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In line with its intention to become a leading force in digital labels and packaging production, Canon (www.Canon-CNA.com) is today using its participation in the FEFCO (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers) Technical Seminar 2025 (Rome, 8th – 10th October) to announce the Canon corrPRESS iB17, a next-generation inkjet press engineered for industrial-scale corrugated packaging production. Capable of digitally printing up to 8,000 m2 per hour (15 million m2 per year), the corrPRESS iB17 delivers offset-like quality directly onto corrugated boards up to 1.7 m wide with water-based inks and primer for indirect food contact. The highly automated corrPRESS iB17 enables cost-efficient short- to medium-length runs with ultra-fast turnaround times and requires fewer operators and lower skill levels. Designed for seamless integration into existing production environments, the corrPRESS iB17 offers outstanding productivity and digital flexibility, and extends the economic benefits of digital printing far beyond traditional short-run applications. Building on Canon's proven expertise and experience in commercial digital printing and following the development roadmap presented as a concept at drupa 2024, the Canon corrPRESS iB17 will address the evolving needs of corrugated converters that face increasing pressure to deliver shorter runs with more variants, faster turnaround times and premium quality, and all without compromising cost efficiency. Offering industrial-scale throughput at up to 8,000 m2 per hour, the corrPRESS iB17 allows converters to achieve cost-efficient production for runs up to 20,000 m2, extending digital printing viability well beyond traditional short-runs. Supported by automated printhead cleaning and quality control systems, the press minimises operator intervention while maximising production efficiency. The system’s design also reduces waste through efficient print on demand and eliminates the use of printing plates and chemicals. Unlike conventional technologies, the corrPRESS iB17 does not produce contaminated water, which then has to be filtered or released into the wastewater system. Featuring Canon's proprietary, high-performance, 1200 dpi piezo printheads and specially formulated, water-based pigment inks and primer, which provide an extended colour gamut with CMYK and later OVG, the corrPRESS iB17 achieves pre-print offset-like quality in the post-print process. This improves production efficiency by eliminating the traditional lamination step while reproducing vibrant, accurate and consistent colours, sharp text and precise detail on both coated and uncoated topliners at rated speeds. The system also uses an advanced spot primer that ensures optimal ink adhesion and colour reproduction across the full range of corrugated materials. The ink is jetted onto the board immediately after the primer application without any drying in between, minimising the impact of drying on the board and contributing to a highly reliable production process. The sophisticated Canon drying technology in the corrPRESS iB17 has been optimised to minimise corrugated board stress and energy consumption and to increase production efficiency. Covering approximately 80% of retail packaging applications, the system supports coated and uncoated boards up to 1.7 m wide and 1.3 m long, and ranging from 1 mm to 8 mm thick, at a linear speed of 80 m per minute. Unusually for a digital corrugated press, Canon owns all the key components in the printing process – printheads, inks and drying – enabling Canon to optimise the system’s performance more easily. This high level of integration and synchronisation will result in exceptional levels of productivity and reliability. By combining proven proprietary inkjet technology with an industrial board transport system, Canon has developed an innovative press that delivers offset-quality prints with outstanding productivity and digital flexibility, all developed for indirect food contact applications Jennifer Kolloczek, Senior Director, Marketing & Innovation, Production Printing, Canon EMEA, commented: “Corrugated converters face rising demands for shorter runs, more variants and faster turnaround without compromising quality or cost. We’re thrilled to now announce the Canon corrPRESS iB17 — a digital corrugated press that empowers converters to respond to the changing demands with agility and unlock growth. For Canon, the corrPRESS iB17 marks a major milestone in our journey to becoming a key player in the packaging industry and we’re especially excited that EMEA customers will be the first to benefit from this innovation. Although we’re new to corrugated, we bring many years of collaborative innovation from industrial-scale commercial print and will combine our digital expertise with converters’ value-chain knowledge to drive progress in packaging together.”
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Canon Announces the corrPRESS iB17, a New Digital Press for Industrial-Scale...

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Prof Njenga Munene Launches his Autobiography, ‘Rooted in Hope’

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State Department for Correctional Services fetes its officers By Vincent Munga
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State Department for Correctional Services fetes its officers

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KQ flies first Africa flight using sustainable fuel
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KQ flies first Africa flight using sustainable fuel

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IRA to hike license, annual fees for insurers and reinsurers

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Canon Central & North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com), a leading provider of imaging solutions, successfully hosted its annual Dealer Conference at Conrad Hotel, Dubai. Themed “ICE: Innovation, Customer, and Experience,” this year’s edition carried special significance as CCNA celebrated its 10-year anniversary. The exclusive event brought together 100 partners from across Africa to explore Canon’s strategic direction, celebrate milestones, and experience immersive solution-driven zones designed to address evolving market needs. Aligned with Canon’s strategy of getting closer to customers and enhancing customer experience, the conference served as a platform to strengthen partnerships and share a forward-looking business vision. Attendees gained insights into market trends, CCNA’s strategic growth plans, and innovations designed to meet Africa’s diverse imaging requirements. To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of Canon’s diverse offerings, this year’s conference introduced strategically curated zones designed to deliver solution-oriented and vertical-focused experiences. Rather than showcasing products in isolation, each zone was thoughtfully crafted to demonstrate how Canon’s technologies integrate into real-world environments, addressing the evolving needs of customers and partners across industries. Business-To-Consumer Zones: Strategic, Solution-Led Experiences To facilitate a comprehensive understanding of Canon’s offerings, this year’s conference introduced strategically curated B2C zones, shifting the focus from product showcases to solution-oriented, vertical-focused experiences. The zones highlighted Canon’s legacy in cameras and printers, geographical growth, and strong positioning across key environments such as media agencies, workspaces, production studios, and educational spaces. Attendees experienced how Canon’s imaging and printing technologies seamlessly integrate into real-world scenarios- from dynamic content creation and professional production setups to hybrid office solutions, education programs, and after-sales support through authorized service centers. A preview of upcoming product campaigns added momentum to Canon’s continued innovation journey. Rashad Ghani, B2C Business Unit Director, said: “Celebrating 10 years of Canon Central & North Africa made this year’s conference truly special. It was a great opportunity to connect with our partners, share our vision, and showcase how Canon’s solutions seamlessly integrate into real-world environments. By shifting from product displays to solution-led experiences, we’re empowering partners to meet evolving customer needs and drive business growth. I also congratulate our award-winning partners for their outstanding contributions to Canon’s success.” Business-To-Business Zones: A Unified Journey – Past, Present & Future The B2B zones followed a unified storytelling journey, strategically illustrating Canon’s evolution from its legacy of workspace and professional solutions, to the launch of the new imageFORCE series that represents the next step in intelligent, platform-driven offerings, and a forward look at upcoming innovations such as new imageFORCE models, varioPRINT, LabelStream, and corrugated solutions. This approach underscored Canon’s commitment to delivering intelligent, scalable solutions that enhance productivity and enable business growth across Africa. Amine Djouahra, B2B Business Unit Director, said: “This conference was a strategic platform to highlight Canon’s unified B2B journey, where legacy meets innovation and future ambitions. Our focus goes beyond products; it’s about enabling businesses with intelligent, scalable solutions that drive efficiency, productivity, and growth. Through this strategy, we continue to strengthen partnerships and position Canon as the trusted technology ally for businesses across Africa. I would also like to commend all our partners who have been recognized for their outstanding achievements- their dedication has been integral to Canon’s success”. The event concluded with a gala dinner and awards ceremony, honoring top-performing partners for their exceptional contributions to Canon’s growth. The celebrations highlighted a decade of collaboration and success.
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Canon celebrating a decade of success and future innovations

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Sanlam Investments (www.SanlamInvestments.com) has confirmed its third sponsorship of Africa’s Green Economy Summit (AGES), taking place in February 2026, reaffirming its commitment to financing Africa’s sustainable future through innovation in renewable energy, water security, waste reduction, ocean and climate finance. Since its inception in 2023, AGES has become a key platform for connecting global capital with African green projects. To date, the summit has showcased more than 90 investment-ready initiatives valued at over US$8.7 billion, spanning entrepreneurial start-ups to national-scale infrastructure projects. The event bridges the gap between investors and project owners, accelerating Africa’s transition to a just and inclusive green economy. “Africa stands at the frontline of climate change, and on the frontier of opportunity,” said Carl Roothman, CEO of Sanlam Investments. “From renewable energy to the blue economy and circular industries, the continent is leading a new era of sustainable growth; one defined by innovation, inclusion, and long-term value creation. “We recognise that meaningful change requires collective action through strategic partnerships, which is why we are supporting Africa’s Green Economy Summit for the third year. Every investment, every solution we implement, creates lasting returns for ecosystems, communities and investors. Now is our moment to invest in the future we need.” Roothman added that Sanlam’s investment philosophy of ‘holistic return’ reflects the company’s goal to pair measurable financial returns with regenerative impact for people and the planet. “We have consistent evidence that investing for impact yields outperforming returns – financial, social and environmental. Doing good is good investing.” Emmanuelle Nicholls, Project Lead for the event said: “Thanks to the vision and leadership of partners like Sanlam Investments, Africa’s Green Economy Summit has become an unmatched platform for changemakers, investors and entrepreneurs shaping a sustainable future for Africa. She added that the 2026 Summit will once again explore the full scope of the green and blue economy – from energy, transport, water and agriculture to waste management, green buildings and clean technology. “This year’s programme will feature dedicated pitch stages, investor roundtables, deal rooms and curated matchmaking with DFIs, venture capital funds, banks and asset managers. Nature and biodiversity finance will also take centre stage, highlighting the emerging markets for biodiversity credits and nature-based finance.” Nicholls emphasised that each edition of the summit strengthens its impact: “Every year, we reinforce the urgency of addressing Africa’s climate finance gap and taking actionable steps toward sustainable development.” AGES takes please at the Century City Conference Centre in Cape Town from 24-27 February. Register via the AGES website (https://apo-opa.co/4nNVNOF). Distributed by APO Group on behalf of VUKA Group. About Sanlam Investments: Sanlam Investments is one of South Africa’s largest black-owned asset management firms, managing assets of over R1.5 billion. The company’s purpose extends beyond wealth creation — it is dedicated to investing in the long-term sustainability of people, planet and profit to drive measurable impact.
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Sanlam Investments Renews Sponsorship of Africa’s Green Economy Summit 2026

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Since late August 2025, the Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT) (www.Kaspersky.co.za) has been observing a new malicious campaign leveraging a stealer — a type of malware designed to steal passwords and other account information. The StealC v2 infostealer is being spread through Facebook messages. More than 400 incidents have been identified to date, targeting users across multiple countries, including confirmed cases in Kenya, Angola, Ethiopia, Niger, Uganda and Zambia, among other African* countries. As part of this attack, Facebook users receive messages containing a link disguised as a notification that their account has been blocked. Clicking the link opens a fake support page claiming that the user’s account has been blocked due to suspicious activity. To “restore access,” users are prompted to use the “Appeal” button, which initiates the download of a malicious script that installs the StealC v2, a dangerous malware offered under a Malware-as-a-Service model, on the victim’s device. The malware itself steals passwords, cookies, screenshots, as well as cryptocurrency wallet data. “Cybercriminals often exploit users’ fear of losing account access and a perceived sense of urgency. This pressure can lead individuals to act without caution, increasing the risk of infection by malware such as StealC v2. Users should remain vigilant and always verify the authenticity of messages before clicking any links,” comments Marc Rivero, lead security researcher at Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team. StealC v2, first observed in 2025, significantly enhances the malware’s capabilities and elevates the risk to both individual and corporate users. The original StealC, which emerged in 2023 on dark web platforms, quickly became a sought-after tool among cybercriminals thanks to its accessibility, capabilities and ease of access. To be protected from phishing, Kaspersky recommends corporate and individual users: Practice caution when clicking links. Sometimes emails and websites look just like real ones. It depends on how well the criminals did their homework. But the hyperlinks, most likely, will be incorrect, with spelling mistakes, or they can redirect you to a different place. Look out for urgency or threats. Phishing attempts frequently try to create a sense of urgency or fear. Be cautious of emails demanding immediate action, such as changing a password or providing personal information. Verify unsolicited messages, calls, or links, even if they appear legitimate. Never share 2FA codes. Use Kaspersky Next (https://apo-opa.co/42lrs13) (in corporate environments) or Kaspersky Premium (https://apo-opa.co/4nr4ga5) (for individual use) to block phishing attempts.
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Shadow Artificial Intelligence (AI) vs Managed AI

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The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) (www.AfDB.org), The International Finance Corporation (IFC), and partner organizations today announce the appointment of Inspired Evolution as the investment manager for Zafiri, a new decentralised renewable energy (DRE) equity investment vehicle targeting small-scale and decentralized renewable energy, to expand access to electricity and clean cooking solutions for tens of millions of people across sub-Saharan Africa. The appointment underscores Zafiri’s central role in Mission 300, a joint initiative of the World Bank Group and African Development Bank to provide first-time electricity access to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030. Zafiri addresses one of Africa’s toughest energy-financing gaps by channelling long-term equity into distributed renewable energy (DRE) companies that are essential to last-mile access yet remain underfinanced by mainstream capital markets. Zafiri’s founding partners include IFC, AfDB, The Rockefeller Foundation, Trade and Development Bank Group (TDB Group), and Nordic Development Fund (NDF). Inspired Evolution is an Africa-based investment firm focused on scaling clean energy and climate solutions across the continent. The company, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Cape Town, has financed more than 10 GW of renewable energy generation, supported 29 companies across 18 African countries, and manages over $850 million including co-investments, through its suite of Evolution funds. “One of the key challenges slowing Africa’s energy transition is the lack of equity financing for distributed energy companies—those expanding power generation and improving access for millions,” said Ethiopis Tafara, IFC Vice President for Africa. “Zafiri addresses this ‘missing middle’ by offering long-term equity to these providers, helping scale innovative business models. IFC is proud to support this initiative, which is expected to reach 30 million people and spur job creation across the continent. Through our commitment to the M300 platform, we are deepening our support for impactful solutions like Zafiri. Inspired Evolution brings strong local investment expertise and a proven track record, making it a valuable partner for M300 in delivering development impact through the private sector.” “By combining AfDB’s capital—including our Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa (SEFA)—with IFC and partners, Zafiri will inject the much needed risk capital to take the DRE sector to the next level in terms of commercial maturity, larger operational footprint, and ultimately impact on the many communities beyond the grid,” said Kevin Kariuki, the African Development Bank’s Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth. “We are honored to partner with IFC, AfDB and global investors to manage Zafiri, a vehicle uniquely designed to close the equity financing gap for distributed energy solutions across Africa,” said Wayne Keast, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Inspired Evolution. “We will focus on building and scaling high-impact businesses that can deliver clean, affordable and reliable energy while driving inclusive and climate-resilient economic growth.” Zafiri is structured as a permanent capital investment vehicle that provides long-term equity to expand clean energy access in underserved markets. The vehicle leverages concessional junior equity to de-risk private sector participation and mobilize commercial capital into scalable off-grid and decentralized energy solutions. Backed by an initial $300 million capitalization by 2026, Zafiri is expected to scale up to $1 billion to accelerate energy access in Africa. Over its lifespan, Zafiri aims to facilitate new electricity connections and clean cooking access for more than 30 million people while supporting the growth of Africa’s DRE sector. Operations will commence in early 2026. “The Rockefeller Foundation is proud to support Inspired Evolution as it leverages its proven track record to accelerate energy access across Sub-Saharan Africa,” said Ghita Benabderrazik, Director of Innovative Finance at The Rockefeller Foundation. “Following the announcement of our anticipated $10 million investment in Zafiri at the Mission 300 Africa Energy Summit, we remain deeply committed to closing the equity gap for distributed renewable energy solutions that power livelihoods and drive productive use — advancing inclusive development, reducing poverty, and creating jobs.” “Complementing the debt support TDB Group has been deploying across several renewable energy sub-sectors in Africa, we are pleased to join forces with this strong group of investors to inject some much-needed equity into small-scale DRE providers – providers which, via electrification and clean cooking, can ultimately catalyse sustainable development in their communities,” said Admassu Tadesse, TDB Group President and Managing Director. “Zafiri enables the speed and scale that is needed to meet the ambitious targets of Mission 300," said Satu Santala, NDF Managing Director. “NDF’s junior capital is expected to catalyse significant commercial investments into increasing energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa. At NDF, we are in full support to make Zafiri become a success and mobilise more private capital for climate action.”
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Tackling Africa’s Off-Grid Gap

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GoDaddy (www.GoDaddy.com), a global leader in empowering entrepreneurs, announced the expansion of its new Digital Ads feature with GoDaddy Airo® (https://GetStarted.GoDaddy/Africa) to nine new English-language markets including Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. This AI-powered tool enables small business owners and entrepreneurs to create, launch, and manage professional Google Ad campaigns in minutes, without prior advertising expertise, directly addressing a key barrier to online visibility and customer acquisition. "Reaching new customers online is critical for growth, but creating effective ads has traditionally required significant time or resources many small businesses simply don’t have," said Selina Bieber, Vice President of International Markets at GoDaddy. "Airo Digital Ads now empowers entrepreneurs in these markets to compete more effectively. Our AI handles the technical complexities, like writing compelling ad copy and selecting high-performing search keywords, so they can focus on running their business and connecting with customers." Why Simplifying Digital Ads Matters GoDaddy’s 2025 Global Entrepreneurship Survey highlights the hurdles faced by entrepreneurs, with over one in three (37%) facing financial constraints limiting marketing investments, 23% struggling with technology complexity, and 40% citing work-life balance challenges from operational demands. Digital Ads leverages Airo’s advanced AI to transform ad creation from a daunting task into an effortless streamlined process. Instant Campaign Setup: Generate complete, professional Google Ad campaigns in minutes. Airo drafts persuasive ad copy, selects relevant keywords based on the business offering, and structures the campaign using industry best practices, eliminating the "blank page" problem. Zero Experience Required: Tailored specifically for those new to digital advertising, the intuitive dashboard guides users through the process without requiring a dedicated marketing team. Full Control & Customization: Users review, edit, and perfect every element before launch – headlines, descriptions, keywords, target audience, and budget. The AI provides a powerful starting point, but the business owner makes the final decisions. Integrated Management & Analytics: Launch campaigns and track detailed performance metrics (like clicks, impressions, and costs) all within the GoDaddy Digital Ads dashboard. No need to juggle multiple platforms or logins. Risk-Free Testing: Preview the complete ad exactly as it will appear on Google. Make unlimited adjustments. Campaigns only go live when the user is completely satisfied. AI Benefits for All Entrepreneurs Digital Ads effectively works as a plug-and-play solution to key challenges faced by various entrepreneurial segments. Small business owners new to digital ads gain a streamlined, cost-efficient entry point without agency overhead; busy entrepreneurs benefit from rapid campaign launch to drive traffic while juggling multiple priorities; and budget-conscious businesses garner professional results without the need to hire specialists to manage ads. Get started today at https://GetStarted.GoDaddy/Africa.
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GoDaddy Brings Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Powered Digital Ads to Entrepreneurs, Empowering Faster...

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