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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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The World at a Glance
Updated 5:33pm EST
1
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s landslide election win could rewire the regional power calculus in Asia.
2Japanese stocks hit record highs as the ‘Takaichi trade’ fueled gains in defense and tech-related sectors.
3Shares of Chinese chip designer Montage Technology soared following the company’s IPO, the latest sign of Hong Kong’s market rebound.
4Google’s parent company is going on a borrowing spree to fund its AI ambitions — including through a rare 100-year bond.
5UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer defied calls to step down over the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
6US forces seized an oil tanker in the Indian Ocean, expanding the global breadth of Washington’s campaign against shadow vessels.
Somaliland pitches minerals, strategic location to Trump
The breakaway republic’s president tells Semafor he’s confident more countries will recognize its statehood after Israel.
Monicah Mwangi/ReutersLive Nation settlement talks are dividing Trump’s DOJ
Ticketing giant Live Nation has been negotiating with senior DOJ officials outside the antitrust division to settle allegations that it’s an illegal monopoly.
Mike Blake/ReutersNew emails show how Epstein used the media to rehab his reputation
Most of the revelations in the files have not revealed journalistic sins, but have highlighted uncomfortably close relationships.
Justice Department/Handout via Reuters South Africa moves closer to duty-free access to China market
The two countries agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment in areas including mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and technology.
China’s leader Xi Jinping and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2023. Alet Pretorius/Reuters.AD
Domestic challenges mount for Trump
From social media posting to immigration to the midterms, the president is on the back foot.
Ken Cedeno/ReutersThe CEO behind GE Vernova’s $200B power surge
Scott Strazik says demand is surging, but his energy company won’t spend money on “hobbies.”
Courtesy of GE Vernova/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforTensions flare inside Trump antitrust world
The US attorney general and DOJ’s antitrust chief clashed over a personnel move this week, escalating a power struggle between corporate skeptics and hands-off regulators.
Mattie Neretin/CNP/Sipa USA.
Politics
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters 
Brendan McDermid/Reuters 
Ken Cedeno/Reuters
House to pass package of bipartisan housing proposals
The legislation will serve as the House’s starting position in negotiations with the Senate.
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters Poll finds Americans optimistic on economy, stock market
Forty-nine percent of US adults believe economic growth will rise in the first half of this year, according to Gallup.
Brendan McDermid/Reuters How Trump’s politics returned to Earth
The president’s political standing is a good reminder of a few things conventional wisdom has gotten wrong.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters Can Congress avoid shutdown No. 3?
There are just four nights to go before funding lapses for the Department of Homeland Security.
Domestic challenges mount for Trump
From social media posting to immigration to the midterms, the president is on the back foot.
Tensions flare inside Trump antitrust world
The US attorney general and DOJ’s antitrust chief clashed over a personnel move this week, escalating a power struggle between corporate skeptics and hands-off regulators.
Anger in White House over now-deleted Obamas post
It’s not clear whether the person behind what one GOP senator called “the most racist thing” shared by the administration will face further discipline.
Iranian FM says nuclear talks with US were ‘good start’
However, Tehran rejected a core US demand to end nuclear enrichment.
Debatable: ICE warrants
Republicans say warrant restrictions will ‘handcuff’ ICE. Democrats argue that’s needed.
Cruz optimistic that air safety bill will pass the House
The Texas senator last week spoke directly to the speaker about the ROTOR Act.
Senator’s Fed blockade splits Republicans
A pledge by Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., to block Federal Reserve nominees until the Justice Department drops its probe into Chair Jerome Powell is drawing friendly fire.
BusinessMike Blake/Reuters
Live Nation settlement talks are dividing Trump’s DOJ
Ticketing giant Live Nation has been negotiating with senior DOJ officials outside the antitrust division to settle allegations that it’s an illegal monopoly.
Mike Blake/ReutersTensions flare inside Trump antitrust world
The US attorney general and DOJ’s antitrust chief clashed over a personnel move this week, escalating a power struggle between corporate skeptics and hands-off regulators.
Bitcoin value drops to lowest level in a year
The cryptocurrency is trading at around $65,000, from an October peak of more than $126,000.
The CEO behind GE Vernova’s $200B power surge
Scott Strazik says demand is surging, but his energy company won’t spend money on “hobbies.”
How the Gates Foundation’s CEO plans to shape its last 20 years
Mark Suzman wants to reframe the case for aid in the face of government cuts and intense public scrutiny
Technology
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Damien Eagers/File Photo/Reuters
Chinese firms race to ease global memory-chip shortage
US PC makers are considering sourcing memory chips from China as shortages bite.
Carlos Barria/ReutersWall Street still doesn’t understand AI
The way the market views AI is completely irrational, driven more by viral “it’s so over” X posts than logic or fundamentals.
Damien Eagers/File Photo/ReutersStartups builds underwater robots to better track ocean movements
The robots will record movement, temperature, and salinity daily, aiming to reduce the cost of gathering ocean data by a factor of 1,000.
The team behind Fitbit is back with an AI health app
The Luffu app tracks a person’s diet, fitness, daily activity, and lab results, and shares information with family members.
Crusoe launches cloud product to take on hyperscalers
The move is part of a trend among neocloud companies to offer higher-margin services on top of the data centers they’re building.
OpenAI in talks with Abu Dhabi’s G42 to create specialized ChatGPT version for UAE
Chatbot would be fine-tuned for government use to accommodate local language and speech restrictions.
Energy
Mohammad Ponir/Reuters
Daniele Mascolo/File Photo/Reuters
Tingshu Wang/File Photo/Reuters
Bangladesh’s textile industry boosts sustainability after foreign pressure
Runoff from textile production into the Buriganga River commonly contains poisonous chemicals and heavy metals.
Mohammad Ponir/ReutersCarmaker Stellantis takes hit over global EV sales slowdown
The car giant wanted all of its European sales and 50% of its US sales to be electric by 2030, but consumers have switched more slowly than anticipated.
Daniele Mascolo/File Photo/ReutersChina’s solar capacity set to overtake coal this year
Overall, wind, solar, nuclear, and hydropower will account for about two-thirds of the country’s power mix.
Tingshu Wang/File Photo/ReutersGulf
UAE booths at the Saudi defense exhibition were turned into a coffee shop. Matthew Martin/Semafor.
UAE edged out of Riyadh defense fair
Analysts linked to the UAE’s no show at Riyadh’s World Defense Show to recent strains in relations between the two countries.
UAE booths at the Saudi defense exhibition were turned into a coffee shop. Matthew Martin/Semafor.Somaliland pitches minerals, strategic location to Trump
The breakaway republic’s president tells Semafor he’s confident more countries will recognize its statehood after Israel.
Art Basel slows the tempo in Doha debut
A museum-like format in Doha ditched the sales-frenzy of other art festivals.
OpenAI in talks with Abu Dhabi’s G42 to create specialized ChatGPT version for UAE
Chatbot would be fine-tuned for government use to accommodate local language and speech restrictions.
‘No problems’ in UAE, one third of residents say
The Emirates has largely shrugged off the economic uncertainty which topped people’s concerns globally, according to a new Gallup survey.
Africa
Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty ImagesChina’s leader Xi Jinping and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2023. Alet Pretorius/Reuters.
Africa is grappling with how to benefit from the minerals boom
Have policymakers identified ways to retool their industries, and their economies, to benefit from the mining supercycle?
Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty ImagesSouth Africa moves closer to duty-free access to China market
The two countries agreed to expand bilateral trade and investment in areas including mining, agriculture, renewable energy, and technology.
China’s leader Xi Jinping and South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2023. Alet Pretorius/Reuters.Africa’s electricity demand surged in 2025
Data showed improved electricity supply in South Africa — which accounts for a quarter of the region’s consumption — led the boost.
How to fix Ghana’s gold export challenge
Accra must learn from countries such as Thailand and build a knowledge ecosystem around its precious reserves.
Nigeria’s energy sector revamp begins reaping returns
The government is trying to ramp up domestic production to revive the economy.
Somaliland pitches minerals, strategic location to Trump
The breakaway republic’s president tells Semafor he’s confident more countries will recognize its statehood after Israel.
Security
Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters
Majid Asgaripour/WANA via Reuters
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with scientists and technicians to discuss weapons. Korean Central News Agency via Reuters.
Macron signals possible resumption of dialogue with Russia
Macron broke off dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin seven months after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Stephanie Lecocq/ReutersIranian FM says nuclear talks with US were ‘good start’
However, Tehran rejected a core US demand to end nuclear enrichment.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA via ReutersFears mount of global nuclear arms race
The New START treaty between the US and Russia expired, while China said it would not join talks to curb proliferation.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un meets with scientists and technicians to discuss weapons. Korean Central News Agency via Reuters.Media
Ken Cedeno/Reuters
Washington Post suffers marketing mishap with new slogan
The paper had prepared a new brand campaign, with a new tagline meant to convey its connection to America: “We The People.”
Ken Cedeno/Reuters New emails show how Epstein used the media to rehab his reputation
Most of the revelations in the files have not revealed journalistic sins, but have highlighted uncomfortably close relationships.
Washington Post CEO resigns, leaving no clear strategy
Will Lewis and Jeff Bezos presided over a sharp decline at the definitive Washington newspaper.
How McDonald’s embraced its Donald Trump drive-thru moment
Former CMO Tariq Hassan on why brands shouldn’t run away from news, politics and controversy.
Post cuts ripple through US journalism industry
But people who’ve spoken to owner Jeff Bezos say there’s no sign he’s looking to sell.
CEO SignalCourtesy of GE Vernova/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor 
Courtesy of the Gates Foundation/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Takeda/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
The CEO behind GE Vernova’s $200B power surge
Scott Strazik says demand is surging, but his energy company won’t spend money on “hobbies.”
Courtesy of GE Vernova/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforHow the Gates Foundation’s CEO plans to shape its last 20 years
Mark Suzman wants to reframe the case for aid in the face of government cuts and intense public scrutiny
Courtesy of the Gates Foundation/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforTakeda’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/SemaforAD