BusinessPresident Donald Trump has signed an executive order targeting trade protections for the American polysilicon industry, according to White House aide Will Scharf. The directive invokes Section 232 authorities to insulate domestic manufacturers from what the administration characterizes as predatory pricing and offshore competitive threats.
BusinessDigitalization acts as a potent engine for growth in developing nations, yet its economic impact stalls in advanced economies. A study published in the journal Economies reveals that while infrastructure expansion fosters catch-up growth in the Global South, it offers negligible returns once nations reach high levels of digital maturity.
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BusinessBenchmark copper prices jumped 1.8% to $14,369.50 a metric ton on the London Metal Exchange after the Democratic Republic of Congo issued an immediate ban on copper and cobalt concentrate exports. The move signals a renewed push to compel mining operators to process raw materials within national borders.
BusinessMexico’s annual inflation rate likely dipped to its lowest point since May 2020 throughout July, as softening food costs countered seasonal spikes in tourism spending. Economists surveyed by Reuters suggest the cooling trend gives Banxico room to maintain its current monetary stance during Thursday’s policy announcement.
BusinessThe FTSE 100 retreated 0.2% to close at 10,867.89 points on Thursday, mirroring a broader downturn across Wall Street. While the blue-chip index struggled to maintain momentum, the midcap FTSE 250 defied the trend, logging its fourth straight day of gains to settle at 24,695.41 points amid a flurry of quarterly earnings.
BusinessWith layoffs hitting a two-year low and worker output rising faster than anticipated, the American labor market is showing unexpected resilience. These figures suggest that businesses are successfully boosting efficiency, providing the Federal Reserve with a complex landscape as they weigh interest rate decisions against persistent inflationary pressures.
BusinessThe portion of the American economy flowing directly to workers has shriveled to 52.9%, reaching its lowest point since the Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the data in 1947. This decline, recorded in the second quarter, underscores a widening gap between soaring industrial productivity and stagnant wage growth across the nation.
BusinessIndia has formally rebuffed speculation regarding potential concessions on U.S. ethanol imports during ongoing bilateral trade negotiations. The Commerce Ministry issued a statement on Thursday clarifying that current regulations strictly mandate the use of domestic supplies to fulfill the country's twenty percent ethanol-blending requirement for gasoline.
BusinessThe portion of the U.S. economy flowing to workers has plummeted to 52.9%, marking the lowest level recorded since data tracking began in 1947. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, a persistent gap between soaring productivity and sluggish wage growth has effectively redistributed the spoils of output toward shareholders.
BusinessA parliamentary committee on Thursday signaled an urgent need for the government to finalize a bilateral trade pact with the United States. Lawmakers emphasized that while securing predictable market access remains the priority, the deal must also shield domestic industries from the volatility of sudden American tariff adjustments.
BusinessThe Democratic Republic of Congo has abruptly banned the export of copper and cobalt concentrates, a move designed to mandate domestic mineral processing. By forcing operators to refine materials locally, the government aims to capture a larger share of the economic value generated by its vast, energy-transition-critical mining sector.
BusinessEuropean stocks climbed to record highs on Thursday, shaking off an overnight sell-off in Asian and U.S. markets. Investors pivoted toward strong corporate earnings and signaled renewed confidence in risk assets, even as oil prices dipped following reports of a potential diplomatic breakthrough regarding Iran and the Strait of Hormuz.
BusinessThe pan-European STOXX 600 index touched an all-time high on Thursday, shaking off overnight losses from Wall Street and Asia. Investors focused on robust corporate earnings and a potential diplomatic breakthrough involving Iran, even as markets braced for upcoming U.S. payroll data to gauge the Federal Reserve's next interest rate move.
BusinessEuropean stocks climbed to an intraday record on Thursday, fueled by a robust corporate earnings season that overshadowed lingering tensions in the Middle East. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 0.5% to 660.22 points, marking its third consecutive session of historic highs as investors weighed potential de-escalation in the Strait of Hormuz.
BusinessThe Democratic Republic of Congo has abruptly banned the export of copper and cobalt concentrates, a decisive move aimed at compelling mining firms to process minerals domestically. This policy shift, signed by three government ministers on June 29, targets the heart of the nation’s vast mineral wealth and primary revenue streams.
BusinessThe World Bank has barred Niger-based Entreprise Babati and its director, Babati Sayid Ali Ahmed, from all bank-financed projects for 35 months. The sanctions follow a confirmed case of procurement fraud involving falsified experience documents and a counterfeit tax certificate submitted during a road infrastructure contract bid.
BusinessThe World Bank has barred United Aviation Services Limited and its owner, Air Vice Marshal Alkali Mamu, from all bank-financed projects for 31 months. The sanctions follow an investigation into the Zinder–Agadez road project in Niger, where the company utilized falsified documentation to secure a prequalification bid.
BusinessThe Taxation and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has ignited a fierce debate over the future of UPI. By removing the automatic statutory exemption on merchant charges, the government has signaled that the era of a strictly zero-fee model for India’s digital payment backbone may be coming to a close.
BusinessStanding alongside Myanmar’s junta chief Min Aung Hlaing at a business summit on Thursday, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul signaled a formal pivot in bilateral relations. The two nations are now moving to accelerate trade agreements and synchronize development across their respective energy sectors in a renewed regional partnership.
BusinessA proposed diplomatic breakthrough between Iran and Oman to stabilize the Strait of Hormuz has propelled European markets to new heights. The STOXX 600 climbed 0.4% to 660 on Thursday, marking its third consecutive record-setting session as investors balance geopolitical optimism with a robust wave of corporate earnings reports.
BusinessWith organized crime evolving across Latin America and the Caribbean, the Inter-American Development Bank and INTERPOL have launched a collaborative security framework. Announced at a summit in Brazil, the initiative aims to deploy international policing expertise and technical resources directly to national justice systems through a rapid response task force.
BusinessOrganized crime is choking economic growth across Latin America, prompting the Inter-American Development Bank to hike its security and justice financing target to $4 billion. The move, announced at a regional summit in Brazil, aims to bolster institutional resilience against increasingly sophisticated criminal networks and illicit financial flows.
BusinessThe pan-European STOXX 600 index climbed to 657.14 points on Wednesday, marking a fresh record close as robust corporate earnings successfully buffered investor sentiment against escalating volatility in the Middle East, where Houthi militants recently targeted a Saudi oil tanker in the Red Sea.
BusinessThe U.S. services sector maintained a robust pace of growth in July, but the momentum is increasingly hampered by supply chain constraints and escalating input costs. These pressures, compounded by lingering geopolitical tensions, suggest the Federal Reserve may sustain a restrictive interest rate policy to combat persistent inflation.
BusinessA sharp selloff in banking stocks pressured London's blue-chip index on Wednesday, limiting broader gains despite robust financial reports from Glencore and retailer Next. While the FTSE 100 managed a marginal rise to 10,888.3 points, the market remained wary of shifting regulatory winds originating from overseas.
BusinessAt Kumasi's Atwemonom Market, generations of tradition met modern science as local bushmeat traders swapped long-standing customs for new food safety protocols. Supported by the FAO, these women are now using insulated storage and rigorous hygiene techniques to shield their families and customers from the risks of zoonotic disease.
BusinessThirteen African nations are set to overhaul how they account for forests, rivers, and biodiversity after the African Development Fund approved a $4.23 million grant. Running from October 2026 to September 2029, the initiative aims to transition environmental assets from peripheral concerns into central pillars of national economic strategy.
BusinessA sharp escalation in attacks on merchant vessels and port infrastructure across the Black Sea is rattling global commodity markets. With daily tanker costs surging past $300,000 and war risk insurance premiums doubling, the region is rapidly evolving into a volatile chokepoint for international grain and oil supplies.
BusinessThe African Development Bank has approved a $1 million grant to alleviate the humanitarian strain in Togo’s Savanes Region, where an influx of over 70,000 refugees and internally displaced persons has overwhelmed local infrastructure and public services following regional instability that has intensified since 2022.
BusinessEscalating strikes on tankers and port infrastructure in the Black Sea have transformed a critical trade artery into a volatile frontline. With both Russia and Ukraine intensifying targeting of export facilities, the surge in maritime violence is driving up shipping costs and threatening the stability of global grain and oil supplies.