Author: Akin Naphtal

Apple has announced plans to extend its newly introduced core technology fee (CTF) to apps downloaded on its App Store for iPadOS, after the operating system for iPads was included in a list of key services subject to EU tech rules. The move comes as part of Apple’s efforts to comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) enforced by the European Commission, which mandates changes to Apple’s closed ecosystem. In March, Apple introduced a CTF of 50 euro cents per user account per year for major app developers, regardless of whether they utilise Apple’s payment services or the App Store.…

Kenya’s President William Ruto has called upon institutions of higher learning to embrace innovation and emerging technologies to make education more accessible and affordable to students, assuring that the government will support universities in offering online learning. The president was speaking at the charter award ceremony for Tangaza University and Management University of Africa at State House Nairobi. During the ceremony, Prof Edward Etengu and Dr Reuben Musyoka Mutiso were installed as Chancellors of Tangaza University and Management University of Africa, respectively. In his address, President Ruto highlighted the importance of leveraging technology to enrich the country’s human resources and…

South Korean tech giant, LG Electronics, has concluded its LG Showcase MEA 2024 event, held over a two-day period at the Conrad Abu Dhabi Etihad Towers Hotel in Abu Dhabi, attracting over 500 attendees eager to experience the brand’s latest innovations. Themed “Reinventing Together,” the event echoed LG’s dedication to meeting its customers’ evolving needs. The LG Showcase MEA 2024 built on the success of its iteration in 2023, providing a platform for attendees to immerse themselves in LG’s customer-focused inventions. CEO of LG MEA Region, Mr. Il Hwan Lee, expressed delight at the event’s success, noting the positive reception…

A Nigerian court has postponed the money laundering trial against cryptocurrency exchange Binance and two of its executives to 17th May, following a delay in serving necessary documents to the exchange’s legal representatives. The trial involves Binance executives, Tigran Gambaryan, a U.S. citizen and head of financial crime compliance, and British-Kenyan Nadeem Anjarwalla, a regional manager for Africa. They face charges of laundering over $35 million and engaging in specialised financial activities without a license. All defendants have pleaded not guilty. During Thursday’s court session, Binance’s lawyer raised concerns about not receiving the required proof of evidence to adequately prepare…

Tech giants, Amazon, Microsoft, and Google parent company, Alphabet, have reported sales exceeding expectations from their cloud computing units, signalling that their investments in artificial intelligence (AI) are beginning to pay off. The cloud infrastructure market, worth $270 billion, has become a significant revenue generator for these companies, propelling their stocks to record highs and increasing optimism about the potential of AI technology. Executives and analysts note that many corporate customers, who had previously scaled back spending to cut costs, are now resuming investments in cloud computing. According to Reuters, Amazon reported a 17% growth in its cloud computing arm…

Microsoft has announced plans to open its first regional data centre in Thailand, enabling the tech giant to enhance the availability of cloud services in the country, and strengthen its foothold in the region. “The datacentre region will expand the availability of Microsoft’s hyperscale cloud services,” the company stated in a press release. This development follows Microsoft’s Chief Executive Satya Nadella’s announcement of investments totalling $1.7 billion in artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud facilities in neighbouring Indonesia. Speaking at an event in Bangkok, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella highlighted the significance of the data centre’s establishment, stating, “What that means is…

Africa-focused telecommunications company, Telecel, has officially launched in Adum-Kumasi, marking Telecel Ghana’s expansion into the Ashanti Region, following the main brand unveiling in Accra back in March 2024. Telecel Ghana’s presence in the Ashanti Region reaffirms the company’s dedication to boosting the socio-economic advancement of the region’s populace. The Mayor of Kumasi, Sam Pyne, who welcomed Telecel on behalf of the Regional Minister, stated, “Telecel Ghana’s investment in our region promises to enhance our connectivity and empower our people economically and socially, and I am happy about the potential growth of local businesses.” The CEO of Telecel Ghana, Patricia Obo-Nai,…

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans has overturned a judgment requiring International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) to pay rival, BMC Software, $1.6 billion, after BMC alleged that IBM breached their contractual agreement by improperly replacing BMC’s mainframe software at AT&T with its own. The ruling overturned a 2022 decision by U.S. District Judge Gray Miller, who had ordered IBM to pay $1.6 billion in damages to BMC for breaking their agreement. Judge Miller had concluded that IBM had already secretly agreed to replace BMC’s software at AT&T when negotiating the contract in 2015. Writing for a…

A group of newspapers owned by investment firm Alden Global Capital’s MediaNews Group, have filed a lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI in a New York federal court, accusing the tech giants of illegally using news articles to train their generative artificial intelligence (AI) systems. The lawsuit targets Microsoft’s Copilot and OpenAI’s ChatGPT, alleging that both companies utilised reporters’ work without permission or compensation. This legal action mirrors ongoing lawsuits against Microsoft and OpenAI, brought by renowned news outlets such as The New York Times, The Intercept, Raw Story, and AlterNet. According to Reuters, an OpenAI spokesperson responded to the allegations,…

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for ICT and Digital Economy, Eng. John Tanui, has met with stakeholders from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Bodit Technology to discuss leveraging technology to bolster Kenya’s agricultural sector, and address pressing issues like climate change and animal welfare. The meeting, held on Tuesday, 31 April, saw Eng. Tanui, the Country Deputy Director of the KOICA, Mi Park, and Bodit Technology’s CEO, Minyony (Ryan) Shin, focusing particularly on enhancing productivity and promoting sustainable market chains in Kenya’s agriculture sector. In a LinkedIn post, Eng. John Tanui expressed he was enthusiastic about transforming livestock farming and…