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We Must Respond to the Call by the African Union: Educate an Africa Fit for the 21st Century

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Education Cannot Wait Executive Director Yasmine Sherif Statement on Africa Day 2024

NEW YORK, May 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Africa is an amazingly beautiful continent with a powerful young generation who have the inherent right to an inclusive and continued quality education. Yet – and especially in Sub-Saharan Africa – they have been left furthest behind for far too long. Now is the time to right the wrongs.

As we celebrate Africa Day, we call on all leaders in Africa – and all world leaders globally – to support the African Union’s Call to Educate an Africa Fit for the 21st century and make good on the global promises of universal education as outlined in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

More than 60 years ago, African leaders gathered in Ghana for the First Congress of African States. Five years later, on 25 May 1963 – with nearly two-thirds of the continent achieving their longed-for independence – leaders met again in Ethiopia to form the Organization of African Unity. From these early days, the African Union was born in 2002 with the noble vision to create “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”

While progress has been made over the past two decades in delivering on these goals, Africa continues to fall behind in meeting many of the targets outlined in the 2030 Agenda. Think about this: “In 1990, 14% of the world’s poor lived in Africa; by 2019, this number jumped to 57%,” according to the World Bank.

Economic interests and a sense of scarcity – in spite of a continent rich in resources – these diametrically opposed positions tend to lead to conflict and human rights abuses. The brunt of this is born by children, families, teachers and communities in countries like Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, South Sudan and Sudan.

Schools, children and teachers are being increasingly targeted. “The number of violent incidents affecting education in Africa Union countries rose by 20% in 2023 with 411 reports of violent incidents,” according to Save the Children.

Furthermore, climate change is compounding these painful realities putting even more girls and boys in harm’s way. According to Education Cannot Wait’s recent analysis on the impacts of climate change on education: “Over the last decade, more than 91 million school-aged children impacted by crises have faced climate shocks amplified by climate change worldwide. The effects have been particularly pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa, affecting 42 million children. In Sub-Saharan Africa, where climate-related crises are prevalent, internally displaced children are 1.7 times more likely to be out of primary school compared to their non-displaced peers. Girls are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change, with a higher likelihood of dropping out of school and being forced into early marriages.”

While the challenges before us are enormous, there is hope if we take collective, responsible and global action to right the wrongs now.

It starts with embracing the values and commitments outlined in the UN Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights. The people of Africa deserve no less. Their rights must be guaranteed with an emphasis on their right to an inclusive, equitable, quality education, as the very foundation for all other rights.

Together with our strategic donor partners, and through ECW’s investments in partnerships and joint programming (ECW Multi-Year Resilience Programmes) in Africa, we work closely with Ministries of Education and connect a wide array of local and international partners, governments, non-profits and the private sector to deliver unified programming that breaks down silos and delivers quality with impact.

These programmes provide holistic education – the kind of education that the Global North enjoys, such as mental health and psychosocial support, academic learning, school feeding programmes, teacher training and incentives, back-to-school programmes and catch-up classes, vocational training, early childhood education and more – to ensure that African children and adolescents can access true, quality education.

However, we must urgently increase funding for education. Nowhere is this more true than in Africa’s forgotten crises in places like the Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan. According to ECW’s strategic partner Educo: “In Mali, all regions of the country have been affected by attacks on schools by armed groups throughout 2023 forcing their closure. In all, 1,170 schools have closed, affecting more than half a million children and 10,260 teachers. Despite this growing and deteriorating context, the education sector has received the least amount of funding, so that only 16% of the identified students have been reached. In 2023, only 7.4% of the US$96 million appeal has been covered.”

If Africa is to deliver on the promises envisaged 60 years ago for “an integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa,” it must enjoy the rights and resources to focus on educating every girl and boy. A continent that has produced global personalities like Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel and Desmond Tutu among so many other profoundly educated leaders is a continent with great promises for all of us. With a quality education, many more young people will step out of the shadows in Africa and bring the kind of humanity we so desperately need in the world today.

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/we-must-respond-to-the-call-by-the-african-union-educate-an-africa-fit-for-the-21st-century-302152326.html

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SoftBank Corp. and TOPPAN Holdings Develop Lightweight, Durable Skin for Solar HAPS Aircraft Wings

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54 minutes ago

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April 27, 2026

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Skin’s compatibility with stratospheric conditions such as extreme UV rays and ultra-low temperatures makes longer HAPS operations possible

TOKYO, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — SoftBank Corp. (TYO: 9434) (President & CEO: Junichi Miyakawa, “SoftBank”) and TOPPAN Holdings Inc. (TYO: 7911) (President & COO: Satoshi Oya, “TOPPAN Holdings”) jointly developed a lightweight, durable skin for use on solar High-Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) aircraft wings and devised a testing method that replicates the stratosphere’s environment. Test production will go forward, and the aircraft wing skin is planned for use with HTA-type[1] HAPS, which SoftBank plans to deploy for commercial services from 2029 onwards.     

This jointly developed HAPS aircraft wing skin and test method that reproduces stratospheric conditions were made possible by combining SoftBank’s HAPS expertise and TOPPAN Holdings’ know-how accrued over years of creating advanced multi-layered film technology designed for packaging and construction materials. TOPPAN Holdings also leveraged its proprietary technology that evaluates weather resistance. This joint development mitigates film damage (degradation) caused by strong ultraviolet (UV) rays and ultra-low temperatures of almost -100°C. As a result, the aircraft can stay in the stratosphere for longer periods. 

Development Background
HAPS, also referred to as “base stations in the sky,” provide communication services from uncrewed aircraft that remain airborne in the stratosphere. Being able to keep an aircraft with a communications payload airborne for extended periods of time would make it possible to provide an alternative means of communications in the aftermath of large-scale natural disasters, as well as provide communication services to under-connected areas, such as mountainous regions and remote islands. As these platforms operate from the stratosphere at an altitude of approximately 20 km above, they offer wider-area coverage than base stations on the ground, while also providing high-quality, high-volume, low-latency communications superior to satellite-based communications. However, at this altitude in the stratosphere, UV ray and ozone exposure is far greater than at ground level, and with exposure to extremely cold temperatures that sometimes drop to almost -100℃, impaired efficacy due to these environmental factors had been a serious issue with conventional all-purpose skins. Responding to this challenge, SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings jointly developed a new ultra-lightweight, high-durability skin for aircraft wings capable of withstanding the harsh conditions of the stratosphere, along with a specialized methodology for its evaluation.     

Wing Skin & Evaluation Method Characteristics
1. Use of impact-resistant advanced resin and proprietary structure to achieve both lightweighting and safety
Leveraging converting technology[2] developed for packaging by TOPPAN Holdings, an optimized skin structure was achieved by precisely layering original materials and impact-resistant advanced resin suitable for use at extremely low temperature conditions. The resulting skin weighs the same as or less than average conventional all-purpose skin, and even if damage to the skin were to occur, the break-resistant design keeps damage from spreading, allowing for both a safe and lighter HAPS airframe.    

2. Advanced durability to address harsh stratospheric conditions
SoftBank has contributed real-world data from its stratospheric HAPS flights, including actual temperature measurements and deep ultraviolet (UV-C) ray exposure conditions, and has also defined requirements such as weight reduction and other performance criteria. This has enabled TOPPAN Holdings to design a skin that addresses exposure to the harsh environmental conditions of the stratosphere by applying technology developed for construction materials. These conditions particular to the stratosphere include everything from extremely low temperatures (approximately -50℃ to -95℃) to extreme heat (approximately 100℃) from direct sunlight. The skin is also resistant to short wave UV-C and high-concentration ozone (10-20 ppm, parts per million) exposure that are far stronger than at ground level. This durability will allow for extended HAPS operation periods.      

3. Establishing a testing method that simulates stratospheric conditions to ensure reliability
TOPPAN Holdings leveraged its knowledge of packaging film testing and accelerated durability testing of construction materials, to construct a new test environment that assesses the skin under a simulation of the ultralow temperatures of the stratosphere, while also facilitating the testing of simultaneous exposure from short wave UV rays and the ozone. By using this test environment, it is possible to understand the detailed mechanisms of deterioration particular to the stratosphere and to use that knowledge for improved product design. This understanding and design adjustment makes it possible to carry out a more precise and more reliable evaluation compared to former testing methods.     

Roles of Both Companies
SoftBank
Provide expertise required to evaluate the suitability of the skin as well as expertise on HAPS operations
Supervision of advancing use with HAPS aircraft and transferring advances to practical application

TOPPAN Holdings
Develop and provide skin material suitable for HAPS aircraft
Proposal for evaluation method in stratospheric environment

Future Developments
SoftBank and TOPPAN Holdings will proceed with research to make the skin material developed within the scope of this project even lighter and stronger by fiscal 2027 (the year ending March 31, 2028). Additionally, while evaluating durability in the stratosphere, both companies will also attempt to establish mass production technology capable of ensuring sufficient supply and reliable quality by fiscal 2028. Also, based on testing outcomes, additional functions will be added, and the skin is expected to be used by SoftBank on HTA-type HAPS aircraft that provide commercial services, planned for launch from 2029 onwards. Both companies also plan to apply this skin to other fields that require a high level of durability.

[1] HTA (Heavier-Than-Air) refers to HAPS that remain airborne by generating aerodynamic lift, similar to conventional aircraft.

[2] Converting technology is the process of transforming materials like film into high-function final products through specialized processing such as printing and lamination. 

For more information:
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/news/04/newsrelease260427_1.html 

About SoftBank Corp.
Guided by the SoftBank Group’s corporate philosophy, “Information Revolution – Happiness for everyone,” SoftBank Corp. (TOKYO: 9434) operates telecommunications and IT businesses in Japan and globally. Building on its strong business foundation, SoftBank Corp. is expanding into non-telecom fields in line with its “Beyond Carrier” growth strategy while further growing its telecom business by harnessing the power of 5G/6G, IoT, Digital Twin and Non-Terrestrial Network (NTN) solutions, including High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS)-based stratospheric telecommunications. While constructing AI data centers and developing homegrown LLMs specialized for the Japanese language, SoftBank is integrating AI with radio access networks (AI-RAN), with the aim of becoming a provider of next-generation social infrastructure.
https://www.softbank.jp/en/corp/

About the TOPPAN Group
Established in Tokyo in 1900, the TOPPAN Group is a leading and diversified global provider committed to delivering sustainable, integrated solutions in fields including printing, communications, security, packaging, décor materials, electronics, and digital transformation. The TOPPAN Group’s global team of more than 50,000 employees offers optimal solutions enabled by industry-leading expertise and technologies to address the diverse challenges of every business sector and society and contribute to the achievement of shared sustainability goals.
https://www.holdings.toppan.com/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/toppan/

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/softbank-corp-and-toppan-holdings-develop-lightweight-durable-skin-for-solar-haps-aircraft-wings-302753970.html

SOURCE TOPPAN Holdings

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TravelingWiki Foundation Launches SportsFanWiki.com, Providing Disabled Fans with Sports Venue Specific Information in Wiki Format

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54 minutes ago

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April 27, 2026

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The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports and leverages the launch of a GenAI platform to ensure access across society to expanded disability resources information.

LAS VEGAS, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — TravelingWiki Foundation announces the launch of SportsFanWiki.com, providing a comprehensive database of sports venue information for fans with Non Visible Disabilities. The setup of SportsFanWiki.com mirrors the extremely successful format of TravelingWiki.com, which documents disability resources for all FAA Large Sized and FAA Medium Sized hub airports.

Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle.

The launch of SportsFanWiki occurs at the same time as the launch of ShoheiAutographs.com; MantleRookies.com; KobeRookies.com; and LebronRookies.com, offering market leading sports card inventory of Shohei Ohtani, Mickey Mantle, Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, respectively. The launch highlights TravelingWiki’s services offered including new Generative AI functionality via a GenAI platform currently in beta testing. The launch also spotlights TravelingWiki’s CardForACause.com platform for free disability resources offered to 20 million Americans for no cost as funded with sports cards sales nationwide via the most two recent White House administrations.

TravelingWiki CEO Jonathan Sutter notes, “Leadership of TravelingWiki Foundation is honored to expand to sports venue disability information, offered free to the public and funded via the the sale of cards from the extraordinary careers of Michael Jordan, Lebron James, Shohei Ohtani and Mickey Mantle, to highlight the critical resources offered via TravelingWiki for the Non Visible Disability community.”

More information about the non-profit work of TravelingWiki foundation is available via visiting http://www.Travelingwiki.com.

Media Contact

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

Jonathan Sutter, TravelingWiki Foundation, 1 4044033333, jonathan.sutter@travelingwiki.com, http://www.TravelingWiki.com

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SOURCE TravelingWiki Foundation

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AiPPT.com Expands Its Approach to Turning Information into Ready-to-Use Presentations in India

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54 minutes ago

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April 27, 2026

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NEW DELHI, April 27, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — AiPPT.com has refined its platform as demand continues to grow in India for faster ways to turn everyday information into structured presentations.

Across universities, coaching centers, startups, and corporate teams, presentation work often begins with scattered material from notes, documents, and online sources. The platform focuses on converting this workflow into a single process that produces usable slides from raw input. The aim is to reduce preparation time while keeping presentations clear and ready for use.

A Workflow Built Around Content

AiPPT.com allows users to start in familiar ways. A topic can be entered directly, or files such as Word and PDF documents can be uploaded. Web content can also be converted into slides via the URL-to-PPT feature, which turns online information into structured presentations.

The system analyzes the input and builds a presentation with clear sections and logical flow. Slides are generated with formatting applied automatically, reducing manual effort.

For users looking for inspiration, AiPPT.com also provides resources such as easy presentation topics to help them get started more quickly.

From Scattered Information to Clear Communication

In academic and workplace settings, information is often spread across multiple formats. Turning this into a structured presentation can take time.

AiPPT.com simplifies this process. A report can become a meeting deck. A research paper can be turned into a seminar presentation. Startups can quickly build investor materials using the AI pitch deck generator. Educators can create structured lessons with support from tools designed for teaching, such as AI for teachers.

A Flexible System for Editing and Conversion

AiPPT.com supports full editing after generation. Users can adjust text, change slide order, or refine structure. Presentations can also be edited directly through its online PPT editor.

Users can also choose from a range of presentation templates to match different use cases. This flexibility helps users adapt presentations for classrooms, meetings, and digital sharing without rebuilding them.

About AiPPT.com

AiPPT.com is an AI-powered PPT generator focused on turning information into structured presentations. The company builds tools that connect content creation, organization, and presentation in one workflow. Its goal is to support clearer communication by helping users transform ideas and materials into ready to use slides efficiently.

Contact Information
Company Name: PIXELBLOOM PTE. LTD.
Email: support@aippt.com

Website: https://www.aippt.com/

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/aipptcom-expands-its-approach-to-turning-information-into-ready-to-use-presentations-in-india-302753879.html

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