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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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The World at a Glance
Updated 6:27pm EDT
1
The Iran war escalated as both sides intensified attacks on critical infrastructure and Tehran picked a new leader.
2The Iranian attack on a Bahraini desalination plant highlighted drinking water as a critical resource for the Gulf.
3Russia hopes to reap the benefits of an extended Middle East war, even as the conflict imperils one of its allies.
4Cuba is “at the end of the line” given its dire economic situation, Donald Trump warned, signaling imminent action.
5The US lost 92,000 jobs in February, a new report showed, putting monetary policymakers in a difficult position.
6A former rapper who led the Gen Z protests that toppled Nepal’s political old guard is set to become prime minister.
Delay in Trump’s Texas endorsement raises GOP anxiety
Every passing week means more costly spending in the GOP runoff battle between Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Joel Angel Juarez/Reuters Why Democrats will wait on Gonzales
Keep an eye on whether Republicans move to boot indicted Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters and Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty ImagesTrump threatens to block his own agenda over voting bill
The president is refusing to sign other bills until Congress passes the GOP’s federalizing ID and citizenship requirement for voting in elections.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters 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.
Courtesy of Aflac/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor Republican-led committee ramps up its Epstein probe
The House Oversight Committee this week voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Ken Cedeno/Reuters Iran conflict weighs on Ukraine
The US requested Kyiv’s help in combatting Iran’s Shahed drones.
Jens Buttner/Pool via Reuters Politico founder plots new Washington newspaper war
A damaged Washington Post could face a big new challenger.
Brad Barket/Getty Images for POLITICO
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PoliticsJonathan Ernst/Reuters and Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images Kylie Cooper/Reuters 
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters
Why Democrats will wait on Gonzales
Keep an eye on whether Republicans move to boot indicted Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters and Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty ImagesTrump threatens to block his own agenda over voting bill
The president is refusing to sign other bills until Congress passes the GOP’s federalizing ID and citizenship requirement for voting in elections.
Kylie Cooper/Reuters Trump set to speak at Republican retreat
Some Republican lawmakers are privately concerned that the escalating conflict in Iran could overshadow the president’s domestic agenda.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Delay in Trump’s Texas endorsement raises GOP anxiety
Every passing week means more costly spending in the GOP runoff battle between Sen. John Cornyn and state Attorney General Ken Paxton.
EU official casts doubt on Iran regime change
In an interview with Semafor, an EU human rights official expressed grave concerns about the instability of the Middle East amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Trump says Cuba is ‘at the end of the line’
Cuba is “at the end of the line” given its dire economic situation, US President Donald Trump warned Saturday, signaling imminent action against Havana.
Trump’s Iran options include special operations raid on nuclear sites
Former government sources and military experts say elite units have long prepared to land in Iran.
Debatable: US relations with junta-run African governments
Washington policymakers disagree over whether the US should prioritize democracy promotion over its strategic interests.
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.
Iran conflict weighs on Ukraine
The US requested Kyiv’s help in combatting Iran’s Shahed drones.
Republican-led committee ramps up its Epstein probe
The House Oversight Committee this week voted to subpoena Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Business
Kevin Coombs/Reuters
US labor market weakness puts Federal Reserve in tough spot
The latest US labor market report, which showed the country lost 92,000 jobs in February, pushed stocks down and pointed to broader economic weakness.
Kevin Coombs/ReutersRegional 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.
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.
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.
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
Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty Images
Strikes hit Gulf water resources, oil output
The Iranian attack on a Bahraini desalination plant put a focus on drinking water as a critical resource — and vulnerability — for the Gulf.
Fayez Nureldine/AFP via Getty ImagesIran names new supreme leader
The US-Israel war against Iran escalated over the weekend, as both sides intensified attacks on critical infrastructure and Tehran picked a new leader.
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.
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.
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 Signal
Courtesy of Autodesk/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforCourtesy 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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