Economy

U.S. considers fresh round of tariffs on semiconductors, report says

As tech giants race to beat China in the AI infrastructure build-out, the U.S. is reportedly considering enforcing tariffs on semiconductors.

CEOs earn 614 times more than workers at US’s 100 lowest-paying corporations

Analysis by Institute for Policy Studies found that between 2019 and 2025, CEO compensation increased 41.4%

We are caught between a debt crisis and an inflation crisis

It’s said that a person often meets his fate on the road he took to avoid it. Washington, D.C., has spent most of the last half-century using the federal debt to prove that maxim.

Gavin Newsom's tire mandate rolls over consumers

Considering that California still has yet to lay a single mile of track for its $126 billion high-speed rail system, first approved 18 years ago, we shouldn’t be too surprised that state bureaucrats are just now getting around to issuing new tire regulations first authorized 23 years ago. They are set to be implemented in three years.

Ukraine’s drone attacks have left Russia desperately scrambling for oil imports

The once world-leading producer of crude oil has plunged into an energy crisis as Kyiv targets its refineries

Qantas shares jump after earnings as airline unveils new business-class seats

Qantas shares jumped 4% after the airline reported full-year earnings and introduced new business-class seats amid strong demand for premium travel.

Europe’s gas stores are running low

Europe’s gas stores are historically low for this time of year, as disrupted Middle East LNG flows raise the risk of sharply higher prices this winter.

France to relax cheese production rules after drought takes toll on grazing land

Comté, beaufort and abondance makers can temporarily supplement cows’ diets as there is ‘no grass left to eat’

Japanese startups, IPOs set for boost with platform to trade unlisted companies

The Japanese regulator's registration of a new trading platform for unlisted shares could help create a more favorable capital-raising environment for the country's IPO ecosystem.

China Industrial Profits Growth Cools to Slowest in Seven Months as Economic Slowdown Deepens

China's industrial profits growth in July slowed to its weakest pace this year, as soft demand and a broader slowdown in the economy weighed on manufacturers.

Bank of Korea delivers back-to-back rate hikes as core inflation stays elevated

The Bank of Korea hiked rates by 25 basis points to 3%, its highest since January 2025 and in line with expectations.

The toy industry's latest craze is cheap, colorful and very squishy

Squishy toys are booming, with social media and low prices helping fuel the craze.