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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Paige Bruton

Paige Bruton

UK Newsroom Fellow

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US clean energy investment surges 22% in second quarter

The results, published by the Clean Investment Monitor, were largely driven by residential battery storage installations.
Workers lift a solar panel onto a roof during a residential solar installation in Scripps Ranch, San Diego.
Mike Blake/Reuters

Fridge-free vaccines could prompt Africa immunization breakthrough

Vaccines that can be stored without refrigeration have been successfully trialed in patients for the first time.
Health workers prepare to vaccinate infants at the Mother and Child Hospital in Kasoa, Ghana.
Francis Kokoroko/Reuters

US emissions reductions fall short of Biden-era goals

The US is on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by only 27-41% below 2005 levels by 2040, a new report found.
Steam rises from the cooling towers of the coal-fired power plant at Duke Energy’s Crystal River Energy Complex.
Dane Rhys/Reuters

West African photo project maps climate change solutions

The project uses imagined climate-adapted photos of areas that have already been hard hit by sea-level rise, flooding, and coastal erosion.
A temporary exhibition of the photographs in Lagos.
Courtesy of Adolphus Opara

Mining developments eroding Africa’s forests, study finds

Nearly 190,000 hectares of forest were converted to mines in Africa between 2001 and 2020, according to researchers at the universities of Cambridge and Sheffield.
A drone view shows a section of the Gold Fields Mine in Tarkwa, Ghana.
Francis Kokoroko/Reuters

Catnip lotion found to be effective mosquito repellent in Uganda study

Researchers found that 6% catnip oil lotion was just as good at repelling mosquitoes as the main ingredient in widely used brands.
A researcher from the Uganda Virus Research Institute places a mosquito sample into a tube.
James Akena/Reuters

A tale of star-crossed sisters

In 1970s Ghana, a period of intense economic decline, two sister make a promise with devastating consequences.

Nigerian-born artist taps memories for Obamas portrait

Njideka Akunyili Crosby was commissioned to paint the first joint portrait of the former US president and first lady, Barack and Michelle Obama.

South African holds world’s oldest ultramarathon

The nearly 55-mile race was held soon after Cape Town was designated a World Marathon Major.

FIFA bans use of vuvuzelas at World Cup

The vuvuzela became a symbol of South African football following its widespread use in the 2010 World Cup, which was hosted in the country.

‘The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind’ gets London stage debut

The musical is an adaptation of a memoir about a young Malawian boy who builds his own windmill to generate electricity during a period of famine.

Ghanaian artist El Anatsui dominates Frieze New York sales

‘LuwVor I,’ a sculpture crafted from aluminum, copper, and wire, sold for $2.2 million, more than double the next highest seller at the prestigious art fair.

Chinese solar exports to Africa surge

The energy crisis sparked by the Iran war has fueled global demand for renewable energy.

Investment into health R&D could unlock $668B for Africa

The goal could be achieved if African governments meet the African Union’s call to invest 1% of their GDPs in health, a report said.

EV imports to Africa from China surged in 2025

African countries imported more than 44,000 electric vehicles from China last year, according to China’s commerce ministry, up from more than 19,000 in 2024.

US inflation jumps to 3.8%, the highest level in three years

The spike was largely caused by fuel price increases sparked by the war in Iran.

New digital atlas sheds light on Africa’s wetlands

Since the 1970s more than a third of the world’s wetlands have disappeared, largely due to climate change and urbanization.

Nigerian ecologist wins major environmental prize

Iroro Tanshi won the award, dubbed the “Green Nobel,” for her work protecting endangered bats from wildfires.