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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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The World at a Glance
Updated 5:47pm EST
1
The Trump administration is pursuing a pact with large tech companies to help ensure data centers don’t raise electricity prices.
2Taiwan’s exports surged in January, propelled by the AI boom and high demand for its chips.
3China’s tech giants plan to release their newest flagship AI models around the Lunar New Year holiday, in a pivotal week for the country’s AI industry.
4New AI workspace tools sparked a selloff of Indian IT stocks, mirroring the global panic over the tech’s impact on the software industry.
5EV battery makers and bitcoin miners are pivoting to AI after experiencing slowdowns in their core businesses.
6A Dubai port operator CEO and the LA Olympics chief are facing scrutiny over Jeffrey Epstein links, as fallout from the files hits the private sector.
Democrats agonize over their Texas Senate primary
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., told Semafor he’s backing James Talarico over Jasmine Crockett. But it’s not clear how many others will choose a side.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersParamount tries to force Warner Bros.′ hand with new ‘ticking fee’
The company isn’t increasing its bid — yet — but has fired a new salvo in its efforts to get Warner Bros. to come to the negotiating table.
Mike Blake/File Photo/ReutersEPA to rescind landmark US climate policy
The policy provides the legal foundation for rules regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
Kent Nishimura/File Photo/ReutersTalks pick up ahead of DHS shutdown deadline
Democratic leaders criticized the White House’s latest offer as “incomplete and insufficient.”
Annabelle Gordon/Reuters AD
View / AI executives are thinking in centuries. Can they take the markets with them?
The engine of the global economy, Silicon Valley, looks suspiciously like the long-term stewardship BlackRock’s Larry Fink has been begging for since 2015.
Noah Berger for AWS/ReutersCEOs, lawmakers look to tackle infrastructure ‘bottlenecks’
BlackRock’s Larry Fink is planning a summit in Washington to address the $85 trillion in capital and thousands of trade jobs needed in the AI era.
Denis Balibouse/Reuters Japan stocks hit highs on ‘Takaichi trade’
Defense and tech-related sectors in particular saw gains.
Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters
Politics
Elizabeth Frantz/ReutersEvelyn Hockstein/Reuters 
Bing Guan/Reuters
‘It’s despicable’: Republicans question how long Lutnick can survive his Epstein crisis
The Commerce secretary is a close friend of the president. But others in the party are unsettled.
Elizabeth Frantz/ReutersDemocrats agonize over their Texas Senate primary
Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., told Semafor he’s backing James Talarico over Jasmine Crockett. But it’s not clear how many others will choose a side.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersFewer Americans think they’ll live quality lives, poll finds
Fewer than six in ten Americans expect their future lives to be close to ideal.
Bing Guan/Reuters US House’s tariff rebukes could get to Trump’s desk
The House is expected to vote on whether to allow its members to start disapproving of the president’s tariffs.
Talks pick up ahead of DHS shutdown deadline
Democratic leaders criticized the White House’s latest offer as “incomplete and insufficient.”
House to pass package of bipartisan housing proposals
The legislation will serve as the House’s starting position in negotiations with the Senate.
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.
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.
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.
Business
Carlos Barria/File Photo/Reuters
Google goes long with 100-year bond
Alphabet’s $11.5 billion bond sale is notable for two things: Its debt is really cheap, and a chunk of it will outlive anyone who bought it.
Carlos Barria/File Photo/ReutersTarget attempts turnaround as Walmart hits $1 trillion in market value
Shares in the retailer fell 2% Tuesday after the company cut 500 management jobs and promoted two insiders to new roles, including its chief merchant.
AI executives are thinking in centuries. Can they take the markets with them?
The engine of the global economy, Silicon Valley, looks suspiciously like the long-term stewardship BlackRock’s Larry Fink has been begging for since 2015.
Paramount tries to force Warner Bros.′ hand with new ‘ticking fee’
The company isn’t increasing its bid — yet — but has fired a new salvo in its efforts to get Warner Bros. to come to the negotiating table.
CEOs, lawmakers look to tackle infrastructure ‘bottlenecks’
BlackRock’s Larry Fink is planning a summit in Washington to address the $85 trillion in capital and thousands of trade jobs needed in the AI era.
TechnologyCarlos Barria/File Photo/Reuters 
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Google goes long with 100-year bond
Alphabet’s $11.5 billion bond sale is notable for two things: Its debt is really cheap, and a chunk of it will outlive anyone who bought it.
Carlos Barria/File Photo/ReutersChinese 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.
Startups 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.
Energy
Manon Cruz/File Photo/Reuters
Yoruk Isik/File Photo/Reuters
Diego Vara/File Photo/Reuters
Global electricity demand to surge through 2030, report finds
Despite a boom in electricity demand, emissions should remain relatively flat thanks to progress being made on renewables, according to the IEA.
Manon Cruz/File Photo/ReutersWashington ramps up pressure on Russian oil exports
On Monday, US forces intercepted another tanker allegedly part of Russia’s sanctions-dodging “shadow fleet.”
Yoruk Isik/File Photo/ReutersCarbon data firm expands into broader green commodities
The CEO of Sylvera told Semafor that it will offer insights about carbon-intensive commodities that are increasingly exposed to taxes and tariffs.
Diego Vara/File Photo/ReutersGulf
A rendering of Aman’s Amangati yacht. @amanatsea/Instagram.
Luxury travel tests wealthy spenders’ upper limits
Aman Group has opened bookings for its first yacht, where a spot in one of the 47 suites costs a minimum of $7,700 per day.
A rendering of Aman’s Amangati yacht. @amanatsea/Instagram.Gulf builds up economic resilience despite low oil prices
In a new report, S&P Global Ratings said it expected economic growth across the Middle East to average around 3.4% this year.
Mubadala Capital to buy US billboards firm Clear Channel
The deal values the advertising company at $6.2 billion.
Gulf funds may be getting their wish for fast-track US deals
The Trump administration is formalizing plans to give big foreign investors faster approval to do US deals.
Dubai-based telecom VEON chases frontier market riches
The Nasdaq-listed group sees growth in underserved economies, from Pakistan to Ukraine.
Africa
Brooks Kraft LLC/Sygma via Getty Images
China’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
Staff Sgt. Roidan Carlson/Handout via Reuters
Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters
Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters
US weighs expanding its nuclear weapons arsenal
Within hours of New START lapsing last week, a senior State Department official complained of the pact’s “unacceptable” constraints.
Staff Sgt. Roidan Carlson/Handout via ReutersEU planning to expedite Ukraine’s entry into the bloc
Ukraine received EU candidate status in 2022, but progress has been stalled by Hungary.
Stephanie Lecocq/ReutersMacron 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/ReutersMedia
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 Signal
Courtesy 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