AT&T Acquisition of T-Mobile not likely

AT&T and T-Mobile have withdrawn an application from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission seeking approval for a merger. It doesn’t mean they are giving up on the deal, but it does suggest it’s unlikely to go through.

The two companies are fighting for approval on two fronts. The FCC as well as the U.S. Department of Justice are opposing the deal, and this latest development means they’ll be fighting for the DOJ’s approval first, without which the approval from the FCC would be meaningless. [Mashable]

Free flights for former presidents will resume next year

Former presidents Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and FW de Klerk, and former deputy presidents Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Baleka Mbete, are among those affected by "serious budgetary constraints" being experienced by President Jacob Zuma's office.

The Times can reveal that the former top politicians were over the past two weeks notified that their travel and subsistence allowances for the rest of year have been cut but would resume in the new financial year, which starts in April.[Timeslive]

Mandla Mandela's Sex Talk

ANC MP Mandla Mandela has been asked to clearly state in the National Assembly that the age of consent for sexual intercourse is 16, three gender rights organisations said on Thursday.

This came after Mandela made comments in July last year regarding the practice of Ukuthwala, the Tshwaranang Legal Advocacy Centre, the Commission for Gender Equality and the Rural Women's Movement said in a statement.

Ukuthwala is a practice where women, some as a young as 14-years-old, are abducted and forcefully married to older men.

Mandela is a grandson of former president Nelson Mandela.

According to the organisations, Mandela said the process of Ukuthwala had nothing to do with age and depended on whether the girl underwent the intonjane initiation, as arranged by her family.

"That is how culture works," he was quoted as saying at a rural development and land reform Parliamentary portfolio committee meeting. [News24]

ANCYL chance to appeal expires midnight

Neither the ruling party nor the ANC Youth League would officially confirm on Thursday that five youth leaders have met the midnight deadline to appeal their suspensions.

"We're not speaking to the media about the process," said league spokesperson Floyd Shivambu on Thursday evening. [News24]

Nigerian Husband asks Wife (Primrose) to Pay back Money He Loaned to Her

Primrose Moloantoa’s relationship with Nigerian businessman Christopher Mbanefo is seemingly nearing its end, as allegations of infidelity and broken promises abound.


A third friend of Moloantoa has claimed that Mbanefo is so incensed by the situation that he has demanded that his estranged wife return more than R2 million – money he loaned her over the course of their relationship. [MSN]

Nandos releases Mugabe Ad

The ad features “Mugabe” sitting at a dinner table alone reminiscing on the good times he had with his “friends” — all deceased dictators. The star-studded cast features Uganda’s one and only Idi Amin Dada, Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein and South Africa’s P.W Botha. [Memeburn]

Black Friday Reigns Supreme

As U.S. retailers ramp up for post-Thanksgiving holiday shopping, consumers increasingly turn online to search for the best deals and make plans for Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales. Since one of the top reasons for using social media is to receive deals and discounts, NM Incite, a Nielsen/McKinsey company, took a look at online buzz about Black Friday and Cyber Monday over the past two years. [Nielsen]

Changes in B-BBEE

Companies found guilty of "fronting" could be fined between 2% and 10% of their turnover if draft legislation approved by the cabinet becomes law.

Briefing the media on Thursday, following the cabinet's fortnightly meeting the day before, government spokesman Jimmy Manyi said the executive had approved the publication of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment Act Amendment Bill for public comment. [Timeslive]

Kris called Kim Fat

Harsh Humphries!

Kim Kardashian has been raked over the coals in the court of public opinion ever since she filed for divorce from Kris Humphries Oct. 31.

But the real villain in the 72-day marriage, pals tell the new Us Weekly, was out-of-work NBA star Humphries, 26. [UsMag]

Oprah's Apartment Up For Rent

The former chat show host bought the sixth floor luxury apartment in the 1913 Beaux Arts building in the Gold Coast neighbourhood of the city in 2006 but never moved in because of security concerns. She has now decided to let it to tenants for R1,504-million a year

The new tenants can also enjoy stunning views of Lake Michigan from the library, living room and master bedroom.



The new tenants can also enjoy stunning views of Lake Michigan from the library, living room and master bedroom.

R1trillion Nuclear Power Station Tender

Concern is mounting about the government's planned R1-trillion nuclear power station tender, with opposition parties demanding reassurances from Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe that the tender will not be "mired in corruption" like the R70-billion arms deal.

It will be the biggest tender ever issued in South Africa. [Timeslive]

iPad3 on the works: Look out!

Production has started on the high-resolution displays destined for the next-generation iPad, while Apple eyes a 7.85-inch iPad further down the road, an analyst told CNET today.

"It's happening--QXGA, 2048x1536. Panel production has started [for the next-generation iPad]. There's three suppliers," Richard Shim, an analyst at DisplaySearch, said in an interview today. Shim confirmed other reports that cite three companies, Samsung, Sharp, and LGD. [Cnet]

Finalists of the South African Blog Awards

According to the mechanisms of the blog awards, the top three blogs in each category were determined by sheer number of votes cast in a public vote for each blog in its respective category.

The public vote phase opened on 31 October, and closed at midnight, 9 November 2011.

You can see a full list of the 2011 Blog Awards Finalists, HERE.

Justin Bieber goes for Paternity Test

It's been a tough couple of weeks for Justin Bieber as the "Baby" singer fights off accusations he fathered a baby with a fan, Mariah Yeater. 

But it may be almost over: Bieber has taken a paternity test in New Jersey, according to a TMZ report. 

The pop star, 17, reportedly went to a lab to take the test under "very controlled circumstances," and now Yeater, 20, just has to provide DNA from her child.  [People]

Where in the World Are Your Twitter Followers?

Knowing where your Twitter followers are located can not only feed your curiosity, but it can also help you measure the success of your social campaigns. To do this, TweepsMap links to your Twitter account, analyzes your followers and provides a map or chart that shows where they’re located by country, state or city.

Launched in October, the tool helps Twitter users learn if their campaign is successful in a targeted region. For example, if your Twitter campaign is targeted toward Chicago residents, TweepsMap helps you see how many of your followers are actually located in Chicago. [Mashable]

Google focuses on business

Google has abandoned an ambitious project to make renewable energy cheaper than coal, the latest target of chief executive Larry Page's moves to focus the internet giant on fewer efforts.
Google said on Tuesday that it was pulling the plug on seven projects, including Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal as well as a Wikipedia-like online encyclopaedia service known as Knol.

The plans, which Google announced on its corporate blog, represent the third so-called "spring cleaning" announcement that Google has made since Google co-founder Page took the reins in April. [M&G]

Swaziland's King Mswati III's Wife Kicked Out

Queen LaDube was ordered to "immediately leave the palace" by royal governor Timothy Mthethwa, who was accompanied by senior members of the royal family.

LaDube told the Sunday Times yesterday that the security guard refused to let her leave the palace last Saturday. She sprayed him with pepper spray.

LaDube, who married the king when she was 16 years old, has three children with him. She said her youngest child, aged two, had to be rushed to hospital last week after injuring herself while playing. But the guard refused to let her leave the palace to go to the hospital. [Sundayworld]

South Africa's First Rolling Stone Magazine

The world’s premier music magazine has finally come to our shores! Hugh Masekela graces the cover of the first edition of the South African Rolling Stone magazine – which you will see appearing on shelves from today. Check out their website here.

Opposition Parties Fight Secrecy Bill

MPs from all the opposition parties united against the ANC to try to stop the bill being passed. Their efforts included attempts to change the National Assembly programme to remove any planned discussions on the bill.They also argued that parliament had broken its own rules and overextended its mandate in its discussions on the bill. But they failed on this score too. [Timeslive]

eThekwini Municipality boss Candidate has Withdrawn

Makhosi Khoza, a candidate for the top job at the eThekwini municipality, has withdrawn from the race because of death threats

Khoza - who was last week appointed ANC chief whip in the KwaZulu-Natal legislature - was short-listed with three others for the post of municipal manager: Msunduzi administrator Sibusiso Sithole, adviser to the premier and chairman of the KwaZulu-Natal planning commission Cyril Xaba, and Eastern Cape Amathole district municipality city manager Vuyo Mlokoti. [Timeslive]