SA climate-tech startup Plentify closes oversubscribed round to accelerate growth
South African climate-tech startup Plentify has closed an oversubscribed funding round from top African and North American venture investors to fuel its growth in South Africa and commence its international expansion. Plentify is a smart energy company that makes affordable, reliable and clean electricity a reality for everyone by fusing advanced hardware, artificial intelligence and user-centric design. This ensures that appliances deliver desired services, generate major savings on energy bills through efficiency gains, and maximise energy use during clean energy periods while minimising it during constrained times. The startup’s round included a mix of existing and new investors, such as Third Sphere, TELUS Pollinator Fund for Good, Susquehanna Foundation and Fireball Capital. The capital injection will enable Plentify to further accelerate its impressive growth.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 10:37 UTC
Democrats rally behind Kamala Harris after Biden drops out; running-mate speculation swirls
But Biden’s swift endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris to replace him at the top of the Democratic ticket is energizing Democrats and breathing new life into their campaign to defeat former President Donald Trump and his running mate, Ohio Sen. JD Vance. The “Biden for President” campaign committee has officially been renamed the Harris for President committee, maintaining the Biden team’s infrastructure, staff and — crucially — its $98 million in cash reserves.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 08:50 UTC
Mohammed Bin Rashid Library Calls All Libraries Experts to Join the First Dubai International Library Conference 2024 From 15-17 November 2024
The conference highlights the importance of libraries and their role in achieving knowledge exchange within a global framework, in addition to celebrating libraries as models of engineering and architectural masterpieces, and their cultural status. It also focuses on the diversity of knowledge offered by international libraries and their unique specialisations. Experts and professionals from various fields and from all over the world are set to define and chart the future of libraries and highlight the latest technological development libraries are adopting including AI and its impact on the industry. Access to the event is complimentary and it is necessary to register as a delegate, to receive the necessary conference badge. More about the agenda and the speakers can be found here:https://s1684998685.hs.eloqua.com/DILC2024ENGLogo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2463463/Mohammed_bin_Rashid_Library.jpg
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 08:06 UTC
Egyptian fintech MNT-Halan raises $157.5m to fund geographical expansion
Egyptian fintech company MNT-Halan has raised US$157.5 million in funding to support its imminent geographical expansion. The MNT-Halan digital ecosystem includes small and micro business lending, payments, consumer finance, and e-commerce. The MNT-Halan digital ecosystem includes small and micro-business lending, consumer finance, pre-paid cards, e-wallets, savings, payments, and e-commerce. It is now set for international expansion after raising US$157.5 million in capital, with US$40 million of that coming from the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Other investors were Development Partners International, Lorax Capital Partners, and funds managed by Apis Partners LLP, Lunate, and GB Corp.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 06:08 UTC
South African Police Uncover Multimillion-Dollar Meth Lab On Farm
Police in South Africa have arrested four individuals, including two Mexican nationals, after discovering a multimillion-dollar drug manufacturing lab on a farm in the country's north, CNN reported. The South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, raided the property in Groblersdal following reports of suspicious activity, according to a SAPS statement. Upon searching four structures on the farm, police discovered large quantities of chemicals used in the production of illicit drugs, such as acetone and crystal meth, with an estimated street value of 2 billion South African rand ($109.4 million). The four suspects arrested on Friday include the farm owner and two Mexican nationals. It is unclear whether the seized drugs were meant for the South African market or export.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 06:07 UTC
Secure rooftop solar safety with Huawei’s smart energy solutions
According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IEA), the continent is primed for solar energy production due to its extensive sunshine, with average solar radiation levels exceeding 2,100kWh/m2 per year. “The increased demand for solar energy is welcomed as the world moves towards green energy. Rooftop solar safety is vital because installations that use substandard equipment or are not properly installed present a fire risk. Solar systems commonly have two risk areas:above the rooftop where the solar panels are, and below the roof where the battery is. Huawei solar solutions avoid this because they have a safety feature called Arc Fault Circuit Interruption (AFCI).
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 06:01 UTC
Wego Announces Partnership with Visit Valencia to Promote the Spanish City as a Premier Travel Destination
DUBAI, UAE, July 22, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wego, the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), announced partnership with Visit Valencia with the support of Tourspain, to enhance the city's visibility as a premier travel destination. "We are excited to join forces with Visit Valencia to introduce the charm and vibrancy of Valencia to our users," said Mamoun Hmedan, Chief Business Officer at Wego. "This partnership is set to boost tourism in Valencia and offer our users remarkable travel experiences. Visit Valencia Vice Deputy Director, Miguel Angel Pérez, said: "We are delighted to kick off this campaign with Wego and the suppport of Tourspain to promote Valencia, the European Green Capital. About WegoWego is the number 1 travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 05:43 UTC
New Chubb country president set for September start
Chubb’s new Australia and New Zealand country president Ben Howell will start on September 1, pending regulatory approval. Mr Howell will continue to report to Asia-Pacific regional president Marcos Gunn, who took up that role this month and is based in Singapore. “Ben is a highly respected insurance professional with a wealth of experience gained while working in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region,” Mr Gunn said. He joined Chubb as an underwriter in Sydney in 2002 before working with other global insurers including with AIG in Hong Kong and Singapore. He rejoined Chubb in July 2016 as global broker unit manager in Victoria and later moved into increasingly senior roles across the Asia-Pacific region.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 04:58 UTC
Côte d’Ivoire joins UN Water Convention – The North Africa Post
Côte d’Ivoire Joined the United Nations Water Convention, a treaty that aims to improve joint water management across borders. The West African country, which faces increasing is the 53rd party to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, known as the 1992 UN Water Convention. The country is expected to see demand on water increase by its 30 million population, which grows at a rate of 2.5%. In Côte d’Ivoire, water resources are also threatened by urbanization, climate change impacts including drought and flooding, while water quality is deteriorating due to pollution from agricultural, industrial waste, illegal gold panning, and untreated wastewater. Chad, Senegal, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Togo and Cameroon became the first African nations to accede to the Treaty, before being joined in 2023 by Nigeria, Namibia and the Gambia.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 22, 2024 00:37 UTC
Turn $5k to $30k By Stage 12! MOONHOP Presale Unlocks Big Returns; More on BlockDAG Price Forecast & XRP Bull Run
Plus, according to its oh-so-smooth ROI calculator, users can see an investment as small as $5k reach over $30k by stage 12! The RSI is nearing overbought levels, while the upper Bollinger Band suggests a potential price correction. To find out what their investment would be worth at any presale stage, they have to move the slider. For example, let’s say an investor buys $1,000 worth of MHOP during the presale stage. For example, $5k invested in MOONHOP’s presale stage 1 could turn into more than $30k by stage 12.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 21, 2024 23:03 UTC
Turkey seeks uranium supplies from Niger – The North Africa Post
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan, earlier this week, led a delegation to Niger to discuss uranium supplies, Bloomberg reported. The delegation “wants to tap Nigerien supplies of the fissile mineral to fuel Turkey’s nascent nuclear-power industry,” it said. The two parties agreed to boost cooperation on energy, mining, intelligence, and defense, at a time Niger saw its ties with its traditional western partners worsen following the military coup. Niger, following the example of its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, has asked western troops to leave the country, while building a stronger alliance with Russia. French Le Monde also confirmed the deal between Iran and Niger, noting that the mine in Arlit where concentrated uranium is abundant is extracted by French company Orano.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 21, 2024 19:16 UTC
The Next 3 Cryptos to Explode in 2024
The next big cryptos of 2024Stay tuned to discover three of the next hot cryptos to add to your portfolio. Poodlana Solciety Bitbot1. And new meme coin Biaoqing, based on a popular Asian meme, amassed a $50 million market cap in less than a month. If you’re looking for the next crypto to explode, Poodlana might just be the project you’ve been waiting for. The Solciety presale has already seen plenty of interest during its 15-stage ICO.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 21, 2024 08:37 UTC
‘Doomsday’ movement grips youth in the Middle East
It’s a growing “doomsday” movement among Middle Eastern youth. BBC NewsIt’s just one example of the growing international appeal of doom and gloom across religious, political and geographical divides. “Cases of self-proclaimed end-of-day prophets emerge every other day on social media”. Another, this time based in London, is urging social media followers to donate money for the purchase of three private islands. Doomsday movements have found a willing host in social media algorithms hungry for new traffic.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 21, 2024 06:05 UTC
ICJ ruling calls on people to fight Israeli apartheid: South Africa
LISTEN | Minister Ronald Lamola reacts to the International Court of Justice’s advisory ruling on the illegality of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory and settlement. 19/07/2024https://t.co/YmpYyG1bn3 pic.twitter.com/IHZz2X3EnQ — DIRCO South Africa (@DIRCO_ZA) July 20, 2024“This ruling clearly shows that an occupier can’t act in self-defence,” he said. The World Court’s ruling on Friday came following a 2022 request from the UN General Assembly and 49 submissions from member states, including South Africa. South Africa has also separately brought another case before the ICJ, alleging that Israel is committing genocide in its war on Gaza. This is considered a landmark advisory opinion, which is nonbinding but will still have implications.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 21, 2024 05:20 UTC
South African police discover multimillion-dollar meth lab on farm
CNN —Police in South Africa arrested four people including two Mexican nationals after uncovering a multimillion-dollar drug manufacturing lab on a farm in the country’s north. After searching four structures on the property, police found large quantities of chemicals used to make illicit drugs including acetone and crystal meth, with an estimated street value of 2 billion South African rand ($109.4 million). Police found large quantities of chemicals used to make illicit drugs including acetone and crystal meth. South African Police ServiceThe four suspects detained on Friday include the farm owner and two Mexican nationals, the police service said, adding that the Hawks are not ruling out the possibility of further arrests. South Africa is dubbed as potentially one of the “largest meth consumer markets in the world,” researchers at the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime highlighted in a 2021 report.
Source:The North Africa Journal
July 21, 2024 04:46 UTC