TECH NEWS

From Johannesburg to Kampala, Africa’s digital ambitions are now inseparable from the strength of its power grids Kampala, Uganda | RONALD MUSOKE | Africa’s digital economy is beginning to recast the continent’s electricity landscape, with data centres emerging alongside households, factories and mines as a significant new source of power demand. …

NAIROBI | Xinhua |  Chinese electronics maker Xiaomi on Friday launched the REDMI Note 15 Series, comprising three smartphone models, in the Kenyan market. The launch event, held in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, attracted senior executives from the telecommunications sector. Matt Huang, country manager of Xiaomi International, said the …

  COMMENT | TIMOTHY MUGENYI |  I am reminded of an interaction I had in the rural setting of Nakivale refugee camp. We stopped by a Rolex stand and spoke with some young gentlemen who were deeply engrossed in a video whilst sharing a smartphone. When we asked if they …

LAS VEGAS, United States | Xinhua |  The transition of artificial intelligence from a theoretical concept to widespread industrial application took center stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2026, with the emergence of physical AI marking a new phase of technological evolution. During the event, executives from leading global …

BEIJING | Xinhua |  China announced on Friday that it will change export tax rebates for a range of products, including photovoltaic and battery products. The announcement, jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration, said that export tax rebates for the value added tax of …

Africa’s startup ecosystem is bouncing back, with 2025 funding levels seen surpassing 2024 and 2023, driven largely by a surge of local investors taking charge. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY |  Africa’s startup ecosystem is emerging from two difficult years with renewed momentum, buoyed by a funding rebound that is …

With rising government spending on space technologies, a continental Space Agency (AfSA) and increasing regional cooperation, Africa is betting on satellites to deliver affordable broadband, strengthen local industries, and accelerate its race to a digital future. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Africa is witnessing a sharp rise in regional satellite …

Africa’s mobile operators are leading the way in Africa’s growing satellite internet market, transforming low Earth orbit technology from a niche service into a mainstream tool for connecting rural and enterprise customers. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY | Vodacom’s recent partnership with Starlink signals a structural shift in Africa’s connectivity …

* A bullet train departed Yan’an on Friday, linking the sacred revolutionary heartland to the country’s high-speed rail network. * More than half of the new route crosses soft, water-sensitive loess, presenting world-class engineering challenges. * The line’s opening has brought China’s high-speed rail mileage to over 50,000 km. XI’AN, …

Rwanda is exporting its homegrown digital platforms to governments abroad, turning local innovations into fully operational services for other countries. Its latest contract will implement an end-to-end Integrated Electronic Case Management System in Jamaica. SPECIAL REPORT | BIRD AGENCY |  Rwanda is turning its domestic digital reforms into an exportable …