Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the initiative seeks to accelerate capacity building and national independence in strategic technologies, with the government allocating an initial $150 million to the partnership. 

It will develop six national chip designs covering automotive technology, the Internet of Things, data centers, home appliances, and futuristic areas such as autonomous vehicles and quantum computing. Indonesia will retain intellectual property rights for these designs.

The focus on chip design reflects a strategic choice , as Indonesia’s semiconductor ambitions have long been constrained by a shortage of skilled engineers. 

The country produced 30 to 60 million mobile phones annually and is projected to import 1.57 million laptops in 2026. Imports of semiconductors surged to $4.87 billion in 2021, nearly doubling from 2020. 

In the automotive sector, which assembled over 800,000 vehicles last year, electric and hybrid models consume roughly three times more chips per unit than conventional vehicles.

This also forms part of the global response to broader chip demand, with the market growing 23% from $407.9 billion in 2017 to $501.3 billion in 2021, driven by electrification, digitalization, and AI expansion. 

For Indonesia, building domestic design capacity is seen as the most feasible entry point before moving to capital-intensive fabrication.

Universities including ITB, UGM, and the University of Indonesia will help develop the talent pipeline. Engineers will receive training directly from Arm’s ecosystem. 

“The collaboration will continue to develop the next generation of semiconductors or chips, so that Indonesia has capabilities in the semiconductor and design fields,” said Airlangga Hartarto, Malaysia’s coordinating minister for economic affairs.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi described the summit as a “disorganised PR spectacle,” raising concerns that foreign products were being highlighted while India’s own talent and data were underutilised.

The opposition accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of damaging India’s global image in artificial intelligence by allowing what it said was the projection of Chinese hardware as indigenous development. 

Criticism was also directed at IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for allegedly promoting the display.

The row intensified after a video aired by state broadcaster DD India — later deleted — showed a Galgotias professor describing the robotic dog as developed by the university’s “Centre of Excellence.” 

Galgotias University has denied claiming to have built the robot. In a statement, the school said it was the target of a “negative propaganda campaign” and insisted the device was used as a learning platform to expose students to “globally available tools and resources.”

“Let us be clear Galgotias has not built this robodog, neither have we claimed,” the university said in an earlier clarification, adding that its goal was to train students who would eventually design and manufacture such technologies.

The summit, held at Bharat Mandapam in the capital, was intended to showcase India’s ambitions in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

Apart from potentially sparking tensions between the two Asian giants, the issue also cast a shadow over Modi’s AI ambitions. 

Earlier, the prime minister said he wanted to put India “among the top three AI superpowers globally, not just in the consumption of AI but in creation,” vowing homegrown technology would soon be “deployed worldwide.”

Modi described AI as a “civilisational inflection point” that can expand human capability but also test social foundations if left unguided. 

This is reflected in the theme of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, the first global AI gathering of its scale hosted in the Global South: “Welfare for All, Happiness for All.”

Modi said India’s vision is to ensure AI delivers equitable outcomes rather than narrow innovation gains. Discussions at the summit focus on governance, inclusive datasets, climate action, agriculture, public health and multilingual access.

Linking AI to the 2047 development roadmap, Modi said the technology is already being deployed in healthcare, education and farming.

He cited AI-based early detection of diseases such as tuberculosis and diabetic retinopathy at public health centres. In education, personalised learning platforms in Indian languages are supporting students in rural and government schools .

In agriculture, AI tools are being used for crop advisory, soil analysis and weather intelligence to help farmers make localised decisions.

Modi also highlighted India’s digital public infrastructure, including Aadhaar and Unified Payments Interface, as a foundation for scaling AI in public services.

On risks, he acknowledged concerns over bias, deepfakes and misuse. He called for global cooperation and stronger safeguards, including transparency, human oversight and data protection .

Ultimately, the prime minister said India’s goal is not merely to consume AI but to create it. 

“Every Indian will experience AI as an enabler of opportunity, a multiplier of capability, and a servant of human dignity, not as a threat to their livelihood or an instrument of control,” Modi said. 

Thus, the researchers underscored that the problem is not whether people in ASEAN are using AI, but whether institutions are equipped to manage it responsibly.

“Across ASEAN, we are seeing AI use grow faster than our systems’ ability to guide it,” said Piti Srisangnam, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation. “These studies move the conversation beyond whether AI is being used to whether our institutions, educators and communities are truly prepared.”

Thailand leads in AI usage

The report points to a widening readiness gap, particularly in education, with surveys conducted across all 10 ASEAN member states showing strong enthusiasm for generative AI tools, especially among younger users.

Of ASEAN’s member countries, Thailand led in AI usage, with adoption concentrated across the digital economy and among the youth. Over 90% of Thai students reportedly use AI tools, particularly for tasks such as writing, summarising and digital design. 

In the Philippines , which is hosting the high-stakes ASEAN Summit this year, more than 80% of students surveyed said they use generative AI in their studies, compared with just over 70% of educators. Many students reported relying on AI for writing and paraphrasing tasks.

Yet fewer than half of Filipino educators expressed confidence in their institutions’ AI policies, suggesting that usage is outpacing formal guidance and training.

Overall unpreparedness

The broader regional study highlights uneven digital preparedness across Southeast Asia, including shortfalls in digital skills, cybersecurity capacity and ethical standards for emerging technologies.

Researchers flagged concerns ranging from online fraud and deepfakes to data breaches and misinformation, warning that unchecked misuse could undermine public trust in digital services.

The urgency for improved digital systems comes as ASEAN’s digital economy is projected to expand sharply by the end of the decade, potentially reaching $1 trillion by 2030, fuelled by a young and increasingly connected population of more than 660 million people.

Access to AI tools alone will not be enough, the report argued.  

Without clearer policies, stronger governance and sustained investment in literacy and safeguards, Southeast Asia’s fast-moving embrace of AI could prove as fragile as it is rapid.

These were presented in Manila during the third regional policy convening of the AI Ready ASEAN programme, an initiative launched in 2024 with a $5 million grant from Google.org to improve AI literacy across the bloc.

It is considered the world’s first because, despite the earlier adoption of the European Union ’s AI Act, most of its rules will not apply until 2027. The US, meanwhile, remains deadlocked over federal AI legislation. 

The goal? To place South Korea among the world’s top three AI powers, alongside the US and China. By acting early, officials argue, Korea can help shape global norms on AI safety, transparency and ethics while rules elsewhere remain unsettled.

Innovation first

At the core of the law is an “innovation-first” approach. Companies are free to develop and deploy AI systems without prior government approval, a sharp contrast to more precautionary regulatory models. The government has also committed to supporting the sector through funding, infrastructure and workforce training.

However, freedom comes with new obligations. 

The law introduces the concept of “high-impact AI” — systems used in sensitive areas such as healthcare, energy, hiring and critical infrastructure. Firms developing these systems must carry out risk assessments, monitor performance and report safety measures to regulators.

One of the most closely watched provisions targets transparency. AI-generated images, videos and audio will need to be clearly labelled and watermarked, including with machine-readable markers designed to combat deepfakes and disinformation.

Despite its ambition, the framework has unsettled parts of the tech industry. 

Key definitions, including what qualifies as high-impact AI, remain vague. Detailed enforcement rules are still being drafted and will be issued through executive decrees led by the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Rattled market

While the law has yet to take effect, the uncertainty is already having an impact. 

Some companies have delayed product launches, while many startups say they are unsure how — or whether — the rules apply to their systems. Industry surveys suggest most firms have yet to begin formal compliance preparations.

Critics warn that moving first does not guarantee credibility. Without clearer guidance, they argue, the law risks confusing developers or becoming more symbolic than substantive.

The government acknowledges the rollout will be imperfect. Penalties of up to 30 million won ($20,800) will be suspended during the first year, a buffer officials say is meant to help companies adapt rather than punish them.

For now, South Korea is pressing ahead. Whether its early leap sets a global standard or exposes the risks of regulating too soon will become clearer once the law is tested in the real world.

The bike was developed over more than a year and features AI-assisted functions such as self-parking, automatic speed control, obstacle detection and collision avoidance, powered by a Raspberry Pi processor and long-range sensors. According to the team, the design went through multiple revisions, particularly in the steering system, to improve safety and performance.

Powered by a lithium-ion battery, Garuda offers a reported range of up to 220 kilometres in Eco mode and around 160 kilometres in Sport mode, with a charging time of about two hours. Despite being a prototype, the bike includes a touchscreen dashboard, GPS navigation, cameras and smartphone connectivity, and has already attracted interest from technology firms and the entertainment industry.

Neutrinos, sometimes nicknamed “ghost particles,” are among the most puzzling components of the universe. They pass straight through planets, buildings and even our bodies without leaving a trace, and trillions of them stream through humans every second. 

Because they barely interact with anything, scientists struggle to study them. However, understanding how they behave could help explain how the universe is structured and where its matter comes from.

The new data suggests JUNO is working exactly as planned and is already measuring neutrino behavior with more accuracy than all previous experiments combined, according to scientists at the University of Mainz in Germany, who collaborate on the project. 

The results put researchers closer to answering a major outstanding question in physics: the order of neutrino masses, which determines how these particles transform from one type into another as they travel .

The observatory itself is enormous: a 20,000-ton spherical detector buried deep under a mountain in southern China. It took ten years to build and cost more than $350 million. It was designed specifically to track the subtle changes neutrinos undergo as they move, which earlier experiments could not measure clearly.

Although located in China, JUNO is a global effort involving more than 700 researchers from 17 countries, including the United States , Germany, Italy, France and Russia.

“Achieving such precision within only two months of operation shows that JUNO is performing exactly as designed,” project leader Yifang Wang said. 

He said the detector is now positioned to answer questions that have puzzled scientists for decades and to search for entirely new physics beyond current theories.

While the bill aims to strengthen national resilience against hacking , fraud, and online abuse, there are concerns that some provisions could blur the line between regulation and surveillance and limit online freedoms.

Prior to the drafting of the amendment bill, the Ministry of Communication, together with the Cyber Security Authority, invited public input .

Here’s what you need to know about the Bill:

The CSA’s proposed investigative, arrest and prosecutorial power may perhaps be one of the biggest and concerning changes in the Amendment Bill. This means that the Cyber Security Authority, which was originally set up as a regulator, can now investigate and prosecute cybercrime on the authority of the Attorney-General. It can even exercise police powers, including arrest, search, and seizure. Under the existing law , the Authority could only enforce compliance through administrative means and recommend prosecutions. However, now, the Authority may now prosecute cybercrime cases directly, apply for confiscation orders, and freeze assets under section 59B, which states that: “(1) The Authority shall, upon the occurrence of a cybersecurity incident or a cybercrime, conduct criminal investigations and prosecute the same. (2) The Authority shall have the jurisdiction to prosecute all offences under the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772)." 

Under the new Section 59B, the CSA can seize and confiscate property, money, or assets believed to be connected to cybercrime. Even if a criminal case fails, the Authority may still pursue civil recovery, meaning your assets could be taken without a conviction if linked to an alleged offence. Section 59B (3) states, “Where a person is convicted of a cybercrime under this Act, the Authority may apply to the Court for an order to confiscate moneys, proceeds, benefits, properties, and assets purchased by a person with proceeds derived from or in the commission of the cybercrime.” The act goes on in subsection (5) that: “In relation to subsection (6), if criminal prosecution fails, civil asset recovery should still proceed, and confiscation orders should have the effect of a civil judgment appealable from the High Court to the Court of Appeal.” Under the existing law, the CSA has no power to confiscate proceeds of crime; this power is reserved for the Attorney General’s office and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

New provisions under sections 59C - 59I give the CSA powers to compel individuals, service providers, or companies to hand over data, including computer records and personal information. Investigators can apply ex parte, without notifying the affected person, to obtain search and preservation orders over data stored on computers or servers. Section 59C(1) states; “The Authority may, for the purposes of carrying out an investigation in respect of a contravention of the Act, Regulations, or any other relevant enactment by the owner of a critical information infrastructure, a licensee, a service provider or any other person, by notice in writing, require a person to: attend at a time and place specified in the notice; and furnish the Authority with information related to a matter relevant to the investigation.”  The goal is to make it easier to investigate cybercrime, but this raises issues about the possibility of opening the door to mass data access and unwarranted surveillance.

For the first time, Ghana’s cyber law explicitly covers Artificial Intelligence (AI), blockchain, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, cloud technology, and quantum computing. The CSA will now set security standards and certify emerging technologies before they are deployed, from banking algorithms to smart home systems, under sections 4A(a) – (c), 58A. In addition, the authority shall accredit non-profit cybersecurity institutions under section 58B. This could help ensure safer technology use, but it also places innovation under state control. In this regard, the CSA becomes Ghana’s tech certifier, which invariably expands its remit from cybersecurity to technology governance.

The Bill introduces new online offences under Sections 67A and 67B, targeting cyberbullying, stalking, and online harassment, especially of children. However, it also makes it a crime to “deliberately spread false or misleading information” online. The problem? The law doesn’t define what counts as “false or misleading.” This vagueness could criminalise legitimate reporting, satire, or political commentary. Penalties range from fines of up to five thousand penalty units to 25 thousand penalty units to three to five years’ imprisonment and not more than ten years, depending on the offence.

The amendments create new funding streams for the CSA, including: 12% of Ghana’s Communication Service Tax, 9% of corporate tax, and 50% of fines collected under the Act. Under the existing law, the authority relies on parliamentary allocations, donor support, and service fees for funding.

Failure to register critical infrastructure, report cyber incidents, or comply with CSA directives could now attract hefty fines of up to 50,000 penalty units. The proposed amendment raises penalties up to 25,000 penalty units, 50,000 penalty units, and 5 - 10 years imprisonment. The monetary value of one penalty unit in Ghana is GHC 12, which means the monetary value of 50,000 penalty units is GHC 600,000 (approximately US$55,000).

Generally, for Ghanaian citizens who use the internet for diverse purposes, including social media, e-commerce and banking, the Amendment Bill, once passed, would regulate online behaviour, digital data, social media content (particularly that considered fake or misleading), devices, and workplace systems. With the intent to sanitise and make Ghana’s cyberspace safer.

“Our AI factory provides the infrastructure for innovation to scale, empowering African businesses, start-ups, and researchers with access to cutting-edge AI infrastructure. Now they don’t have to look beyond Africa to get it,” Business Insider quotes Masiyiwa.

The first facility is already being developed in South Africa and will run on 3,000 Nvidia GPUs. The others are expected in Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt and Morocco.

Earlier this year, Cassava launched a dedicated AI business unit and signed partnerships with global tech giants Microsoft, AWS, Google, and Anthropic. Analysts say such alliances could accelerate Africa’s role in the global AI industry while ensuring the infrastructure benefits local talent and institutions.

Africa is home to fast-growing pools of tech talent, but only 5% of AI developers on the continent currently have access to the computing power required to train advanced AI models. By building local AI infrastructure, Cassava hopes to close this gap, reduce costs, and keep sensitive data on the continent.

Masiyiwa, worth an estimated $1.3 billion, made his fortune building Econet Wireless into one of Africa’s largest telecom companies before expanding into cloud computing, fintech, and cybersecurity.

Talaat highlighted strong performance in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. In 2024, exports jumped 80 percent to $4.3 billion, the workforce expanded by 70 percent to over 160,000 specialists, and the number of ICT firms tripled to more than 180 companies in just three years. 

“These achievements underscore Egypt’s rising ability to attract both global and regional investment in outsourcing and digital innovation,” Talaat said.

The country intends to rely on a six-pillar AI strategy that aims to establish robust data governance systems, integrate AI into priority sectors such as healthcare and justice, train 30,000 AI specialists by 2030, raise digital literacy so that 25 percent of government workers and 36 percent of citizens can use AI tools effectively. 

Egypt is also boosting its tech manufacturing base, now home to 14 mobile phone factories. Production is expected to nearly triple from 3.5 million units in 2024 to 9 million in 2025, with exports of locally made devices beginning later this year. Free trade agreements are expected to give Egyptian products a competitive edge in global markets.

The permit was formally presented to Zhao Deli, founder of XPENG AEROHT, who praised the UAE’s “open innovation environment” as an ideal testbed for validating flying car technology.

UAE officials say they envision a strategic use of the vehicle to transform public services, including government transport, that is, fast, flexible mobility for official delegations and inter-emirate travel; tourism, offering visitors scenic aerial experiences that merge luxury with futuristic tech; and emergency rescue, rapid deployment in medical evacuations or disaster response, especially in hard-to-reach areas.

At the event, they signed a memorandum of understanding with XPENG AEROHT to collaborate on flight testing certification and real-world applications.

“This partnership enhances the UAE’s global position in smart mobility and low-carbon transport. It also serves as a demonstration for the wider Middle East,” said Esmaeel Al Blooshi, the director general of the Ras Al Khaimah Transport Authority.

Though at the testing and demo phase, the flying car is a fully electric aircraft designed for urban use with key features including an intelligent large display and single-stick control system; automatic and manual modes for ease of operation; an advanced flight control system to boost safety; low noise levels; and an environmentally friendly design.

Vietnamese rice traders and exporters are holding back purchases after the Philippines, their biggest market, suspended all imports. “Prices remain low, but we dare not buy much,” Nguyen Chi Thanh of Angimex said , noting that traders in the Mekong Delta had scaled down to buying a few tons compared to hundreds previously. Vietnam exported 6.3 million tons of rice worth $3.17 billion in the first eight months of 2025, with the Philippines accounting for 2.6 million tons, making it the largest buyer.

Senate shake-up won’t derail legislative agenda

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed confidence that his administration’s priorities remain intact despite a change in Senate leadership. Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto reassumed the chamber’s top post, replacing Francis “Chiz” Escudero. Marcos called the reshuffle an internal matter, “The Senate knows how to organise itself; the Senate also knows how to do the work. If Senator Sotto is now the SP again, then I do not see that it will change very much from our agenda,” he added .

Philippines, Japan boost defence tech ties

Defence ministers from the Philippines and Japan agreed in Seoul to deepen cooperation on defence equipment and technology amid China’s growing assertiveness in regional waters. Japan may transfer retired Abukuma-class destroyers and air surveillance radar systems to Manila. “The two ministers concurred to promote defence equipment and technology cooperation,” Japan’s Ministry of Defence said. Experts noted the deal would be a significant step in strengthening Manila’s defence industry with Japanese support.

Duterte ‘not fit to stand trial,’ lawyer tells ICC

Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s legal team has petitioned the International Criminal Court to adjourn proceedings indefinitely, citing severe cognitive decline. His lawyer, Nicholas Kaufman, wrote that Duterte suffers from impairments that limit memory, reasoning, and orientation: “Mr. Duterte is not fit to stand trial as a result of cognitive impairment in multiple domains. Mr. Duterte’s condition will not improve,” the Enquirer quotes. The ICC is investigating Duterte’s bloody “war on drugs,” which left thousands dead.

Philippines eyes Indian underwater drones

Manila is weighing the acquisition of Indian underwater drones as an alternative to traditional submarines, part of efforts to modernise its maritime defences amid South China Sea tensions. Defence Secretary Gilberto Teodoro highlighted their cost-effectiveness, as India’s autonomous underwater vehicles offer surveillance, reconnaissance, and mine-countermeasure capabilities, Indian Defence News reports. The move affirms the close defence ties between Manila and New Delhi, including cooperation on missile systems and unmanned platforms.

China’s Ministry of Transport reported that the country saw 11.9 billion cross-regional trips between July 1 and August 31, averaging 192 million trips daily, up 4.3 percent year-on-year. Road-based self-driving trips accounted for 8.7 billion journeys, or 73 percent of the total, People's Daily reports. Rural self-driving tours surged in popularity, while student travel, tourism, and study tours helped fuel consumption. An official projected that domestic tourism trips this summer would surpass 2.5 billion, with Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an ranking among the top destinations. The rail system set a new summer record with 940 million passenger trips, and civil aviation carried 147 million passengers, a 3.6 percent year-on-year rise. On August 15 alone, flights carried 2.56 million passengers, marking a new single-day high.

President Xi unveils Global Governance Initiative

President Xi Jinping, at the “Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Plus” meeting in Tianjin, proposed a new Global Governance Initiative (GGI) to reshape international cooperation. “I look forward to working with all countries for a more just and equitable global governance system and advancing toward a community with a shared future for humanity,” Xi said . He outlined five guiding principles for the GGI, including sovereign equality, adherence to international rule of law, practicing multilateralism, adopting a people-centered approach, and focusing on concrete action.

China leads the world in nanotechnology patents

A white paper released in Beijing revealed that China holds 43 percent of all nanotechnology patents granted globally over the past 25 years, amounting to 464,000 patents. This surpasses the combined total of the U.S., Japan, and South Korea. The White Paper : China Nanotechnology Industry 2025 highlights key areas of China’s patent portfolio, including semiconductors, catalytic chemistry, biomedicine, and new materials. The Chinese Academy of Sciences topped the global rankings with 23,400 patents. As of May 2025, China had more than 34,500 nanotech enterprises employing nearly 10 million people, with the global market projected to reach $1.5 trillion by year’s end.

China’s summer box office nears 12 billion yuan

The China Film Administration announced that the 2025 summer box office grossed 11.96 billion yuan ($1.68 billion), surpassing last year’s total. More than 100 films were released, drawing 321 million viewers nationwide. The top-grossing film, Dead to Rights - a historical drama on the 1937 Nanjing Massacre - earned 2.89 billion yuan since its July 25 release. Other major hits included animated feature Nobody, Jackie Chan’s crime action film The Shadow’s Edge, the historical drama The Lychee Road, and Universal’s Jurassic World Rebirth.  

Chinese Embassy issues warning in South Korea

The Chinese Embassy in South Korea has urged Chinese citizens to avoid carrying offensive weapons in public after South Korea revised its criminal law earlier this year. The embassy noted that carrying knives, hammers, or other potentially dangerous items without a legitimate reason could now result in up to three years’ imprisonment or fines of 10 million won ($7,300). “Chinese citizens in South Korea or those planning to visit the country should avoid carrying objects that could be regarded as offensive weapons in public. If unavoidable, they must be properly concealed to reduce legal risks,” the embassy said in its statement .

"Vision Hope is a form of assistive robotics. It enables visually impaired individuals to go from one place to another without relying on others," Rego explained in an interaction with the AFP.

Rego’s invention first gained public recognition in 2022 during the “Jovem Creativo” (Creative Youth) competition, where he emerged as one of 15 winners out of more than 4,000 applicants, claiming a top spot in the Technological Innovation category.

What began as a simple prototype has since evolved into a fully patented product. He said that "In 2023 and 2024, we entered the registration phase. The smart glasses are now patented, and the intellectual property has been secured.”

 “ Technology developed abroad might not fit our local reality,” he said. “So why not build something that works for us in Mozambique, a technology that starts here and grows to serve Africa and beyond?” he added.

The Vision Hope system is ingeniously designed and includes over 60 insulated cables wrapped in traditional Mozambican capulana fabric, all leading to a portable pouch. The pouch has a battery, a controller, a GPS unit, and a dedicated charge controller.

The STAM Atlas includes over 34,000 ultra-thin brain sections, 14,000 coronal, 11,400 sagittal, and 9,000 horizontal slices, producing a complete 3D reconstruction of the mouse brain. In this model, scientists have identified and annotated 916 distinct brain regions, including 236 newly discovered sub-regions that shed light on previously unknown neural circuits.

According to Li Yunqing, president of the Chinese Society for Anatomical Sciences and professor at the Air Force Medical University, the atlas allows scientists to “precisely locate pathological brain regions and neurons” implicated in diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, potentially aiding in the development of more effective targeted therapies.

“This atlas surpasses conventional murine brain maps by two orders of magnitude in precision,” said Xue Tian, executive dean of the School of Life Science s at the University of Science and Technology of China. “It provides the global neuroscience community with a cutting-edge tool developed by Chinese scientists.”

The main image was AI-generated.

Jabbi explained that while Gambia’s communications regulator, PURA, had recommended Starlink for a Very Small Aperture Terminal (VSAT) license, his assumption of office prompted a deeper review of the license application. He said this scrutiny was necessary to ensure compliance with Gambian laws and international best practices, the Standard reports.

“Upon review, I identified several critical issues surrounding the license that required further analysis and consultations, including at the cabinet level,” Jabbi said, adding that Starlink was later found not to qualify under the VSAT category, triggering a reassessment.

The minister confirmed that both Starlink and U.S. officials repeatedly followed up, including during his visit to Washington for World Bank meetings, where the issue was raised again. “Interpretations may vary depending on jurisdiction and culture. However, it is true that the U.S. State Department, U.S. Embassy, and Starlink have been very persistent and critical in their follow-up,” he noted.

Jabbi emphasised that the delay stems from the disruptive nature of Starlink’s technology and the need to consider the country economic, political, social, and security implications. The final decision, he said, will be made at the cabinet level and communicated accordingly.

Developed by the Deep Space Exploration Laboratory in Hefei, Anhui Province, the system uses a high-precision solar concentrator and flexible fibre-optic energy transmission to generate the extreme heat needed to fuse lunar regolith, the layer of loose, dusty material covering the moon.

According to senior engineer Yang Honglun, the successful prototype proves that lunar soil can serve as the sole raw material for creating infrastructure on the moon.

“This printing breakthrough has validated the feasibility of using lunar soil as the sole raw building material, enabling true in-situ resource utilisation and eliminating the need to transport any additional materials from Earth,” Yang said.

The technology features flexible manufacturing capabilities that allow for the production of standard bricks as well as the moulding of complex, custom-designed structures. The lab has completed preliminary tests on Earth, demonstrating the system’s ability to melt and shape lunar regolith into lines, surfaces, and three-dimensional forms using concentrated solar energy, The People’s Daily Online reports.

The project tackled major technical challenges, including reliable solar energy concentration and precise regolith shaping under the harsh conditions expected on the lunar surface. A multidisciplinary team of experts in planetary science, materials science, engineering, and optics collaborated to solve these problems, developing key innovations in energy capture and material processing.

In the future, the 3D printing system could support the construction of lunar roads, equipment platforms, buildings, and energy systems, laying the foundation for large-scale, sustainable exploration and potential resource utilisation on the moon.

The Tiandu lab, which built the printer, has already contributed to major projects such as the Chang’e-6 mission, which returned the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon, and is now preparing to develop the world’s first Mars sample research facility.

The event, held as part of the RoBoLeague, saw teams from Tsinghua University’s THU Robotics team and Beijing Information Science and Technology University’s Blaze team go head-to-head, with the humanoid robots playing the entire game independently.

The championship title was claimed by the THU Robotics team, with China Agricultural University’s Mountain Sea team finishing in second place. The Blaze team from Beijing Information Science and Technology University and the Power team from the Future Laboratory, Tsinghua University, shared third place.

The competition has quickly gained traction among fans, attracting robotics enthusiasts eager to witness the cutting-edge integration of artificial intelligence with sports. The event’s unique blend of AI technology and athletic competition has captivated both tech aficionados and sports lovers alike.

Bian Yuansong, chairman of Shangyicheng Group, the event’s organiser, emphasised that RoBoLeague serves as a testing ground for pioneering technologies like bipedal dynamic balancing and multi-agent collaborative decision-making. “The event not only provides crucial technical validation for the football segment of future humanoid robot games, but also lays a solid foundation for enhancing the sensitivity and capabilities of embodied robots,” Bian explained to the People’s Daily Online .

Beyond the competition, Bian revealed that the technologies showcased during RoBoLeague will soon have real-world applications, potentially benefiting industrial production and daily life. Shangyicheng Group plans to expand the competition format, introducing new robot challenges like a half-marathon, to further promote the development and practical use of humanoid robotics in diverse scenarios.

The partnership aims to reduce internet and data transit costs, enhance network reliability, and facilitate high-speed connectivity for telecom operators, public institutions, and businesses across both countries. Initial capacity is set at 42.5 Gbps, with plans to scale to 100 Gbps by 2026. The system uses secure IP/MPLS protocols and fibre technology to deliver robust digital services.

Officials from both countries say the initiative aligns with broader regional goals under ECOWAS and the African Union to build a unified African digital market.

"This project is a key component of the Guinea–Sierra Leone Digital Pact 2024, aimed at unifying digital markets and services," said Nouhan Traoré, Secretary General of Guinea’s Ministry of Telecommunications. Leoncom CEO Foday Rado Yokie added that, “our collaboration with SOGEB will improve broadband access in Sierra Leone and stimulate economic interaction with Guinea.

Mohamed Kourouma, Director of SOGEB, however, noted, “This agreement is a major milestone for Guinea, reflecting our commitment to building an open and interconnected national backbone that benefits operators, enterprises, and citizens alike.”

The agreement also supports the Guinea–Sierra Leone Digital Pact 2024 , a bilateral roadmap to foster digital inclusion and integration, combating cybercrime, and improving cross-border communication.

In early 2025, Guinea's internet penetration rate was 26.5%, with 3.96 million users, while Sierra Leone had a 20.7% penetration rate, with 1.80 million users, according to Datareportal . Telecom giants like Orange and MTN are expected to benefit from reduced operational costs, while citizens in border communities will gain better access to services such as e-learning, telemedicine, and remote work platforms. Discussions are already underway to extend this fibre corridor to Liberia, potentially anchoring a sub-regional digital backbone.

Disclaimer: The image for the article was AI-generated

The partnership follows an MoU signed on April 10, 2025, between Nigeria’s Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, and JICA’s Nigeria representative, Yuzurio Susumu. It sets the foundation for long-term collaboration to support Nigeria’s growing tech ecosystem.

The initiative features two components:

NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi said the project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s “renewed hope agenda” and supports Nigeria’s ambitions to diversify the economy and become a regional tech leader. He also cited the success of earlier Nigeria-Japan collaborations, such as the iHatch incubation program, which created over 117 direct and 370 indirect jobs.

He described the collaboration as a “strategic alignment of innovation ecosystems,” and praised the Japanese government for choosing to invest in Nigeria’s digital future. He indicated that with Japan’s renowned experience in technological excellence and Nigeria’s growing youth-driven innovation landscape, this partnership sets a foundation for mutual prosperity.

Spanning nearly six years (2025–2030), the initiative also aims to bridge Nigerian and Japanese tech ecosystems through exchange programs and startup participation in global accelerator events.

With Nigeria targeting a $1 trillion economy by 2030, the project is expected to boost job creation, attract foreign investment, and position Nigeria as a leading hub for innovation in Africa.

Japan is strengthening its involvement in Africa’s tech sector through a range of startup-driven initiatives spearheaded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Through its flagship program, Project NINJA (Next Innovation with Japan) , JICA has launched and funded accelerator programs and pitch competitions in countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Ghana. Working in partnership with local startup hubs, the agency aims to build sustainable innovation ecosystems and scale locally driven solutions to key development challenges across the continent.

This year, students hoping to leverage AI tools were met with restrictions, with screenshots shared on Weibo, China’s popular social media platform, capturing one user’s attempt to upload an exam question to Doubao. The app responded, “During the college entrance examination, according to relevant requirements, the question answering service will be suspended.” Even when the user insisted, “This is not the college entrance examination,” the response remained unchanged. Similarly, DeepSeek, a generative AI tool that surged in popularity in 2025, blocked services during exam hours, citing the need “to ensure fairness in the college entrance examination,” according to Bloomberg .

Other platforms, including Tencent’s Yuanbao and Moonshot AI’s Kimi, also disabled photo-recognition features, which could otherwise analyse test papers. These measures have frustrated some university students who rely on these tools for assignments

The AI blackout is part of a broader anti-cheating arsenal whereby Chinese authorities have deployed AI-powered monitoring systems in provinces like Jiangxi to detect “abnormal behaviours” such as whispering or suspicious glances, with footage reviewed post-exam for violations, per the Global Times . Stricter entry protocols include biometric identification, enhanced device screening, and radio signal blockers to neutralise illicit communication devices.

The voluntary suspension of AI features by tech giants, without formal public announcements, suggests a coordinated effort to align with regulatory expectations and uphold exam integrity.

“It’s like creating a highway for drug delivery,” said Chang Lingqian, a professor at Beihang University’s School of Biological and Medical Engineering. "This study has already been applied in medical aesthetics and skin trauma repair, and it holds great promise for future treatments of major health issues like cancer and trauma," Chang added.

Using a combination of flexible electronics and nano-pore technology , the patch gently perforates cell membranes with ultra-high electric field strength, allowing drug molecules, especially large-molecule therapies, to enter targeted tissues with precision.

The device is wirelessly powered and as thin as a sheet of paper, making it both discreet and effective.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed the EU's commitment to enforcing the Digital Markets Act (DMA) against any offending company, regardless of its country of origin or political connections. In her responses to inquiries about the EU’s policy direction, she stated, "The rules that have been approved by lawmakers must be enforced". She emphasized that cases against companies such as TikTok, X, Apple, and Meta have been initiated as part of this enforcement.

Despite these assertions, recent reports indicate that the fines imposed on large tech firms may be considerably less than the statutory maximum of up to 10% of their global annual revenue, which could result in penalties reaching billions for companies such as Apple. This speculation raises concerns that both U.S.-EU trade relations and recent shifts in European Commission leadership may be influencing a softer regulatory approach.

The new leadership appears more inclined to focus on implementing technical measures associated with the DMA rather than imposing significant financial penalties. This has led to uncertainty regarding the EU’s resolve to combat alleged abuses of market dominance by technology giants, with no specific timeline provided for when fines will be announced or their potential amounts.

The EU is one of the pioneering jurisdictions in introducing stringent regulations against big tech companies, while many other countries are still developing their strategies. However, the assertion that the EU maintains a neutral stance regarding the origins of firms raises eyebrows, given past instances where the EU has been perceived as favoring European companies, such as Spotify, over Apple. As global political, economic, and diplomatic dynamics evolve, the world is keenly observing how the European Commission will navigate these challenges in its enforcement of digital regulations against technology firms.

The event aimed to evaluate the capabilities of bipedal robots under real-world conditions . While human runners stayed on one side of the road, many took out their mobile phones to film the robots pacing towards the finish line. Some robots ran autonomously, while others were operated remotely by engineers.

According to engineers who spoke with AFP, the primary objective was not to compete for speed but to assess the robots' performance, stability, and reliability.

“The main purpose of doing this is to prepare for the industrialisation in the future or the near future, because when we land in factories, businesses or life scenes, we expect this robot to work continuously 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and without failure… Our marathon is actually an extreme test of reliability and stability. Next time, I think you will see it more perfect,” one engineer told AFP.

The event featured around 20 teams from across China. Participating robots ranged in height from 75 to 180 centimetres (2.46 to 5.9 feet) and weighed up to 88 kilograms (194 pounds).

Here's some of what they said.

You can share your opinions on our Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube or X posts.

Bangkok, Thailand

Ayush: "Elon Musk is both a visionary and a threat. He actually is really smart, really capable and could take us to really cool places, but instead, he wants to lobby. He's only serving his best interests at the end of the day. He knows that if he does what Trump says, he can have control and then make himself way more money. So right now, he's a threat to our democracy, and we should all get off X.”

Ethan: "I don’t know, but I like Tesla."

Grace: "Interesting question. Interesting person. Great ideas when it comes to technology. But you know what? There are some good things and bad things with everyone, or things you agree or disagree on."

Mahmoud: "He's both. We can't deny the guy is a freaking genius. But also, his character might be perceived as unsavoury. We have to keep the checks and balances. So while we can support certain things he invests in, we can also criticise. We have every right to. He can seem problematic, but you can't deny the good things he may have contributed to society."

Aiden: "I think Elon Musk likes to frame himself as a visionary. I don't think he is anywhere near as smart as most people think he is. People don’t realise that, for example, he was not the inventor of Tesla. He was not the founder. He just bought the company. So, with the amount of power and money he has that he's not using to better the world, I think he's very actively a threat."

Azman: "I think looking at Elon Musk as a threat would be very incorrect. If you look at how we got to this point, it was through brilliant minds who thought differently. His visions and the things he wants to achieve are a step forward. He’s just doing what he believes humans can achieve. I think he’s definitely more of a visionary than a threat."

Aiya: "I have no opinion on him."

Yuta: "He's a visionary. He's one of those elevated beings. Society kind of turns him into a laughingstock because he sees things differently than a normal person does. Society wants us to be normal. People hate him because they don’t see his vision."

Fam: "He's a visionary. He's a God, to be honest."

Kim: "He's obviously worried about the future of other people’s kids."

Larry: "He's a visionary."

Vince: "Elon Musk is a visionary."

Accra, Ghana

Nancy: "I see him as a visionary person."

Shadrach: "He’s a visionary. He’s not a threat. He’s an entrepreneur, and his innovations have helped human life."

Joyceline: "Elon Musk is a visionary. He's not a threat because his wealth has created a lot of jobs for people."

Ernest: "I don't think he's a threat. He's a visionary. Since Donald Trump won the election, they are going to be collaborating and working together, so I don’t think he is a threat."

Felix: "He's a visionary person. He's an entrepreneur, and with Donald Trump, he can easily bridge the gap between China and the US in terms of business."

Ansah: "He is a visionary. His initiatives are making life easier for people."

Evans: "He’s a visionary leader. The world is moving towards technology, and he is driving that."

Godwin: "Musk is really a visionary. If Musk had been the one to invent the computer, people might have said he was a threat, but now we see its benefits. We will see the impact of his work in the future."

Ruth: "I seriously don’t see him as a threat. He’s ahead in technology and doing his best to help us. But X, and other social media platforms, should pay more attention to African countries when it comes to elections and misinformation."

Samuel: "Elon is not a threat. Only people who don’t want to see what the future holds would think that. He’s a forward thinker. I see him as somebody that the future will need. Our children, grandchildren, will need Elon.”

Ebenezer: "Elon Musk is a futuristic person, and that makes him a visionary. He sees things others don’t and takes risks. You can look at what he's been able to do with Space X, with X, if I should say, promoting free speech and all that. I think Elon is maybe two years ahead of the whole world.”

John: "He’s a threat. Anything that comes and goes contrary to God's ordination should be a threat.”

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Erleyvaldo: "He is a threat. Social media influences people, and I don’t think he is the best person to control it."

Tarcio: "Visionary, very visionary. If he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be who he is today."

Victoria: "He's a threat. He's just a billionaire with people at his service, and he’s not using his money to do what would be ideal for humanity.”

Brenno: "He’s super visionary. We’re scared because something bad could happen, but so far, he’s done positive things."

Filipe: "Maximum respect, Elon Musk." 

Maria Clara: "Threat. There are limits to everything, and when you cross them, it becomes dangerous."

Silvia: "Us, humans, have both positive and negative potential. It depends on where we place our focus."

Artur: "Very visionary. He’s a billionaire, a trillionaire… He deserves respect."

Mayara: "Who is he?"

Anderson: "Visionary. He creates a lot of jobs. I like people who take risks."

Maria: "Who is he?"

Tokyo, Japan

Interviewee 1: "I don't like him. Right now, he’s a f*cking idiot, but in the past, I thought he was cool."

Interviewee 2: "He’s a visionary."

Interviewee 3: "I’m not sure [laughs]."

Interviewee 4: "He seems like a bit of a tosser."

Interviewee 5 "He's just a bit of a fraud, really, in everything he does. One of the richest people in the world getting state power as well is not something that I'm especially looking forward to."

Interviewee 6: "Elon Musk is definitely a threat. I used to think he was just an idiot. Now I'm more worried. He kind of owns one of the biggest news platforms in the world these days. He has the ability to show what he wants and claim he's doing the ‘right’ thing. He's a dangerous man these days."

Interviewee 7: "Sadly, he can kind of be both… Maybe much less of a visionary, much more of a threat. He's clearly doing something right to be the richest man in the world, but that's almost the problem, the fact that he now has so many resources."

Interviewee 8: "I consider him a fraud. He's just a guy who, for some reason, has built this persona, and some people have fallen for it. But I think now these people are seeing that he's just a petulant child with a lot of money, who has made investments in a lot of good things rather than actually inventing anything in particular."

Interviewee 9: "I don't really know anything about Elon Musk, and I don't care."

Interviewee 10: "He's a threat. He's not a good guy."

A Global South World video series

This video is part of Global South World’s series exploring global opinions on pressing issues.

You can share your thoughts on our Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , YouTube or X posts.

In previous videos, we asked:

Is the US a friendly power?

Are you scared of AI?

Is capitalism working?

Should smoking be banned?

Stay tuned for more perspectives.

Howard Hu, NASA Orion Program Manager, provided details about the capsule’s capabilities. “This is our Artemis II spaceship, Orion. The capsule is over 16 feet wide, designed for a four-person crew with a 21-day mission capacity. The crew module houses the astronauts and ensures their safe return, while the service module contains essential systems, including power, propulsion, and the main engine,” he told the AFP.

Hu also highlighted the mission’s progress, stating that the installation of solar arrays was completed ahead of schedule. “We’re on track for our end-of-April 2026 launch window. Our European team did a fantastic job installing the solar arrays ahead of schedule, which keeps us moving forward.”

Kirk Shireman, another Orion program manager, emphasised the human aspect of Artemis II. “Artemis I tested the rocket and spacecraft, but Artemis II is all about humans. It will have four astronauts on board, with life-support systems ensuring they can breathe, drink water , and even use a toilet. The spacecraft also features control panels for manual operation.”

Artemis II will be NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years.

“What we are doing now is not to reinvent the wheel. We had one of our projects being started from the first principle, which we are working on, both the made-in-Nigeria helicopter and some UAVs. We have some which we bought over from developed countries, which we had in Semi Knock Down (SKD) and some Complete Knock Down (CKD). So, we are now making use of science and engineering knowledge to work on the SKD and the CKD,” Aduagba explained.

He further stated that the agency is approaching the final stages of development, and the first test flight will soon take place.

“Very soon, we are going to do the first test. Everything is nearing completion now, and very soon, we will fly the first made-in-Nigeria helicopter,” he said.

Aduagba also emphasized the need for more public awareness of NASENI’s activities, noting that the agency, under the leadership of its Executive Vice Chairman, Khalil Suleman Halilu, is prioritizing awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact.

“Many Nigerians are not aware of NASENI and its activities. However, with the current leadership, the Agency is prioritizing awareness, stakeholder engagement, and community impact,” he noted.

He further added that innovation and modern technology play a crucial role in increasing the acceptance of Nigerian-made products, reducing production challenges, and creating more job opportunities.

“Innovation and modern technology are key to improving the acceptance of Nigerian products. This kind of engagement will help tackle production challenges and create more job opportunities,” he concluded.

Industry experts suggest that Trump’s push to position the United States as the "crypto capital of the planet" could attract significant investment while also intensifying competition with established Asian markets.

Analysts believe this momentum could have ripple effects across the region, benefiting other digital asset-friendly jurisdictions.

“I grew up seeing how technology was advancing globally, but it felt like our languages and cultures were being left behind,” Speaks explained to the Guardian Sun. He added that his determination to bridge the gap fuelled him to envision an AI that could seamlessly interact in Setswana.

To bring this vision to life, he partnered with Glen Mokoka, an experienced software engineer with a passion for African languages.

How Setswana AI works

Mokoka further explains that AI often sounds like something from a science fiction novel, but in reality, it is a highly advanced computer program capable of processing, understanding, and generating language.

“It can be used in various ways,” Mokoka elaborates. “In education, it can help students learn Setswana through interactive lessons or by translating difficult English concepts. In healthcare, it can provide medical information in Setswana, making it easier for people in rural areas to access essential health advice. Businesses can also benefit from it by using the AI for accounting, customer service, or even generating professional emails in Setswana.”

Highlighting the challenges in developing the Setswana AI noted that Setswana had limited digital linguistic resources. “We had to start from scratch. We collected books, newspapers, and even recorded conversations to build a dataset for the AI to learn from," Speaks said.

Another challenge was the complexity of Setswana grammar. “The way we use prefixes and suffixes can completely change the meaning of a word,” Mokoka explains. “Teaching the AI to recognise these patterns was a huge challenge.”

While the AI currently operates in standard Setswana, the innovators are working on incorporating regional dialects to make it more inclusive.

Agriculture  

Agriculture remains the backbone of Africa's economy, with over 50% of its population dependent on farming for their livelihoods. The sector contributes about 35% to the continent’s gross domestic product (GDP). In line with the African Union’s Agenda 2063, which highlights agriculture as a driver of sustainable development and poverty alleviation, AI is being integrated to enhance productivity and efficiency.

Rwanda and Ghana have led efforts in leveraging AI for agricultural advancements. Local startups in these countries are deploying AI-powered drones to identify and map weed infestations.

Rwanda’s government has further embraced AI-driven agricultural extension services, offering farmers real-time advice on weed management based on local conditions and crop types.

Transforming Healthcare  

AI applications in African healthcare are still in their infancy but have shown some progress. In South Africa , a logistic classifier system is being used to predict the tenure of health workers in public service, helping to optimize human resource planning.

The African Union Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalisation, Dr. Amani Abou-Zeid, highlighted AI-driven initiatives during the 2024 World Health Summit in Germany. She pointed to Zambia, Morocco, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Egypt as examples of countries harnessing AI to tackle health challenges. “This is not just about a few African countries adopting AI; it’s about creating a common African AI story that reaches every corner, even the most remote rural areas,” she stated.

Meanwhile, in Ghana, Zipline, an autonomous drone delivery service, has surpassed 500,000 deliveries of life-saving supplies to over 2,500 health facilities, with similar operations in Rwanda.

Finance sector

AI is transforming Africa’s financial sector, enhancing customer experiences and driving financial inclusion. Mobile money platforms like Kenya’s M-Pesa and MTN Mobile Money in Ghana use AI to detect fraud and offer personalised financial products. Mobile money transactions in Ghana hit a record GH₵3.019 trillion in 2024.

South African fintech company Jumo uses AI to analyse mobile phone usage patterns and credit histories, offering microloans to individuals without traditional credit histories.

Retail and customer engagement  

E-commerce and retail businesses are also leveraging AI to enhance customer experiences. Platforms like Jumia use AI algorithms to recommend products based on user behaviour, creating personalised shopping experiences. AI-driven analytics are also helping businesses understand consumer trends, optimise inventory, and improve marketing strategies. Additionally, AI chatbots are revolutionising customer service by providing instant responses to queries on social media platforms and websites.

Entrepreneurship and startups  

The AI revolution in Africa is being driven by a growing number of innovative startups. Nigeria’s Kudi.ai offers virtual assistants for financial services, while Ethiopia’s iCog Labs focuses on AI research and development, advancing natural language processing and robotics.

According to Lee, what sets DeepSeek apart is its decision to release the model as open-source, allowing researchers, developers, and users unrestricted access to the underlying code. “It’s not just a competition between the United States and China,” he told AFP, “but a battle between open-source and closed-source.”

Speaking at the Generative AI Conference, Lee elaborated on DeepSeek’s innovative advancements. “DeepSeek has launched an incredibly affordable model using an open-source approach. They’ve discovered a way to outpace other companies in the industry,” he said. While acknowledging OpenAI’s leading o1 model, Lee emphasised that DeepSeek not only matches it in several respects but also introduces a critical functionality: internet connectivity during inference—a feature o1 has yet to offer.

Lee praised DeepSeek’s efficiency in resource management during AI training. “Typically, training AI models requires a tremendous amount of GPU resources. DeepSeek has figured out how to squeeze the most out of a limited GPU allocation, focusing it effectively on AI model training. This optimization is something they’ve done remarkably well,” he explained.

A notable aspect of DeepSeek’s success is its development team, comprised solely of local Chinese university students. “None of the team members returned from overseas,” Lee remarked. “Their success stems from two key aspects: a strong financial and quantitative background, and a strategic approach to user engagement.”

Lee also addressed concerns about government influence on the AI model’s outputs. According to him, DeepSeek’s network service operates in two stages: the primary AI model generates an output, and a secondary model checks for alignment with Chinese government values.

Harish Mabadushi, a computer scientist at the University of Bath explained to the AFP the research was inspired by earlier concerns that as AI models grow in size and complexity, they could develop unintended abilities. However, Mabadushi’s team showed that current systems are still limited to the data and examples they are provided.

“Researchers with Google found that as these models become larger and are trained on more data, they also tend to become more powerful in that they're able to solve tasks that are more complex And this led to concerns because it was hypothesised that as we make these models even larger, they might gain capabilities such as planning and strategizing that could be used against humanity. And this is really what motivated our research…” said Mabadushi.

Adding that without detailed prompts, the AI cannot make complex decisions, ensuring that there’s no immediate risk to human safety saying, “So when we provide them with a prompt, it must be explicit and it must be detailed. And without all of that information, models are not capable of performing complex reasoning, and therefore they do not pose a threat to us. One of the incredible things that we found was that these language models are capable of converting pretty much anything that we input to them into very fluent language.”

Traditionally, AI models have been trained for specific tasks, like machine learning, but generative AI - like the large language models behind tools such as ChatGPT - allows for broader applications. These models are trained to predict and complete sentences, unlocking new possibilities. However, the Bath study found that despite advancements, these systems still rely heavily on explicit instructions, lacking the ability to independently plan or strategise.

She highlighted the growing global concern among regulators about the role of social media platforms in facilitating the activities of extremist groups. "There has been heightened concern among regulators worldwide about the use of social networks by extremist groups, and that's why Telegram has been under the spotlight. However, it's not the first platform to face such scrutiny over the spread of extremist content."

Streeter noted that while the arrest of Durov is an unexpected international development, it also emphasises the increasing pressure on social media giants to address the misuse of their platforms. 

"The arrest of the CEO is certainly a big and unexpected move, signalling the seriousness with which authorities are now addressing these issues," she added.

The Russian-born billionaire and founder of the Telegram messaging app, was arrested at Le Bourget airport near Paris on Saturday evening. He was taken into custody shortly after landing on a private jet. 

LenoKids, a WhatsApp Chatbot learning platform is an early childhood education start-up powered by South African students in partnership with the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) in South Africa.

Sange Mafinyongwana, the platform's Chief Executive Officer in an interview with Global South World's Edward Sakyi, shared that the project was born out of the 2022 MTN Digital Innovation Programme which looked to provide solutions to some of the social problems in health , education and agriculture.

"We were part of the 2022 MTN Digital Innovation Programme... Looking to address social issues within our communities... Those three sectors were mainly education, health and agriculture. Due to the passion that I have and with my team within the education space, we then looked at finding or addressing a problem within the education sector," Sange said.

It was on their journey to solve some educational sector problems they discovered an alarming statistic that "81% of fourth graders in South Africa could not read for meaning."

"If learners cannot read for meaning at the foundation phase, can you now just imagine in terms of how that will affect their future careers as they grow up?" he added. The group, according to Sange, while trying to find why this problem existed came up with LenoKids.

"We wanted parents to be involved in their child's learning journey by more or less creating a WhatsApp innovative platform that is driven by an AI that is educationally based and trained to more or less make learning and reading fun and engaging for learners by creating content that will be gamified and that will be aligned with the school curriculum," Sange explained.

Commenting on why the team opted for WhatsApp, Sange emphasised: "In South Africa, over 80% of cell phone users have WhatsApp. It's one of the communication channels that's being used mostly in South Africa. We saw a niche unique value proposition of us developing the platform on WhatsApp because it's already an on-use platform. And with terms of data, it won't be more or less a challenge for parents to use or give their children access to data."

"Utilising WhatsApp was more or less a good strategy for us by saying, we don't need to worry about accessibility. They are already using WhatsApp. We don't need to worry about data. Parents already use WhatsApp with their data. And then we don't need to compete with other apps," he added.

In a 2021 report on Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS), South Africa ranked last with 288 points against 500 points in a global assessment to monitor the progress of literacy and reading comprehension of 9 and 10-year-olds.

BBC reports that the country's minister at the time, Angie Motshekga, blamed the low score on the closure of schools during the pandemic.

She also added "Reading instruction often focuses solely on oral performance, neglecting reading comprehension and making sense of written words" as a contributing factor.

Watch the full interview below:

"The robots are here to complement our waiters, not replace them. They help make the work easier, but orders are still taken by human waitresses to ensure customization to customers' preferences. While we're working on enabling robots to take orders without errors, for now, they only deliver food to the table," explained the restaurant's manager, John Kariuki. 

The robots, dressed in red and blue, can communicate and even alert customers if they are blocking their path, though they cannot engage in full conversations. The restaurant is exploring future improvements to allow the robots to handle more tasks, but the manager emphasised that the goal is not to replace human workers with machines.

The robots are operated from a command centre, which can be a laptop, phone, or computer equipped with the necessary software. While the robots can be controlled manually or automatically, the automated system is preferred, allowing the robots to navigate to specific tables independently. Manual control is used primarily during large events when tables are rearranged.

"The 5 Million Ethiopian Coders Initiative we launched today is a great opportunity, and I call upon everyone to encourage the youth to register for the program, gain skills, and acquire international certification," he shared.

Prime Minister Ahmed also expressed gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for their partnership in this large-scale capacity-building project. "My greatest gratitude goes to the government of the United Arab Emirates for the partnership in this large-scale capacity-building project," he added.

The program offers three free courses: Programming Fundamentals, Data Science Fundamentals, and Android Kotlin Developer. Participants will undergo six to seven weeks of training on Udacity, a US-based online learning platform specialising in technology and career development, Shega reports.

The announcement follows a recent bilateral currency swap agreement between the two countries, valued at up to 46 billion birr ($816.79 million). The central banks have also agreed to interlink their instant payment systems, national card switches, and messaging systems, in compliance with each country’s regulatory requirements.

The findings are supported by the 2023 Cybersecurity Workforce Report from the International Information System Security Certification Consortium (ISC2), which highlights significant obstacles in the cybersecurity sector which include economic uncertainty, technological advancements (or lack thereof), regulatory fragmentation, and a widening skills gap. 

The report notes that the global cybersecurity workforce has grown to 5.5 million in 2023, a 9% increase from the previous year and the highest recorded to date. However, the World Economic Forum's Strategic Cybersecurity Talent Framework projects a global talent shortage of 85 million workers by 2030, potentially resulting in $8.5 trillion in unrealized annual revenue. In the cybersecurity sector alone, nearly 4 million professionals are urgently needed to close the talent gap.

Cisco's Executive Vice President, Francine Katsoudas, emphasized the critical importance of cybersecurity for economic stability and growth. "Cybersecurity stands as a critical pillar for economic stability and growth, reaching across borders and touching every aspect of our global community. However, Cisco’s Cybersecurity Readiness Index reveals a sobering truth: that a mere 3% of global organizations are ready to address contemporary risks across the full spectrum of cybersecurity solutions. As a testament to that data point, last year there were nearly 3,000 publicly disclosed data breaches impacting businesses, citizens, public services, and more."

The Cisco report also emphasises the importance of investing in people and skills to enhance Africa's cybersecurity defences and artificial intelligence (AI) readiness. 

Researchers note that the majority of Africa’s internet traffic comes from smartphones. “Learners in Sub-Saharan Africa show a strong appetite for mobile learning, with 65% accessing courses on smartphones or tablets - the highest among all regions. They focus on developing business skills like risk management and supply chain systems, as well as technical skills like SQL and HTML/CSS. However, with only 36% of learners being women, despite comprising 46.1% of the region’s labour force, there’s a significant gender disparity in online learning,” the report notes.

Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda emphasised the significance of digital transformation and AI in driving educational trends. “In 2023, a learner signed up for a GenAI course on Coursera every minute; by 2024, this rate had quadrupled. An astounding 1,060% year-over-year increase in global GenAI course enrollments highlights how learners are actively preparing for AI’s impact on their careers. Improved technical skill rankings in regions like Latin America and the Caribbean reinforce the global appetite for acquiring digital skills as a way to achieve greater economic mobility,” Maggioncalda wrote.

The report also highlighted significant growth in GenAI course enrollments in regions such as Asia Pacific (1,270% YoY) and Sub-Saharan Africa (1,500% YoY). Government initiatives in countries like India, Malaysia, and Thailand are setting the stage for AI training and adoption. Examples include India’s $1.2 billion investment in AI projects, Malaysia’s National AI Studies Centre, and Thailand’s AI infrastructure development program.

The Middle East and North Africa region showed a strong commitment to digital transformation and emerging technologies, with an 861% increase in GenAI course enrollments and a 17% rise in cybersecurity enrollments year-over-year.  

In Egypt, specifically, learners are typically younger than the global average, with a median age of 29, and increasingly learn on mobile devices, with 64% accessing courses through smartphones or tablets.

South Africa

In South Africa, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) ordered IT Lec, the sole importer of Starlink kits, to halt the importation and sale of Starlink products. Despite IT Lec finding workarounds to serve customers, ICASA has issued a stern warning to abandon these methods. 

In a recent email to South African users, Starlink announced that their internet access would cease on April 30 due to violations of its terms and conditions, emphasizing that using Starlink kits outside designated areas is prohibited. 

ICASA mandates that applicants must have 30% ownership from historically disadvantaged groups to obtain a license. Many South Africans have resorted to purchasing roaming packages from countries where Starlink is licensed to bypass these restrictions.

Botswana

Botswana’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (BOCRA) initially prohibited the importation, use, and sale of Starlink kits and services, rejecting Starlink’s application to operate in the country. However, in a recent turn of events , the Botswana Presidency announced that Starlink had been granted an operating license. This decision followed a meeting between President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Starlink’s Director of Global Licensing and Activation, Ben MacWilliams. The President instructed the regulator to expedite the licensing process within two weeks. 

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa granted Starlink a license after an exclusive partnership was agreed upon with a telco owned by his associate, Wicknell Chivayo. This move aims to deploy high-speed, low-cost, low-Earth-orbit (LEO) internet infrastructure across Zimbabwe, particularly in rural areas. The decision "is expected to result in the deployment of high speed, low cost, LEO (low-Earth-orbit) internet infrastructure throughout Zimbabwe and particularly in all the rural areas," Mnangagwa said in a statement. Prior to the licensing, Starlink devices had been illegal in Zimbabwe since January 2024, with the telecommunications authority threatening arrests for those distributing or advertising the devices. 

Cameroon

In April, Cameroon ordered the seizure of Starlink equipment at its ports of entry, as the provider was not licensed. Customs Director General Fongod Edwin Nuvaga highlighted that the technology poses a national security threat due to its unrestricted, ultra-fast internet connection capabilities. The seizures will continue until the telecoms regulator licenses and regulates Starlink in the country. 

Côte d'Ivoire

In March, Côte d'Ivoire's Telecommunications/ICT Regulatory Authority (Artci) warned Starlink against operating in the country without due approval. This warning followed internet disruptions in several West and Central African nations caused by damage to submarine cables. 

Ghana

In April, the National Communications Authority (NCA) approved SpaceX's Starlink to operate in Ghana, allowing the company to provide satellite broadband services. This approval followed the policy endorsement of Ghana's Satellite Licensing Framework by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation. Previously, the NCA had declared Starlink illegal, stating that selling Starlink equipment or services violated the Electronic Communications Act 2008. This development makes Ghana the eighth African country to approve Starlink, joining Nigeria, Mozambique, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Kenya, and Rwanda.  

Meanwhile, several other African countries, including Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Senegal, Botswana, and Mali, have declared the internet satellite company illegal.

The report's valuation draws on calculations from PwC and McKinsey, highlighting Africa's share of the global GDP at 2.5%. Using this figure, the AI market value for Africa is estimated at $0.4 trillion, derived from the global market value of $16.5 trillion.

AI could vastly improve efficiency across various sectors, especially agriculture, which could drive significant economic growth. However, the report underscores that substantial obstacles must be overcome to enhance the continent’s digital infrastructure. Key challenges include the need for increased investment in data centers and improved power provision.

The report highlights significant gaps in all measures, particularly the availability and quality of African-specific data. Existing data is limited, not easily accessible, and often lacks the required quality.

Despite these challenges, the report suggests there are some quick wins to elevate the system to an acceptable level. Achieving parity in data availability and quality with other regions remains a distant goal.

For Africa to effectively leverage AI, comprehensive investments are needed in data collection, curation, and storage, along with robust data governance and security, the report notes.

Reuters reports that G42 and its partners will build the upcoming data centre in Kenya, powered by geothermal energy. This facility will enable access to Microsoft's Azure via a new cloud region for East Africa.

Ahead of a signing of an intent meeting between Microsoft, G42 and Kenya's Ministry of Information, Communications and the Digital Economy on Friday, May 24, Brad Smith, Microsoft's president shared that “This shows what G42 and Microsoft have the opportunity to do together that neither one of us could do separately. I frankly think it shows that what the United States and the United Arab Emirates can do together that helps bring technology to new countries, especially across Africa.”

Microsoft added that the data centre is expected to become operational within two years after the signing of definitive agreements.

G42 Chief Executive Officer Peng Xiao also stated that the entire project will require up to one gigawatt of electricity from the grid. Constructing the facility in Olkaria, an area abundant in geothermal resources, provides a significant advantage, as the project is expected to utilise 100 megawatts in the initial phase.

In May 2024, Microsoft announced the closure of its Africa Development Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, which led to job redundancies for some of its employees in the country.

Just over a year after its establishment, the tech giant decided to shut down the Africa Development Centre in Lagos, Nigeria, as part of its initiative to promote high-end engineering and innovation solutions.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the closure on Wednesday, May 8 and attributed it to "organisational and workforce adjustments" inherent in managing the company's business operations.

What they said

"Microsoft has decided to close the Africa Development Centre in Nigeria, and as a result, some of our employees based in Nigeria will be impacted. Organizational and workforce adjustments are a necessary and regular part of managing our business,” the Microsoft spokesperson said. At the launch of the $100 million facility, Gafar Lawal, Managing Director of Microsoft ADC West Africa, was quoted, “We intended to recruit 500 full-time engineers by the end of the year or by 2023. However, currently, we have exceeded 500. This is to tell you about the abundance of talents we have in Africa.”

Reflecting on the success of the inaugural hangout held in Accra, Ghana in 2023, Nkansah emphasised the need to bridge the gap for individuals seeking support and community in advancing their skills in the sector. He expressed his motivation to expand this initiative beyond Ghanaian borders, aiming to cultivate a pan-African network of innovators.

"I think there’s been so much than I expected, quite a lot of good outcomes out of the law tech hangout. It started as a small thing, trying to hang out with a few people I know within the innovation space but it went bigger through the internet and Twitter, I got a larger audience to come and hang out. The first thing we observed was that there were a lot of people doing stuff within the innovation space in Accra who didn’t have other people to speak to so there was a lack of community," Nkansah remarked.

One of the key outcomes of the gathering was the facilitation of discussions among stakeholders from various sectors, including government , law firms, and academia. Nkansah highlighted the importance of shaping conversations to address issues facing the legal and technological sector in Africa.

He noted, “The biggest benefit of the hangout was that we brought everybody within the country together. We have a sense of community now; the numbers are around 700 plus. Another benefit we had out of the hangout was that, we shaped conversations…we had people ranging from government, law firms and students. So, there was a centre where stakeholders were present to shape conversations.”

Looking ahead, Nkansah revealed plans to host another hangout in Accra later this year, with the ambition of transforming it into a pan-African event. 

“What we have also signaled is that there isn’t a bigger legal services market in Africa so we have signaled it across the continent. We have people reach out from other countries, South Africa , Kenya hoping to participate in the next event. We’re having it again this year in November in Accra but the goal is to have it as an Africa law tech hangout rather than centering it in Ghana."

By expanding the scope of the initiative, Nkansah aims to establish a robust community for fostering innovation and driving positive change within the African legal and technological space.

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"I used to be on the side where I preached about there’s no way technology was going to replace any lawyer or any service being provided within the legal industry. But that has changed over time because we are starting to see some of the technologies being built," Nkansah remarked.

Nkansah pointed to advancements in AI, citing tools like ChatGPT as a classic example. "I'll use ChatGPT 4 as a classic example, with ChatGPT 4, it is doing more than I thought it could be doing when I saw ChatGPT 3. So, when I see that, I start to get worried about how some people within the legal profession would have their jobs replaced," he explained.

While Nkansah acknowledged that AI is unlikely to completely overhaul the legal profession, he cautioned that certain tasks traditionally performed by lawyers could be automated. "It's not going to be an entire overhaul about all lawyers are going to be replaced, but because of the amount of data that are being fed to some of these softwares, the administrative jobs that were being done by lawyers would be replaced," he added.

In 2023, it was reported that AI has, among other things, revolutionised industries across the globe, including health by enhancing diagnosis, the manufacturing industry by facilitating automation, and financial institutions by employing algorithms to boost financial security.

Addressing concerns about job security, Nkansah emphasised the importance of upskilling and embracing technology within the legal profession. "The issue about being scared of their jobs being gone is really true and real, but what I would say is that if you’re a person in the legal profession and within the next two years you do not up-skill to use technology effectively, you can be replaced in the next decade," he warned.

In the US, President Joe Biden, in October 2023, issued an Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence, aiming to promote AI development and usage in the US. The order mandates sharing safety test results, sets rigorous standards for AI testing before release, and addresses AI-related risks to critical infrastructure and cybersecurity. Additionally, it impacts legal professionals, requiring them to adopt AI systems for tasks like document review, research, analysis, drafting, and prediction.

What they said

Amsterdam & Partners LLP  noted in the statement that, "The iPhones, Mac computers and accessories that Apple sells to its customers around the world rely on supply chains that are too opaque and that are tainted by the blood of the Congolese people…Although Apple has affirmed that it verifies the origins of minerals it uses to manufacture its products, those claims do not appear to be based on concrete, verifiable evidence…The world's eyes are wide shut: Rwanda's production of key 3T minerals is near zero, and yet big tech companies say their minerals are sourced in Rwanda." Congo government spokesperson Patrick Muyaya has said that "in Congo, people have been dying for 30 years as a result of illegal mining. We want clarification on the sources of supply for major technology companies, in particular Apple, to verify whether they are acquiring minerals produced in completely illegal conditions.” However, Apple’s report states that "We found no reasonable basis for concluding that any of the smelters or refiners of 3TG determined to be in our supply chain as of December 31, 2023, directly or indirectly financed or benefited armed groups in the DRC or an adjoining country."

A study conducted by the digital privacy group Top10vpn has established some of the top six reasons for which governments around the world restricted internet access and other social media platforms in 2023.

Key reasons included exams, political protests, information control, conflicts, military coups, and election interference, in order of prevalence from the most common to the least. These were prevalent in Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, South America, and North America.

For instance, in Ethiopia, “access to Facebook, YouTube, Telegram and TikTok was restricted by authorities…due to religious tensions. The blocks were implemented in early February and would not be lifted until over five months later in July. Demand for VPN services peaked at 3,651% higher than average following the start of the restrictions. Ethiopian authorities imposed an internet blackout in the northern region of Amhara in early August in response to escalating tensions with the local militia,” the report read in part.

The report further indicates that “Internet access in Gabon was initially cut as authorities sought to limit the coverage of presidential elections in late August; however, the internet blackout continued as the military subsequently carried out a coup. Internet access was restored after four days.”

In Europe, the dominant reason why governments restricted internet access was reported to be conflicts. In contrast, in sub-Saharan Africa, the reasons ranged from conflicts to exams, protests, and information control.

“The Russian ban on Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter) was first implemented in February 2022 and continued into 2023. Although we  stopped including the economic impact  of these restrictions in our calculations after February 2023, a year after they were first put into place, this shutdown remained the most expensive one across the world, costing over $4 billion in 2023 alone,” the report reads.

The report further indicated that in Asia, conflicts, exams, information control, protests and military coups accounted for internet shutdowns on the continent. Middle East and North Africa had predominantly protests, exams and information controls. In South America, the report noted only information control while North America had no reasons at all.

Russia, Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Iran, Myanmar, India, Iraq, Pakistan, Algeria, Senegal, Azerbaijan, Guinea, Brazil, Mauritania, Yemen, Venezuela, Syria, Turkey, Gabon, Tanzania, and Cuba experienced internet shutdowns within the reasons stated.

In sub-Saharan Africa, a total cost of $1.74 billion was incurred as a result of internet shutdowns and social media blackouts for 30,785 hours, while 84.8 million internet users were affected.

Over 28.9 million internet users in Ethiopia have faced unprecedented challenges as a result of disruptions that have spanned popular social media and messaging services, including TikTok, Facebook, Telegram, and YouTube. The nationwide block, initiated on February 9, 2023, followed religious tensions and calls for anti-government protests.

“Access to Facebook, YouTube, Telegram, and TikTok was restricted by authorities in Ethiopia due to religious tensions. The blocks were implemented in early February and would not be lifted until over five months later, in July. Demand for VPN services peaked at 3,651% higher than average following the start of the restrictions,” the report read.

The report further indicates that the prolonged internet blackout lasting 3,414 hours in 2023 has left a regressive mark on Ethiopia's economy. Businesses, individuals, and the overall digital infrastructure were victims of restricted online access. The extensive social media shutdown, spanning 11,496 hours, also led to dire consequences on the economy, communication, commerce, and daily interactions.

At the regional level, the Tigray region in Ethiopia stands out for enduring the longest-running internet shutdown, surpassing a staggering 960 days. This disruption paints a stark picture of the hurdles faced by the six million inhabitants in the region. Additionally, an internet blackout in the northern region of Amhara occurred in early August 2023 in response to escalating tensions with the local militia, with partial restoration since November.

The report read, “Ethiopian authorities imposed an internet blackout in the northern region of Amhara in early August in response to escalating tensions with local militias. Although internet connectivity has been partially restored since November, restrictions in the region remain.”

Beyond the economic strain, the report highlights the alarming human rights abuses resulting from these internet restrictions. The right to peaceful assembly, a fundamental pillar of democratic societies, has been significantly curtailed. As citizens grapple with restricted access to information and communication channels.

The platform, according to Expressodasilhas , allows software development with maximum time and efficiency, eliminating human error among other things.

After realising its potential, the masterminds behind the software decided to extend its usefulness for the benefit of other companies in the country.

"We still have difficulty believing that Less is already a reality," Nilson Nascimento a software engineer who co-worked on the software was quoted by Expressodasilhas .

Less has emerged as one of four other coding infrastructures that perform similar functions. The four others, Encore, Ampt, Yepcode and Nitric were all created by multinational companies from the United States and Europe.

The innovation hopes to break through on the African market with its target being small and medium-sized enterprises which make up the majority of the country’s business scale.

Beyond this, the brains behind the innovation are optimistic about revolutionising the global software space with this innovation.

The technology will be presented at Web Summit Lisboa 2023, one of the most important conferences in Europe in the areas of innovation and entrepreneurship, which takes place from the 13th to the 16th of November.