Category: Semafor

US allies should pay more for critical minerals sourced from outside of China, the White House’s trade representative said, as Washington looks to break Beijing’s dominance in the sector. The EU and US are reportedly nearing an agreement to coordinate on mining, setting up a club of countries to trade ...

Germany vowed to take on more “responsibility” for Europe’s defense, in the country’s first-ever postwar military strategy. The new 35-page report calls for quickly boosting troop numbers and military capabilities, and is primarily aimed at deterring Russia, analysts said. Germany was long seen as hesitant to appear overly militaristic or ...

Argentinian President Javier Milei’s popularity plunged to a new low, as rising unemployment and a burgeoning corruption scandal threatened his ambitious economic program and prospects for reelection next year. Since taking office in 2023, Milei has overseen a remarkable transformation of South America’s second-largest economy: Annual inflation has plummeted, while ...

A Japanese regional government is offering residents ¥20,000 ($125) subsidies for using dating apps, to try to address the country’s population decline upstream of actual baby-making. Kochi prefecture’s initiative aims to reduce the barriers to finding suitable partners. Whether or not the plan works, it may be aiming at the ...

The News Spirit is on the verge of a $500 million bailout from the US government, providing warrants for a stake in the airline in exchange for the infusion, according to people familiar with the matter. The talks are advanced, and would likely result in the US government being positioned ...

Yinka’s view Sub-Saharan Africa entered 2026 with its fastest economic growth in a decade but that momentum has been upended by the disruption in fuel supply caused by the US and Israeli war with Iran. Last week the International Monetary Fund trimmed its 2026 outlook for Africa to 4.3%, 30 ...

David’s view There were many losers in Virginia’s vote to approve a gerrymandered, Democratic map. President Donald Trump kept his super PAC wallet closed, quietly angering Republicans. Four members of House Speaker Mike Johnson’s GOP majority now face near-certain defeat in November. And Virginia Republicans, who wanted to prove that ...

European carmakers are losing their premium brand status in China, as younger consumers opt for cars from domestic brands, further eroding Western firms’ prospects in a cutthroat global market. Chinese carmakers are increasingly dominant around the world, but European automakers had long controlled the premium sector of the world’s biggest ...

China’s robotaxi fleet may almost triple this year compared to 2025, though customer resistance could hinder its rollout, analysts said. Goldman Sachs predicted that China will have almost 15,000 robotaxis by the end of the year, putting the country ahead of the US in the race “to automate roads and ...

Alaa’s view Riyadh doesn’t feel like a city bracing for crisis. Stuck in rush-hour traffic this week, it was easy to forget that the Gulf is in the middle of a conflict that has upended the world economy and the region’s own prospects. Malls are relatively busy. At one restaurant, ...