Nigeria has been the best-funded country in Africa, from a tech startup perspective, for the last two years, but it suffered a sharp fall from grace in 2023. The number of funded ventures, and the total funding raised, declined for the first time since 2016, though not as dramatically as many had feared. As for the other “big four” markets, all saw fewer startups secure capital, but it was a mixed bag when it came to total funding. Stronger than expected performances in Kenya and South Africa, then, actually meant the share of investment secured by the four leading markets increased. The share of funded startups, however, did decline, to 71.9 per cent from 75.8 per cent.

This agreement will see SoftwareOne offering Google Cloud products worldwide, with a strong emphasis on services across Europe, encompassing AI and Data Analytics, Infrastructure Modernization, App Modernization, and Google Workspace. Organizations dedicated to accelerating their digital transformation journey choose Google Cloud for its secure, open, and flexible infrastructure. As a Premier Partner for Sell and Service engagement models, SoftwareOne’s certified Google Cloud team is committed to assisting clients in leveraging the full potential of Google Cloud. By providing commercial and technical expertise, SoftwareOne helps clients select the most suitable solutions tailored to their specific business requirements. Collaborating closely, SoftwareOne and Google Cloud will deploy a dedicated team of Google Cloud experts to facilitate IT solution implementations for customers in France, Germany, and Spain.

SEOUL, Feb 15 (Reuters) – The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said there is no impediment to closer ties with Japan and there may come a day Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits Pyongyang, state news agency KCNA said on Thursday. Kishida, whose nation has no formal diplomatic ties with Pyongyang, has said he was exploring possibilities to meet North Korea’s leader to resolve the matter of Japanese civilians abducted in the 1970s and 1980s.

Morocco has moved up one spot to claim the 12th position globally in the FIFA rankings, as announced in the latest rankings released by the international football governing body on Thursday. With 1663.39 points, the Atlas Lions maintain their top spot in Africa ahead of Senegal, which occupies the 17th position with 1620.74 points. The Moroccan national team also retains the top position in the Arab world, ahead of Egypt, ranked 36th with 1500.38 points. On a global scale, Argentina remains at the top of the FIFA rankings, followed by France and England. Beaten finalists Nigeria (28th, up 14) make significant strides but are no match for the Angola side they ousted in the last eight (93rd, up 24), who are the biggest climbers in the latest instalment of the global ranking.

The United Kingdom is set to sign the Enhanced Trade and Investment Partnership (ETIP) with Nigeria, marking the first partnership of its kind with an African country. This move aims to bolster trade and investment, fostering new opportunities for businesses in both nations. The signing ceremony will take place in Abuja, attended by UK Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch and Nigerian Trade Minister Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite. Additionally, during her visit, Secretary Badenoch will witness the signing of an energy agreement between UK-based Konexa and Nigerian North South Power, enabling the supply of 100% renewable power to Nigerian Breweries PLC and promoting sustainable development. This agreement is anticipated to lead to infrastructure investments exceeding £14 million, showcasing a commitment to clean energy adoption and investment in renewable energy solutions.

Speaking during a recent visit to Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she had discussed a “common roadmap” on migration management with the country’s President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, which should be finalized this spring. Von der Leyen’s pledge follows a similar deal struck with Tunisia in July 2023, which saw the EU committing €105 million to tackle smuggling, step up border management and speed up the return of asylum seekers whose applications are denied. Eight years earlier, the migration crisis prompted the EU to act as it sought to curb illegal immigration from the African continent. In exchange for financing of up to €1 billion, Niger’s government signed the 2015 law in an attempt to put a stop to the flow of migrants traveling through the West African country without documents. Nigerian military junta’s decision last November to revoke this law was slammed by Brussels, saying that it could lead to an increase in the number of people trying to reach Europe illegally.

Sign up Also receive offers from The Africa Report Also receive offers from The Africa Report's partners“It was the first agreement between North African countries since 2018,” says Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) ambassador Mohamed Beisat, representing the disputed state of Western Sahara. This is due to protracted disagreements over the status of Western Sahara between the SADR and its ally Algeria, and Morocco. Sign up Also receive offers from The Africa Report Also receive offers from The Africa Report's partnersGhazouani’s election must be confirmed by the heads of the member states this weekend, something that is often considered a formality. Unifying rolePandor previously told The Africa Report that South Africa’s interest was to see a “consensus position which represents the best opportunity for unity” on the continent. The rivalry between Morocco and Algiers also manifests in technical committees, an AU official tells The Africa Report.

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© Desert Cast | Towards an Identity, 2023Qatar Museums has just revealed the roster of designers and exhibitions for the inaugural edition of Design Doha. Running from February 24 to August 5, 2024, Design Doha is a new Design Biennial showcasing over 100 Middle Eastern and North African designers. + 10Anchoring the program is “Arab Design Now,” a survey of more than 70 Arab designers featuring 38 commissioned works. "Arab Design Now" showcases a wide range of designers, such as Elias and Yousef Anastas, Basma Hamdy, Levi Hammett, and many more. Finally, Carlo Ratti has been appointed as the next curator of the International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.

A study from strategy consulting firm Strategy& asserts that now is the time for telecom companies to move to the cloud. The overall value of the cloud technologies market in the MENA region could nearly triple by 2027, to reach $9.8 billion. Telecom operators are projected to constitute a significant share, making up 8% to 10% of the total market value. For example, a majority of telecom companies in Europe have moved over a quarter of their IT workload to the cloud. As pressures on growth and profitability continue, it is time for Middle East telecom operators to commit to the cloud.”

Solar-powered water pumps are enabling farmers in Senegal to irrigate their crops year round which, in turn, has seen trade pick up. Completed in 2021, the 160MW Taiba N’Diaye wind farm supplies electricity to 1.5 million people in Senegal. It is also helping reduce the cost of electricity generation in Senegal, which has one of the highest generation costs in sub-Saharan Africa. “With the solar pumps that we have provided them for free they can irrigate whenever they want to. Solar irrigation has the potential to transform the farming sector in AfricaA study released last year by the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) said that solar irrigation is a game-changer for small-scale farms in sub-Saharan Africa.

50 Best announces the new list of Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024, recognising those establishments that lead the hospitality sector across the region. We are equally proud to see restaurants from so many different cities represented on this year’s list, showcasing the abundant diversity of cuisines across the region.”In light of the current circumstances and challenges faced in the Middle East, 50 Best announced the decision last year not to host a live event programme for Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants 2024. 50 Best believes that hosting an in-person, celebratory awards ceremony and associated events would not be appropriate at this time. The Voting ProcessThe list is compiled by the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy, an influential group of more than 250 key leaders in the restaurant industry across the region, each selected for their expert opinion of the Middle East and North Africa’s restaurant scenes. To see more details on the Middle East & North Africa’s 50 Best Restaurants voting process, please click here.

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"I want visitors to the exhibition to make their own interpretations and memories from these artworks and feel encouraged to question their thoughts around disability. "The exhibition will include many accessible features such as QR codes that lead to an audio descriptive tour, portable object labels and a British Sign Language (BSL) exhibition overview.