UNESCO announced on Saturday that the Jingdezhen artisanal porcelain industrial centers in China have been added to the World Heritage List during the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee, held in Busan, Republic of Korea.
The new world heritage site includes five component parts, covering 15 groups of heritage sites and 45 individual heritage sites. These elements together preserve the complete system of artisanal porcelain production.
The system, which shaped ceramic production and cultural exchange worldwide, encompasses everything from clay mining shafts and wood production areas to workshops, kiln locations, and transportation networks.
The former CEO of Mxit, Alan Knott-Craig Jr., openly admitted to making critical errors during his brief tenure leading one of South Africa's largest social networks. He considers this experience one of the most significant lessons in his career.
Speaking about his time at the company, Knott-Craig Jr. recalled how Mxit, once used daily by millions of South Africans, ultimately lost its standing due to changes in the digital landscape brought about by smartphones. He noted that he served as CEO of Mxit for a year and emphasized that the platform was South Africa's largest daily-used social network.
However, he acknowledged that the company's decline accelerated under his leadership. He frankly stated that he ruined everything, noting that after the company's acquisition in 2011, he made numerous mistakes and misjudged the strategy. One of the biggest blunders was attempting to compete with global tech giants instead of focusing on Mxit's strengths.
He clarified that Mxit perhaps resembled a dating site more than a messaging application. Launched in 2005, Mxit became the first major local instant messaging and social networking platform in South Africa. It allowed users to send inexpensive messages over mobile data in an era of costly SMS and before the widespread adoption of smartphones.
At its peak, the platform attracted tens of millions of registered users across South Africa and several other countries, becoming one of Africa's biggest technological success stories. However, the rapid rise of smartphone-based messaging apps like WhatsApp transformed the market. Knott-Craig Jr. stated: 'We decided to compete with WhatsApp. Never compete with WhatsApp; never compete with big American companies. We were probably more like a dating app than a messaging app. We didn't port our phone-based experience with built-in features to smartphones.'
Furthermore, he admitted that the company failed to adapt its business model as mobile technology evolved. According to Knott-Craig Jr., the combination of strategic errors and changing consumer behavior ultimately led to his dismissal. The company's owners eventually lost confidence in his management, resulting in his termination just one year into his role as head. Although Mxit continued to operate for several years after his departure, it failed to regain its former dominance and eventually shut down, concluding one of South Africa's most influential technological success stories.
The Recording Industry of South Africa (RiSA) extended congratulations to Gallo Record Company upon reaching its centennial anniversary. This milestone is viewed by RiSA as a major event for both the recording sector and the broader African musical heritage of South Africa.
Gallo is recognized as the oldest and largest independent record company on the continent. Over its hundred-year history, the company has been involved in discovering, developing, and preserving the work of artists whose music has played a significant role in shaping South Africa's cultural identity.
The company stated that its catalog represents one of the richest collections of African music, documenting the work of many generations of performers while continuing to support new talent across the continent.
RiSA CEO Nlankhla Sibisi emphasized that Gallo's anniversary celebrates not only an iconic record company but also the entire musical heritage of South Africa. He noted: 'The centenary of Gallo Record Company is a centenary of South African music. Few institutions have contributed as deeply to the growth, preservation, and global recognition of our musical heritage as Gallo.'
Sibisi added that the company's catalog reflects the history of the people—their struggles, celebrations, and the evolution of the nation. On behalf of RiSA and the entire recording industry, he congratulated Gallo on the historic achievement and thanked the company for its unwavering commitment to African music and the artists whose legacy continues to inspire generations.
RiSA also pointed out that Gallo's musical archive covers both legendary pioneers and contemporary artists, demonstrating the development of African and South African music over the past century. As the company enters its second century, RiSA acknowledges its long-term influence and continuous investment in the future of African music, ensuring that the stories, sounds, and voices of South Africa continue to find an audience worldwide.
Olhar Digital reports on the new catalog additions to Netflix for the period between July 27 and August 2, 2026. Highlights among the additions include the American documentary series 'Idaho Murders: University Nightmare,' the British series 'Pan Am Flight 103 Hijacking,' and the domestic production 'Fury.'
In addition to these premieres, the streaming service will receive classic titles such as 'The Guns of Navarone' and 'Goodbye, Love,' along with new episodes and seasons of well-known series, including 'Chicago P.D.,' 'Detective Conan,' and 'Venerable.'
On Monday, 07/27, the Argentine musical soap opera 'Margarita: May Your Legend Be Worth It' will be available. On Wednesday, 07/29, in addition to 'Fury,' 'Idaho Murders: University Nightmare' will arrive, a three-part documentary produced in the United States, directed by Skye Borgman and executive produced by Joe Berlinger. This documentary recounts the case of four students from the University of Idaho whose bodies were found near the campus on November 13, 2022, and investigates the killer who remained at large for weeks, offering access to police and family images.
Other additions for Wednesday include 'Final Project,' a Mexican series about past secrets and a forbidden romance, and 'The Forbidden Woman,' a Colombian series that addresses love, corruption, and power after a politician's wife is rescued by a famous singer. The horror film 'Fear' will also be available.
Thursday, 07/30, brings the series 'Pan Am Flight 103 Hijacking,' which narrates the event of December 21, 1988, when Pan Am Flight 103 exploded over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people. The series details the investigation conducted by Scottish police and US law enforcement. Other titles include the Korean comedy film 'Wild Sing,' which portrays the reunion of a K-pop trio twenty years after a scandal, and the action film 'Charlie in Action,' starring Pierce Brosnan.
On Friday, 07/31, the catalog will feature the Indian series 'Musafir Cafe,' which explores the life of Chander in the mountains alongside Preeti, despite his memories being linked to Sudha. The Australian film 'Black Ladies' and a new episode of the Thai series 'Venerable' will also be available.
Saturday, 08/01, marks the arrival of the classic war films 'The Guns of Navarone' and the comedy 'Goodbye, Love,' in addition to new seasons of 'Chicago P.D.' and new episodes of the anime 'Detective Conan.' Finally, on Sunday, 08/02, the new episode of the Japanese soap opera 'GATE24: The Border' will be released.
