Top Stories
Cape Town Tech Startup Secures $14.5-Million More in Funding
“In emerging-market megacities, hundreds of millions of people use public transport to get where they need to go. Before WhereIsMyTransport, there was no central source of data for these networks, despite their size, scale, and importance,” reads a blurb on the startup’s official website. “WhereIsMyTransport helps people understand mobility in emerging-market megacities. We’re trusted by industry leaders like Google, the World Bank, and WSP.” Founded in Cape Town in 2015, the tech startup focusing on mobility creates data maps for formal and informal public transport networks in cities and uses this data and tech to improve the public transport experiences of commuters. WhereIsMyTransport hopes to make public commutes more reliable, predictable, safe, inclusive and more accessible to indiv...
FaceTime Releasing for Windows and Android
Image sourced from The Verge. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_b24.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_b24.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } During its WWDC keynote, California-based tech monolith Apple has announced that its FaceTime app, once only available on its iPhones and Mac computers for iOS/MacOS, is releasing on the web and will be available for users on Android and Windows. It seems Apple is taking on Zoom and the video calling service market with this move. FaceTime will also now allow users to send and receive links to scheduled calls. Call links can be shared with people in advance. A release date has yet to be announced, according to The Verge. However, it is expected to be included in the iOS 15 update coming in spring. The new web version of FaceTime will either be availa...
Cybersecurity and Data Protection Laws Urgently Needed Across Africa
The pandemic has driven home the high value of personal data to the global economy, while also highlighting its vulnerability to abuse and attack. In response, governments around the world have been reviewing their data privacy and protection laws and regulations, including in South Africa and Ghana. Global cybersecurity firm Kaspersky recently noted that cyberattacks are set to rise in African countries, especially in the key financial centres of South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. The cybersecurity firm noted that rapidly evolving digital techniques had led to an increased risk of Advanced Persistent Threats and hacking-for-hire events in Africa. South Africa In South Africa, the Cybercrimes and Cybersecurity Act was signed into law by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in early June 2...
Eazzy Banking App Grows 222% as Digital Banking Explodes in Kenya
Image sourced from Kenya Online News. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_00d.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_00d.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The Central Bank of Kenya (CBK)’s Bank Supervision Annual Report 2020 noted that there was a notably high adoption of digital financial services by consumers during the beginning months of the pandemic in the country. This is believed in part due to consumers seeking channels for financial transactions with minimal physical contact, a necessity in remaining safe and socially distant as COVID-19 waves fluctuate. Now according to Techweez, the digital banking services provided by Equity Bank Kenya are now ahead of its traditional banking in terms of sheer volumes transacted. This comes via an announcement made when the lender revealed its Q1 20...
Beware of Scammers – 4 Tips to Spot Digital Banking Fraud
Sourced from Pure Cloud Solutions To prevent becoming the victim of fraudsters, it’s vital to be on guard, especially when using transactional, card-based accounts linked to cheque and savings accounts. Vijay Naidoo, CIO at Old Mutual Finance, pointed out that “…transactional accounts are among the most commonly used accounts, which means they are prime targets for scammers.” “Scammers are continually finding new ways to gain access to personal banking information and use it to defraud unsuspecting customers. So, banks need to continually upgrade their security systems, while consumers need to be informed and alert.” Phishing involves sending what appears to be an official email notification from an institution. If you open the message, malware is installed on your computer and account inf...
More & More iOS Users Could Be Leaving to Android – New Research
Image sourced from Stuff.com. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_c5b.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_c5b.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } New information has emerged from the court case between Fortnite developer and publisher Epic Games and Apple in May. Specifically, leaked internal company documents shown in court during the case reveal that Apple continued to lose iPhone users over several quarters between 2019 and 2020. Epic Games vs. Apple /* custom css */ .tdi_3_e9c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_e9c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Epic’s suit over Apple was about, what the games publisher believed was, anti-competitive policies in Apple’s infamously rigid App Store. The App Store does not allow app developers to sell directly to users. The games company publicl...
Nigeria Threatens to Arrest and Prosecute Users Avoiding Twitter Ban
Image sourced from Mfidie.com. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_a87.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_a87.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The Nigerian government has ordered federal prosecutors to arrest and prosecute users of the Twitter app in the country after a blanket ban on the social media company went into effect on Friday. Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, issued the directive Saturday in a statement signed on his behalf by his spokesman, Dr Umar Jibrilu Gwandu reports CNN. “Malami directed the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation (DPPF) at the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, to swing into action and commence in earnest the process of prosecution of violators of the Federal Government De-...
Top 4 Most Trending Stories – Week in Review
/* custom css */ .tdi_4_f6c.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_f6c.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } As this week comes to a close we take a look at the stories that resonated most with our readers. An enormous underwater mudslide cripples the internet. The South African government seeks to regulate Netflix and other digital streaming services, and how blockchain and cryptocurrency can increase financial inclusion in developing countries. Finally, the Huawei Band 6 round out this week’s most trending stories. Find out more about this week’s top articles: /* custom css */ .tdi_3_f21.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_f21.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } 4. How Blockchain and Crypto Can Lessen Financial Exclusion in Developing Countries COVID-19 has had many different ...
Vodacom Injects R100-Million to Drive Connectivity in KwaZulu-Natal
A Vodacom investment of R100-million ($73,137.60) has been injected into the KwaZulu-Natal region in South Africa and has led to the deployment of 84 brand new base station sites. This comes as part of the telco’s KwaZulu-Natal Region drive. The new sites were rolled out in 9 District municipalities and 14 local municipalities including Jozini, uMhlabuyalingana, uMfolozi, uMlalazi, uMsinga, uMzumbe, uMgeni, Ray Nkonyeni, Mandeni, eNdumeni, eDumbe, Msunduzi, Newcastle and Nqutu. This is part of Vodacom’s Rural Coverage Acceleration Programme, firmly aimed at expanding network coverage for people who live in deep rural and remote areas in South Africa. Vodacom hopes this investment and new infrastructure will augment the continued development of network infrastructure outside of urban areas ...
Nigeria Bans Twitter Indefinitely After It Deleted President Buhari’s Tweet
Image sourced from CNN. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_29d.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_29d.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Twitter’s operations in Nigeria have been “indefinitely suspended” says the Nigerian government, following an announcement, ironically on Twitter, by the Ministry of Information and Culture. PRESS RELEASE FG Suspends @Twitter Operations in Nigeria pic.twitter.com/7z5BQ0Mi3U — Fed Min of Info & Cu (@FMICNigeria) June 4, 2021 “The Federal Government has suspended, indefinitely, the operations of the microblogging and social networking service, Twitter, in Nigeria,” the statement reads. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_aaa.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_aaa.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } The reason that was given for the ban, via the statement po...
Infinix Note 10 Kenya Launch Date Revealed
Sourced from Gizmochina. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_65d.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_65d.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Hong Kong-based smartphone retailers Infinix has unveiled the date for their Infinix Note 10 launch set to be in Mombasa, Kenya – the country’s second-largest city. The Infinix Note 10 is positioned to succeed the Infinix Note 8 released in the country in 2020. The Infinix Note 10 smartphone series makes improvements to both hardware and software features from the Note 8 series, with the Infinix Note 10 Pro noted for being the top device of the group. The Note 10 Pro /* custom css */ .tdi_3_499.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_499.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } According to Techweez, the Infinix Note 10 Pro will feature a 6.95-inch LCD dis...
WHO Urges African Countries to Expand Critical Care as COVID Surges
Sourced from BBC. /* custom css */ .tdi_4_02b.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_4_02b.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0; } Bloomberg reports that the World Health Organisation (WHO) is urging African countries to expand critical care capacities as soon as possible while COVID-19 cases are on the rise across the continent and vaccine rollout in African countries are basically at standstill. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, says that efforts to augment critical care will aid health care facilities from becoming too overwhelmed. “Many African hospitals and clinics are still far from ready for a surge in critically ill COVID-19 patients,” Moeti told Bloomberg. /* custom css */ .tdi_3_b1b.td-a-rec-img{ text-align: left; }.tdi_3_b1b.td-a-rec-img img{ margin: 0 auto 0 0;...
