Author: Elan

Now Playing wasn’t one of the reasons I wanted to switch to Pixel. I knew about it and, aside from thinking, “Okay, so it’s an offline Shazam, whatever,” I didn’t give it much thought. Worse still, the feature was completely broken during the first few days of owning my Pixel 10 Pro, so I couldn’t even test it. But then Google pushed the March Pixel Drop and fixed Now Playing by turning it into a standalone app just days after I got the phone. Fast-forward a few months, and Now Playing has become one of my favorite features on my…

Nairobi, Kenya** For the best experience, download the free Africa Private Equity News app Android | iOS **A MESSAGE FROM OUR SUPPORTERSPwC Deals supports Norfund on its investment into Nafasi Water TechnologiesNorfund has completed a R160 million (about $10 million) investment in Nafasi Water Technologies, alongside E Squared Investments, to strengthen water security across South Africa and accelerate growth in critical water infrastructure and reuse solutions. PwC provided financial and tax due diligence on the transaction. Read moreHere are summaries of the five most widely read stories the past week on Africa Private Equity News.1. Sango Capital closes $120m secondary…

The death of former Botswana president Festus Mogae should force Africa into an uncomfortable but necessary conversation: why does staying too long in power so often end badly on our continent? Mogae belonged to a rare generation of African leaders who understood that leadership is temporary but institutions must endure. He served, governed, and stepped aside. Botswana continued functioning. Its economy did not collapse because one man left office. Its democracy did not descend into chaos. Life moved on because the country was bigger than the presidency. That should not be extraordinary in Africa. Yet somehow it still is. Across…

Nairobi — Matatu operators have announced plans to increase fares by up to 50 per cent following a sudden rise in fuel prices, warning of a nationwide strike beginning Monday if the government does not intervene to address rising operating costs. The operators say the latest fuel price adjustment has made it increasingly difficult to sustain public transport operations, citing sharp increases in diesel and petrol prices that directly affect daily revenue and profitability. They argue that without urgent government action or subsidies, the sector risks collapse, forcing them to transfer the additional costs to commuters through higher fares. The…

Paga, one of Africa’s oldest fintechs, has partnered with Sui, the blockchain network built by US-based Mysten Labs, as it pushes into crypto payments, stablecoin yields, and asset tokenisation.The partnership was announced at the Sui Live event in Miami, the United States, on Thursday. It marks Paga’s first formal move into crypto since Tayo Oviosu transitioned to Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in April.Oviosu said the partnership will help Paga build financial rails that help Africans hedge against currency instability that erodes wealth, unlock opportunity in global commerce, fix cross-border payments, and expand access to alternative financial products.

Samsung has officially launched the One UI 9 beta, built on Android 17, starting with the Galaxy S26 series. The beta went live on May 13, 2026, in six countries, and the stable rollout is widely expected to land in July alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Z Flip 8. Here is what is confirmed, what is still based on reports, and what you can realistically expect for your phone. What is One UI 9? One UI 9 is the next major version of Samsung’s Android software, coming after One UI 8.5. According to Samsung’s Global Newsroom announcement on…

Every extra second of friction has a measurable business cost. Carrie Webster shares ten data-backed UX facts that link user experience directly to revenue, retention, and long-term growth.In the high-stakes economy of today, the cost of a friction-heavy interface is no longer just “lost clicks”, but potentially millions in wasted engineering spend and lost business value. As a veteran UX designer who has helped build digital products since the early mobile-first era, I’ve watched business leaders shift from viewing design as a “cosmetic preference” to recognising that user experience is actually the primary engine of business survival.A UX design role…

Freight diplomacy The French container shipping group CMA CGM will invest in Mombasa logistics infrastructure, reinforcing Kenya’s ambitions to become a gateway for East and Central Africa. By AFP The Jacques Saadé, operated by CMA CGM, pictured in December 2025 © CMA CGM Published on May 12, 2026 at 11:15 am (GMT +1) French shipping group CMA CGM signed a “strategic partnership agreement” with the Kenyan government on Sunday, 10 May, to develop logistics and transport infrastructure worth $800m, President Emmanuel Macron announced from Nairobi.Rodolphe Saadé, chairman and chief executive of CMA CGM, signed the agreement alongside Macron and his…

NEW YORK CITY, NY, UNITED STATES, March 30, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Former Sierra Leone Ambassador Sidique Wai to Lead Strategic Initiative Connecting African Governments, Diaspora Leaders, and U.S. Institutions at Critical Inflection Point for U.S.-Africa Relations Gotham Government Relations, a leading New York-based government affairs and strategic advocacy firm, today announced the launch of the Gotham Africa Practice, a comprehensive platform designed to serve African governments, diaspora communities, and institutional stakeholders seeking effective engagement with Washington, New York, and U.S. policy institutions. The Gotham Africa Practice is the first Africa focused initiative by any major lobbying and government relations firm…

Kenyan founders are increasingly looking beyond traditional venture capital avenues to secure funding in a tight macroeconomic climate. This outward push is clearly visible in the latest application numbers for the Latitude59 startup competition. The flagship Estonian tech event has recorded a massive spike in interest from the continent, with Kenya leading the charge.Out of 465 global applications from 53 countries, 70 African startups applied for the 2026 pitch competition. This is more than double the number of African applicants from last year. Kenya specifically stood out as the dominant force. Forty Kenyan startups submitted applications to pitch, up from…