Finance

Stay informed with the latest updates from South Africa and around the world. Our news section covers a wide range of topics including politics, social issues, crime, environment, global affairs, and human interest stories.

IMF flags “agentic AI” as potential game‑changer for payments

A new International Monetary Fund (IMF) analysis has warned that “agentic artificial intelligence (AI), a fast‑emerging form of AI capable of acting with minimal human input, could significantly reshape payment systems, bringing both efficiency gains and new financial stability risks for African economies.

SA President calls for global action to tackle inequality

South Africa’s (SA) President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for urgent global cooperation to tackle inequality, warning that widening disparities threaten economic growth, democracy and human progress.

World Bank prices $120 million Spekboom Outcome Bond to fund restoration, jobs in SA

The World Bank has priced a $120 million Spekboom Restoration Outcome Bond, a deal designed to unlock large-scale ecosystem restoration and job creation in South Africa’s (SA) Eastern Cape while maintaining full principal protection for investors.

WHO reports major health gains in 2025 despite funding cuts, warns progress remains fragile

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported substantial health gains delivered in 2025 despite significant funding cuts, while warning that progress remains uneven and the world is still off track to meet health-related Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.