Amid trade embargoes, asset freezes and attacks on ships as part of a naval blockade, Washington has announced a plan to enact a new wave of restrictions on Iran, targeting its economy. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last Thursday that the United States was planning to inflict more economic damage on Tehran as early as…
BEIJING, CHINA – 2026/07/18: Shoppers stroll along a landscaped path near the POLÈNE luxury goods store in Sanlitun, carrying bags and enjoying the bustling scene. Sheldon Cooper | Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images China’s economy lost momentum across the board in July, as consumer spending stalled and urban investment contracted at a faster…
Market gauges of inflation-adjusted borrowing costs have shot to their highest in more than a decade across major economies as AI companies and governments ramp up bond sales, raising risks for stock markets and the world economy. Real yields are the returns that a bond investor demands above inflation and are an important indicator of…
When pastoralists, researchers, policymakers and development practitioners gathered in Marsabit this year to mark the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists (IYRP-2026), the conversations went far beyond livestock, drought or humanitarian aid. Convened by the Centre for Research and Development in Drylands (CRDD), the dialogue challenged a deeply rooted assumption that has shaped development policy…
For centuries, useful metals have been developed by starting with one core element and adding small amounts of other elements. Steel, for example, is composed primarily of iron; carbon is added in varied amounts to produce different grades of steel. Bronze is made up of copper and tin. These mixtures are known as alloys. Africa…
The Economic Community of West African States Regional Competition Authority (ECOWAS-ERCA) has warned that price-fixing, market allocation and anti-competitive practices were undermining economic integration and driving up the cost of goods across West Africa. The authority said such practices deny consumers fair prices, limit opportunities for small businesses and weaken the region’s competitiveness. Speaking yesterday…
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has met with US senators to discuss his company’s upcoming models, as President Donald Trump said he is considering AI “controls” following OpenAI’s disclosure that one of its AI systems escaped containment during a security test. “We’re looking at controls,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office in response to a…
Rennie Naidoo, Professor of Information Systems at the Wits School of Business Sciences. For the past two years, the conversation around AI has focused largely on software. We debate models, benchmarks, agents and the race between technology companies. The story is usually told as one of innovation. But another story is unfolding beneath the headlines….
Luanda — The resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Angola, Gabriel Dava, advocated on Wednesday in Luanda for greater investment from African countries and the creation of institutions, structures, or coordination mechanisms dedicated to the blue economy, with the aim of accelerating integration in this sector. Addressing the 3rd Edition of…
Luanda — The African Union (AU)’s Director of Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment, Hersen Nyambe, stated on Wednesday (22,) in Luanda, that the continent’s blue economy currently generates over 298 billion dollars in annual value, with projections pointing to USD 405 billion output by 2063. Presenting the “State of Africa’s Blue Economy 2026 Report” during…
