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View / Why US airstrikes in Somalia are reaching record levels under Trump
The World at a Glance
Updated 7:40am EST
1
Moscow launched deadly drone strikes on Ukraine, despite Donald Trump claiming Russia had agreed to pause fighting during a cold spell.
2Gaza’s Rafah crossing to Egypt reopened for pedestrians, but remains closed for aid.
3Japan said it would accelerate plans to mine rare earths from the deep ocean to reduce reliance on China.
4A precious-metals sell-off intensified, driven in part by Donald Trump’s seemingly hawkish choice for the next Federal Reserve chair.
5Ford reportedly held talks with the EV manufacturer Xiaomi about manufacturing the Chinese firm’s cars in the US.
6Donald Trump said US officials were holding talks with Cuba’s leadership, after he threatened a blockade on the island nation.
Saudi Arabia seeks $64B from investors in private capital push
A government spokesperson told Semafor that the new strategy was designed to be more execution-focused and show clearer risk allocation.
Mohammed Benmansour/File Photo/Reuters‘They choose friction’: Trump Fed pick faces a challenge in the Senate
The president can’t get his central bank pick confirmed without the Republican senator’s support — and Trump’s not getting it.
Kylie Cooper/ReutersDeal on US and Africa trade relationship is tentative at best
The fate of trade relations between the US and Africa is reaching a tipping point.
Kent Nishimura/ReutersBipartisan deal on health care subsidies not dead yet, senator says
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, believes his proposal to extend expired Affordable Care Act subsidies is still alive.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters AD
Trump nominates Kevin Warsh as new Federal Reserve chair
The US president nominated Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor, to helm the central bank.
Kevin Warsh. Brendan McDermid/File Photo/ReutersUS Senate sends funding bill to House
The Senate agreement funds big chunks of the federal government through September, but kicks off a two-week countdown on the expiration of Homeland Security funding.
Kylie Cooper/ReutersHow IHC’s CEO plans to double the UAE’s $125B investment powerhouse
Syed Basar Shueb says the holding company’s diverse assets can be stitched into “dynamic value networks.”
Courtesy of IHC/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Politics
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters Kent Nishimura/Reuters 
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Trump advisers refine their Africa strategy
A State Department official told Semafor that “priority” areas, like critical minerals, will receive the strongest focus.
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters Bipartisan deal on health care subsidies not dead yet, senator says
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, believes his proposal to extend expired Affordable Care Act subsidies is still alive.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters US Senate battles over DHS funding bill
Senate Democrats are betting they can make substantial headway in immigration enforcement negotiations in just a few days.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters The humans are chasing conspiracies. What will the bots think?
Maybe the Reddit-trained bots on Moltbook will prove me wrong, and unearth something in the Epstein files. But for now, the evidence for a conspiracy is thin.
‘They choose friction’: Trump Fed pick faces a challenge in the Senate
The president can’t get his central bank pick confirmed without the Republican senator’s support — and Trump’s not getting it.
US Senate sends funding bill to House
The Senate agreement funds big chunks of the federal government through September, but kicks off a two-week countdown on the expiration of Homeland Security funding.
Trump slams UK, Canada as both explore closer ties with Beijing
US President Donald Trump warned Britain’s prime minister that it was “very dangerous” to strengthen ties with China.
Debatable: Trump’s national defense strategy
Some are criticizing how the administration’s strategy treats the China threat.
US govt funding lapse could threaten economic data
Some official data is still recovering from the recent government shutdown.
Trump administration eyes drawdown in Minnesota
The White House is hoping the changes will ease some of the bipartisan concerns raised this week over enforcement in the state.
Trump to announce Fed chair pick
His choice will conclude a selection process that spanned more than four months.
BusinessCourtesy of IHC/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
How IHC’s CEO plans to double the UAE’s $125B investment powerhouse
Syed Basar Shueb says the holding company’s diverse assets can be stitched into “dynamic value networks.”
Courtesy of IHC/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforTrump nominates Kevin Warsh as new Federal Reserve chair
The US president nominated Kevin Warsh, a former Federal Reserve governor, to helm the central bank.
Takeda’s Christophe Weber on avoiding a ‘lame duck’ succession
The pharmaceutical CEO says timing and openness are crucial to a smooth handover.
Pick your poison in the AI apocalypse
While CEOs from the likes of Anthropic and Robinhood debate AI doomsday scenarios, the new technology faces systemic risk across the board.
Wall Street lines up behind ‘Trump Accounts’
Big US banks are embracing the president’s self-branded retirement accounts for children.
Technology
Denis Balibouse/Reuters
Scale AI CEO Jason Droege (right) and Semafor’s Reed Albergotti. Firebird Films/Semafor.
In the AI age, ‘slow and steady’ doesn’t really win
Every tech company is being judged on the delicate dance between industry transformation and business preservation as AI accelerates.
Denis Balibouse/ReutersScale AI CEO: ‘Near infinite demand’ for AI that works
Scale AI CEO Jason Droege recently sat down with Semafor Tech Editor Reed Albergotti to talk about how companies are leveraging AI to drive growth and stay competitive.
Scale AI CEO Jason Droege (right) and Semafor’s Reed Albergotti. Firebird Films/Semafor.Waymo strikes child in first reported human accident
The incident wasn’t fatal, but foreshadows the response of when autonomous vehicles inevitably cause harm to a human.
New AI model aims to protect coral reefs
University of Miami scientists have developed an AI model that predicts when coral reefs begin experiencing heat stress, aiming to restore them before deadly coral bleaching occurs.
Clashes between ICE and protesters come down to the technology
Activists are creating text alert systems and tracking websites to monitor the whereabouts of federal agents.
Anduril launches new drone racing competition
The winner receives a top prize of $500,000 and a job at the defense tech company.
Energy
Angus Mordant/Reuters
TransAlta/Handout via Reuters
Jim Urquhart/Reuters
Fossil fuel M&A centers on small number of firms, report says
The top 20 acquirers in the last 10 years accounted for 53% of total deal value, research by the consulting firm Bain & Co found.
Angus Mordant/ReutersCanadian battery manufacturer announces major advancements in storage capacity
NEO Battery Materials said in a release first shared with Semafor that its drone batteries achieved a 50% capacity improvement over similar products made by competitors.
TransAlta/Handout via ReutersGlobal energy investment hits record high in 2025
Global spending on the energy transition reached $2.3 trillion last year, according to BloombergNEF.
Jim Urquhart/ReutersGulfMohammed Benmansour/File Photo/Reuters
Saudi Arabia seeks $64B from investors in private capital push
A government spokesperson told Semafor that the new strategy was designed to be more execution-focused and show clearer risk allocation.
Mohammed Benmansour/File Photo/ReutersAbu Dhabi expands partnership with NBA
The city will host an NBA Global Academy for high-school-age players, as part of an expanded partnership with the US professional basketball league.
IMF warns Bahrain over mounting debt
Bahrain’s budget deficit rose to 11% of GDP in 2024, while its overall debt-to-GDP ratio increased to 134%.
UAE’s non-oil exports catching up with Saudi Arabia
UAE non‑oil trade passed the $1 trillion mark for the first time, according to Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Qatar backs new $200M fund from Abu Dhabi’s Shorooq
The new fund aims to address a gap in funding that has slowed Gulf startups’ path to exit.
Africa
Monicah Mwangi/Reuters
Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters.
Africa’s economic growth set to overtake Asia’s
Average growth in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to hit 4.6%, compared to 4.1% across Asia.
Monicah Mwangi/ReutersDangote signs new gas deal with Nigerian state oil company
The move taps into the country’s plan to expand gas production as a driver of economic growth.
Dangote Petroleum Refinery. Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters.Africa’s used car market projected to see major growth
It is expected to grow nearly 7% a year to reach almost $200 billion by 2033.
Why US airstrikes in Somalia are reaching record levels under Trump
The Pentagon’s opacity over the attacks is creating an accountability gap, drawing parallels with the administration’s immigration enforcement push at home.
Deal on US and Africa trade relationship is tentative at best
The fate of trade relations between the US and Africa is reaching a tipping point.
Trump advisers refine their Africa strategy
A State Department official told Semafor that “priority” areas, like critical minerals, will receive the strongest focus.
Security
Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters
Thomas Peter/File Photo/Reuters
Issei Kato/File Photo/Reuters
Russian strikes on Ukraine contradict Trump’s ceasefire claim
A drone killed 12 mine workers on a bus, while a separate attack hit a maternity hospital, injuring six.
Valentyn Ogirenko/ReutersTrump says Russia will pause attacks during cold spell
Temperatures in Ukraine are expected to hit -24°C (-11°F) this weekend; Russian attacks have left millions without heating.
Thomas Peter/File Photo/ReutersChinese tourism to Japan plummets following Taiwan spat
Beijing urged its citizens not to travel to Japan after its prime minister said her country may support Taiwan militarily.
Issei Kato/File Photo/ReutersMedia
Kaleidoscope
Podcast brand Kaleidoscope staffs up
The company is filling out its executive ranks as it hopes to break further into video.
Kaleidoscope It’s Rupe vs. the Quiff! In California’s new tabloid war, everybody wins
The California Post is betting its buzzy launch on a war with Gov. Gavin Newsom.
The exec behind Canada’s surprise hit ‘Heated Rivalry’ on the secret to its success
Sean Cohan gets into the Canadian-ness of it all on the “Mixed Signals” podcast.
Washington Post’s White House team tries to avert layoffs in letter to Bezos
The effort from the Post’s White House reporters comes as staffers are scrambling to preserve their jobs ahead of impending layoffs.
Rumors of staffing cuts spook Washington Post newsroom
Feared potential targets for cuts include the sports and international desks.
CEO Signal
Courtesy of Takeda/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforCourtesy of IHC/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor 
Courtesy of Nasdaq/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Takeda’s Christophe Weber on avoiding a ‘lame duck’ succession
The pharmaceutical CEO says timing and openness are crucial to a smooth handover.
Courtesy of Takeda/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforHow IHC’s CEO plans to double the UAE’s $125B investment powerhouse
Syed Basar Shueb says the holding company’s diverse assets can be stitched into “dynamic value networks.”
Courtesy of IHC/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforNasdaq’s Adena Friedman on funding the AI ‘marathon’
The exchange CEO says adopting AI in enterprises requires “a massive change management exercise.”
Courtesy of Nasdaq/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAD