Author: Tapiwa Matthew Mutisi

The US Justice Department is streamlining its legal approach against TikTok, the popular video-sharing platform owned by ByteDance, by withdrawing one of its two planned claims. The focus will now be on a forthcoming consumer protection lawsuit centered on violations of children’s privacy, rather than on accusations that TikTok misrepresented…

On Thursday, the U.S. government declared a prohibition on the sale of Kaspersky antivirus software within the nation, urging American users to transition to alternative security providers.The Bureau of Industry and Security, part of the Commerce Department, has enacted what it describes as an unprecedented ban, citing the Russian origins…

Despite facing a wave of public dissent, Kenya’s parliament has moved the Finance Bill 2024 forward in the legislative process. The proposed legislation, which includes the introduction of new tax measures, has been met with considerable pushback from citizens concerned about its potential economic repercussions. The parliamentary vote resulted in…

Instagram has recently unveiled a new feature that allows users to live stream exclusively to a select group of people they’ve identified as Close Friends. Announced on a Thursday, the “Close Friends on Live” feature is designed to create a more intimate live broadcasting experience. Users can now initiate a…

A week following the online leak of phone numbers belonging to Kenyan government officials by unidentified individuals, the notorious hacker collective Anonymous has issued a threat to reveal “corrupt dealings of members of parliament (MPs)” should they proceed to approve the 2024 Finance Bill slated for a vote on Thursday.…

The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) has made the decision not to renew the broadcasting license of OnDigital Media, the company responsible for operating StarSat, which is the South African division of the international broadcasting group StarTimes Media. Icasa communicated its verdict through a formal letter addressed to…

Breega, a venture capital firm headquartered in Paris, has recently unveiled its inaugural fund dedicated to the African market, named “Breega Africa Seed I.” This fund, amounting to $75 million, is earmarked for investment in nascent-stage companies across the African continent. The allocation of the fund will be strategically distributed…

Flutterwave, a leading provider of payment services, has embarked on a collaborative venture with Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to establish and outfit a cutting-edge Cybercrime Research Center. This initiative is aimed at bolstering the fight against cybercrime and enhancing the security of online financial transactions. The proposed…

Downforce Technologies, a pioneering climate technology company based in London, has successfully secured $4.2 million in funding to enhance its product offerings with a focus on the African agricultural sector and to broaden its market reach. The investment round was spearheaded by Equator VC, a venture capital firm specializing in…

Sentech, the state-owned signal distribution company, has unveiled Freevision Play, a new over-the-top (OTT) video streaming service that grants South Africans complimentary access to a variety of local television and radio channels. This initiative, which was first proposed back in April 2013, has now come to fruition, offering a digital…

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) is intensifying its efforts to ensure compliance among cryptocurrency traders by employing artificial intelligence (AI) to detect non-compliant individuals. In a conversation with 702, Jashwin Baijoo, who is the head of strategic investment and compliance at Tax Consulting SA, revealed that SARS has the…

Orca Fraud, a South African startup established in January by Thalia Pillay and Carla Wilby, has developed a fraud orchestration platform designed to streamline fraud prevention and compliance for banks and fintech companies through a single integration process. The platform equips fraud analysts and compliance officers with the necessary tools…

AfriLabs, an expansive network organization with a focus on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa, has formalized a strategic partnership with the Korea-Africa Foundation by signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU). This collaboration is designed to stimulate innovation and bolster economic advancement throughout the African continent. As an entity, AfriLabs…

Amid economic headwinds, South Africans are increasingly turning their backs on high-end vehicles from luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, leading to these automakers experiencing a downturn in sales. The shift in consumer preference is evident as buyers are opting for more affordable options, particularly the influx of…

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled to dismiss the lawsuit filed by Binance executive Nadeem Anjarwalla, which sought to address alleged violations of his fundamental human rights by the National Security Adviser (NSA) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The dismissal, as decreed by Justice Inyang…

The upcoming eleventh iteration of the Angel Fair Africa, a premier event that fosters investment deals between African entrepreneurs and investors, is scheduled to be held in Nairobi, Kenya, on the 7th and 8th of November. This event is designed to create a platform where handpicked entrepreneurs from across the…

Noki Noki, an emerging Congolese logistics enterprise specializing in delivering food and facilitating supermarket purchases, has successfully secured a seed investment of $3 million. The company, which is currently operational in six nations, intends to leverage this investment to expand its business reach within these territories and to establish a…

The Amalgamated Union of App-based Transporters of Nigeria (AUATON) has made a public appeal to the Lagos State government, requesting the enforcement of a collective agreement designed to bring order and fairness to the burgeoning ride-hailing sector within the state. Kolawole Aina, who serves as the South-West zonal chairman of…

The Nigerian fintech enterprise Regxta has emerged victorious in the latest iteration of the Pitch2Win competition, securing a substantial reward of US$10,000 in funding without any equity requirements. Additionally, the startup has earned a fully-funded opportunity to attend IVS2024 in Kyoto, which is recognized as Japan’s premier conference for startups.…

On Tuesday, Nvidia achieved a significant milestone by surpassing Microsoft to become the world’s most valuable company, a testament to the pivotal role its chips are playing in the burgeoning artificial intelligence market. Nvidia’s stock experienced a notable uptick, rising by 3.5% to reach a share price of $135.58. This…