Yoco, a South Africa-based fintech helping small businesses take card and mobile payments, is in talks to raise about $150 million in funding, sources tell Axios.
Why it matters: Yoco's funding plans come amid a flurry of African mega-rounds as investors bet that the developing economy is ripe for growth across the fintech sector.
The internet promised a world in which no government could fully hide the truth from its people. Russia's free-speech crackdown following its invasion of Ukraine is testing that premise as never before.
Why it matters: How everyday Russians view the conflict is likely to determine their willingness to support Vladimir Putin and his war.
As sanctions clamp down on Russia, some of the biggest names in tech have halted new product sales in the country entirely, including Apple, Samsung, Microsoft and Adobe.
Why it matters: The move is clearly significant, but experts say it won't mean a massive financial hit for the companies. Plus it ensures compliance with sanctions and avoids the challenges of getting paid within a fractured financial system.
Warner Bros.' "The Batman," became the second film in the pandemic era to cross $100 million in its domestic box office debut this weekend, giving the theater industry a much-needed boost of optimism early in the year.
Why it matters: "It's another brick in the foundation for movie theaters coming back," Comscore senior media analyst Paul Dergarabedian told Axios.
It's not quite what Airbnb was designed for, but a significant number of people are using the housing rental site as a way to quickly get money in the hands of Ukranian families.
How it works: People are booking listings in Ukraine, then letting their hosts know that it was a donation, not a rental. Because Airbnb is waiving fees, all the money can go directly to people in Ukraine.
TikTok said Sunday it will suspend the ability to post new content and livestreams in Russia, in light of the country's "fake news" law, which has been denounced by free speech activists and the global community.
Why it matters: Russian President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on dissent of the country's invasion of Ukraine is forcing independent and social media outlets out of the country.
SpaceX's latest adversary in its plans to launch a new fleet of satellites to beam internet from space is the U.S. government.
Why it matters: SpaceX has withstood attacks from powerhouse competitors like Amazon in the internet space race, but now must overcome warnings from NASA that its fleet of second-generation satellites could hamper asteroid detection work.
Ukraine will receive another batch of SpaceX's Starlink satellite systems next week, President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in a tweet early Sunday morning local time after speaking with Elon Musk.
