In leaked images, posted by users of China’s Weibo social network, Honor’s new hardware certainly looks premium enough. It also looks like a chunky bugger, probably because Honor is supposed to be sticking a massive battery inside the X80 Pro Max.

X80 Pro Max normal

How massive? Try 11,000mAh, which is gigantic for any phone. The (still unsized but probably 6.79in) 2,788 x 1,280px display will apparently run in front of a Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 processor, and there will be 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage inside this thing. How, exactly, it’ll justify the Pro Max tag isn’t clear.

But the phone’s camera has clearly taken centre stage, so perhaps that’s it. Or, at least, we hope there’s something impressive in there to match the name. The Honor X70 didn’t go especially hard on the photography front, and this rumoured phone looks more incremental than revolutionary. Perhaps Honor is just talking about the battery being ‘Max’.

Either way, it’s expected that Honor will make its X80 Pro Max (or perhaps just the X80) official soon enough. Whether we’ll ever see it here is another matter. Previous models in the lineup have not launched here, but we’re intrigued by the idea of an 11,000mAh battery in a budget-to-mid smartphone. Even if the name is a little… overblown for what else is inside.

Source

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Present-day galaxies have had more than 10 billion years to grow old and die. But this is not true in the early universe: we expect to see very few dead galaxies in the first billion years of cosmic time.

In 2022, the James Webb Space Telescope gave us our first clear glimpse of galaxies in the early universe. What we saw completely defied our expectations: there were too many big, dead galaxies, far earlier than expected.

Astronomers came up with many possible explanations. Some suggested that dark energy – the mysterious phenomenon believed to be driving the universe’s expansion – may have been stronger in the early universe than current theories predict. This would allow galaxies to grow (and die) faster. However, the real solution may be much simpler.

Our new study, published today in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, reveals an early massive galaxy in the throes of death: its gas is being rapidly blasted into space by a powerful “galaxy wind”, and it may very soon run out of gas. This galaxy offers a new solution to the mystery of what killed big galaxies in the early universe.

Prime suspects for massive galaxy death

There are two ways to eject gas from galaxies: exploding stars (called supernovae) that push gas away, and supermassive black holes that accelerate gas to such high speeds that it escapes the gravitational pull of the galaxy. Both produce fast-moving gas streams that astronomers call galaxy winds.

These winds have long been considered one of the main causes of galaxy death.

Black holes produce faster winds than exploding stars, making them the favoured means for ejecting gas from the largest, most massive galaxies. Many theories suggest that only the powerful winds driven by supermassive black holes can kill the largest galaxies.

However, testing these predictions is hard. As the gas in the wind leaves a galaxy, it becomes very faint very quickly, making galaxy winds difficult to see even in nearby galaxies.

In distant galaxies, they were almost invisible until recently.

Transforming our view of the early universe

Designed to look deeper in space than any telescope before it, the James Webb Space Telescope has transformed our view of the early universe. It allows us to see things that were previously undetectable – including hot, fast-moving gas ejected from early massive galaxies.

For our new study, we paired observations from the James Webb Space Telescope with data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, the world’s most powerful radio telescope, which measures cold star-forming gas swept out of galaxies by winds.

Together, these telescopes give us the most complete picture yet of galaxy winds in the early universe.

One galaxy, called CRISTAL-02, stood out to us immediately. We noticed it was forming stars twice as fast as other similar-sized galaxies. Our extremely sensitive observations revealed a huge plume of cold gas extending far away from CRISTAL-02. This plume was almost as long as the galaxy itself – a telltale sign the gas was being driven out of the galaxy.

The wind from CRISTAL-02 was ejecting twice as much gas as the galaxy converts into stars, and this gas was likely travelling fast enough to escape the galaxy. If the wind kept ejecting gas at the same rate, the galaxy would run out of fuel in less than 100 million years – a blink of an eye in cosmic terms – forming a massive dead galaxy less than 1.5 billion years after the Big Bang.

Paradoxically, the wind appeared to be driven by the same intense star formation that was making the galaxy grow so quickly.

Cosmic collisions may hold the answer

To complete the picture, we need to understand why CRISTAL-02 was growing so fast in the first place.

The answer may lie in the fact that CRISTAL-02 is not a single galaxy, but multiple galaxies in the final stages of a cosmic collision. During such collisions, gas funnels towards the galaxy centres, triggering strong bursts of star formation.

In the present-day universe, galaxy collisions are relatively rare: they are seen in only a few percent of galaxies. But one billion years after the Big Bang, the universe was far more compact, meaning galaxies were packed much closer together.

Recent studies suggest around 40% of big galaxies in the early universe are in the process of merging. Some of these galaxies will likely face a similar fate to CRISTAL-02: undergoing frenzied bursts of star-formation, followed by powerful winds that lead to their deaths.

Our findings show that powerful winds capable of killing galaxies do not originate exclusively from supermassive black holes: they can also be triggered by the intense star-formation that causes galaxies to grow rapidly.

If many early galaxies collide and experience rapid growth, then it may not be surprising at all that we see so many dead galaxies in the early universe. CRISTAL-02 offers a natural solution to the mystery of why these massive galaxies live fast and die young.

• Rebecca Davies is a Senior Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology
• Deanne Fisher is an Associate Professor of Astronomy, Swinburne University of Technology
• This article first appeared in The Conversation

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The changes… are not good. Just in case that wasn’t obvious. And they’re also not far off, either. 1 July is just around the corner.

Huawei gonna pay for that?

Huawei posted on its website that “after careful consideration of various aspects, from July 1, 2026 on, we will make appropriate adjustments to the prices of intelligent collaboration products produced by the company, so as to relieve the ever-increasing cost pressure.” (via Huawei Central)

The Chinese brand isn’t the first company to do this, with others making the jump earlier this year. Oppo, Vivo, MSI, and others have all stated (or implemented) price increases due to the crunch artificial intelligence systems have had on RAM and chip supplies.

There’s no sign, yet, as to when the price increase will land in South Africa, but it’s certain that it will. This will have a few possible outcomes. Either device quality and specs remain unchanged, but the price goes up, or we’ll see newer smartphone models downscaling some tech to keep the retail cost at about the same level as before. Both approaches are being tried by various brands. It remains to be seen how Huawei will approach the same problem everyone else currently faces.

Source

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Today, Acer Africa announced a major new projector campaign designed to transform local living rooms into immersive, “bigger and brighter” fan zones.

Running until the 19th July 2026, the campaign offers households a cinematic alternative to the traditional TV. By partnering with leading retailers, including Shop Acer, FNB, Takealot, and Makro, Acer is adding massive value to every qualifying purchase with a tiered reward structure.

More Than Just a Purchase: A Full Match-Day Upgrade

Acer isn’t just selling hardware; they are providing the ultimate viewing kit. Depending on the model purchased, customers will receive a “value-add” gift to complete their home cinema:

•  Top-Tier Rewards: Purchase a premium projector and receive a Google AiTV box for seamless streaming
•  Mid-Tier Rewards: Step up the atmosphere with an included Acer speaker.
•  Entry-Tier Rewards: Get the essentials with selected Acer peripherals, such as a mouse or earbuds.

Engineered for the Beautiful Game

Acer’s 2026 projector lineup addresses the specific needs of sports fans, from sun-drenched afternoon kick-offs to late-night finals:

•  Football Mode & Wireless Freedom: The Acer X1328Wi features a dedicated “Football Mode” to enhance the greenery of the pitch and the clarity of the action, alongside wireless projection for a cable-free setup.
•  Daylight-Defying Brightness: For larger rooms with ambient light, the Acer H6546Ki delivers a staggering 5,200 Lumens, ensuring the image remains vibrant even before the sun goes down.
•  The 4K Elite Experience: For those seeking the pinnacle of detail, the PD1810ic and P5827a offer 4K UHD resolution, capturing every blade of grass and drop of sweat in cinematic clarity.
• Portable Pitch-Side Action: The slim PD1520s and AOPEN QH15s provide portable smart designs, perfect for moving the game from the lounge to the patio.

A Shared Occasion

“Major sporting tournaments create a rare sense of shared occasion, and the quality of the viewing experience plays an important role in how those moments are enjoyed,” says Riaad Mangera, Product Business Unit Lead. “With this campaign, Acer South Africa is helping customers elevate their setup through a broad range, supported by meaningful added value”.Campaign Details

The “Score Big” initiative is available at participating retailers across South Africa while stocks last.

•  Dates: 11th June – 19th July 2026.
•  Retail Partners: Shopacer, FNB, Takealot, and Makro.
•  How to Claim: Rewards are allocated based on the specific model purchased. Customers should visit their preferred retailer for full terms and reward confirmations.
• Visit https://za-offers.acer.com/

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Andy Capostagno has been talking and writing about South African rugby for more than three decades. He’s been my emotional support person for rugby since I was lucky enough to meet him when I was unexpectedly made the sports editor of the Mail & Guardian newspaper many moons ago. Welcome to Stuff Rugby.

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That doesn’t mean that everything on the device will transform into a Tom Clancy or Robert Ludlum novel the moment you step onto a beach, either. Instead, the travel-focused features are defined by the Go 6 II’s size and build.

Plenty of Boox

From the front, Boox’s new gadget doesn’t seem any different from other e-readers on the market. There are only so many ways you can present a book, digital or otherwise. That’s held true since 1440 AD (and even earlier), so there’s little reason to change it now. Where the Go 6 II tries to impress is with its 6in display, ribbed back panel, and 6.8mm thickness. It’s supposed to be easy to travel with. We’ll have to see about that.

The 1,448 x 1,072px display is powered by an unspecified octa-core processor, and the basic model ships with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. That might seem overpowered for an e-reader, but Boox has opted for an Android operating system here. The boost is probably needed. There’s also a microSD card slot for those with extensive libraries, plus WiFi and Bluetooth support. The 1,500mAh battery charges via USB-C.

The Chinese company has also brought new features to its Go lineup — stylus support, handwriting recognition, and a notes-specific app for keeping your non-literary criticism in a single place. It’s a handy feature, but you’ll pay more to have the stylus delivered with your new reader.

Current pricing has the Boox Go 6 II starting at R3,300 ($200) for the reader and a magnetic case. Adding a stylus as part of the bundle pushes the price up to R4,000 ($246). It’s relatively affordable, and might just make up for what the Go 6 II is missing — waterproofing, of any sort. Turns out, this one isn’t perfectly suited for travel after all.

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While Space Exploration Technologies Corporation has launched mankind to the stars, investors are hoping their bet in the initial public offering (IPO) this week will be similarly stratospheric.

“Ahead of SpaceX’s gigantic initial public offering, you can see more rockets on Wall Street than at Cape Canaveral,” writes The Economist. “It’s a sign of investment banks’ abasement before the likes of Elon Musk and the bosses of the AI companies who plan to follow him onto the market.”

It adds: “Is that a rocket in your lobby, or are you just happy to see me?”

If you thought the mania for AI stocks was anything, this IPO has been massively hyped up. Hoping to raise $75-billion, it will value the company at a whopping $1.75-trillion.

“The ticker is expected to be SPCX. One assumes ‘MARS’ was unavailable, ‘ELON’ too subtle, and ‘FOMO’ already implied,” business journalist Tim Cohen wrote in his excellent Loose Cannon newsletter. “The IPO also raises the usual Musk-era governance question: are investors buying into a company, or buying a seat in the upper gallery of the Elon Musk Theatre of Capital Allocation?”

Musk himself, already the world’s richest man, will become the world’s first trillionaire.

He’s currently worth $825-billion, with his SpaceX shares worth $542-billion. That will go through the roof when SpaceX lists, and a boy from Pretoria will – improbably – be the first person to make a trillion dollars.

Musk has taken the Mark Zuckerberg route and kept the bulk of the voting stock in his control – an equally whopping 82.4%.

SpaceX will become the seventh most valuable company on the S&P 500.

Given the AI frenzy that has preceded the SpaceX mania, Nvidia is the most valuable at $5.2-trillion.

Meanwhile, some 4,400 SpaceX employees are set to become millionaires, the New York Times reports.

When Trevor Hise finished college in 2011, he ignored his parents’ insistence to work at General Electric, opting instead to work at a rocket startup. His windfall will be $13.5-million.

“The magnitude of this has been ridiculous,” the 37-year-old told the Times, and “now considers himself semiretired”.

Good thing he didn’t take his parents’ advice.

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Not that we really need the look. Visuals and details for the Pova 8 have been leaking for ages. The Indian launch just confirms everything we’ve been seeing since May this year. Perhaps the best thing about it is its rear panel design.

See my Pova 8

Which, as we’ve seen, is fairly unique. The Nothing range of phones does something similar, but goes a few steps further than Tecno’s Alive Matrix display. This section lives in the camera island and shows dot matrix visuals in an area that might otherwise be occupied by a camera sensor. It’s cool, sure, but is it cool enough to make the rest of the Pova 8 appealing?

Inside the phone is a Dimensity 7100 processor, with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage as standard. The display is a 6.76in LCD — there’s sadly no OLED to play with — and Tecno has opted for a massive 8,000mAh battery. The phone is designed for gaming, according to the company, with a graphite sheet inside that’ll supposedly keep it cooler under heavy load.

Unfortunately, the Pova 7 range sports a more impressive processor (the Dimensity 7300 Ultimate). The Chinese company seems to offset this downgrade with the Pova 8’s visually striking design. And the battery. And the extra cooling tech.

More standard features include a main Sony-made 50MP rear camera sensor, along with a backup lens nobody thought was important enough to specify. The front sensor captures 13MP stills, and the whole thing runs Android 16 under the company’s HiOS 16 skin.

Pricing in India is known, but we’d be guessing at local costs. The Pova 7 Pro launched here at R13,000, and the standard version starts at R11,000. Indian pricing pegs the starting price for the Pova 8 5G at around R5,300 (Rs30,000), but we doubt South African buyers will get that lucky. As soon as the newest from Tecno is confirmed for this country, we’ll let you know.

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As a national policy plan, an AI strategy typically sets out the priorities and aspirations in achieving certain policy objectives.

At the continental level, the African Union has adopted an AI strategy.

Kenya and Ethiopia have tabled draft AI laws that set out how the countries want AI governed. Morocco, Egypt and Nigeria are already mulling the idea of AI legislation. The trend shows that policymakers are slowly turning their attention from unchecked enthusiasm about AI to reckoning with governing AI risks.

As technology law and policy scholars, our research explores the dynamics of and approaches to the governance of emerging technologies like AI. Our recent work explores the origins, nature and scope of AI governance initiatives in Africa. We found a number of common threads in recent policy and legislative exercises. One such trend is for African states to adopt the European Union’s approach to AI regulation. But this needs to be called into question.

No doubt, Africa needs AI legislation. It will be vital to regulate the development and use of AI systems that pose risks to individual rights, social cohesion or even national security. Legislation can also create new regulatory bodies that oversee AI rules or other relevant laws such as data protection.

Kenya’s AI Bill, for instance, institutes the AI Commissioner as well as the AI Advisory Committee as regulators of AI systems in the country.

But the effort to turn AI policies into legislation requires reckoning for two reasons.

More laws, less implementation

One concern is whether the continent really needs a new layer of digital laws while preceding pieces of tech legislation remain largely unenforced. AI policies were meant to coordinate AI development at the national level. While some countries committed to responsible AI development, others have yet to set up or fund institutions that were to give the strategies meaning.

This points to an endemic problem in Africa: lack of implementation. Data protection is a case in point. Many African countries have enacted data protection legislation but are yet to install oversight bodies, or those established lack the resources to enforce laws.

Legislating for AI in this environment risks producing laws that will largely be aspirational in the same way as the strategies before them: they are there but aren’t implemented.

Europeanisation of African law

The second concern relates to the heavy reliance on European standards in fashioning emergent AI laws. Both Kenya’s and Ethiopia’s AI bills adopt the European Union’s risk-based approach. This involves regulating AI systems based on the nature of risk they pose. Those posing “unacceptable risks” are banned altogether and those with lower risks have to meet requirements.

Transplanting European standards is not new in African states’ attempt to regulate new and emerging technologies. The first generation of data protection and cybercrime laws in Africa drew directly from formative legal instruments in Europe. But rarely have such legal transplanting exercises been informed by or taken into account local contexts, interests and concerns. Perhaps this is why data protection standards aren’t implemented effectively.

The concern is not that the EU’s approach is inherently problematic. It’s why African states fail to envision an approach informed by local realities. AI regulation in Africa should not emerge from a compulsion to signal regulatory modernity. Laws calibrated for mature digital markets, well-resourced regulators, and rights aware consumer populations do not translate cleanly into contexts defined by thin institutional capacity, informal data flows, and populations with limited ability to exercise the rights those laws nominally protect.

Grounding regulation in reality

African states need AI laws based on a concrete and honest reckoning with what AI is actually doing or could do to the continent. Fashioning AI regulation should be preceded by critical reflection on the following key questions:

• How is it being deployed by technology companies? How is information and misinformation spread on the continent?
• How is it being used in public services? Who benefits when governments deploy AI in social protection, policing, or public administration?
• Who controls the data? Large technology companies, many of them headquartered in the United States, China, or Europe, are able to collect and process vast amounts of data generated by African users. This is often done under terms of service that most users neither read nor meaningfully consent to, and with little accountability to African regulators.
• Who bears the harms? Who bears the risk when those systems get it wrong?
• Whose interests are unprotected? AI-powered content moderation systems, for example, perform poorly in African languages and local contexts.

Imperatives of moratorium

As the AI hype continues, African states are already deploying AI in different sectors, including healthcare. Ethiopia and Rwanda, for example, used AI in TB and cervical cancer screening. But it’s happening in a regulatory vacuum. In the absence of a robust regulatory regime, AI is likely to cause considerable harm to individuals and societies.

While AI legislation might be a promising step forward in filling the regulatory void, this effort appears to be restricted only to a few countries whose approach is yet to move past European parameters. Policymakers should rather prioritise pursuing a more considered and contextualised approach to address AI risks meaningfully.

Until then, a moratorium on the use of high-risk AI systems in sensitive domains such as healthcare should be seriously considered.

• Kinfe Yilma is a Senior Lecturer, University of Leeds
• Grace Mutung’u is a Research Fellow, Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT), Strathmore University
• This article first appeared in The Conversation

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When the official figures came in for June’s fuel prices, they signalled welcome decreases across the board. Unfortunately, petrol’s decrease was offset by the government’s R3.00-per-litre fuel levy relief being halved, leading to a (relatively) slight increase.

How much now?

Thanks to a range of factors, local prices of petrol and diesel are both looking good. It’s still pretty early, so there’s a chance for things to improve further, or go horribly wrong, before the official prices change on the 1st of July. But, should things stay as they are, more decreases are inbound.

Petrol 93 could see a decrease of R2.56, while Petrol 95 might see a R2.55 reduction in price. Diesel 0.05% is looking stronger, with a possible R4.42 decrease, while the ‘cleaner’ diesel 0.005% could be reduced by as much as R4.68.

But despite further reductions on the cards in July, the National Treasury wants the rest of its money back, meaning the last R1.50 and R1.97 for petrol and diesel respectively, will be added back to the prices next month. Still, it could be worse.

Here are the petrol and diesel price predictions (so far) for July 2026:

• Petrol 93: decrease of 106 cents per litre (R1.06)
• Petrol 95: decrease of 105 cents per litre (R1.05)
• Diesel 0.05%: decrease of 245 cents per litre (R2.45)
• Diesel 0.005%: decrease of 271 cents per litre (R2.71)
• Illuminating Paraffin: decrease of 506 cents per litre (R5.06)

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