• First media services company to establish presence in 14 African countries
• Women-owned and led;  dedicated to gender equality and the other SDGs

ABIDJAN, IVORY COAST – African Media Agency (AMA) – 4 February 2021 – Leading pan African media relations and communications firm, African Media Agency (AMA), today announced further geographic expansion across west and central Africa. With an existing presence in Côte d’Ivoire and Uganda, AMA added Senegal, Mauritania, Guinea, Mali, Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, CAR, Gabon, Congo and DRC to its African footprint.

HONG
KONG SAR – Media
OutReach – 4 February 2021 – Lunar Chinese New Year
is just around the corner, and it is a tradition to send gifts to family and
friends as a way to wish everyone a good year ahead. Under the ongoing COVID 19
pandemic, many consider health supplements as an ideal gift to
give, with elderly health supplements and kids health supplement being the most
popular option. At the same time, the recent economic depreciation has lower
the rent for an offline retail spot. These causes drive health supplement
retail platforms to employ a diverse commerce model to meet the demand for
health supplements in Hong Kong.

Strengthening
the Immune System as the New Normal

The COVID pandemic has
lasted for more than a year. Apart from maintaining social distancing, taking
up habits that improve the immune system has also become a new normal. The
spokesperson of
Gogo Herbs claimed that the sales
of Vitamin C and probiotic products are increasing steadily. She added that
Hong Kong people are concern about both their health and the health of their
family members. Yet, very few of us can calculate the accurate amount of
nutrition we obtain from every single meal, or even keep up with a regular
exercising habit. That is why more and more people try to strengthen their
immune systems by taking nutrients from different supplements according to
their daily living patterns. She also added that sales of health supplements
that can improve the immune system have increased by
30-40%, with probiotics products being the most popular ones, and the demand is
often hard to meet.

Sales of Elderly and Children Health Supplement
skyrocketed in Lunar New Year

Alongside
with classic gift boxes, health supplements and dietary supplements have become
a popular gift to give during the Lunar New Year. Founder of Gogo Herbs said
that the sales of elderly and kid health supplements have skyrocketed lately.
For example, all-natural vitamin gummy tablets that kids
cannot say no to, easy-swallow vitamin capsules for the elderly. Although there
is a social gathering ban, people still wish to deliver their best wishes to
their loved ones during the Lunar New Year, which is also why the sales of
their health supplements have raised by 10% lately.

A
decrease in Rental Cost promotes multi-platform commercial models

Nowadays,
there are more and more channels to shop for a health supplement. People used
to visit personal-care chain stores when they are looking for health
supplements. However, wise customers discover that the selling price at a chain
store is often more expensive than that from other retail platforms. Other
retail platforms like online platforms, small shops, and drug stores often bear
a lower rental rates
or even zero rent price, enables them to sell products at a lower
price. A survey has revealed that over 60% of the survey participants
agreed they would buy renowned import health supplements from these platforms.

The
New Trend of Having a Diverse Commerce Model

An
increasing number of health supplement retailers are now employing a business
model that includes offline and online retail platforms. E-commerce, which
facilitates contactless transactions is in no doubt a trend that will stick in
the future. A lower rental cost to own an offline retail spot has also become
an opportunity for online platforms. Take Gogo Herbs as an example: the company
has expanded from only running their online retailing platform to having a
stall in the supermarket. The spokesperson agreed that the offline store is
convenient to the general public, but the online platform also has its
advantage. Gogo Herbs has a nutritionist team to help customers pick the health
supplements that fit them best via the online platform. They also have a price
comparison feature on their online retail platform, which indicates the price
for the same health supplement in different online retail platforms. ‘This
function is no doubt a function that makes price comparison easier for
consumers.’ added the spokesperson.

About Gogo Herbs

Gogo
Herbs is a health and dietary supplement retail platform based in Hong Kong.
The platform specializes in providing all-natural healthcare supplements from
all over the world. Not only does Gogo Herbs symbolizes healthy living, but it
also represents an attitude towards living healthily. http://gogoherbs.com/

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach – 4 February 2021 – Southco Asia Ltd., a
subsidiary of Southco Inc., a leading global provider of engineered access
solutions such as locks, latches, captive fasteners, electronic access
solutions and hinges/ positioning technology, has expanded its successful R4 Rotary Latch
series with a new debris resistant version that offers enhanced performance for
medium-duty applications. Southco’s R4-75 Rotary Latch offers an integrated
mounting bracket to simplify installation and features a concealed rotary
mechanism, to protect against dirt and debris, for improved durability in
applications where remote actuation is required.

R4-75 Rotary Latch for Debris Resistant Latching

The R4-75
Rotary Latch with Debris Resistant Design offers a compact solution for
applications that require concealed mounting and remote actuation of a door or
panel. An in-line trigger and external rotor feature provide robust latching
for interior or exterior enclosures and compartments, making it an ideal choice
for the Off-Highway, Truck and Bus & Coach applications.

Constructed
in corrosion-resistant steel, the R4-75 Rotary Latch with Debris Resistant
Design provides durable performance in high vibration environments, and protects
against exposure to dust and dirt. Two-stage engagement protects against false
latching, providing secure and positive latching at low closing forces with
push-to-close convenience.

Global Product
Manager Cindy Bart adds, “Southco’s R4-75 Rotary Latch with Debris Resistant
Design provides new levels of design flexibility to OEMs, particularly for
exterior panels on buses and motor coaches. The R4-75 Rotary Latch with Debris Resistant
Design provides secure, hidden latching and remote actuation, while also
simplifying the installation process.”

For more
information about the latest Southco’s R4 Rotary Latch Systems, please visit www.southco.com/R4-75.

About Southco

Southco, Inc. is the leading global designer and manufacturer of
engineered access solutions. From quality and performance to aesthetics and
ergonomics, we understand that first impressions are lasting impressions in
product design. For over 70 years, Southco has helped the world’s most
recognized brands create value for their customers with innovative access
solutions designed to enhance the touch points of their products in
transportation and industrial applications, medical equipment, data centers and
more. With unrivalled engineering resources, innovative products and a
dedicated global team, Southco delivers the broadest portfolio of premium
access solutions available to equipment designers throughout the world.

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA – Media
OutReach – 4 February 2021 – While 2020 changed the way that we enjoy many different types of
entertainment, K-pop continued to be a worldwide cultural phenomenon and one of
the most global communities on Twitter today. Fans connected with their
favorite K-pop artists and participated in conversations with each other around
the world, setting a new global record
of 6.7 billion K-pop related Tweets in 2020. With over 300 K-pop Topics to
follow on Twitter, it’s now easier than ever to see and participate in the best
conversations every day about the K-pop artists you love.

“Even in a year where the sounds of
K-pop were not able to fill the arenas and venues that they typically do, the #KpopTwitter community set a new worldwide record and K-pop artists continued to
energize their global fanbase on Twitter. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic last
year, Twitter  provided the most
thrilling social soundtrack for K-Pop fans, and enabled them to share their
love for their favorite K-pop artists with their friends, as well as make new
ones all over the world,” said YeonJeong Kim, Head of Global K-Pop Partnerships
at Twitter.

Passionate
fans with non-stop conversations: Top 20 markets by Tweet volume

The markets generating the most buzz
about K-pop showed that the genre’s popularity continues to grow in markets
where it’s secured a foothold – even pushing new markets to the top. Surging
conversations from fans in Indonesia and India generated enough Tweets to push
both higher in the 2020 rankings, with Indonesia taking the #1 spot, and India
entering the top 10 for the first time. Despite fierce competition, Brazil and
Mexico managed to retain their spots in the top 10, while Spain reached the top
20 for the first time due to the passion of the K-pop fans there.

The top 20 markets Tweeting about
K-pop ranked by Tweet Volume in 2020 were:

1. Indonesia
2. Thailand
3. South Korea
4. Philippines
5. USA
6. Brazil
7. Malaysia
8. Japan
9. Mexico
10. India
11. Argentina
12. Peru
13. Vietnam
14. UK
15. France
16. Chile
17. Singapore
18. Canada
19. Turkey
20. Spain

K-pop
popularity on the rise across the world: Top 20 markets by unique voices

Looking at the top 20 markets by
unique voices reveals a diverse range of markets, highlighting the increasingly
global nature of the K-pop community. K-pop increased its mainstream appeal in
several of the largest markets worldwide as Japan and the USA topped this
country list with the most number of people who Tweeted about K-pop in 2020. In
addition, K-pop fandoms are growing larger across the globe, with other markets
like Turkey, France, and Saudi Arabia moving up this country list.

The top 20 markets Tweeting about
K-pop ranked by number of unique voices in 2020 were:

1. Japan
2. USA
3. Indonesia
4. South Korea
5. Philippines
6. Brazil
7. Thailand
8. Malaysia
9. Mexico
10. India
11. UK
12. Turkey
13. Argentina
14. France
15. Spain
16. Canada
17. Saudi Arabia
18. Vietnam
19. Russia
20. Chile

Worldwide
favorites: Most-mentioned K-pop artists

Even without many events and tours,
the biggest K-pop artists continued to drive conversations among their
passionate fans. The top most-mentioned artists, including BTS (@BTS_twt), NCT (@NCTsmtown), EXO (@weareoneEXO), and BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK) all released new music projects for their fans last year to help them
get through 2020.

The top 10 most-mentioned K-pop
artists on Twitter in 2020 were:

1. BTS (@BTS_twt)
2. NCT (@NCTsmtown)
3. EXO (@weareoneEXO)
4. BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK)
5. GOT7 (@GOT7Official)
6. TREASURE (@treasuremembers)
7. SEVENTEEN (@pledis_17)
8. TOMORROW X TOGETHER (@TXT_members)
9. TWICE (@JYPETWICE)
10. ATEEZ (@ATEEZofficial)

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/BTS_twt/status/1303343927676731392

The songs
that defined 2020: Most mentioned K-pop songs

Many different songs, whether from
the early part of 2020 or just before year-end, helped us make it through 2020.
The biggest may not surprise you – by offering “Dynamite” in part for its fans
in English-speaking countries, BTS helped to make it one of the year’s biggest
songs. Fans of other groups, like GOT7 and NCT 2020, generated plenty of
conversations for their favorite artists’ comeback singles, “Breath” and
“RESONANCE,” respectively.

The top 10 most-mentioned K-pop
songs on Twitter in 2020 were:

1. Dynamite, by BTS (@BTS_twt)
2. ON, by BTS (@BTS_twt)
3. Black Swan, by BTS (@BTS_twt)
4. Life Goes On, by BTS (@BTS_twt)
5. Breath, by GOT7 (@GOT7Official)
6. RESONANCE, by NCT 2020 (@NCTsmtown)
7. How You Like That, by BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK)
8. MORE & MORE, by TWICE (@JYPETWICE)
9. Boy With Luv, by BTS (@BTS_twt)
10. Shadow, by BTS (@BTS_twt)

The new kids
on the block: Fastest-rising K-pop artists

Exciting artists emerged onto the
scene or took flight in 2020, tantalizing fans with buzzworthy teasers and
promising debuts. Each artist’s approach was different – from TREASURE’s (@treasuremembers) approach of solo debuts and their The
First Step EP series, to TXT (@TXT_members) making their Japanese debut and second EP just months apart. In
addition to TREASURE, many of the fastest-rising artists appeared here for the
first time, including ENHYPEN (@ENHYPEN_members), THE BOYZ (@WE_THE_BOYZ), and IZ*ONE (@official_izone).

The top 10 fastest-rising K-pop artists on Twitter in 2020 were:

1. TREASURE
   (@treasuremembers)
2. TXT (@TXT_members)
3. ATEEZ (@ATEEZofficial)
4. Stray
   Kids (@Stray_Kids)
5. ENHYPEN
   (@ENHYPEN_members)
6. WayV (@WayV_official)
7. THE BOYZ
   (@WE_THE_BOYZ)
8. SuperM (@superm)
9. IZ*ONE (@official_izone)
10. ITZY (@ITZYofficial)

Connecting
artists with fans: livestreams, virtual award shows, and more

In the new normal, artists found new
ways to stay connected with fans to replace 
the concerts, events, and other activities a typical year would bring.
The #TwitterBlueroom produced many of the most popular livestream viewing opportunities to
get to know the top K-pop artists better.

The #TwitterBlueroom gave K-pop artists the ability to talk live directly to their fans on
Twitter, as well as a chance to hear exclusive behind-the-scenes stories and
other insights not available elsewhere – sometimes, artists like BLACKPINK (@BLACKPINK) even used the #TwitterBlueroom to give their fans content that they personalised for them.

Embeddable Tweet: https://twitter.com/BLACKPINK/status/1328624032787230720 

To close out 2020, Twitter partnered
with MAMA (Mnet ASIAN MUSIC AWARDS) to bring K-pop fans’ favorite artists
closer to them than ever before. The hashtags #2020MAMA and #MAMA2020 topped Twitter real-time trends worldwide and in 68 markets, with a
whopping 126 million Tweets related to 2020 MAMA generated from October 29 to
December 6. #2020MAMA also marked the first time use of the ‘Twitter Stanbot’, the exclusive
high quality, slow motion videos of K-pop artists and K-drama casts, with these
videos viewable only on the official @MnetMAMA Twitter account.

Other #OnlyOnTwitter content like 1:1 Q&A, Emoji, Fleets, and Voice drove conversations and trending topics about album launches, key
artist milestones, and more, to bring fans closer to their favorite K-pop
artists.

More than
music, K-pop idols and fans band together for social causes on Twitter

As shown by #YearOnTwitter, the second most-Tweeted hashtag of 2020 was #BlackLivesMatter as the world mobilized and amplified the need for equality and social
justice. K-pop fans, as well as their favorite idols, participated in the
movement by mobilizing others to use the hashtag and join the cause, as well as
raise funds through initiatives like #MatchAMillion. The #KpopTwitter community’s involvement in the #BlackLivesMatter movement gave fans another way to stay connected and express their
views on broader issues in society.

In 2021, K-Pop will come back bigger
than ever. #TwitterBlueroom, alongside other only-on-Twitter online content, will give fans to
follow their favorites closely, until concerts and events come back in full
force. And with comebacks tours already starting, there’s a full year of music
and your favorite idols ahead. Come join the #KpopTwitter conversation today to see and talk about your favorite K-Pop idols and
stay updated with other K-Pop fans around the world!

About Twitter, Inc.

Twitter (NYSE: TWTR) is what’s
happening and what people are talking about right now. To learn more, visit about.twitter.com and follow @Twitter. Let’s talk.

LAGOS, NIGERIA – EQS Newswire – 3 February 2021 – MDXi, a MainOne company is the largest commercial data center in West Africa offering enterprise-grade colocation and cloud services across the region. The company launched its operation in 2015 and currently provides colocation and Cloud services to a mix of the leading Banks and International Oil companies in Nigeria. 

Recently, Trobexis an international logistic management solution company chose MDXi to deploy their solution for an international oil & gas company in Nigeria.

“We chose MDXi as our infrastructure partner because of the company’s regional footprint and competitive pricing! A key differentiator is MainOne’s presence in various West African countries and the opportunity to build a long-term strategic partnership.” said Jonathon Tilsley, Director Trobexis PTY Ltd., Head Strategic Partnership Opportunities, EMEA. Trobexis PTY Ltd. currently leverages the Azure Stack at MDXi to provide their Enterprise Workforce Logistics Management System application, TrobexisOne, to an International Oil Company with stringent data compliance standards, security and performance requirements.

For many businesses, remotely launching services in West Africa can be a daunting challenge. Prior to the move to MDXi, the TrobexisOne application had been deployed in public Azure cloud infrastructure. According to Jonathon Tilsley, deploying TrobexisOne at MDXi was a seamless experience “We deployed everything remotely without having any member of our technical team on ground. The rollout was timely, and the plan was adhered to. Our experience deploying our TrobexisOne application at MDXi has been excellent. We have never deployed this application in a hybrid environment and the team was able to lead us down the path to help us achieve our desired outcomes. We got the application for the International Oil Company (IOC) ready before the live date.”

However, beyond deploying applications, maintaining world class SLAs to customers requires a high degree of process integration and collaboration between teams. Jonathon Tilsley explains that “From a support perspective, the MainOne team was very helpful, the response and support were very timely. Throughout the roll out of the application, the project has been excellently supported.”

More about MDXi

MDXi is West Africa’s leading commercial data center, cloud and interconnection operator with Tier III certified facilities in Nigeria, Ghana and Cote d’ Ivoire. The core of its business is to deploy highly available infrastructure where organizations can access unmatched performance at lower costs, while meeting local data sovereignty requirements without sacrificing flexibility or control.