NextTech

Ghana’s National ID cards can now make payments Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA), a statutory body mandated to establish a national identification system, has now added a digital wallet to the Ghana Card, the identification card used for services like SIM registration and passport applications. The new payments feature, first announced in September 2025, would allow users to make use of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), make payments in stores and online, make international payments with over 200 countries, and access other services such as insurance and emergency assistance. ...

Irish drone delivery firm Manna confirms $50m raise, plans 400 new jobs The 400 new jobs are understood to break down as 300 in Ireland and 100 in the US, bringing total headcount to more than 570. Dublin’s Manna Air Delivery, Bobby Healy’s drone delivery company, has officially confirmed a $50m Series B funding round and announced plans to create 400 new jobs across Ireland and the US. The round, which brings total investment in the company to $110m, sees funding from ARK Invest -the fund known for backing OpenAI, Anthropic, Tesla and SpaceX – Boston-based Schooner Capital and the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), alongside existing investors Enterprise Ireland, Coca-Cola HBC and Molten Ventures....

TechCabal: Four-point-oh How we’re thinking about 2026 and beyond. Here’s the thing about two speeds. Over the last few years, the African tech ecosystem has been moving at a pace that feels almost contradictory: consolidation at the centre and new ideas flickering relentlessly at the edges. Capital tightened, regulation grew heavier. Scale began pooling around fewer, stronger players. Meanwhile, out past the headlines, new ideas continued to form — quieter now, less theatrical, yet persistent....

How To Dimension Holes in SOLIDWORKS Aside from basic sketch tools, knowing how to dimension holes is a fundamental SOLIDWORKS skill. Without dimensioning holes, models lack design intent and leave out critical manufacturing information. With any part, there are multiple ways to add holes and apply dimensions. The two most common ways to dimension a hole are to use the SOLIDWORKS Hole Wizard or to use basic sketching tools to do a Cut Extrude....

Blinkit announces quick commerce service at Mumbai airport; netizens wonder if it’s a prank Blinkit has announced the launch of its delivery service inside Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, making it the first quick-commerce platform to operate within an airport's secure zone. The company said its service is live at Terminal 2 (domestic departures), where passengers who have cleared security can order from a catalogue of over 2,500 products, including phone chargers, snacks, personal care items, books, and gifts, through the Blinkit app....

OpenAI closes larger than expected funding round of $122bn The ‘record-breaking’ funding round gives OpenAI a post-money valuation of $852bn. Artificial intelligence company OpenAI has announced the closure of a recent funding round that exceeded its projected figure of $110bn, standing instead at $122bn.  The round was backed by strategic partners Amazon, NVIDIA and SoftBank, with continued participation from OpenAI’s long-term partner, Microsoft. SoftBank co-led the round alongside a16z, D.E Shaw Ventures, MGX, TPG and accounts advised by T....

Oracle cutting thousands of jobs in round of layoffs – CNBC The layoffs come amid a push by the organisation to further increase AI investment and adoption. According to a post by CNBC, software maker Oracle has begun informing employees about mass layoffs, which are said to be eliminating thousands of jobs. Employees started receiving notifications on Tuesday (31 March) and while the cuts will have a global impact, the final figures are not yet known....

Meta doubles down on smart eyewear with new prescription-ready Ray-Ban and Oakley styles The intersection of fashion and technology has always been a tricky space to navigate, but Meta and EssilorLuxottica seem to have found the sweet spot. Today, the companies announced a significant expansion to their wearable portfolio, moving beyond just being a cool gadget for creators and into a legitimate replacement for your everyday spectacles. With sales more than tripling year-on-year and millions of units now out in the wild, the momentum behind these glasses is undeniable....

MINIEYE to Form JV with neueHCT to Accelerate Autonomous Logistics Expansion MINIEYE (2431.HK) reported its full-year 2025 results on March 31, alongside plans to deepen its push into autonomous logistics through a joint venture with neueHCT. The company posted total revenue of RMB 759 million (approximately USD 105 million), up 16% year-over-year, with gross profit reaching RMB 141 million (approximately USD 19.5 million), a 35% increase. Gross margin improved to 18.6%, reflecting gains from product mix optimization, scaling effects, and supply chain efficiencies....

France buys supercomputer maker Bull in tech sovereignty push ‘By supporting the emergence of Bull, we are choosing strategic independence,’ said France’s minister delegate for artificial intelligence and digital affairs. France has completed its acquisition of 100pc of the capital of supercomputer maker Bull from Atos Group, in a deal that marks a “major step forward for French and European technological sovereignty”. The acquisition, the completion of which was announced yesterday (31 March), is expected to boost France and Europe’s tech sovereignty particularly in the areas of high‑performance computing, AI and quantum technologies, according to the French state and Bull....