WorldRemit, a UK-based startup that is going after the Western Unions and MoneyGrams of the world with a commission-beating online and mobile remittance service, has raised another $100 million — funding that it will use to continue building out its service globally, and specifically in the U.S., where it has laid down roots in Denver....
By ANNA HODGEKISS FOR MAILONLINE Cough medicines are waste of money, doctors declared today. Both NHS bosses and leading GPs have dismissed the products – and say traditional home made remedies with lemon or honey to be the best approach. Cough medicines, which usually cost between £3 and £5 for a small bottle, are part...
Barkhad is up for the Best Supporting Actor award tonight… Barkhad Abdi will face off against some of the biggest names in Hollywood tonight at the Academy Awards, but according to a new report by the New Yorker, the Somalia-born actor has faced financial problems since filming Captain Phillips two years ago. Barkhad, who is competing...
(ERGO)– Habibo Abdirahman Ali, a displaced mother of seven living in Hilaac camp in Mogadishu’s Garasbaley district, closed her small shop selling fresh produce on 17 April after traders refused to accept payment owed using the five million Somali shillings she had saved in notes. For years, the business had been the family’s only source of...
Somalia’s largest telecom operator, Hormuud Telecom Somalia Inc, has announced a new initiative aimed at accelerating digital inclusion by addressing one of the country’s key barriers to connectivity: smartphone affordability. According to the company, Somalia already has broad 4G network coverage reaching most parts of the country. However, a significant portion of users still rely on...
By Balal M. CusmanFormer State Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Somalia Ever since I began writing about Somalia’s political trajectory and regional dynamics in the Horn of Africa, my primary focus has always been on diplomacy and security. These, I believed, were the two most urgent threats facing Somalia and the region...
By Mohamed Ibrahim Somalia’s banking sector is undergoing a quiet transformation, potentially marking one of the Horn of Africa’s most ambitious financial overhauls. Over the past decade, the country has made strides in rebuilding its banking institutions, embracing digital innovation, and introducing long-awaited reforms. But alongside this progress lies a stark reality – liquidity constraints,...
By Abdiqani Haji Abdi Somalia’s financial services and telecommunications sectors have emerged as rare success stories in the country’s post-collapse recovery, demonstrating remarkable resilience and innovation despite decades of institutional challenges. While these private sector industries have achieved sustained growth – with mobile money penetration now among Africa’s highest and new financial technologies reaching previously...
KIBERA, Kenya (AP) — Dotting the roadside in what is widely considered Africa’s largest urban slum are typical stands selling vegetables. What isn’t typical is their acceptance of bitcoin as a form of payment. Around 200 people use bitcoin in Soweto West, a neighborhood of the Kibera slum in Kenya ‘s capital. It’s part of an initiative to extend...
By Mohamed Olad Hassan Somalia’s government Saturday sent stern warnings to businesses and individuals that pay extortion money to al-Shabab, saying the full force of the law would be brought against traders and individuals who pay the al-Qaida ally. Presenting a unified front, Somalia’s Minister of Internal Security Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail and Minister of Religious Affairs...