Oil prices fall, rand strengthens, and stock markets rise amid improved sentiment

The new regulation serves to reduce excessive bureaucratic obstacles in foreign trade. Currently, the development of entrepreneurship should not be limited only to providing financial opportunities or benefits.

In some cases, the biggest obstacle to business development can be excessive paperwork, repetitive requirements, and time-consuming administrative procedures. Therefore, special attention is being paid in the country in the coming years to simplifying relations between entrepreneurs and the state, reducing excessive demands, and further improving the business environment.

The new Suzuki Across presents an interesting option in the Suzuki SUV lineup. Although the name Across is used on foreign markets for the rebadged Toyota RAV4, the version for South Africa is essentially a renamed model of the Victoris, manufactured in India.

At first glance, this product appears to be an attempt to move the brand into a higher price segment, as it looks quite elegant and more car-like compared to the bulkier Grand Vitara. Despite having the same 2600 mm wheelbase and 210 mm ground clearance as its counterparts, the Across is 15 mm longer. It is also equipped with mild-hybrid technology and replaces the familiar four-speed gearbox with a more modern six-speed automatic transmission.

Nevertheless, it is R9,000 cheaper than the equivalent base GL Grand Vitara, starting from R349,900; however, the richly equipped Across GLX version costs R11,000 more at R464,900. In any case, it continues Suzuki's tradition of producing a reliable product at a very competitive price.

Upon entering the cabin, it looks more modern and premium than previously expected from the brand. It features soft-touch surfaces with stitching on the dashboard and a decent 10.1-inch multimedia touchscreen supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Furthermore, the Across is fitted with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster.

However, it is not overly digitized, as Suzuki has also provided 'piano-style' controls beneath it for basic climate control functions, and there is a real volume knob nearby. That is, in 2026, there is still a real volume adjustment button!

The Across offers usability in the typical Suzuki manner: you sit down and continue your business without many irritating distractions or quirks inherent in many modern cars. The Across has a more modern cabin with digital instruments, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, and physical climate controls.

Practicality presents a mixed picture. The boot seems more spacious than its 347-liter capacity suggests, and the rear legroom is adequate, although there wasn't much room for leg extension behind my usual seating position. However, the headroom in the back was slightly cramped.

The tested GLX model is equipped with numerous features, including synthetic leather seats, a 360-degree camera, a Harman Infinity sound system, 64-color ambient lighting, a panoramic glass roof, and several driver assistance systems such as adaptive cruise control, autonomous emergency braking, and lane keeping assist.

On the road, the car provides a refined experience: it is well-insulated and drives comfortably, and the handling feels safe and neutral. But, unfortunately, the Across is too large and heavy for the engine that powers it. Weighing in at a useless 1200 to 1250 kg, making it slightly heavier than the Grand Vitara, its 76 kW mild-hybrid powertrain and 137 Nm of torque seem to be constantly fighting a losing battle.

The Across offers a comfortable, refined ride, although its 1.5-liter engine can sometimes feel underpowered. While suitable for leisurely city driving, it even struggled climbing a steep suburban hill in my area, and overtaking on rural roads will require patience from the driver of this vehicle.

On the positive side, the six-speed gearbox is a big improvement over the four-speed installed on the Grand Vitara models, and thanks to the wider gear range, it provides a smoother driving experience, requiring less 'searching'.

In conclusion, the Suzuki Across is a stylish, well-made, well-equipped, and refined product, but it needs a more powerful (or turbocharged) engine to gain a competitive edge in this tough compact SUV segment.

Due to the emergence of information regarding the introduction of a 0.4% commission for transactions via Unified Payments Interface (UPI), especially for payments exceeding 2000 rupees, there is increased interest among sellers. This deduction, known as Merchant Discount Rate (MDR), is planned to take effect on October 15, 2026.

Meanwhile, a website claiming to be able to avoid fees for large payments by breaking them down into small parts not exceeding 1999 rupees is circulating on social media. Users are examining these viral applications.

The new MDR rule for UPI is set to come into effect on October 15, 2026. Before this date, an application appeared on the market that claims the ability to bypass the 0.4% fee. Using this tool, large sums can be divided into smaller components.

For example, if a payment of 4500 rupees is required, this application allegedly can split this amount into three parts by generating separate QR codes. These parts might look like two payments of 1999 rupees and one payment of 502 rupees, allowing the entire amount to be received in three stages.

Currently, discussions are ongoing regarding whether such applications are fakes or actually function correctly. Nevertheless, it is strongly recommended to avoid using any unverified applications, as their use could jeopardize your bank account.

Essentially, the Indian government has introduced a new rule for UPI transactions. If the transaction is from an individual to a seller (P2M), an MDR of 0.4% may be applied when receiving an amount exceeding 2000 rupees. Some sellers are attempting to use similar applications to circumvent this commission.

The interface of payment splitting applications is quite simple. The user needs to enter their UPI ID and name. Then, they must specify the total payment amount. The application claims that it will divide this amount into small parts, each less than 1999 rupees, thereby ensuring that no single payment exceeds the established limit.

It is important to avoid such unverified applications, as it cannot be guaranteed that all of them are safe or have been vetted. Using such software poses a risk to your personal information and bank account security. Therefore, before sharing your UPI ID, bank details, or any other confidential information with an unknown application, thorough verification is necessary.