Africa: The Chessboard of Contest – Africa in the Age of Multipolarity
War, we know, is rarely the product of a single cause. More often, it is born of a convergence of political, economic, social, and ideological pressures. At its core, every war is an expression of what scholars call geopolitical contestation. It is a struggle among nations for influence, security, and advantage within the constraints of…
Africa: Oil Prices Soar Above $100 Per Barrel As Us/Israel War On Iran Disrupts Supply
Global oil prices have surged past $100 per barrel for the first time in over five years as the escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran disrupts supplies through the Strait of Hormuz. The price of Brent crude has jumped to $109.18 per barrel, crossing the $100 mark for the first time in…
Why Vladimir Putin may be the big winner from Trump’s Iran war
Oil prices are soaring, and America’s attention and its military resources have shifted decisively to the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin may have lost another Kremlin-friendly leader, but the Iran war could prove a long-term boon for his country, whose economy is dependent on energy exports. “So far, there is only one winner in…
Amazon’s Zoox explands autonomous testing to Dallas and Phoenix
Amazon’s self-driving subsidiary, Zoox, announced that it is expanding its testing footprint to Dallas and Phoenix. The rollout will begin with retrofitted Toyota Highlander SUVs equipped with human safety drivers to map the urban environments. These preliminary tests serve as the precursor to the eventual deployment of Zoox’s “purpose-built” robotaxis—vehicles designed without traditional steering wheels…
Africa: Government Welcomes Continued Growth in South Africa’s Economy
Government has welcomed the latest data released by Statistics South Africa showing that South Africa’s economy grew by 1.1% in 2025, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Fourth quarter performance, covering the period from October to December, marks the fifth consecutive quarter of economic growth, signalling continued resilience in…
Africa: Powering Africa’s digital future – Why energy infrastructure is the foundation of the intelligent era
At Mobile World Congress Barcelona 2026, the theme “Data, Compute & Energy: the power equation of the AI era ” captured a reality the digital economy can no longer ignore. Amid the global race to digitalize economies and strengthen economic competitiveness, a paradox is emerging. Artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital services are often perceived…
Customer Experience for Small Businesses: The Growth Blind Spot
Small businesses don’t fail because they don’t work hard. They fail, plateau, or stay “small” because they run out of repeatable growth. One of the most underestimated blockers to scale is customer experience for small businesses, yet it is also one of the least measured drivers of growth. Often in the SME world, CX is…
Italy buys rare Caravaggio portrait for €30m
The purchase is part of wider plans to prevent major artworks from being bought by private collectors.
Digital literacy meets HIV awareness through Empower+
Empower+ equips adolescent girls with foundational and AI skills, preparing them for an AI-enabled economy. (Image supplied by Microsoft) Microsoft and the UNAIDS-supported Education Plus initiative have collaborated to launch Empower+, a free artificial intelligence (AI) and digital skills platform aimed at equipping young people with future-ready skills across 21 African countries. According to a…
Africa: South Africa Could Run Short of Fuel If Middle East Conflict Goes On
A shipping source says Engen cut back on fuel supplies to Gqeberha and Durban because of the Middle East conflict disrupting shipping routes. Big fuel price increases are expected in April 2026, with petrol going up by R2.78 and diesel by R5.03 per litre. Three local fuel retailer owners from different franchises say they have…