France just became the first EU country to log its teenagers off
A new law bars under-15s from social media from September and kicks phones out of high schools, and the rest of Europe is watching.
A rising oil price just made Thursday's rate call a lot harder
Brent crude is back above $90 as US-Iran tensions flare, and South African economists warn the Reserve Bank could answer with another hike.
The Roundup — Wednesday, 22 July 2026
The business day in five minutes — Wednesday, 22 July 2026.
Editor’s pick
Transnet Wants Someone Else to Run Cape Town's Docks
Transnet's ports authority has invited private bidders to rebuild and run the Port of Cape Town's multipurpose terminal for 25 years, a year after fruit exporters lost R1 billion to delays there.
Everyone Is Talking About the De Beers Sale Except Anglo
A Botswana cabinet minister told parliament that Anglo American has picked a buyer for De Beers, Namibia's mines minister says that is incorrect, and Anglo itself is saying nothing at all.
Big story
The arms industry its own government stopped buying from
More than 600 South African firms make defence equipment and earn over 80% of their money abroad, while the state-owned company at the centre of the sector has lost money for a decade and is now advertising for outside investors.
Editor’s pick
Home Affairs Would Rather Vet the Company Than the Person
South Africa's work visa system now asks employers to sit a scored test, and only those clearing 80 out of 100 get their foreign hires waved through.
Editor’s pick
The Fibre Deal That Cost Pensioners R100 Million
South Africa's state pension manager paid half of a R200 million commitment to a small lender financing fibre subcontractors, stopped the rest when red flags appeared, and laid criminal charges; the first R100 million has not come back.
The R700 million sieve behind Sasol's best year in five
Sasol spent R700 million taking the rocks out of its own coal, and Secunda promptly turned in its highest annual output in five years.
The Taps Join the Queue: Inside South Africa's Newest World Bank Loan
Treasury has signed a US$1.5 billion World Bank loan, its fourth since 2022, and the first to put money behind water and sanitation alongside electricity and freight.
Samsung Watched Apple Hand Out a Credit Card for Seven Years. Now It Has One.
Samsung's first US credit card, issued by Barclays and running on Visa, pays 5% back on Samsung purchases and lands inside Samsung Wallet on the same day as its next big phone launch.
Editor’s pick
Aspen Won The Right To Sell An Ozempic Copy It Cannot Yet Make
Health Canada has approved Aspen's copy of Ozempic, but the supplier of its key ingredient has halted production until at least late October, leaving the company with a licence and no launch date.