Canon has announced its entry into the recycling system market with the launch of its new plastic sorting equipment with innovative material identification technology. Plastic sorting equipment “TR-S1510”Source: Canon Central and North AfricaAccording to Plastic Products, Plastic Waste and Resource Recovery, published by the Plastic Waste Management Institute, roughly 20% of plastic waste generated in our daily lives is recycled as material for new products (material recycling), while the remainder is used as fuel or incinerated. Additionally, in order to accelerate plastic recycling, higher accuracy and productivity are required for sorting operations. Canon attributes the machine's high-precision, high-speed sorting of plastic (including black pieces) to its combination of Raman spectroscopy with a tracking mechanism. Therefore, the practical application of Raman spectroscopy to sorting black plastic has so far proven difficult.

North Korea might have launched a hypersonic missile, South Korea has said, as intelligence agencies investigated a ballistic missile test that failed early on Wednesday. The United States and South Korea have responded by expanding their combined training and trilateral drills involving Japan, and sharpening their deterrence strategies. North Korea, earlier this week, criticised the deployment of the Theodore Roosevelt and warned of an “overwhelming, new demonstration of deterrence”. It has also been reinforcing its defences along the border with South Korea after suspending a 2018 military agreement with South Korea which was supposed to reduce tension. It has also sent more than 1,000 rubbish-filled balloons south in retaliation for balloons carrying leaflets criticising Kim’s rule that were floated to North Korea by activists.

AfDB Vice President for Power, Energy, Climate and Green Growth Kevin Kariuki said energy access in Africa faces the energy trilemma of addressing security, affordability and sustainability, complicated by the variable of socio-economic challenges. Attending the Africa Energy Forum (aef) though was a way for the African Development Bank to hear not just about the challenges but also possible solutions. The energy trilemma concept provides a framework for understanding the multidimensional nature of energy policy and planning. It captures the three most fundamental challenges that highlight the interrelationship between energy security, equity and sustainability. Themed Energy Systems of the Future – Balancing Africa’s Needs with Global Goals, the opening of aef saw speaker after speaker emphasise collaboration and inter-regional connection as key to solving the continent’s energy deficit.

Egyptian Fintech Connect Money Raises USD 8 M Seed RoundConnect Money, an Egyptian banking-as-a-service fintech company, focusing on embedded finance services, has successfully closed its seed funding round of USD 8 M led by venture capital firms Disruptech Ventures and Algebra Ventures. The round will enable Connect Money to launch five new business verticals that will be announced separately in North African markets. Founded in 2024 by Ayman Essawy, Marwan Kenawy and Momtaz Moussa, Connect Money offers a comprehensive white-label card issuing platform that enables businesses to provide their customers with debit and credit cards without the need to develop fintech infrastructure or obtain regulatory licensing. Their solutions encompass digital payments, instant financing, and access to a network of over 20,000 marketplace partners. The company provides end-to-end support, including white-labeled card issuance, distribution, KYC, customer support, and mobile banking app development, simplifying the payments experience for their clients and their customers all through a unique SaaS offering.

Ghana had reached a deal with bondholders that will forgo nearly $5 billion in a sovereign debt restructuring deal that would help the country avoid default. The deal marks a key step in the country’s quest to restructure its $13 billion debt that left the country on the brink of financial collapse. The deal is the latest sovereign debt restructuring launched under a G20-approved “common framework”. Bondholders also finally voted to approve a restructuring by Zambia last month under the framework, almost four years after the southern African nation defaulted. Double-digit inflation and disruptions in the country’s gold and oil exports left the economy in uncharted territory on the verge of collapse.

This dip was largely influenced by Egypt and South Africa, two of the continent’s largest economies, which experienced varied FDI trends throughout the year. Despite the overall decrease in FDI, Africa witnessed a notable increase in the share of global greenfield megaprojects, with six projects valued above $5 billion. The renewable energy sector also attracted substantial attention, with over $10 billion allocated to wind and solar electricity production projects across Egypt, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. West Africa’s FDI flows dipped slightly by 1%, albeit bolstered by Mauritania’s hydrogen project. In Southern Africa, South Africa’s FDI inflows dropped by 43%, influenced by fluctuations in Angola.

Following the launch of VertiGIS Networks, VertiGIS Studio and VertiGIS FM, the company is continuing to scale with its cloud platforms hosting all its applications. VertiGIS has announced its new cloud infrastructure to unite all VertiGIS solutions into global cloud platforms. Having grown through multiple acquisitions over recent years, VertiGIS has a variety of different product applications and it has now unified these solutions under cloud infrastructure platforms. This is where cloud really comes into its own, enabling organisations to move their existing applications into a cloud infrastructure. Based in Germany, this provider is already supporting a couple of large VertiGIS customers, with Berlin, Hamburg and Bremen utilising this infrastructure.

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) - Patricia Ginter says her father, Cecil, never really liked to be the center of attention. However, on Tuesday, he was posthumously honored with a set of Valor Medals he earned for his active ground combat service in World War II. While most of the records were lost in fires, his family continues to share his bravery to this day. Senator Rand Paul was in attendance to gift the award to the family. Thank you very much.”Cecil passed away in 1995, and his family is so grateful to receive these medals 29 years after his passing.

Egypt’s Connect Money, a banking-as-a-service fintech company focused on embedded finance services, has closed a seed funding round worth US$8 million to help it launch five new business verticals. Connect Money offers a comprehensive white-label card issuing platform that enables businesses to provide their customers with debit and credit cards without the need to develop fintech infrastructure or obtain regulatory licensing. This significant seed investment underscores our hyper-growth potential as we strive to eliminate existing pain points for businesses aiming to become financially enabled,” said Ayman Essawy, co-founder and CEO of Connect Money. “We are proud to partner with Connect Money to revolutionise embedded finance in MENA. “Connect Money’s expertise, deep market knowledge, and cutting-edge integrated tech will greatly enhance accessibility and efficiency in financial services, benefiting the fintech-enabled ecosystem and transforming banking operations while positioning Egypt as a valuable hub for exporting embedded finance services.”

The REA, working with the Office of the Commissioner for Refugees (COR) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, jointly delivered an electrification project in Meheba Settlement, Kalumbila District, Northwestern Province. Vice President Mutale Nalumango unveiled the plaque during the commissioning of the Meheba project. Alex Mbumba during the commissioning of the Meheba electrification project. Electricity at Meheba Refugee Settlement means more than lightProviding sustainable energy to Zambian districts that host refugees and former refugees is a crucial element of the pledges. The joint project also enables the supply of electricity to Meheba A Primary and Secondary Schools, Meheba B Primary and Secondary Schools, Kananga Primary School, Kananga Rural Health Centre (RHC), Meheba A RHC, Meheba B RHC, Jagaimo RHC, Meheba Police, St. Mary’s Mission and surrounding areas.

Mongabay recently launched a brand-new bureau dedicated to covering the African continent in French and English, led by veteran Cameroonian journalist David Akana. Akana joins Mongabay’s podcast to discuss the importance of covering Africa well and why the news that happens there should be on readers’ radar worldwide. He joins the Mongabay Newscast to discuss why news of the African continent should be on the minds of readers and listeners worldwide. It’s so beautiful when you fly across the Congo Basin because it’s so rich. He co-hosts and edits the Mongabay Newscast.

SEOUL, South Korea — A suspected hypersonic missile launched by North Korea exploded in flight on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, as North Korea protests the regional deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier for a military drill with South Korea and Japan. The North Korean missile was launched at about 5:30 a.m. and was aimed toward the North’s eastern waters before the failure, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. South Korea said North Korea launched large balloons carrying trash across their border Tuesday night for the sixth time since late May. North Korea says it is responding to balloons launched by South Korean activists that carried political leaflets into the North. Also Wednesday, South Korea and the U.S. flew 30 advanced fighter jets as part of joint drills this week.

This prestigious recognition positions Conlog as a key supplier for smart prepaid electricity and water meters across South Africa. Amidst an ongoing energy crisis, smart meters have become critical to managing demand response and easing the strain on the national grid. Smart meters enable accurate billing and effective revenue collection, crucial for municipalities struggling with unpaid bills. “Our smart meters support municipalities and Eskom in avoiding loadshedding by enabling precise control over energy distribution,” Moodley explains. Now watch thisDesigan Govender, Conlog Portfolio Manager, spoke to ESI Africa about their smart metering technology and the latest innovations in the field.

We’ve picked five standout cryptos for 2024: BlockDAG (BDAG), Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), Solana (SOL), and Fantom (FTM). Experts anticipate BlockDAG’s value could soar to $30 by 2030, making it an enticing option for those eyeing long-term growth. Cardano (ADA): Built on Scientific FoundationsCardano distinguishes itself with its methodical, research-based approach to blockchain technology. Cardano’s strategic partnerships span various sectors, enhancing its practical use and supporting its long-term growth prospects. With strategic planning and groundbreaking technology, BlockDAG is well-equipped to provide significant returns over the coming years.

North Korea missile explodes in midair after launch, South’s military saysBy Joyce Lee and Hyonhee ShinSEOUL (Reuters) -North Korea test-fired what appeared to be a hypersonic missile off its east coast on Wednesday, but it exploded in midair, South Korea’s military said. The missile was launched from near the capital, Pyongyang, South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said. North Korea’s last missile launch was on May 30. North Korea this week criticised the deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier to joint drills with South Korea and Japan, and warned of an “overwhelming, new demonstration of deterrence”. The missile launch comes a day after the 74-year anniversary of the beginning of the Korean War.