When President Xi Jinping stood before heads of state and international delegates on the banks of the Huangpu River on July 17, 2026, he was not merely opening another technology conference. He was proposing an alternative architecture for how the world governs one of the most consequential technologies of this
The numbers tell a story that extends beyond representation. They highlight how women are becoming increasingly important to the future growth, sustainability and competitiveness of one of South Africa’s largest manufacturing sectors. Breaking barriers in a changing industry The image of the automotive sector has long been associated with mechanics,
An unfunded mandate, honestly disclosed Director-General Tommy Makhode did not dress up the numbers. Briefing Parliament’s home affairs committee, he was candid: "We have not budgeted for this… repatriations are not provided for in terms of our legislative frameworks." That is an unusual degree of transparency from a government department,
The renewed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and Red Sea shipping are raising a much bigger question for the global economy. One of how far will the conflict spread into one of the world’s most important maritime chokepoints as talks continue to stall? This answer matters because the Bab el-Mandeb
The immediate challenge is straightforward. Factory owners report workforce losses of between 12% and 19%, leaving sewing lines understaffed and production targets increasingly difficult to meet. Many of the workers who left occupied skilled positions developed through years of experience in garment manufacturing. Replacing them has proven far more difficult
For decades, West Africa’s role in the global drug trade was that of a corridor: cocaine from Latin America passed through its ports on the way to Europe, and traffickers took a cut along the way. That story has changed. In May, Nigeria’s drug enforcement agency dismantled what it called
Cambodia’s central bank is facing a threat that has nothing to do with interest rates or foreign reserves and everything to do with generative AI. Over the past several months, the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has repeatedly had to publicly deny that a new series of riel banknotes was
In August 2026, South Africa marks the 70th anniversary of Women’s Month under the theme: “Empowered Women Empower The Nation”, while also recognising the important contributions of its women to social development. In October 2025, China and UN Women co-hosted the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing. Leaders and heads
Toyota Motor Corporation has finalised a binding agreement to become a full, equal shareholder in cellcentric, the hydrogen fuel-cell company jointly owned by the Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG. The deal, announced on 27 July, 2026, formalises a partnership first floated in a non-binding memorandum of understanding signed in
More than a company listing The significance of the Dangote IPO extends beyond the refinery itself. Africa has long faced a financing challenge. Major infrastructure projects often depend heavily on foreign loans, development finance institutions or external investors. While these sources remain important, they can leave African economies vulnerable to