- D.C.
- BXL
- Lagos
- Riyadh
- Beijing
- SG
Intelligence for the New World Economy
- D.C.
- BXL
- Lagos
- Riyadh
- Beijing
- SG
The World at a Glance
Updated 5:34pm EST
1
Washington’s top diplomat said the US isn’t looking to abandon the transatlantic alliance — so long as Europe shifts closer to the American worldview.
2The US and Taiwan inked a trade pact to slash tariffs and bolster semiconductor supply chains, giving their relationship a dose of stability.
3Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in 2024 after being poisoned by a frog toxin, five European countries concluded.
4The Bangladesh Nationalist Party won the country’s first elections since a Gen Z-led uprising ousted the former leader in 2024.
5The White House is claiming victory on the economy after two solid reports, but experts warned the data masks deeper vulnerabilities.
6Websites have seen dramatic spikes in visitors with IP addresses in Lanzhou, China, as a wave of bot traffic sweeps the internet.
Crypto news sites take down posts critical of crypto PR
Several business-focused digital news outlets quietly took down news articles junk information floating around the cryptocurrency space.
Dado Ruvic/Reuters Science magazine founder courted Epstein for cash, emails show
The founder of Nautilus referenced Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal past as he sought to build a relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Justice Department/Handout via Reuters The Guardian debuts new flagship video podcast
The show is meant to compete with the likes of The New York Times and NPR.
The Guardian’s podcast page in Apple Podcasts.Senate Democrats want answers on DOJ antitrust firing
A group of seven Democratic senators are seeking communications related to the ouster of Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater, and records of lobbying related to an upcoming monopoly trial against Live Nation.
After DOJ antitrust firing, Trump’s Washington is wide open for mergers
The populism of Trump’s campaign has lost out to a baseline loose-leash Republicanism. Was it ever real?
Kent Nishimura/ReutersWhy Intuit’s CEO thinks the market’s wrong on AI
Sasan Goodarzi says companies that “deliver for the end customer” will reap the technology’s rewards.
Courtesy of Intuit/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforUS government’s antitrust chief ousted
“It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role,” Gail Slater announced on X Thursday morning.
Mattie Neretin/CNP/Sipa USAAD
Politics
Courtesy of Nancy Scola
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters 
Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters
How the Trump administration learned to stop worrying and love big business
Many analysts still don’t understand how foundational Republican complaints about censorship are to contemporary politics.
Courtesy of Nancy ScolaTrump claims victories on the economy after solid jobs, inflation reports
The White House is claiming victory on the economy after two solid reports, but experts warned the data masks deeper vulnerabilities.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters Bangladesh election could lead to a reset in India ties, analysts say
A center-right party coasted to a landslide win in Bangladesh’s first elections since a Gen Z-led uprising ousted the country’s former leader in 2024.
Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters European nations say Navalny was poisoned by frog toxin
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died in prison after being poisoned by a frog toxin, five European countries said Saturday.
US-Taiwan ties get dose of stability as defense tensions linger
The US and Taiwan inked a trade pact to slash tariffs and bolster semiconductor supply chains, as the island tries to step up its defense spending in the face of threats from China.
Rubio strikes polite tone in Munich, but Europe likely not convinced
Washington’s top diplomat on Saturday emphasized that the US is not looking to abandon the transatlantic alliance — so long as Europe shifts closer to the American worldview.
Senate Democrats want answers on DOJ antitrust firing
A group of seven Democratic senators are seeking communications related to the ouster of Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater, and records of lobbying related to an upcoming monopoly trial against Live Nation.
After DOJ antitrust firing, Trump’s Washington is wide open for mergers
The populism of Trump’s campaign has lost out to a baseline loose-leash Republicanism. Was it ever real?
Anthropic donates to super PAC focused on AI safety
Anthropic said it would donate $20 million to a super PAC focused on AI safety and regulation, setting up a fight with rival and top political spender OpenAI.
Poll suggests voters back Democrats shutdown demands
A new Hart Research poll commissioned by the Senate Democrat-aligned Senate Majority PAC found that 54% of likely midterm voters express support for Democrats demanding reforms to ICE and blocking DHS funding unless those reforms are adopted.
Debatable: Europe’s self-reliance
A new poll shows many geopolitics experts believe Europe will achieve “strategic autonomy” in the next decade.
BusinessElizabeth Frantz/Reuters
Trump claims victories on the economy after solid jobs, inflation reports
The White House is claiming victory on the economy after two solid reports, but experts warned the data masks deeper vulnerabilities.
Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters WBD leans toward opening negotiations with Paramount
It would be a dramatic shift for the media giant, which has stubbornly rebuffed all offers from Paramount thus far.
Senate Democrats want answers on DOJ antitrust firing
A group of seven Democratic senators are seeking communications related to the ouster of Justice Department antitrust chief Gail Slater, and records of lobbying related to an upcoming monopoly trial against Live Nation.
After DOJ antitrust firing, Trump’s Washington is wide open for mergers
The populism of Trump’s campaign has lost out to a baseline loose-leash Republicanism. Was it ever real?
Beijing buys foreclosed properties as it seeks real estate boost
The property slump has weighed on economic growth and spending in the world’s second-biggest economy.
Technology
Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters
Danis Balibouse/Reuters
Mysterious wave of bot traffic sweeps the web
Websites large and small have seen dramatic spikes in visitors with IP addresses in Lanzhou, China — a manufacturing-heavy city that’s not known as a tech hub — with some of the visits routed through Singapore.
Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/ReutersOpenAI, Anthropic should focus on their own success than chase each other
Instead of focusing on their core audiences, Anthropic and OpenAI seem to be chasing what they can’t have.
Danis Balibouse/ReutersWaymo foreshadows future jobs by paying delivery drivers to close car doors
The situation provides a crystal ball into what happens when AI collides with real life.
The AI bubble will burst. The Middle East isn’t ready.
Countries need to build real infrastructure, attract real talent, and focus on fundamentals to survive.
Chatbot lovers foreshadow AI’s new normal
The bots have become more integrated into the every lives of users — with friends and family beginning to accept them.
Anthropic donates to super PAC focused on AI safety
Anthropic said it would donate $20 million to a super PAC focused on AI safety and regulation, setting up a fight with rival and top political spender OpenAI.
Energy
Abidi/File Photo/File Photo/Reuters
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters
Fewer experts see climate change as global security threat, survey finds
In an Atlantic Council survey of nearly 450 experts, shared first with Semafor, 80% expect the world to become hotter over the next decade.
Abidi/File Photo/File Photo/ReutersTrump orders Pentagon to buy power from coal plants
It’s the latest effort by the White House to revive the dirtiest and most expensive fossil fuel.
Jonathan Ernst/ReutersUS energy secretary visits Venezuela to assess oil industry
The first steps are underway, including an overhaul of Venezuelan law to curb state-owned PDVSA’s control.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/ReutersGulf
“Submarine Cable Map,” via TeleGeography, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Gulf expands data connectivity with new subsea cable system
A 45,000-km 2Africa cable thats links 33 countries across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East has been connected to UAE telecom giant e&’s data center.
“Submarine Cable Map,” via TeleGeography, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.Dubai replaces DP World leadership over Epstein ties
Dubai replaced Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem following negative publicity swirling around one of its most prominent companies.
The AI bubble will burst. The Middle East isn’t ready.
Countries need to build real infrastructure, attract real talent, and focus on fundamentals to survive.
Saudi replaces key minister amid pressure to attract foreign cash
A government reshuffle puts a Saudi wealth fund executive in charge of bringing in much-needed FDI.
Qatar expands LNG fleet to support energy ambitions
QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi called the fleet expansion the biggest shipbuilding program in the LNG industry’s history.
Africa
Francis Kokoroko/Reuters
Xbox/YouTube
Competition for minerals heats up at African mining summit
This year’s Mining Indaba conference set the stage for a US versus China critical minerals “race,” with all the drama that comes with it.
Francis Kokoroko/ReutersSouth African video game allows players to conduct heists on Western museums
Players of Relooted can reclaim artifacts that colonialists plundered from Africa.
Xbox/YouTubeUS senator says Ugandan army chief’s tweets ‘crossed a red line’
Tensions between Washington and Kampala spiked after a series of inflammatory posts targeting the US embassy.
Philanthropist George Soros backs an African startup fund
The fund has raised $20 million for early-stage companies.
Nigeria makes big gains in fight against neglected tropical diseases
Nigeria could unlock $19 billion for the country’s economy by 2030 by eliminating NTDs, but foreign aid cuts threaten advancements.
South Africa’s Ramaphosa confirms breakup of state energy giant Eskom
Ramaphosa said the government would move forward with dismantling Eskom in order to create a “fully independent” firm.
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
Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters; Illustration: Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Apple News’ political honeymoon is over as MAGA ratchets up the pressure
The technology giant has shown in recent months that it can be swayed.
Photo: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters; Illustration: Joey Pfeifer/SemaforThe Guardian debuts new flagship video podcast
The show is meant to compete with the likes of The New York Times and NPR.
Crypto news sites take down posts critical of crypto PR
Several business-focused digital news outlets quietly took down news articles junk information floating around the cryptocurrency space.
Science magazine founder courted Epstein for cash, emails show
The founder of Nautilus referenced Jeffrey Epstein’s criminal past as he sought to build a relationship with the convicted sex offender.
WBD leans toward opening negotiations with Paramount
It would be a dramatic shift for the media giant, which has stubbornly rebuffed all offers from Paramount thus far.
CEO SignalCourtesy of Intuit/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor 
Courtesy of GE Vernova/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of the Gates Foundation/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Why Intuit’s CEO thinks the market’s wrong on AI
Sasan Goodarzi says companies that “deliver for the end customer” will reap the technology’s rewards.
Courtesy of Intuit/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforThe 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/SemaforAD