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STUDIOCANAL announces The Road Home, a distinctly South African story, to be filmed in Cape Town

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3 hours ago

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STUDIOCANAL

The film brings a uniquely South African story to a global audience, and is set against the backdrop of Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 23, 2026/APO Group/ —

  • The Road Home is a story of the power of music that changed the world, bringing to life the inspiring story of the creation of the Graceland album and band
  • The film’s budget is roughly ZAR 300 million
  • Production to commence in Cape Town on June 29th, employing over 300 local film crew and up to 3,500 extras
  • Underscores commitments made by CANAL+ during the acquisition of MultiChoice Group

 

STUDIOCANAL, the in-house studio of CANAL+ (www.STUDIOCANAL.com), in partnership with Flora Films, is proud to announce the production of feature film The Road Home. The film brings a uniquely South African story to a global audience, and is set against the backdrop of Paul Simon’s 1986 album Graceland. Principal photography starts in Cape Town in June.

Following exile from his native South Africa, trumpeter Hugh Masekela (Rametsi) is pulled between two worlds when the Anti-Apartheid Movement, led by his mentor Archbishop Trevor Huddleston (Pearce), launches a boycott against Paul Simon, over his groundbreaking township music-inspired album “Graceland”, accusing Simon of violating the United Nation’s Cultural Boycott.

This film exemplifies CANAL+’s continued commitment to investing in outstanding local content and bring powerful African stories to the screen with authenticity and ambition

Splitting from his mentor, Masekela – who sees their music as a powerful weapon in the struggle – joins forces with Simon and Hugh’s lifelong collaborator, South African powerhouse vocalist Miriam ‘Mama Africa’ Makeba (Erivo), to create the Graceland band – a super group designed to bring South Africa’s voice to the world, building to a powerful, celebratory testament to resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit.

The screenplay was developed through deep research ensuring a truly authentic telling, in particular drawing on the knowledge and resources of the Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation, enriched by contributions from acclaimed South African novelist Zakes Mda.

Alongside the invaluable insights shared with Bronner during the writing process by several Hugh Masekela Heritage Foundation members, Bronner did extensive research for the script – including in-depth interviews with Paul Simon.

The production of The Road Home will employ over 300 South African crew members, with only a small number of specialist roles filled internationally, alongside 68 local cast members, including celebrated South African actor Thabo Rametsi, an estimated 3,500 extras, and globally recognised local musicians.

CANAL+, through its film and television production and distribution arm STUDIOCANAL, is largely financing The Road Home, demonstrating its commitment to premium international storytelling in South Africa. The film will be shot on location in Cape Town further reinforcing the country’s status as a world‑class film production destination.

Anna Marsh, CEO of STUDIOCANAL and Chief Content Officer of CANAL+: “South Africa remains one of the best places in the world to produce compelling, high-quality content. I am delighted that we are able to bring a uniquely South African story to a global audience and shoot it in Cape Town with major local and international stars. The production is only possible due to the outstanding talent – both on and off the screen – which exists within South Africa’s creative ecosystem. This film exemplifies CANAL+’s continued commitment to investing in outstanding local content and bring powerful African stories to the screen with authenticity and ambition.”

Nomsa Philiso, Director, Content, General Entertainment, English and Portuguese-speaking Africa + added: “MultiChoice Group has long had a strong and successful local content platform rooted in African storytelling. Our combination with CANAL+ builds on this foundation, strengthening our scale and reach and enabling the production of ambitious films such as The Road Home. Through STUDIOCANAL, we are further enhancing our ability to invest in premium content and take high‑quality African stories to global audiences, showcasing the best of the continent on the world stage”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of STUDIOCANAL (a CANAL+ Company).

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GREE Unveils 130 Products at the 139th Canton Fair, with Over 80% Featuring AI and Green Energy-Saving Technologies

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24 minutes ago

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April 24, 2026

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GREE

GUANGZHOU, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 17 April 2026 – On April 15, the 139th China Import and Export Fair (hereinafter referred to as the “Canton Fair”) officially opened. As a leading enterprise in the manufacturing sector, Gree Electric made a grand appearance at Pavilion 4.2A under the theme “GREE, Making Better Electric Appliances,” presenting over a hundred innovative products in its largest exhibition area in Canton Fair history. Amid the global wave of green and intelligent manufacturing transformation, GREE is leveraging its hard-core independent innovation and full-industry-chain capabilities to show the world the confidence and resolve of China’s intelligent manufacturing to navigate industry cycles and lead the transformation.

Zhu Lei, CMO of Gree Electric, stated that Gree has participated in the Canton Fair for 31 consecutive years. This year, GREE brought 130 products to the event. Facing the global market, GREE strives to fully meet the practical needs of consumers from different regions worldwide. Notably, the majority of these products are originally manufactured in and exported from China, reflecting the dedication and ingenuity of GREE’s Chinese craftsmen.

It is reported that at this year’s Canton Fair, GREE has created a full-industry-chain exhibition space ranging from core components to scenario-based solutions. To date, buyers from over 50 countries and regions have scheduled visits and business negotiations, marking a 21% year-on-year increase.

Currently, the global home appliance industry is undergoing a dual transformation. On one hand, an energy efficiency revolution driven by the “Dual Carbon” goals makes the transition to eco-friendly refrigerants an urgent priority; on the other hand, an experience revolution spurred by consumption upgrades has made quietness, health, and smart features the core demands of users. GREE’s SilenzX series ultra-quiet air conditioners, showcased at the event, serve as a precise response to this trend. Equipped with a self-developed rotary four-cylinder compressor, the SilenzX series reduces the minimum sound pressure level of the outdoor unit to a mere 29 decibels—far below the industry average of 42 decibels. Backed by 137 invention patents, the product recently won a Gold Medal at the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva, signaling that Chinese enterprises have shifted from being “followers” to “leaders” in the realm of comfort technology.

A deeper layer of competitiveness stems from GREE’s long-term bet on a green future. Among the products showcased at this Canton Fair, over 80% are equipped with AI, green energy-saving, and other advanced technologies. GREE has comprehensively implemented R290 eco-friendly refrigerant technology across its entire product matrix, including split units, window units, and water heaters. Furthermore, its world-first photovoltaic air conditioning system has achieved a systemic breakthrough of “zero carbon emissions, zero electricity bills, and zero waste.” The AI dynamic energy-saving technology also utilizes intelligent algorithm optimization to boost annual energy efficiency by 15.8% and reduce power consumption by 13.6%. Rather than isolated technological features, these represent comprehensive green solutions that cover the entire chain of energy production, transmission, and consumption, providing the industry with a leapfrog path from “low-carbon compliance” to “zero-carbon leadership.”

Behind this systemic innovation capability lies a full-industry-chain competitive moat forged through 35 years of independent R&D. At this Canton Fair, Gree introduced three major compressors—G-Boost, G-Storm, and G-Hyper—which have successfully overcome industry challenges such as ultra-high-temperature cooling and ultra-low-temperature heating. Its star product, the GMV 9 series, is capable of operating in an ultra-wide temperature range from -35°C to 60°C, marking GREE’s achievement of full-stack technological autonomy from core components to system integration.

This strategic resolve is yielding substantial returns in GREE’s global layout. As one of the first Chinese home appliance companies to venture overseas, GREE has built a network covering more than 190 countries and regions. Independent brands now account for 70% of its total export volume, and this figure exceeds 85% in Belt and Road countries. This marks a highly successful, high-quality transformation from a traditional OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) model to an independent brand-led enterprise.

From core technological breakthroughs to a green and low-carbon transition, GREE remains rooted in technology and centered on quality. Its presence at the Canton Fair serves as a vivid microcosm of the transformation and upgrading of China’s manufacturing sector, demonstrating the powerful potential and dynamic momentum of “Made in China.”

 

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Sierra Leone Signs Offshore Petroleum License with Marginal Energy

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2 hours ago

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April 24, 2026

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Sierra Leone

The deal marks a new step in positioning Sierra Leone as an emerging upstream destination with over $225 million in committed exploration investment

PARIS, France, April 23, 2026/APO Group/ –The Government of Sierra Leone has signed a new offshore petroleum license agreement with Nigerian-based independent energy company Marginal Energy, advancing efforts to attract upstream investment and unlock the country’s hydrocarbon potential.

 

The agreement was formalized on April 23 at the Invest in African Energy Forum in Paris, reinforcing Sierra Leone’s growing profile among frontier exploration markets.

Signed through the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone (PDSL), the license grants Marginal Energy exclusive rights to explore, develop and produce hydrocarbons across five offshore blocks – G-Blocks 145, 146, 147, 160 and 161 – covering approximately 6,800 KM2.

The deal establishes a full-cycle upstream program, spanning exploration through to potential production, under a fiscal and regulatory framework designed to balance investor returns with national value creation.

According to details released by PDSL, the agreement includes a structured exploration period of up to seven years, alongside a minimum work program incorporating 3D seismic acquisition, advanced geoscience studies and drilling commitments. The company has committed to invest more than $225 million during the exploration phases.

In a statement released by PDSL, President Julius Maada Bio said the agreement reflects the government’s commitment to “responsibly harnessing Sierra Leone’s natural resources for sustainable economic transformation,” adding that partnerships with capable investors will help accelerate development of the country’s petroleum sector.

PDSL Director General Foday Mansaray described the deal as “an important step in unlocking Sierra Leone’s offshore potential,” emphasizing the country’s focus on transparency and competitiveness. The agreement also includes provisions for local content development, technology transfer and environmental management, aligning with Sierra Leone’s broader strategy to ensure long-term economic benefits from resource development.

For Marginal Energy, which brings over two decades of experience in the Niger Delta, the agreement represents an entry into a largely underexplored basin with significant upside potential. The company said it is committed to deploying its technical and financial capabilities to advance exploration while maintaining high standards of environmental and operational performance.

The signing comes as African governments continue to position their upstream sectors to attract capital amid shifting global energy dynamics. It also follows a reconnaissance permit agreement signed by PDSL with Shell at the forum a day earlier, enabling Shell to conduct advanced geological and geophysical surveys across multiple offshore blocks.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.

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Business

New strategic partnership in the Arab States region to enhance access to green finance for small and medium-sized enterprises

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2 hours ago

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April 24, 2026

By

ICIEC

It will support financing across a broad range of sustainability-related areas

Across our region, SMEs are the backbone of economies and helping them grow and innovate is critical to strengthening economic resilience and climate ambition

AMMAN, Jordan, April 23, 2026/APO Group/ –The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has signed a Joint Statement of Intent with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) (https://ICD-PS.org) and the Islamic Corporation for the Insurance of Investment and Export Credit (ICIEC) —both members of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group—introducing a new blended finance structure that leverages credit insurance to catalyze private investment in climate-smart sectors.

 

This partnership will unlock capital for green small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and support national efforts to achieve climate and sustainable development goals across the Arab States region. It will support financing across a broad range of sustainability-related areas, including climate change mitigation and energy transition, climate adaptation and resilience, sustainable water usage and governance, circular economy and management, sustainable agriculture and food systems and other green finance sectors.

“Across our region, SMEs are the backbone of economies and helping them grow and innovate is critical to strengthening economic resilience and climate ambition,” said Abdallah Al Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary General and Director of UNDP’s Regional Bureau for Arab States. “Through this new partnership we will work closely with regional financial institutions to expand SMEs access to green finance, to accelerate inclusive, climate-resilient development in line with UNDP’s flagship Green Finance Platform.”

In countries benefiting from the new partnership, ICD will provide financing facilities to partner banks and financial institutions while ICIEC will offer comprehensive credit insurance and risk-sharing solutions to encourage financial institutions to expand financing to green sectors, in addition to leveraging reinsurance partnerships to enhance the facility’s capacity and long-term sustainability.

“By uniting ICIEC’s risk mitigation, ICD’s financing, and UNDP’s development network, we are creating a scalable engine for green private sector growth,” stressed Mohammad Asheque Moyeed, Acting Director, Banking Department at ICD. “This partnership is our shared commitment to building a more inclusive and sustainable future for SMEs across our member countries.”

“Our role in this partnership is to unlock capital for the SMEs driving a greener, more diversified economy,” explained Yasser Alaki, Director of Business Development, ICIEC. “Through our credit insurance solutions, ICIEC provides the essential risk assurance that enables financial institutions to confidently channel financing toward this vital growth sector.”

Serving as a convener of the partnership, UNDP will facilitate linkages between financial institutions and SMEs engaged in its programmes and will coordinate joint efforts to mobilize resources to lower the cost of risk-sharing mechanisms.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD).

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