TECH NEWS

San Francisco, United States | AFP | Two US states said Wednesday they are investigating Uber’s cover-up of a hack at the ride-sharing giant that compromised the personal information of 57 million users and drivers. Uber purportedly paid data thieves $100,000 to destroy the swiped information — and remained quiet …

Governments issue orders to cut off Internet but telecoms reserve ability to hit the `kill switch’ COMMENT | KIZITO BYENKYA & ALEX HUMPHREY | Much to the dismay of the government in Addis Ababa, “Zone 9” has become a household name in Ethiopia. Since 2012, this small group of journalists-turned-online activists …

E-learning innovations: How digital technology can help reinvent basic education TECHNOLOGY | Rohen d’Aiglepierre, Amélie Aubert & Pierre-Jean Loiret | African countries have worked hard to improve children’s access to basic education, but there’s still significant work to be done. Today, 32.6 million children of primary-school age and 25.7 million adolescents …

Berlin’s smart transport: How Europe’s greenest city kicked out cars Berlin, Germany | RONALD MUSOKE | Berlin, Germany’s capital and also largest city, does not have the most efficient public transport system in the country, partly because of the low incomes of residents compared to other cities around the world. In …

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 2017 has been a year of automotive technology breakthroughs. Here are six we think will have the most impact in future. Leave it to beaver Humans are said to cause 90 per cent of traffic accidents, so what better way to reduce that than with …

Paris, France | AFP | Airbus said Tuesday that its A350-1000 widebody aircraft had received certification from US and European aviation authorities, clearing the way for its delivery and entry into service. A longer version of the Airbus A350-900, the twin-engine plane can accomodate an extra 40 people, taking its total …

Cotonou, Benin | AFP | South African mobile phone giant MTN is in talks with Benin’s telecoms regulator after its subsidiary was slapped with a bill of more than $200 million. The regulator (Arcep) wants MTN Benin to pay 134.4 billion CFA francs — the equivalent of $213 million (205 million …

Paris, France | AFP | It’s November 22, 2028 and Sarah, a young mother, gives her two children a kiss goodbye before buckling them into the driverless car that will bring them to school. Sarah doesn’t have a car and has no plans to buy one. Living in a suburb, she …

Tokyo, Japan | AFP | Honda is recalling about 800,000 of its Odyssey minivans in the United States over faulty parts blamed for 46 minor injuries, the company said, just a month after settling a huge lawsuit on other defects. The recall, which affects the 2011-2017 models sold in the US, …

Next year’s winners of the promotion will go to Europe Kampala, Uganda | IAN KATUSIIME | Another lucky batch of seven Ugandans will experience a rare opportunity of watching the Formula One Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. This courtesy of City Tyres and Pirelli who concluded their second …