Following on from the success of the first two programmes, run in 2011 and 2012, today Orange (http://www.orange.com) is launching the third Orange African Social Venture Prize. The project promotes social innovations in support of development that use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Orange, which is present in 18 African countries and boasts over 70 million customers, is seeking to becom ...

Less than one per cent of all patent applications relating to Clean Energy Technology (CET) have been filed in Africa, highlighting an opportunity for the continent to leapfrog existing fossil-fuel energy sources and thus cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions and bring major health benefits. A new study by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Patent Office (EPO)—Patents and Clean Energy Technologies ...

DUBAI: Interactive Intelligence Group Inc., a global provider of unified IP business communications software and services, today announced further penetration into the Middle East market with the signing of a partnership agreement with FutureTech, a Kuwait based provider of  intelligent IT infrastructure and IT outsourcing solutions. FutureTech will promote and distribute Interactive Intelligence’s entire r ...

ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopian women are increasing their footprint across the country, in business and especially in technological innovation. In April, a new initiative was launched by leading African telecom operator MTN that aimed to bolster women's participation in the technology sphere of the country and region. They teamed up with Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia and presented awards to female innovators a ...

SINGAPORE: Online gambling in Singapore could soon become the domain of the government and may cease to exist altogether. The government is studying measures that can be taken against online gambling, and to restrict access to -- as well as patronage of -- online gambling platforms. It is working with industry experts to study issues and learn from other jurisdictions to formulate a strategy. "I don't  like ...

Here Media, the world’s leading gay media company, today announced record digital growth in key metrics during the first quarter 2013 as compared to first quarter 2012. Overall for Q1 2013, the company’s network of publishing websites more than tripled its page views, combining for a 242% increase over last year. “Here Media has its finger on the pulse of the news and issues that are important to the LGBT a ...

OSLO: Another victory against Israel for the Boycott, Divest and Sanction (BDS) as renowned international physicist Stephen Hawking has thrown his support behind an academic boycott of Israel and refused to attend an annual conference hosted by Israeli President Shimon Peres in Jerusalem. The move has been praised by activists across the globe, who said it will help bring even more attention to the movement ...

ADDIS ABABA: The latest breakthroughs from around the world in the use of mobile technologies for development will be showcased at a forum at Strathmore University, Nairobi, on May 8. Convened by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and Motorola Solutions, the roundtable discussion will be attended by leading policy makers, development practitioners, technology manufacturers and local innovators. N ...

CAIRO: The Kingdom of Bahrain Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) today announced a radical IT system overhaul as it eyes a new era of efficient energy management. In what will become the Kingdom’s largest ever utility-based IT project, EWA will automate key operational processes, initiating a bold step-change in customer service and overall performance in line with Bahrain’s 2030 economic vision. The pro ...

OSLO: Norwegian activists are lashing out at government efforts to crackdown on Internet freedom in what they have called draconian measures that would lead to widespread censorship across the Scandinavian country. "It is simply wrong and we will not put up with this and if that means holding massive protests to do so it will happen," university student and blogger Morten told Bikyanews.com. "We understand ...