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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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View / An unpublished profile raises questions about Epstein — and journalism
View / The fallacy that unites Trump’s strategists and pan-Africanist champions
The World at a Glance
Updated 5:31pm EST
1
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince arrives for a diplomatic offensive in Washington this week with a raft of deals on the table.
2India agreed to source nearly 10% of its liquefied petroleum gas from the US, as New Delhi works to finalize its long-awaited trade deal with Washington.
3Japanese tourism and retail stocks fell as the country’s diplomatic spat with China weighs on investors.
4Jeff Bezos is launching an AI startup that he will spearhead as co-CEO, marking his return to the C-suite since stepping down as Amazon’s chief executive in 2021.
5A Bangladeshi court sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to death over her government’s deadly crackdown on the student-led uprising that ousted her in 2024.
6Heavy rains lashed Gaza over the weekend, worsening already bleak conditions for the territory’s residents as temperatures drop.
Trump endorses House vote on release of Epstein files
House Republicans, many of whom would have supported the proposal anyway, have been at a boiling point over the vote.
Elizabeth Frantz/ReutersAfrican fintech players seek new growth paths
African fintech revenues could reach $47 billion in 2028, a near five-fold increase from 2023, according to McKinsey
Olympia de Maismont/AFP via Getty ImagesThe old MSNBC relaunches into a new media world
The network, now called MS NOW, is in the midst of its biggest gamble since it launched in 1996.
Liz Hoffman/SemaforThe curious life and lonely death of an American in Kabul
Jeff Rigsby moved back to Afghanistan after the US withdrawal with a self-imposed mission to save lives and inform millions.
Joey Pfeifer/Semafor/Rigsby FamilyAD
Divisions widen on US right over Epstein
Some Republicans are openly defying US President Donald Trump over files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters Belén Garijo’s prescription for Germany’s Merck
The former doctor says long-term success stems from making hard decisions when the going is good.
Merck/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforLaude Institute ramps efforts to bring more AI research to light
Braden Hancock is a research partner at the Laude Institute, a nonprofit that aims to fund computer science studies that might otherwise die on the vine.
Politics
Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters
Nathan Howard/ReutersElizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Poll: As Trump loses ground with Latinos, Democrats still lag
President Donald Trump has lost most of his 2024 gains with Latino voters, a new poll found.
Manuel Orbegozo/ReutersMAGA breakup: Trump splits with ‘traitor’ Greene
The schism between the president and the Georgia conservative has grown for weeks.
Nathan Howard/ReutersTrump endorses House vote on release of Epstein files
House Republicans, many of whom would have supported the proposal anyway, have been at a boiling point over the vote.
Elizabeth Frantz/ReutersThe curious life and lonely death of an American in Kabul
Jeff Rigsby moved back to Afghanistan after the US withdrawal with a self-imposed mission to save lives and inform millions.
Saudi crown prince’s US visit could reshape MidEast security
Saudi’s de facto ruler Mohammed bin Salman and President Donald Trump are planning the future of the US-Saudi relationship for decades to come.
Record-breaking US govt shutdown will cast long shadow
Key economic data, including employment and inflation numbers for October, will likely never be released.
White House plows ahead with South American trade deals
The deals offer a new talking point for President Donald Trump and his top advisers, who are fielding more questions about the economy.
Republicans scoff at 50-year mortgage proposal
‘I worry about the interest that will accrue,’ one Republican lawmaker said.
Debatable: How to fight climate change
Bill Gates started a heated conversation about whether the global community should change its approach to emissions reduction.
How one Montana senator managed to move the Trump White House — twice
Republican Tim Sheehy is willing to play hardball, when he feels it necessary. But not in public, if he can help it.
US Congress to vote on releasing Epstein files
Washington is in turmoil after Democrats released thousands of emails in which sex offender Jeffrey Epstein repeatedly mentioned President Donald Trump.
Business
Florence Lo/Reuters
China’s luxury buyers turn to homegrown brands
The domestic boom is a blow to heritage US and European luxury giants, which have come to rely on the country’s huge market.
Florence Lo/ReutersYale study shows CEOs picked from within drive higher returns
Researchers say the performance gap should tell boards not to assume that an outside ‘savior’ will be better.
Argentina gets $900M as US pulls same amount from IMF
The movement of funds last month, according to reports, is separate from the US Treasury purchasing pesos during Argentina’s run-up to Javier Milei’s election win.
Markets show little reaction as US government shutdown concludes
The S&P 500 traded down about 1% as the longest government shutdown in US history ended.
Why AI is tech’s Lake Wobegon
On the cusp of an AI boom, every CEO is above average, believing they will harness the best of AI and be immune from its worst.
Technology
Chance Yeh/Getty Images for HubSpot
Carlos Jasso/File Photo/Reuters
Spotting cybercrime is working for Anthropic’s marketing
The company said it had successfully struck down attempts by a perceived Chinese state-sponsored group that succeeded in hacking a “small number” of global targets.
Chance Yeh/Getty Images for HubSpotGoogle refuses to breakup in a plan meant to resolve EU sanctions
Google doubled down in its response to the European Commission’s landmark September decision that found its adtech business breached antitrust rules.
Carlos Jasso/File Photo/ReutersToday’s AI buildout is just a supercharged Cloud 2.0
The reckless AI buildout that we’re hearing about is much more like the old cloud business, but fast-growing, massive, and transformative.
Russian robot’s viral tumble shows messy reality of humanoids
The fall of the highly anticipated humanoid robot overshadowed a still impressive achievement in the early days of the technology.
New chatbot lets users text with AI Jesus
The app, which is trained on the Bible, is one of many ways people of faith are exploring AI’s role in their spiritual lives.
Laude Institute ramps efforts to bring more AI research to light
Braden Hancock is a research partner at the Laude Institute, a nonprofit that aims to fund computer science studies that might otherwise die on the vine.
Energy
Seun Sanni/Reuters
Adriano Machado/Reuters
Tim McDonnell/Semafor
Renewables could increase developing countries’ GDP by 10%, report finds
Between 2017 and 2022, renewable investments in the 100 largest developing countries (excluding China) contributed a combined $1.2 trillion to GDP growth.
Seun Sanni/ReutersNewsom rejects Trump plan to drill off California coast
‘Over our dead body, full stop,’ Newsom said about Trump’s drilling plans.
Adriano Machado/ReutersCOP parties head below deck
Negotiations may be off to a slow start at COP, but the after-hours party scene is alive and well.
Tim McDonnell/SemaforGulf
Courtesy of Emirates
Emirates places $38B Boeing order in bet on long-haul travel
The Dubai carrier also said it will begin providing Starlink service this month and equip its entire 232-plane fleet over the next two years.
Courtesy of EmiratesQatar builds Gulf’s largest museum-grade art storage facility
The Doha facility will manage preservation, security, and logistics as interest in art in the region rises.
UAE to build drones with Anduril as US partner
UAE defense conglomerate EDGE Group is investing $200 million in a new drone manufacturing facility in Abu Dhabi.
PIF reduces US stock holdings ahead of crown prince’s DC visit
PIF loaded up on US equities during the pandemic, but has since reduced its holdingst.
Saudi paints itself as indispensable US ally for a new era
Riyadh is recasting itself as a partner that can help Washington win in AI, energy, and Middle East security.
Africa
Alexandre Meneghini/Reuters
Francis Kokoroko/Reuters
New $400M loan for power ship company supplying African nations
The Turkish company supplies electricity to nearly a dozen African countries through power plants on floating barges.
Alexandre Meneghini/ReutersGhana to abolish VAT on minerals processing
The move is part of broader taxation changes to make the economy “more business friendly” and create jobs, its finance minister said.
Francis Kokoroko/ReutersSenegal says it’s ‘committed’ to IMF talks despite push against debt restructuring
The announcement came after comments by the prime minister ruling out a debt restructuring, which sent bonds plummeting last week.
S&P Global boost for South Africa, Nigeria
South Africa secured its first credit rating upgrade since 2005, moving up one level to BB.
The fallacy that unites Trump’s strategists and pan-Africanist champions
Africa has less of the world’s share of critical minerals than many seem to think.
African fintech players seek new growth paths
African fintech revenues could reach $47 billion in 2028, a near five-fold increase from 2023, according to McKinsey
Security
Ann Wang/Reuters
NTB/Lise Aserud via Reuters
A model of The Fujian aircraft carrier at an airshow in China. Tingshu Wang/File Photo/Reuters.
US approves weapons sale to Taiwan, risking Beijing’s ire
The move risks once again sparking tensions with Beijing, after the US and China reached a détente in their trade war.
Ann Wang/ReutersUS allies cut intelligence sharing with US over Caribbean strikes
Colombia and the UK said that they would pause all or some intelligence sharing after US attacks on vessels in Caribbean killed dozens.
NTB/Lise Aserud via ReutersChina launches its largest naval aircraft carrier
Leader Xi Jinping has pushed to modernize the military to challenge US dominance in the South China Sea and assert sovereignty claims over Taiwan.
A model of The Fujian aircraft carrier at an airshow in China. Tingshu Wang/File Photo/Reuters.Media
Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Vox to partner with Patreon for new paywalled shows
Vox said it hopes to supplement its shows with live newsroom conversations and community features such as chats.
Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe old MSNBC relaunches into a new media world
The network, now called MS NOW, is in the midst of its biggest gamble since it launched in 1996.
An unpublished profile raises questions about Epstein — and journalism
Buried deep in the House Oversight Committee’s recent release of emails from Jeffrey Epstein’s inbox is an 8,684-word profile by the reporter Michael Wolff.
Comcast, Paramount, Netflix near bids for Warner Bros. Discovery
A frenetic pursuit for the last big chunk of media assets is entering its next stage.
BBC director general quits over Trump reporting
He resigned over a report suggesting the broadcaster had misleadingly edited a speech by US President Donald Trump.
CEO Signal
Sean Anthony Eddy/GettyMerck/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor 
Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Yale study shows CEOs picked from within drive higher returns
Researchers say the performance gap should tell boards not to assume that an outside ‘savior’ will be better.
Sean Anthony Eddy/GettyBelén Garijo’s prescription for Germany’s Merck
The former doctor says long-term success stems from making hard decisions when the going is good.
Merck/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforHow Ariane Gorin sees AI writing Expedia’s third chapter
The former Microsoft executive says agents will not replace her travel site — if it can get its own technology right.
Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAD