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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Lauren Morganbesser

Lauren Morganbesser

Newsroom Fellow

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Middle East ambassadorships sit vacant as Trump relies on special envoys

About half of the nations ensnared by the Iran conflict currently lack a Senate-confirmed leader of their US embassy.
Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff
Urs Flueeler/Reuters

Trump’s Gaza deal faces resistance

US President Donald Trump’s diplomatic push to disarm Hamas has run into headwinds as political resistance in Israel and disagreements with Hamas over implementation cast doubt on the US-backed plan.
The sun sets over Gaza, as seen from the Israeli side of the border
Amir Cohen/Reuters

OPEC+ raises production targets

OPEC+ agreed on Sunday to raise oil production by 188,000 barrels a day in September, marking its sixth consecutive monthly increase as the group seeks to restore supply to a market strained by global conflicts.
General view of Aramco’s oil field in the Empty Quarter
Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters

Iran complicates Iraq’s charm offensive in Washington

Washington wants to pull Baghdad closer, but Iraq remains on the front lines of a widening confrontation with Iran.
Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi
Evan Vucci/Reuters

Saudi defense minister visits Washington to lobby for F-35s

Both the jet sale and wider security cooperation were on the agenda, people familiar with the plans told Semafor.
Saudi defense minister Khalid bin Salman and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Sudan sanctions may catch ride on defense bill

Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, filed the PEACE in Sudan Act as an amendment to the annual defense policy bill moving through the chamber.
Jim Risch
Kylie Cooper/Reuters

Washington honors Lindsey Graham

World leaders paid their respects to the late South Caro

Lull in Iran conflict tests Trump

A second straight day without US-Iran strikes shifted attention from the battlefield to the White House, where President Donald Trump faces an increasingly narrow set of options.

India’s Modi is dealt a rare defeat by youth protesters

Weeks of youth-led protests forced the resignation of India’s education minister, forcing a rare concession from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government.

Lawmakers warn Trump over possible Mali strikes

Senators said the administration hasn’t consulted them about the potential operation.

Key Democrat will oppose crypto bill absent stronger ethics language

Sen. Angela Alsobrooks called draft language “wild and unserious”

Republican senator rails against AI data centers

Kansas voters are “on fire” against them, Roger Marshall warns

Lebanon’s president pushes Trump on Israel

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun’s US visit marks the first by a Lebanese head of state in nearly 20 years.

The Nazi who manipulated Hitler — and the postwar public

Newly translated from French, Jean-Noël Orengo’s novel reexamines the life of Albert Speer, who reinvented himself after World War II.

Incoming UK prime minister aims to turn economy around

Andy Burnham becomes the UK’s new prime minister on Monday, and fixing Britain’s economy will be at the top of his agenda.

US troop deaths heighten pressure facing Trump on Iran

The US pounded Iran with fresh strikes after two American soldiers were killed in an attack on an air base in Jordan on Friday, pushing the two sides closer to all-out war.

Trump turns to commercial diplomacy in Iraq

Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s warm welcome from Trump buoyed by billions in expected deal announcements

Democrats wage a new campaign culture war with the alpha left

The old divisions reopened between the party’s establishment and its swaggering young progressives won’t heal easily, despite Graham Platner’s exit.