‘We drive an electric Uber’
The fourth episode of TechCentral’s electric motoring show, Watts & Wheels, covers a packed news agenda, two vehicle reviews and an in-depth look at the 2026 South African Car of the Year semi-finalists. The episode opens with the latest EV news, including fresh import duty statistics from Donald MacKay of XA Global Trade Advisors and…
African Climate Science-Policy Has a Serious Blind Spot – the Slowing Atlantic Circulation
The climate fiction movie The Day After Tomorrow, released in 2004, popularised the devastating effects of sudden climate change on planet Earth. The plot dramatises the consequences of a shut-down in an ocean current, and features the Northern Hemisphere plunging, within a few weeks, into an ice age. The lead character, palaeoclimatologist Jack Hall, uncovers…
Africans Want Elections but Don’t Trust Electoral Management Bodies to Ensure They’re Free and Fair
Assessments of election quality have worsened over the past decade. Key findings On average across 38 countries, about three-quarters (74%) of Africans support choosing their leaders through regular, open, and honest elections. This is the majority position in every surveyed country, although support for elections has weakened over the past decade. Strong majorities favour multiparty…
Salesforce employees call on CEO Benioff to cancel ICE ‘opportunities’
Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff participates in an interview at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 21, 2026. Chris J. Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images Over 1,400 Salesforce employees have signed a letter calling on CEO Marc Benioff to drop potential business with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, two people…
Pony AI and Toyota launch mass production of driverless bZ4X robotaxis
In a significant step toward the scaling of autonomous transport, Chinese robotaxi operator Pony AI has officially commenced commercial production of a driverless vehicle in partnership with its backer, Toyota Motor. The company announced on Monday that the first unit of a planned 1,000 all-electric Toyota bZ4X compact crossovers has rolled off the assembly line…
Africa: Zijin to Acquire Allied Gold for $4b As Africa Push Grows
Zijin Mining is finalizing a $4 billion all-cash acquisition of Allied Gold Corporation, tightening its grip on African gold output as prices surge. Under the agreement, Zijin Gold International will pay C$44 a share, valuing Allied Gold at about $4 billion. The assets produced about 400,000 ounces in 2025 and are expected to reach about…
Africa: Canal+ Targets Africa Synergies After Multichoice Takeover
Canal+ outlined the first benefits of its acquisition of MultiChoice, pointing to Africa as the main source of cost savings and growth. The deal was completed on Sept. 22, 2025. Speaking to investors on Jan. 29, Canal+ Chairman Maxime Saada said the group expects more than €400 million of EBITDA synergies and about €300 million…
DOJ fails to secure indictment in connection with Democrats involved in ‘illegal orders’ video
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration tried and failed on Tuesday to secure an indictment in connection with a video featuring six Democratic lawmakers urging members of the military and intelligence communities not to comply with unlawful orders, three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News. It was not clear how many of the lawmakers…
Sharp focus on safer online space on world internet day
Safer Internet Day educates children, parents, educators and stakeholders about the risks associated with the online space. (Image source: 123RF) This year’s Safer Internet Day (SID) comes amid heightened interest in the development of tailor-made laws to combat social media harms, with Australia’s Online Safety Amendment serving as an example. Commemorated globally on the second…
Africa: Dangote Targets 90m – Tonne Cement Production to Make Africa Self-Sufficient
Dangote Cement Plc has reaffirmed its commitment to making Africa fully self-sufficient in cement production, strengthening the continent’s industrial backbone and reducing reliance on imported construction materials. Speaking during a strategic briefing on the company’s expansion drive, the Group Managing Director of Dangote Cement, Mr. Arvind Pathak, emphasised that the company is accelerating its investments…