Trump’s anti-DEI push threatens a huge energy bank
Analysis: Riyadh emerges as power broker in Trump’s Middle East
The World at a Glance
Updated 10:21am EST
1
The US and Moscow agreed to appoint negotiating teams to work on ending the war in Ukraine following talks in Saudi Arabia.
2Negotiations for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire deal will start this week, Israel’s foreign minister said.
3European nations are looking at ways to boost their defense spending after being excluded from peace talks on Ukraine.
4South Africa said it would consider nuclear power bids from Iran and Russia, as the country looks to expand it’s energy infrastructure.
5South Korea blocked downloads of a chatbot made by China’s DeepSeek over privacy concerns, as scrutiny of the AI startup mounts.
6Montana’s state legislature will vote on a bill to ban mRNA vaccines, as vaccine skepticism gains ground in the US.
South Africa plans emergency delegation to save ties with Trump
Tensions are high since the US president cut off aid to the nation.
Michael Sheehan/Picture Alliance via GettyEU says it ‘cannot fill’ USAID funding gap as Africa seeks solutions
A health care crisis looms as the sector hardest hit by the Trump administration’s sudden foreign aid freeze.
Ihsaan Haffejee/ReutersGermany set to row back on green ambitions as climate left out of election
The center-right CDU is expected to emerge triumphant in a campaign that has made little mention of environmental issues.
Axel Schmidt/File Photo/ReutersDangote injects $400M to expand Ethiopia cement operations
Africa’s richest man says the country is one of his company’s most promising investments.
Nigerian entrepreneur Aliko Dangote. Ludovic Marin/File Photo/Reuters.AD
Gecko Robotics plans to double UAE footprint
CEO Jake Loosararian said the US company will have up to 50 employees and robots in the UAE as it prepares to raise capital and pursue acquisitions.
Courtesy of Gecko RoboticsChina signals softening stance on private sector as economy flounders
A business forum held by President Xi Jinping was notable for the return of Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, who had largely disappeared following a regulatory crackdown in 2020.
Florence Lo/ReutersState Dept. gender policy puts transgender Americans in legal limbo
Many report that they aren’t able to get passports and other official identification updated, and in some cases have had their documents withheld.
Marko Djurica/Reuterspolitics
Michael Brochstein/Reuters
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via Reuters
Michael Brochstein / SOPA Images via Reuters Connect
Trump’s Labor pick will need unusual help to get confirmed
Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s support for pro-union legislation puts her at risk of losing Republican votes.
Michael Brochstein/ReutersRussia and Ukraine trade assaults as peace talks loom
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other top White House advisers will travel to the Gulf for talks this week.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via ReutersUncommon bonds: The PRO Act
A bipartisan duo in the House is getting ready to reintroduce the pro-union bill, as Trump’s labor pick thrusts it back into the spotlight.
Michael Brochstein / SOPA Images via Reuters ConnectAnalysis: The definition of corruption
Former Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez has been courting President Trump for a pardon following his conviction last month for bribery.
Senate Republicans likely to vote on budget next week
The move, if they make it, would vault them ahead of the House.
An Arab-American Trump advocate on what comes next
How a pro-Trump swing vote is looking at the Gaza ceasefire and US “takeover.”
High-ranking German conservative: EU should consider 0% tariffs on US
Jens Spahn offers clues to how the likely incoming German administration will approach Trump’s tariff threats.
Modi boasts of ‘mega-partnership’ with US after meeting Trump
The Indian president hailed his country’s “mega-partnership” with the US, and offered several concessions aimed at staying in Trump’s good graces.
For Republican lawmakers, Trump’s accessibility creates opportunities — and headaches
Personal proximity to the president is a priceless commodity as the party struggles for a way forward on enacting his agenda.
Republicans bedeviled by Trump’s trio of new tax-cut ideas
Extending his 2017 cuts will be costly enough, without adding breaks for tips, overtime and Social Security.
Vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. confirmed to head US health agencies
Senators voted nearly along party lines, with Sen. Mitch McConnell the lone Republican to side with Democrats against Kennedy.
business
Elaine Thompson/Pool/File Photo/Reuters
Xi Jinping set to host top Chinese CEOs amid economic push
The gathering could reassure global investors that “another crackdown is not around the corner,” one analyst said.
Elaine Thompson/Pool/File Photo/ReutersArgentina’s Milei backtracks after promoting crypto coin as means to boost economy
The cryptocurrency token, which had the same name as Javier Milei’s political party, rapidly rose in value Friday before cratering, drawing opposition ire.
Qatari-backed investor eyes Papa Johns takeover
A Qatari royal and a takeover pro have teamed up and are mulling a bid for the struggling $1.4 billion pizzeria.
Debate over whether Trump’s clash with courts will lead to ‘constitutional crisis’
Some legal scholars worry about the Trump’s potential defiance of court orders after his vice president said, “Judges aren’t allowed to control the executive’s legitimate power.”
CFPB on life support as senior staff exit
Congress is weighing whether to restructure the agency or dissolve it after the Trump administration temporarily halted its operations.
technology
Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
OpenAI board rejects Elon Musk’s takeover bid
The ChatGPT maker said Musk’s $97.4 billion offer was “not in the best interests” of the company.
Dado Ruvic/ReutersChatGPT: Will you be my Valentine? More users are falling for AI companions
Behind the Valentine’s plans and relationships of chatbot users who fell in love with AI.
Joey Pfeifer/SemaforChip maker EnCharge raises $100M in Series B round, aims to slash AI energy usage
The DARPA-backed startup has developed chips using a unique technology that requires significantly lower amounts of energy to run AI models compared to market-leading options.
Analysis: Elon vs. Sam is good for US AI progress
The intensifying rivalry between the two tech CEOs aids the US in its AI race against China.
US, UK refuse to sign AI safety declaration at international summit
More than 60 governments including China and the European Union signed the communique Tuesday at an AI summit in Paris.
Elon Musk’s surprise OpenAI bid reflects debate over the tech’s future
The tech billionaire’s gambit is the latest episode in the grudge match between him and the AI firm he helped found.
net zero
Pexels/Creative Commons
Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto/Reuters
Joel Angel Juarez/Reuters
Trump’s anti-DEI push threatens a huge energy bank
Beneficiaries of the EPA’s $20 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund might sue to keep the money, the head of one such group told Semafor.
Pexels/Creative CommonsTrump-EU tariff spat could put a key climate policy on the negotiating table
Europe’s looming methane standards could hold US gas companies accountable — or devolve into greenwashing.
Danil Shamkin/NurPhoto/ReutersTrump’s unpredictability scares energy investors, Biden’s green banker says
“I don’t see how anyone can make a 20- or 30-year investment in the energy sector without the rule of law,” former Loan Programs Office director Jigar Shah said.
Joel Angel Juarez/Reutersgulf
The ‘Idol’s Eye’ diamond. famousdiamonds.tripod.com.
Battle for world’s largest blue cut diamond ends in stalemate
Qatari Sheikh Hamad Abdullah Al-Thani had moved to enforce the sale of the $10 million diamond, but a London High Court has ruled against it, quashing the royal’s hopes of acquiring the gem.
The ‘Idol’s Eye’ diamond. famousdiamonds.tripod.com.US consumer boycotts over Israel hit profits at Gulf fast food outlets
The Gulf’s biggest operator of American fast food restaurants took a hit in 2024, as did rivals like McDonald’s, but pressure may be easing.
Abu Dhabi energy company ADNOC inks $7B+ gas deal with India
The producer signed a 14-year deal with Indian Oil Corp. for up to 1.2 million tons annually to help meet growing gas demand in India.
Gecko Robotics plans to double UAE footprint
CEO Jake Loosararian said the US company will have up to 50 employees and robots in the UAE as it prepares to raise capital and pursue acquisitions.
Analysis: Riyadh emerges as power broker in Trump’s Middle East
The kingdom cements its role as others struggle to absorb Washington’s diplomatic salvos.
africaMichael Sheehan/Picture Alliance via Getty Nigerian entrepreneur Aliko Dangote. Ludovic Marin/File Photo/Reuters.
South Africa plans emergency delegation to save ties with Trump
Tensions are high since the US president cut off aid to the nation.
Michael Sheehan/Picture Alliance via GettyDangote injects $400M to expand Ethiopia cement operations
Africa’s richest man says the country is one of his company’s most promising investments.
Nigerian entrepreneur Aliko Dangote. Ludovic Marin/File Photo/Reuters.EU says it ‘cannot fill’ USAID funding gap as Africa seeks solutions
A health care crisis looms as the sector hardest hit by the Trump administration’s sudden foreign aid freeze.
Analysis: How to shift the media narrative on Africa
Mainstream media is failing in its portrayal of Africa, Moky Makura argues, with a routine bias towards the negative.
Nigeria-born banking startups target emerging market gig workers
The companies offer international money transfers with paperless accounts.
Seven African countries to be hit hardest by Trump’s USAID cuts
The Trump administration’s cuts to USAID could trigger “a potentially massive economic shock,” researchers said.
media
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters
New York Times goes all-in on internal AI tools
The company said it was greenlighting a number of AI programs for editorial and product staff.
Shannon Stapleton/ReutersDemocrats, influencers huddle for a new new media strategy
The summit in DC was part of a monthslong effort by the party to fix its online presence.
Mixed Signals: How Fox is embracing the creator economy, with Red Seat’s Chris Balfe
Is the future of media one where big media companies no longer have control over their talent?
Innovating to Restore Trust in News: A National Summit
The movement to shape a new era of trusted journalism.
New York Magazine partnered with anti-psychedelics activists on MDMA series
The group, Psymposia, is coming under greater scrutiny for its at times aggressive tactics.
security
Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/Reuters
Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters
Vitaly V. Kuzmin/Reuters
Russia and US agree to appoint teams to negotiate end to Ukraine war
Ukraine and the European Union were not invited to the talks in Saudi Arabia.
Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/ReutersAt least 28 injured in suspected car-ramming attack in Munich
The incident happened about a mile away from the venue of the Munich Security Conference, which is set to begin Friday.
Wolfgang Rattay/ReutersRussia to target Americans with ‘nuclear winter’ propaganda, Estonia intelligence says
The Kremlin plans to resurrect Cold War-era concerns about the contested nuclear winter theory to reduce US support for Ukraine, Estonian intelligence said.
Vitaly V. Kuzmin/ReutersAD