In a co-authored article for The Conversation, Murdoch University academics Dr Ana Rita Sequeira, Dr Halina Kobryn and Dr Mark P McHenry report on the benefits a water infrastructure project brought to a Mozambique town. The United Nations reports that water scarcity affects more than 40 of the global population. Just over a third of people don’t have access to safely managed drinking water. This is why the Sustainable Development Goals set out to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.…
Read MoreDay: Apr 24, 2019
Samsung Delays Launch of Galaxy Fold After Screen Failures
Samsung Electronics Co. will delay the launch of its first foldable smartphone from the planned April 26 debut after reports of screen failures among some review units, a setback for the world’s biggest handset maker. The Suwon, South Korea-based company said it would postpone the retail launch of the Galaxy Fold, without giving a new debut date. Several publications, including Bloomberg News, had reported a bevy of problems with test versions of the $1,980 device after only days of use. Samsung had said it would thoroughly investigate the issue, while…
Read MoreRenewable energy vehicles can revolutionise South Africa’s public transport system
With a few simple initiatives, South Africa can get into line with the developed world and take a drastic step toward weaning our public transport system off fossil fuels and on to renewables. All it will take is a few aggressive moves by the government, like subsidising the import of electric vehicles, especially those appropriate to the taxi industry. South Africa has the opportunity to fundamentally change the way we operate our public transport system – if we take the opportunity that is staring us in the face. If we…
Read MoreHey Siri! Why are food retailers so slow to embrace technology?
This article was originally published on The Conversation, an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. Disclosure information is available on the original site. Author: Sylvain Charlebois, Director, Agri-Food Analytics Lab, Professor in Food Distribution and Policy, Dalhousie University Your own voice will likely become the most significant focus for food retailers and restaurants over the next little while. Voice searches are increasingly becoming the norm. A recent study suggests that more than 50 per cent of all online searches will be voice-activated by…
Read MoreChina plastic waste ban throws global recycling into chaos
From grubby packaging engulfing small Southeast Asian communities to waste piling up in plants from the US to Australia, China’s ban on accepting the world’s used plastic has plunged global recycling into turmoil. For many years, China received the bulk of scrap plastic from around the world, processing much of it into a higher quality material that could be used by manufacturers. But at the start of 2018, it closed its doors to almost all foreign plastic waste, as well as many other recyclables, in a push to protect the…
Read MoreDeputy Minister of Trade and Industry to launch R40m first phase of industrial park
DURBAN – The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Bulelani Magwanishe will officially launch the completion of the first phase of the revitalised Nkowankowa Industrial Park in Tzaneen, on Monday, 29 April 2019. Magwanishe is expected to be joined by the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Seaparo Sekoati, the Mayor of the Mopani District Municipality, Councillor Nkakareng Rakgoale, the Mayor of the Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality, Councillor Maripe Mangena and the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA), Dr Matata Mokoele. The first phase…
Read MoreAngola looks to benefit from surge in oil prices
INTERNATIONAL – Angola plans to auction nine blocks this year and is seeking to build new refineries as Africa’s second-biggest oil producer looks to benefit from a surge in crude prices that could boost companies’ appetite for investments.The tenders for the offshore areas are part of efforts to lure back global explorers that cut spending after crude crashed in 2014, driving down output in the oil-dependent nation. The nine blocks are located in the Namibe basin, Angolan Oil Minister Diamantino Azevedo said, and are part of 55 that local newspaper…
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