China reports lowest quarterly growth in more than three years

The world second-biggest economy expanded 4.3% in Q2, as the Iran war, lackluster domestic demand, and a lingering real estate slump weighed on growth.
A sign reading open for business in Beijing.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters

Stripe and Advent bid $53B for PayPal

PayPal was valued at $360 billion in 2021, but that has now fallen to just $36 billion due to competition from Apple Pay and other rivals.
A Paypal logo.
Fabrizio Bensch/File Photo/Reuters

Trump threatens to bomb Iran’s civilian infrastructure

A month-long ceasefire has effectively collapsed, with the US and Iran exchanging fire for four consecutive days.
An Iranian missile in Tehran.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters

US deploys Coast Guard in Pacific as China tensions rise

Tensions have risen in the region as Beijing has sought to expand its maritime and territorial claims in recent years.
A US Coast Guard cutter.
Marco Bello/Reuters
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Politics

Baltimore Sun owner threatens to sue Moore over Epstein comments

The Maryland governor tried to tie Sinclair chairman David Smith to the disgraced financier.
Wes Moore
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

White House not ruling out action on open-source AI models

The administration has an interest in boosting the US’ nascent open-source industry, which is increasingly concerned about losing ground to China.
Trump signing an AI order
Al Drago/Reuters

Blanche’s mission: Convince the Senate’s free agents

Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Thom Tillis, R-N.C., will have some hard questions for the acting attorney general.
Todd Blanche
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

Daylight saving bill hits wall in Senate

Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso said the daylight saving time measure would not be able to pass by unanimous consent.

‘Nobody told me how dangerous it is’: How Trump sees threats to his life

As fresh risks from Iran make headlines, those closest to the president told Semafor that, in private, he aims for fatalistic humor.

Parasitic infection outbreak exposes deep cracks in public health

A sprawling cyclospora outbreak spotlights deeper issues in America’s public health system.

Fed Chair Warsh condemns inflation while dodging on hikes

In his first hearing since starting the job, the Federal Reserve chair promised lawmakers he would “deliver price stability” but took pains to avoid specifying what that means for rates.

Sanders-backed progressives try to make AI the new AIPAC

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Tuesday moratorium on data centers follows a growing campaign on the left to harness grassroots opposition to the projects.

Warsh gets first Capitol Hill grilling as Federal Reserve chair

The Fed chair will likely field questions about his recently announced task forces.

Senate weighs filling Graham’s committee seats

The late Sen. Lindsey Graham sat on the Judiciary, Appropriations, and Environment and Public Works committees, plus his Budget Committee chairmanship.

Trump is ‘very serious’ about Hormuz toll push

The proposal puts the US president at odds with some of his allies who opposed the toll idea.
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