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View / Trump’s AI agenda sails toward an iceberg of bipartisan populist fury
View / Why COP30 wasn’t as bad as it seemed
The World at a Glance
Updated 6:08pm EST
1
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is projecting defiance in the face of escalating US pressure.
2A fast-moving, deadly fire engulfed several high-rise apartment buildings in Hong Kong.
3US envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week as part of a renewed peace push.
4Taiwan vowed to boost its defense spending by $40 billion to deter Chinese aggression as regional tensions rise.
5South Africa expects Washington to exclude it from the G20 summit when it hosts the meeting next year, reports suggested.
6China has ramped up purchases of US-made goods, Washington said, underscoring improving trade ties between the world’s largest economies.
Nigeria’s Dangote partners with Honeywell to double output
Dangote Group will work with the US company to expand its oil refinery in Lagos.
Marvellous Durowaiye/File Photo/ReutersSaudi Arabia to host Russia business forum
Fresh from the success of its investment summit in the US this month, Saudi Arabia is focusing on another key geopolitical ally.
Mohammed bin Salman and Vladimir Putin in 2018. Yuri Kadobnov/Pool via Reuters.Box CEO Aaron Levie on the paradoxes of AI
Levie spoke to Semafor Tech Editor Reed Albergotti about why the AI age is essentially paradoxical.
Now hiring: Neuroscientists for AI
Companies like Meta are finding neuroscience research closely aligns with how large language models and AI function, opening up doors for neuroscientists.
Jesper Klausen/Getty ImagesAD
House aims for ‘worldwide threats’ hearing with Noem next month
If and when the committee finalizes the December date, there will be lots to talk about.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersUS offers drone firm Zipline $150M to expand in Africa
The company pioneered the use of drones to deliver blood, drugs, and other health care products.
James Akena/ReutersSchneider to fast-track electricians to meet data center demand
The French firm already trains 10,000 electricians a year globally and is looking to boost that figure, an executive told Semafor.
Wiring sits inside a Microsoft data center. Audrey Richardson/Reuters.
Politics
Brian Snyder/ReutersEvelyn Hockstein/Reuters 
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Trump’s AI agenda sails toward an iceberg of bipartisan populist fury
The AI industry’s new super PAC picked its first political target this month — and missed.
Brian Snyder/ReutersHouse aims for ‘worldwide threats’ hearing with Noem next month
If and when the committee finalizes the December date, there will be lots to talk about.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersTrump’s AI, health care plans in limbo after leaks
Republicans are making no secret of being divided over the ideas.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersTrump orders probe into Democrat lawmaker Mark Kelly
Sen. Mark Kelly appeared in a video together with other Democrat lawmakers telling serving soldiers not to follow illegal orders.
New US government data to clarify murky economic picture
The Federal Reserve will mull several new data points as its members consider whether to cut interest rates.
Mark Kelly becomes Trump’s newest target
The Arizona Democrat appeared in a video discouraging national security members from following illegal orders.
Inside Congress’ reaction to Trump’s in-limbo ACA plan
Some Democrats see a path forward. It’s not clear whether Republicans do, too.
‘Florida is Full’: James Fishback’s running pitch for governor
The investment firm CEO with ties to Trump is taking a fierce MAGA approach in an attempt to beat Republican Rep. Byron Donalds in the race.
Trump, MBS, and Mamdani at the Predators’ Ball
As Trump’s American critics and admirers alike struggle to understand him, the writer Giuliano da Empoli offers a useful alternative.
Senate bill would punish foreign sabotage of undersea cables
The bipartisan measure also calls for the US to devote more resources to repairing and securing existing cables.
Congress prepares to release defense policy bill text
Lawmakers are on track to pass the bill by the end of the year.
Business
Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters
China buying more US-made goods, Washington says
Beijing offered to increase imports of US commodities in order to lower tensions.
Sodiq Adelakun/ReutersRussia’s oil and gas revenues expected to plummet
The country’s oil and gas revenues are expected to fall 35% this month, year-on-year.
‘Florida is Full’: James Fishback’s running pitch for governor
The investment firm CEO with ties to Trump is taking a fierce MAGA approach in an attempt to beat Republican Rep. Byron Donalds in the race.
MBS brings home a ‘Saudi First’ agenda from US visit
Mohammed bin Salman secured a defense pact, a nuclear agreement, US help to become a critical minerals hub, and access to American technology.
Investors flee US tech stocks after mixed jobs results
Bloomberg suggested that concerns over whether the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates were one factor behind the drop.
Technology
A Unitree humanoid robot at a China fair. Tingshu Wang/Reuters.
Yves Herman/Reuters
No AI is conscious yet, but future systems may be, new study finds
The research raises philosophical and moral questions about “seemingly conscious” machines.
A Unitree humanoid robot at a China fair. Tingshu Wang/Reuters.Deloitte faces new scrutiny over suspected AI-generated mistakes
A Canadian province asked Deloitte to review a $1.6 million report it created for the Department of Health and Community Services, which contains inaccurate citations.
Yves Herman/ReutersNvidia’s strengths are not in its X posts
Nvidia’s post responding to a story about Meta acquiring Google chips seemed oddly defensive for a tech giant clearly playing offense.
Box CEO Aaron Levie on the paradoxes of AI
Levie spoke to Semafor Tech Editor Reed Albergotti about why the AI age is essentially paradoxical.
Now hiring: Neuroscientists for AI
Companies like Meta are finding neuroscience research closely aligns with how large language models and AI function, opening up doors for neuroscientists.
Schneider to fast-track electricians to meet data center demand
The French firm already trains 10,000 electricians a year globally and is looking to boost that figure, an executive told Semafor.
EnergyWiring sits inside a Microsoft data center. Audrey Richardson/Reuters. 
Stringer/File Photo/Reuters
Andreea Campeanu/Reuters
Schneider to fast-track electricians to meet data center demand
The French firm already trains 10,000 electricians a year globally and is looking to boost that figure, an executive told Semafor.
Wiring sits inside a Microsoft data center. Audrey Richardson/Reuters.Oil prices tip down on oversupply fears, Ukraine talks
Cheaper oil, and the effect of US and European sanctions, are expected to push Russia’s oil and gas revenue down 35%, Reuters reported.
Stringer/File Photo/ReutersSmall nuclear reactor startups set for wave of consolidation
X-energy, an SMR startup backed by Amazon, closed one of the largest-ever fundraising rounds for that technology on Monday.
Andreea Campeanu/ReutersGulf
Hamad I Mohammed/Reuters
Bahrain suffers S&P downgrade as debt rises
S&P cited high government debts and persistent budget shortfalls for its move, and expects Bahrain’s deficit to hit 7.6% of GDP this year.
Hamad I Mohammed/ReutersSchneider to fast-track electricians to meet data center demand
The French firm already trains 10,000 electricians a year globally and is looking to boost that figure, an executive told Semafor.
Robotaxis make their Gulf debut
Abu Dhabi is leading deployment in the Gulf, but others, including Dubai and Riyadh, are close behind.
Saudi Arabia to host Russia business forum
Fresh from the success of its investment summit in the US this month, Saudi Arabia is focusing on another key geopolitical ally.
To judge Saudi’s crown prince, think in decades
Instead of fixating on moments, Saudis will assess their monarch’s reign over decades.
AfricaMarvellous Durowaiye/File Photo/Reuters James Akena/Reuters
Nigeria’s Dangote partners with Honeywell to double output
Dangote Group will work with the US company to expand its oil refinery in Lagos.
Marvellous Durowaiye/File Photo/ReutersUS offers drone firm Zipline $150M to expand in Africa
The company pioneered the use of drones to deliver blood, drugs, and other health care products.
James Akena/ReutersKenya’s economic growth forecast rises
East Africa’s largest economy is now anticipated to grow on average by 4.9% between 2025 and 2027, up from an earlier projection of 4.5%.
Mining giant Barrick and Mali settle gold dispute
The dispute centered on the Loulo and Gounkoto mines, which are among the Canadian miner’s most productive assets.
Africa-EU summit seeks to reinvigorate ties
About 70 African and European leaders met in Angola, where they committed to stronger trade ties and alignment on strategic minerals.
Global HIV fight faces major challenges
Distribution of preventative medication was down by 64% in Burundi.
Security
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters
Ann Wang/Reuters
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Sputnik/Kristina Kormilitsyna/Pool via Reuters.
Maduro strikes defiant tone amid rising US tensions
“Failure is not an option at this crucial juncture,” a sword-brandishing Maduro said in a fiery address to supporters in Caracas.
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/ReutersTaiwan pledges extra $40B for defense to counter China threat
Tensions have ramped up in the region after Japan’s leader said Tokyo may intervene militarily if Beijing sought to invade Taiwan.
Ann Wang/ReutersUS envoy, Putin to discuss new Ukraine peace plan
US envoy Steve Witkoff is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff. Sputnik/Kristina Kormilitsyna/Pool via Reuters.Media
Belinda Jiao/File Photo/Reuters
UK’s The Telegraph to be taken over by rival Daily Mail
The outlet has been for sale since its previous owners ran up unsupportable debts and were removed in 2023.
Belinda Jiao/File Photo/ReutersHow Trump is trying to remake American culture — starting with his favorite buddy-cop franchise
The president is offering some creative input on potential upcoming projects.
CNN drops out of Apple News feed, for now
The two companies are continuing to discuss a new deal that would restore CNN’s stories to Apple News.
Can the Supreme Court keep its secrets? With Jodi Kantor of the New York Times
New York Times investigative reporter Jodi Kantor joins Mixed Signals to explain how she’s revealed the secrets of internal deliberations behind the ceremony and black robes of the US Supreme Court.
Derek Thompson on why everything is becoming television, and whether democracy can survive it
Derek Thompson explores why endless video feeds are commanding attention like never before, his book Abundance, his shift from The Atlantic, and the leap to independent work.
CEO Signal
Courtesy of Four Seasons/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Flagship Pioneering/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Tilray/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
A man for Four Seasons: Alejandro Reynal’s ‘intentional growth’ plan
The luxury hotel brand’s CEO says knowing where his brand has the right to win is the key to its global expansion.
Courtesy of Four Seasons/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforNoubar Afeyan on the Flagship model for ‘entrepreneuring’
Flagship Pioneering, led by Moderna’s co-founder, has launched scores of new companies — but first, it tries to kill them.
Courtesy of Flagship Pioneering/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforTilray’s Irwin Simon on answering to regulators, shareholders, and God
The cannabis and craft beer CEO has responded to tougher conditions by diversifying — and avoiding debt.
Courtesy of Tilray/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAD