Credit, cash flow and loans are trigger words for the entrepreneur and SMME in South Africa when the waters get deep, and these become panic words for most. The rise of fin-tech and micro-financing makes the lending landscape look like an easy way out; independent lenders proclaim easy, quick-fix solutions that will help business owners sleep better at night – until they read the fine print. “And often, we don’t read the fine print,” says Sandra Beswick, a Senior Business Rescue Practitioner and a Director of Fluence Capital Struggling SMMEs take out loans without a comprehensive understanding of the impact

Investment in clean technologies such as solar photovoltaics (PV), batteries, wind power, electrolysers and heat pumps soared by 70% last year with China accounting for three-quarters of global investments, according to a report published today (May 6) by the International Energy Agency (IEA) assessing the pace of clean tech manufacturing. China houses more than 80% of global solar PV module manufacturing capacity and battery production and is the world’s largest exporter of EV batteries, accounting for about 70% of total exports in 2023. The Asian giant currently controls nearly 90% of global capacity for cathode active materials and over 97%

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday that the EU would not shrink back from taking tough measures to protect its economy and security, amid tense trade relations with China. “China that plays fair is good for all of us,” she said following trilateral talks in Paris with Chinese President Xi Jinping and French President Emmanuel Macron. “Europe will not waver from making tough decisions needed to protect its economy and its security,” she said. “We will defend our companies, we will defend our economies.” Von der Leyen said there were “imbalances that remain significant” and “a

Three Lancaster University researchers are among 44 ‘outstanding mid-career academics’ to receive prestigious Fellowships from the British Academy. The British Academy has awarded £5.8 million in Mid-Career Fellowships to academics whose research will promote public engagement with. and understanding of, the Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People and the Economy (SHAPE) disciplines. At Lancaster the recipients are Professor in Digital Media Carolyn Pedwell, who has just joined the team from the University of Kent, and Senior Lecturer Dr Ala Sirriyeh, both from the Department of Sociology, together with Professor in Regional History Fiona Edmonds, from the Department of History. The Mid-Career Fellowships,

A lack of funding for children with special educational needs in schools has led to a “full-blown crisis”, a union has warned. Nearly all school leaders (99%) believe the funding they receive for pupils with special education needs and disabilities (Send) is insufficient to meet children’s needs, a poll has found. A survey of 1,048 members of the school leaders’ union NAHT in England in April found many have been forced to reduce the number of teaching assistants or their hours worked – even though they offer individual support to children with Send. Some school leaders shared fears with the

A popular market is set to return to a seaside town this spring. The Discovery Market will make its come back to Discovery Quay (formerly Events Square) in Falmouth from this Bank Holiday weekend. The twice-weekly gathering of food and drink traders alongside art and craft makers will also see a revolving selection of street food stalls make an appearance. Young local musicians and talented buskers will provide the soundtrack to the twice-weekly markets with organisers asking anyone who wants their chance to shine to contact them. Market director Stewart Girvan who also runs the sister market in Truro, said:

Abu Dhabi: The Economy Middle East Summit 2024 convened high-profile leaders at Abu Dhabi Global Market to share insights on ‘Accelerating Future Growth’ of the MENA region, said the organisers in a media release. The event brought together top-tier attendees including UAE Minister of Economy Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri. Salem Al Darei, CEO of ADGM Authority, delivered the welcome notes before the summit hosted several panel discussions. The summit’s agenda focused on key challenges and opportunities in banking and finance, technology, hospitality, tourism and the future of mobility. The event focused on navigating the global economic landscape beyond 2024

Rishi Sunak’s troubles have deepened after another 48 hours he’ll want to forget with a local election drubbing. The under-pressure Prime Minister has seen the Tories shed hundreds of council seats as he faces renewed threats from angry plotters. A catastrophic by-election result in Blackpool South saw the Conservatives narrowly avoid finishing third, as they tried to defend a seat won in 2019. In a grim day for the PM Labour gained control of several councils – including Nuneaton & Bedworth, Redditch and Rushmoor – from the Tories, while taking Hartlepool and Thurrock which were in no overall control. The

Islamabad: Pakistan successfully launched its first satellite mission iCube Qamar to the moon on Friday. The mission has been launched with Chinese assistance from China’s Hainan Space Site. The satellite, weighing about 7kg, has been developed by the Electrical Engineering Department of the Institute of Space Technology (IST) in Islamabad. It was developed in two years.  The launch of the satellite, iCube Qamar, was telecast live from the website and social media platforms. The Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) launched the first satellite into lunar orbit. The iCube Qamar will reach the lunar orbit in five days.  With the launch of the mission, Pakistan has

Tribune News Service CMCL-FAIMER Regional Institute hosted the 19th International Fellowship in Health Professions Education at the CMC, Ludhiana. More than 80 faculty of prestigious medical, dental and nursing colleges from India and Southeast Asia are participating in the fellowship. As part of this 10-day fellowship course, a convocation was held where 16 fellowships were awarded to faculty of Southeast Asian health institutes. Soniya Nityanand, vice-chancellor, King Geroge Medical University, Lucknow, was the chief guest at the convocation. She awarded 16 fellowships to faculty participants for successfully completing this two-year fellowship. The fellowship programme included research projects in health profession