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Twitter shuts down Fleets
Twitter Inc. is shutting down Fleets, the company’s version of disappearing stories, after it failed to win the enthusiasm of users. Twitter launched Fleets just eight months ago after testing the product in a handful of markets. The feature, which appeared prominently at the top of the app, let people share posts that disappeared after
FNB blocks Bitcoin credit card purchases from overseas
First National Bank (FNB) has started blocking its clients from buying cryptocurrency with their credit cards from overseas exchanges. One MyBroadband reader said that they tried to purchase a small amount of cryptocurrency through Binance on Thursday morning and were blocked. Binance is the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world by trading volume, according to CoinGecko and CoinMarketcap.
Why it is essential that we pave a road for women in tech
The world is changing at a rapid pace, making us witnesses of a thrilling, tech-fueled era that humanity dreamed of reaching for decades. Even though the Fourth Industrial Revolution already took off in the mid-20th century, the Covid-19 pandemic intensified its momentum. A 2020 McKinsey Global Survey of executives found that the tech transformation accelerated by seven
4 ways to stand out as a small business in a crowded space
The past year has undoubtedly demanded pivots and change in more ways than anyone could have imagined. Businesses were catapulted into endurance mode with a singular focus: survival. As new survival methods (and messaging) became the norm, entrepreneurs fell into a pattern of using their message to bridge the gap from unprecedented to post-pandemic. The
Google fined €500-million in news copyright row
France’s antitrust watchdog slapped a €500-million fine on Google on Tuesday for failing to comply with the regulator’s orders on how to conduct talks with the country’s news publishers in a row over copyright. The fine comes amid increasing international pressure on online platforms such as Google and Facebook to share more revenue with news outlets.
iPhone 13 will get big screen upgrade
Apple Inc. has asked suppliers to build as many as 90 million next-generation iPhones this year, a sharp increase from its 2020 iPhone shipments, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The Cupertino, California-based tech giant has maintained a consistent level in recent years of roughly 75 million units for the initial run from
Major food shortages expected in South Africa
South Africans are expected to face major food shortages in the wake of days of violent unrest across two key provinces, as rioters upend supply chains by looting supermarkets and torching goods trucks. Footage of empty or sparse grocery-store shelves has been a staple of local news reports since the weekend, while chains such as
South African LG factory burned down
LG Electronics relocated its plant from Johannesburg to Durban and unveiled its new home for manufacturing and distribution on 24 January 2020. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala said the move was a “progressive decision as this factory has the potential to contribute tremendously in growing the City and province’s economy”. The factory had a staff complement of
Virgin Galactic may sell $500m of shares after space success
Virgin Galactic has said it may sell up to $500m of shares after completing a successful space trip on Sunday. In a filing, the company says it plans to use cash raised to develop its spaceship fleet and infrastructure. On Sunday, Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic's billionaire founder, reached the edge of space on one
Rand drops after riots hit South Africa
South Africa’s rand slumped to its weakest level against the dollar in more than two months as rioting that started with last week’s arrest of former President Jacob Zuma spread, weighing on the outlook for an economy already strained by a resurgence of the coronavirus. The violent protests shuttered businesses and disrupted transport networks in
Kulula flights stopped until September
Comair has extended the suspension of Kulula.com and British Airways flights until 31 August 2021, following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement that South Africa will remain on lockdown level 4. Comair said the prohibition of all non-essential travel in and out of Gauteng means there is limited demand for business travel. Comair suspended all scheduled flights
Operation PROSPER launched in South Africa
The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, announced in the Government Gazette that 2,500 troops would be deployed to help police bring rioting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng under control. Dubbed Operation PROSPER, the deployment will be from 12 July to 12 October 2021. The troop deployment aims “for service in cooperation with the
Telkom closes all stores countrywide until further notice
Telkom has joined MTN and Vodacom in shutting stores in violence-torn KwaZulu-Natal, and has now decided to close its outlets countrywide until further notice as a precautionary measure. “Please note that from 13 July, all Telkom stores across the country will be closed until the situation can be assessed fully and it can be established
Samsung quietly launched its TV Plus streaming service on the web
Samsung recently launched a web version of its free and ad-supported Smart TV Plus streaming service for live and linear programming as well as added casting support for Chromecast devices. The streaming product, which was previously limited to Samsung TV and mobile devices, launched as a web service in the second quarter, Protocol reported Friday.
Redesigned iPad mini reportedly on track to launch this fall
Apple plans to release a new iPad mini featuring “the biggest redesign in [its] nine-year history” this fall, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports (via 9to5Mac). The new device is expected to feature slimmer bezels, a larger display, faster performance, and a design similar to Apple’s new iPad Air from last year, MacRumors notes. It could be
Millions of Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom subscribers suffer from recent cyber scam
A criminal syndicate has stolen millions from Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom subscribers in a sophisticated new scam. Many mobile subscribers have discovered a number has been added to their profile without their permission, and thousands in airtime and data transferred to this number. To steal as much money as possible, the criminals take control of
More load-shedding to hit South Africa
Eskom has urged the public to reduce electricity usage as the South African Weather Service forecasts extremely cold weather this week. “Eskom has not implemented load-shedding since 13 June 2021 due to some improvement in the performance of the generation fleet and the system is currently performing relatively well,” the power utility said in a
South Africa’s emergency power plans in disarray
Following the announcement on 18 March 2021 of preferred bidders for 2000 MW of new emergency generation capacity in South Africa, the “non-negotiable” timelines for both financial closure by the end of July 2021 and power to the grid by mid to end 2022 are looking increasingly unlikely. In addition, the local content designated by
Billionaire Dangote can’t get enough tomatoes to run plant profitably
Nigerian billionaire Aliko Dangote is barely managing to operate Africa’s biggest tomato processing plant, six years after the factory began production, as he can’t get adequate berries to crush. Dangote’s 1,200-ton a day plant is producing at 20% of capacity because farmers don’t have enough resources to boost acreage. The factory was meant to reverse
African finance chiefs urge G-20 to speed up access to IMF funds
Four African finance ministers urged the Group of 20 nations to pressure the International Monetary Fund to accelerate the disbursement of new loans the continent needs to overcome the economic devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic and avert an insolvency crisis. “Timely, stable and sufficient long-term financing on fair terms for an inclusive and sustainable