Chinese electric bike imports surge as Africa’s EV investments diversify
Africa’s imports of electric motorcycles from China rose by nearly 60% in the first half of 2026, led by Morocco, Egypt and Algeria.
Africa’s imports of electric motorcycles from China rose by nearly 60% in the first half of 2026, led by Morocco, Egypt and Algeria.
Donald Trump tied a promised $5,000 payment for every adult American to the outcome of November’s elections. At the first Republican midterm convention, the US president said the payment he termed the “Trump dividend” would be made if Republicans retain both chambers of Congress.

President Donald Trump opened the Republican midterm convention by attacking Democrats as extremists and strongly defending the war in Iran. He also pledged to pay every adult American $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress after November, apparently seeking bold moves to revive the party’s prospects amid his low approval ratings.

Trump is trying to energize his base with a $5,000 promise.
What could Donald Trump’s proposed $5,000 dividend buy, and could the United States afford its estimated $1.2 trillion cost?

President Donald Trump has promised to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections. The dubious proposal could cost more than $1 trillion, require congressional approval and deepen the nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deficit while adding to inflation concerns.
Donald Trump has pledged to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections, in an extraordinary bid to influence voters before the November 3 polls. The mechanism and legality are unclear; with about 270 million US adults, the proposal could cost roughly $1.35 trillion.
The US president’s promise of a nationwide cash payout if Republicans win the midterm elections is adding uncertainty to the Treasury market before a 30-year bond auction. It is also reviving concerns over Washington’s fiscal discipline and unpredictable policymaking.
Donald Trump says Americans would receive a $5,000 payout if Republicans win the midterm elections.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would pay every American adult a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans retain control of Congress in November’s midterm election, making an extraordinary appeal for voters to support his party.
President Trump said he would pay every American adult a $5,000 “Trump dividend” if Republicans retain control of Congress in November’s midterm election, in an extraordinary effort to persuade voters to support his party.

Donald Trump promised a $5,000 “dividend” for U.S. citizens if Republicans win the midterm elections. The payout could cost more than $1 trillion and is likely to face legal obstacles.
President Donald Trump floated a possible $5,000 payment to US voters if Republicans win the midterm elections. For months, Trump has called affordability concerns a hoax while saying the US economy is roaring.

Donald Trump has promised every American $5,000 if Republicans win November’s midterm elections, without explaining how the plan would work or be funded. Democrats call it an “empty promise”, while others question its legality. The proposal could cost the US government about $1.3 trillion.

US President Donald Trump says he would give every adult American $5,000 if Republicans win both chambers of Congress in November’s midterm elections. The proposal could cost about $1.3tn, but Trump gave no details on its funding or operation. Democrats called it an “empty promise”, while legal experts questioned whether it would be lawful.

President Trump’s speech at the Republican convention centered on a promise of a $5,000 payment and his claim that oil prices will “come tumbling down.”
President Donald Trump promised on Wednesday to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of Congress in November. He paired the extraordinary claim with a call for supporters to “pretend” he was also on the ballot.

US President Donald Trump urged supporters on Wednesday to treat November’s midterm elections as if he were personally on the ballot. He said he would give every American adult $5,000 if right-wing Republicans retain control of Congress, as he faces low approval ratings, rising living costs and a months-long war with Iran.

Speaking at the Republican National Committee’s midterm convention, Donald Trump pledged a $5,000 “dividend” for every adult US citizen if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in November’s midterm elections. If enacted, the proposal would cost $1.2 trillion.

US President Donald Trump said he would issue a $5,000 “dividend” to every American adult if Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections. He offered no funding details or plan to track spending. At the party convention in Dallas, Trump also defended the Iran war, tariffs and immigration crackdown while attacking Democrats and immigrants.
President Donald Trump says he plans to give every American adult $5,000 if Republicans retain control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections, a pledge described as dubious.
Trump has proposed a $5,000 dividend payment to every adult US citizen if Republicans win the midterm elections.

Speaking at the Republican midterm convention, President Donald Trump said every adult U.S. citizen would receive a $5,000 “dividend” if Republicans win the November midterm elections. He said the money would have to be spent in the United States.
Pump.fun announced Custom Pairs on Sept. 9, allowing new memecoins to trade against tokenized stocks, major crypto assets and other quote assets rather than only SOL and stablecoins. The article argues that retail speculation could create demand and inventory for stock tokens, while stressing that any path from meme trading to lending liquidity or institutional use remains hypothetical.

Long-term Treasury yields moved higher despite a $6 billion buyback. Concerns over debt and rising oil prices continue to weigh on bond markets worldwide.

Many BRICS members are facing pressure and unlawful restrictions imposed by third countries, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. He said they are seeking ways to secure mutual settlements in economic cooperation, including through joint investment platforms, and that the issue will be discussed at the upcoming summit in India.
Crypto exchange giant Bybit plans to offer a European “super-app” covering stocks and derivatives. CEO Ben Zhou said the company holds an electronic money institution license in Austria and is about to secure a MiFID license as well.

Nasdaq is investing $100 million in Payward, the parent company of Kraken, at a $21 billion valuation. The deal expands a strategic partnership aimed at bringing tokenized equities with voting rights to crypto exchange users.

Beijing-based AI startup Moonshot is considering listing in both Hong Kong and Shanghai to raise more funds and increase its exposure, the South China Morning Post reported on Thursday, citing two people familiar with the matter.
Bitcoin traders are reducing bullish positions ahead of the release of U.S. inflation data.

A Chinese government spokesperson says China and the United States hope to reach an agreement soon on reducing import taxes.

The 2026 APEC CEO Summit will take place in Shenzhen on November 17-18, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade said. Hosted under the theme “promoting prosperity together for a win-win future,” it will bring about 1,000 political and business representatives together to discuss regional trade, connectivity, artificial intelligence and sustainable development.

India’s potential demand for Russian helicopters could reach about 5,000 aircraft, Tatarstan Industry and Trade Minister Oleg Korobchenko told TASS. Tatarstan plans to explore with India the localization of production, maintenance services and technology transfers, though the potential investment has not yet been determined.
Diamondback Energy CEO Kaes Van’t Hof says oil companies are no longer seen as pariahs by young people seeking well-paid careers, with Big Tech now taking their place as Public Enemy No 1.
The article urges caution about worrying over a new “China shock” and asks whether now is really the time to do so.
China’s National Development and Reform Commission held a roundtable with senior executives from more than 60 US companies operating in China. The technology, industrial and consumer-goods companies discussed the business environment, policy support and prospects for future investment.

A major Novartis shareholder is urging a shake-up of the Swiss drugmaker’s board to strengthen corporate governance after the company’s shares suffered their biggest-ever fall this week following two consecutive trial setbacks.
Bitcoin is holding near $78,000 as traders assess inflation, Federal Reserve policy, oil prices and disruption around the Strait of Hormuz. Glassnode identifies $83,000–$86,000 as a dense overhead supply zone, while $76,600 is the first key support and $62,000–$65,000 the deeper structural failure band.


Bitcoin dropped 2% in 24 hours to $78,111, while 95 of the 100 CoinDesk 100 constituents declined. Most of the losses occurred overnight.
United Aircraft Corporation has signed agreements with Indian airlines to supply 105 Il-114-300 regional aircraft, Russia’s Industry and Trade Ministry said. Letters of intent cover 50 aircraft for Pinnacle Air and up to 20 for Air Kerala. UAC also signed an MoU with Sleek Aviation for 35 aircraft and a training center with a full-flight simulator.
United Aircraft Corporation plans to establish a joint engineering center in India, CEO Vadim Badekha said. The company’s immediate priority is organizing the production and delivery of existing aircraft, including their production in India, while science and education cooperation is expected to follow.
United Aircraft Corporation plans to deliver its first aircraft directly from Russia to Indian companies once Russian certificates are validated in India. The company has agreements covering 85 Il-114-300 aircraft and plans to establish a training center, while certification procedures for the SJ-100 and Il-114-300 are discussed.
India is estimated to need about 100 SJ-100s and more than 100 Il-114-300 aircraft over the next ten years, UAC CEO Vadim Badekha said. At Innoprom India, UAC signed agreements covering 85 Il-114-300 deliveries: 50 for Pinnacle Air and 35 for Sleek Aviation, which will also establish a training center with a full-flight simulator.
United Aircraft Corporation CEO Vadim Badekha says UAC expects to sign a firm licensing agreement with India’s Hindustan Aeronautics Limited on the SJ-100 in the near future, potentially by the end of the year. He says preparations for the deal are at an advanced stage.
United Aircraft Corporation CEO Vadim Badekha said agreements signed with India could be converted into firm contracts in the near future. He said determining the localization program is the immediate priority. Agreements cover 85 Il-114-300 regional turboprop aircraft, including 50 for Pinnacle Air and 35 for Sleek Aviation, plus a training center.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong expects bitcoin to trend higher over the next two years, saying the current cycle may have reached its bottom.

Sönke Siegfriedsen felt bittersweet in April when his revolutionary floating offshore wind turbine design was presented to Spain’s prime minister.
Trade between Russia and China surpassed $185 billion in the first eight months of 2026, rising 28% from the same period in 2025, Russian presidential special representative Boris Titov said. He said the figure shows Russia’s economy has definitively pivoted toward China in its economic relations.
Russia’s trade with Asia-Pacific countries increased 24.5% year-on-year to $157.5 billion in the first half of 2026, Deputy Industry and Trade Minister Roman Chekushov told TASS. Exports grew 35%, while imports rose 15.3%.
In an exclusive interview, Euronews Farsi spoke with drivers, small-business owners and salaried workers about an economy where fuel prices doubled overnight and basic food has become unaffordable.
India is expected to advocate a digital-currency payment system at the BRICS summit, according to sources. BRICS countries have previously explored alternatives to dollar-based payments.

As lifelong homeownership becomes unattainable for a growing share of people, a new study covering 39 OECD countries examines how permanent renting is reshaping housing markets. Switzerland and Denmark are among the countries leading a global shift toward lifelong tenancy.
As owning a home for life moves beyond the reach of a growing share of people, a study covering 39 OECD countries examines how permanent renting is reshaping housing markets. Switzerland and Denmark are among the countries leading a global shift toward lifelong tenancy.
The White House has yet to decide whether to impose tariffs on refined copper, two people familiar with the matter said. Officials are weighing fears that higher copper prices could increase manufacturing costs against the possible benefit of encouraging more domestic mining.
Volkswagen has kept several options open for Seat beyond 2030, but says no decision has yet been made about the brand’s future. The government remains confident that Seat will continue.
Volkswagen has kept several options open for Seat beyond 2030, but has not made a decision on the brand’s future. The government says it remains confident that Seat will continue.
The core surface facilities of Uganda’s Kingfisher oilfield have passed mechanical completion acceptance, completing the country’s first commercial oilfield and moving it into production preparations. Built by CNOOC, the project is expected to reach peak output of 40,000 barrels per day and support local jobs and related industries.

Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission has ordered the stock exchange to halt trading in US biotech firm Cloudbreak Pharma while it investigates the company’s US$78 million IPO last year. The regulator said it has serious concerns that the offering may have been rigged to create an artificial appearance of demand for the shares.

Marine fuel shortages at major shipping hubs have eased even as the Iran war restricts exports through the Strait of Hormuz. Industry sources at Thursday’s APPEC meeting said the market is adjusting to earlier supply shocks.
Franklin Templeton is moving beyond a painful chapter as the Western Asset crisis recedes, expanding its franchise across public and private markets and reaching $1.8tn in assets.
China’s electric-vehicle penetration is expected to keep rising, though growth is likely to slow toward the end of the decade, reaching 75% to 80% by 2030, a Sinopec researcher said.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said 650 million users holding USDT had created the “decentralized ownership of US debt.” Tether’s own documents, however, say holders own transferable tokens and certain contractual redemption rights, while Tether International owns and manages the reserves. Holders are not entitled to Treasury investment gains, and the 650 million figure lacks an independently published methodology.

Ryanair’s CEO warned that airfares could rise significantly as surging jet-fuel costs continue to put pressure on the airline industry.

Most major Gulf stock markets fell in early trading on Thursday as intensifying hostilities between the United States and Iran raised concerns that vital energy corridors across the region could be disrupted.
The IMF dropped Portuguese economist Ricardo Reis after he warned that tariffs could raise prices in the United States and potentially trigger a new wave of inflation.
Portuguese economist Ricardo Reis was dropped by the IMF after warning that tariffs could raise prices in the United States and potentially trigger a new wave of inflation.
India plans to advocate linking central bank digital currencies across BRICS countries for cross-border payments at a summit later this week, two people familiar with the discussions said. They cautioned that political and technical obstacles could constrain progress.
Singapore grew immensely wealthy within just a few decades. The question is whether it can still serve as a model for explosive economic growth in an increasingly disrupted world.
Esma warns that the fast-growing prediction-market sector carries risks of being rife with insider trading, contrasting with the more welcoming stance in the US.
Fishing associations warn that the independence and profitability of Atlantic inshore fishing are at risk because of the sources fishermen are turning to for the money needed to keep operating.
Large swings in Treasury yields over the past several months have renewed attention on the CBOE Volatility Index, or VIX, and the Merrill Lynch Option Volatility Estimate as markets enter a historically volatile period.

A State Council Information Office briefing outlined measures under the 15th Five-Year Plan to strengthen financial oversight, prevent risks and support high-quality development. Authorities plan to address risks at small and medium-sized institutions and accelerate a new round of capital-market reform and opening-up, aiming to establish a stronger development pattern by 2030.
States that voted for President Donald Trump in the 2024 election accounted for 71% of US solar capacity installed during the first half of the year, an industry trade group said in a report released Thursday.
Alicia García-Herrero, an economist at the Bruegel think tank, says proposed EU legislation restricting the subsidies foreign companies can receive when investing in Europe is “fair”.
Bruegel economist Alicia García-Herrero regards the EU’s new legislation restricting subsidies available to foreign companies investing in Europe as “fair.”
Hefei embodies two contrasting economies: a high-tech manufacturing boom that has made it one of China's fastest-growing cities, alongside consumers cutting back on spending.
Russia’s stock market turned higher at the start of the main trading session, according to Moscow Exchange data. By 10:40 Moscow time, the MOEX index had risen 0.17% to 2,267.81 points and the RTS index was up 0.17% at 835.96. The yuan continued to decline against the ruble, reaching 12.602 rubles.
US Treasury yields surged after a $6 billion bond buyback disappointed markets. The sell-off threatens to raise borrowing costs for American households and businesses.
US Treasury yields surged after a $6 billion bond buyback disappointed markets. The sell-off threatens to raise borrowing costs for American households and businesses.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s unusual effort to substantially enlarge the department’s debt-buyback program faltered Wednesday. Announcing the size of the first expanded operation was not enough to stop markets from falling.

The US Treasury has raised the ceiling for its Sept. 10 buyback of older 10- to 20-year bonds to $6 billion, triple the prior limit. The operation could ease dealers’ inventory burden, but the amount alone does not create net liquidity or amount to Federal Reserve quantitative easing. Whether any benefit reaches Bitcoin depends on sustained improvement in bond trading and funding conditions, which remains unproven.
UBS plans to shut its fund-distribution business on one of its mainland China wealth-management platforms. UBS Fund Distribution (Shenzhen) will stop fund sales, including subscriptions and switches, at the end of September, while the bank says it remains committed to China and will continue investing.

With the US Labor Day holiday and summer officially over, the traditional year-end push in the initial public offering market is getting underway, with a wave of AI-driven IPOs expected to accompany Anthropic’s listing.
A Toronto Metropolitan University study says 98 per cent of financial-sector workers are highly exposed to AI technologies. Yet at least one Canadian bank expects its human headcount to grow.
The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services opened in Beijing on Wednesday, highlighting services that support companies expanding overseas and technological upgrades in services trade.

China placed second in the 2026 Trade in Services 100 ranking, with 21 brands worth a combined $876.77 billion, or 19.08% of the total, a report released at CIFTIS said. The United States led with 46 brands valued at $2.854 trillion, while Microsoft topped the individual rankings.

The 2026 China International Fair for Trade in Services in Beijing has attracted exhibitors from 90 countries, regions and international organizations, as well as more than 1,800 offline companies. China’s services trade totaled nearly 3.8 trillion yuan in the first half of the year, up 8.3 percent, while knowledge-intensive services accounted for 44 percent, signaling an upgrade toward higher-value segments.
The American Chamber of Commerce Shanghai’s 2026 China Business Report says business confidence has rebounded sharply, supported by stronger financial results, improved geopolitics and regulatory progress. Profitability reached 78% in 2025, its highest level since 2019, while 58% are optimistic about China’s five-year outlook. Domestic competition has overtaken US-China tensions as the top challenge.

Tether and Fasanara Capital have launched StableFund with $400 million in combined sponsor capital and plans to raise up to $3 billion more. The evergreen vehicle will invest in short-duration, asset-backed loans, while private credit faces rising defaults, redemption pressure and scrutiny over liquidity and borrower quality.

Bitcoin funds recorded $120 million in outflows on Wednesday, more than twice Tuesday’s loss. Funds tied to ether, XRP and solana all attracted inflows.

RWE chief executive Markus Krebber says Germany’s rules for protecting critical infrastructure are outdated after suspected sabotage attacks on the power grid. He calls for greater secrecy, earlier threat detection and a debate on physical self-defense. Germany’s August inflation rose to 2.9%, driven mainly by higher energy prices.

China’s Commerce Ministry says China and the United States are consulting on a reciprocal tariff reduction framework covering $30 billion in products from each side. Their economic and trade teams are implementing the consensus reached by the two leaders in Beijing, with the goal of reaching an arrangement as soon as possible, spokesperson Huang Ling said.

Following Ukrainian drone strikes on marketplace logistics facilities, nearly all Wildberries sellers have shifted toward storing and shipping goods from their own warehouses. Tochka data cited by Kommersant put the share at 97.4% by late August, while Ozon’s rose to 73.1%. Use of marketplace-operated warehouses declined at both companies.
Russia collected 321 billion rubles ($3.77 billion) from migration-related processes over the past year and a half, First Deputy Interior Minister Andrey Kikot said. The amount rose 30%; more than 60 billion rubles went to the federal budget and over 250–260 billion rubles to regional budgets, mainly from work permits.
Primark will introduce home delivery in Britain after acquiring an automated fulfilment facility in Sheffield. The retailer said its digital growth and successful click-and-collect service created an opportunity for profitable delivery operations, as it prepares to demerge from Associated British Foods. Trading in continental Europe remains challenging, although customers have responded positively to its price-cutting campaign.

The Singapore Exchange says U.S. institutions can now trade its bitcoin and ether perpetual futures, marking a milestone that connects U.S. trading desks with Asian liquidity.

Cumulative global investment in clean hydrogen projects has surpassed $130 billion, the Hydrogen Council said on Thursday. Governments are increasingly viewing the fuel as a way to strengthen energy security and industrial growth while pursuing decarbonisation.
China’s crude stockpiling, followed by a pullback in purchases since the war erupted in late February, has helped the world avoid a deeper energy crisis as the Iran war disrupted supplies.

The LAPTOP team blamed thin liquidity and automated traders for distorting the memecoin’s launch. Nansen data showed some early buyers were left with six-figure losses after the debut.


The LAPTOP project attributed a 99% launch-day crash to sniper bots and thin liquidity. It said it would add pool incentives and expects early prediction-market burns to reduce supply.
Bank for International Settlements head Pablo Hernandez de Cos said the rapid rise of AI is creating new financial stability risks. Spending on related infrastructure has already reached a scale large enough to influence global economic conditions.
Most gold jewellery shops that once lined Biyang’s main commercial street in Henan have shut as prices remain high and volatile and fewer marriages weaken demand. A local kindergarten teacher said the small county once had more than 20 gold shops, but she estimates over two-thirds have closed.

Dogecoin led declines among major cryptocurrencies, falling 5%, while BNB dropped about 4% and XRP lost 3%. Bitcoin held around $78,000 as higher oil prices pushed Treasury yields to their highest level since late 2023.

Market mood comes first, followed by the maths.
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