📱FCCPC Calls Meta’s Exit Threat a Pressure Tactic

Today’s Menu ☕️

📱FCCPC Calls Meta’s Exit Threat a Pressure Tactic, Reaffirms Commitment to Consumer Protection
🤖 TVC Launches Nigeria’s First AI News Anchors, Redefining the Future of Broadcasting
👨🏽 Ex-Interswitch co-founder Charles Ifedi appointed new Inlaks CEO
🤖 Microsoft Hosts Grok AI: Elon Musk’s Chatbot Joins Azure
📡 Starlink is now available in Congo
🛒 Temu Stops China Shipping to the U.S

If you haven't subscribed, join over 7,000 people curious about Innovation, New Products, New Technologies in Africa.

📱 CONSUMER PROTECTION

FCCPC Calls Meta’s Exit Threat a Pressure Tactic, Reaffirms Commitment to Consumer Protection

Nigeria’s competition and consumer protection watchdog has pushed back strongly against Meta’s threat to withdraw its services from the country following a $220 million fine. In a detailed public statement, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) described Meta’s posture as “a calculated move aimed at inducing public sympathy and pressuring the Commission to reverse a lawful regulatory decision.”

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, had reportedly warned it might suspend some of its platforms in Nigeria, citing what it called “unrealistic regulatory demands” and nearly $290 million in penalties from Nigerian authorities. The statement came after the Competition and Consumer Protection Tribunal upheld the FCCPC’s findings that Meta and WhatsApp (collectively referred to as “Meta Parties”) violated Nigeria’s consumer protection and data privacy laws....…… continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

TVC Launches Nigeria’s First AI News Anchors, Redefining the Future of Broadcasting

TVC Communications is transforming Nigerian media by becoming the first broadcaster in the country to deploy AI-powered news anchors. This bold leap into the future of journalism marks a significant milestone in Africa’s media landscape and introduces a new era of multilingual, AI-driven news delivery.

The newly launched AI anchors are capable of presenting real-time news bulletins in five of Nigeria’s major languages—English, Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and Pidgin—making news more accessible to a wider audience across Nigeria’s diverse 240-million population.

TVC’s developers equipped the AI news presenters with advanced language processing and deep-learning models, enabling them to deliver news updates seamlessly and complement the work of human journalists. These AI presenters don’t just mimic human anchors—they enhance the speed, scale, and personalization of news broadcasts...……… continue reading

👨🏽 APPOINTMENTS

Ex-Interswitch co-founder Charles Ifedi appointed new Inlaks CEO

Inlaks has appointed ex-Interswitch co-founder, Charles Ifedi, as the new Chief Executive Officer for its Africa operations. A name synonymous with fintech innovation in Africa, Ifedi brings over two decades of global experience in technology, entrepreneurship, and financial services to the helm of one of Sub-Saharan Africa’s leading systems integrators.

Charles Ifedi is no stranger to building transformative digital solutions. He co-founded Interswitch, Nigeria’s flagship electronic payments platform, and was the founding CEO of Verve International, which he steered into becoming Africa’s leading card payment brand. His entrepreneurial vision continued with the creation of eBanqo, a conversational AI company that has revolutionized how organizations engage customers across digital channels.

His appointment marks a bold step forward for Inlaks as the company seeks to deepen its impact across banking, telecoms, and enterprise technology landscapes in Africa.…… continue reading

🤖 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Microsoft Hosts Grok AI: Elon Musk’s Chatbot Joins Azure

Grok AI, the innovative chatbot built by Elon Musk’s xAI, is now hosted by Microsoft. This surprising partnership is shaking up the tech world.

Microsoft has made a bold move by hosting Grok AI, signaling a shift in how tech rivals now cooperate. This alliance marks a new phase of collaboration between digital giants that were once seen as fierce competitors. A reliable source revealed that Microsoft trained its engineers to support Grok AI on its growing infrastructure.

Microsoft has held talks with xAI to host Grok via its Azure cloud platform. These talks occurred in recent weeks and included plans to offer Grok to consumers and internal Microsoft teams. This move could spark internal conflict and strain Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI.

Grok, Musk’s answer to OpenAI’s ChatGPT, stands out for its sarcasm, wit, and real-time access to X (formerly Twitter). With this deal, Grok becomes available on Microsoft’s Azure cloud, opening doors for enterprise and developer collaborations.......…continue reading

🛰️ INTERNET

Starlink is now available in Congo

Starlink, the satellite internet service developed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, is now officially available in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), marking a major leap forward in the country’s digital connectivity efforts.

This rollout comes after the Congolese government granted Starlink a telecommunications license, reversing an earlier ban placed on the service. Initially, authorities had blocked Starlink due to concerns over the potential misuse of its satellite internet technology in conflict-prone regions of the country. However, following regulatory reassessment and commitments to responsible deployment, the government cleared the path for Starlink to operate nationwide.......…continue reading

🛒 ECOMMERCE

Temu Stops China Shipping to the U.S

Facing a major regulatory shake-up, Chinese discount e-commerce platform Temu has pivoted its U.S. operations by focusing exclusively on domestic fulfillment. The move comes as sweeping changes to U.S. trade rules—specifically the removal of the de minimis loophole—take effect, reshaping how low-cost imports from China enter the country.

Temu, owned by Chinese tech giant PDD Holdings, previously built its popularity on ultra-cheap items shipped directly from China. But as of Friday, all product listings on Temu’s U.S. platform are now fulfilled from warehouses within the country, with former Chinese-sourced items marked “out of stock.”

The shift follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, eliminating the de minimis rule that had allowed items under $800 to enter the U.S. duty-free. Temu, along with fast-fashion rival Shein, had capitalized on the rule to offer rock-bottom prices on a massive scale.

Now, that advantage is gone........…continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• Lemfi’s $53 Million Series B Generates Huge Return for Silverbacks Holdings......…continue reading

• Carry1st Levels Up African Esports with Call of Duty®: Mobile Africa Cup 2025……continue reading

• Startups That Protect Lives Could Be Africa’s Next Big Export…..continue reading

Do you know you can join and follow us on our WhatsApp Channel?