Twitter users will go to Hell - Religious Cleric

The head of the Saudi religious police, reports Sheikh Abdul Latif Abdul Aziz al-Sheikh has warned citizens  that anyone who uses Twitter “has lost his world and his afterlife”.

There are presently three million Twitter users in Saudi Arabia according to statistics, and the cleric’s  comments  is a reflection of how other clerics have seen  Twitter as a national threat, while the grand mufti, the most senior Muslim cleric, has termed Twitter users in the country as “fools”.

The BBC’s Sebastian Usher said it is believed Twitter has seen its fastest uptake globally in Saudi Arabia, though governments in the Arab world particularly view social media with suspicion following the Arab Spring, which was partly influenced by social media.

MTN is ranked number one African brand - The Millward-Brown BrandZ Top 100 Global Brands 2013

African mobile operators, MTN has been ranked as the highest African brand in the Millward-Brown Brandz Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands 2013 survey.

This year’s listing shows that MTN moved up  nine places to 79th position , with an overall increase in brand value of 23%. MTN debuted at position 88 in the survey last year, and is the only African brand in the 2013 survey.

“The Millward-Brown BrandZ Top 100 Global Brands 2013 listing is particularly exciting and timely, as we embark on our new vision to lead the delivery of a bold, new Digital World to our customers,” says Jennifer Forrester, Executive for Group Marketing, MTN.

Developed by leading research agency, Millward Brown Optimor, BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands is the only brand rankings that include consumer data as a component element in arriving at the brand value. The rankings survey over 150 000 people around the world.

MTN has about  200 million subscribers across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Oklahoma Tornado Victims Get Their Belongings Back through Facebook

A Facebook group  has been set up to help  Oklahoma tornado victims get their belongings back, the Tornado which killed 51 people and left many homeless,  has blown debris from houses — including people's personal belongings and important documents — many miles away.
The Facebook group asks members to post photos of any items or documents that were blown into their yard, so that they can be returned to the rightful owners.

The group i has 7,260 members, and dozens of items have been recognized by their owners.
"I'm just trying to help. I couldn't imagine losing my kids' pictures," Leslie Hagelberg, the group's founder, told The Huffington Post.

A huge tornado tore through Oklahoma City suburbs on Monday(20/05/2013) night, where neighbourhoods were flattened and schools destroyed by winds of up to 200mph (320km/h).

Samsung holds the Smart App Challenge 2013

Samsung Electronics holds the global app competition aimed at finding new apps to utilise Samsung’s communication function- the Samsung Smart App Challenge 2013. It is the second time Samsung is  hosting  the global contest for android developers. A total of 10 entries will be selected as winners, receiving a record total of $800,000 in prize money along with a variety of promotional benefits. Especially in this year, Samsung Venture Investment will review the final winners for financial investment.

The challenge is open to all mobile application developers across the globe. Developers who wish to participate should sign up directly on the App Challenge website (http://www.smartappchallenge.com) and register their apps on Samsung Apps from 20th June to 31st August.

Contest entrants will be one category. “Smart Chord Apps,” which can be used for development of ‘Group Play’ service on GALAXY S4, a panel of judges will decide the winning entries, which will consist of 10 innovative applications which use group management functionality in interesting and experiential ways.

The applicants have to use “Samsung Chord SDK” which helps developers create a group with multi-devices in real-time, automatically, requiring no manual processing of devices which join or leave the group.

For more information on Samsung Smart App Challenge 2013, please visit the challenge website (http://www.smartappchallenge.com).

Rwandan genocide survivors get ICT equipment from New Artel

Kimironko genocide survivors’ association  in Rwanda got a boost in their  business transactions and communication as Rwandan internet service provider (ISP) New Artel has donated ICT equipment to the group. The genocide survivor association “Tubeho” comprises high school and university students who are survivors of the Rwandan genocide

New Artel donated  Rwf 7 million (US$11,000) worth of equipment includes computers and accessories as well as a wireless internet connection ."If put to good use, this internet café will benefit these survivors as it will be used even by the neighboring citizens instead of travelling to look for internet. They will be paying money that will uplift the association's members," Francis Karemera, New Artel chief executive officer (CEO).

Riberal Majyambere, the president of the association said, "It is not like giving us rice that will end in one week. This will keep on generating income and we assure you that next time we shall be enjoying the fruits of this donation,"

InnovationVillage chats with Dozie Anyaegbunam at the Official launch of gidimo at the Mobile Web West Africa 2013

InnovationVillage, represented by Seyi Olanihun, had a chance to talk with Dozie Anyaegbunam of gidimobile at the just concluded Mobile Web West Africa 2013 conference. The gidimobile team officially announced the launch of gidimo.

Africa’s Largest ICT Product Mall to launch In 2016 - Zinox

Nigeria’s indigenous tech company, Zinox Group, has announced plans to launch Africa’s largest single genuine ICT product mall in 20i6, this was made known by the Chairman, Leo Stan Ekeh, who gave the information while speaking as a guest of Honour at the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P).

The mall which is currently under construction will serve as a one-stop shop for all genuine ICT products from software to hardware as well as other ICT related services. It will also feature thousands of booths and shops performing different functions that are intended to satisfy all kinds of customers, from commercial wholesalers to small business retailers and end users.

Zinox Technologies Limited was established in 2001 to manufacture Nigeria’s first Internationally Certified Indigenous brand.