Sophia Patel — Business & Finance Editor 
The European Central Bank held its key interest rates steady on July 23, 2026, maintaining the deposit facility rate at 2.25%. Following a surprise hike in June, policymakers opted for a data-dependent pause as they monitor the inflationary impact of escalating geopolitical tensions and energy price volatility in the Middle East. Policy Shift: The Decision … Read more
Mediacorp’s share of radio listening in Singapore hit a 14-year high of 86 per cent, according to the latest Nielsen Radio Survey. The broadcaster is home to eight of the top 10 stations, reaching almost 4 million listeners weekly across diverse age and language demographics. The broadcaster’s dominance spans English, Chinese, Malay, and Indian listener … Read more
Global oil prices climbed sharply on Thursday, with Brent crude futures nearing the $100-per-barrel threshold as renewed tanker attacks and escalating military tensions in the Middle East intensified concerns regarding global energy supplies. According to CNBC, Brent crude futures for July delivery gained 4.6% to reach $98.44 per barrel, marking their highest level since late … Read more
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to halt applications for millions of proposed orbital data centers. Critics argue these satellite constellations threaten the ozone layer, degrade the night sky, and could cause catastrophic interference with astronomical research. Coalition Petitions FCC Over Environmental Risks A group of organizations, including Earthjustice, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Peer), and DarkSky … Read more
Pepkor Holdings is merging its fintech subsidiary, Flash, with payment platform Shop2Shop to create a new entity valued at R21.3 billion. The transaction, announced in July 2026, aims to dominate South Africa’s informal retail sector, with Pepkor taking a 57.1% controlling stake and planning a future JSE listing. In a move that signals a major … Read more
DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng confirmed his company will keep its AI models open-source, asserting that the strategy does not hinder a target of six-fold profit. While his net worth has surged to $36 billion following a $7.4 billion funding round, Liang maintains that true “100-fold” profiteering is incompatible with his open-source model. In a recent … Read more
German defense contractor Rheinmetall AG announced a €350 million investment to more than double gunpowder production at its Aschau am Inn facility in Bavaria. The expansion, dubbed Project Firepower, aims to increase annual output to 4,200 metric tons by 2028 to address ammunition shortages caused by the war in Ukraine. The scale of the operation … Read more
BNP Paribas reported a 33% increase in second-quarter net profit to €4.35 billion on July 23, 2026. The French lender beat analyst estimates due to record equity trading activity and a rebound in retail banking, while successfully reaching its 13% Common Equity Tier 1 (CET1) ratio target ahead of schedule. The euro zone’s largest bank … Read more
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues across England. The relief, which takes effect from April next year, is designed to support the backbone of local high streets and provide financial certainty for businesses, according to GOV. New Business Rates Policy for Hospitality … Read more
Macquarie Group has appointed long-serving executive Greg Ward as its next chief executive officer, effective November 6, 2026. Ward, currently head of the bank’s banking and financial services division, will succeed Shemara Wikramanayake, who is retiring after an eight-year tenure that saw the firm’s market capitalization rise to approximately $98 billion. The transition, announced Thursday, … Read more