Category: English

Source: APO

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The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services, Ms Kgomotso Ramolobeng, has wished the National Library and the Department of Correctional Services a successful Funda Mzantsi Competition for the year 2025.

Ms Ramolobeng said the competition is happening as the committee had prioritized the Eastern Cape province for its oversight visits that will start tomorrow, 6 Monday. She said:

“This is a long running program in conjunction with the National Library and has contributed immensely to the lives of the incarcerated. This week offers a nice context for the surprise oversight visit that the committee is conducting in the provinces of the Eastern Cape and Western Cape.”

“We will not tire in ensuring that inmates are treated with dignity. This is an obligation we have in the context of our Ubuntu principles, and the constitutional dispensation whose fundamentals are corrective approach to offenders,” emphasised Ms Ramolobeng.

She said the committee is fully aware that the society has different opinions on how to handle prisoners but the truth is that the society still has an obligation to ensure that the welfare on these people is guaranteed and that even in chains they are treated with dignity.

The committee will from tomorrow undertake a week-long visit to the Eastern and Western Cape, to assess among others:

• Skills Programmes provided to offenders,
• Conditions of detention for both remand and sentenced inmates,
• Treatment offenders who are Mothers, and,
• Overall Infrastructure of correctional centres

The committee will conduct physical walkabouts of the correction facilities.

Ms Ramolobeng said the intention was not so much to catch out officials but to ensure dignity for the most disadvantaged of our society.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.

Source: APO

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The African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) congratulates the AUSSOM Sector 1 troops and the Somali Security Forces (SSF) on the successful recapture of Awdheegle town in Lower Shabelle region.

“The recapture of Awdheegle town is a testament to the strong cooperation between African Union forces and the Somali Security Forces (SSF) in the ongoing fight against Al-Shabaab and other illegal armed groups,” said the Special Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (SRCC) for Somalia, Ambassador El Hadji Ibrahima Diene.

“The successes achieved in these joint military operations are proof that Somalia is on the verge of achieving peace and stability its citizens have been yearning for.”

The AU Mission confirms that its forces are working closely with SSF in clearing Al-Shabaab remnants and any Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) left behind by fleeing terrorists.

The joint forces have also held meetings with local elders to assure them and other residents of their security in the newly liberated town.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

Source: APO

Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) today announces the Colorado XL-series, a new platform of 3.4m printers that extends the proven advantages of Canon’s UVgel technology to the 3.2m graphics market. Available in hybrid and roll-to-roll configurations, the modular, field upgradable platform powered by UVgel technology delivers great versatility and exceptional productivity for both flexible and rigid media applications from signage and décor to point of sale and packaging.

The Colorado XL-series comprises two easy-to-operate models: the Colorado XL7 roll-to-roll printer and Colorado XL7 hybrid printer. The new series brings the benefits of UVgel to a new market segment with exceptional application versatility across a comprehensive range of media – from banner, paper, vinyl and films to soft signage, heat-sensitive materials, foam board, fluted polypropylene, acrylic, aluminium composite boards and cardboard – providing the flexibility to tackle diverse customer requirements. With print speeds of 70m² per hour in quality mode, 106m² per hour in production mode and up to 211m² per hour in express mode, the system delivers the productivity needed for demanding production environments while accommodating substrates up to 52mm/2 inches thick for rigid applications.

The new platform includes multiple technology innovations, such as the UVgel 860 ink set, which has been optimised to cover a wide variety of both rigid and flexible applications. It also provides the proven benefits of UVgel: odourless and instant-dry prints, high mechanical and chemical robustness, dimensional stability due to low-temperature curing, excellent colour consistency, TPO [1] – and VCL [2] -free, and matte and gloss finish without the need of a separate varnish.

The Colorado XL-series also incorporates new UVgel 850 PrintHeads. Each printhead has 4,544 nozzles and features automated built-in nozzle performance monitoring and compensation. A single printhead supports two colours simultaneously, so that only two printheads are required to print CMYK, plus an optional third if white is configured. Additionally, the Colorado XL-series has an agile and precise printhead carriage that features UVgel DynamicMotion Control to ensure exceptional print quality even with challenging media.

Taking the UV LED curing process to the next level, the Colorado XL-series introduces UVgel FullBeam Curing. This technology uses a unique 3.4-metre-wide LED curing array that, combined with an ingenious mirror system, delivers consistent UV light dosing across the entire print width, guaranteeing exceptional print uniformity over large surfaces and enabling a wider colour gamut. Media handling is optimised by the new UVgel TRIdrive vacuum belt system, which features three interactive rollers and multiple powerful vacuum zones that reduce wrinkling and skewing by automatically detecting and correcting the media positioning. This results in highly repeatable media transport through the printer, ensuring accurate positioning both longitudinally and laterally and enabling razor-sharp applications.

Optional features for the Colorado XL-series, which are already available on the highly successful and modular Colorado M-series, include:

• UVgel White for hassle-free white printing,
• FLXfinish⁺ for creative effects using matte or gloss or mixed matte and gloss on the same print without additional varnish, and
• FLXture for textured finishes that mimic materials like leather, wood or fabric.

Mathew Faulkner, Director, Marketing & Innovation, Wide Format Printing Group, Canon EMEA, comments: “For the past decade, Canon has been at the forefront of the inkjet evolution in large format, with market-leading technologies including the Colorado roll-to-roll printer series powered by UVgel technology and the Arizona flatbed printers. Large format print providers are looking for systems that deliver high productivity, versatile applications and reliable quality while addressing the challenge of finding skilled operators – which is why Canon is launching our new, breakthrough Colorado XL-series, an addition to our portfolio that will set a new standard in productivity and versatility.

“This innovative solution brings the proven advantages of our unique UVgel technology to the 3.2m market for the first time, combining it with extensive automation and a modular design that will enable customers to extend their application possibilities into markets such as packaging and décor. Print service providers already producing high-value signage and graphics can now leverage UVgel’s distinctive finishes, including mixed gloss and matte effects and textured printing, at scale to stand out in these new markets. And with its hybrid capabilities, users can print both roll-to-roll and rigid applications on the same device, using the same ink, the same colour profiles and the same unique features and finishes. For brands, for example, this translates to seamless campaigns that span the full spectrum of applications, ensuring perfect consistency across campaign assets whether they’re roll-fed graphics, rigid signage, packaging, or décor elements. This is particularly valuable when these different applications appear side by side in-store, where maintaining that consistent quality and finish elevates the entire brand experience that today’s brands demand.”

The Colorado XL-series will be available from the beginning of 2026 via Canon’s direct sales organisations as well as from accredited partners.

For more information about the Colorado XL-series, please visit: https://apo-opa.co/3WltKtM

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

Media enquiries, please contact:
Canon Central and North Africa
Mai Youssef
e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

APO Group – PR Agency
Rania ElRafie
e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

About Canon Central and North Africa:
Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (http://apo-opa.co/46QS0ZE) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com

Source: APO

As the landscape of foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into Africa is being reshaped, Senegal aims to capture a growing share of this capital through the Forum Invest in Senegal 2025 (Fii Senegal 2025) (http://apo-opa.co/3KzxBkp), which opens on Tuesday in Diamniadio.

“Senegal is positioning itself as a crossroads between Africa and the rest of the world, a gateway for attracting capital, technology, and expertise,” explains Bakary Séga Bathily, Director General of APIX, the agency responsible for investment promotion and major infrastructure projects.

With the central theme of ‘connecting opportunities, building the future,’ the event—held under the patronage of His Excellency, President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye—aims to showcase a portfolio of strategic projects across three key sectors:

Energy: The development of natural gas from Yakaar-Teranga, combined with investments in solar and wind power, aims to position Senegal as a regional energy hub, both as an exporter and a cost-competitive provider of electricity.

Infrastructure: The $1.2 billion Ndayane Port, the Dakar-Bamako transport corridor, and large-scale water projects are designed to strengthen logistical connectivity and secure water supply.

Digital: The development of a sovereign cloud, a national data center, and support for a startup ecosystem in fintech, AI, and cybersecurity aim to diversify the economy beyond traditional sectors.

With growth projected at around 8.4% in 2025, driven by the first gas exports, Dakar aims to strengthen its reputation as a stable and attractive destination for investors.

Beyond the projects themselves, Dakar aims to capitalize on its structural strengths: recognized political stability, a strategic geographic location offering access to 400 million consumers across ECOWAS, and a shifting regulatory framework that includes the new Investment Code, the Startup Act, and a reinforced public-private partnership system.

“Fii Senegal 2025 is more than a forum—it’s a signal to global markets. Senegal seeks to position itself as a key player in Africa’s transformation, guided by transparency, innovation, and sustainability,” emphasizes Bathily.

In 2024, the country attracted nearly $3 billion in FDI, primarily in energy and infrastructure, according to official data. Authorities hope that the 2025 edition of the forum will help turn more announcements into concrete, bankable projects.

Full programme details are available at www.FiiSenegal.sn.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of APIX Senegal S.A.