Bfree, a Nigerian credit management fintech has embarked on global expansion after raising $1.7 million in a pre-Series A round, to tap the opportunities in emerging markets, where digital lending apps have recently sprung up in droves. Funds that participated in the latest round included 4Di Capital, Octerra Capital, VestedWorld, Voltron Capital, Logos Ventures, and […]
Insatiable Robert Lewandowski now has stats to rival Messi and Ronaldo
Striker’s relentless desire to improve in a record-breaking 2021 has put him top of our rankings for a second year runningOne always thought that going past Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at the summit of individual achievement would require a diff…
Polish deputy PM says Germany wants to turn EU into ‘fourth reich’
Jarosław Kaczyński’s remarks in far-right newspaper are latest episode in Poland’s lengthy standoff with EUThe head of Poland’s ruling party, Jarosław Kaczyński, has said Germany is trying to turn the EU into a federal “German fourth reich”.Speaking to…
‘PayPal for Crypto’ wannabe Ramp raises $52.7M Series A round led by Balderton Capital
In the same way that PayPal and Stripe radically changed online payments by allowing any online service to embed payments, the race is on to have the same impact on crypto assets. To this end, players such as Wyre (raised $29.1M) and MoonPay (raised $555M) have risen to the fore. But in the Summer of […]
Eastern and central European nations urge Nato unity in Biden-Russia talks
Concern among officials about US reaching ‘accommodation’ with Putin over UkraineJoe Biden’s announcement that a group of Nato countries will hold talks with Moscow has caused concern on the alliance’s eastern flank, where members close to Russia have …
Spotify’s new Podcast Subscriptions expand to global markets
Just a few months after launching support for podcast subscriptions to U.S. creators, Spotify today is making the service available to creators in global markets. The company says the service, which allows creators to mark episodes as “subscriber-only” content, will now become available in 33 new markets worldwide. When podcast subscriptions publicly launched in the […]
Nigerian police brutality and shelling in Myanmar: human rights this fortnight – in pictures
A roundup of the struggle for human rights and freedoms, from Hong Kong to Khartoum Continue reading…
“If the right should somehow gain that power, I don’t trust us with it.”
How the American Right Fell in Love With Hungary Some U.S. conservatives are taking a cue from Prime Minister Viktor Orban — how to use the power of the state to win the culture wars (NYT Magazine, October 19, 2021).
Turkey’s border wall and deported Haitians: human rights this fortnight – in pictures
A roundup of the struggle for human rights and freedoms, from Kenya to France Continue reading…
Brussels vows swift response to Poland’s ruling against EU law
Ursula von der Leyen says European Commission will decide on next steps to takeThe head of the European Commission has vowed a swift response to a ruling from Poland’s top court rejecting the supremacy of EU law, which has thrown relations between Brus…