Drug ring’s “monkey” technique used young swimmers to stash cocaine on ships at sea, Spanish police say
Spanish police on Thursday said they had busted a network that saw smugglers swim on the high seas to help stash Colombian cocaine on Europe-bound container ships and hijack vessels. The bust was revealed just three days after Spain announced its largest-ever seizure of cocaine at sea. The network employed a so-called “monkey” technique, which…
Intent-driven marketing fuels SA’s e-commerce
Automation drives ecommerce gains in South Africa. South Africa’s e-commerce sector recorded strong growth in 2025, with order volumes across all channels increasing by 47% year-on-year (YOY), according to a new report by e-commerce marketing platform, Omnisend. The report is based on an analysis of nearly 3 000 South African e-commerce platforms, drawing on data…
Canada’s Carney hails improving ties with China | Politics News
Carney is on a four-day trip to China, the first by a Canadian PM since 2017, in a move to thaw tense relations. Prime Minister Mark Carney has hailed Canada’s improving ties with China, as well as the leadership of President Xi Jinping, declaring that their nations were charting a new course in cooperation at…
Shoppers forcing merchants to adopt new digital payment methods
Mpho Sadiki, MD for Payfast Whereas merchants and industry usually push digital innovation, consumers are driving merchants to innovate in online payments. The proliferation of digital tools is upending the online payments space, with consumers now driving the pace of innovation by forcing merchants to adopt their preferred payment methods instead of the other way…
Africa: The High Cost of Politics – Enabling Corruption and Fiscal Indiscipline in Africa
Elections are fundamental to democracy but their financial implications are escalating. Between now and 2027, many African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Congo, will hold elections. This is at a time when the rising cost of politics and campaign spending is rapidly changing the electoral landscape across the continent, with implications for democracy’s health. Campaigns,…
Oil falls more than 4% as traders see Trump backing away from Iran strike threats
Oil prices fell more than 4% on Thursday, after comments from U.S. President Donald Trump eased market speculation that an American strike on Iran could be imminent. Brent crude oil futures, the global benchmark, lost 4.13%, or $2.75, to $63.77 a barrel. Front-month West Texas Intermediate crude lost $2.65, or 4.27%, to trade at $59.37…
Google Gemini will power Apple’s new Siri
Apple and Google have officially confirmed a multi-year collaboration that will see Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology power the next generation of Apple Foundation Models. According to a joint statement released by both companies, this partnership is designed to enhance Apple Intelligence features, with a specific focus on launching a more personalized version of…
Africa: Has Africa Come of Age Now?
On Sunday, January 11, it was exactly 50 years that former Head of State General Murtala Mohammed made an anti-imperialist statement at a summit of African leaders in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. He was killed in an abortive coup on a Lagos street 33 days later, on February 13, 1976. He was succeeded by General…
Trump Weighs Response After 2,500 Protesters Killed in Iran
IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. New Push Underway to Make it Easier to Cancel Subscriptions 03:03 Why Matthew McConaughey Is Trademarking His Voice, Likeness 02:33 Verizon Resolves Widespread Outage That Cut Service for Hours 02:37 Denmark Foreign Minister Scoffs at Trump’s Bid to Take Greenland…
Cyber attacks spike amid rising ransomware, GenAI threats
Ransomware and GenAI risks are on the rise. In December 2025, organisations globally faced sustained cyber pressure, as the average number of cyber attacks per organisation per week reached 2 027, a 1% increase from the previous month and a 9% increase from December 2024. In SA, companies faced 1 850 attacks per week, with financial…
