Senate Democrats share polling showing Biden dragging down candidates
Kenyan media ‘under attack’ by police in protests
The World at a Glance
Updated 3:36pm EDT
1
President Biden would consider dropping his reelection bid if a medical condition emerged, as more voters say they want a new candidate.
2More than 230 Capitol Hill staffers signed a letter urging lawmakers to boycott Benjamin Netanyahu's July 24 address.
3The US Secret Service is being probed by Homeland Security over its handling of security on the day a gunman tried to assassinate Donald Trump, intensifying scrutiny on the agency’s actions.
4A Wall Street Journal reporter claims she was fired for supporting press freedom in Hong Kong.
5Germany plans to halve military aid to Ukraine in 2025, a move that could amplify Kyiv's concerns over funding its defense against Russia.
6An EU court has rejected a bid by TikTok owner ByteDance to avoid new antitrust rules.
Democrats push to nominate Biden before convention
The Democratic Party’s rules committee is urging members to support a virtual vote to nominate Biden — although not next week.
Tom Brenner/REUTERSKeir Starmer to ‘take brakes off’ UK economy, focus on housing, infrastructure
The government’s planning reforms promise to “accelerate” house building, but critics say underlying problems remain.
Chris Eades/Pool via ReutersUK is Europe’s first country to approve sale of lab-grown meat, but not for humans
Regulators have given the green light to a pet food startup to make lab-cultivated chicken from animal cells.
FlickrBiden set to endorse major SCOTUS reforms in campaign revival effort
The proposed changes include term limits for justices and enforceable ethics codes.
Tom Brenner/ReutersAD
Colombia census finds 1.6 million people lifted out of poverty in 2023, but extreme inequality persists
While a positive step, the data showed a third of Colombians still live below the poverty line.
Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro. Nadja Wohlleben/ReutersJD Vance’s energy reversal is a risky gamble on Ohio’s future
Attacking electric vehicle subsidies could lead to job losses in the Trump VP pick’s home state.
Gaelen Morse/ReutersOnetime Trump rival Nikki Haley urges Republicans to unite around him
Haley agreed to speak at the convention after Trump was injured in an assassination attempt.
Mike Segar/Reuters
politics
Yves Herman/Reuters
Callaghan O'Hare/reuters
Reuters/Tom Brenner
Polls show Democratic voters breaking with Biden as nominee
Nearly two-thirds of Democrats now say US President Joe Biden should step aside.
Yves Herman/ReutersSecret Service under severe scrutiny over Trump’s assassination attempt
With the Secret Service in Congress’ crosshairs, it might help the FBI repair its fraught relationship with Trump.
Callaghan O'Hare/reutersBiden says he’d consider dropping out if medical condition surfaced
The president said in an interview he would reevaluate running for reelection if a doctor “came to me and said, you got this problem and that problem.”
Reuters/Tom BrennerDemocrats push to nominate Biden before convention
The Democratic Party’s rules committee is urging members to support a virtual vote to nominate Biden — although not next week.
230 progressive Capitol Hill staffers urge bosses to boycott Netanyahu’s speech
“This is not an issue of politics, but an issue of morality. Citizens, students, and lawmakers across the country and the world have spoken out.”
Biden set to endorse major SCOTUS reforms in campaign revival effort
The proposed changes include term limits for justices and enforceable ethics codes.
Senate Democrats share polling showing Biden dragging down candidates
The survey, obtained by Semafor, is being circulated as the party debates the president’s strength at the top of the ticket.
‘CEOs are shocked’ that JD Vance is Trump’s running mate
The pick could signal that, unlike the ex-president’s first term, populist Trumponomics will be more than just rhetoric.
Global reaction to JD Vance nomination centers on his role as a Trump surrogate
World leaders are taking special note of Trump running mate JD Vance’s distinct ideological profile — especially on issues like Ukraine.
Onetime Trump rival Nikki Haley urges Republicans to unite around him
Haley agreed to speak at the convention after Trump was injured in an assassination attempt.
Trump backs a corporate tax cut, which JD Vance opposed before he became the VP pick
The former president pitched a rate of 15%. Vance told Semafor in May that a reduction wasn’t needed.
business
Tierney Cross/Semafor
‘Move fast and break things’ mentality might not work in fintech, top regulator says
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau chief says recent meltdown at Synapse shows risks of the “rent-a-bank” model that has built the industry.
Tierney Cross/SemaforWall Street donors left with few palatable options after JD Vance pick
Trump’s VP choice likes tariffs, hates corporate tax breaks, and thinks FTC Chair Lina Khan is “doing a pretty good job.”
IMF keeps global economic growth forecast steady, but not for US, China
The IMF’s chief economist told the Financial Times that officials should “be ready for more bumps in the road” as they try to get inflation down to a 2% goal.
Gun, prison, and crypto stocks jump as Trump’s momentum grows
Shares of Trump’s own media company have also surged, adding nearly $800 million to his paper wealth.
Banking on the Future: The Next Era of Fintech
Join us for a convening of policy makers and the leading voices in fintech that will bridge the divide between regulators and innovators.
technology
Callaghan O'Hare/Reuters
HP
How Trump won, and Biden lost, part of Silicon Valley
Tech cultural changes have helped lead to a shift of opinion on Trump, while many in the industry see the Biden administration as anti-tech.
Callaghan O'Hare/ReutersHP’s new AI computer raises the stakes in the battle of tech hardware
Tech companies are claiming that the AI PC era is here. But will people notice?
HPEU court rejects antitrust appeal from TikTok owner ByteDance
The ruling is seen as a win for regulators trying to rein in the power of Big Tech.
UK universities want millions from new government for startups hatched in academia
The $140 million they are seeking is a significant increase, as the UK and other countries look to capitalize on the AI revolution.
SoftBank acquires UK chipmaker Graphcore as it pushes into AI
The Japanese tech investment giant will likely need to spend a significant amount to break into the Nvidia-dominated AI chip industry.
GM board member on the politics of EVs and oil interests pushing a false narrative
GM director and former Tesla president Jon McNeill says the politicization of EVs won’t stop the transition to them among consumers.
net zeroGaelen Morse/Reuters 
Jinko Production Site/Oriental Image via Reuters Connect
Wikimedia Commons
JD Vance’s energy reversal is a risky gamble on Ohio’s future
Attacking electric vehicle subsidies could lead to job losses in the Trump VP pick’s home state.
Gaelen Morse/ReutersChinese solar firms to build Saudi Arabia projects worth $3 billion
The deals solidify China’s dominance in the region’s energy transition.
Jinko Production Site/Oriental Image via Reuters ConnectChina plans to boost sustainable aviation fuels in investment drive
China could become a leader in sustainable aviation, but scientists say the fuels may not be as green as proponents hope.
Wikimedia Commonsafrica
Reuters/John Muchucha
Kamdiuko/Wikimedia Commons
Kenyan media ‘under attack’ by police in protests
Kenyan journalists have accused the police of subjecting them to extreme violence during the country’s ongoing protests.
Reuters/John MuchuchaInvestors, founders feeling more upbeat about Africa’s tech sector
Investors in African startups are increasingly confident of a return to more dealmaking, as the causes of a near two-year pullback by global capital providers stabilize or fade away.
Kamdiuko/Wikimedia CommonsUAE lifts its 21-month visa ban on Nigerians
The UAE has lifted a visa ban on Nigerians and introduced new rules requiring digital verification for Nigerian passport holders seeking its visas.
How Ethiopia’s Abiy changed his country
“Abiy is without doubt one of the most enigmatic, confounding and contradictory figures in contemporary African politics. In fact it is hard to overstate just how slippery and elusive he is.”
Kenya’s President Ruto sacks almost entire cabinet
Kenya’s embattled President William Ruto sacked nearly every member of his cabinet following weeks of protests across the country.
Africa’s youngest president makes calm start to reshaping Senegal
Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s first 100 days as Senegal’s president have been marked with audits reviewing public finances and minerals contracts.
media
Unsplash/Rusian Bardash
Wall Street Journal fires reporter who led Hong Kong Journalist Association
The reporter claims the Journal told her she had to step down from her leadership role at the trade association.
Unsplash/Rusian BardashNetworks approach angry Republicans with caution
Morning Joe went off air Monday, CNN anchors delay trips to Milwaukee, amid worries about security.
Big media outlets are questioning Biden’s fitness. Some of their audience is furious.
Liberal-leaning outlets that riveted Democratic audiences through the Trump years are facing a backlash.
Podcaster Ashley Flowers on politics, advertising, and a possible ‘Crime Junkie’ TV show
A Q&A with the “Crime Junkie” host.
Mixed Signals: Is sex political? And will Biden — and Kamala — survive the vibe shift?
How shifting gender wars could define the 2024 election.
security
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits a training area in Germany. Jens Buttner/Pool via Reuters/File Photo
Emmanuele Contini/NurPhoto
Alina Smutko/Reuters
Germany plans to halve military aid for Ukraine in 2025
The move could amplify concerns over funding in Kyiv as officials contemplate a potential second Trump presidency.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits a training area in Germany. Jens Buttner/Pool via Reuters/File PhotoPutin critic Masha Gessen convicted in absentia by Russian court
A Russian court found Gessen guilty of spreading lies about the military.
Emmanuele Contini/NurPhotoNATO to overhaul its defense industry after Ukraine war highlights shortcomings
The alliance released its first-ever defense industrial pledge as NATO looks to make up for ammunition shortfalls.
Alina Smutko/ReutersAD