SME Confidence Falls Despite Improving Economy

SME Confidence Falls Despite Improving Economy

South African small and medium enterprises (SMEs) reported a broad-based decline in confidence during the third quarter of 2025, despite a series of positive macroeconomic developments and strong optimism around the G20 Summit. This is according to the latest Business Partners Limited SME Confidence Index, which shows weakening sentiment across almost all performance indicators compared to…

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Africa: As Europe Drinks Less, Big Alcohol Turns to Africa

Africa: As Europe Drinks Less, Big Alcohol Turns to Africa

As drinking declines in Europe and North America, global alcohol companies are shifting their growth strategy towards emerging markets – including South Africa. Public health advocates warn that increased sales efforts could deepen alcohol-related harm just as the Treasury considers reforms aimed at reducing consumption. When Heineken’s global CEO, Dolf van den Brink, announced his…

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Google announces dates for Google I/O 2026

Google announces dates for Google I/O 2026

Google has officially marked its calendar for May 19 and 20, confirming that Google I/O 2026 will return to the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View. As the company’s premier developer event, it serves as the launchpad for the next year of software innovation. While the conference is technically for developers, the opening keynote, which will…

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Africa: As Europe Drinks Less, Big Alcohol Turns to Africa

Africa: No, Helping Strangers Use Their Smartphones Will Not Expose You to ‘Ai Biometric Identity Fraud’

No, helping strangers use their smartphones will not expose you to ‘AI biometric identity fraud’ IN SHORT: Warnings that strangers asking for help using a smartphone may actually be scammers conducting “AI biometric identity fraud” are just scaremongering. Even if well-intentioned, these warnings misrepresent how biometric security and impersonation scams actually work. “STOP HELPING STRANGERS…

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Africa: All of Africa Today – February 19, 2026

Africa: All of Africa Today – February 19, 2026

  Dozens of Miners Dead After Suspected Gas Leak in Nigeria At least 33 miners were reported dead in central Nigeria’s Plateau state after a suspected carbon-monoxide leak at a lead and zinc mine operated by Solid Unity Nigeria Ltd. Toxic gas is believed to have built up in poorly ventilated tunnels, causing workers to collapse near…

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Africa: As Europe Drinks Less, Big Alcohol Turns to Africa

Africa: Global Fund Board Welcomes Final Eighth Replenishment Outcome of U.S.$12.64 Billion, Backs Strategic Shifts to Advance Countries’ Path to Self-Reliance

Geneva — The Board of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) welcomed the final outcome of the partnership’s Eighth Replenishment – US$12.64 billion – at its 54th meeting on 12-13 February. “This remarkable result, achieved in a challenging global context, reflects the strong support for the Global Fund’s lifesaving…

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