Ayra Starr, the dynamic force propelling the global ascent of Afrobeats, is a testament to the transformative power of talent and determination. In 2022, Ayra Starr soared to new heights with the release of "Rush," a track that quickly became an anthem, amassing over 800 million global streams. Building on her prior successes, Ayra Starr continues to redefine Afrobeats with her latest offering, "Rhythm & Blues." The accompanying music video, released today, promises to be yet another visual masterpiece that enhances the storytelling of her music. As Ayra Starr embarks on her inaugural headline tour, the "21: The World Tour," she is poised to take her electrifying performances and captivating stage presence to audiences across North America, Africa, Australia, and Europe.

Less than 48 hours after Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel on 7 October, the price of a barrel of Brent and its American equivalent, West Texas Intermediate (WTI), increased by almost 5%, for deliveries in November and December, while the price of gas jumped 12%. There's more to this story Get unlimited access to our exclusive journalism and features today. Our award-winning team of correspondents and editors report from over 54 African countries, from Cape Town to Cairo, from Abidjan to Abuja to Addis Ababa. Subscribe Now cancel anytime Already a a subscriber Sign In

RIYADH: Expressing her optimism about the prospects of voluntary carbon credits, the CEO of Regional Voluntary Carbon Market Co. expects a positive response from the Middle East and North Africa region, with the market set to reach 100-150 million tons by 2030. Other companies that participated in the auction included Golf Saudi, Saudi telecom giant stc, Saudi Electricity Co., and the Saudi National Bank. The company, which allows carbon emitters to offset their emissions by purchasing carbon credits, seeks to be a global leader in the carbon market. “Not only serving the Saudi market or even the MENA region, we want to be a global market and we can do that,” she noted. “What we provide is very different than a typical carbon market because we look at it holistically from an ecosystem perspective,” ElGizy said.

Sunil Kaushal, Regional CEO, Standard Chartered Africa Middle EastRising regional trade levels and greater connectivity will unlock high–growth corridors across Africa and beyond. Intra-Africa trade is expected to reach USD 140 bn by 2035, equating to 15 pe rcent of Africa's total exports. For over 150 years, Standard Chartered has supported Africa's growth and progress, actively contributing to the continent's infrastructure development and economic advancement. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges. [1] https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/october-2022/afcfta%E2%80%99s-guided-trade-initiative-takes-set-ease-and-boost-intra-african-tradePhoto - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2244434/Sunil_Kaushal.jpgSOURCE Standard Chartered

The UN Security Council holds this Wednesday in New York a closed-door meeting on the MINURSO, whose mandate expires on October 31. Ivanko’s briefing comes following the draft report submitted to the Security Council by UN Chief Antonio Guterres on the Sahara. On October 16, UN Sahara Envoy Staffan De Mistura is expected to brief the Council on his efforts to advance the UN-led political process for the resolution of the Sahara regional conflict. The trip has enabled the UN Sahara envoy to see the tangible economic and social progress as well as the local democratic governance and inclusive development prevailing in the Sahara provinces. On September 8, De Mistura met Morocco’s foreign minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat.

The move essentially passes control of the entire Red Sea and Suez Canal shipping to the BRICS and BRICS-friendly nations. Sudan & BRICS RelationsThere are other links that solidify the relationship between Sudan and the BRICS. Sudan’s top five export markets are 100% BRICS – China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, and the UAE. Interestingly, the LAS also includes observer nations Brazil and India, both also BRICS members, and Eritrea, an additional Red Sea nation. This trend of relocating manufacturing to the African Red Sea nations is already happening.

Vodacom South Africa estimates that it will move at least 30% of its power demands onto renewable energy sources. The announcement this week follows the mobile telecommunications company’s announcement in August that it had reached a virtual wheeling agreement with Eskom. Virtual wheeling in the renewable energy spaceMonde Bala, Eskom’s Distribution Group Executive said virtual wheeling allows industrial and commercial customers connected to either Eskom or municipal networks to buy electricity directly from IPPs. “Virtual wheeling does not require changes to existing Electricity Supply Agreements (ESAs) and is not limited by municipalities that do not have wheeling frameworks. Virtual wheeling by Eskom 101NBI CEO, Shameela Soobramoney, said virtual wheeling effectively enables the transmission of renewable energy across different parts of the grid in a practical and accessible way.

October 11, 2023 10:04 pm | Updated 11:38 pm IST - THIRUVANANTHAPURAMErika Kraemer-Mbula, President, Globelics, and Professor of Economics at the University of Johannesburg, South Africa, on Wednesday called for continuing and nurturing the dialogue between the global south and the global north on vital issues. (The terms ‘global south’ and ‘global north’ refers, respectively, to developing and developed nations of the world.) Knowledge, innovation and building competence play vital roles in developing economies and societies and for ensuring a more equitable and sustainable future, she said. In a fast-changing environment, Globelics has managed to remain a beacon of academic knowledge and leadership, bringing together scholars and policy makers to navigate and think about complex issues, according to the Globelics president. The core themes of knowledge, innovation and providing a platform for dialogue between the north and the south on which the network was founded make it all the more relevant today in the light of new global challenges, she said.

VC firms Dar Ventures and Acasia Group have joined forces to launch the DarE Incubator in Egypt, aimed at advancing the entrepreneurship ecosystem in the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. The two organisations have launched the DarE Incubator, a six-month programme operated by Acasia Group that empowers AEC tech founders with up to US$50,000 in equity-free funding and a comprehensive toolkit to jumpstart their startups. The incubator was launched at an event held at Founders Spaces in Cairo, attended by a group of over 50 guests and critical players in the entrepreneurship ecosystem and AEC startup space. Recognising this, we are excited to lead the charge in transforming the industry by fostering entrepreneurship and tech innovation right here in Egypt and across the MENA region,” said Zeina Mandour, venture investments manager at Dar Ventures. The DarE Incubator has opened its application for its first cohort, with interested parties invited to apply here.

CAIRO - Moody's downgraded five Egyptian banks, including the largest private bank, after it downgraded the country's sovereign rating over its worsening debt affordability. The agency set National Bank of Egypt, Banque Misr, Banque Du Caire and Commercial International Bank to CAA1 from B3, Moody's said in an investor note seen by Reuters on Wednesday. Bank of Alexandria was downgraded to B3 from B2. (Reporting by Nadine Awadalla and Patrick Werr, Editing by Louise Heavens)

(via NewsDirect)Vivos Therapeutics CEO Kirk Huntsman joined Steve Darling from Proactive to share an exciting development for the company. Huntsman elaborated on the significance of this partnership, highlighting how it addresses the growing demand for effective treatment alternatives to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for individuals suffering from obstructive sleep apnea. With this agreement, NOUM has been granted exclusive distribution rights for Vivos' innovative products and services in several key countries in the MENA region. Huntsman also revealed to Proactive that the company's flagship daytime-nighttime appliance or DNA will undergo a clinical trial at Stanford Medicine. This clinical trial represents a significant milestone for Huntsman and Vivos as it provides an opportunity to validate the efficacy of their DNA appliance in addressing OSA, a serious and widespread sleep disorder.

Humanitarian assistance delivered to war-torn countries must help people adapt to climate change as well as provide for immediate basic needs, a Red Cross official has said. “We just can’t hand out food parcels,” Ms Dalton told The National. The issue came into sharp focus on Wednesday during Mena Climate Week, where a high-level panel discussed ways to deal with climate change in conflict-hit areas in the Middle East. The impact of conflictAccording to the ICRC, 60 per cent of the 25 countries most vulnerable to climate change were also affected by conflict. “We have to try … to help people in places affected by armed conflict mitigate or adapt to the impact of climate change,” she said.

IntroductionSologenic, headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is a leader in global tokenization solutions. Sologenic states that Ripple has recently made a significant entry into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) markets. This feature, Sologenic states, removes the constraints of traditional ticket sizes, providing greater liquidity and flexibility for institutional investors. A Collaborative Future for Sologenic and RippleSologenic states that as Ripple broadens its presence in the Middle East and North Africa, they are well-positioned to offer essential support. Sologenic says their focus is on the Middle East and North Africa, a region showing increasing demand for such solutions.

Egyptian insurtech startup Amenli has closed a US$1 million equity funding round to help it expand its team, further build its product and grow its brand. Furthermore, Amenli will focus on dominating the B2B2C space, capitalising on its own insurance API. The startup has grown 5X compared to the same period last year, and plans to grow faster with the new capital on board. “This funding round is a substantial validator and a strong vote of confidence for Amenli, particularly amidst the current investment and economic environment. “We are impressed with Amenli’s vision to revolutionise Egypt’s largely underpenetrated insurance market, which currently stands at less than one per cent.

Cop28 is coming at a crucial “pivot point” in the climate crisis, a UN expert has said. Cassie Flynn, global director of climate change at the UN Development Programme, cautioned that the world was past the point of simply lowering emissions and thinking the situation could return to normal. At Mena Climate Week on Sunday, Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and President-designate of Cop28, addressed this, stating 17 out of the past 27 Cops “have been hosted in fossil fuel-producing nations”. “We have to see not just the $100 billion,” she said, referring to the missed target pledged by developing countries for climate finance. And I hope that Cop28 can really start to put us on that path.”