World economy

US pauses select China tech curbs amid trade thaw ahead of Trump-Xi meeting

US pauses select China tech curbs amid trade thaw ahead of Trump-Xi meeting

By Axel Miller | 12 Feb 2026

US pauses several proposed tech restrictions on Chinese firms as Washington and Beijing seek to ease tensions ahead of a summit.

China eases stance as EV makers begin direct tariff talks with EU

China eases stance as EV makers begin direct tariff talks with EU

By Axel Miller | 12 Feb 2026

China softens stance on EV trade dispute as EU grants first tariff exemption for China-made Volkswagen SUV.

Rahul Gandhi criticises India–US trade deal as tariffs on Indian goods rise to 18%

Rahul Gandhi criticises India–US trade deal as tariffs on Indian goods rise to 18%

By Axel Miller | 11 Feb 2026

Rahul Gandhi criticises the India–US interim trade deal, claiming effective US tariffs on Indian goods have risen to 18% and warning over digital and farm risks.

Taiwan Says Shifting 40% of Chip Capacity to U.S. Is ‘Impossible’

Taiwan Says Shifting 40% of Chip Capacity to U.S. Is ‘Impossible’

By Cygnus | 09 Feb 2026

Taiwan says it is impossible to shift 40% of its chipmaking capacity to the U.S., pushing back against Washington’s reshoring demands.

Tech Selloff Weighs on Asian Markets; Indonesia Slides After Moody’s Outlook Cut

Tech Selloff Weighs on Asian Markets; Indonesia Slides After Moody’s Outlook Cut

By Cygnus | 06 Feb 2026

Tech stocks drag Asian markets lower while Indonesia’s JCI falls 2.6% following a Moody’s credit outlook cut and MSCI transparency warnings.

Novo Nordisk posts first Ozempic sales decline in greater China as competition intensifies

Novo Nordisk posts first Ozempic sales decline in greater China as competition intensifies

By Axel Miller | 05 Feb 2026

Novo Nordisk posts its first Ozempic sales decline in greater China as rival diabetes drugs gain approvals and price pressure intensifies.

UAE urges U.S. and Iran to reach nuclear deal ahead of renewed talks

UAE urges U.S. and Iran to reach nuclear deal ahead of renewed talks

By Axel Miller | 03 Feb 2026

The UAE urges the U.S. and Iran to reach a nuclear deal as talks restart in Istanbul, aiming to ease tensions and prevent regional conflict.

Iran reviews diplomatic channels with U.S., signals possible progress soon

Iran reviews diplomatic channels with U.S., signals possible progress soon

By Cygnus | 02 Feb 2026

Iran says it is reviewing multiple diplomatic channels with the U.S. and hopes for near-term progress as tensions remain high and military pressure grows.

Russia’s pipeline gas exports to Europe jump 10% in January as TurkStream becomes sole route

Russia’s pipeline gas exports to Europe jump 10% in January as TurkStream becomes sole route

By Axel Miller | 02 Feb 2026

Russia’s pipeline gas exports to Europe rose 10% in January 2026 via TurkStream, though overall flows remain near historic lows after transit routes shut.

China clears first Nvidia H200 AI chip imports in policy shift, sources say

China clears first Nvidia H200 AI chip imports in policy shift, sources say

By Axel Miller | 28 Jan 2026

China has approved the first imports of Nvidia’s advanced H200 AI chips, allowing major tech firms to move forward with delayed orders in a key policy shift for AI infrastructure.

Arctic Fever: How ‘Greenland Tariff’ Politics Sparked a Global Flight to Safety

Arctic Fever: How ‘Greenland Tariff’ Politics Sparked a Global Flight to Safety

By Axel Miller | 20 Jan 2026

Greenland-linked tariff threats have injected fresh uncertainty into transatlantic trade, triggering a risk-off shift in markets and reshaping global supply chain planning.

Trump threatens 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne amid Macron dispute

Trump threatens 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne amid Macron dispute

By Cygnus | 20 Jan 2026

Trump threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne, raising uncertainty for exporters and U.S. importers and increasing the risk of EU retaliation.

Taiwan aims to lead ‘democratic’ high-tech supply chain with U.S. under tariffs deal

Taiwan aims to lead ‘democratic’ high-tech supply chain with U.S. under tariffs deal

By Cygnus | 20 Jan 2026

Taiwan says a new tariffs deal with the U.S. will strengthen a “democratic” AI tech supply chain, cut export tariffs from 20% to 15%, and boost chip investment.

Trump to meet global CEOs in Davos as U.S. policy takes centre stage

Trump to meet global CEOs in Davos as U.S. policy takes centre stage

By Axel Miller | 20 Jan 2026

Trump is expected to meet global CEOs in Davos after a special WEF address, as business leaders seek clarity on U.S. tariffs, trade policy and geopolitics.

India, UAE Formalize $3 Billion LNG Deal, Set Sights on $200 Billion Trade Target by 2032

India, UAE Formalize $3 Billion LNG Deal, Set Sights on $200 Billion Trade Target by 2032

By Cygnus | 20 Jan 2026

India and the UAE sealed an LNG supply deal valued up to $3 billion, with ADNOC Gas to supply HPCL from 2028, as both nations target $200 billion trade by 2032.

Russia’s Oil and Gas Revenue Seen Down 46% in January

Russia’s Oil and Gas Revenue Seen Down 46% in January

By Axel Miller | 19 Jan 2026

Russia’s oil and gas tax revenue is projected to fall 46% in January to about 420 billion roubles as lower oil prices and a stronger rouble squeeze budget inflows.

The New Oil (Part 5): Friend-Shoring, Supply Chain Fragmentation and the Cost of Resilience

The New Oil (Part 5): Friend-Shoring, Supply Chain Fragmentation and the Cost of Resilience

By Cygnus | 19 Jan 2026

Friend-shoring is reshaping lithium, rare earth and graphite supply chains, creating a resilience premium and new winners and losers in clean tech.

Bolivia vows to honour energy and lithium contracts to rebuild investor confidence

Bolivia vows to honour energy and lithium contracts to rebuild investor confidence

By Cygnus | 19 Jan 2026

Bolivia’s new centrist government pledged to honour all oil, gas and lithium contracts, including deals with Chinese and Russian firms, as it drafts new laws to revive output and attract investment.

Gold, silver hit record highs as Greenland tariff threat sparks safety rush

Gold, silver hit record highs as Greenland tariff threat sparks safety rush

By Axel Miller | 19 Jan 2026

Gold and silver jumped to fresh record highs as investors rushed into safe havens after President Trump threatened new tariffs on Europe linked to a Greenland dispute, triggering a broader risk-off move.

Renewables Push China’s Thermal Power Into First Annual Drop in a Decade

Renewables Push China’s Thermal Power Into First Annual Drop in a Decade

By Axel Miller | 19 Jan 2026

China’s thermal power generation fell 1% in 2025 to 6.29 trillion kWh — the first annual decline in a decade — as renewables met rising electricity demand.

The New Oil (Part 3): Can Technology End the Rare Earth Dependency?

The New Oil (Part 3): Can Technology End the Rare Earth Dependency?

By Cygnus | 14 Jan 2026

Magnet recycling and rare-earth-free motors are emerging as technology escape routes from critical mineral dependency. But timelines are slower than the hype suggests.

The New Oil: Inside the Processing Gap — Why Mining Alone Won’t Fix the Critical Minerals Crisis

The New Oil: Inside the Processing Gap — Why Mining Alone Won’t Fix the Critical Minerals Crisis

By Cygnus | 13 Jan 2026

Mining isn’t the real bottleneck in critical minerals. The 2026 processing gap — refining, separation and chemical conversion — is the chokepoint reshaping global supply chains, industrial policy and geopolitics.

The New Oil (Part 2): How the 2026 lithium and graphite bottleneck could stall global EV growth

The New Oil (Part 2): How the 2026 lithium and graphite bottleneck could stall global EV growth

By Cygnus | 12 Jan 2026

Lithium and graphite are emerging as the key EV bottlenecks in 2026 as South America expands mining while China dominates processing and battery-grade conversion.

The New Oil (Part 1): How the 2026 Rare Earth Shock Is Reshaping the Global Economy

The New Oil (Part 1): How the 2026 Rare Earth Shock Is Reshaping the Global Economy

By Cygnus | 09 Jan 2026

Japan launches a 6,000m deep-sea mission as China restricts rare earth exports. Discover how the 2026 “New Oil” crisis is redefining global high-tech trade.

UK Lawmakers Urge New Powers for Bank of England to Probe Private Market Risks

UK Lawmakers Urge New Powers for Bank of England to Probe Private Market Risks

By Cygnus | 09 Jan 2026

UK lawmakers urge new data-gathering powers for the Bank of England to assess risks in private credit and equity markets.