💵Thunes–Sterling Bank Partnership

Good Morning Valued Subscribers👋

If there’s one thing that’s becoming clear very early, it’s that 2026 is shaping up to be less about new gadgets and more about how deeply technology is embedding itself into everyday life. The lines between devices, software, and intelligence are blurring fast, and what used to feel like “advanced features” are quickly becoming baseline expectations.

This shift isn’t happening quietly either. Big tech players are moving with intention, scaling ecosystems rather than single products, and betting heavily on experiences that follow users everywhere across phones, tablets, wearables, and whatever comes next. It’s the kind of move that doesn’t just change how we use technology, but how we relate to it at work, at home, and in between.

Today’s edition leans into that momentum. It’s about scale, ambition, and what it means when intelligence is no longer a niche add-on but something designed to reach hundreds of millions of people by default. As you read through, think less about the headline number and more about the ripple effects on productivity, competition, and how fast the “future” is becoming ordinary.

Let’s dive in.👇

Today’s Menu ☕️

💵Thunes–Sterling Bank Partner on Diaspora Payments
💵AFC Backs $753m Lobito Rail Deal
🏢SORA Tech Raises $2.5m for AI Malaria Control in Africa
🏫Curro Set to Delist After Mouton Deal Clears Conditions
🤖NVIDIA Unveils Alpamayo
🌐Starlink Offers Free Satellite Internet in Venezuela

💵CROSS-BORDER PAYMENTS

Thunes–Sterling Bank Partner on Diaspora Payments

Thunes has partnered with Sterling Bank to improve cross-border payments for Nigerians living in the diaspora, aiming to make remittances faster, more transparent, and more affordable. By leveraging Thunes’ Direct Global Network, the collaboration enables real-time, account-to-account transfers from multiple European countries directly into Sterling Bank accounts in Nigeria.

The initiative addresses long-standing challenges in remittances, including high fees, delays, and limited visibility, at a time when remittances remain a vital lifeline for millions of Nigerian households. Sterling Bank customers abroad will benefit from instant payments, improved reliability, and clearer transaction tracking...........….continue reading

💵FUNDING

AFC Backs $753m Lobito Rail Deal

Africa Finance Corporation has secured a $753 million financing package for Angola’s Lobito Atlantic Railway Project, a major transport corridor linking the Port of Lobito to the DRC border. The funding includes $553 million from the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and $200 million from the Development Bank of Southern Africa. Backed by partners including Mota-Engil, Trafigura, and Vecturis, the project will rehabilitate and modernize the 1,300-kilometre rail line, boosting regional trade, reducing transport costs, and improving access to global markets for mineral-rich regions in Angola, the DRC, and Zambia.........….continue reading

🏢STARTUPS

SORA Tech Raises $2.5m for AI Malaria Control in Africa

Japanese startup SORA Technology has raised $2.5 million in late seed funding, bringing its total capital to about $7.3 million, to scale drone- and AI-driven malaria control solutions across Africa. The company uses satellite imagery, drones, and predictive analytics to map mosquito breeding sites and forecast disease outbreaks, enabling more targeted and efficient interventions. Already active in over 10 African countries and working with partners including governments and the WHO, SORA plans to use the new funding to improve its AI models, expand field operations, strengthen partnerships, and deepen its local presence across the continent.................….continue reading

 🏫EDUCATION

Curro Set to Delist After Mouton Deal Clears Conditions

Curro Holdings has confirmed that all conditions for its R7.2 billion acquisition by Jannie Mouton’s Foundation have been met, clearing the way for its delisting from the JSE. Once regulatory formalities are completed, Curro will transition into a Public Benefit Organisation, allowing it to reinvest surpluses into expanding schools, facilities, bursaries, and innovation. The deal, approved by regulators with commitments to improve access for historically disadvantaged groups, marks the end of Curro’s era as a listed company and a strategic shift toward long-term, mission-driven growth in South African education................….continue reading

 🤖ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

NVIDIA Unveils Alpamayo

NVIDIA has introduced Alpamayo, a new autonomous driving AI that moves beyond perception-based systems to incorporate reasoning and decision-making. Built on Vision-Language-Action models, Alpamayo processes raw video input, reasons through complex driving scenarios, and explains the logic behind its actions, addressing long-standing concerns around transparency and trust in self-driving technology. The platform, debuting later this year with the Mercedes CLA in the U.S., combines large-scale AI models with advanced simulation tools and open development resources, signaling a shift toward more explainable, adaptable, and globally viable autonomous vehicle systems................…continue reading

🌐INTERNET

Starlink Offers Free Satellite Internet in Venezuela

Starlink has begun providing free satellite internet access across Venezuela until February 3, applying service credits directly to existing user accounts to keep people connected during a period of political transition and infrastructure strain. The move allows active, paused, and returning users with Starlink hardware to regain access without new installations or payments. Against a backdrop of leadership changes and long-standing broadband challenges, the temporary service offers a vital connectivity lifeline for households, businesses, journalists, and aid groups, highlighting the growing role of satellite internet during political and economic disruption.................…continue reading

OTHER STORIES

• Samsung to Double Gemini-Powered Devices to 800 Million in 2026………continue reading

• Applications open for the fourth edition of the Accelerate Africa programme………continue reading

• T2 Loses 2,700+ Subscribers in Three Months………continue reading

• Amazon’s Alexa AI Is Now Available on the Web via Alexa.com………continue reading

• WeBuyCars faces storm of challenges………continue reading

• Absa’s new CEO Kenny Fihla unveils four-pillar strategy to reclaim market leadership………continue reading

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