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Apple Opens iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate Betas to Everyone. Here’s How to Get In

By
Remmy Bisimbeko
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0

Apple has officially opened the doors to the public betas of iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate, and for the first time in a long while, the early buzz is very good. If you have been curious about what is coming to your iPhone or Mac this September, you can now try it yourself, for free, without needing to be a developer.

The public betas landed on July 13, 2026, right on schedule. According to AppleInsider, this covers iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, watchOS 27, visionOS 27, and tvOS 27. Practically the entire Apple software lineup at once.

What Is Actually New in iOS 27?

The headline feature is Siri AI. According to Engadget, the new Siri transforms from a basic voice-command tool into a fully conversational AI assistant. It can hold natural back-and-forth conversations, understand follow-up questions, analyse what is on your screen, and complete multi-step tasks inside apps. There is also a dedicated Siri app that stores your conversation history.

Beyond Siri, iOS 27 focuses on three core areas, as detailed by Macworld: new parental controls for child safety and screen time management, performance and interface refinements addressing dozens of long-standing user requests, and upgraded Apple Intelligence models that improve AI features throughout the system.

The public beta build is identical to Developer Beta 3, build 24A5380h, released the same day.

What About macOS 27 Golden Gate?

macOS 27 is named Golden Gate, after the famous strait in San Francisco, and it carries the same Siri AI features as iOS 27. You summon it through Spotlight using the familiar Command + Space shortcut. From there, Siri can search the web, dig through your photos, emails and messages to find things, and complete actions across different apps.

According to MacRumors, Visual Intelligence has also come to the Mac, meaning Siri can now look at whatever is on your screen and answer questions about it. On the design side, Golden Gate brings uniform toolbars, edge-to-edge sidebars, and more refined window shapes and menu bar icons, building on the Liquid Glass look introduced in 2025.

One important note for Mac users: according to Wikipedia’s macOS Golden Gate entry, Golden Gate requires an Apple Silicon chip (M1 or later). Intel-based Macs will not be able to run it, though Intel apps will still work through Rosetta 2.

How to Install the iOS 27 Public Beta

The process is straightforward. As outlined by MacRumors, here is what to do:

1.  Go to beta.apple.com and sign up for free using your Apple ID.

2.  On your iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then Software Update.

3.  Tap Beta Updates and select the iOS 27 Public Beta option.

4.  If you do not see it immediately, restart your iPhone and check again.

How to Install the macOS Golden Gate Public Beta

1.  Sign up at beta.apple.com with your Apple ID.

2.  On your Mac, go to System Settings, then General, then Software Update.

3.  Toggle on the macOS 27 beta option and follow the prompts.

Should You Install It Right Now?

That depends on how adventurous you are. The good news is that early feedback on both iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate has been unusually positive. One commenter on MacRumors described it as the most stable beta they had ever run, with no crashes and very smooth performance across all devices.

That said, both Apple and AppleInsider strongly advise against installing any beta on your primary device. The risk of data loss and app incompatibility is smaller in a public beta than in a developer build, but it is not zero. The safest approach is to test on a secondary device and always back up before installing.

When Does the Full Release Come Out?

Both iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate are expected to reach the general public in September 2026, following Apple’s usual annual release cycle. The beta period running through July and August is Apple’s window to iron out bugs and gather feedback before the big launch.

If you prefer to wait for the stable release, September is not far away. But if you want a proper look at the next generation of Apple software, especially that new Siri, the public beta is now open to anyone.

WhatsApp Is Getting Usernames and You Can Reserve Yours Right Now

By
Brian Code
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0

WhatsApp is introducing usernames, and for the three billion people who use the app, that is a bigger deal than it might first seem. The feature gives users an extra layer of privacy, letting them connect with businesses or new contacts without handing over their phone number.

The full feature has not launched yet, but WhatsApp is opening up username reservations this week, and the reason for the early start is straightforward: with three billion users on the platform, the company wants to give people a fair chance to secure the name they actually want before the rush begins.

How to reserve your username

To claim a username, head to Settings, then Account, then Username. You can choose your own as long as it is unique, or use the in-app generator if you would rather let the app do the thinking. For creators, organisations, and small businesses, WhatsApp will allow you to claim your existing Instagram or Facebook name.

Reservations will roll out globally, and WhatsApp will send a notification when the feature becomes available in your country.

What happens when it goes live

Once usernames are fully active in the coming months, other users and businesses will no longer see your phone number when you message them for the first time. Anyone who wants to reach you will need to know your exact username. There is also an optional key you can set, meaning a contact will need both your username and the key before they can send you a message.

During the reservation phase, the key is a four-digit code, but it will be upgraded to an alphanumeric format when usernames officially go live.

WhatsApp follows Signal’s lead

With this move, WhatsApp is following in the footsteps of Signal, the privacy-focused messaging app that introduced usernames in 2024 as a way to keep phone numbers hidden from other users. The difference is the scale. WhatsApp is the dominant messaging platform across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, so bringing this level of privacy to that audience is a meaningful shift in how people can control who gets access to their contact details.

For Ugandans and East Africans who use WhatsApp as a primary business communication tool, being able to share a username instead of a phone number could meaningfully reduce unwanted contact and spam from unfamiliar parties.

GTA VI Will Start at $80, and the Physical Box Has No Disc

By
Boses Muhinda
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0

Rockstar Games has finally put a number on Grand Theft Auto VI, and it is not cheap. The standard edition will retail at $79.99 in the US, while the Ultimate Edition bumps the price up to $99.99. Pre-orders opened on June 25 at midnight local time, with the game available to reserve on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S, and Xbox Series X.

The price had been a subject of intense speculation for months, with some analysts predicting it would crack the $100 mark. It did not, but $80 as a starting point still makes GTA VI one of the most expensive standard releases in console gaming history. For context, Nintendo has tried similar pricing and faced significant backlash for it.

What you actually get

The standard pre-order comes with a Vintage Vice City bonus, and anyone who places a digital order before the November 19 launch date can pre-load the game from November 12. Pre-orders also include a free month of GTA+ subscription.

The Ultimate Edition packs in a considerably longer list of extras, including exclusive sports cars with retro-futuristic styling, engraved weapons with high-performance scopes, personalized weapon variants, Vice City-inspired outfits and tattoos, a dedicated safe house vehicle, exclusive mods, salon perks for makeup and styling, custom streetwear apparel, and a special garage.

Rockstar has confirmed that GTA VI will launch as a single-player experience on consoles, with Jason and Lucia’s story at the centre of it.

The physical edition controversy

Here is where things get interesting. The physical edition of the game hits shelves on November 12, one week before the digital launch, but buyers will find a download code inside the box rather than a disc. There is no disc at all.

The decision has already generated significant pushback online, with fans questioning why a studio of Rockstar’s scale and resources is shipping a boxed product without physical media. The counterargument from some corners is that removing a disc reduces the risk of early leaks and eliminates the second-hand resale market. Neither of those benefits, of course, is for the consumer.

For collectors, the disc-free physical edition is a particularly sore point. GTA is one of the most culturally significant gaming franchises in history, and a boxed copy with nothing inside but a piece of paper undercuts the collector value that has always made physical editions meaningful.

GTA VI launches on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series consoles on November 19, 2025.

Bebe Cool Drops “No Risk EP” with 7 Tracks of Wisdom, Love & Bounce

By
Doryn Crystal
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0

The Gagamel Boss Returns With His First Project Since The Game-Changing ‘Break The Chains’ Album.

Kampala, Uganda — June 12, 2026 — Ugandan music icon Bebe Cool, widely known as the King of the Uganda Music Industry, has released his highly anticipated new EP, NO RISK, out now on all streaming platforms.

The 7-track project arrives one year and two weeks after his critically acclaimed album BREAK THE CHAINS, which dropped on May 30, 2025. Break The Chains reaffirmed Bebe Cool’s dominance and earned praise for blending Afro-electronic, Afrotech, and Afro-pop into a bold, futuristic sound.

Last week, the Gagamel boss announced NO RISK via social media, confirming the June 12 release date. Since then, anticipation has been building across Uganda and the continent.

NO RISK EP is a genre-blending journey through Afrobeat, Dancehall, Reggaeton, and R&B with a distinct Ugandan vibe.

“No Risk EP is a journey through life, love, and focus — with zero regrets,” Bebe Cool says.

The EP opens with KAKEBERE, a club Dancehall anthem about verifying first before you trust — from health to land to leadership. Track 2 BUNDLE flips to money and freedom: earn your bag, spend it your way, and ignore the “broke advisors.”

SHEKETE turns the lights up with Reggaeton + African bounce, commanding ladies to shake it and own the dancefloor. After the party comes truth in KISS AND MAKE UP — real relationships have ups and downs, but love means forgiving flaws and choosing each other.

Nostalgia hits with MELODIES, where childhood songs meet grown-up love over a danceable Ugandan groove. TARGET locks in with sniper focus — every shot straight on goal, distractions stay out of sight. The EP closes with JOROMAI, a sweet Afrobeat compliment to the woman whose presence alone makes everything feel good.

Tracklist: KAKEBERE | BUNDLE | SHEKETE | KISS AND MAKE UP | MELODIES | TARGET | JOROMAI

NO RISK EP is out now on Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, Audiomack, YouTube Music + all platforms.

For press, interviews, and promo assets:
admin@bebecool-ug.com

Stream/Download, Subscribe: No Risk EP
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/6x4C5hivCmfL4SIluxGV81?si=kRIfQQMlQQu0opP9kJ7cJg

Apple music: https://music.apple.com/ug/artist/bebe-cool/318588135

Follow Bebe Cool:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bebecoolmusic

Instagram: https://instagram.com/…

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com…

WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/c…

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Threads: https://www.threads.ne…

Booking:
Email: admin@bebecool-ug.com
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Website: https://bebecool-ug.com

World Cup 2026 Match Schedule in EAT: Kickoff Times for All 104 Games in East Africa Time

By
GURU8 Staff
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0

The 2026 FIFA World Cup runs from Thursday June 11 to Sunday July 19, 2026, and for the first time it features 48 teams, 12 groups and a brand new Round of 32. The catch for East African fans is the time zone. North America sits 7 to 10 hours behind Kampala, which means kickoffs land in three windows: a comfortable prime time slot between 7pm and midnight EAT, a late night slot between midnight and 5am, and an early morning slot between 5am and 8am.

The good news is that the some biggest fixtures are kind to this side of the world. The opening match, Mexico vs South Africa, kicks off at 10pm EAT tonight, both semi-finals are 10pm EAT kickoffs, and the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium is also a 10pm EAT start. Use the search box to jump straight to your team.

FT Prime time Late night Early morning FT = full time result · upcoming kickoffs in EAT: 7pm to midnight, midnight to 5am, 5am to 9am

48 matches played, 56 to go · showing all 104

Group Stage

Thursday, June 11

FT
Group AMexico2–0South AfricaEstadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico

Friday, June 12

FT
Group ASouth Korea2–1Czech RepublicEstadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
FT
Group BCanada1–1Bosnia & HerzegovinaBMO Field, Toronto, Canada

Saturday, June 13

FT
Group DUSA4–1ParaguaySoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
FT
Group BQatar1–1SwitzerlandLevi's Stadium, Santa Clara, USA

Sunday, June 14

FT
Group CBrazil1–1MoroccoMetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA
FT
Group CHaiti0–1ScotlandGillette Stadium, Boston, USA
FT
Group DAustralia2–0TurkiyeBC Place, Vancouver, Canada
FT
Group EGermany7–1CuracaoNRG Stadium, Houston, USA
FT
Group FNetherlands2–2JapanAT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Monday, June 15

FT
Group EIvory Coast1–0EcuadorLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
FT
Group FSweden5–1TunisiaEstadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
FT
Group HSpain0–0Cape VerdeMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
FT
Group GBelgium1–1EgyptLumen Field, Seattle, USA

Tuesday, June 16

FT
Group HSaudi Arabia1–1UruguayHard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
FT
Group GIran2–2New ZealandSoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
FT
Group IFrance3–1SenegalMetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA

Wednesday, June 17

FT
Group IIraq1–4NorwayGillette Stadium, Boston, USA
FT
Group JArgentina3–0AlgeriaArrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA
FT
Group JAustria3–1JordanLevi's Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
FT
Group KPortugal1–1DR CongoNRG Stadium, Houston, USA
FT
Group LEngland4–2CroatiaAT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Thursday, June 18

FT
Group LGhana1–0PanamaBMO Field, Toronto, Canada
FT
Group KUzbekistan1–3ColombiaEstadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
FT
Group ACzech Republic1–1South AfricaMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
FT
Group BSwitzerland4–1Bosnia & HerzegovinaSoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA

Friday, June 19

FT
Group BCanada6–0QatarBC Place, Vancouver, Canada
FT
Group AMexico1–0South KoreaEstadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
FT
Group DUSA2–0AustraliaLumen Field, Seattle, USA

Saturday, June 20

FT
Group CScotland0–1MoroccoGillette Stadium, Boston, USA
FT
Group CBrazil3–0HaitiLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
FT
Group DTurkiye0–1ParaguayLevi's Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
FT
Group FNetherlands5–1SwedenNRG Stadium, Houston, USA
FT
Group EGermany2–1Ivory CoastBMO Field, Toronto, Canada

Sunday, June 21

FT
Group EEcuador0–0CuracaoArrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA
FT
Group FTunisia0–4JapanEstadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
FT
Group HSpain4–0Saudi ArabiaMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
FT
Group GBelgium0–0IranSoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA

Monday, June 22

FT
Group HUruguay2–2Cape VerdeHard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
FT
Group GNew Zealand1–3EgyptBC Place, Vancouver, Canada
FT
Group JArgentina1–0AustriaAT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Tuesday, June 23

FT
Group IFrance3–0IraqLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
FT
Group INorway3–2SenegalBMO Field, Toronto, Canada
FT
Group JJordan1–2AlgeriaLevi's Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
FT
Group KPortugal5–0UzbekistanNRG Stadium, Houston, USA
FT
Group LEngland0–0GhanaGillette Stadium, Boston, USA

Wednesday, June 24

FT
Group LPanama0–1CroatiaGillette Stadium, Boston, USA
FT
Group KColombia1–0DR CongoEstadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
Prime time
Group BSwitzerland vs CanadaBC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Prime time
Group BBosnia & Herzegovina vs QatarLumen Field, Seattle, USA

Thursday, June 25

Late night
Group CMorocco vs HaitiMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Late night
Group CScotland vs BrazilHard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
Late night
Group ASouth Africa vs South KoreaEstadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Late night
Group ACzech Republic vs MexicoEstadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
Prime time
Group ECuracao vs Ivory CoastLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
Prime time
Group EEcuador vs GermanyMetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA

Friday, June 26

Late night
Group FTunisia vs NetherlandsArrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA
Late night
Group FJapan vs SwedenAT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA
Early morning
Group DTurkiye vs USASoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA
Early morning
Group DParaguay vs AustraliaLevi's Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
Prime time
Group INorway vs FranceGillette Stadium, Boston, USA
Prime time
Group ISenegal vs IraqBMO Field, Toronto, Canada

Saturday, June 27

Late night
Group HCape Verde vs Saudi ArabiaNRG Stadium, Houston, USA
Late night
Group HUruguay vs SpainEstadio Akron, Zapopan, Mexico
Early morning
Group GNew Zealand vs BelgiumBC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Early morning
Group GEgypt vs IranLumen Field, Seattle, USA

Sunday, June 28

Late night
Group LPanama vs EnglandMetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA
Late night
Group LCroatia vs GhanaLincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
Late night
Group KColombia vs PortugalHard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
Late night
Group KDR Congo vs UzbekistanMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Early morning
Group JAlgeria vs AustriaArrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA
Early morning
Group JJordan vs ArgentinaAT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Round of 32 (June 28 to July 4, EAT dates)

Sunday, June 28

Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 73Group A runners-up vs Group B runners-upSoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA

Monday, June 29

Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 76Group C winners vs Group F runners-upNRG Stadium, Houston, USA
Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 74Group E winners vs Third place A/B/C/D/FGillette Stadium, Boston, USA

Tuesday, June 30

Late night
Round of 32 | Match 75Group F winners vs Group C runners-upEstadio Monterrey, Guadalupe, Mexico
Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 78Group E runners-up vs Group I runners-upAT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Wednesday, July 1

Late night
Round of 32 | Match 77Group I winners vs Third place C/D/F/G/HMetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA
Late night
Round of 32 | Match 79Group A winners vs Third place C/E/F/H/IEstadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 80Group L winners vs Third place E/H/I/J/KMercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 82Group G winners vs Third place A/E/H/I/JLumen Field, Seattle, USA

Thursday, July 2

Late night
Round of 32 | Match 81Group D winners vs Third place B/E/F/I/JLevi's Stadium, Santa Clara, USA
Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 84Group H winners vs Group J runners-upSoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA

Friday, July 3

Late night
Round of 32 | Match 83Group K runners-up vs Group L runners-upBMO Field, Toronto, Canada
Early morning
Round of 32 | Match 85Group B winners vs Third place E/F/G/I/JBC Place, Vancouver, Canada
Prime time
Round of 32 | Match 88Group D runners-up vs Group G runners-upAT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Saturday, July 4

Late night
Round of 32 | Match 86Group J winners vs Group H runners-upHard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
Late night
Round of 32 | Match 87Group K winners vs Third place D/E/I/J/LArrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA

Round of 16 (July 4 to July 7)

Saturday, July 4

Prime time
Round of 16 | Match 90Winner Match 73 vs Winner Match 75NRG Stadium, Houston, USA

Sunday, July 5

Late night
Round of 16 | Match 89Winner Match 74 vs Winner Match 77Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, USA
Prime time
Round of 16 | Match 91Winner Match 76 vs Winner Match 78MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA

Monday, July 6

Late night
Round of 16 | Match 92Winner Match 79 vs Winner Match 80Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico
Prime time
Round of 16 | Match 93Winner Match 83 vs Winner Match 84AT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Tuesday, July 7

Late night
Round of 16 | Match 94Winner Match 81 vs Winner Match 82Lumen Field, Seattle, USA
Prime time
Round of 16 | Match 95Winner Match 86 vs Winner Match 88Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA
Prime time
Round of 16 | Match 96Winner Match 85 vs Winner Match 87BC Place, Vancouver, Canada

Quarter-finals (July 9 to July 12)

Thursday, July 9

Prime time
Quarter-final | Match 97Winner Match 89 vs Winner Match 90Gillette Stadium, Boston, USA

Friday, July 10

Prime time
Quarter-final | Match 98Winner Match 93 vs Winner Match 94SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles, USA

Sunday, July 12

Late night
Quarter-final | Match 99Winner Match 91 vs Winner Match 92Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA
Late night
Quarter-final | Match 100Winner Match 95 vs Winner Match 96Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, USA

Semi-finals (July 14 and July 15)

Tuesday, July 14

Prime time
Semi-final | Match 101Winner Match 97 vs Winner Match 98AT&T Stadium, Dallas, USA

Wednesday, July 15

Prime time
Semi-final | Match 102Winner Match 99 vs Winner Match 100Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, USA

Third Place Play-off (July 19, midnight EAT)

Sunday, July 19

Late night
Third place play-off | Match 103Loser Match 101 vs Loser Match 102Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, USA

The Final (Sunday July 19, 10pm EAT)

Sunday, July 19

Prime time
Final | Match 104Winner Match 101 vs Winner Match 102MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, USA

World Cup 2026 in EAT: Quick Answers

What time is the World Cup 2026 final in Uganda?

The World Cup 2026 final kicks off at 10:00pm East Africa Time on Sunday July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. That is a perfect prime time slot for fans in Kampala, Nairobi, Dar es Salaam and Kigali.

What time zone is EAT and why are the kickoff times late?

East Africa Time (EAT) is UTC+3, used in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Sudan. The 2026 World Cup is being played in the USA, Canada and Mexico, which are 7 to 10 hours behind East Africa, so most matches land between 7:00pm and 7:00am EAT.

Which teams have already qualified for the Round of 32?

After two rounds of group games, early qualifiers include Mexico, USA, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, France, Norway, Argentina, Portugal, Colombia and Croatia, among others. The third and final round of group matches from June 24 will confirm the remaining spots and the eight best third placed teams.

How many World Cup 2026 matches kick off in prime time for East Africa?

Roughly half of the 104 matches kick off between 7:00pm and midnight EAT, including the opening match, both semi-finals and the final. The rest fall overnight between midnight and 7:00am EAT, so set an alarm for the late window fixtures.

Which African teams are playing at the 2026 World Cup?

Nine African nations qualified: Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, South Africa, Cape Verde and DR Congo. Cape Verde and DR Congo are at the World Cup for the first time, and both have been competitive in their groups.

Results and kickoff times on this page are in East Africa Time (EAT, UTC+3), used in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Sudan. Matches marked FT are full time results. Dates shown are EAT calendar dates, so a match listed under Sunday at 1am is on Saturday night for viewing purposes. Scores correct as of June 24, 2026, after two rounds of group games. Knockout pairings update as the group stage concludes. © 2026 Guru8.

Music star Bebe Cool to release new EP, No Risk, on June 12

By
Doryn Crystal
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0

Music star Bebe Cool to release new EP, No Risk, on June 12

After months of political noise and a slow start to 2026 for Uganda’s music industry, top star Bebe Cool is set to bring the heat back. 

The musician- known as the King of the Uganda Music Industry- has announced a new EP titled No Risk, scheduled for release on Friday, 12th June 2026.

The announcement came via a social media post by the Gagamel boss, confirming the release date for next week. While details about tracklist and features remain under wraps, anticipation is already building among fans and music lovers across the country.

The EP No Risk arrives as a follow-up to Bebe Cool’s critically acclaimed album ‘Break The Chains’, which dropped last year on May 30 and has remained a commercial and streaming success. The album reaffirmed his dominance and earned him praise for blending various sounds such as Afro-electronic, Afrotech, and Afro-pop.

For much of late 2025 and the first half of 2026, national attention has been fixed on politics. The music scene has been relatively quiet, with few major releases. Bebe Cool’s EP is expected to break that lull and kickstart activity for the second half of the year.

Known for strategic releases and showmanship, the Big Size boss has a track record of turning EP drops into cultural moments. Fans are already speculating what theme the EP No Risk will carry.

Bebe Cool and Ugandan music fans have taken to social media to celebrate the news, with many counting down to 12th June.

No Risk will be available on all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, Boomplay, and YouTube Music upon release.

MTN MoMo Uganda Gets a New MD: Phrase Lubega Takes the Helm

By
Brian Code
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0

MTN Mobile Money (U) Limited has a new Managing Director. The Board of Directors today announced the appointment of Phrase Lubega to lead the company, with the role still subject to regulatory approval by the Bank of Uganda.

The appointment is a homecoming of sorts. Lubega is a Ugandan national who built much of his career inside MTN Uganda before rising through the Group’s broader fintech structure across Africa.

Who is Phrase Lubega?

Lubega comes to the role with over three decades of experience across telecommunications, information technology, and financial services. Most recently, he served as Interim Managing Director of MoMo Payment Service Bank in Nigeria, where he was responsible for shaping and executing the bank’s long-term strategy and digital banking model, achieving strong revenue growth and successfully launching new products.

His MTN Group career includes stints as Group Executive for Fintech Commercial Operations and General Manager for Commercial and Go-To-Market, where he played a central role in driving Mobile Financial Services growth across multiple countries.

Closer to home, he previously served as General Manager for Mobile Financial Services at MTN Uganda, where he led the launch of MoKash and drove strong revenue growth in a competitive and regulated environment. He also served as Chief Information Officer of MTN Uganda, spearheading the transformation of IT systems and enabling the growth of mobile money services.

On governance, Lubega has served as a non-executive director across MTN Mobile Money operations in Benin, Congo Brazzaville, and Guinea Conakry.

He holds an MBA from York University in the UK, an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology in the USA, and a Bachelor of Science in Physics from Makerere University.

What the leadership is saying

MTN Group Fintech CEO Serigne Dioum called Lubega a strong fit for the moment: “Phrase brings deep market expertise, strong execution capability and a proven track record of scaling mobile financial services across diverse markets. His leadership will be instrumental as we strengthen our position in Uganda.”

Board Chairperson Sylvia Mulinge echoed that confidence while also taking a moment to acknowledge the outgoing interim lead: “We extend our sincere appreciation to Sarah Bateta Okwi for her steady leadership during the interim period.”

Lubega himself kept it grounded: “It is an honour to lead MTN Mobile Money Uganda at such an exciting time in the evolution of digital financial services. I look forward to working with the talented team to expand access to financial solutions and continue driving the growth of Uganda’s digital economy.”

The bigger picture

MTN MoMo is the dominant mobile money platform in Uganda, operating in a market where mobile financial services remain the primary banking channel for millions. Bringing in a leader with Lubega’s combination of local market history and Group-level fintech experience signals that MTN is positioning MoMo Uganda for its next phase of growth, not just steady management.

The appointment is pending Bank of Uganda sign-off, after which Lubega will officially take the reins.

Anthropic Has Officially Filed to Go Public, and the AI Race to the Stock Market Is On

By
Boses Muhinda
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0

The company behind Claude has taken its first formal step toward an IPO, and the timing could not be more significant.

Anthropic announced Monday that it confidentially submitted a draft S-1 registration statement to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for a proposed initial public offering.  The move makes Anthropic the first of the major AI labs to formally initiate the public listing process, beating both OpenAI and xAI to the punch in a race that the entire tech industry has been watching closely.

The filing gives Anthropic the option to go public once the SEC completes its review, though the company noted that any offering will ultimately depend on market conditions and other factors. 

A near-trillion-dollar company heading to the market

The IPO filing comes shortly after Anthropic raised $65 billion in its latest funding round, pushing its valuation to $965 billion and surpassing rival OpenAI in the private market.  That figure alone makes this one of the most anticipated public market debuts in years, and for good reason. Anthropic has yet to set a share count or price range for the offering. 

Earlier this month, Anthropic disclosed that its run-rate revenue had crossed $47 billion, driven by organisations across industries deploying Claude in core operations and a growing number of everyday users. 

The AI IPO wave is officially here

Anthropic is not alone in eyeing the public markets. The filing catapults Anthropic ahead of rival OpenAI, which analysts expect could announce its own IPO sometime this year.  In May, the Wall Street Journal reported that OpenAI was preparing a confidential IPO filing targeting a September listing, with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley tipped to lead the offering. Meanwhile, xAI, now part of SpaceX, filed its own IPO seeking a $1.75 trillion valuation. 

The convergence of filings from three of the world’s most prominent AI companies within weeks of each other signals that the industry has reached an inflection point. For years, these labs raised enormous sums in the private market. Going public means opening the books to scrutiny, which will give the world its clearest picture yet of whether the AI boom’s financials match its ambitions.

What this means for Claude and Anthropic’s roadmap

The IPO announcement follows several notable developments from Anthropic, including the launch of Opus 4.8 and reports that its Claude Mythos model may soon be made available to the public.  A successful listing would give Anthropic access to public capital at scale, funding the kind of compute investment and talent acquisition that frontier AI development demands.

For a company that has consistently positioned itself around safety-focused AI development, going public also introduces a new dynamic: shareholder expectations. How Anthropic balances its safety mission with the pressures of quarterly performance will be one of the more interesting stories to follow as this process unfolds.

No listing date has been confirmed. The ball is now in the SEC’s court.

Via Africa: A New Subsea Cable Is Coming to Connect Europe and Africa Along the Atlantic

By
Boses Muhinda
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0

A new submarine cable system is in the works, and it could meaningfully change the connectivity landscape for West Africa and beyond.

A group of major telecoms and digital players have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the Via Africa submarine cable project, a brand-new system designed to link Europe to South Africa along the Atlantic coastline. The signatories include Canalink, GUILAB, International Mauritania Telecom, Orange Group, Orange Côte d’Ivoire, Sonatel, and Silverlinks.

The cable will land in the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal on the European side, then run south along the Atlantic coast touching the Canary Islands, Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea, Côte d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, with extensions planned further south to improve connectivity diversity for countries along the route.

A consortium model that gives partners a real seat at the table

What makes Via Africa different from a typical infrastructure rollout is how it is structured. The system operates as a consortium, meaning each participating partner co-invests in the infrastructure and takes part in its governance. This is not a passive arrangement. Investors have direct input into decisions around the design, deployment, and day-to-day operation of the cable. The consortium has also left the door open for additional partners to join as the project develops.

Why this cable matters for Africa

Much of Africa’s existing international bandwidth runs along routes that are increasingly congested and vulnerable to outages. Via Africa is specifically designed to address that by offering a different subsea path than current infrastructure, adding diversity and resilience to the regional connectivity stack. For West African countries in particular, having an alternative high-capacity route to Europe reduces dependence on a small number of cable systems and strengthens the overall robustness of the region’s internet backbone.

What happens next

The consortium’s first order of business is jointly financing a cable route study to identify the optimal path, balancing resilience, technical feasibility, and economic efficiency. In parallel, the partners are preparing a procurement process to select a cable supplier, which will mark the next major milestone in bringing the system to life.

No launch date has been announced yet, but the signing of the MoU signals that the project has moved from concept to committed action.

Google Just Showed Us the Future of Android and, It’s Called Gemini Intelligence

By
Sourced
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0

The Android Show 2026 packed more surprises than anyone expected, from AI-powered widgets to a whole new category of laptops.

Google held its second annual Android Show on Tuesday, once again getting ahead of Google I/O by a full week. The logic is the same as last year: there’s simply too much Android news to squeeze into one conference. And honestly, after seeing what was announced, it’s hard to argue with that call.

Here’s everything that came out of the show.

Gemini Intelligence is the new name for Google’s best AI

Google is now branding its most advanced AI features under a single umbrella called Gemini Intelligence. It covers phones, watches, cars, glasses, and laptops, and the pitch is straightforward: your device should be working for you before you even ask it to.

The first wave of features is landing on the latest Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy devices this summer. One standout capability is task automation across more apps. Google’s demo example was telling Gemini to take a grocery list from your notes app and build a full delivery cart from it, no manual searching required.

Chrome for Android is getting deeper Gemini integration that lets you ask questions and get things done with webpages as context, with the capability arriving in late June. Autofill is also getting an upgrade, with opt-in Gemini Personal Intelligence supporting more types of forms across Chrome and third-party apps.

Gboard is getting a feature called Rambler, which uses Gemini models to clean up your voice input in real time, stripping out filler words, pauses, and self-corrections so your message actually says what you meant to say.

Perhaps the most visually exciting addition is generative UI. Android is getting the ability to create custom homescreen widgets and Wear OS Tiles populated by information from the web and your Google apps. You describe what you want, and Gemini builds it.

Googlebook is a real thing, and it’s coming this fall

The most unexpected announcement of the day was “Googlebook,” a new category of device that Google is positioning as a Gemini-first reimagining of the laptop. The first Googlebooks are coming this fall, with Acer, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo signed on as the first hardware partners.

The headline feature is Magic Pointer, which lets you highlight anything on your screen and instantly bring Gemini in to take action. There’s also tight integration with Android phones, including the ability to cast mobile apps onto the larger screen and a Quick Access file browser that surfaces everything on your phone directly from the laptop. The devices will have a premium build and what Google is calling a “glowbar.”

Android 17 is coming for creators

Google kept the Android 17 preview focused on two things: creative tools and quality of life.

Instagram is getting a serious upgrade on Android. The app is now fully optimized for Android tablets, and Google and Meta have brought Instagram capture and editing tools to Android as well, including ultra HDR video on higher-end devices and built-in video stabilization, along with Night Sight features. The Edits app is also getting smarter, with on-device AI that can upscale photos and videos with a single tap, plus audio separation that can pull out wind noise or isolate music independently. Adobe Premiere for Android is also arriving this summer.

Screen Reactions is a new feature that lets you record your face and your screen simultaneously, which will feel very familiar to anyone who’s been doing content creation on iOS.

On the sharing side, Quick Share’s AirDrop compatibility is expanding to Samsung, Oppo, OnePlus, Vivo, Xiaomi, and Honor, and in the meantime Quick Share can generate a QR code for instant sharing with iOS devices via the cloud.

The iOS-to-Android transfer process is also getting an overhaul, letting you wirelessly migrate passwords, photos, messages, apps, contacts, homescreen layout, and even your eSIM, arriving first on Galaxy and Pixel this summer.

Digital Wellbeing is finally getting some new life with a feature called Pause Point. Instead of hard app lockouts or easy-to-dismiss timers, it offers a 10-second pause when you’ve hit your limit, surfacing a breathing exercise and asking “Why am I here?” It’s a subtle but genuinely thoughtful approach to screen time.

And then there are the emoji. Google is completely redesigning its default emoji set under the name Noto 3D, with three-dimensional designs rolling out to Pixel devices first later this year.

Android Auto gets a proper redesign

Android Auto is receiving a Material 3 Expressive redesign featuring expressive fonts, smooth animations, wallpapers, and widget support, with Google Maps Immersive Navigation delivering an edge-to-edge experience.

Supported vehicles from BMW, Ford, Genesis, Hyundai, Kia, and others are getting full HD video at 60 FPS, while a separate group of manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Renault are getting spatial sound with Dolby Atmos. Gemini Intelligence features will also come to Android Auto later this year, including the ability to handle app automation tasks like ordering food while you drive.

Google I/O officially kicks off on 19 May, where more AI and Android announcements are expected. But if today was the warm-up act, the main show is going to be something.

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