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  • News | RTX’s Collins Aerospace renews FlightSense™ contract with Japan Airlines

    News | RTX’s Collins Aerospace renews FlightSense™ contract with Japan Airlines

    MRO Asia Pacific (Sept. 17, 2025) – Collins Aerospace, an RTX business (NYSE:
    RTX), has renewed its FlightSense™ contract with Japan Airlines (JAL) to provide
    comprehensive maintenance, repair, overhaul and asset management support for the
    airline’s fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The 10-year service agreement
    includes air management services and electric power components for JAL’s current
    fleet of more than 50 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft as well as future Dreamliner
    deliveries through 2035.

    This renewal also extends JAL’s previous Ascentia analytics services
    agreement for another five years, providing deep operational insights and
    data-driven support to enhance fleet performance and reduce life-cycle costs.

    “Our leading products and services contribute to our customers’ success and
    optimize the performance of their fleet,” said Ryan Hudson, the head of
    aftermarket services for Collins Aerospace’s Power and Controls unit. “Through
    the FlightSense program, we work collaboratively with JAL to provide asset,
    logistic support, certified repairs and predictive health maintenance. This
    complete support package helps JAL to tailor maintenance decisions and enables
    improved operational efficiency.”

    “We are happy to renew our contract with Collins Aerospace, as it plays an
    important part in improving the quality and parts management of our Boeing 787
    fleet,” said Kyohei Takizawa, Vice President of JAL Procurement. “Using the
    FlightSense program, especially the Ascentia analytics platform, we aim to make
    our preventive and predictive maintenance even more accurate.”

    FlightSense is a full lifecycle support program, providing airlines with
    maintenance solutions tailored to their unique operational needs. FlightSense is
    fed by Collins’ Ascentia® analytics platform, which collects, analyzes and
    interprets millions of data points flowing from the aircraft to accurately
    identify performance trends, maintenance recommendations and actionable insights
    to improve fleet operations.

    About Collins Aerospace
    Collins Aerospace, an RTX business, is a leader in integrated and intelligent
    solutions for the global aerospace and defense industry. Our 80,000 employees
    are dedicated to delivering future-focused technologies to advance sustainable
    and connected aviation, passenger safety and comfort, mission success, space
    exploration, and more.

    About RTX
    RTX is the world’s largest aerospace and defense company. With more than 185,000
    global employees, we push the limits of technology and science to redefine how
    we connect and protect our world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins
    Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation,
    engineering integrated defense systems for operational success, and developing
    next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help global customers
    address their most critical challenges. The company, with 2024 sales of more
    than $80 billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. 

    For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact [email protected]

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  • Thousands of Palestinians flee Gaza City as Israeli troops advance

    Thousands of Palestinians flee Gaza City as Israeli troops advance

    Thousands of Palestinians are continuing to flee Gaza City, as Israel’s major ground offensive aimed at occupying the area enters a second day.

    Amid large-scale bombardment overnight, Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said al-Rantisi children’s hospital was targeted in three separate Israeli attacks, forcing half of its patients and their families to flee. The Israeli military said it was looking into the report.

    Other hospitals said at least 35 people had been killed by Israeli fire across Gaza so far on Wednesday, most of them in the north.

    Earlier, the Israeli military announced that it had struck more than 150 targets across Gaza City in two days in support of its ground forces.

    Israel says its aim is to free its hostages and defeat up to 3,000 Hamas fighters in what it describes as the group’s “last stronghold”, but the offensive has drawn widespread international condemnation.

    The leaders of more than 20 major aid agencies, including Save the Children and Oxfam, warned that “the inhumanity of the situation in Gaza is unconscionable”.

    With world leaders due to gather for the UN General Assembly next week, they called for “urgent intervention”.

    A source at al-Rantisi hospital said there were no injuries but that air conditioning units, water tanks and solar panels were severely damaged.

    The hospital is “the only specialist facility for children with cancer, kidney failure, and other life-threatening conditions”, according to Fikr Shalltoot, Gaza director of the NGO Medical Aid for Palestinians.

    For days – as Israel has ramped up strikes in and around Gaza City – huge columns of Palestinians have streamed southwards in donkey carts, rickshaws, vehicles strapped high with belongings, and on foot.

    Until now, they have been forced to flee down the main coastal road to an Israel-designated “humanitarian area” in al-Mawasi.

    But on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced that it would open temporarily a second route for people to travel on – the central Salah al-Din road. It said the route would be open for 48 hours from 12:00 local time (10:00 BST).

    Many Palestinians say they are unable to move south due to the rising costs associated with the journey. Some say renting a small truck now costs the equivalent of £660 ($900), while a tent for five people sells for about £880 ($1200).

    Lina al-Maghrebi, 32, a mother of three from the city’s Sheikh Radwan neighbourhood, told the BBC: “I was forced to sell my jewellery to cover the cost of displacement and a tent.”

    “It took us 10 hours to reach Khan Younis, and we paid 3,500 shekels [£770] for the ride. The line of cars and trucks seemed endless.”

    Aid groups, UN agencies and others say the “humanitarian area” they are expected to move to is heavily overcrowded and insufficient to support the roughly two million Palestinians who are expected to cram into it.

    Some who followed the military’s orders to evacuate to the zone say they found no space to pitch their tents and so returned north.

    The IDF said on Tuesday that around 350,000 people had fled Gaza City, while the UN put the figure at 190,000 since August. Estimates suggest at least 650,000 remain.

    As part of its operations, the IDF is reportedly utilising old military vehicles loaded with explosives that have been modified to be controlled remotely. They are being driven to Hamas positions and detonated, according to Israeli media.

    Meanwhile, families of the 48 remaining hostages held by Hamas – 20 of whom are believed to be alive – protested near Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Tuesday and Wednesday, arguing that the offensive would endanger their loved ones.

    “All day long, you boast about killing and destruction,” said Macabit Mayer, aunt of hostages Gali and Ziv Berman. “Bringing down buildings in Gaza – who are you bringing these buildings down on?”

    Pope Leo XIV meanwhile said conditions for Palestinians in Gaza were “unacceptable” and repeated his call for a ceasefire.

    “I am deeply close to the Palestinian people of Gaza, who continue to live in fear and under unacceptable conditions, forced yet again to leave their land,” he told his weekly audience at the Vatican.

    Elsewhere, the European Union’s main executive body, the European Commission, proposed imposing sanctions on Israel over its conduct during the Gaza war and its decision to advance the E1 settlement project, which would effectively divide the occupied West Bank in two.

    The proposal includes suspending some trade-related provisions of the EU’s association agreement with Israel, as well as sanctions on “extremist ministers” in the Israeli government and violent Israeli settlers. The settlements are illegal under international law.

    Israel has warned the EU not to impose the measures, which do not currently have sufficient support from member states to pass.

    It comes the day after a United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel had committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.

    Among its findings were that Israeli security forces perpetrated sexual and gender-based violence, directly targeted children with the intention to kill them, and carried out a “systemic and widespread attack” on religious, cultural and education sites in Gaza.

    Israel’s foreign ministry said it categorically rejected the report, denouncing it as “distorted and false”.

    Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

    At least 64,964 people have been killed by Israel during its campaign since then, almost half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

    With famine having already been declared in Gaza City by a UN-backed food security body, the UN has warned that an intensification of the offensive will push civilians into “even deeper catastrophe”.

    Additional reporting by Rushdi Abualouf

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  • CEO Andy Jassy says Amazon’s partnership with independent sellers is the most ‘substantial collaboration in the history of retail’

    CEO Andy Jassy says Amazon’s partnership with independent sellers is the most ‘substantial collaboration in the history of retail’

    “Tracey Richardson, inspired by her dad and her Aunt Lillie, built a business making spices and sauces, and they started with a small store. It was inspired by the Gullah culture, which is kind of the people and culture in the regional areas of South Carolina and Georgia and the nearby Sea Islands. It started in a small store and then started providing their products to small markets and groceries. But then during the pandemic—and this happened a lot during the pandemic—it just changed the way we all thought about our lives and we all thought about our work, and not to mention the fact that for about nine months to a year, everything was shut down, and so Lillie’s went all in on selling in the marketplace and since that time, their sales have increased 156%. Selling more broadly on Amazon—instead of having to find a way to somehow be able to spend a ginormous amount of money on advertising and then hoping you could attract them to your store or your storefront—they get to use Amazon as their marketing tool, and their focus groups, and national distribution. And I think it’s really meaningfully changed what that business has become and what it has a chance to become over time. And that’s one of many stories, and examples, that exist here.”

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  • From molecule to market: Opportunities and challenges in using AI in drug discovery and development

    The increasing adoption of AI in drug discovery and development will likely reduce the time required to commercialise new treatments. Within this process, AI is being used in areas including target identification, drug design, drug repurposing, and clinical trials. With up to 70% of life sciences companies using AI in research and development according to DLA Piper’s AI Governance Report, this departure from more traditional, resource-intensive approaches to drug discovery and development should accelerate the launch of new treatments onto the market.

    The current process for drug discovery and development is widely regarded as expensive, slow and inefficient. On average, it costs approximately USD1.3 bilion and 10 years to bring a new therapeutic drug to market.1 AI can play a role to reduce drug discovery costs and timelines, and increase the probability of success, with potential application at numerous stages of the drug discovery and development process.

    However, the implementation and use of AI in drug discovery and development and the life sciences industry more broadly is not without risks and challenges. Issues including privacy and the ethical use of AI are likely to be key concerns for organisations involved in drug discovery and development, regulators and consumers alike. Notwithstanding the considerable benefits that AI will bring to this field, as well as the risks, many regulators around the world have yet to enact specific laws relating to the implementation and use of AI in this area.

     

    AI is shaving years from the drug discovery and development process

    Drug discovery and development are being transformed by the life sciences industry’s use of AI. In 2024, a study found that AI technologies such as machine learning algorithms were used to develop 164 investigational drugs and one approved drug, with the most common target treatment types being anticancer and neurological treatments.2

    When it comes to target identification and drug design, AI addresses inefficiencies in traditional methods, including reducing costs, streamlining processes and potentially improving success rates. A unique advantage of AI is its ability to quickly analyse large datasets and potentially uncover hidden patterns and relationships, which traditional methods may overlook. With natural language processing algorithms able to scan and analyse millions of documents (such as research papers and patents), the equivalent of innumerable years of desk-based research can be carried out relatively quickly and easily and connections can be made which humans would have no hope of finding on their own, and may even not have thought to look for.

    For example, a company focusing on precision oncology reportedly used AI models to find novel oncology biomarkers and targets, reducing the timeline for drug design from 4-7 years to just 3 years.3 A team at MIT recently revealed that, using AI, researchers have designed novel antibiotics that can combat two hard-to-treat infections: drug-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae and multi-drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).4 The candidates are structurally distinct from any existing antibiotics and show that, by using AI to generate hypothetically possible molecules that don’t exist or haven’t been discovered, it should be possible to explore a much greater diversity of potential drug compounds.

    Following target identification, AI can also be used to assess possible drug-drug interactions and predict the efficacy and toxicity of new compounds, freeing research from reliance on the use of animal models as a proxy for experimentation in humans. The adoption of these capabilities in the pre-clinical stages could help reduce the number of drug candidates being discarded due to unexpected adverse effects in clinical trials.5

    In clinical trials, life sciences companies could leverage AI to streamline recruitment and optimise trial design and data management. For instance, AI can help identify suitable participants by analysing large volumes of electronic health data and optimise trial designs by digitally simulating test scenarios and predicting outcomes. In turn, AI can help determine appropriate dosages and treatment combinations for each participant group.6 Using AI to analyse and manage trial data could also accelerate the process of preparing submissions for regulatory approval for a new treatment.

    A number of companies, such as Exscientia and BenevolentAI, are seeking to leverage the power of AI in drug discovery and development through innovation in the creation of commercially available drug discovery platforms. Partnerships between these AI-focussed technology companies and major pharmaceutical companies are on the increase and yielding promising candidates in diverse therapeutic areas. Some of these AI platforms offer features to streamline every aspect of the process – from target identification, through optimisation, to clinical trial matching. 

    As AI models in the life sciences industry become more sophisticated, the timeline for drug discovery and development is shortening significantly and the chances of identifying a drug candidate that will be successfully brought to market are improving. AI is also advancing other areas, including drug repurposing and personalised medicine. In particular, personalised medicine is a growing trend that can be supported by AI’s vast analytical capabilities, including the development of individualised treatment plans that minimise the risk of adverse reactions.

     

    Tackling the risks and challenges

    However, as with any new technology, there are clearly risks and challenges that affect reliance on AI in the drug discovery and development process. An added challenge is that many jurisdictions, outside of the EU, including Australia, are yet to enact AI-specific legislation.

    Privacy

    AI use in the drug discovery and development process raises significant privacy concerns given large datasets are used to train AI models. Existing privacy and data protection laws may go some way toward protecting individuals’ privacy, including in respect of AI use.

    In Australia, privacy obligations are set out in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). When it comes to AI use, some key considerations highlighted by the Australian privacy regulator are:

    • personal information may not automatically be used to train generative AI models;
    • privacy obligations apply to any personal information input into an AI system and the system’s output, including any inferred, incorrect or artificially generated information produced (such as hallucinations); and
    • developers of in-house AI models should take reasonable steps to ensure accuracy in their generative AI models.

    As AI develops globally, companies in the life sciences space should be attuned to regulatory and legislative changes in each market in which they operate.

    Fair and ethical use of AI

    AI use in drug discovery and development must be fair and ethical given the risks posed by AI’s ability to mine, process and analyse data quickly. For example, bias in AI algorithms such as the identification of inadvertent patterns in toxicity predictions may cause certain groups’ ineligibility for clinical trials, potentially resulting in unequal access to medical treatment. To address fairness and ethics concerns, some jurisdictions like the EU have enacted legislation, while others have issued regulatory guidance. For example, the Australian Government has proposed mandatory guardrails for AI use in high-risk settings (e.g. settings that may adversely impact an individual’s human rights, health or safety).7 In the UK, laws relating to the regulation of the use of AI systems are currently progressing through the legislative system.

    Impact on IP Protection

    A developing issue that will only become more acute with the increasing use of AI in drug discovery and development and with the increasing sophistication of AI systems, is the extent to which the AI platforms themselves, and the resulting drugs, will be patentable.  When it comes to protecting innovation in the AI-driven drug discovery platforms, the obligations arising from privacy and data protection laws may throw a spanner into the works, potentially tying the hands of would-be patentees when it comes to ensuring that sufficient information is provided in the patent specification. 

    A fundamental principle of patent law is that a patent must disclose the invention in a manner that is clear and complete enough for a person skilled in the relevant technical field to put the invention into practice without undue burden or further inventive step. Depending on the invention, this could require inclusion of underlying algorithms, training steps, and training datasets.  Sufficient disclosure may prove impossible where data privacy laws prevent the disclosure of essential information, such as necessary details of training datasets, potentially preventing valuable patent protection.

     

    DLA Piper’s AI Laws of the World

    Maximising benefits while mitigating risks (including relating to privacy, fairness and ethics) is the balancing act that governments are grappling around the world when it comes to AI development. Some jurisdictions have implemented AI-specific laws, while others are in the process of drafting regulations. Many are currently relying on existing legal frameworks to address AI-related concerns. DLA Piper’s AI Laws of the World provides an overview of AI laws and proposed regulations across more than 40 countries (including Australia), including key legislative developments, regulations, proposed bills and guidelines issued by governmental bodies. If you have any queries regarding AI and its evolving regulation, or regarding life sciences, please get in touch with us or your regular DLA Piper contact.

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  • Pakistan’s boycott threats over handshake row fail, no demands met, match on

    Pakistan’s boycott threats over handshake row fail, no demands met, match on

    Pakistan were put in to bat in their must-win Asia Cup 2025 group match against the UAE on Wednesday, after the start in Dubai was delayed by their protest against the ICC’s refusal to replace match referee Andy Pycroft. UAE captain Muhammad Waseem won the toss and elected to bowl in the presence of match referee Andy Pycroft and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

    Pakistan had threatened to boycott the match if match referee Andy Pycroft was not removed, but the ‘crisis’ was solved hours before their match against the UAE.

    "This crisis was going on since the match against India. We had objection on Pycroft’s conduct. This matter was only solved after Pycroft apologised over miscommunication at the toss," PCB chairman and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi said, referring to the handshake row that has snowballed into a major controversy at the Asia Cup.

    Play began an hour late following behind-the-scenes negotiations, with the match, originally scheduled for 8:00 PM IST (6:30 PM local time), eventually starting at 9:00 PM IST (7:30 PM local time). Both Pakistan and the UAE head into today’s group clash in Dubai in a must-win situation. Having eased past Oman but suffered heavy defeats to India, the fixture has effectively turned into a knockout: the winner will book a place in the Super Four alongside India, while the loser will bow out of the tournament.

    Pakistan claimed that match referee Andy Pycroft, who officiated Wednesday's game, apologised for a 'miscommunication.' However, ICC sources told India Today that he did not apologise for the handshake incident

    Naqvi had earlier announced on X that the Pakistan team had been instructed to proceed to the stadium. "We have asked the Pakistan team to depart for the Dubai Cricket Stadium. Further details to follow," Naqvi posted.

    Meanwhile, the UAE team had already arrived at the stadium. Earlier, PCB advisor Amir Mir had confirmed in a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium that the match would be delayed amid ongoing deliberations. "The consultation process is underway. The PCB chairman is holding discussions with former PCB chiefs Ramiz Raja and Najam Sethi," Mir said. He added that the toss could now take place at 7:30 PM PST, pending the outcome of negotiations. "We are trying to get positive news. After consultations, Mohsin Naqvi will announce the decision," Mir noted.

    PAKISTAN vs UAE, ASIA CUP: LIVE UPDATES

    The standoff had led to Pakistan's players remaining at their hotel instead of leaving for the stadium as planned. Sources revealed that the team was originally scheduled to depart at 5:00 PM PST but were instructed to stay back, with less than two hours left before the scheduled start time.

    PCB MADE TWO DEMANDS

    In a related development, Samaa Sports reports that the PCB has lodged two formal demands with the International Cricket Council (ICC), further intensifying tensions around the tournament. The first demand calls for the immediate removal of Andy Pycroft from officiating duties, citing a series of recent decisions that the PCB claims reflect a lack of impartiality.

    The second demand targets Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, whom the PCB accuses of making politically charged remarks. The Board has urged the ICC to take disciplinary action, arguing that Yadav's comments violate the spirit of the game and contravene the ICC's code of conduct. As of now, the ICC has not issued an official response.

    Meanwhile, members of the Pakistan national cricket team were seen waiting in the hotel lobby, their luggage still loaded onto the team bus. The players remain on standby, awaiting final instructions from the PCB, as confusion continues to cloud the remainder of their Asia Cup campaign.

    The decision follows the PCB's failed attempt to have Pycroft removed from officiating duties for the fixture. Despite Pakistan's formal request, the International Cricket Council (ICC) declined to replace the veteran referee, standing firmly by its original appointment.

    The controversy stems from the previous match between Pakistan and India, where tensions flared at the end of play. Indian players, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, reportedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. In protest, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha declined to attend the post-match presentation ceremony.

    According to the PCB, match referee Andy Pycroft contributed to the diplomatic tension by advising Salman not to shake hands with the Indian captain and by preventing the customary exchange of team sheets before the match – a move the PCB deemed irregular and biased.

    On the other hand, Suryakumar Yadav defended his team's conduct, stating that the decision to forgo handshakes was made in solidarity with victims of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam—attributed by Indian authorities to Pakistan-based terrorists– and in support of the Indian Armed Forces' subsequent Operation Sindoor.

    In response, the PCB labelled the Indian players' behaviour as "unsporting" and accused Pycroft of partisanship. This led to Pakistan threatening to pull out of their final group match unless Pycroft was replaced—a demand the ICC ultimately rejected.

    The boycott could have had significant ramifications. Pakistan risk losing up to USD 16 million in revenue and may face disciplinary action. The move also raises serious questions regarding the optics of the PCB's decision-making, particularly as the board is currently chaired by Mohsin Naqvi - who also serves as the head of the Asian Cricket Council.

    In a letter addressed to the ICC, the PCB stated: "The match referee failed to discharge his responsibility: to ensure that respect was extended and maintained amongst the captains as well as between the two competing sides; and to create a positive atmosphere by his conduct and encourage the captains and participating teams to do likewise."

    "In fact, the match referee's instructions to the two team captains were entirely directed towards achieving the opposite result. This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner, which is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws."

    "Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game."

    As per article 2.1.1 of ICC's Code of Conduct, "spirit of the game may be defined by reference to the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket and involves respect for, amongst others (a) the role of the umpires and (b) the game and its traditional values."

    - Ends

    Published By:

    Saurabh Kumar

    Published On:

    Sep 17, 2025

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  • Shaping the Future of Africa’s Digital Financial Ecosystem |

    Shaping the Future of Africa’s Digital Financial Ecosystem |

    MTN Group Fintech, Africa’s largest fintech platform, has concluded its inaugural Fintech Summit 2025 in Johannesburg, a landmark three-day gathering that brought together over 350 delegates including policymakers, regulators, innovators, and industry leaders from across the continent.

    Under the theme “Take-Off”, the Summit underscored MTN Group Fintech’s vision of driving financial inclusion, supporting small businesses, enabling financial independence, and building digital ecosystems that power Africa’s economic growth.

    From Transactions to Transformation

    The Fintech Summit reaffirmed that mobile money is central to Africa’s financial inclusion journey. Today, 33% of adults in Sub-Saharan Africa use mobile money, with annual transactions surpassing $1.1 trillion and contributing around 5% to the GDP. And with 283 million active accounts, MTN Group Fintech’s Mobile Money (MoMo from MTN) has grown from being one of the central tools for turning these payments into a fully-fledged catalyst for job creation, business growth, and economic resilience.

    Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) were a focal point of discussion. As the backbone of Africa’s economy, digitising MSMEs is key to unlocking credit, improving compliance, and driving wider economic participation. Real-world examples, such as Miriam, a small business owner using MoMo to manage payments, access loans, and expand her operations, illustrate how digital financial tools are empowering entrepreneurs and transforming livelihoods.

    “Inclusion becomes sustainable when payments are part of daily life,” said Serigne Dioum, CEO of MTN Group Fintech. “Our ambition is to move Africans from being merely financially included to becoming financially independent and ultimately wealthy. Our Mobile Money platform must transform from being a service provider into a platform that delivers best-in-class fintech across Africa.”

    Enabling Financial Independence

    The Summit highlighted that financial independence goes beyond access to credit. It requires building digital skills, providing tools for savings and investment, and educating people on how to use financial services to create wealth. This vision aligns with MTN’s strategic roadmap to make MoMo a true partner in people’s financial journeys – from the unbanked in rural areas to SMEs in bustling cities.

    “We see our responsibility not only as driving inclusion while ensuring the systems we build are trusted, resilient, and sustainable,” said Nikiwe Tanga, Chief Legal Officer, MTN Group Fintech. “This means advancing sound regulatory frameworks, strengthening partnerships with governments and banks, and embedding safety and compliance into every product we deliver.”

    Regulation, Innovation, Safety, and Interoperability

    A central outcome of the Summit was recognition that Africa’s fintech future depends on striking the right balance between regulation, innovation, safety, and interoperability.

    Regulation: The need for harmonised regulatory frameworks across African markets was a recurring theme. Participants emphasised that fragmented rules hinder growth, while consistent standards can create a thriving environment for cross-border remittances, lending, and payment services. Regulators and industry players agreed on the importance of dialogue, transparency, and shared responsibility to build frameworks that encourage innovation while safeguarding users.

    Innovation: Innovation must not only focus on  designing solutions relevant to African realities. This includes alternative credit scoring powered by machine learning, AI-driven fraud detection, and the introduction of mini apps to help SMEs access tools for payments, credit, and business management. Innovation was also framed as an enabler of empowerment, giving individuals and businesses greater control of their financial futures.

    Safety and Security: Trust remains the foundation of any financial ecosystem. Delegates stressed the need for best-in-class fraud prevention systems, including shared fraud intelligence networks, real-time monitoring, and consumer education. With digital financial services operating around the clock, safety measures must evolve at the same speed as emerging threats. Speakers highlighted that without trust, adoption stalls making security a top priority for MTN Group Fintech and its partners.

    Interoperability: Perhaps the most urgent challenge is cross-border integration. Africa remains the most expensive region in the world for sending money due to fragmented currencies and systems. Greater interoperability within Africa as well as global payment networks is essential to reduce costs, expand access, and unlock the full potential of intra-African trade under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Partnerships between fintechs, banks, telcos, and regulators will be key to breaking down barriers and creating a truly connected African payments ecosystem.

    MTN’s Strategic Vision 2030

    Looking ahead, MTN Group Fintech is committed to creating seamless digital and financial solutions that empower individuals and businesses to thrive. Central to this ambition is a digital-first strategy that will see the rollout of three dedicated apps for consumers, businesses, and agents, with mini-app ecosystems offering services from credit and savings to business tools and education.

    As smartphone penetration accelerates, MTN Group Fintech will balance innovation with inclusion, ensuring that USSD-based services continue to serve millions of customers, particularly in rural areas. Agents will remain critical in bridging the digital divide and supporting literacy and adoption as we realise our 2030 ambitions.

    A Clear Call to Action

    “The future is calling. The engines are ready. The runway is clear. We are ready for Take-Off,” concluded Serigne Dioum. “Let us rise together, share Africa’s digital future, and inspire the world.”

    The MTN Group Fintech Summit 2025 has established itself as a cornerstone platform for Africa’s digital transformation journey. With a clear focus on financial inclusion, SME empowerment, regulatory alignment, and innovation, MoMo from MTN is shaping the future of fintech in Africa, delivering prosperity, independence, and opportunity for all.

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  • France’s new prime minister faces a bumpy ride with budget challenges and nationwide strikes ahead

    France’s new prime minister faces a bumpy ride with budget challenges and nationwide strikes ahead

    PARIS — A ballooning deficit. A fractious Parliament. Unrest on the streets. The challenges facing Sébastien Lecornu, France’s fourth prime minister in a year, are daunting and defeated his immediate predecessors.

    So he’s trying a different tack. To ease tensions, Lecornu has scrapped proposals to axe two public holidays and trimmed lifetime benefits for former government ministers. A loyal ally to unpopular centrist President Emmanuel Macron, he began meeting with opposition leaders and trade unions this week.

    But pitfalls lie ahead. Opponents aim to turn up the heat yet further on Thursday with nationwide strikes and protests against budget cuts and other complaints targeting Lecornu’s fragile minority government.

    French politics have been in turmoil since Macron called early parliamentary elections in June last year which resulted in a deeply fragmented legislature.

    One major challenge looms: addressing France’s budget crisis, a deeply divisive issue in Parliament.

    Lecornu’s first big move has been to dismiss the idea of cutting two public holidays, championed by his immediate predecessor, whose government fell earlier this month. François Bayrou had stirred public anger with his plan to scrap the Easter Monday and Victory Day (May 8) holidays, a move he said was needed to boost the economy.

    Lecornu vowed to find “to find other sources of financing” instead.

    He also announced this week that lifetime benefits for former government members will be eliminated, starting from Jan. 1st.

    For former prime ministers, the benefits include police protection, along with a car and driver paid for by the state. Protection will be capped at three years and only extended for security reasons, while the car will be reduced to a period of 10 years. This is estimated to save about 4.4 million euros ($5.21 million) per year.

    Trade unions have called for nationwide strikes and protests on Thursday, scheduled before the change of prime minister, to push back on what they see as austerity policies.

    Unions reject cuts in social spending, arguing French workers have been deeply affected by rising prices in recent years. They also continue to protest against Macron’s pension reform that raised the minimum retirement age from 62 to 64.

    Thursday’s strikes are expected to prompt disruption in sectors like transport, public services, hospitals and schools. They may sound a stark warning for Lecornu.

    Last week, thousands of protesters rallied across France last week for a day of nationwide action against Macron’s policies under the slogan “Block Everything.”

    Mathieu Gallard, account director at Ipsos France polling institute, says a series of opinion polls show French voters’ main concerns focus on their declining purchasing power and the deterioration of once-generous social benefits, including health care, pensions and public services.

    “The political situation gives the French the feeling leaders are not able to remedy the situation due to that instability,” Gallard told The Associated Press.

    On the day he took office, Lecornu, 39, vowed to be both “more creative” and “more serious” in the way his government will work with opposition parties.

    Lecornu, who started his political career in his 20s as a local official in the Normandy region, is described by his longtime friends as a somewhat old-school politician. They say he is is by nature discreet and methodical but also very persuasive — qualities that could help him in his quest to ease political tensions.

    “There’s a Lecornu method,” said François Ouzilleau, mayor of Vernon in Normandy, where they made their first forays into politics together. “I think he’ll manage to find comprises … He has a manner of doing things in the right order, with methodology.”

    “People criticize his closeness with and loyalty to the president. But I think that’s a strength. It’s better when the executive twosome functions well together. And that doesn’t mean that Sébastien has no character, no personality, no freedom,” Ouzilleau said in an Associated Press telephone interview.

    “He’s a guy with incredible flair. He is good at sniffing things out, sniffing out people, sniffing out situations, sniffing out subjects. He’s like a truffle-hunting dog.”

    France’s previous government fell over plans to cut 44 billion euros ($51 billion) in public spending, meant to rein in debt of the European Union’s second-largest economy. Last week, the Fitch rating agency downgraded France’s credit rating, anticipating that the country’s debt ratio “will continue to rise.”

    Lecornu has not yet set out his own strategy.

    He met Wednesday with Socialist leader Olivier Faure in an effort to negotiate a parliamentary non-aggression pact that would help prevent the fall of his government in a no-confidence vote.

    The Socialists are pushing for a tax on the super-rich as proposed by French economist Gabriel Zucman. French media reported Lecornu may be open to increase the taxes on the wealthiest, but in a downsized version.

    Meanwhile, Lecornu must also take care of his conservative allies, The Republicans, who reject any general tax rise.

    Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, predicted Lecornu’s failure and urged Macron to call new legislative elections to break the deadlock.

    “The level of pessimism is massive in France,” Gallard said, arguing opinion polls show a vast majority of French voters don’t believe in the new prime minister’s ability to negotiate with opposition parties and pass a budget.

    “When you ask the French about the economic situation of the country, 9% consider it’s good … way lower compared to France’s neighbors in southern Europe, Italians and Spanish who are around 30%,” he said.

    ___

    AP journalist John Leicester, in Paris, contributed to the story.

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  • Donnarumma: I feel like I’ve been at City for years – Manchester City FC

    1. Donnarumma: I feel like I’ve been at City for years  Manchester City FC
    2. Man City v Napoli: Gianluigi Donnarumma says City were ‘only option’ after PSG  BBC
    3. Donnarumma’s agent: “Milan? The first love…”  Milanreports.com
    4. Gianluigi Donnarumma ‘leaving mum at home’ as Man City goalkeeper plans to upset Napoli-supporting family in Champions League clash | Goal.com UK  Goal.com
    5. The Manchester City Donnarumma Doubters Have Missed Something Huge  Forbes

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  • OpenAI executive says it is still a good time to major in computer science, but warns students must learn how to use AI

    OpenAI executive says it is still a good time to major in computer science, but warns students must learn how to use AI

    ChatGPT creator OpenAI’s Codex product lead Alexander Embiricos has message for students in this rapidly evolving tech landscape. Embiricos feels that students majoring in computer science will have to learn to use AI tools along the way. As reported by Business Insider, speaking on recent podcast episode, Embiricos said that students who take up computer science programs that ban the use of AI should be concerned. “The main place where I would be worried, if I was a student right now, is if I was studying CS and my college didn’t allow the use of any AI, because then I would just feel like I’m falling behind,” he said.

    CS is still valuable, if it evolves

    As per the Business Insider report, despite the warning Embiricosbelieves in the value of a computer science degree, citing the growing demand for software engineers. “I think there’s going to be so much more software created and therefore so much more software engineers needed,” he said. “But I also think, figure out how to be using AI constantly while you do it.”His comments come at a tine when universities grapple with how to teach computer science in the era of agentic AI tools such as OpenAI’s GPT-5 Codex. These tools are capable of creating code and also automating development tasks.

    What OpenAI looks for in new grads

    Along with this, Embiricos also revealed that OpenAI is not hiring many entry-level engineers. He shared that while hiring, the most important trait he looks for in a new graduate is whether they’ve built something. “I don’t know if this is advice, but what I can say is that when I look at new grad profiles, for me, the thing that I take the most signal from is if they’ve built something,” he said.

    Rethinking CS education

    It appears that educators are already working on rethinking how to teach CS. Carnegie Mellon’s Thomas Cortina told

    The New York Times

    that AI has “really shaken computer science education,” with students realizing they don’t fully understand code they’ve generated using AI tools.Embiricos also feels that the CS departments should help students become “mentally plastic” in how they approach problem-solving. He advocated for a mix of manual learning to build foundational understanding, alongside outcome-driven projects that integrate AI tools.


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  • USA knock Cuba out of Men’s Volleyball World Championship

    Robinson emerged as the best scorer of the match with 14 points. He spiked 13 points at a 59% success rate and added a kill block to his tally. These were the two elements the Americans performed better than the Cubans – 61-45 in spike kills and 13-10 in kill blocks. Their outside Jordan Ewert (two blocks and a 71% success rate in attack) and opposite Gabriel Garcia (two aces, two blocks and a 62% success rate in attack) also reached the double digits with 12 points apiece.

    “We knew that Cuba needed this game. We knew Cuba was going to come out firing on all cylinders. But we were also on the edge. It was a great game for us. All 14 guys came in the court and did their job. I think we still have a lot of learning, a lot of growing up to do, but for us to pull out this win the way we did was pretty impressive,” Gabi Garcia told VBTV. “Being ready at all moments here at this World Championship is going to be important for all of us.”

    Before exiting the tournament with grace, Cuba did better than USA in serving by 6-3 in aces and in precision by 23-28 in unforced errors. Their middle blocker Javier Octavio Concepcion attacked at a 67% success rate and raised four kill blocks to finish with a total of 12 points and share the team’s leading scorer honors with opposite Jose Israel Masso, who put away two blocks and an ace. Star middle Robertlandy Simon registered a 70% success rate in spiking and also reached the double digits with 10 points, including three blocks.

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