Rwanda bets on Formula 1, sports deals to boost tourism
What the slim House Republican majority means for Trump’s agenda
The World at a Glance
Updated 3:33pm EST
1
NASA delayed its Artemis Moon landing again till 2027, a day after Donald Trump picked private astronaut Jared Isaacman to head the agency.
2A US judge rejected Boeing’s guilty plea deal in a criminal case involving two fatal 737 MAX crashes, siding with victims’ families.
3The Bahamas said it “firmly rejected” US President-elect Donald Trump’s proposal to send deported migrants to some Caribbean countries.
4Syrian rebels captured a second major city, Hama, another blow to President Bashir al-Assad since last week’s takeover of Aleppo.
5China has announced a slew of major investments in nuclear power, bolstering its position as a leader in the global net-zero transition.
6France’s government collapse threatens to leave Europe further adrift, as domestic turmoil distracts from dealing with geopolitical instability.
Nayib Bukele and Donald Trump celebrate Bitcoin reaching $100K
The 16-year-old digital asset has experienced a meteoric rise this year, prompting celebration among crypto enthusiasts globally.
Casa Presidencial El SalvadorTrump’s transition running into early problems
From imperiled nominees to Republican division, it’s beginning to feel more like 2016 than the president-elect’s team wanted.
Nathan Howard/ReutersOPEC+ extends oil production cuts until April as it waits on Trump
The group of oil exporters is curtailing about 6% of global oil supply, as they wait to see how the US president-elect’s priorities play out.
Dado Ruvic/File Photo/ReutersIncoming Trump policies make ripples in Global South
Countries in Latin America and Africa are taking distinct approaches to prepare for the change in US administration.
Brian Snyder/ReutersAD
India reduces reliance on Russian weapons, pivots to US
New Delhi’s arms imports from Russia have dropped by almost half since the late 2000s as it seeks to form new deals with Washington.
Francis Mascarenhas/ReutersFrance’s government collapses following no-confidence vote
Prime Minister Michel Barnier had enraged both the far-left and far-right opposition after pushing through a controversial budget without a parliamentary vote.
Stephanie Lecocq/ReutersSouth Korea’s martial law debacle tests its democracy and economy
The country’s shaky economy has recovered since President Yoon Suk Yeol sparked political turmoil with his brief declaration of martial law.
Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters
politics
Nathan Howard/ReutersCasa Presidencial El Salvador Brian Snyder/Reuters
Why top Republicans are pushing to prioritize border over tax
It’s a plan that they say could work with House Speaker Mike Johnson’s tiny majority.
Nathan Howard/ReutersNayib Bukele and Donald Trump celebrate Bitcoin reaching $100K
The 16-year-old digital asset has experienced a meteoric rise this year, prompting celebration among crypto enthusiasts globally.
Casa Presidencial El SalvadorIncoming Trump policies make ripples in Global South
Countries in Latin America and Africa are taking distinct approaches to prepare for the change in US administration.
Brian Snyder/ReutersBahamas rejects Trump’s deportation plan
The incoming Trump administration is considering deporting migrants to countries in the Caribbean, though the logistics are unclear.
Americans want US more engaged abroad, survey finds
The share of Americans who want to see the US more engaged internationally grew by 15 percentage points to 57% in the last year.
US Senate GOP eyes up to $85B for first spending bill to put toward border
Sen. John Hoeven said the party is looking to fund that with new energy permitting, among other proposals, while avoiding a round of deficit spending.
What the slim House Republican majority means for Trump’s agenda
The GOP has a razor-thin margin of error compared to 2017, but a more united party.
Trump’s transition running into early problems
From imperiled nominees to Republican division, it’s beginning to feel more like 2016 than the president-elect’s team wanted.
Democrats scramble for top committee seats
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive, has said she is interested in leading Democrats on the House Oversight Committee next year.
Kash Patel target of Iranian cyberattack
It’s unclear if the attack was successful, or what, if any, material was compromised.
Republicans map out ambitious — and challenging — 2025 agenda
The party’s plans for total control of Washington rest on two major bills: One dominated by border security, the other by taxes.
business
Karen Ducey/Reuters
US judge rejects Boeing plea deal over deadly 737 MAX crashes
The decision will be seen as a victory for families of crash victims, who had criticized the plea bargain as a “sweetheart deal” and urged the judge to reject it.
Karen Ducey/ReutersHinge CEO: Searching for a partner in real life won’t ‘hold a candle to’ meeting online with AI
Justin McLeod spoke with Semafor about how the matchmaking capabilities offered by AI will transform the industry.
Trump taps crypto-friendly Paul Atkins as SEC chair
With the pick, President-elect Donald Trump is “delivering on a promise he made to the crypto community,” crypto outlet Unchained wrote.
UnitedHealthcare CEO fatally shot in New York
Brian Thompson was in New York for UnitedHealthcare’s investor conference.
European firms see declining business prospects in China
Surveys of German and UK firms in China indicated low confidence in the future of their investments in the country, with little hope of improvement on the horizon.
technology
Courtesy of Germann Auction House
Courtesy of Samsara
Swiss auction firm becomes first to sell art solely authenticated by AI
The piece, a watercolor by Russian artist Marianne von Werefkin, sold for $17,000 last week.
Courtesy of Germann Auction House‘This is amazing:’ How Samsara’s AI for the unglamorous could drive productivity gains
The company helping businesses track and monitor vehicle fleets and other assets shows how AI is helping industries beyond office jobs.
Courtesy of SamsaraUS unveils new China chip curbs in last Biden effort to curb Beijing’s access to tech
Washington restricted exports to 140 China-based companies, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump’s returns to the White House.
Employee lawsuit accuses Apple of spying on its workers
The suit alleges Apple forces employees to give up their personal privacy rights and surveils them through iCloud accounts and non-work devices.
Amazon AI data centers could double as carbon capture machines
The new technology will help offset the effects of the additional energy required to power the centers.
Two years ago, ChatGPT triggered an AI boom. It may be just getting started.
OpenAI’s chatbot launched on Nov. 30 2022, pushing technology companies toward developing new and increasingly powerful artificial intelligence.
net zeroDado Ruvic/File Photo/Reuters 
Wikimedia Commons
Murad Sezer/Reuters
OPEC+ extends oil production cuts until April as it waits on Trump
The group of oil exporters is curtailing about 6% of global oil supply, as they wait to see how the US president-elect’s priorities play out.
Dado Ruvic/File Photo/ReutersLaw firm behind ambitious climate litigation to cut 100 jobs
Pogust Goodhead was among the most prominent law firms to employ litigation finance to pursue lawsuits against companies alleged to have damaged the environment.
Wikimedia CommonsBarbados completes world-first climate debt swap
The deal will free up $125 million for Barbados to invest in climate-resistant water infrastructure upgrades.
Murad Sezer/Reutersgulf
A torn poster of President Bashir al-Assad in Aleppo. Mahmoud Hassano/Reuters
Syrian rebels capture city of Hama, expanding insurgency
President Bashir al-Assad’s forces have pushed to contain the rebels after initially seeming caught unprepared by the uprising.
A torn poster of President Bashir al-Assad in Aleppo. Mahmoud Hassano/ReutersSaudi Arabia courts growing number of foreign investors
The Gulf nation is strengthening new and old relationships as it attempts to diversify its economy.
Qatar Emir visits UK royals as countries look to boost economic ties
The British Royal family rolled out the red carpet for the Qatari leader who rode in a carriage along streets lined with Qatari and British flags.
Abu Dhabi’s $1.7 trillion gathering finds its swagger
The Gulf’s wealthiest city has transformed a fintech conference for the crypto crowd into a gathering of finance’s elite that marks its global clout.
Saudi Arabia eyes deals with Iran, US
The Gulf nation is increasingly pursuing a “Saudi First” foreign policy, strengthening relations outside of its typical pro-Washington allegiances.
africa
Anakle Films
Reuters//Hamad I Mohammed
Netflix cuts original Nigeria productions
Netflix is cutting back on original Nigeria productions but has denied reports it is leaving the country.
Anakle FilmsRwanda bets on Formula 1, sports deals to boost tourism
Rwanda is pushing ahead with its bid to be added to the lucrative Formula 1 race calendar and double down on sports events to boost economic growth.
Reuters//Hamad I MohammedVenice Biennale appoints first African woman to curate show
Cameroon-born Koyo Kouoh will oversee the 61st edition of the world’s longest-running contemporary art exhibition.
Kenyan banks fear collapse over proposed law
Up to 24 banks in Kenya could be forced out of business if plans to raise capital requirements become law, says the country’s banking industry body.
Chinese company snaps up Nigerian cement manufacturer
Lafarge Africa is one of Nigeria’s largest cement companies with four plants that have a combined output of 10.5 million tonnes per year.
South Africa’s contracting economy blamed on agriculture sector
South Africa’s economy unexpectedly shrank in the third quarter of this year, driven by a weak performance in the agricultural sector.
media
Mixing Board
Axios HQ acquires PR network Mixing Board
The network of communications industry experts was founded by former Twitter executive Sean Garrett
Mixing BoardThe Verge raises a partial paywall: ‘It’s a tragedy that garbage is free and news is behind paywalls’
Vox Media’s technology-focused site announced Tuesday that it was rolling out its first sitewide subscription service, putting some content behind a paywall.
Media braces for consolidation in 2025, as investors chase Bari Weiss’ Free Press
Media insiders expect investment and dealmaking to whir back to life.
A new kind of local news in San Francisco
The San Francisco Standard, that city’s lively and well-funded digital upstart, is experimenting with tiered membership.
Kaitlan Collins’ star rises at CNN
The 32-year-old anchor could soon be lead White House correspondent.
security
Office of Hawaii Governor via Reuters
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Ukrainian servicemen take part in radiation, chemical, and biological hazard drills. Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters
Taiwan leader stops in US after weapons sale, drawing China’s ire
Beijing vowed a “resolute” response to the $385 million deal and condemned President Lai Ching-te’s visit to Hawaii.
Office of Hawaii Governor via ReutersBiden announces Israel has reached a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon
Under the agreement, Israeli troops would withdraw from southern Lebanon while Hezbollah would move its forces further away from the Israeli-Lebanon border.
Nathan Howard/ReutersThe US aims to intensify global pressure on Russia over chemical weapons use
At the annual meeting of the world’s chemical weapons watchdog, Russia’s use of tear gas in Ukraine will be high on the agenda.
Ukrainian servicemen take part in radiation, chemical, and biological hazard drills. Sofiia Gatilova/ReutersAD