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Consortium led by Xavier Niel clears regulatory approval to acquire Ukraine’s #1 fixed telco Datagroup-Volia; Pursuing merger with #3 mobile operator Lifecell; Significant investment planned in Ukraine

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NJJ Holding (“NJJ”), the investment firm founded and owned by Xavier Niel, the founder of leading European telco group iliad, obtained regulatory approval in March 2024 to acquire Datagroup-Volia, Ukraine’s leading fixed telecom and pay TV provider.
Datagroup-Volia is 96.13% owned by a fund managed by U.S. private equity firm Horizon Capital, led by Lenna Koszarny, and 3.87% by Datagroup-Volia CEO Mykhaylo Shelemba.
Once the transaction has closed, the consortium led by NJJ intends to merge Datagroup-Volia with Lifecell, the country’s #3 and fastest-growing mobile operator. This would take place after regulatory approvals are obtained, resulting in 100% ownership of these Ukraine-domiciled assets.
The group plans to launch a significant investment program upon the completion of the transaction in Ukraine, with investments in network, licenses, equipment and expansion of  fixed and mobile infrastructure in the country to accelerate future growth.
Post-closing, a fund managed by Horizon Capital and Mykhaylo Shelemba will invest in the combined entity to retain a minority position and be the local partner of NJJ in Ukraine.
The combined Datagroup-Volia-Lifecell entity will be led by Mykhaylo Shelemba, current Datagroup CEO, as Group CEO. Pierre Danon, Chair of the Supervisory Board, Datagroup-Volia, will serve in the same capacity for the merged entity.
This historic transaction is the first major investment by a new market entrant since the full-fledged invasion, as well as a significant investment in domestic infrastructure in Ukraine.
It is a landmark deal aimed at acquiring existing Ukraine-based telecom players and subsequently combining these into a platform for expansion, growth and investment, demonstrating that Ukraine can attract high quality investments regardless of the prevailing situation.
Transaction closing is subject to remaining regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

NJJ, the investment firm founded and fully-owned by French tech and telecoms entrepreneur Xavier Niel, and Horizon Capital, led by Lenna Koszarny, a U.S. private equity firm investing primarily in fast-growing tech companies in Ukraine and Moldova via dedicated funds, and Mykhaylo Shelemba, Datagroup-Volia CEO and shareholder (together, the “parties”), have announced that regulatory approvals were granted in March 2024 for NJJ to acquire Datagroup–Volia, Ukraine’s leading fixed connectivity and pay TV provider. Once remaining conditions are met for the acquisition of mobile assets in Ukraine, trading under the Lifecell brand, the parties intend to create a national telecom champion, with the highest growth profile among peers, and the “operator of choice” for safe, secure and reliable telecom services in Ukraine.
The combined entity will provide mobile connectivity to nearly 10 million Ukrainians, while its fixed network will cover more than 4 million residences across Ukraine. The merger of Datagroup-Volia and Lifecell will also enable consumers to benefit from a triple play offer, bundling mobile, fixed connectivity and pay TV, improving quality of service, pricing and furthering the integration of European standards.
Xavier Niel, Founder of NJJ Holding, said: “I am pleased that we have achieved this major milestone with the regulatory approval for the acquisition of Datagroup-Volia, a significant step towards the creation of a national Ukrainian telecom champion, providing Ukrainians with safe, secure and reliable telecom services. Ukraine is home to an impressive tech sector with innovation in artificial intelligence, a high degree of digitalization and technological affinity. We are confident that our landmark transaction will serve as a signal to others that the time to invest in Ukraine is now, to support the rebuilding of the country and realize its potential. We look forward to working in the country and we are confident that our global telecoms activities, dedicated team and sector expertise, from France to Poland, from Italy to Sweden and the Baltics, will bring value to all stakeholders, including employees and customers, and to Ukraine as we work together to further develop the telecom offering, tech, artificial intelligence and other strategic areas of cooperation.”
Lenna Koszarny, Founding Partner and CEO of Horizon Capital, added: “We are delighted to attract Xavier Niel and NJJ to Ukraine, paving the way for a significant investment by a high-quality Western strategic in Ukraine’s infrastructure sector during historic times. Horizon Capital’s journey began in 2010 with the acquisition of a minority stake in Datagroup, then took a bold leap forward in 2016 after acquiring majority control. People make the difference at Horizon Capital and this deal is no exception. Attracting Mykhaylo Shelemba from McKinsey Dubai, recruited by Dmytro Boroday, Partner and beating out 17 candidates to assume the helm as Datagroup CEO in 2016, was truly game-changing. Under Mykhaylo’s leadership, Datagroup increased revenues 3.8 times and EBITDA 4.8 times in USD terms over five years, underpinning our confidence to raise our ownership to over 96%, and together with Mykhaylo Shelemba, fully control Datagroup’s destiny. Our vision to pursue a triple play, bringing fixed, pay TV and mobile together, was born in 2018 with the first meetings with Volia and Lifecell, and inspired by Xavier Niel, who is renowned as the French pioneer and visionary who over 20 years ago invented the Freebox – the world’s first triple-play box – bringing Internet to many households and mobile usage within reach. We completed the acquisition of Volia in June 2021, followed by a historic meeting with Xavier Niel and his team in Paris in December 2021, that has now culminated in this landmark transaction. To lead a deal of this magnitude and importance is the honor of a lifetime, and we are truly grateful to Xavier Niel and the NJJ team for their trust and partnership, and to the Datagroup-Volia and Lifecell leadership and teams for their excellence. We look forward to partnering with Xavier Niel and NJJ in the future, and are confident that this transaction will serve as a critical market signal, attracting new investments into Ukraine’s infrastructure and technology sectors and contributing to the country’s ongoing resilience, digitalization and growth.”
Mykhaylo Shelemba, CEO of Datagroup-Volia, added: “The merger of Datagroup-Volia and Lifecell will create a new champion in Ukraine’s telecom industry, combining two stellar assets with vast synergy potential. Expansion of the triple-play offering is expected to result in clear, tangible benefits for consumers in cost, convenience, and quality of service. Mutual integration of customer bases, improvements in cost-efficiency and business processes, as well as strengthening of network investment will allow us to offer even more attractive and competitive packages to our subscribers than both companies were able to provide on a standalone basis. This opportunity is only made possible through the bravery of Ukraine’s courageous defenders, protecting the country at this pivotal time, and the over 5,000 talented and dedicated management team and employees of Datagroup-Volia and Lifecell, who have demonstrated the utmost resilience and commitment to continuing to deliver high-quality services to Ukrainians every day, despite challenging circumstances. I thank Horizon Capital for their vision, trust and backing for the past eight years and look forward to embarking on this new, exciting chapter led by Xavier Niel and NJJ, undoubtedly one of the most visionary, experienced and trailblazing telecom investors globally. We are confident that this deal will start a new page in Ukraine’s telecom market and inspire others considering investing in Ukraine.”
The post Consortium led by Xavier Niel clears regulatory approval to acquire Ukraine’s #1 fixed telco Datagroup-Volia; Pursuing merger with #3 mobile operator Lifecell; Significant investment planned in Ukraine appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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Trusted Experts Unite: IDVerse and TrustID Fuse Best of Breed Technology with Human Expertise

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IDVerse, a pioneer in generative AI identity solutions, celebrates a significant milestone as TrustID, a proven expert in identity verification and fraud prevention, joins its growing roster of clients. TrustID, leading certified identity service provider (IDSP) and industry veteran, has chosen IDVerse to further progress the capabilities of its human-in-the-loop identity services, setting a new standard in identity validation and security.
The addition of IDVerse’s automated reinforcement learning into TrustID’s services, supported by TrustID’s unique expert human analysts, enhances the accuracy and reliability of the identity verification processes. This collaboration equips TrustID to continue to offer future-proof verification technologies and fraud prevention services. Customers will benefit from enhanced security features, smoother user onboarding, and robust compliance with regulatory standards.
As deepfake attacks rise, with fraudulent entities using manipulated audio or video to impersonate individuals, TrustID and IDVerse are proactively adapting their systems to counter this threat. Recent data from IDVerse reveals that approximately 1 in 4 fraud attempts involve deepfake media, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this issue.
Tony Machin, CEO of TrustID, said: “We are excited to continue our advancement in identity verification automation with IDVerse and leverage their innovative approach to identity technology. We rigorously tested IDVerse with our own known fraudulent document database and through live data tests to ensure our clients receive only the industry’s best. IDVerse performed significantly better in document capture and fraud analysis than other candidates.”
Machin continued: “Together, we will redefine the standards of digital identity verification and fraud prevention, integrating best-of-breed solutions to drive the most robust and straightforward verification, supported by human experts. Incorporating IDVerse reinforces our position at the forefront of the identity verification market and helps us to say ahead of evolving threats, such as deepfake fraud.”
“At IDVerse, we’re committed to providing the essential building blocks for identity businesses, prioritizing both innovation and ethical AI,” stated Matt Adams, CTO and Co-founder of IDVerse.
Adams continued: “By leveraging the best of computer vision and humans, we address algorithmic bias and ensure compliance with regulations like the EU AI Act and the US White House Executive Order on AI. This approach empowers companies like TrustID to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and with confidence, particularly in combating emerging threats such as deepfake media.”
The partnership between IDVerse and TrustID marks a significant advancement in digital identity verification, combining cutting-edge generative AI with human expertise to provide superior security and user experience.
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Ying Yong grants interview to Russian newspaper Izvestia

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On June 20, Ying Yong, Chief Grand Prosecutor and Prosecutor General of the Supreme People’s Procuratorate (SPP) of China, granted an interview to the Russian newspaper Izvestia on the sidelines of the 6th Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Question: What are the characteristics of criminal cases in China? How do Chinese prosecution authorities deal with them?
Ying: Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese people have created dual miracles of eye-catching economic development and long-term social stability under the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Along with the development of the economy and society, criminal cases in China have undergone some changes over the past two decades. There are significant changes in the crime structure. There has been a continuous decrease in the total amount and proportion of serious violent crimes such as murder, robbery and kidnapping, while the number and proportion of minor crimes such as dangerous driving and acts by cybercrime accomplices have significantly increased. China is one of the countries with the lowest rates of homicide, firearms and explosive incidents, and other serious criminal offenses in the world.
China has placed a high priority on the development of the rule of law. Law-based governance is a constitutional principle and a fundamental governance strategy of the country. The 20th CPC National Congress held in October 2022 specifically planned for “adhering to comprehensive rule of law and advancing law-based governance in the country”, clearly proposing “comprehensively building a modern socialist country along the path of the rule of law” and “comprehensively promoting law-based governance in all respects”, and highlighting “accelerating the development of a fair, efficient and authoritative socialist judicial system” and “strengthening the legal supervision work of the prosecution authorities”. Under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese prosecution authorities thoroughly implement Xi Jinping Thought on the Rule of Law, earnestly enforce the Constitution and laws, respect and effectively safeguard human rights. They adhere to the principles of a legally prescribed punishment for a specified crime, presumption of innocence, and no guilt without evidence, and comprehensively and accurately implement a criminal policy combining severity with leniency that upholds the practice of being strict when necessary, lenient when appropriate, and punishing according to the offense. They strictly adhere to the system of leniency for those who confess and repent, actively promote the construction of a system with Chinese characteristics for governing minor crimes, explore the comprehensive use of criminal, administrative, civil and other means to hierarchically punish minor crimes, and resolve social conflicts in a timely manner. They are working to establish a crime governance structure that is well-ordered in severity and with differentiated responsibilities, and promote the modernization of the system and capacity for national governance, effectively safeguarding national security, social stability and the well-being of the people.
Question: The theme of the 6th Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries is “Modern digital solutions on enforcement of the law: experience of BRICS prosecution services”. What experiences do China’s prosecution authorities have in using digital technology to support case handling?
Ying: I presented the development in this regard in China at the 6th Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries. Digital technology is a revolutionary means of law enforcement and justice that can effectively enhance technological content and efficiency in law enforcement and justice work. Currently, China is striving to promote the building of a Digital China. The Chinese government has unveiled a plan for the overall layout of the country’s digital development, formulated laws such as the Cybersecurity Law, Data Security Law, and Personal Information Protection Law. Additionally, China is actively participating in the formulation of the United Nations treaty on cybercrime. China’s prosecution authorities attach great importance to the application of digital technology in judicial case handling, deeply implement a digital prosecution strategy, formulate a plan for digital prosecution development, promote IT application in the rule of law, and effectively construct a mechanism for digital prosecution work that is “business-led, data-integrated, technology-supported and application-focused” to enable the work of legal supervision to improve quality and efficiency. In the prosecution of financial crimes, money laundering, smuggling and other crimes, new technologies such as big data and artificial intelligence are fully utilized to review massive relevant evidence, conduct in-depth analysis of the flow of funds involved, dig deep into upstream and downstream crime clues, accurately charge crimes, and simultaneously trace and recover proceeds. By using data algorithms and technological means such as three-dimensional measurement and imaging for identification, the ability to recognize deeply forged audiovisual materials is enhanced so that clues for high-tech crimes can be effectively identified. In handling public interest litigation cases, technologies such as satellite remote sensing are fully utilized to compare changes in the ecological environment, discover clues of public interest damage in areas such as water bodies, soil, wetland protection, desertification control, and biodiversity protection, and to assess public interest damage and rectification.
China’s prosecution authorities focus on analyzing the characteristics and patterns of cases in performing their duties, construct legal supervision big data models, screen more illegal and criminal clues, refer them to competent authorities for investigation, and, in conjunction with case handling, issue prosecution recommendations to competent authorities to promote plugging loopholes, strengthening of supervision, recovering of losses, and advancing from individual case handling to category supervision and then to litigation source governance. To date, China’s prosecution authorities have jointly developed more than 6,000 legal supervision big data models, discovered over 620,000 supervision clues in groups, strengthened legal supervision, and effectively achieved systematic governance and litigation source governance.
Question: In recent years, what new achievements have been made in cooperation between Chinese and Russian prosecution authorities? What are your expectations for Sino-Russian prosecutorial cooperation?
Ying: In recent years, under the strategic planning and guidance of President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, prosecution authorities of both countries have maintained high-standard exchanges and cooperation, achieving fruitful results. Within the frameworks of multilateral mechanisms such as the Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries and the Prosecutors General Conference of the Member States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the two countries’ prosecution authorities have respected each other, communicated in a friendly manner, effectively strengthened law enforcement and judicial cooperation in combating transnational crimes, terrorist crimes, religious extremist crimes, continuously deepened exchanges and cooperation between border region prosecution authorities, and jointly provided strong judicial support for the development and stability of both countries and the region.
Since last year, I have had three friendly, in-depth, and fruitful meetings with His Excellency Russia’s Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov. We have established a good working relationship and deep friendship. Last year, the SPP and the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia jointly signed a plan for bilateral cooperation for 2023 to 2024, cooperation agreements in the fields of education, research and specific agreements on local prosecution cooperation. Both sides are actively implementing these cooperation agreements, and more pragmatic exchanges and cooperation are steadily advancing. In September and November last year, prosecutors of both countries were sent to each other’s countries for study and visits, from which both sides greatly benefited.
This year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Russia. In May of this year, after President Putin was re-elected as Russian President, he chose China as the first foreign country to visit during his new term, embarking on a visit to China immediately after taking office as president. President Xi and President Putin met in Beijing, jointly signed and issued a joint statement on deepening the China–Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation for the new era, charting a blueprint for the development of China–Russia relations in the future at a new historical starting point. The SPP is willing to work with the Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia to further deepen friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries’ prosecution authorities under the strategic guidance of the two countries’ leaders, and continuously enrich the connotation of China–Russia relations in the new era so as to better benefit both countries and their peoples.
Question: How do you feel about participating in this year’s Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries?
Ying: This year’s Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries was held in St. Petersburg, and the Russian side made elaborate preparations and thoughtful arrangements for this meeting, making me and my colleagues feel warmly welcomed. During the meeting, prosecutors general from participating countries shared their countries’ concepts, experiences and practices regarding the theme of the meeting, fully consolidating a broad consensus on joining hands to embrace the wave of digital transformation, and demonstrating a broad prospects for exchanges and cooperation in the digital field among prosecution authorities of various countries.
This year’s Meeting of the Heads of Prosecution Services of the BRICS Countries was the first meeting after the successful expansion of the BRICS, with countries such as Iran, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Ethiopia joining the meeting. This fully demonstrates the vitality and vigor of this meeting mechanism and further expands its influence in the international judicial field. China’s prosecution authorities warmly welcomed the new members and also expressed gratitude to the Russian side for its important contributions to the deepening development of this mechanism. We look forward to working with prosecution authorities of BRICS countries, including the Russian side, to uphold the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, cooperation and mutual benefit, seize opportunities and meet upcoming trends, better utilize the power of the rule of law to serve the modernization processes of various countries, and jointly safeguard the interests of all countries and their peoples.
The post Ying Yong grants interview to Russian newspaper Izvestia appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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Bytes Of Healing: Digital Innovation Meets Patient-Centric Care Through AI/ML

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In the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, digital innovation driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) is transforming patient care, ushering in a new era of personalized and effective treatment strategies.
Leading this charge is Swapna Nadakuditi, a seasoned expert renowned for her pioneering work at the intersection of data analytics and healthcare.
Swapna Nadakuditi has achieved significant milestones in her career, particularly through her leadership in the Bytes of Healing initiative. Over the past five years, her contributions have been crucial in leveraging AI/ML technologies to enhance patient-centric care. She specializes in utilizing extensive datasets—from medical records to demographic information—to develop predictive models that identify individuals at heightened health risks, such as COPD, diabetes, and CKD. This data-driven approach not only facilitates early disease detection but also enables tailored healthcare solutions that improve patient outcomes.
One of Swapna’s major achievements includes successfully implementing Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques to extract diagnosis codes from unstructured medical records. This innovation has streamlined clinical documentation processes and enhanced the accuracy of predictive analytics, optimizing healthcare delivery.
In addition to her technical accomplishments, Swapna Nadakuditi has navigated significant challenges inherent in AI/ML integration within healthcare. These challenges include ensuring data privacy compliance, scaling AI solutions using distributed computing frameworks, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration across data science and healthcare domains. Her proactive approach to overcoming these obstacles underscores her commitment to advancing healthcare through technological innovation.
Swapna’s work has yielded measurable outcomes, including improved risk scoring accuracy, leading to enhanced revenue from risk adjustment and minimized coding errors in healthcare billing. Furthermore, her initiatives have bolstered patient engagement and satisfaction through personalized interventions, augmenting membership growth and service efficiency.
Looking ahead, Swapna Nadakuditi advocates for continued innovation in healthcare, emphasizing the transformative potential of AI technologies integrated with wearable devices and IoT. She predicts that advancements in AI, coupled with regulatory support, will reshape healthcare delivery by making it more efficient, predictive, and patient-centered.
Swapna Nadakuditi’s leadership in Bytes of Healing exemplifies how AI and ML are reshaping healthcare, turning precision medicine and patient-centric care from distant goals into tangible realities. Her pioneering efforts highlight the transformative potential of technology in improving health outcomes and setting new benchmarks for the industry. As she continues to innovate at the intersection of data science and healthcare, Swapna’s vision for the future includes further integration of AI with wearable devices and IoT, promising even more personalized and effective healthcare solutions.
Source: freepressjournal.in
The post Bytes Of Healing: Digital Innovation Meets Patient-Centric Care Through AI/ML appeared first on HIPTHER Alerts.

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