1401 Penn Project Receives Repayment

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — EB5 Capital, a leading Regional Center operator in the EB–5 industry, announced today that it has received a partial $12.38 million repayment from the recapitalization of the 1401 Penn (JF20) project.

The remaining $4.62 million balance of the $17.0 million EB–5 investment will remain invested in the project alongside a new senior lender and preferred equity provider.

Completed in July 2020, JF20 is a mixed–use development featuring a seven–story, 167–unit apartment community and over 20,000 square feet of ground–floor retail in Washington, D.C.’s historic Capitol Hill neighborhood. On the ground floor of the property is The Roost, a 12,500 square foot food hall operated by Neighborhood Restaurant Group featuring 12 individual food and beverage concepts. The dynamic food hall has received critical acclaim and is quickly becoming a premier destination on Capitol Hill.

“The repayment of an EB–5 investment by a developer is an important moment in our business cycle,” said Brian Ostar, President of EB5 Capital. “We take great pride in the level of scrutiny potential deals go through. The return of funds reaffirms our investment due diligence process and highlights our team’s ability to identify viable EB–5 investment opportunities for our investors.”

This repayment marks the 18th EB5 Capital project where the company can begin returning funds to investors.

About EB5 Capital

EB5 Capital provides qualified foreign investors with opportunities to invest in job–creating commercial real estate projects under the United States Immigrant Investor Program (EB–5 Visa Program). Headquartered in Washington, DC, EB5 Capital’s distinguished track record and leadership in the industry has attracted investors from over 75 countries. As one of the oldest and most active Regional Center operators in the country, the firm has raised over $1.3 billion of foreign capital across approximately 45 EB–5 projects. 100% of our investors’ funds are protected by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insurance prior to their deployment into our projects. Please visit www.eb5capital.com for more information.

Contact:
Katherine Willis
Director, Marketing & Communications
media@eb5capital.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9357652)

Trident et le ministère des Postes, des Télécommunications et des Technologies numériques de la République démocratique du Congo signent un accord pour la mise en œuvre du Système national d’identité numérique

SINGAPOUR, 12 févr. 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd (« Trident » ou la « Société », NASDAQ : TDTH), un catalyseur majeur de la transformation numérique dans les services d’optimisation technologique et d’activation Web 3.0 basé à Singapour, a annoncé aujourd’hui la signature d’un accord de mise en œuvre avec le ministère des Postes, des Télécommunications et des Technologies numériques de la République démocratique du Congo (« RDC » ou la « République »). Cet accord marque le début du déploiement du Système national d’identité numérique.

Cet accord de collaboration préliminaire détermine le lancement opérationnel d’une plateforme globale d’identification et d’authentification numérique en RDC. Il officialise la collaboration initiale entre Trident et la République démocratique du Congo, qui évolue de la planification stratégique à l’exécution contractuelle.

Cet accord décrit des livrables spécifiques, notamment le développement et le déploiement d’un système intégré de vérification et d’authentification de l’identité numérique basé sur une infrastructure sécurisée pour la fourniture de services gouvernementaux.

En outre, ce système intégrera de solides mesures de protection des données alignées sur les normes internationales afin de garantir la sécurité et la confidentialité des informations des citoyens. Ces éléments fondamentaux visent à révolutionner les interactions entre les citoyens et le gouvernement et marquent ainsi une étape majeure vers une nation numériquement intégrée. Cette technologie profitera également aux citoyens en améliorant l’efficacité et la sécurité des services gouvernementaux, tout en garantissant le contrôle et le consentement des utilisateurs.

Déclarations de l’équipe de direction

Soon Huat Lim, fondateur, président et directeur général de Trident, a déclaré :

« La signature de cet accord représente une étape cruciale dans notre mission de fournir aux citoyens de la RDC des services d’identité numérique sécurisés et accessibles. En travaillant directement avec le ministère des Postes, des Télécommunications et des Technologies numériques, nous mettrons en œuvre des systèmes avancés de vérification et d’authentification de l’identité numérique qui serviront de pierre angulaire à la transformation numérique de la RDC. Cette phase de mise en œuvre se concentrera sur la construction d’une infrastructure robuste afin que chaque citoyen puisse accéder en toute sécurité aux services gouvernementaux grâce à une identité numérique vérifiée. »

Il a ajouté :

« Les systèmes que nous développons établiront de nouvelles normes pour la gouvernance numérique en Afrique, tout en créant un modèle reproductible pour les pays en développement. Ce partenariat est un parfait exemple de la manière dont une technologie innovante peut être exploitée pour générer des changements significatifs dans le quotidien des gens. »

Augustin Kibassa Maliba, ministre des Postes, des Télécommunications et des Technologies numériques de la RDC, a déclaré :

« Le système d’identité numérique est un pilier fondamental de la modernisation de notre pays par le biais de la transformation numérique. Avec Trident, nous serons en mesure de fournir à nos citoyens un accès sécurisé et efficace aux services gouvernementaux, tout en protégeant leurs données personnelles grâce aux progrès de la technologie blockchain. Ce partenariat démontre notre engagement à tirer parti de solutions innovantes dans l’intérêt de tous les Congolais. La mise en œuvre de cette transformation numérique se traduit par la construction d’infrastructures, mais aussi par la création de nouvelles opportunités de croissance économique et d’inclusion sociale. »

À propos de Trident

Basé à Singapour, Trident est un catalyseur pionnier de la transformation numérique dans les secteurs de l’optimisation numérique, les services technologiques et l’activation Web 3.0 à l’échelle mondiale. Cette société propose des solutions numériques commerciales et technologiques conçues pour optimiser l’expérience de ses clients auprès de leurs utilisateurs finaux en favorisant l’adoption du numérique et le libre accès.

Tridentity, son produit phare, est une solution d’identité innovante et hautement sécurisée basée sur la blockchain, conçue pour fournir des capacités d’authentification unique sécurisées aux systèmes tiers intégrés dans divers secteurs. Tridentity entend proposer des fonctionnalités de sécurité inédites afin de garantir la protection des informations sensibles et prévenir les menaces potentielles, promettant ainsi une nouvelle ère sécurisée dans le paysage numérique mondial en général, en Asie du Sud–Est, etc.

Au–delà de Tridentity, la mission de Trident est de devenir le leader mondial de l’activation Web 3.0, en connectant notamment les entreprises à une plateforme technologique fiable et sécurisée, avec des expériences client sur mesure et optimisées.

Clause de non–responsabilité

La présente annonce contient des « déclarations prospectives » (« forward–looking statements ») au sens des dispositions de la « sphère de sécurité » (« safe harbor ») du Private Securities Litigation Reform Act de 1995 des États–Unis. Ces déclarations prospectives peuvent être identifiées par l’emploi de termes tels que « sera », « s’attend », « prévoit », « entend », « futur », « a l’intention », « planifie », « croit », « estime », « susceptible de » et d’autres expressions de même sens. La Société peut également faire des déclarations prospectives écrites ou orales dans ses rapports périodiques à la Securities and Exchange Commission des États–Unis (la « SEC »), dans son rapport annuel aux actionnaires, dans des annonces et autres documents écrits, ainsi que dans des déclarations orales faites par ses dirigeants, administrateurs ou employés à des tiers. Les déclarations ne relevant pas de faits historiques, y compris les déclarations concernant les convictions, les projets et les attentes de la Société, constituent des déclarations prospectives. Les déclarations prospectives impliquent des risques et des incertitudes inhérents, y compris la possibilité qu’un accord définitif ne soit pas conclu comme le prévoit l’accord de collaboration préliminaire évoqué dans la présente annonce, et la possibilité que le système e–GOV ne se concrétise pas comme le prévoit l’accord de collaboration préliminaire ou un accord définitif éventuellement conclu. En raison d’un certain nombre de facteurs, les résultats réels pourraient différer sensiblement de ceux contenus dans des déclarations prospectives, y compris, sans toutefois s’y limiter, les éléments suivants : les stratégies, le développement commercial futur, la situation financière et les résultats d’exploitation de la Société ; la croissance attendue du marché des solutions numériques ; les évolutions politiques, économiques, sociales et juridiques dans les juridictions où la Société opère ou dans lesquelles la Société a l’intention de développer ses activités et ses opérations ; la capacité de la Société à maintenir et à améliorer sa marque. De plus amples informations concernant ces risques et d’autres risques sont incluses dans les documents déposés par la Société auprès de la SEC. Toutes les informations contenues dans la présente annonce sont fournies à la date des présentes, et la Société décline toute obligation de mettre à jour les déclarations prospectives, sauf si la loi applicable l’exige.

Contacts investisseurs et médias

Relations avec les investisseurs
Robin Yang, Associé
ICR, LLC
E–mail : investor@tridentity.me 
Téléphone : +1 (212) 321–0602

Relations avec les médias
Brad Burgess, Vice–président principal
ICR, LLC
E–mail : Brad.Burgess@icrinc.com 

Une photo accompagnant la présente annonce est disponible à l’adresse suivante : https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1627fdde–b97d–48f2–b2b9–f50149c37570


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9357435)

Trident and the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Technology of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Sign an Agreement for the Implementation of the National Digital Identity System

SINGAPORE, Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Trident Digital Tech Holdings Ltd (“Trident” or the “Company,” NASDAQ: TDTH), a leading catalyst for digital transformation in technology optimization services and Web 3.0 activation based in Singapore, today announced the signing of an implementation agreement with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Technology of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (“DRC” or the “Republic”). This agreement marks the beginning of the deployment of the national digital identity system.

This preliminary collaboration agreement signifies the operational launch of a comprehensive digital identification and authentication platform in the DRC. It formalizes the initial collaboration between Trident and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, transitioning from strategic planning to contractual execution.

The agreement outlines specific deliverables, including the development and deployment of an integrated digital identity verification and authentication system based on a secure infrastructure for delivering government services.

Furthermore, the system will incorporate robust data protection measures aligned with international standards, ensuring the security and confidentiality of citizens’ information. These fundamental elements aim to revolutionize interactions between citizens and the government, marking a major step toward a digitally integrated nation. This technology will also benefit citizens by enhancing the efficiency and security of government services while ensuring user control and consent.

Statements from Leadership

Soon Huat Lim, Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of Trident, stated:

“The signing of this agreement represents a crucial milestone in our mission to provide the citizens of the DRC with secure and accessible digital identity services. By working directly with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Technology, we will implement advanced digital identity verification and authentication systems that will serve as the cornerstone of the DRC’s digital transformation. This implementation phase will focus on building a robust infrastructure, ensuring that every citizen can securely access government services through a verified digital identity.”

He added:

“The systems we are developing will establish new standards for digital governance in Africa while creating a replicable model for developing nations. This partnership is a prime example of how innovative technology can be leveraged to drive meaningful change in people’s daily lives.”

H.E. Augustin Kibassa Maliba, Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Technology of the DRC, commented:

“The Digital Identity System is a key pillar in modernizing our country through digital transformation. With Trident, we will be able to provide our citizens with secure and efficient access to government services while protecting their personal data through advancements in blockchain technology. This partnership demonstrates our commitment to leveraging innovative solutions for the benefit of all Congolese. By implementing this digital transformation, we are not only building infrastructure but also creating new opportunities for economic growth and social inclusion.”

About Trident

Trident is a leading catalyst for digital transformation in digital optimization, technology services, and Web 3.0 activation worldwide based in Singapore. The Company offers commercial and technological digital solutions designed to optimize its clients’ experience with their end–users by promoting digital adoption and self–service.

Tridentity, the Company’s flagship product, is an innovative and highly secure blockchain–based identity solution designed to provide secure single sign–on authentication capabilities to integrated third–party systems across various industries. Tridentity aims to offer unparalleled security features, ensuring the protection of sensitive information and preventing potential threats, thus promising a new secure era in the global digital landscape in general, and in Southeast Asia etc.

Beyond Tridentity, the Company’s mission is to become the global leader in Web 3.0 activation, notably connecting businesses to a reliable and secure technological platform, with tailored and optimized customer experiences.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains statements that may constitute “forward–looking” statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward–looking statements can be identified by terminology such as “will,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “aims,” “future,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “estimates,” “likely to,” and similar statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward–looking statements in its periodic reports to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), in its annual report to shareholders, in announcements and other written materials, and in oral statements made by its officers, directors, or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company’s beliefs, plans, and expectations, are forward–looking statements. Forward–looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including the possibility that a definitive agreement will not be concluded as contemplated under the preliminary collaboration agreement discussed in this announcement, and the possibility that the e–GOV system will not materialize as contemplated under the preliminary collaboration agreement or a definitive agreement if and once concluded. A number of factors could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward–looking statement, including but not limited to the following: the Company’s strategies, future business development, and financial condition and results of operations; the expected growth of the digital solutions market; the political, economic, social and legal developments in the jurisdictions that the Company operates in or in which the Company intends to expand its business and operations; the Company’s ability to maintain and enhance its brand. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company’s filings with the SEC. All information provided in this announcement is as of the date of this announcement, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward–looking statement, except as required under applicable law.

Investor and Media Contacts

Investor Relations
Robin Yang, Partner
ICR, LLC
Email: investor@tridentity.me
Phone: +1 (212) 321–0602

Media Relations
Brad Burgess, SVP
ICR, LLC
Email: Brad.Burgess@icrinc.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/1627fdde–b97d–48f2–b2b9–f50149c37570


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9357153)

Boulder Imaging Powers First CDI2-Compliant Technology for Central Banks

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boulder Imaging, a leader in machine vision and artificial intelligence solutions, is proud to announce the world’s first Common Detector Interface 2 (CDI2)–compliant software. This pioneering software, combined with Authentix GemVision™ sensors and image processing and fitness algorithms, is designed to deliver unprecedented speed and accuracy in banknote authentication and quality assessment.

The Common Detector Interface 2 (CDI2) standard, developed by the U.S. Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank, represents a significant advancement for central banks globally. This high–tech solution standardizes banknote inspection, reduces currency waste, optimizes quality, and lowers environmental impact by increasing the lifespan of notes in circulation.

Not only does Boulder Imaging’s software comply with the CDI2 standard, but it also exceeds the requirements in many areas. The software assesses the quality of each banknote at a rate of 40 notes per second—or more than 140,000 notes per hour—with an accuracy rate exceeding 99.99%. This commitment to excellence is validated by the company's Intergraf certification, which ensures compliance with the highest international standards for the banknote and security industry.

“Through Boulder Imaging’s leadership, CDI2 has transitioned from a technical specification to an operational reality, increasing yield and reducing costs for central banks,” said Don Mills, president and chief operating officer at Boulder Imaging. “We remain committed to delivering innovative tools that ensure speed, accuracy, and scalability for years to come.”

The industry–wide adoption of CDI2 is expected to revolutionize currency management, enabling central banks to select the most suitable detection technologies from multiple suppliers. As the banknote industry embraces this new standard, Boulder Imaging is well–positioned to provide flexible and customizable solutions, allowing central banks to optimize their banknote management processes and accommodate future security features and materials for next–generation banknotes.

Learn more at www.boulderimaging.com/banknote

About Boulder Imaging

Founded in 1995, Boulder Imaging develops and delivers innovative machine vision and artificial intelligence solutions that transform quality assurance. With unprecedented speed, accuracy, and scalability, its inspection systems solve the toughest challenges in industries including architectural products, automotive, renewable energy, security paper, and banknotes. Headquartered in Colorado, USA, Boulder Imaging is committed to advancing machine vision technology to address complex inspection needs worldwide. For more information, visit www.boulderimaging.com.

About Authentix
As the authority in authentication solutions, Authentix brings enhanced visibility and traceability to today’s complex global supply chains. For over 25 years, Authentix has provided clients with physical and software–enabled solutions to detect, mitigate, and prevent counterfeiting and other illicit trading activity for currency, excise taxable goods, and branded consumer products. The CDI2 sensors are the fifth generation of high–speed sensors that Authentix has sold to central banks. Through a proven partnership model and sector expertise, clients experience custom solution design, rapid implementation, consumer engagement, and complete program management to ensure product safety, revenue protection, and consumer trust for the best–known global brands on the market. Headquartered in Addison, Texas USA, Authentix, Inc. has offices in North America, Europe, Middle East, Asia, and Africa serving clients worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.authentix.com. Authentix® is a registered trademark of Authentix, Inc.

CONTACT INFORMATION
Tawney Eisenbraun
Marketing and Communications Manager
marketing@boulderimaging.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9356664)

Boulder Imaging stellt erste CDI2-konforme Technologie für Zentralbanken bereit

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Feb. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boulder Imaging, ein führender Anbieter von maschinellen Bildverarbeitungslösungen und künstlicher Intelligenz, stellt die weltweit erste CDI2–konforme (Common Detector Interface 2) Software vor. Diese bahnbrechende Software wurde in Kombination mit Authentix GemVision™ Sensoren und Bildverarbeitungs– und Fitness–Algorithmen entwickelt, um eine beispiellose Geschwindigkeit und Genauigkeit bei der Echtheitsprüfung und Qualitätsbewertung von Banknoten zu gewährleisten.

Der von der US–Notenbank (U.S. Federal Reserve) und der Europäischen Zentralbank (European Central Bank) entwickelte Standard Common Detector Interface 2 (CDI2) stellt einen bedeutenden Fortschritt für Zentralbanken weltweit dar. Diese Hightech–Lösung standardisiert die Banknotenprüfung, reduziert den Geldverschleiß, optimiert die Qualität und reduziert die Umweltbelastung durch eine längere Lebensdauer der im Umlauf befindlichen Banknoten.

Die Software von Boulder Imaging erfüllt nicht nur den CDI2–Standard, sondern übertrifft die Anforderungen in vielen Bereichen. Die Software bewertet die Qualität jeder Banknote bei einer Geschwindigkeit von 40 Banknoten pro Sekunde – oder mehr als 140.000 Banknoten pro Stunde – mit einer Genauigkeit von über 99,99 %. Dieses Engagement für Spitzenleistungen wird durch die Intergraf–Zertifizierung des Unternehmens bekräftigt, mit der die Einhaltung der höchsten internationalen Standards für die Banknoten– und Sicherheitsindustrie gewährleistet wird.

„Dank der Vorreiterrolle von Boulder Imaging hat sich CDI2 von einer technischen Spezifikation zu einer betrieblichen Realität entwickelt, die den Ertrag steigert und die Kosten für Zentralbanken senkt“, so Don Mills, President und Chief Operating Officer von Boulder Imaging. „Wir werden auch in den kommenden Jahren innovative Tools bereitstellen, die Schnelligkeit, Genauigkeit und Skalierbarkeit gewährleisten.“

Die branchenweite Einführung von CDI2 soll das Währungsmanagement revolutionieren und den Zentralbanken die Möglichkeit geben, die am besten geeignete Erkennungstechnologie unter mehreren Anbietern auszuwählen. Während die Banknotenindustrie diesen neuen Standard einführt, ist Boulder Imaging gut positioniert, um flexible und anpassbare Lösungen bereitzustellen, die es Zentralbanken ermöglichen, ihre Banknotenmanagementprozesse zu optimieren und zukünftige Sicherheitsmerkmale und –materialien für Banknoten der nächsten Generation zu berücksichtigen.

Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.boulderimaging.com/banknote

Über Boulder Imaging

Das 1995 gegründete Unternehmen Boulder Imaging entwickelt und vertreibt innovative Bildverarbeitungs– und KI–Lösungen, die den Bereich der Qualitätssicherung revolutionieren. Mit beispielloser Geschwindigkeit, Genauigkeit und Skalierbarkeit lösen die Prüfsysteme des Unternehmens die schwierigsten Herausforderungen in Branchen wie Architekturprodukte, Automobilindustrie, erneuerbare Energien, Sicherheitspapier und Banknoten. Boulder Imaging hat seinen Hauptsitz in Colorado, USA, und widmet sich der Weiterentwicklung der industriellen Bildverarbeitungstechnologie zur Lösung komplexer Prüfaufgaben weltweit. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter www.boulderimaging.com.

Über Authentix
Als Autorität für Authentifizierungslösungen sorgt Authentix für mehr Transparenz und Rückverfolgbarkeit in den komplexen globalen Lieferketten von heute. Seit mehr als 25 Jahren bietet Authentix seinen Kunden physische und softwarebasierte Lösungen zur Erkennung, Eindämmung und Verhinderung von Fälschungen und anderen illegalen Handelsaktivitäten im Zusammenhang mit Währungen, verbrauchsteuerpflichtigen Waren und Markenprodukten. Die CDI2 Sensoren sind die fünfte Generation von Hochgeschwindigkeitssensoren, die Authentix an Zentralbanken verkauft hat. Durch ein bewährtes Partnerschaftsmodell und Branchenexpertise profitieren Kunden von maßgeschneiderten Lösungsdesigns, schneller Implementierung, Kundenbindung und umfassendem Programmmanagement, die Produktsicherheit, Umsatzschutz und Verbrauchervertrauen für die bekanntesten globalen Marken auf dem Markt gewährleisten. Authentix, Inc. hat seinen Hauptsitz in Addison, Texas, USA, und unterhält Niederlassungen in Nordamerika, Europa, dem Nahen Osten, Asien und Afrika, um Kunden auf der ganzen Welt zu unterstützen. Weitere Informationen finden Sie unter https://www.authentix.com. Authentix® ist eine eingetragene Marke der Authentix, Inc.

KONTAKT
Tawney Eisenbraun
Marketing and Communications Manager
marketing@boulderimaging.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9356665)

Boulder Imaging développe la première technologie conforme à la norme CDI2 destinée aux banques centrales

LOUISVILLE, Colo., 12 févr. 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Boulder Imaging, un leader dans les solutions de vision industrielle et d’intelligence artificielle, est fier d’annoncer la mise sur le marché du premier logiciel au monde conforme à la norme Common Detector Interface 2 (CDI2). Ce logiciel pionnier, associé aux capteurs Authentix GemVision™ et aux algorithmes de traitement d’image et de conditionnement, est conçu pour assurer une rapidité et une précision sans précédent dans l’authentification et l’évaluation de la qualité des billets de banque.

La norme CDI2 (Common Detector Interface 2), établie par la Réserve fédérale américaine et la Banque centrale européenne, constitue une avancée significative pour les banques centrales du monde entier. Cette solution de pointe permet de standardiser l’inspection des billets de banque, de réduire le gaspillage de monnaie, d’optimiser la qualité et de réduire l’impact sur l’environnement en augmentant la durée de vie des billets en circulation.

Non seulement le logiciel de Boulder Imaging est conforme à la norme CDI2, mais il dépasse également les exigences dans de nombreux domaines. Ce logiciel évalue la qualité de chaque billet à une vitesse de 40 billets par seconde, soit plus de 140 000 billets par heure, avec un taux de précision supérieur à 99,99 %. Cet engagement en matière d’excellence est validé par la certification Intergraf de la société, qui garantit la conformité aux normes internationales les plus strictes du secteur des billets de banque et de la sécurité.

Don Mills, Président et directeur d’exploitation chez Boulder Imaging, a déclaré : « Grâce au dynamisme de Boulder Imaging, la norme CDI2 est passée d’une caractéristique technique à une réalité opérationnelle, augmentant ainsi le rendement et réduisant les coûts pour les banques centrales ». « Nous restons déterminés à fournir des outils innovants assurant rapidité, précision et évolutivité pour les années à venir ».

L’adoption de CDI2 par l’ensemble du secteur devrait révolutionner la gestion des devises, en permettant aux banques centrales de sélectionner les technologies de détection les plus adaptées auprès de multiples fournisseurs. Alors que le secteur des billets de banque adopte cette nouvelle norme, Boulder Imaging est bien placé pour fournir des solutions flexibles et personnalisables, permettant aux banques centrales d’optimiser leurs processus de gestion des billets de banque et de répondre aux futures exigences en matière de sécurité et de matériaux pour les billets de banque de la prochaine génération.

Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site www.boulderimaging.com/banknote

À propos de Boulder Imaging

Fondée en 1995, Boulder Imaging développe et fournit des solutions innovantes en matière de vision industrielle et d’intelligence artificielle qui révolutionnent le contrôle qualité. Grâce à sa vitesse, sa précision et son évolutivité sans précédent, ses systèmes d’inspection permettent de relever les défis les plus complexes dans des secteurs tels que les matériaux architecturaux, l’automobile, les énergies renouvelables, les papiers sécurisés et les billets de banque. Boulder Imaging, dont le siège est situé dans le Colorado (États–Unis), s’engage à développer la technologie de la vision industrielle pour répondre aux besoins complexes en matière de contrôle dans le monde entier. Pour en savoir plus, consultez le site www.boulderimaging.com.

À propos d’Authentix
En tant qu’autorité en matière de solutions d’authentification, Authentix apporte une visibilité et une traçabilité accrues aux chaînes d’approvisionnement mondiales complexes d’aujourd’hui. Depuis plus de 25 ans, Authentix fournit à ses clients des solutions physiques et logicielles pour détecter, atténuer et prévenir la contrefaçon et d’autres activités commerciales illicites pour les devises, les produits soumis à accises et les produits de consommation de marque. Les capteurs CDI2 constituent la cinquième génération de capteurs à grande vitesse commercialisés par Authentix auprès des banques centrales. Grâce à un modèle de partenariat éprouvé et à une expertise sectorielle, les clients bénéficient d’une conception de solution personnalisée, d’une mise en œuvre rapide, d’un engagement des consommateurs et d’une gestion complète du programme afin de garantir la sécurité des produits, la protection des revenus et la confiance des consommateurs dans les marques mondiales les plus connues sur le marché. Authentix, Inc., dont le siège social est situé à Addison, au Texas (États–Unis), dispose de bureaux en Amérique du Nord, en Europe, au Moyen–Orient, en Asie et en Afrique, au service de clients du monde entier. Pour plus d’informations, consultez le site https://www.authentix.com. Authentix® est une marque déposée de Authentix, Inc.

INFORMATIONS DE CONTACT
Tawney Eisenbraun
Directrice du marketing et de la communication
marketing@boulderimaging.com


GLOBENEWSWIRE (Distribution ID 9356665)

Sexual Violence and Displacement: Disproportionate Threats to Children in Haiti

UNICEF Global Spokesperson James Elder visits a school in Port-au-Prince, which UNICEF and partners relocated from La Saline in 2023, after its students got caught up in a clash between two armed groups. Credit: UNICEF/Ralph Tedy Erol

By Oritro Karim
UNITED NATIONS, Feb 12 2025 – As ongoing gang violence and unrest bring down the living conditions in Haiti, humanitarian groups sound the alarm on human rights violations and the increasing challenges they dace in providing relief efforts.

On February 7, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) issued a press release in which they detailed the deterioration of living conditions in Haiti, particularly as it impacts young girls.

“A staggering 1,000 per cent rise in sexual violence against children in Haiti has turned their bodies into battlegrounds. The 10-fold rise, recorded from 2023 to last year, comes as armed groups inflict unimaginable horrors on children,” said UNICEF spokesperson James Elder. He added that there was instances of young girls being abducted, beaten, drugged, raped, and held for ransom by gang members.

On January 22, Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), released an informational animated video which sheds light on the daily lives of survivors of abuse in Haiti. In this video, it is stated that roughly 4,200 Haitian women were subjected to sexual assault last year, marking a 140 percent increase from 2022.

Life for survivors in Haiti has been described as very difficult as the country has limited psychosocial and medical resources. There are only a few emergency shelters that provide care for survivors, which are strained due to a high volume of patients. Survivors of sexual violence are often forced to reside in displacement camps or public streets, with some even returning back to the site of their assaults.

Heightened insecurity has made it difficult for most to seek justice or gain orders of protection. Additionally, survivors are often not granted legal or economic assistance due to the wide scale of needs.

“We see again and again that survivors cannot return safely to their regular lives, they often have no safe space to go to. So emergency shelter or safe houses is the biggest need cited by survivors of sexual violence,” said Diana Manilla Arroyo, the MSF head of mission in Haiti.

According to a report from the United Nations (UN), Haiti’s legal system is currently paralyzed. Despite the efforts of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé to revamp the judicial system in 2024, progress on the apprehension of perpetrators has been slow. As of now, no arrests have been made.

Currently, gangs control approximately 85 percent of Port-Au-Prince. Approximately 1.2 million children are under constant threat of armed violence. In 2024 alone, there was a 70 percent increase in child recruitments into gangs. Half of all gang members are estimated to be children, with some as young as eight years old.

This has been attributed to the collapse of social services for children in Haiti, particularly education. According to UNICEF, over 300,000 children have experienced disruptions in their education due to repeated displacement and widespread insecurity. Due to not having ways to make income or access protection services, many Haitian children join armed groups to avoid violence.

“Many are taken by force. Others are manipulated or driven by extreme poverty. It’s a lethal cycle: Children are recruited into the groups that fuel their own suffering,” said Elder.

UNICEF’s Chief of Child Survival and Development for Haiti, Gianluca Flamigni, visited a displacement shelter in 2025 to speak with displaced communities about their experiences. Dieussica, a 13-year old Haitian girl residing in the shelter, told Flamigni that children desperately “need education. Too many young people are carrying weapons.”

Following the gang attacks in Kenscoff in late January, rates of displacement have soared. According to figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a total of 3,139 people have been displaced from these attacks alone. Over 1 million people have been displaced in 2024, 500,000 of which are children. Additionally, rates of displacement in Port-Au-Prince have increased by approximately 87 percent since 2023.

Rates of violence have also skyrocketed in the past year. According to estimates from Save the Children, 2024 was the deadliest year for children and their families since the eruption of gang violence in 2022. Roughly 289 children were killed last year, marking a 68 percent increase from 2023. An average of 24 children were killed in each month of 2024.

Humanitarian operations have seen numerous restrictions in 2024 and 2025. In the last quarter of 2024, MSF, which has been instrumental in providing direct medical assistance to Haitians, announced that they had to temporarily halt operations following a series of attacks on medical personnel. Although MSF resumed services 22 days later, Haiti continued to face a shortage of medical supplies and staff.

Currently, the UN’s 674 million dollar response fund for Haiti has only been 42 percent funded. To adequately provide support for the millions of Haitians in the midst of a dire humanitarian crisis, it is imperative that aid organizations are able to scale up responses. The UN Security Council continues to urge the international community to increase protection services.

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


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Legal Amendments in Iraq Threaten Rights of Women and Girls

Credit: United Nations, Iraq

By Dima Dabbous
BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb 12 2025 – Efforts to end child marriage in Iraq are facing a serious threat, with the Iraqi Council of Representatives’ approval of amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law raising grave concerns that it risks permitting child marriage for girls.

These legal amendments would grant religious authorities in Iraq greater control over family matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance, and the care of children by allowing clerics in Islamic Courts to rule on these in accordance with the clerics’ interpretations of Islamic law.

This includes permitting the marriage of minors according to the specific religious sect under which the marriage contract is conducted, meaning that the minimum age of marriage could be lowered below 18, and could vary between different religious denominations.

If this goes ahead, it would be a profound violation of human rights and risks undermining legal protections for women and girls, in direct contravention of international human rights commitments, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child, to which Iraq is a signatory.

It is important to note that these changes have not yet been made to Iraq’s personal status law. The amendment passed by the Iraqi Council of Representatives on January 21, 2025, only granted religious authorities the ability to interpret and potentially modify the law, but the alterations have not been implemented yet.

On February 4, Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court suspended implementation of the controversial bill after a number of members of parliament filed a complaint on the grounds that the voting process was illegal. This provides a crucial opportunity for continued advocacy, with the persistent efforts of civil society organizations already having a positive impact.

Now is a critical moment to join together in action to help safeguard and strengthen the rights of women and girls in Iraq, and prevent their fundamental human rights from being further eroded.

Child marriage puts girls at greater risk of harm

If the amendment is implemented, it could end a ban on the marriage of children under the age of 18 that has been in place In Iraq since 1959 – although this did include a provision allowing a child to be married with a judge’s consent.

In 2022, UNICEF reported that 28% of girls in Iraq were married under the age of 18, and 7% were married before they turned 15. Child marriage rates vary across different Iraqi regions, with the highest prevalence found in Missan (43.5%), Najaf (37.2%), and Karbalah (36.8%).

Legalizing child marriage under any pretext sets a dangerous precedent. It is not a cultural or religious necessity but a harmful practice that perpetuates cycles of poverty, illiteracy, and gender-based violence.

Marrying girls while they are still children puts them at greater risk of exploitation and is associated with higher rates of early and forced pregnancy, physical and sexual abuse, psychological trauma, and limited access to education, employment, and financial independence.

Women and girls need greater protection in personal status laws

Personal status laws govern some of the most intimate aspects of family relationships, such as marriage, divorce, child custody, inheritance, and property ownership. In many countries, these laws are deeply rooted in discriminatory traditions that prioritize the rights of men and boys over women and girls.

As a result, women and girls in Iraq, and in many other countries, continue to face significant challenges due to sex discrimination written into personal status laws.

Reforming this type of legislation has proved to be one of the most intractable areas of legal change because laws governing family relationships are deeply intertwined with beliefs about religion, tradition, and culture.

The weakening of legal protections for women and girls in Iraq reflects a disturbing global trend. Around the world, efforts to roll back laws that protect women’s and girls’ rights are gaining momentum, putting millions at risk of child and forced marriage, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced pregnancy due to curtailed access to reproductive healthcare.

Collaborating to protect women’s and girls’ legal rights

The proposed amendments to Iraq’s Personal Status Law threaten to normalize harmful practices like child marriage, potentially undermining decades of progressive reform that established greater safeguards for women and girls and helped unify the country’s family law provisions.

As the United Nations in Iraq has highlighted in its statement released in response to recent developments, legal reforms must “align with Iraq’s international human rights commitments, particularly in relation to safeguarding the rights and well-being of women and children, in a way that meets the aspirations of the Iraqi people and preserves the country’s historic achievements and gains.”

Women’s rights supporters are united in opposition to harmful legal reforms that endanger the rights of women and girls across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Local advocates in Iraq are collaborating alongside leading MENA women’s rights organizations as part of the Hurra Coalition, which seeks to reform family laws at national and regional levels in compliance with international human rights standards.

Through evidence-based advocacy and survivor-centered approaches, Hurra Coalition members are building a regional movement to protect girls’ rights within the family, their safety, and autonomy over their futures.

This includes calling for comprehensive family law reforms that uphold and advance equality, ensure safety, and guarantee access to justice for all, without discrimination. We urge the global community to support the human rights of Iraqi women and girls by amplifying advocacy and promoting their protection.

Governments, lawmakers, and global institutions must stand firm in upholding the legal rights of women and girls to safeguard them from harm in Iraq and in all countries around the world.

Dr. Dima Dabbous is Equality Now’s Regional Representative in the Middle East and North Africa

Equality Now is an international human rights organization dedicated to protecting and promoting the rights of all women and girls worldwide. Its work is organized around four main program areas: Achieving Legal Equality, Ending Sexual Violence, Ending Harmful Practices, and Ending Sexual Exploitation, with a cross-cutting focus on the unique challenges facing adolescent girls.

IPS UN Bureau

 


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Race Against Time as Hunger, Poverty Rise Amid Growing Global Uncertainties

IFAD president Alvaro Lario at a media conference during the first day of the 48th session of the IFAD Governing Council. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

IFAD president Alvaro Lario at a media conference during the first day of the 48th session of the IFAD Governing Council. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

By Joyce Chimbi
ROME & NAIROBI, Feb 12 2025 – Nearly one in 11 people in the world and one in five people in Africa go hungry every day, a crisis primarily driven by chronic inequality, climate change, conflict and economic instability. At the current pace, hunger and extreme poverty rates show little sign of drastically receding by 2030.

Speaking on the backdrop of IFAD’s annual Governing Council, King Letsie III of Lesotho, African Union Nutrition Champion, Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, Alvaro Lario, IFAD President, and Dayana Dokera Domico, Indigenous and youth activist, leader of the Emberá People, spoke of finding solutions amid increasingly complex and uncertain global alliances, priorities and development financing.

“There are hundreds of millions of people in extreme poverty. It is important for us today to continue working together on a collective action supported by governments, development financial institutions, multilateral development banks and public development banks. It is very important that we continue investing in creating stable rural communities as the foundation for global stability. At the same time, productive agriculture means less hunger,” said Lario, stressing that together they will explore ways to catalyze investment.

As the world’s fund for transforming agriculture, rural economies and food systems, IFAD’s work focuses on those who are otherwise left behind, supporting vulnerable rural people. Often referred to as “the last mile,” IFAD considers rural areas the first mile, as this is where small-scale farmers grow the food that nourishes the planet.

On February 12 and 13, 2025, the 48th session of the IFAD Governing Council, IFAD’s main decision-making body, will bring together heads of state, ministers, high-level representatives of international financial institutions and multilateral development banks, Indigenous peoples representatives and others from rural communities globally to generate investments for rural people.

“That we are in the presence of heads of states, government ministers, heads of multilateral development banks and financial institutions is a demonstration of a shared belief in the IFAD mission and, more so, in the important mission of tackling food insecurity, hunger, inequality, and poverty, of which 80 percent is concentrated in rural areas. It is important that these investments generate impact,” Lario emphasized.

With four in five of the world’s extreme poor people living in rural areas in developing countries, the leaders stressed that tackling agricultural and rural development challenges requires renewed action, strategic focus, innovative thinking and financial instruments that match escalating global problems.

“To adequately address the pressing challenges facing Africa, particularly Southern Africa, we must focus on driving our own development through sustainable nutrition strategies. The recent droughts that have affected most, if not all, of our region have exacerbated food insecurity, and we suspect millions will face hunger in this year, 2025,” King Letsie III explained.

Dayana Dokera Domico, Indigenous and youth activist and leader of the Emberá people, spoke about investments in solutions driven by the indigenous communities. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

Dayana Dokera Domico, Indigenous and youth activist and leader of the Emberá people, spoke about investments in solutions driven by Indigenous communities. Credit: Joyce Chimbi/IPS

“However, in response to some of these challenges, the African Union’s 2025 Declaration emphasizes the importance of nutrition in agricultural development, highlighting the need for investment in agri-food systems that support healthy diets.”

In January, African leaders adopted the 2025 Kampala Declaration, setting the African Union’s agrifood systems strategy for the next 10 years. The declaration is highly critical and timely, as over 40 million people were food insecure in West and Central Africa in 2024. Nigeria, Cameroon and Chad were the most affected as Mali, Sudan and South Sudan experienced catastrophic acute food insecurity.

On the back of a devastating drought in Southern Africa and persistent malnutrition on the continent, King Letsie III provided a unique perspective on the country’s approach to tackling food insecurity. A “state of National Food Insecurity Disaster” was declared in July 2025 and more than 400,000 people are expected to experience crisis levels of acute hunger through March 2025.

Bio spoke from his experience of leading a country coming out of a decade-long civil war—from fragility to prosperity. Stressing the need to leverage self-determination, dialogue and cooperation, including with strong development financial institutions such as IFAD and the need to venture into the world in search of additional partners for the resources needed to open up agriculture as the mainstay of our economy.

“To grow our economy, we should be able to have a major transformation in that sector. In order to be able to take care of the youth bulge, which is a blessing but could also be a curse, we have to be able to embark on a successful agrarian revolution, or transformation, as we have started. In order to deal with the food insecurity, which has been accentuated as a result of geopolitical tensions and many of the shocks that we have had to endure, we have to definitely have a successful transformation in agriculture,” he said.

As an Indigenous Colombian, Domico called for investments to end hunger and poverty, seeking equitable solutions that are driven by the Indigenous communities themselves, that help communities adapt to climate change, respect traditional Indigenous knowledge and safeguard biodiversity and natural resources.

“In almost all cases, parameters, standards and protocols have been imposed on us. On many occasions, we have even requested the high courts and their jurisprudence to design and implement legitimate differential approaches that allow for intercultural and inter-scientific dialogue—horizontal and respectful—so that public policies on food and nutrition continue to be privileged with traditional knowledge. We have our own knowledge system, which is also valid, which has allowed us to live and survive in time,” she emphasized.

The speakers stressed that hunger and poverty are most entrenched in rural areas of developing countries where nearly half of the global population lives. Yet, small-scale farmers produce one third of the world’s food and seventy percent of the food consumed in low- and middle-income countries.

Despite their strategic importance, rural areas suffer from chronic underinvestment.

The IFAD president spoke of the need to create conditions that attract private sector investments, as official development assistance alone or public sector funding will not be enough and that such conditions include building tertiary rural roads and smaller dams to support irrigation activities, emphasizing the need to work together to create these conditions.

“As a development financial institution, it is even more important that we act as catalysts and that we support governments and, especially, the farmers’ organizations and the small-scale farmers in creating conditions to help them drive their own development. For instance, between 2019 and 2021, investments funded by IFAD increased the incomes of 77 million rural people and improved the food security of another 57 million. It is important that we show the impact of these investments,” he emphasized.

Overall, global leaders discussions emerging from the Governing Council will also contribute to global conversations towards the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, the Nutrition For Growth summit, upcoming OG7 and G20 meetings and the implementation of the Global Alliance against Hunger and Poverty

IPS UN Bureau Report

 


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