- D.C.
- BXL
- Lagos
- Riyadh
- Beijing
- SG
Intelligence for the New World Economy
- D.C.
- BXL
- Lagos
- Riyadh
- Beijing
- SG
Politics
Vance takes his first economic punch in the 2028 primary
The vice president’s past skepticism about the dollar’s status as reserve currency has sparked a debate on the right.
Mystery surrounds US deportations to Liberia
The Liberian government has insisted the deal is “not a transaction with a quid pro quo,” but that claim has failed to quiet the questions.
Mystery surrounds US deportations to Liberia
The Liberian government has insisted the deal is “not a transaction with a quid pro quo,” but that claim has failed to quiet the questions.
View / The software buyout wave is upon us
View / Hormuz ‘isn’t really the problem’
The World at a Glance
Updated 11:01am EDT
1
The US Treasury secretary’s pledge to expand a bond buyback program in order to lower borrowing costs did little to quell market unease.
2The US pressed China to “get with the program” and join Washington’s economic pressure campaign against Iran.
3Taiwan’s government proposed a record defense budget for next year in response to growing military pressure from Beijing.
4Romania and Finland warned of suspected Russian aircraft violating their airspace, as the EU struggles to coordinate an effective response to escalating drone threats.
5Argentina beats growth forecasts, a boost for President Javier Milei as he grapples with high inflation and public frustration over his agenda.
6President Trump’s criticism of South Korea stoked fears among Asian allies, but his efforts to reengage North Korea is a worthwhile one, several experts argued.
‘Washington is the center of it all’: Carlyle embraces its roots
The private-equity firm is courting defense deals and nurturing relationships with policymakers and global officials under CEO Harvey Schwartz.
Walmart posts weakest sales growth in six years
The retail giant’s worse-than-expected same-store sales growth is the latest sign that consumers are feeling strapped.
Nigeria bets on grants to unearth mineral riches
A government agency will issue grants that provide up to 70% of the cost of exploration projects by mining license holders in Nigeria.
South Africa’s Absa eyes fintech partnerships
South Africa’s Absa Group is seeking partnerships with fintechs in a strategy aimed at reaching new customers.
White House’s messaging operation sidetracked by internal drama
Some of President Donald Trump’s allies see this week as proof that press relations are ready for a reboot.
In Pennsylvania House race, it’s pink heels vs. drag queens
It began with a photo of Democrat Paige Cognetti and a drag queen at Scranton’s 2025 Pride flag raising.
Ukraine renews pleas for Patriot missiles
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long urged allies to replenish Kyiv’s stock of Patriots.
AD
Politics
Argentina’s economy grows, but public frustration remains
President Milei has won plaudits from the World Bank and IMF for seeking to cut public-sector spending and slash red tape.
Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters
Trump’s efforts to reengage North Korea could be worthwhile, experts say
Trump’s overtures to Kim Jong Un could help achieve ‘incremental achievements,’ the conservative Cato Institute argued.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency via Reuters
US presses China to join economic pressure campaign against Iran
The remarks by the Treasury secretary come ahead of the expected unveiling of new US sanctions against Tehran.
Hasnoor Hussain/Reuters
In Pennsylvania House race, it’s pink heels vs. drag queens
It began with a photo of Democrat Paige Cognetti and a drag queen at Scranton’s 2025 Pride flag raising.
Mystery surrounds US deportations to Liberia
The Liberian government has insisted the deal is “not a transaction with a quid pro quo,” but that claim has failed to quiet the questions.
White House’s messaging operation sidetracked by internal drama
Some of President Donald Trump’s allies see this week as proof that press relations are ready for a reboot.
Vance takes his first economic punch in the 2028 primary
The vice president’s past skepticism about the dollar’s status as reserve currency has sparked a debate on the right.
Ukraine renews pleas for Patriot missiles
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has long urged allies to replenish Kyiv’s stock of Patriots.
Israel clashes with allies over West Bank settlement project
Israel sharply criticized the UK after London voiced opposition to the Jewish state’s support for settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Bessent teases Iran economic pressure plan
He suggested that the administration’s new efforts could affect China, saying that “it would do them a big service to get with the program.”
FBI steps up scrutiny of ex-congressman Swalwell
The bureau seized his electronics at San Francisco’s airport on Saturday night and executed search warrants on his DC home.
Business
US bond markets on edge despite bond buyback expansion
The US Treasury secretary’s pledge to expand a bond buyback program in order to lower borrowing costs did little to quell market unease.
Daniel Heuer/Reuters
‘I’m staring into the abyss’: How Toto Wolff drives Mercedes’ F1 team
The motorsports CEO says his ‘tough love’ style ensures the most compelling arguments prevail.
Spencer Stuart’s CEO on trust and tension in the boardroom
Jordan Brugg says it’s becoming easier for executives to feel misaligned with their directors.
Tempus AI’s biotech deal attracts investor attention
The deal would have passed by without much notice, but Personalis’ technology is crucial to building the revolutionary personalized cancer therapies announced earlier this week by Merck and Moderna.
Walmart posts weakest sales growth in six years
The retail giant’s worse-than-expected same-store sales growth is the latest sign that consumers are feeling strapped.
Technology
China closes the gap in AI race with US
A new Bloomberg analysis quantified the US’ narrowing lead over China in the AI race.
Go Nakamura/Reuters
Moderna’s skin cancer vaccine shows promise in trial
The vaccine is built on the mRNA platform that allowed Moderna to quickly roll out COVID-19 vaccines five years ago.
Brian Snyder/Reuters
SK Hynix to buy back $28.6 billion in shares
The world’s second-biggest memory chipmaker acted to boost investor confidence after weeks of turmoil in its share price.
China’s YouTube, Bilibili, plans global expansion, English-language site
The company is courting influencers to connect with “Gen Z Coded” users, and staffing up in cities around the world.
AI startup produces fully AI-generated feature-length film
Higgsfield AI produced ‘The Cully Hill Boys’ with a $2 million budget, half of which went to AI tokens.
Gen AI outputs are unattributable, study finds
Researchers discovered a phenomenon they call “attribution decay,” where the more data a generative model is trained on, the harder it becomes to trace a generated image to a single image from the training data.
Energy
US oil companies lock in Venezuela deals
After months of slow progress and noncommittal MOUs, international oil companies are making tangible headway in Venezuela.
Issac Urrutia/Reuters
Hormuz ‘isn’t really the problem’
A number of other factors are conspiring to drive down the volume of crude tankers faster over the past two weeks than any point during the war.
Social media via Reuters
More oil leaving the Gulf than previously thought
The US military has helped ferry crude through the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported.
Vladimir Tonic/Reuters
Gulf
UAE’s space industry expands with more private satellites
Abu Dhabi’s Orbitworks sold capacity to French space agency CNES, securing a useful endorsement.
NASA/Reuters
Saudi Arabia renews diplomatic efforts with Iraq
The two countries are trying to move past a recent exchange of fire.
Saudi intensifies $13.3 billion buildout of indoor entertainment centers
The kingdom is starting with its underserved second-tier cities, which are often in areas that attract year-round tourism because of their cooler climate.
HUMAIN teases new laptop developed with Qualcomm
The device represents a big bet by HUMAIN to broaden its AI efforts, and pits it against some large players.
Disentangling UAE-Iran economic ties could prove difficult
The UAE was Iran’s largest source of imports before the war, ahead of China.
China
Taiwan plans record defense budget
China, which regards the island as a renegade province, has increasingly deployed its military close to Taiwan.
Ann Wang/Reuters
China closes the gap in AI race with US
A new Bloomberg analysis quantified the US’ narrowing lead over China in the AI race.
Go Nakamura/Reuters
DFC funds rare earth projects in Africa
Private investors remain reluctant to finance the sector, a key battleground in Washington’s competition with China.
Steve Marcus/Reuters
Africa
Nigeria’s top presidential candidates vow to prioritize economic growth
President Bola Tinubu’s main opponents will be Atiku Abubakar, a former vice president, and former state governor Peter Obi.
Jean Bizimana/Reuters
South Africa’s Absa eyes fintech partnerships
South Africa’s Absa Group is seeking partnerships with fintechs in a strategy aimed at reaching new customers.
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
Nigeria bets on grants to unearth mineral riches
A government agency will issue grants that provide up to 70% of the cost of exploration projects by mining license holders in Nigeria.
Mystery surrounds US deportations to Liberia
The Liberian government has insisted the deal is “not a transaction with a quid pro quo,” but that claim has failed to quiet the questions.
DFC funds rare earth projects in Africa
Private investors remain reluctant to finance the sector, a key battleground in Washington’s competition with China.
US warns ‘long’ road ahead in Ebola response
The epidemic became the deadliest in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s history earlier this week.
Security
Trump’s efforts to reengage North Korea could be worthwhile, experts say
Trump’s overtures to Kim Jong Un could help achieve ‘incremental achievements,’ the conservative Cato Institute argued.
North Korea’s official Korean Central News Agency via Reuters
European officials warn of escalating threats from Russia
A Romanian jet destroyed a naval drone near a Black Sea gas platform.
An explosion following what the Romania’s defense ministry said in June was a detonation of Russian drone fragments. Romanian Defence Ministry/Handout via Reuters
Taiwan plans record defense budget
China, which regards the island as a renegade province, has increasingly deployed its military close to Taiwan.
Ann Wang/Reuters
Media
Mexico regulation proposal sparks censorship fears
Under the plan, officials would be able to determine whether news coverage was sufficiently true or balanced, with breaches potentially costing companies as much as 1% of their annual revenue.
Raquel Cunha/Reuters
China’s YouTube, Bilibili, plans global expansion, English-language site
The company is courting influencers to connect with “Gen Z Coded” users, and staffing up in cities around the world.
Tennis’ greatest battles — on the court and off
‘The Cruelest Game,’ by Matthew Futterman, details the unique psychological toll that professional tennis can take — particularly on its greatest stars.
MS NOW to launch membership program for ‘super fans’
The cable news network will roll out the program next month in an effort to grow its digital business and reach new audiences.
‘The Daily Show’ faces uncertain future under Paramount
Jon Stewart’s deal is up at the end of the year, and while there is strong interest from Paramount to renew, the two sides have yet to ink an extension.
CEO Signal
‘I’m staring into the abyss’: How Toto Wolff drives Mercedes’ F1 team
The motorsports CEO says his ‘tough love’ style ensures the most compelling arguments prevail.
Courtesy of Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team/Graph Massara/Semafor
Spencer Stuart’s CEO on trust and tension in the boardroom
Jordan Brugg says it’s becoming easier for executives to feel misaligned with their directors.
Courtesy of Spencer Stuart/Graph Massara/Semafor
‘It’s an unbundling’: ADP’s Maria Black on how AI is changing the workforce
The payroll processor sees technology disrupting low-value tasks but making human judgment more valuable.
Courtesy of ADP/Graph Massara/Semafor
AD