Latest news with #ChrisHoward
Daily Maverick
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Africa is not the next frontier — it's the blueprint: rethinking innovation on Africa Day
Each year, Africa Day serves as a celebration of the continent's culture, history, and progress. But in 2025, Africa is doing more than celebrating — it's leading. For too long, Africa has been positioned as a 'frontier market,' a place waiting to catch up. That narrative is outdated. Africa is not waiting to be included. It is already setting the pace, through innovation born out of necessity, creativity rooted in culture, and progress driven by community. At Binance, we've witnessed firsthand how innovation looks different in Africa. It doesn't always begin in formal boardrooms or with multi-million-dollar funding rounds. It often starts in WhatsApp groups, community meet-ups, and with side-hustlers using their mobile phones to build. It's a bottom-up revolution shaped by real-world needs. Take Chris Howard, the founder of Story, a premium marketplace for sneakers and collectables in Cape Town. His passion for sneakers turned into a thriving business that not only caters to sneakerheads but also embraces new technologies. By adopting cryptocurrency payments through Binance Pay, Chris made transactions smoother for his customers, allowing them to use cryptocurrency as a mainstream payment method. His story is one of adaptability and growth, and it reflects a wider trend where African entrepreneurs are embracing innovation to elevate their businesses and create unique experiences. Innovation in Africa isn't theoretical. It's practical, tested daily against the pressures of currency instability, unreliable power, and low-trust systems. These are the conditions where bold ideas are stress-tested, and where blockchain technology has found meaningful, everyday applications. While many countries debate blockchain regulation, several African communities are already using it to solve pressing problems. Stablecoins are powering cross-border payments for families and small businesses. NFTs are being used for digital identity and authenticating African art. Smart contracts are making community projects more transparent and accountable. This isn't leapfrogging, it's building better from the start. And it's not happening on the margins. It's shaping global thinking on what sustainable, inclusive innovation looks like. Africa Day is more than a cultural celebration. It's a call to pay attention — because what's happening here is a preview of where the world is going. Africa is showing that resilience, community trust, and resourcefulness are not traits to overcome — they are competitive advantages. At Binance, we're not just investing in Africa; we're learning from it. Through community education, partnerships, and local capacity-building, we are committed to supporting this growth from the ground up. We believe innovation should be accessible, inclusive, and adapted to local realities, and there is no better place to demonstrate this than Africa. To date, our work through Binance Charity and Binance Academy has supported women in over 10 countries, including South Africa and Kenya, with blockchain education, mentorship, and scholarships. These programs aren't about charity; they're about unlocking talent and empowering long-term participation in the digital economy. The world once called Africa an 'emerging market.' But emergence implies something that's still in progress. That no longer applies. Africa has emerged — not only as a user of innovation but as its architect.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ryanair flight makes emergency stop in France after passenger suffers a suspected heart attack
A Ryanair flight travelling back to the UK from the Canary Islands made an unexpected stop in France after a passenger was thought to be having a heart attack. The Boeing 737-800 was travelling from Gran Canaria to Bournemouth on Monday (10 March) when it started to suddenly descend around 200 miles away from its intended destination, landing in the French port city of Brest. Around halfway into the flight, cabin crew asked if anyone on board was medically trained, to which a retired cardiologist came forward and treated a woman. One passenger who was returning from his holiday, Chris Howard, told BBC News that he first noticed crew members crowding around a passenger at the front of the plane. 'Suddenly the bongs came up over the PA system and they said 'if there is a medically trained passenger on board, can you make yourself known immediately, please',' he said. 'One of the passengers put their light on and they went and spoke to him. 'The doctor ended up speaking to the pilot and we began a very rapid descent. 'Turned out the guy was a retired cardiologist and the lady was having a heart attack." After landing in Brest, the woman was further treated by emergency services before being transported to the hospital. The Ryanair flight continued on its journey about an hour later. "Approximately an hour later we were taking off and were on our way home, which was amazing really," Mr Howard added. "We all felt like they've done a smashing job." A Ryanair spokesperson said: 'This flight from Gran Canaria to Bournemouth diverted to Brest after a passenger became ill onboard. 'The crew called ahead for medical assistance to meet the aircraft upon landing at Brest Airport. 'The passenger was disembarked and transported to a nearby hospital for further treatment. This flight continued to Bournemouth that same day." The incident comes days after another Ryanair plane travelling from Malaga to Manchester had to make a diversion to Bilbao due to a medical emergency. Passengers ended up spending the night in the Spanish city as air traffic controllers packed up and went home before the plane could take off again. After the passenger was taken off the plane, the aircraft was refuelled and prepared to continue to Manchester, however, due to the flight plan 'exceeding operational hours', the plane could not depart from the airport. Passengers had to board a flight the following day to complete the journey
