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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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The World at a Glance
Updated 5:35pm EST
1
European countries are sending troops to Greenland, as President Donald Trump pushes for a US takeover of the autonomous territory.
2The US evacuated military personnel from a Qatar base as Washington weighs its response to Iran’s crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.
3Gold, silver, copper, and tin all hit fresh highs as investors rushed for safe havens amid geopolitical concerns.
4Donald Trump’s call for a 10% cap on credit card interest rates weighed on markets and sparked pushback from banks.
5The US halted visa processing for 75 countries, as the Trump administration attempts to bar immigrants who might require public assistance.
6The FBI executed a search of a Washington Post reporter’s home as part of a leak investigation, drawing condemnation from press freedom groups.
How a Democratic senator used his rare White House invitation
Democratic Sen. Peter Welch headed to the signing of a bipartisan milk bill, but focused on health care.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersNetflix, Paramount race to win regulators over on Warner deal
Netflix is also weighing an all-cash bid to further squeeze out Paramount’s competing offer, according to several sources.
Eric Gaillard/Reuters Trump’s economic pivot becomes a battle against his own party
As top Republicans openly dismissed the president’s credit card interest cap, another party lawmaker shrugged: “Let him say whatever he wants.”
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersSouth Africa’s AGOA uncertainty still looms
Analysts are uncertain if South Africa will remain eligible for the preferential trade pact after the bill makes its way through the Senate.
Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo/ReutersAD
Schumer lauds recruits as Democrats see Senate within reach
The minority leader took an Al Davis-style approach as he sat down with Semafor: “The answer to these critics is to win.”
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Nigeria hires Republican-linked lobbyist to improve US ties
The $9 million deal with DCI Group appears to be a record for African lobbying in Washington, wrote The Africa Report.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesDR Congo to send US first copper shipments
The deal comes after the two countries signed a strategic partnership last month.
Jonny Hogg/File Photo/Reuters
Politics
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersEvelyn Hockstein/Reuters 
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Congress starts to prepare fallbacks as Trump keeps eyeing Greenland
The president’s top advisers are forming a working group with Danish and Greenlandic officials, but the stalemate — and threat — remains.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersHow a Democratic senator used his rare White House invitation
Democratic Sen. Peter Welch headed to the signing of a bipartisan milk bill, but focused on health care.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersUS gets first $500 million Venezuelan oil deal, holding some proceeds in Qatar
The details shared with Semafor mark an initial milestone in the administration’s plan following the ouster of Nicolás Maduro.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersProgressive group backs Mamdani ally in key NY race
If she prevails in the primary, Claire Valdez would likely operate as the New York City mayor’s closest ally in Congress.
Democratic senator pushes to redirect $75B ICE funding
The Trump administration is “not going after hardened criminals with this money,” Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto said.
Schumer lauds recruits as Democrats see Senate within reach
The minority leader took an Al Davis-style approach as he sat down with Semafor: “The answer to these critics is to win.”
Trump’s economic pivot becomes a battle against his own party
As top Republicans openly dismissed the president’s credit card interest cap, another party lawmaker shrugged: “Let him say whatever he wants.”
Three Trump Cabinet officials heading to Ohio and Michigan to talk auto affordability
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, and EPA chief Lee Zeldin will visit the Midwest.
Europe leaders push for talks with Russia on Ukraine
French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, both notably Atlanticist and strongly opposed to Moscow, are behind the push.
Investigation into Fed chair Jerome Powell sparks backlash
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly told US President Donald Trump that the probe “made a mess.”
Senate crypto bill moves forward but many issues still to solve
“We have just bent over backwards to accommodate the concerns that have been raised,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., said.
BusinessEric Gaillard/Reuters
Netflix, Paramount race to win regulators over on Warner deal
Netflix is also weighing an all-cash bid to further squeeze out Paramount’s competing offer, according to several sources.
Eric Gaillard/Reuters Saks Global files for bankruptcy amid luxury downturn
The company owns the iconic US luxury outlet Saks Fifth Avenue, which has been struggling to compete with ecommerce rivals.
Boeing orders outpace Airbus’ for first time in a decade
Airlines worldwide have sought to placate Washington by buying American.
Powell investigation has little financial or political upside
One question about the Trump administration’s criminal investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell: Who is this for?
Pentagon’s $1B stake to shake up defense industry, CEO says
The stake in a new spinoff from defense contractor L3Harris is the first step to injecting some competition into the industry, the company’s CEO says.
Technology
Kevin Mohatt/Reuters
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
New York judge flips the AI malpractice debate
A New York district judge warns that AI could become so good that not using the technology would be an improper practice in some industries.
Kevin Mohatt/ReutersPentagon adds Musk’s Grok to its AI arsenal
Like other leaders, Defense Secretary Hegseth is investing across AI models to keep up with ever-changing and evolving technology.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersTime well spent? Workday study finds workers waste time fixing AI mistakes
Nearly 40% of the time saved with AI is spent on rework, like rewriting, fact-checking, and correcting errors, the report found.
US patent data shows where tech growth really lies
Patent filings in the US over the past five years show greater interest in batteries and sustainable materials than autonomous vehicles and machine learning.
Mideast venture deals hit record in 2025
The region bucked a wider slowdown in startup funding across other emerging markets, according to data provider Magnitt.
Chinese AI leaders warn the US’ lead is widening
Some of China’s top minds in artificial intelligence publicly warned that the superpower has only a slim chance of catching up to the US in tech.
Energy
Brian Snyder/Reuters
Tom Little/Reuters
Shelby Tauber/Pool/Reuters
US emissions rise in 2025 after two-year decline
The main drivers of the emissions increases were commercial buildings and the power sector, according to estimates by the Rhodium Group, a research firm.
Brian Snyder/ReutersOrsted wins ruling to resume wind project halted by Trump
The project was 90% complete before the Interior Department ordered a pause on several offshore wind projects last month.
Tom Little/ReutersElectric grid transformer delays show no sign of easing
The CEO of the top global manufacturer of the equipment spoke to Semafor.
Shelby Tauber/Pool/ReutersGulf
Courtesy of Saudi Press Agency
Saudi’s sovereign wealth fund preps for a wave of IPOs
The $1 trillion Public Investment Fund’s equity offerings this year could help revive the stock market.
Courtesy of Saudi Press AgencyMasdar eyes renewables in the US despite Trump policies
With billions to invest, the Abu Dhabi renewable energy giant is eyeing struggling assets in the US and doubling down in Africa and Europe.
Dubai luxury property market hit record highs in 2025
The city recorded 500 sales worth more than $10 million in 2025, according to property consultancy Knight Frank, the most globally.
Meta hires ex-Trump adviser to oversee AI buildout
Dina Powell McCormick, a Goldman Sachs veteran, is set to oversee Meta’s $600 billion infrastructure buildout over the next decade.
Gulf countries join rush to debt with new bond issuances
The coming year is expected to be another busy one for borrowing as Gulf nations forge ahead on ambitious diversification drives.
Africa
Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters
Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty Images
Africa’s jobs and growth conundrum
While growth in sub-Saharan Africa is expected to accelerate this year and next, unemployment rates are rising across several nations.
Siphiwe Sibeko/ReutersGhana settles $1.47 billion in energy debts
The West African nation was last year among 23 sub-Saharan African countries at risk of debt distress.
Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty ImagesUganda shuts internet down ahead of general election
President Yoweri Museveni is widely expected to extend his four-decade rule following Thursday’s vote.
Nigeria boosts UAE ties with major trade pact
The UAE will remove tariffs on more than 7,000 products, while Abuja will eliminate tariffs on 6,000 products over a five-year period.
Nigeria hires Republican-linked lobbyist to improve US ties
The $9 million deal with DCI Group appears to be a record for African lobbying in Washington, wrote The Africa Report.
South Africa’s AGOA uncertainty still looms
Analysts are uncertain if South Africa will remain eligible for the preferential trade pact after the bill makes its way through the Senate.
Security
Piroschka Van De Wouw/Reuters
Danish military drills in Greenland. Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo/Reuters
Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters
Trump said to lean toward striking Iran over deadly protests
Many of the US president’s top officials and Tehran itself are pushing for negotiations over the Islamic Republic’s crackdown on protests.
Piroschka Van De Wouw/ReutersUK, Germany mull boosting NATO in Arctic amid Greenland controversy
The discussions are part of a bid to deter Russian aggression and fend off US President Donald Trump’s threat to take over Greenland.
Danish military drills in Greenland. Guglielmo Mangiapane/File Photo/ReutersEurope agrees to provide military support for Ukraine
Under the proposed peace deal, Britain and France would supply troops and weapons to Ukraine as part of US-backed security guarantees.
Ludovic Marin/Pool via ReutersMedia
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Politico announces layoffs, new product
The publication will cut about 3% of its 750-strong global staff.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Blackstone invests $100M in elite marketing tech firm
Applecart has a leading place in an emerging but discreet cohort of companies and organizations aimed at reaching key figures in industry and government.
Pro-Trump group to air Super Bowl ad touting Trump Accounts
It’s the latest move by a president and administration that have fully embraced professional sports as a prime venue to deliver their message.
The business of a viral Substack scandal isn’t as good as you think, Ryan Lizza says
“On the money part, not enough,” Lizza said on Semafor’s “Mixed Signals” podcast when asked about how much money he made off of the 25,000-word series.
Ryan Lizza on Olivia Nuzzi, RFK Jr., and the Substack-ification of a scandal
The media veteran joins Mixed Signals for a raw, sprawling conversation about why he chose to publish an eight-part (and counting) Substack series responding to the most personal and public crisis of his career.
CEO Signal
Courtesy of Ferrovial/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Southwest/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of WPP/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
How US traffic jams are driving Spain’s Ferrovial
CEO Ignacio Madridejos says a triple listing has drawn new investors to a European infrastructure powerhouse.
Courtesy of Ferrovial/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforHow Bob Jordan charted a new course for Southwest Airlines
The budget carrier’s CEO says communications and simulations helped it overhaul its business without killing its culture and business model.
Courtesy of Southwest/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor‘AI is going to automate the ordinary’: Cindy Rose’s plan for ad giant WPP
The admaker has fallen behind its peers, but the Microsoft veteran sees opportunity in disruption.
Courtesy of WPP/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAD