Nigeria Imposes 6% Tax on Non-Resident Digital Firms, Russia Arrests REvil Ransomware Gang, and Microsoft to Acquire Activision Blizzard for $68b

Africa

Nigeria imposes taxes on non-resident digital firms

Nigeria is prioritising taxes from non-resident digital firms that derive significant revenue from the country. The country has imposed a 6% tax on turnover in a bid to boost revenues.

Ghana’s Float raises $17m to expand across Africa

Ghana’s Float, a fintech startup, has raised $17 million to help its expand across Africa. Float provides credit lines to businesses and was supported via $10 million in debt as well as $7 million equity financing.

Kenya’s Lipa Later raises $12 million for expansion drive

Kenyan buy-now-pay-later startup Lipa Later has raised $12 million from investors in a bid to expand its services across Africa. The company already has offices in Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda.

Europe

Russia arrests REvil ransomware gang

Russia’s FSB says it has arrested the REvil ransomware gang and have charged several of its members with cyber-crimes. The group had been under investigation from different countries and the US was offering a $10 million reward for information about their whereabouts.

UK watchdog criticises government’s anti-encryption campaign

The Information Commissioner’s Office has criticised a Home Office-backed ‘No Place to Hide’ campaign to bring an end to ultra secure messaging apps. The government fears messaging apps with strong encryption helps to hide child abuse. The IFO thinks secure apps rather protect children and limits who can send them messages.

International Red Cross suffers massive data breach

The International Red Cross has suffered a massive data hack that exposed data of more than half a million vulnerable people around the world. It is still unclear who perpetrated the cyber-attack.

The Americas

Microsoft to buy Activision Blizzard for $68b

Microsoft is planning to shelf almost $70 billion in order to buy Warcraft game publisher, Activision Blizzard. The 2023 deal would be Microsoft’s largest acquisition, bringing popular games like Call of Duty, Candy Crush, and Overwatch to the Xbox.

US telcos delay 5G rollout over aviation fears

Both Verizon and AT&T have agreed again to delay the roll out of 5G technology in some airports. Aviation experts fear the faster C-band could interfere with flight navigation systems, posing tremendous danger to passengers and aircraft.

Intel to build $20b chip plant in Ohio

Intel plans to build a $20 billion chip manufacturing plant in Ohio to build advanced semiconductors. This is believed to be part of plans to establish at least eight manufacturing plants in the US to wean the US off dependence on international supply chain.

US Senate approves bill targeting Big Tech

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed a bill that would stop tech giants from offering preferential treatment to their own products on their websites and apps. The bill targets tech firms like Amazon, TikTok, Meta, and Google.

Asia

Winter Olympics athletes to use burner phones

Athletes taking part in the Winter Olympics in Beijing have been advised by security analysts to use burner phones in order to protect their data. Analysts fear the mandatory My2022 covid monitoring app that all users are required to install has severe security flaws that expose user data.

Myanmar finally backs sale of Telenor to M1 Group

Myanmar’s military junta has finally approved the sale of Telenor after its buyer, M1 Group, agreed to work with a local partner. The Norwegian firm’s exit from the country follows demands by the military to install surveillance tech and that top executives couldn’t leave the country.

China to reduce curbs on new energy vehicle purchases

China has said it will gradually reduce curbs put in place on the purchases of new energy vehicles. The government also plans to increase production of charging stations and other infrastructure needed for the adoption of greener energy.