus faible et principalement tirée par le Bitcoin. « Sur les six nouveaux crypto-milliardaires créés au cours de l’année écoulée, cinq le doivent au Bitcoin, ce qui souligne sa position dominante lorsqu’il s’agit d’attirer des investisseurs à long terme qui achètent de grandes quantités de titres. »

La ruée vers l’or numérique produit une élite crypto de taille

Commentant le rapport, António Henriques, PDG de Bison Bank et Président de Bison Digital Assets, souligne que « dans le monde de la finance en rapide évolution, les cryptomonnaies remettent en question la domination des monnaies fiduciaires traditionnelles. L’intersection de ces deux domaines financiers marque l’avènement d’une nouvelle ère dans la finance mondiale, où le potentiel d’innovation des actifs numériques rencontre la stabilité de la monnaie traditionnelle ».

Jean-Marie Mognetti, PDG et co-fondateur de CoinShares, remarque que « l’approbation des ETF Bitcoin au comptant par la SEC fait de 2024 une année de transformation pour le secteur des actifs numériques, ouvrant la voie à une adoption plus large par les institutions. Le potentiel de Bitcoin à améliorer la performance des portefeuilles d’investissement traditionnels souligne son importance croissante dans le monde financier ».

Si le Bitcoin fait souvent la une des médias, Lark Davis, investisseur en cryptomonnaies et fondateur de Wealth Mastery, souligne le rôle essentiel d’un autre acteur majeur : « Ethereum est un actif incontournable du marché. La majorité de ce qui est créé en cryptomonnaie est construit sur Ethereum, basé sur Ethereum, ou renvoie à Ethereum. » Ce constat illustre la complexité de l’écosystème qui s’est développé autour des cryptomonnaies, dépassant largement les simples alternatives monétaires.

Les actifs sans frontières alimentent la demande pour une citoyenneté mondiale

Henley & Partners a constaté une augmentation significative du nombre de clients riches en cryptomonnaies à la recherche d’options alternatives de résidence et de citoyenneté en 2024. Pour comprendre l’évolution de l’environnement crypto, le cabinet a dévoilé l’indice Henley Crypto Adoption Index, son deuxième indice annuel de l’adoption des cryptomonnaies. Cet outil complet évalue les programmes de migration des investissements du point de vue des investisseurs crypto, prenant en considération des facteurs tels que l’adoption par le public, l’infrastructure, l’innovation et la technologie, l’environnement réglementaire, les facteurs économiques et les avantages fiscaux.

L’indice souligne la dominance persistante de Singapour comme premier centre de crypto-monnaies, avec la note maximale de 45,7 sur 60. Singapour excelle dans des domaines tels que l’innovation technologique, le cadre réglementaire et le développement des infrastructures. Il est suivi de près par Hong Kong (RAS de la Chine), qui se distingue par des fondamentaux économiques solides et des politiques fiscales favorables aux investisseurs. Les Émirats arabes unis viennent en 3e position, avec d’importants avantages fiscaux et une économie numérique en pleine expansion. Fait notable, aucun de ces trois pays ne prélève d’impôt sur les plus-values, ce qui constitue un avantage significatif, en particulier pour les investisseurs en cryptomonnaies et les particuliers fortunés.

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Contact :

Sarah Nicklin
Responsable du groupe en charge des relations publiques
[email protected]
+27 72 464 8965


GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000987990

Bitget Launches P2P Security Layer ‘Shield’ to Ensure Safety and Mitigate Users’ Losses

Bitget Launches P2P Security Layer ‘Shield’ to Ensure Safety and Mitigate Users’ Losses

Bitget Launches P2P Security Layer ‘Shield’ to Ensure Safety and Mitigate Users’

LossesVICTORIA, Seychelles, Aug. 26, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget, the leading cryptocurrency exchange, has announced the launch of P2P security layer Shield, which increases security within its peer-to-peer (P2P) trading. This new layer is aimed at ensuring users, building trust and reliability of the platform from fraudulent activities that can occur in P2P transactions.

The Bitget P2P Shield program offers financial protection to users who are victims to fraud on peer settlements. In such cases, users are assured of compensation to mitigate losses directly related to the platform’s operations. This feature aims to build trust among users, ensuring a more confident trading experience.

The P2P Shield is an addition to Bitget’s security layer which boasts of a $300M Protection Fund and transparent Proof-of-Reserves. The introduction of Bitget P2P Shield shows the platform’s focus on creating a safer environment for P2P trading. By addressing potential risks, Bitget aims to strengthen its position as a trusted player in crypto space.

In order to prevent P2P scams, it is important for users to verify payment deposits before releasing crypto, and mark payments as completed. Additionally, traders should avoid canceling orders post-payment and refrain from sharing personal details during trades. Unverified communications should not be trusted and users need to ensure the sender’s name matches the KYC details, and only trade within the platform to stay secure.

It is vital to note that the Shield program only covers platform-related issues. Users are encouraged to remain vigilant and exercise caution, as losses due to user-related errors, such as failing to verify payments or trading with untrusted parties, are not covered.

As a major fiat-to-crypto channel, the Bitget P2P platform now supports nearly 70 fiats including EUR, NGN and BRL. To facilitate payment, it has added over 30 payment methods such as Volet.com (Formerly Advcash), Revolut, and Bank Transfer.

For more information on P2P Shield, please visit the official announcement here.

About Bitget

Established in 2018, Bitget is the world’s leading cryptocurrency exchange and Web3 company. Serving over 30 million users in 100+ countries and regions, the Bitget exchange is committed to helping users trade smarter with its pioneering copy trading feature and other trading solutions. Formerly known as BitKeep, Bitget Wallet is a world-class multi-chain crypto wallet that offers an array of comprehensive Web3 solutions and features including wallet functionality, swap, NFT Marketplace, DApp browser, and more. Bitget inspires individuals to embrace crypto through collaborations with credible partners, including legendary Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and Turkish National athletes Buse Tosun Çavuşoğlu (Wrestling world champion), Samet Gümüş (Boxing gold medalist) and İlkin Aydın (Volleyball national team).

For more information, visit: Website | Twitter | Telegram | LinkedIn | Discord | Bitget Wallet
For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

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GlobeNewswire Distribution ID 1000988385

Minister of Police commends the SAPS following successful rescue of Pastor Phillip Mashudu and his wife


The Minister of Police, Mr Senzo Mchunu commends the South African Police Service (SAPS), following the successful rescue of Pastor Phillip Mashudu (55) and his wife, Mrs Elsie Matlou Mashudu (54). The couple went missing on Friday, 23 August 2024, while en route from Bethlehem to Parys, after being stopped by suspects impersonating police officers in full uniform.

It is as a result of the quick response and relentless determination of a multi-disciplinary team, that credible leads were pursued around the clock, ultimately leading to the location of the victims on the evening of Monday, 27 August 2024. Dr. Azwihangwi Maumela, speaking on behalf of the Mashudu family, has expressed the family’s profound gratitude for the exceptional service provided by our police officers.

In commending the SAPS, Minister Mchunu stated the following: “I am pleased to report that the victims were found in a physically stable condition. This incident is a stark reminder of the challenges we face in our ongoing efforts to main
tain public safety however, it is also a testament to what can be achieved when our police service acts with resolve, diligence, and integrity. We extend our gratitude to all the teams involved; your unwavering commitment and professionalism have not only brought about a successful resolution to this case but have also restored a sense of security and faith within our community. The safety and security of every citizen remain our top priority. We will look into the allegations of possible involvement of police officers and where there are police officers implicated, we will take action. Corruption within the SAPS will not be tolerated and we urge anyone with information to come forward and assist the police.”

The four suspects, aged between 31 and 41 years of age, have been apprehended and will appear in the Sasolburg Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, 29 August 2024 on charges of hijacking and kidnapping.

For more information, contact Ministry Spokesperson, Kamogelo Mogotsi on 076 523 0085 or Brigadier Athlen
da Mathe, Spokesperson for the SAPS on 082 040 8808. For media releases, speeches and news visit the SAPS portal at: www.saps.gov.za

X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/SAPoliceService

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAPoliceService

Instagram: https://instagram.com/sapoliceservice_za/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/SAPoliceService

Website: www.saps.gov.za

Source: South African Police Service