Author: Staff Writer

Microsoft is under intense scrutiny in the United Kingdom as it faces a £1 billion lawsuit alleging unfair pricing practices that stifle competition in the cloud computing market. The lawsuit, led by competition lawyer Maria Luisa Stasi, accuses the tech giant of overcharging businesses using rival platforms like Amazon Web…

Nigerian edtech startup AltSchool Africa is set to make waves in Europe, marking a significant step forward in its mission to bridge the global skills gap. The expansion, which follows the startup’s participation in the SuperCharger Ventures accelerator programme and a government-backed growth accelerator in Malta, highlights AltSchool’s ambition to…

Nowlun, a rising star in the digital freight forwarding industry across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has successfully raised $1.7 million in seed funding. Led by Nama Ventures and A15, the funding round also saw participation from Sanabil 500 Global and several prominent angel investors. The new investment…

Apple Inc. is stepping up its efforts to secure its presence in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s largest economy, with a $1 billion investment commitment. This comes as the tech giant seeks to resolve a government-imposed ban on the sale of its iPhone 16 devices due to unmet domestic content regulations. The…

Fintech startup HUB2 has secured $8.5 million in Series A funding to revolutionize digital payments. Led by Pan-African investor TLcom Capital, alongside FMO, Enza Capital, and Bpifrance, this investment empowers HUB2 to expand its reach, enhance its technology, and simplify payment solutions for businesses across the region. Founded in 2019…

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) has launched a significant inquiry into consumer complaints involving three major industries: banking, telecommunications, and aviation. The investigations aim to address allegations of poor service delivery, exploitative practices, and potential violations of consumer rights. According to FCCPC in a statement, the inquiries,…

Swiss cement maker Holcim AG is set to exit the Nigerian market by selling its 83.8% stake in Lafarge Africa to China’s Huaxin Cement Co. in a landmark $1 billion deal. The transaction, expected to close in 2025 pending regulatory approvals, underscores Holcim’s ongoing strategy to streamline its portfolio and…

The World Trade Organization (WTO) General Council has unanimously reappointed Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for a second four-year term as Director-General. Her new term will commence on September 1, 2025, extending her historic tenure as the first woman and the first African to lead the global trade body. A Transparent Process…

In a vibrant showcase of innovation and talent, Feegor, an innovative B2B e-commerce company, emerged as the grand prize winner at Wema Bank’s Hackaholics 5.0, taking home an impressive N50 million. The event, held recently in Lagos, spotlighted the ingenuity of Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and marked another milestone in the…

The Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) has issued a firm cease-and-desist order to Elon Musk’s satellite internet service provider, Starlink, citing unlicensed operations within the country. This development adds Namibia to the list of African nations where Starlink faces regulatory hurdles despite its growing presence across the continent. Regulatory…

Australia has taken a bold step in digital regulation, becoming one of the first countries to enforce an outright ban on social media access for children under the age of 16. Passed after heated debates and widespread public scrutiny, the Social Media Minimum Age Bill introduces some of the toughest…

Tranglo, a prominent cross-border payment hub, has made significant strides in fostering financial inclusion across Africa by extending its services to Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, Senegal, and Zambia. This expansion reflects Tranglo’s commitment to providing efficient and cost-effective payment solutions to underserved populations in one of the world’s fastest-growing…

OpenAI, Meta, and French telecom giant Orange are joining forces to address the underrepresentation of African languages in artificial intelligence. By creating custom AI models to recognize and process languages spoken across Africa, the partnership aims to bridge gaps in linguistic diversity and make AI more inclusive and accessible. Transforming…

Huawei Technologies is set to make a bold shift in the smartphone and tablet market by completely replacing Google’s Android with its homegrown HarmonyOS Next, as from 2025. This landmark decision underlines Huawei’s strategic move to reduce reliance on U.S. technology and reinforce its presence in China’s premium tech market,…

Kenya’s leading rural-focused Internet Service Provider (ISP), Mawingu, has secured $15 million in financing to drive its ambitious expansion into Tanzania. This strategic growth includes the acquisition of Habari, an Arusha-based ISP with over 25 years of experience delivering internet and ICT solutions to rural and underserved communities across Tanzania.…

Sylndr, Egypt’s foremost online used car marketplace, has reached a transformative milestone, securing a groundbreaking EGP 370 million ($7.5 million) working capital facility to bolster its ambitious growth trajectory. Facilitated by EFG Hermes, the leading investment bank in the MENA region, this financing marks Egypt’s first-ever asset-backed working capital solution,…

Brazilian protein giant JBS has announced a groundbreaking $2.5 billion investment plan to establish six meat-processing facilities in Nigeria, underscoring its commitment to tackling food insecurity in the region. This initiative marks a significant step in JBS’s global expansion strategy and its ongoing efforts to foster sustainable food production. Details…

Neuralink, the brain-implant company co-founded by Elon Musk, is expanding its groundbreaking research into Canada. With Health Canada’s regulatory approval, Toronto Western Hospital will serve as the first non-U.S. site for Neuralink’s clinical trials, marking a major step in the company’s journey to revolutionize neural technology. The clinical trials, operating…

Ariika, a digital-first, direct-to-consumer home furnishing brand, has successfully raised $3 million in its Series A extension equity round. The investment was spearheaded by Beltone Venture Capital, a subsidiary of Beltone Financial Holding, and UAE-based Citadel International Holdings. This funding milestone paves the way for ariika to accelerate its expansion…

WhatsApp has launched a new feature that allows users to transcribe voice messages into text, enhancing accessibility and convenience for its global audience. The update, announced on Thursday, is designed for situations where listening to a voice message isn’t feasible—whether you’re in a noisy environment or simply prefer reading over…