Governance Bodies

Japan IGF and JPOPM are reviewing updates to ICP-2 Principles, with feedback due by December 2024. APNIC is actively participating in regional events like Peering Asia 6.0 in Jakarta and IETF 121 in Dublin to enhance internet infrastructure. A DNSSEC issue affected 26 African TLDs, highlighting vulnerabilities. The Supreme Court of Mauritius ruled in favor of Cloud Innovation against AFRINIC. ICANN is in the process of nominating leaders for its Board, with Tripti Sinha and Chris Chapman reappointed as Chair and Vice Chair, respectively. Rüdiger Geib has been appointed as IETF liaison manager to ITU-T SG12.

Fintech Payments

The European Payments Council (EPC) has released updated rulebooks for 2025 payment schemes, aligning with the IPR. Norway plans to integrate the krone into the Eurosystem's TIPS service by 2028. The CHIPS network achieved a record on Black Friday, processing 1.08 million payments. GoCardless is partnering to facilitate football club payments, while Tranglo expands its payout network in Africa. Interactive investor collaborates with NatWest for open banking payments. Aevi and LEGI.ONE offer SMEs advanced payment solutions. Delaware North partners with Nuvei for Betly payments, and Mastercard teams up with Fundbot to enhance B2B payments in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.

Crypto market chaos as XRP's 10% drop sparks $500M liquidation, exposing risks of leveraged trading and market volatility

The article highlights the volatility in the crypto market, with XRP's significant drop leading to substantial liquidations. Binance Labs is investing in Kernel to enhance BNB Chain's infrastructure, while FIFA collaborates with Mythical Games to integrate blockchain in sports. Ethereum's Beam Chain proposal aims to improve scalability, and Marathon Digital is expanding its Bitcoin mining operations. Brazil's central bank is partnering with major companies for a trade finance pilot, and MicroStrategy is increasing its Bitcoin investments. The article also discusses the impact of Trump's re-election on Bitcoin prices and SK Telecom's launch of an AI superhighway.

ICANN 81: gTLDs, IDNs, and Africa’s rising voice

ICANN 81 in Istanbul focuses on the next phase of gTLD development and the adoption of Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs) to enhance global internet inclusivity. A significant collaboration between ICANN and Smart Africa aims to strengthen internet governance across Africa, empowering nations to shape their digital futures. The event also highlights initiatives like 'Hello, Registry' by the Canadian Internet Registry Authority and the Swedish Internet Foundation, aimed at simplifying domain registration. The AGM serves as a platform for critical discussions and capacity-building, influencing the future of internet navigation and global digital participation.

Trump’s victory and Musk’s role: Politics and tech collide

Nicholas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, analyzes Elon Musk's shift to the political right and his significant role in supporting Donald Trump's election victory. Thompson suggests that Musk's partnership with Trump could benefit his businesses, particularly Tesla and SpaceX, by securing advantages in foreign policy and maintaining security clearances. However, he warns of potential conflicts due to Musk and Trump's volatile personalities and differing agendas, especially regarding electric vehicle subsidies and free speech. Thompson highlights Musk's acquisition of Twitter as a strategic move to influence political change, positioning it as a right-leaning platform. The analysis concludes with the potential for Musk to be a crucial advisor in a Trump administration, focusing on AI and China, while navigating a high-stakes partnership with Trump.

AFRINIC Official Receiver reinstated, elections to go ahead

The Supreme Court of Mauritius has reinstated AFRINIC's receivership, dismissing an appeal by former director Benjamin Eshun, and mandated board elections by the end of 2024. The ruling tasks the Official Receiver with organizing these elections, a move supported by the Number Resource Organization as a step towards restoring AFRINIC's governance. The decision follows a period of uncertainty after AFRINIC was placed under receivership in 2023, with the Official Receiver now responsible for electing a new CEO and board.

Capacity Europe 2024 kicks off in London

Capacity Europe 2024, the largest digital infrastructure and connectivity event in Europe, commences in London, attracting over 3,500 professionals from 90+ countries. The event, running from October 15 to 17, features discussions on telecommunications advancements, 5G networks, and sustainable connectivity. Key industry players like Deutsche Telekom, Verizon, and Telefónica participate, with over 150 speakers addressing topics such as cloud services expansion, subsea cable innovations, and AI's impact on network management. The event emphasizes networking, fostering collaboration among connectivity providers and stakeholders.

SpaceX catches starship booster with giant 'chopsticks'

SpaceX achieved a significant milestone by successfully catching its Super Heavy booster using a novel 'chopsticks' system during the fifth test flight of the Starship at its Starbase in Texas. This marks a crucial step towards making the Starship fully reusable, which is vital for future Moon and Mars missions and aligns with NASA's Artemis program. The Federal Aviation Administration approved the flight earlier than expected, and SpaceX plans to further develop the Starship system to achieve full reusability, revolutionizing space travel.

Top tech stories today: April 5, 2024

Key developments in the tech industry include Binance launching Saga on its Launchpool, Ripple planning a US dollar stablecoin, and South Africa investigating Microsoft's cloud computing licensing practices. nLIGHTen acquires seven data centers from Exa Infrastructure, and RETN launches a new DDoS mitigation platform. Global markets experience fluctuations, and Spotify announces new subscription plans. Meta introduces AI-powered features to Instagram and collaborates with Ray-Ban on smart glasses, while Nvidia and Indosat plan a $200 million AI center investment in Indonesia.

Top tech stories today: April 4, 2024

Amazon initiates layoffs in its cloud computing division as part of a restructuring effort. Google announces Chrome OS updates with new features like Pixel Watch and Phone integration. Brave launches an AI assistant for iPhone and iPad users. WhatsApp experiences a global outage, raising concerns about Meta's messaging platforms. Former President Trump sues Truth Social co-founders over breach of contract and misuse of funds. Galaxy Digital plans to raise $100 million for its first crypto venture fund. Bitcoin continues to experience volatile price fluctuations. Intel reports a $7 billion operating loss in its foundry business. IGM Financial partners with Eviden to enhance its digital capabilities through cloud computing services. Meta introduces age confirmation for Quest 2 users to enhance child safety measures.