Day: September 3, 2022

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HONOR Announces Dual Flagship Strategy, MagicOS 7.0 Plans, Launches HONOR 70, HONOR MagicBook 14 and HONOR Pad 8 at IFA 2022

On the IFA convention stage for the first time since independence, HONOR CEO George Zhao outlines the brand’s commitment to innovation and open collaboration

BERLIN, Sept. 2, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Global technology brand HONOR today reaffirmed its commitment to international markets during its IFA keynote presentation, titled “Embracing the Connected Future.” During the event, the brand announced a new Dual Flagship Strategy to bring the next foldable and all-round flagship smartphones to Europe and other international markets. The brand also previewed MagicOS 7.0, an upcoming all-scenario smart collaboration OS based on Android as well as PC and IoT operating systems, embracing open standards to facilitate seamless collaboration among smartphones, tablets, PC and other IoT products. Bolstering its innovative product portfolio, HONOR introduced three new products: HONOR 70, HONOR MagicBook 14 and HONOR Pad 8, the first HONOR tablet available outside of China. All three products are set to arrive in select European markets in the coming weeks.

Bringing HONOR Talents to the global stage, HONOR also unveiled Gateway to the Future, a global initiative piloting in Hamburg, Germany with the aim of inspiring creative talent from all around the world to use the power of technology to connect people with culture in the era of the metaverse.

“Since our inception, HONOR has always aspired to make great contributions to the industry to enable a better future for all. To achieve that goal, we’ve stayed laser-focused on our commitment to innovation,” said George Zhao, CEO of HONOR Device Co, Ltd., “With the introduction of our Dual Flagship Strategy, MagicOS 7.0, Fitness and Health solution, we look forward to providing compelling options to European and international consumers who are seeking the best foldable smartphones and the most premium user experiences on the market.”

Embracing the Connected Future with New Dual Flagship Strategy and MagicOS

As a global technology, HONOR has always strived to innovate with purpose and deliver user benefits that matter. For the first time, HONOR will be introducing its foldable smartphones to international markets. Announced during IFA 2022, the Dual Flagship Strategy will see HONOR bring its upcoming foldable flagship smartphones and all-round flagship smartphones to Europe and other regions around the world.

HONOR also unveiled MagicOS 7.0, a new OS designed to provide seamless experience across the cross-platform, cross-device experiences. It is based on Android as well as PC and IoT operating systems, so devices running different OS can connect to MagicOS devices at a system level. Alongside new user interface changes, MagicOS 7.0 will let users control an HONOR laptop, smartphone and tablet using a single keyboard and mouse. Through the feature, users can drag files across devices seamlessly, as well as type text into the smartphone or tablet with their laptop keyboard. MagicOS 7.0 will be officially announced in Q4 2022.

In line with its commitment to contributing to the wider industry, HONOR announced that the brand has joined various IoT consortiums including Matter and Ola, helping to formulate common industry standards that promote open collaboration. In addition, the new HONOR Developer Service Platform will provide direct support and services to developers. Among the many services available, developers can submit their apps into App Market and Game Center through the platform. It will also provide developers with access to various system capabilities for them to develop cross-device features for HONOR device users in the future. Interested developers may visit the following site for more information: https://developer.hihonor.com.

Further signifying the brand’s commitment to cross-device functionality, HONOR is expanding its partnership with Microsoft to bring Phone Link to international HONOR device users. Previously only available to HONOR device users in China, Phone Link lets users connect select HONOR smartphones to Windows PCs to unlock new cross-device capabilities, including the ability to view notifications, make and receive calls on their PC and use mobile apps on Windows. The HONOR Magic4 Pro is among the first international HONOR smartphone models to support Phone Link[1], while the HONOR 70 will also support Phone Link following an OTA update.

Furthermore, from October, the upgraded HONOR Health app will provide personalized custom user interfaces and offer fitness suggestions and training courses according to user habits, helping smartphone users to achieve their health goals.

Introducing HONOR 70 to Global Markets, a Vlogging Masterpiece

Designed for vlogging enthusiasts, the HONOR 70 is HONOR’s latest addition to its high-end N Series smartphone line up. The stylish device debuts with Solo Cut mode, which lets users easily produce vlogs that spotlight a specific person in a group through built-in Person Re-identification Technology. With Dual Video Streaming, HONOR 70 can record two videos simultaneously, with one featuring a single subject and the other capturing the full group.

Capturing high quality vlogs is easy with the HONOR 70, thanks to its powerful Dual Main Camera that comprises a 54MP IMX800 Super Sensing Main Camera with a large 1/1.49-inch IMX800 Sensor and a 50MP Ultra-Wide & Macro camera. The new smartphone is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G Plus 5G and supports GPU Turbo X and OS Turbo X, delivering smooth performance and a responsive experience across a range of heavy-duty tasks, including video editing for vloggers who are always on the move.

The HONOR 70 is the first HONOR N Series smartphone to run HONOR Magic UI 6.1 based on Android 12 and is available in a range of fashionable color options including Midnight Black, Crystal Silver and Emerald Green[2].

In recognition of HONOR 70’s excellent user experience, the Expert Imaging and Sound Association (EISA) awarded the smartphone the EISA BEST BUY SMARTPHONE 2022-2023 award. EISA is an expert community comprising over 60 of the world’s most respected consumer electronics magazines, websites and social media commentators from 29 countries.

The HONOR 70 will be available in select European markets from today for a starting price of EUR 549.

HONOR MagicBook 14, a Mobile Productivity Powerhouse

Featuring OS Turbo for the first time ever on an HONOR laptop, the all-new HONOR MagicBook 14 delivers significant upgrades in battery life and up to 20.8%[3] better power efficiency compared to its predecessor. The laptop is powered by a 12th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-12500H processor and is configurable with a NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 2050 dedicated graphics card[4], offering blazing fast performance whether working in the office or gaming at home. With a 75Wh battery, the HONOR MagicBook 14 provides up to 17 hours of battery life on standby, and supports fast charging to provide up to 3.5 hours of uptime when running productivity software after just 15 minutes of charging[5]. Coming in a sleek yet elegant Space Gray colorway, the HONOR MagicBook 14 is slated to arrive in select European markets with pre-orders starting today, with a starting price of EUR 1099.

Enabling Premium Audiovisual Experiences with HONOR Pad 8

The HONOR Pad 8 is an affordable all-round smart device catering to the productivity and entertainments needs of students and young professionals. The new HONOR tablet combines a 12-inch 2K HONOR FullView display featuring a screen-to-body ratio of 87%[6] and support a resolution of 2000×1200[7] pixels and 1 billion colors with eight built-in loudspeakers to deliver immersive multimedia experiences on the go. Running HONOR Magic UI 6.1 with Google Play Services, the HONOR Pad 8 packs a high capacity 7250 mAh[8] battery for all-day connectivity, allowing users to stay connected at all times. Arriving in select European markets with pre-orders starting today, the HONOR Pad 8 comes in Blue Hour and will retail at a starting price of EUR 329.

The launch of the tablet represents the completion of the brand’s global product portfolio; consumers in select Europe and international markets will soon have access to every HONOR smartphone and IoT product series, marking a new milestone for HONOR.

Step into the Gateway to the Future

As a brand, HONOR has consistent investment in Spatial Audio, AI and AR technologies, to unlock immersive experiences and  get ready for the next digital revolution.

Unveiled during HONOR’s IFA keynote session, Gateway to the Future is a new HONOR Talents initiative designed to enrich cultural heritage through the power of technology. In collaboration with ARLOOPA, HONOR challenged two renowned artists – Yunuene and Timo Helgert – to creatively reimagine the iconic Wasserschloss building located in Hamburg’s Speicherstadt, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The AR experience is now live on-location in Speicherstadt, and is also available for users to view at home via the ARLOOPA app, offering smartphone users a new way to discover cultural treasures through immersive AR. The campaign video is available here: https://youtu.be/7rwwZQw2C4M.

Introducing HONOR’s Spatial Audio

Announced during IFA 2022, HONOR’s Spatial Audio solution is designed to enable headphones to produce wide, cinematic 3D sound effects that create the sense of immersion required for next-generation AR and VR experiences.

At its core, HONOR’s Spatial Audio is designed to deliver surround sound and 3D audio through headphones by using the accelerometer and gyroscopes in earbuds to track the motion of the user’s head, remapping the sound field to bring users an immersive and delightful audio experience in all scenarios such as movies, music and games. And by means of the algorithm, the changes of sound on its way from the source to the listener’s ear can be simulated. These effects include localization of sound sources above, below, behind and in the front of the listener.

HONOR’s Spatial Audio is the first to support sound externalization distance adjustment, providing users to dynamically adjust the distance of virtual sound sources from 0.15 to 10 meters to suit a more personalized listening experience.

HONOR Talents: Applications for Interactive AR Artwork Category Now Open

Complementing the initiative, HONOR has introduced a dedicated Interactive AR Artwork category as part of its HONOR Talents global design competition. Within the category, contestants are invited to produce digital AR artworks which creatively transform their neighborhoods, including digital overlays for buildings, walls, parks, and other public spaces, helping to get communities closer to culture. Artists interested in the contest can find more information here: https://www.hihonor.com/honor-talents/en/

HONOR also partnered with the Central Academy of Fine Arts (CAFA) in China to create a new AR artwork titled INFINITY. The phy-gital experience showcases an artistic interpretation of the universe, which the creative team comprising CAFA faculty members and students use as an analogy to promote intercultural dialogue. The art is available at HONOR’s IFA booth through the ARLOOPA app.

[1] Requires a PC running Windows 10 (with the May 2019 Update or later) or Windows 11.
[2] Color availability varies by region.
[3] Data from HONOR Labs. The test scenarios are daily work using Microsoft Office software, video calls, web browsing, online video playback, music playback, instant messaging, program development and design with default volume under the brightness of 250 nits at room temperature of 25°C. Data may vary due to individual differences in products, usage habits and environmental factors.
[4] Models with Intel® Iris Xe graphics are also available.
[5] Charging data comes from HONOR Labs. Tests were conducted with the in-box 135W HONOR SuperCharger connected to a device with 2% battery. Duration of office work is based on the PCMark Modern Office test. Actual experience may vary by model, usage, charging conditions and other factors.
[6] Data from HONOR Labs.
[7] The resolution measured as a standard rectangle; thus, the effective pixels are slightly less.
[8] Data from HONOR Labs. Rated battery capacity.

About HONOR

HONOR is a leading global provider of smart devices. It is dedicated to becoming a global iconic technology brand and creating a new intelligent world for everyone through its powerful products and services. With an unwavering focus on R&D, it is committed to developing technology that empowers people around the globe to go beyond, giving them the freedom to achieve and do more. Offering a range of high-quality smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables to suit every budget, HONOR’s portfolio of innovative, premium and reliable products enable people to become a better version of themselves.

For more information, please visit HONOR online at www.hihonor.com or email newsroom@hihonor.com

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Gunmen Abduct Worshippers in Northwest Nigeria

ABUJA, NIGERIA — Police in northwest Nigeria say worshippers have been kidnapped while they were observing jumu’at prayers, despite intensified action against armed gangs ordered by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.

Zamfara state police spokesperson Mohammed Shehu said the attack took place Friday afternoon at the Jumu’at Central Mosque in the Gummi local government area as worshippers gathered for prayers.

Eyewitnesses told local media the attackers, disguised as worshippers, hid guns in their clothes until they infiltrated the mosque.

The attackers shot sporadically into the air and herded dozens of worshippers into a nearby forest.

Zamfara state police responded to the incident, but Shehu said he could not immediately offer VOA any additional details about the attack.

Armed gangs have terrorized northwest and central Nigeria for years. More recently, violence spread to the southeast, where separatist group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been largely blamed for causing unrest. IPOB denies the allegations.

Security analyst Senator Iroegbu said the government’s approach to addressing insecurities has not worked.

“It’s a continued red flag,” he said. “I feel most of the responses have been too reactionary and ad hoc in nature. There has not been [a] holistic definition of what is actually happening in the northwest and how to arrest the situation. And this also hampers the effectiveness of the security operatives because for them to operate effectively, their scope of operation need to be well defined.”

Last month during a top security meeting, President Buhari ordered security chiefs to deal with terrorists without constraints.

Days later, the Nigerian air force said airstrikes in the northwest and central regions killed 55 gang members and freed some hostages.

Source: Voice of America

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Mali Denies UN Accusations of Human Rights Abuses

BAMAKO, MALI — Mali’s foreign ministry is denying accusations of human rights violations made by the United Nations.

An 11-page statement posted on the official social media accounts of Mali’s foreign ministry denies all allegations leveled in a U.N. note that implicated Malian state security forces.

The U.N. mission to Mali, MINUSMA, released a quarterly note on human rights Wednesday, accounting for the period between April 1 and June 30 of this year. The note said that most of the human rights violations in Mali during that period were committed by Islamist militant groups but also says it has documented “serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law” by state security forces.

The note adds that there was a decrease in all recorded human rights violations compared to the first quarter of 2022.

Mali’s foreign ministry statement called the allegations against state security forces biased, and said they were made without “tangible proof” and “under the threat of terrorist groups,” with an objective “to tarnish the image of state security forces.”

Tensions between Mali’s military government and MINUSMA have been rising in recent months. In July, Mali arrested 49 soldiers from Ivory Coast who had arrived as support for a U.N. contingent on their arrival at Bamako’s airport, accusing them of being mercenaries.

Also in July, MINUSMA’s spokesperson was expelled from the country after he made comments on Twitter claiming the U.N. had notified the Malian government of the soldiers’ arrival.

The Malian government denied the U.N. access to Moura, Mali, in April, where it wanted to carry out a human rights investigation into an alleged massacre committed by Malian forces working with Russian mercenaries.

MINUSMA’s quarterly note also claimed to have documented the killing of 50 civilians in Hombori, Mali, by state security forces working with “foreign military personnel.”

The Malian government statement did not address accusations that it is working with foreign military forces. Mali says it only works with official Russian trainers and has received military aircraft and weapons shipments from Russia.

A number of countries have accused Mali of working with mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner Group. After nearly 10 years there, France withdrew from Mali in August because of concerns about the country working with the Kremlin-linked paramilitary organization.

Source: Voice of America

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FAO: Lower Food Prices Not Helping Consumers

GENEVA — The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization says consumers are not yet feeling the benefits of declining food prices. The FAO says world food commodity prices dipped for the fifth consecutive month in August.

Lower world food prices generally reflect better availability at the global level. However, FAO says, this time, lower wholesale prices have not led to better food access or lower prices for consumers.

FAO Director of the Markets and Trade Division Boubaker Ben-Belhassen said availability has improved, while access to food commodities has not. This, despite declining prices five months in a row.

“This is due to several factors including the persistent high cost of processing and transportation, logistics, and the exchange rate also of currencies of countries as against the U.S. dollar,” he said. “Also, the cost-of-living crisis has affected access. So, that is why we have not seen this decline in prices at the world level translating into lower prices for consumers or at the retail level.”

Ben-Belhassen cautioned that a drop in world prices does not necessarily result in market stability. He said that is subject to the uncertainties and volatility surrounding developments in the energy market and the price of fertilizer.

He said continued high energy and gas prices reduce profitability and increase production costs for farmers. He added that will pose a serious challenge for farmers in the coming year.

He noted the U.N.-brokered Black Sea grain initiative allowing Ukraine to export its grain and other foodstuffs has improved the availability of food on the world market. Prior to the July agreement, Russia had blockaded Ukraine’s three key ports triggering a global food crisis.

Ben-Belhassen said the better availability of food on the global level has not translated into greater access at the consumer level. He said the increased shipment of goods from Ukraine has not alleviated food scarcity in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing countries. He noted that is because most grain exports go to middle-income countries.

“So, it does not really go to those countries that are most affected or are most in need for better domestic supplies,” he said. “We hope the situation will improve with time. We hope that the shipment also will go to these countries.… We are still concerned about access, about the cost-of-living crisis.”

The FAO official says families in low- and middle-income countries tend to spend 50% to 60% of their monthly income on food. He warned the implication for food security could be very serious if consumer food prices do not drop significantly.

Source: Voice of America

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UN Chief Appoints Senegal’s Bathily to Head UN Libya Mission

UNITED NATIONS — Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced the appointment Friday of former Senegalese minister and U.N. diplomat Abdoulaye Bathily to be the new U.N. envoy to Libya after the Security Council gave its approval, ending a nine-month search amid increasing chaos in the oil-rich north African nation.

Libya’s transitional government, which opposed Bathily’s nomination, reportedly sent a protest letter to Guterres, which raises questions about how effective the new envoy can be in trying to resolve the country’s political and economic crisis.

The last U.N. special representative, Jan Kubis, resigned Nov. 23, 2021, after 10 months on the job, and a number of candidates proposed by Guterres were rejected by council members, Libya or neighboring countries.

In December, Guterres appointed veteran American diplomat Stephanie Williams, a former U.N. deputy special representative in Libya, as his special adviser — a job that did not require council approval.

She left at the end of July. So, the mission has had no leader as Libyans grapple with a constitutional and political crisis.

Years of chaos

Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country has for years been split between rival administrations, each backed by rogue militias and foreign governments.

U.N. political chief Rosemary DiCarlo warned Tuesday that failure to resolve Libya’s political crisis and hold delayed elections poses a growing threat in the country, pointing to recent violent clashes that killed at least 42 people and injured 159 others, according to Libyan authorities.

The current stalemate grew out of the failure to hold elections in December and the refusal of Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who led the transitional government, to step down. In response, the country’s east-based parliament appointed a rival prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, who has for months sought to install his government in Tripoli.

Diplomatic experience

Guterres said Bathily brings 40 years of experience to the job of special representative and head of Libya’s U.N. political mission.

He held various ministerial positions in Senegal, taught history for more than 30 years at the Universite Cheikh Anta Diop in the country, held senior U.N. positions including in Mali and Central Africa, and served as the independent expert for the strategic review of the Libya mission in 2021.

Bathily has doctorates from Universite Cheikh Anta Diop and the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and is fluent in English, French, Soninke and Wolof.

Source: Voice of America

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At Least 33 Killed in Eastern DR Congo Clashes, Monitor Says

KINSHASA, DR CONGO — At least 33 people were killed following a militia attack on a town in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, a respected monitor said Saturday, raising an earlier reported death toll.

Kivu Security Tracker, the monitor, tweeted that at least 33 people, including militia members and civilians, had died following an attack by the notorious CODECO militia on Mongbwalu in Ituri province.

It did not specify how many of the dead were civilians, however.

The death toll raises an earlier reported death toll of 22 people killed during the attack on Mongbwalu town.

Town mayor Jean-Pierre Bikilisende earlier this week told AFP that 22 bodies were discovered following clashes between the militants and Congolese troops.

Fourteen civilians and eight militants were killed, he said, explaining that CODECO members had been staging attacks since Tuesday in a bid to free fellow fighters captured by Congolese security forces.

AFP was unable to independently confirm the death toll from this week’s attack.

The CODECO — the Cooperative for the Development of the Congo — is a political-religious sect that claims to represent the interests of the Lendu ethnic group.

It is considered one of the deadliest of the more than 120 militias operating in the troubled eastern part of the country and has been blamed for a number of ethnic massacres in Ituri.

Last year, Congo’s government put security officials in charge of Ituri and neighboring North Kivu province in a bid to curb violence, but the attacks continue.

Source: Voice of America

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Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Turkish officials’ recent remarks

Greece will not join Turkey in the slide containing outrageous and beyond-all-limits remarks and threats, taking place on a daily basis.

We will immediately inform our allies and partners regarding the content of the provocative statements of the last few days, in order to make clear who is undermining our alliance’s cohesion at a particularly dangerous juncture.

At the same time, we will continue to serve as a pillar of stability and security for the wider region, on the basis of the rules of International Law and the International Law of the Sea.

Source: Hellenic Republic – Ministry of Foreign Affairs