Westcon Comstor has partnered with Fortanix, a global data security company, to provide advanced data security services across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). This collaboration aims to strengthen secure AI environments and prepare organizations for post-quantum readiness.

• The partnership allows channel partners to offer services in data privacy, crypto agility, secure AI adoption, and multicloud governance.
• Fortanix's platform uses confidential computing to isolate and encrypt data at rest, in motion, and in use, providing unified control across distributed cloud environments.
• According to Daniel Hurel, Senior Vice President for Westcon EMEA Go To Market, the agreement strengthens Westcon's security portfolio and helps partners address customer needs in multicloud and AI environments.

The United States Department of State has announced a $150 million (approximately KES 19.5 billion) "pay-for-performance" financing vehicle for Zipline to expand its drone delivery infrastructure across Africa. This funding is contingent on partner African governments signing expansion contracts and committing to operational costs, aiming for sustainability rather than traditional aid.

• The funding aims to triple Zipline's footprint, serving 15,000 health facilities and over 130 million people.
• Rwanda will be the first beneficiary, expanding its operations and testing new short-range drones for urban deliveries.
• The State Department explicitly framed the deal within an "America First" foreign assistance agenda, aiming to export US technology standards.
• Zipline data shows significant health improvements, including a 56% reduction in maternal deaths in served areas.
• Participating nations include Ghana, Rwanda, Nigeria, Kenya, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Vodacom Tanzania has launched M-Pesa Global Payment, new international payment features in partnership with Visa, Alipay, MTN Uganda, and Thunes, to boost digital financial inclusion and cross-border trade.

• The service allows customers to use the M-Pesa Visa tokenized card for global transactions, pay Chinese merchants via Alipay, and transact with select Dubai merchants through TerraPay.
• Payments to MTN MoMo wallets in Uganda are also enabled, simplifying regional trade for SMEs.
• M-Pesa Director Epimack Mbeteni highlighted the goal of building a strong, interconnected digital payments ecosystem, making cross-border transactions as easy, secure, and affordable as local ones.