Women-run small businesses are the main source of income for women to provide food, education, medical treatment and more for their families, while creating jobs in the community. Across Ghana and Africa, SMEs contribute over 70 per cent of GDP and employment, but have disproportionately less access to markets and financing. Kola Market’s e-commerce platform e-Pos, sales and workflow management, and inventory management tools provide a holistic way for SMEs to build and grow profitable businesses. I went back to the markets to engage business owners and found that most of these SMEs would rather have consistent sales than take on financing. Seshie said she envisions Kola to be a large aggregation platform for small businesses in Africa.

The report, titled “Realizing Potential of Fintech in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia”, the consulting firm highlights the rapid growth and innovation within the sector, spearheaded by initiatives such as Fintech Saudi. Fintech Saudi was launched in April 2018 by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, and the Saudi Capital Markets Authority, and has already seen over $1 billion invested in local fintech firms. Similarly, the Central Bank of Egypt has been promoting fintech by creating a platform: fintech Egypt. Out of which, 139 startups provide pure FinTech solutions, while 38 provide technological solutions, along with embedded finance. To put this in perspective, there were only two fintech startups in Egypt in 2014, rising to 112 in 2021.

A major undersea fibre-optic cable cut on Sunday disrupted internet services across East Africa, slowing connections and causing widespread outages in the region and South Africa. Undersea cables connecting East Africa to the internet have experienced multiple incidents in 2024. All sub sea capacity between East Africa and South Africa is down. EASSy Cable - Fault confirmedSeacom Cable - Observing Fault that occurred at same time. This is the second major internet outage to hit Africa in recent months, following a similar incident in March 2024.

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — North Carolina is receiving $543,000 in funding to help with stormwater and sewer infrastructure needs. The money was given through the Sewer Overflow and Stormwater Reuse Municipal Grant program through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Ensuring safe stormwater measures helps in preventing contaminants, including untreated sewage, from polluting waterways. “Sewer overflows can cause significant health and environmental problems in communities, and this historic grant funding for stormwater and sewer upgrades will encourage and support better health for people and the environment,” said Jeaneanne M. Gettle, Acting Region 4 Administrator. “By Improving the infrastructure in the Southeast communities will be able to meet the challenges presented by a changing climate.”

Russia blazes into Ukraine’s northIn the past three days, Russian troops have poured across Ukraine’s northeastern border. They have taken more square miles per day than at almost any other point in the war — save the very beginning — and are moving near Kharkiv. Now, some Ukrainian troops are retreating, and some commanders have taken the unusual step of blaming each other. About 20 miles from the border, it is safe — for the moment. “We could hear machine gun fire coming closer and closer,” one recently arrived woman said.

May 12 (Reuters) – Dozens of students walked out of Duke University’s commencement ceremony on Sunday as some chanted “free Palestine” to protest its guest speaker, comedian Jerry Seinfeld, who has supported Israel throughout the war in Gaza, according to a video posted on social media. Figures in robes and caps, some waving Palestinian flags, were seen filing out of crowds of graduates assembled on the grass in the North Carolina University’s football stadium in the video posted on X. Reuters was able to verify the video’s date and location.

WHAT IS A GEOMAGNETIC STORM? This graphic shows current and forecast solar storm conditions on Earth. (FOX Weather)Because of that, a Geomagnetic Storm Watch was issued for Sunday as Level 4 "severe" conditions and possibly Level 5 "extreme" geomagnetic storms are likely to follow. Geomagnetic storm causes issues to power grid, Starlink serviceWhile the Northern Lights were no doubt breathtaking to see, the geomagnetic storm did cause some issues. John Deere customers were warned that its GPS network was "extremely compromised" due to the geomagnetic storm.

North Macedonia’s newly elected President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova sparked a crisis in relations with Greece when she pointedly used her country’s old name — Macedonia instead of North Macedonia — during her swearing-in ceremony. In 2020, North Macedonia gained Nato membership following its name change, which introduced the prefix ‘North’, as requested by Greece. “The same demands exist now from the leadership of North Macedonia. Election issueThe concessions made by North Macedonia to both Greece and Bulgaria were among the main topics of the election campaign. Since August 2020, she served as a MP for VMRO-DPMNE in North Macedonia’s assembly.

Their tragic deaths were highlighted in the latest Unicef report on female genital mutilation. Understanding the trends is the starting point for ending female genital mutilation. FGM in African countriesCountries with the highest levels of female genital mutilation are Somalia (99%), Guinea (95%) and Djibouti (90%). Somalia and Sudan face the challenge of addressing widespread female genital mutilation amid conflict and population growth. Backlash by conservatives: In The Gambia religious leaders have demanded that legislators revoke a 2015 law banning female genital mutilation.

ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR🔴Live: Egypt to support South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJEgypt on Sunday announced its intention to formally support South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel, alleging genocide in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Egypt on Sunday said it will formally support South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) . on Sunday said it will formally support South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the . "Four launches were identified that crossed from the Rafah area," the military said in a statement. "Four launches were identified that crossed from the Rafah area," the military said in a statement.

Egypt says it will formally join the case filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in its war on the Gaza Strip. South Africa brought its case against Israel in January, accusing the country of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Egypt will join Turkey and Colombia in formally requesting to join the case against Israel. It will likely take years before the court will rule on the merits of the genocide case. It has called South Africa’s genocide case baseless and accused Pretoria of acting as “the legal arm of Hamas”.

Northern lights glow over trees in Xilingol League in northern China's Inner Mongolia region early Sunday, May 12. Max Slovencik/APA/AFP/Getty Images The northern lights are seen in a rural area west of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Friday, May 10. Courtesy Luke Culver People photograph the northern lights from Whitley Bay, England, on May 10. Courtesy Jan Reed The northern lights glow in the night sky in Brandenburg, Germany, on May 10. Increased solar activity causes auroras that dance around Earth’s poles, known as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, and southern lights, or aurora australis.

FILE PHOTO: Judges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rule on emergency measures against Israel following accusations by South Africa that the Israeli military operation in Gaza is a state-led genocide, in The Hague, Netherlands, January 26, 2024. REUTERS/Piroschka van de Wouw/File PhotoEgypt on Sunday said it will formally join the lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel at the International Court of Justice which accuses Israel of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention in the Gaza Strip. On May 10, South Africa submitted an urgent request for the indication of additional provisional measures and the modification of previous provisional measures indicated by the ICJ in the case. South Africa in January asked the World Court to declare that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza and to order Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza. The court instead issued a general order that Israel must make sure it prevents acts of genocide.