Twenty-two entrepreneurs from 10 African tech startups have been accepted into the global Endeavor network since last June, gaining access to various support services to help their companies scale. The Endeavor initiative works to catalyse long-term economic growth by selecting, mentoring, and accelerating the best high-impact entrepreneurs worldwide, and has accepted a host of African entrepreneurs into its network in recent years. Disrupt Africa last reported on Endeavor in June 2023, reporting on the previous 12 months of selected ventures, and since then a further 22 entrepreneurs from 10 African startups have joined the global network. The organisation now supports 2,555 entrepreneurs from 1,568 companies in 42 markets around the world. Michael Heyink from South African asset financing company Yellow joined Endeavor at the 43rd Virtual ISP held in January, and Cordel Robbin-Coker and Lucy Hoffman of South African mobile games developer Carry1st were selected to join the network at the 44th Virtual ISP in February.

Bonatti chief executive Andrea Colombo. The Italy-headquartered contractor aims to grow its energy transition-related business to 20% of the company’s total. Photo: BONATTI

It seems like you're already an ETPrime member withLogin using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefitsLog out of your current logged-in account and log in again using your ET Prime credentials to enjoy all member benefits.

Amani Al-Azzam, the Secretary-General of Jordan’s Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to expanding renewable energy generation despite challenges. Al-Azzam highlighted the completion of detailed feasibility studies for electricity storage projects. Additionally, Jordan is actively pursuing electrical connections with neighboring countries and studying infrastructure development to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources. This regional initiative, supported by the International Climate Initiative and funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by promoting renewable energy use. Engineer Sawsan Bawarsh moderated the workshop, setting the stage for fruitful discussions on advancing Jordan’s renewable energy goals and grid integration efforts.

China’s Unipec, the trading division of Sinopec, has bought a rare cargo of North Sea oil amid lukewarm local demand. Citing unnamed sources from the oil trading industry, Reuters reported today that the cargo comes from Norway’s Johan Sverdrup field and will be delivered in May. The volume of the cargo was 8 million barrels—the largest volume of North Sea oil that a Chinese company has bought since February 2022, the report noted, citing data from Kpler. The Chinese company is also active in LNG and is among the long-term buyers of the product from Venture Global, which has been embroiled in a dispute with several of its funders for months. Now, Unipec has also joined the fray, taking the side of the long-term clients, some of whom have also filed an arbitration suit against Venture Global.

Currency-neutral sales in North America are expected to decline at a mid-single-digit rate in 2024, with growth forecast in all other regions, Adidas said, announcing its final full-year results. Adidas reported preliminary results for the year in late January and delivered a 2024 forecast far below analysts’ expectations, as profits dwindle from a sell-off in its discontinued sneaker line with Kanye West.

Canon is working to convert 100% of the power used at the sites where it manufactures its printing products to renewable energy. In addition to this initiative, Canon newly obtained a renewable energy certificate (REC) which securitizes the environmental value of renewable energy. This allowed the company to convert[2] 100% of the power used in FY2023 at five locations among four manufacturing sites—Canon Suzhou, Canon Vietnam (Thang Long Factory and Tien Son Factory), Canon Hi-Tech Thailand (Ayutthaya Factory), and Canon Prachinburi Thailand—to renewable energy. Canon will continue to proactively utilize renewable energy and work to realize a sustainable society. [1] FY2023 Results [2] The usage rate of renewable energy in 2022 was approximately 58.1%.

Founded in 2018, Simera Sense is a leading provider of end-to-end earth observation camera solutions for the global small satellite market. In addition to strengthening its production and customer support capacity in Europe, the new funding will enable Simera to expand its product development teams. Another key area of development for Simera Sense is the inclusion of industry-transforming on-board data processing, embedded in the camera control electronics. “We’re very pleased with the amount raised and grateful to NewSpace Capital and Knife Capital for choosing to back us. We are looking forward to our journey together,” said Johann Du Toit, CEO at Simera Sense.

Findings also suggest that chronic pain becomes more prevalent with length of stay in the destination country. Women with a migration background were identified as a particularly vulnerable group for developing chronic pain and comorbid mental health disorders. Anxiety, depression, and PTSD diagnoses were also shown to be more prevalent in immigrants and were significantly associated with chronic pain. Current data indicates that this bidirectional relationship between mental health disorders and chronic pain also applies to populations with a migration background. Studies with different definitions of chronic pain were included, and most did not categorise chronic pain as musculoskeletal.

Call for nominations: The Middle Eastern Architectural Personality of the Year - The Mohamed Makiya Prize for ArchitectureSave this picture! The Middle Eastern Architectural Personality of the Year - The Mohamed Makiya Prize for ArchitectureThe award is named after Dr Mohamed Saleh Makiya, a great Iraqi architect whose influence and importance continue to impact the field of architecture today. The Mohamed Makiya Prize is part of Tamayouz Excellence Award’s programme that champions and celebrates the best of architecture in the Middle East and North Africa. Selection CraiteriaThe winner will be selected by the Mohamed Makiya Prize judging panel. The PrizeThe winner receives the Mohamed Makiya Medal, designed by Dr Makiya himself.

Telecom(Ecofin Agency) - Ooredoo is accelerating its initiatives to upgrade its network infrastructure and ready it for the launch of 5G technology in its African markets, specifically Algeria and Tunisia. The Qatari telecom group, Ooredoo, has signed a partnership deal with Huawei to advance its network core to 5.5G in select markets, including Tunisia and Algeria. In Tunisia, Ooredoo began the first technology tests as early as December 2020. The commercial launch of 5G and 5.5G in Algeria and Tunisia is expected to strengthen Ooredoo's foothold in these markets. As of the third quarter of 2023, Ooredoo Algeria held a 25.54% market share, according to data from the Postal and Electronic Communications Regulatory Authority (ARPCE).

"This is the largest nuclear power plant in India. The construction process of the nuclear power plant is in full swing. "Operating on longer fuel cycles increases the economic efficiency of a nuclear plant, since the unit is shut down less frequently for scheduled maintenance. "This is evidenced by the global demand for nuclear power plants of Russian design. Today, Rosatom projects account for 88 per cent of the exported construction of nuclear power in the world," he said.

Kenya is set to develop a data centre powered by some of its vast untapped geothermal resources. Kenya is currently the eighth largest geothermal power user in the world, with it having more geothermal power capacity under construction than any other country. The country has indicated previously that it plans to nearly double overall geothermal power output by 2030. Looking to increase geothermal outputExploration for geothermal resources in Kenya dates back to the 1950s. It gained momentum in the 1960s when two wells were drilled at Olkaria, where the data centre is set to be developed.

Masandawana have been warned after they discovered who they will meet in the Caf Champions League quarter-finals. Mamelodi Sundowns were drawn against Young Africans in the quarter-final of the Caf Champions League. The Brazilians are pressing to win this continental crown for the first time since 2016 and they face the Tanzanians who are bidding for a maiden title. GOAL runs through how fans reacted to this particular pairing.

Taken together, the population’s growing dissatisfaction and the system’s overt effort to deepen conservative political dominance underscore a widening divide between state and society. This change, most notably, gave the Council the power to disqualify politicians not just before the elections but even after voters had elected them. Anticipating unfair elections, many reformist figures, whose fortunes have dwindled in recent years, did not register at all. Thus, the elections were barely competitive in around half of Iran’s provinces, with the number of candidates less than twice the number of seats. The consolidation of power among the regime’s most conservative elements bodes ill for its ability to address Iran’s accumulating challenges.