Author: Akin Naphtal

Microsoft is working to restore its cloud services following a major outage that disrupted Microsoft 365 applications across 74 countries, leaving businesses and individual users struggling to access essential email, communication and productivity tools. The disruption affected several Microsoft services, including Outlook, Teams, Copilot, SharePoint and OneDrive. Reports of service problems surged worldwide, with Down detector recording nearly 130,000 reports as users experienced difficulties accessing their accounts and applications. READ ALSO: E-CRIME BUREAU, SMART AFRICA PARTNER TO STRENGTHEN AFRICA’S CYBERSECURITY The outage also affected enterprise operations that rely on Microsoft’s cloud-based services, raising concerns about the impact of disruptions to…

Cybersecurity consulting firm e-Crime Bureau has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Smart Africa to advance cybersecurity capacity, workforce development and digital security governance across the continent. The agreement, signed in Accra, Ghana, on November 2, 2026, establishes a framework for collaboration in strengthening Africa’s cybersecurity workforce, promoting cooperation among governments and private-sector organisations, and improving the protection of critical information infrastructure. Under the partnership, both organisations will focus on developing cybersecurity skills and expertise, while encouraging greater engagement between African governments, the private sector and the international community. READ ALSO: NVIDIA APPOINTS CFO COLETTE KRESS NEW INTERIM CHIEF…

NVIDIA has announced the immediate resignation of Jensen Huang as President, Chief Executive Officer and member of its Board of Directors, appointing Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress as Interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent successor. The company’s Board of Directors confirmed that Kress will retain her position as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer alongside her interim leadership responsibilities until a permanent CEO is appointed. The Board will consider both internal and external candidates as part of its succession process. Kress joined NVIDIA in September 2013 and has served as its Executive Vice President and CFO…

Mastercard and the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) have agreed to explore ways of helping Nigerian small businesses go digital, with a focus on digital skills, payment solutions and access to wider economic opportunities. The collaboration, backed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was announced at the SMEDAN MSME Growth Forum, which brought together entrepreneurs, financial institutions, policymakers and ecosystem partners. Under the MoU, both organisations will explore initiatives to help micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) adopt digital technologies, improve efficiency and participate more actively in the formal economy. It builds on the Federal Ministry…

YagoutPay Financial Technology has partnered with M-PESA Ethiopia to integrate Soundbox technology into M-PESA’s merchant payment services, aiming to make digital payments more convenient, transparent and reliable. Under the arrangement, merchants who accept payments through M-PESA Merchant QR Codes will receive instant audio notifications confirming successful transactions. The feature is expected to simplify payment verification, improve transaction management and give merchants greater confidence in accepting digital payments. READ ALSO: BLOM BANK AND MASTERCARD POWER LEBANON’S NEW MA’AK E-GOVERNMENT PLATFORM YagoutPay said the partnership reflects its commitment to working with local technology providers to deliver practical solutions for businesses and customers.…

Lebanon’s General Directorate of General Security has launched Ma’ak, a new digital platform developed in partnership with BLOM Bank and Mastercard to enable citizens to access selected government security services and make payments online. The platform gives users secure digital access to residency permit renewals, entry visa applications and certificate requests, with passport renewal to be added soon. Payments can be made online with local or international cards through Mastercard Gateway, which runs on Mastercard’s Merchant Cloud acceptance framework and offers fraud protection, authentication and tokenization. Ma’ak was developed with Lebanese firm Pro IT Solutions and French AI and data…

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has re-elected Doreen Bogdan-Martin of the United States as its Secretary-General, securing her a second term to lead the United Nations agency responsible for digital technologies and global telecommunications. Expressing appreciation for the confidence of member states, Bogdan-Martin said the digital landscape had undergone significant changes during her first term and would continue to evolve rapidly. She reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring that technological progress benefits everyone, particularly the estimated two billion people worldwide who remain without internet connectivity. First elected in 2022, Bogdan-Martin assumed office in 2023 after serving as Director of ITU’s Telecommunication…

Zedvance Finance Limited has introduced ExtraCash, a new credit solution designed to provide eligible Nigerians with access to additional financing for personal expenses, professional needs and small business activities. Available through the Zedvance mobile app, the product offers credit to eligible customers, including salaried professionals, creatives, entrepreneurs and small business owners. The company said ExtraCash was developed in response to the reality that financial demands do not always coincide with the availability of funds, whether in managing unexpected expenses, meeting personal commitments, funding creative projects or addressing urgent business needs. Speaking on the launch, Adegoke Orimolade, Acting Managing Director of…

Bahrain-based payment technology provider Global Payment Services (GPS) has partnered with EazyPay and Mastercard to support the launch of a new Mastercard prepaid card programme in Bahrain, expanding the country’s digital payment offerings. Under the partnership, GPS will provide the technology infrastructure and payment processing capabilities required to operate the programme. Its services will cover card issuing and processing, tokenisation, API integration, fraud monitoring and 3D Secure authentication. The collaboration will combine GPS’s payment processing infrastructure with Mastercard’s global payments network to support EazyPay’s rollout of the prepaid card offering within an integrated technology environment. The programme is expected to…

French telecommunications operator Orange is introducing two redesigned super-apps, Orange and Sosh, from 19 November 2026, bringing artificial intelligence, telecommunications management, cybersecurity and everyday digital services together in a single mobile experience. The new applications will replace the existing Orange et moi and MySosh apps, giving customers a central platform to manage their mobile plans, bills, data usage and devices while accessing services such as email, television, news and cybersecurity tools. A major feature of the launch is Orange IAs, a new artificial intelligence service designed to make multiple AI models accessible through one platform. The service will be available…