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RTHK
09-07-2025
- RTHK
Tighter SIM card curbs in works to fight phone scams
Tighter SIM card curbs in works to fight phone scams The government is proposing that a person can only register for three prepaid SIM cards under the real-name registration programme, down from 10. Photo: RTHK The government on Wednesday proposed registration limits for prepaid SIM cards be reduced and new categories of offences be introduced to further combat phone deception in the city. In a paper submitted to the Legislative Council, the Communications Authority said more efforts were needed to protect people from such scams despite more fraudulent websites and phone numbers having been blocked since the introduction of such measures in September 2022. It proposed that individuals be only allowed to register for three prepaid SIM cards under the real-name registration programme for subscriber identification module cards, down from the current limit of 10. Improper use of all types of SIM cards will also be deemed a criminal offence, including providing personal information that enables another person to register for a card, selling or buying cards that have already been registered, and possessing 10 or more cards registered with information from other people without a valid reason. The Communications Authority suggested such offences should come with fines of HK$25,000 or a prison term of 12 months upon conviction. It said such amendments could "effectively combat fraudulent activities involving prepaid SIM cards, and thereby better protect telecommunications service users from potential harm", and that the office would "continue to monitor the implementation of anti-phone deception measures and introduce further enhanced measures when necessary". Since the real-name registration programme was rolled out in September 2023, about 4.84 million prepaid SIM card registrations had been rejected and another 3.46 million cards deregistered after failing sampling checks by the telecommunication service providers.
Al Arabiya
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
Youth-led protests erupt again in Kenya over police brutality and poor governance
Youth-led protests against police brutality and poor governance erupted across Kenya again on Wednesday, with thousands making their way to the central business district in the capital, Nairobi. The protests, which coincided with the first anniversary of demonstrations opposing tax hikes that left 60 people dead and 20 others missing, followed last week's rallies that demanded answers for the unexplained death of a Kenyan blogger while in police custody. Frustration is growing, especially among Generation Z, over police violence, economic struggles, and government mismanagement. The Communications Authority of Kenya directed local media to stop all live broadcasts of the protests halfway through the day, as President William Ruto warned that violence wouldn't be tolerated. Many turned to social media to share updates and remember slain protesters. Others posted anti-government messages and memes. On the streets, some could be seen offering protesters water. Here's why unrest is gripping Kenya: Police brutality. Calls for accountability have grown louder in Kenya after a street hawker was killed during last week's protests. A Kenyan court has given detectives 15 days to complete investigations into two police officers suspected of the shooting. This came as young people flooded social media platforms throughout the week with commemorations of protesters killed last year. At the time, Ruto apologized and vowed to end police brutality as the top police chief resigned. 'Not a single officer has been held to account,' said Hussein Khaled, a human rights activist, adding that people took to the streets to demand 'justice in terms of compensation … arrest of those officers who were involved … police reforms because too many Kenyans are losing their lives to police brutality.' Economic frustration. Last year's deadly protests strongly opposed a finance bill that raised taxes significantly to address debt, putting an undue burden on young, educated people struggling with unemployment and a rising cost of living. Ruto later scrapped the bill. Some tax proposals were reintroduced later, drawing widespread criticism and calls for Ruto's resignation following the appointment of a new but widely criticized cabinet. A revamped healthcare levy also changed standard premiums to a progressive tax based on income. UN data shows that 70 percent of sub-Saharan Africa is under the age of 30, with 67 percent of Kenya's young people unemployed. 'Both the health and the education sectors, which greatly affect the youth, are seemingly sinking due to misguided policies and failure to provide needed resources. At the same time, there appears to be unlimited funds for aristocratic luxuries,' said Macharia Munene, professor of History and International Relations at US International University Africa in Nairobi, referring to some state people's spending that has been strongly condemned. Poor governance. Ruto has been accused of misappropriating taxpayer money on lavish trips, most notably the use of a private jet on his trip to the US right before last year's protests. He apologized and dismissed ministers accused of incompetence, corruption, and displays of opulence amid complaints about the high cost of living. Meanwhile, Kenya's opposition received its share of criticism, with many saying it avoided challenging the status quo after some of its members were appointed in Ruto's new cabinet. 'Enough is enough … We are here for change; it is time for us to get our nation (back),' said protestor Sevelina Mwihaki. 'The blood that we have shed is enough.'
CNN
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Police fire teargas and water cannon at protesters in Kenya as thousands take to the streets
Kenyan police have fired teargas and water cannon to disperse protesters as thousands took to the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government demonstrations that left dozens dead. The government regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya, has ordered all television and radio stations in the country to stop broadcasting live coverage of protests of the youth-led march, which began Wednesday. The government agency falsely claimed that live coverage of the demonstrations violated Kenyan laws, while threatening regulatory action for non-compliance with the directive. Many of the stations did not immediately cease broadcasting, including CNN affiliate Citizen TV. Thousands of people demonstrated in the capital, Nairobi, the coastal city of Mombasa, and other towns to mark the protest anniversary. In Nairobi, roads leading to the Kenyan Parliament building and the president's office were barricaded ahead of the demonstrations. Last June, many were killed by security forces outside Parliament, drawing nationwide outrage. The demonstrations in 2024 forced the withdrawal of a controversial finance bill that raised taxes. However, many of Kenya's youth are still enraged over several cases of alleged police brutality, including the death of a teacher in police custody and the shooting of an unarmed street vendor. CNN witnessed police shooting live rounds in Nairobi to disperse peaceful protesters on Wednesday. Several of the demonstrators showed spent cartridges. Demonstrators were also repelled with teargas and water cannon trucks in the capital – reminiscent of last year's dramatic scenes. Citizen TV posted a video on X showing injured individuals being wheeled into a Nairobi hospital. In Mombasa, some protesters were arrested and hauled into police trucks, another video showed. One person is reported to have been killed during demonstrations in eastern Kenya's Machakos County on Wednesday morning, according to Citizen TV. CNN could not immediately verify the casualty but has asked the police service for comment.
CNN
25-06-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Police fire teargas and water cannon at protesters in Kenya as thousands take to the streets
Kenyan police have fired teargas and water cannon to disperse protesters as thousands took to the streets to mark the one-year anniversary of anti-government demonstrations that left dozens dead. The government regulator, the Communications Authority of Kenya, has ordered all television and radio stations in the country to stop broadcasting live coverage of protests of the youth-led march, which began Wednesday. The government agency falsely claimed that live coverage of the demonstrations violated Kenyan laws, while threatening regulatory action for non-compliance with the directive. Many of the stations did not immediately cease broadcasting, including CNN affiliate Citizen TV. Thousands of people demonstrated in the capital, Nairobi, the coastal city of Mombasa, and other towns to mark the protest anniversary. In Nairobi, roads leading to the Kenyan Parliament building and the president's office were barricaded ahead of the demonstrations. Last June, many were killed by security forces outside Parliament, drawing nationwide outrage. The demonstrations in 2024 forced the withdrawal of a controversial finance bill that raised taxes. However, many of Kenya's youth are still enraged over several cases of alleged police brutality, including the death of a teacher in police custody and the shooting of an unarmed street vendor. CNN witnessed police shooting live rounds in Nairobi to disperse peaceful protesters on Wednesday. Several of the demonstrators showed spent cartridges. Demonstrators were also repelled with teargas and water cannon trucks in the capital – reminiscent of last year's dramatic scenes. Citizen TV posted a video on X showing injured individuals being wheeled into a Nairobi hospital. In Mombasa, some protesters were arrested and hauled into police trucks, another video showed. One person is reported to have been killed during demonstrations in eastern Kenya's Machakos County on Wednesday morning, according to Citizen TV. CNN could not immediately verify the casualty but has asked the police service for comment.
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Young innovators rise: build ICT and AI solutions, shine at WTISD-HK 2025, hosted by the Communications Association of Hong Kong
This year's World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD-HK) successfully concluded with a Prize Presentation Ceremony on May 17, 2025. In alignment with the theme, 'Enhance equality in our society with AI in communications', set by the International Telecommunication Union, the Communications Association of Hong Kong (CAHK) has collaborated with schools and the information and communication technology (ICT) sector to inspire students to develop innovative digital solutions addressing social challenges. WTISD-HK 2025 featured two main activities: ICT Open Day and Proposal Competition. Both activities aligned with the theme of WTISD-HK 2025, attracting enthusiastic participation from over 300 Form Four to Six secondary school students as well as those in tertiary education. The Communications Authority has continued to support WTISD-HK as the event sponsor this year. Lending their support as the site sponsors for the ICT Open Day were China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited (CMHK), Communications Authority, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, HGC Global Communications Limited, Hong Kong Institute of Information Technology (HKIIT), HKT Limited, and SmarTone, while Huawei sponsored the prizes given out at the Proposal Competition. The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) Academy served as the venue sponsor for the WTISD-HK 2025 Prize Presentation Ceremony. The welcome speech was from Alex Wong, the chairman of WTISD-HK 2025 and vice-chairman of the Communications Association of Hong Kong. Photo: CAHK About 210 students and teachers from 16 schools took full advantage of the ICT Open Day, forming guided tour groups to visit various organisations and companies. These tours provided students with an exclusive opportunity to participate in workshops and gain valuable insights from industry experts. By interacting with professionals and executives of the site sponsors, students gained deeper insights into how AI applications are advancing communications and benefiting society. The organisers and site sponsors were highly impressed by the students' maturity and insightful perspectives on AI communication technologies. The ICT Open Day has played a vital role in inspiring secondary students to consider future careers in the ICT sector. CAHK extends its gratitude to the site sponsors for their unwavering support in making this event engaging and impactful for all participating students. The Proposal Competition aimed to encourage students to develop innovative solutions that apply AI to telecommunications and communications. Centred around the theme, 'Enhance equality in our society with AI in communications', the competition motivated students to explore AI-driven solutions that promote equality in various aspects – including but not limited to education, social inclusion, economics, gender and race – while fostering a more equitable digital future within Hong Kong communities. A judging panel of six industry executives and ICT experts reviewed the submissions and were highly impressed by their quality. Kingsley Yeung from the Office of the Communications Authority, gave the keynote speech. Photo: CAHK The judges praised the students' thorough research, insightful analysis of AI applications in both domestic and global contexts, and their ability to identify AI's potential for benefiting society. Each proposal demonstrated a deep understanding of AI's role in addressing societal challenges, with many students skilfully utilising presentation tools to enhance their work. The judges commended the students for their exceptional innovation and practical applications, recognising their forward-thinking approaches. The winners of the Proposal Competition together with judges and company sponsors at the Prize Presentation Ceremony for WTISD-HK 2025. Photo: CAHK Spanning March and May, the two main activities organised by CAHK for WTISD-HK 2025 successfully engaged students, harnessing their creativity to develop AI-driven solutions for social challenges while exposing them to the ICT sector. CAHK will actively look after and mentor the next generation of potential ICT professionals. The student winners of the ''Enhance equality in our society with AI in communications'' Proposal Competition 2025. Photo: CAHK The school winners of the ''Enhance equality in our society with AI in communications'' Proposal Competition 2025. Photo: CAHK For more event highlights, please visit CAHK's Facebook page (@wtisd2025), Instagram account (@wtisd2025) or official website ( A special thanks to the event sponsor, prizes sponsor, venue sponsor, ICT Open Day site sponsors and media partner. Photo: CAHK
