SEMAFOR Headline Clips

Transparent news, distilled views, and global perspectives.

Trump’s megabill squeaks through Congress

The vote is a testament to the president’s sway over his party, and a victory for House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Annabelle Gordon/Reuters

View / How the GOP’s bill broke the Democrats

Republicans relied on the campaign politics of a “golden age” tax bill.

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

The World at a Glance

Updated 4:00am PDT 

 

1

Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs even further, escalating trade tensions days before a 90-day pause on levies expires.

2

Ukraine said it would protest Washington’s abrupt halt of weapons deliveries, as peace efforts faltered.

3

Trade tensions between Beijing and Brussels ratcheted up, weeks before a high-profile summit.

4

Republicans passed Donald Trump’s signature tax and spending bill, after hours of debate and a revolt from some Congress members.

5

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a detailed trade deal with the US was likely ‘impossible’ before the July 9 deadline.

6

Brazil’s Lula urged South America’s Mercosur trading bloc to prioritize ties with Asia, risking the group’s unity.

Saudi Arabia in no rush to normalize Israel ties

The reputational cost of normalizing ties with Israel may be too high for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Majid Asgaripour/West Asia News Agency/Reuters

View / How AI can spur a rebirth of media

The advent of AI and the related media shakeup brings a huge opportunity for entrepreneurship in local and niche publishing.

Xavier Lorenzo/Getty Images

The US dollar is on track for its worst year in modern history

The greenback is down more than 7% this year, and Morgan Stanley predicts it could fall another 10%.

Kim Kyung-Hoon/File Photo/Reuters

PIF drives office demand in Riyadh

The sovereign wealth fund is the top tenant in the Saudi capital, but new regional HQs and infrastructure bets are on the rise.

B.alotaby/Wikimedia Commons/CC BY-SA 4.0

 

 

Trump to host African leaders next week

Discussions will center on the continent’s ‘incredible commercial opportunities,’ a White House spokesperson said.

Ken Cedeno/Reuters

Japan to face financial sector shakeup

Japan’s end to zero interest rates and the imminent wave of inheritances will force an end to decades of inertia in markets.

Issei Kato/Reuters

Republicans round up votes for a ‘big, beautiful’ blur

The president’s “big, beautiful bill” does not achieve some of what he ran on. That has not stopped Republicans from saying it does.

Annabelle Gordon/Reuters