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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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The World at a Glance
Updated 11:51am EST
1
The US economy lost 92,000 jobs in February, denting hopes that the labor market was on the mend.
2The US and Iran hinted at deescalation, but skepticism over a workable post-war plan in the Middle East remains high.
3Conflict in the Middle East is undermining the region’s image as a finance hub and risks alienating foreign investors.
4The US and Venezuela agreed to reestablish official diplomatic ties, two months after Washington’s ouster of the Latin American country’s leader.
5The war in the Middle East threatens global energy supplies and economic stability, officials in the region warned.
6China’s Alibaba pledged more resources to speed up the development of AI models to keep pace in the global race.
Politico founder plots new Washington newspaper war
A damaged Washington Post could face a big new challenger.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICOView / Iran’s attacks test the Gulf’s uneasy reliance on Washington
One constant remains: The region will stand with Washington against a weakened, but still deadly, Iran.
Stringer/ReutersAflac’s Dan Amos on succession after 36 years as CEO
The long-tenured leader has a time and a person in mind — and some advice on what the job takes.
Courtesy of Aflac/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor Autodesk’s model for building an AI ‘moat’
CEO Andrew Anagnost says software companies need three defensive qualities.
Courtesy of Autodesk/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforLeft-of-center groups plead with AGs to stop WBD-Paramount deal
“With President Trump having weaponized independent agencies and antitrust enforcers to do his political bidding, it is essential that states fill the void and aggressively protect consumers,” the groups wrote.
Daniel Cole/Reuters ‘Hallelujah’: Noem’s ouster a long time coming for Trump allies
The president replaced his Homeland Security chief on Thursday after a long string of missteps and controversies.
Elizabeth Frantz/ReutersTrump wants to help pick next Iran leader
US President Donald Trump said he wanted a role in picking Iran’s next leader, further muddying Washington’s war motives.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
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Politics
Mahamadou Hamidou/ReutersDaniel Cole/Reuters 
Jens Buttner/Pool via Reuters
Debatable: US relations with junta-run African governments
Washington policymakers disagree over whether the US should prioritize democracy promotion over its strategic interests.
Mahamadou Hamidou/ReutersLeft-of-center groups plead with AGs to stop WBD-Paramount deal
“With President Trump having weaponized independent agencies and antitrust enforcers to do his political bidding, it is essential that states fill the void and aggressively protect consumers,” the groups wrote.
Daniel Cole/Reuters Iran conflict weighs on Ukraine
The US requested Kyiv’s help in combatting Iran’s Shahed drones.
Jens Buttner/Pool via Reuters Republican-led committee ramps up its Epstein probe
The House Oversight Committee this week voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Trump wants to help pick next Iran leader
US President Donald Trump said he wanted a role in picking Iran’s next leader, further muddying Washington’s war motives.
Daines says his stunning exit was designed to avoid ‘a very expensive’ race
The Montana Republican sat down with Semafor to talk about the backstory behind his sudden, field-clearing retirement from Congress.
‘Hallelujah’: Noem’s ouster a long time coming for Trump allies
The president replaced his Homeland Security chief on Thursday after a long string of missteps and controversies.
Americans see thwarting nuclear weapons as top US priority
Eight in 10 Americans say that preventing the spread of nuclear weapons is a “very important” US foreign policy objective.
Bessent privately signals reservations with White House-backed housing bill
The Treasury Secretary told House Republicans the party should seek to pass its own housing affordability legislation.
Daines’ surprise withdrawal shakes up Montana
The Montana Republican unexpectedly dropped his reelection bid on Wednesday night.
Republican senators pray Trump pushes Paxton out of the Texas Senate race
If the state attorney general faces Democrat James Talarico, it “becomes more expensive, and it’s at-risk,” the former NRSC chair said.
Business
Raghed Waked/Reuters
Regional conflict risks knocking Gulf’s image as financial hub
Regional capitals have courted the high-finance set, but widespread drone strikes risk undermining the Gulf’s safe-haven reputation.
Raghed Waked/ReutersMiddle East war sparks global economic, energy disruption
Qatar’s energy minister told the Financial Times regional exporters may have to shut down oil and gas production within days.
Autodesk’s model for building an AI ‘moat’
CEO Andrew Anagnost says software companies need three defensive qualities.
Aflac’s Dan Amos on succession after 36 years as CEO
The long-tenured leader has a time and a person in mind — and some advice on what the job takes.
Companies largely quiet over insider trading on prediction markets
Semafor reached out to more than 100 companies, law firms, banks, PR shops, and hedge funds, and found that few had explicit rules around prediction markets.
Technology
Anshuman Daga/Reuters
Priyanshu Singh/Reuters
Payments startup Airwallex expands into US, crosses $1B in assets under management
Airwallex hopes its infrastructure, which took a decade to build, will put it in a good position to capitalize on the AI boom, which is driven by subscriptions and API fees.
Anshuman Daga/ReutersAnthropic’s Amodei grows up on the job
Anthropic appeared to have the upper hand — until a leaked memo surfaced Wednesday showing Amodei calling Trump a petty dictator.
Priyanshu Singh/ReutersAI guardrails more popular than beating China, survey finds
Support for AI guardrails is one of the most bipartisan issues in the US, according to a new survey shared exclusively with Semafor.
Nvidia stops making China-bound AI chips: Report
Nvidia has stopped making its H200 chips intended for the Chinese market, the Financial Times reported.
US military is using Claude in Iran amid Anthropic feud
The Pentagon deployed the powerful tool during its attack on Iran within hours of banning it, and is reportedly still using it.
Sam Altman pledges OpenAI deference to government amid Anthropic rift
Altman’s worldview hinges on the belief that “a democratically elected government” usurps “unelected private companies.”
Energy
Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia after a drone attack. Vantor/Handout via Reuters.
Maxim Shemetov/Reuters
Jonathan Ernst/File Photo/Reuters
Middle East war sparks global economic, energy disruption
Qatar’s energy minister told the Financial Times regional exporters may have to shut down oil and gas production within days.
Ras Tanura oil refinery in Saudi Arabia after a drone attack. Vantor/Handout via Reuters.China announces new climate targets in 5-year plan
The plan reaffirmed China’s conviction to “fully implement” the UN’s climate convention and the Paris Agreement.
Maxim Shemetov/ReutersBig Tech pledges to cover AI data center power costs
Executives from Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft, xAI, Oracle, and OpenAI signed a “ratepayer protection pledge.”
Jonathan Ernst/File Photo/ReutersGulf
Aman Dubai, slated for handover by the end of 2028. Courtesy of Aman.
Someone bought a $115M penthouse in Dubai
The off-plan apartment at Aman Residences Dubai on the Jumeirah Peninsula is expected to be completed in 2028.
Aman Dubai, slated for handover by the end of 2028. Courtesy of Aman.Airline disruptions hit Saudi as conflict enters second week
At Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, employees told Semafor that most flights were cancelled last night.
Iran’s attacks test the Gulf’s uneasy reliance on Washington
One constant remains: The region will stand with Washington against a weakened, but still deadly, Iran.
US, Gulf look to Ukraine for help against Iran attacks
The Pentagon is reportedly looking to buy Ukraine’s cheap drone interceptors to ward off Iranian strikes.
The Gulf is still dealmaking, for now
Sovereign funds are still doing global deals but attracting money to the Gulf will slow down, at least for now.
Africa
Dong Jianghui/Xinhua via Getty Images
Almaas Masood/Reuters
Canal+ to shutter streaming service Showmax
Launched in 2015, Showmax was an attempt to challenge global streaming giants in the battle to reach Africa’s growing middle class.
Dong Jianghui/Xinhua via Getty ImagesDrugmaker Aspen plans Africa weight-loss drug push
Aspen’s CEO told investors that he expects sales of Mounjaro to cross 1.3 billion rand ($77.7 million) in the year to June.
Almaas Masood/ReutersSouth Africa engages with US despite ‘racist’ policies — Ramaphosa
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Pretoria of carrying out a “genocide” against white South Africans.
Conflict-hit Gulf states may review Africa investments
A rethink could impact anything from investment pledges to foreign states to contracts with businesses.
Iran conflict leaves African nations exposed
Many African nations will be impacted by surging energy prices, threats to remittances, and air travel chaos from the conflict in the Gulf.
Middle East crisis risks upending burgeoning Gulf-Africa ties
African governments have increasingly relied on Gulf nations — over Washington or Beijing — as sources of capital.
Security
Majid Asgaripour/WANA/Reuters
Majid Khahi/ISNA/WANA via Reuters
Stringer/Reuters
Skepticism over workable post-war plan in Middle East
Iran and the US have made overtures to end their widening war, though officials are skeptical that either side is ready to seek peace.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA/ReutersStakes rising in Middle East as war enters second week
The US said it would expand its aerial campaign against Iran, Israel stepped up strikes against Tehran, and Iran attacked regional capitals.
Majid Khahi/ISNA/WANA via ReutersIraqi Kurdish militias in talks with Washington over Iran
Washington is reportedly mulling arming the Iraqi Kurdish militias in order to help overthrow Iran’s leadership.
Stringer/ReutersMedia
Hasan Piker on streaming all day, his relationship with Zohran Mamdani, and the lefty media machine
Since 2018, Hasan Piker has gone from streaming alone in his bedroom to becoming one of North America’s most influential leftist creators.
Bulwark CEO wants to help Democrats ‘Eat’ MAGA
The founder of the Bulwark wants to help chart a path back to power for the Democratic party.
Politico founder plots new Washington newspaper war
A damaged Washington Post could face a big new challenger.
Left-of-center groups plead with AGs to stop WBD-Paramount deal
“With President Trump having weaponized independent agencies and antitrust enforcers to do his political bidding, it is essential that states fill the void and aggressively protect consumers,” the groups wrote.
It’s bots vs. reporters at the AP
The tensions inside the wire service reveal a broader conflict playing out across the media over how AI should be applied within journalism.
CEO SignalCourtesy of Autodesk/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor Courtesy of Aflac/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor 
Autodesk’s model for building an AI ‘moat’
CEO Andrew Anagnost says software companies need three defensive qualities.
Courtesy of Autodesk/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAflac’s Dan Amos on succession after 36 years as CEO
The long-tenured leader has a time and a person in mind — and some advice on what the job takes.
Courtesy of Aflac/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor US Soccer’s goal for the 2026 World Cup
CEO JT Batson says the tournament is forcing brands to see the value of the sport’s fans.
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