South African fintech startup Ukheshe has rebranded as EFT Corporation, following its acquisition of the company of the same name back in January, a move the company says will help position it as a “financial inclusion catalyst” on the continent. It has created an extensive range of micro-services that enable rapid digital transaction propositions for clients. In January, the company acquired EFT Corporation, a 23-year-old digital payments firm active in 35 African nations, from its parent company Loita Transaction Services (LXS), and it has now rebranded to that name. Ukheshe said the rebrand would combine its digital solutions with EFT Corporation’s reach under a single unified identity. “This rebrand marks the beginning of a new era of growth and possibilities for us as EFT Corporation.

South Africa-based cross-border money transfer startup Mama Money has partnered Access Bank and Paymentology, global leaders in banking and card issuing, to launch a new WhatsApp-powered bank card service. Mama Money offers international money transfers and banking services through a free mobile application, and is one of the fastest-growing money transfer operators, with over 720,000 users. Through Paymentology’s next-generation payment solution, the Mama Money Card also offers advanced security features that allow you to instantly freeze the card through WhatsApp in case of loss or theft. “The Mama Money Card represents a significant step in empowering communities, particularly in aiding migrants. By catering to the specific needs of a diverse customer base, Mama Money continues to dismantle financial barriers and promote inclusivity,” said Mathieu Coquillon, co-founder of Mama Money.

This will build on the game's growing popularity in the US, which began with our inaugural season and the T20 World Cup.“Bringing the game to existing and new fans, with expert commentary from experienced voices and emerging talent, is what truly makes this sport great. We are excited to kick off the second season and entertain fans globally with the world’s best cricket on American soil. "In addition to the world-class matches, fans have several ticket options to choose from, with general admission tickets starting at $30 per person. Offering 360-degree comprehensive cricket coverage, Cricbuzz delivers ball-by-ball text commentary, compelling video analysis by the best cricket experts worldwide, timely news, match reports, editorials, statistics, rankings, and live match streaming in several regions. With over 125 million monthly active users globally and more than 495 million downloads as of January 2024, Cricbuzz is the largest single sport app in the world.- Ends –

Africa Energy Forum’s theme for 2024, Energy Systems of the Future – Balancing Africa’s Needs with Global Goals, saw speaker after speaker at the opening session touch on the concept of inter-regional connections. Clean energy investment in AfricaDriving the energy markets of the future in AfricaStill, his vision for Africa’s energy future is positive. It includes battery energy storage, power trading and marketing, especially in Southern and Western Africa. Hoffman sees collaboration as key to delivering the energy markets of the future that will meet customer needs. The proposed RLSF policy will cover the risk of payment default by the national utility, KPLC and Geothermal Development Corporation (GDC).

By Hyonhee Shin North Korea claims successful test to develop multiple warhead missileSEOUL, - North Korea has successfully conducted an important test aimed at developing missiles carrying multiple warheads, state media agency KCNA said on Thursday, a claim rejected by South Korea as "deception" to mask a failed launch. North Korea said the test was carried out on Wednesday using the first-stage, solid-fuel engine of an intermediate-range ballistic missile. The dispatch came a day after South Korea's military said North Korea had launched what appeared to be a hypersonic missile off its east coast that exploded in midair. "The purpose was to secure the capability to destroy individual targets using multiple warheads," it said. "Today North Korea disclosed something, but we believe it's simply a means of deception and exaggeration," Lee Sung-joon, the spokesman for South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a briefing.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea said Thursday it had successfully tested a multiwarhead missile in the first known launch of a developmental weapon coveted by leader Kim Jong Un to overwhelm U.S. and South Korean missile defenses. AdvertisementSouth Korea’s military said later Thursday that a joint analysis by South Korean and U.S. authorities assessed that the North Korean missile launch failed. But South Korea’s military said it couldn’t immediately confirm whether North Korea has the technology to build such a decoy. AdvertisementIn recent weeks, North Korea has also floated numerous trash-carrying balloons toward South Korea in what it has described as a tit-for-tat response to South Korean activists sending political leaflets via their own balloons. South Korea Thursday said it’ll turn on loudspeakers again if North Korea keeps sending trash balloons.

Summary: Drawing on four decades of industry expertise, BSG Alliance CEO and Chairman Steve Papermaster spearheads digital transformation initiatives across the MENA region. Building on its 40-year legacy of excellence in software and computing solutions, BSG Alliance aims to empower organizations in the region to thrive in the digital age. BSG Alliance's expansion in the MENA region will focus on serving key sectors including government and public sector, healthcare, financial services, energy and petrochemicals, and transportation. About BSG AllianceFounded in 1982, BSG Alliance is a global leader in providing tailored software solutions for governments, large corporations, and consumer services. BSG Alliance offers a comprehensive suite of services including custom software development, AI and machine learning solutions, scalable cloud services, and strategic consulting.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against terrorist leader Iyad Ag Ghaly and urged states to cooperate to bring him before justice, in a clear allusion to Algeria. Ghaly is wanted for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in northern Mali between January 2012 and January 2013. A Tuareg descendant of the Ifoghah tribe, Ag Ghaly was notorious for leading a terrorist group branded as, Ansar Eddine, which once had control of Timbuktu, Mali, jointly with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Mali had previously openly accused Algeria of acting in connivance with Tuareg extremists such as Iyad Ag Ghali. Sahel countries have on multiple occasions deplored Algeria’s laxity with Iad Ag Ghali who facilitated the merger of four terrorist groups operating in the Sahel into one group pledging allegiance to Al Qaeda and its Jordanian leader Zarqawi.

Russian offensive shows international pressure on Moscow isn't enough - ZelenskyyThe Russian spring offensive into Kharkiv shows the existing level of international pressure on Moscow is insufficient, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Kyiv's military says it has stabilised the situation after Russian forces launched an assault on a new front in Ukraine's northeastern region. It was Vladimir Putin's second attempt to advance on Kharkiv, after Ukrainian troops successfully repelled his forces following the invasion in 2022. Speaking in Brussels today, Mr Zelenskyy said the attack "proves that the existing pressure on Russia for the war is not enough." The EU today signed a security agreement that entrenches its commitment to help Ukraine in areas of security and defence policy.

Morocco has called for adopting a global, holistic and integrated approach to implement the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Protocols. The call was launched by Morocco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Omar Hilale, at an international colloquium held Tuesday in Rabat under the theme “Protecting Cultural Heritage During Humanitarian Crises and the Efficiency Issue”. “The international community will benefit from adopting such a global, holistic and integrated approach,” to better protect cultural heritage in times of humanitarian crises, Hilale said, calling for promoting intercultural dialogue, strengthening international cooperation, raising awareness among local populations on the importance of preserving cultural heritage, and planning training sessions for humanitarian stakeholders. In this regard, Hilale noted that Morocco is working tirelessly to preserve the world’s cultural heritage, recalling the Kingdom’s ratification of all UNESCO Conventions on the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. The colloquium is part of the international community’s commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the 1954 adoption of The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.

According to various reports, Boeing will make a $4.08-billion offer comprised largely of stock to acquire the aircraft structures manufacturer. Neither Boeing nor Spirit AeroSystems has commented on the reported details of the takeover plan. Spirit AeroSystems is a business spun off from Boeing in 2005, and the current organization consists of operations collected from subsequent acquisitions, in North America, Europe, and northern Africa. One complication in finalizing the takeover offer has been Spirit AeroSystems’ role as a supplier of aircraft structures to Boeing’s chief rival, Airbus SA. The slowdown at Boeing has had add-on effects at Spirit Aero and other major suppliers, which has resulted in supply-chain problems for Airbus too.

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Five North African LGBTQ+ Artists You Should KnowFrom Morocco to Sudan, LGBTQ+ artists and activists are teaching the region about meaningful solidarity and highlighting how tolerance for all improves life for all.

The distribution of Moroccan medical aid, dispatched to the Palestinians in the Gaza strip, on instructions of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, started on Tuesday. The aid was transported through the same unprecedented land route used during the food aid operation deployed last Ramadan. This aid is meant to strengthen the functioning of the few hospitals that are still operational in the Gaza Strip and to increase their performance so that they can continue to provide vital medical and health services. According to PRCS spokeswoman Nebal Farsakh, this aid will then be distributed to medical service providers and public hospitals in the Gaza Strip, including the Red Crescent hospital in Khan Younès and other health points set up throughout the Gaza Strip. Al Aawar added that the Palestinian people hope that other Arab countries will follow the example of Morocco in providing aid to the Palestinian population, particularly in Gaza.

The 40-ton medical aid included vital surgery supplies and other equipment and medicine to treat burns and fractures designed for children and adults. The particularity of the aid is that it was delivered via a land route and handed to the Palestinian red crescent at the Kerem Shelom crossing. The land route would ensure that aid reaches the targeted beneficiaries in war-devastated Gaza where Palestinians need concrete help not Algeria’s empty words. The medical aid is the second large-scale operation after that of Ramadan last March, when Morocco sent via the same unprecedented land route vital supplies to Palestinian civilians. Meanwhile, Algeria indulged in an official discourse that used the Palestinian issue for domestic political legitimization purposes.