Europe’s ‘Volt’ parties look to counter the continent’s nationalist turn
From Afrobeats to public policy: The reinvention of Banky W
The World at a Glance
Updated 2:55pm EDT
1
Israel launched its heaviest attack yet on Beirut, as the country prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.
2Europe’s far-right flank rallied in support of Italy’s deputy prime minister, who faces jail time stemming from his anti-immigration stance.
3China and North Korea marked 75 years of diplomatic ties, as the West becomes increasingly concerned over an emerging ‘axis of evil.’
4The European Space Agency is set to launch Hera, an asteroid-bound spacecraft that will finish the world’s first planetary defense test.
5Vietnam’s economy grew explosively in Q3, but analysts caution the US, Hanoi’s biggest customer, could drag it back down.
6Donald Trump returned to the site of his July assassination attempt, hoping to recapture the momentum he had before Joe Biden dropped out.
As AI-powered health care expands, experts warn of biases
Investors are pouring cash into artificial intelligence-related health care startups at twice the rate of the AI tech sector as a whole.
Ralph Orlowski/ReutersGlobal art market shows shifting center of gravity
The global art market is experiencing one of its toughest periods in recent years, fueled by inflation, high borrowing costs, and geopolitical instability.
Clare Jim/ReutersMilei looks to build a governing majority for his radical vision
The Argentine libertarian needs a strong performance in next year’s midterms to implement his plans.
Agustin Marcarian/ReutersMusk’s new Memphis data center hits an AI milestone
The facility brought online all 100,000 advanced Nvidia chips at the same time, making it the most powerful known computer ever built.
Guglielmo Mangiapane/ReutersAD
Latvian president: Russia won’t attack NATO ‘in a classic military way’
In an interview, President Edgars Rinkēvičs called for lighter European regulation on tech, and more support for Ukraine.
Al Lucca/SemaforYOLO Mitch? McConnell speaks out — on Trump, tariffs and beyond
In an interview with Semafor, the outgoing Senate Republican leader sent a clear signal that he won’t stop speaking his mind when it comes to a few clear areas of disagreement with the former president.
Piroschka Van De Wouw/ReutersSaudi Arabia to expand cloud seeding program
The program aims to boost rainfall over the kingdom’s arid territory — but is hugely controversial.
Simon Dawson/File Photo/Reuters
politics
Carlos Barria/Reuters
Mike Segar/Reuters
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Trump’s return to site of assassination attempt underscores a transformed election
The weekend rally in Pennsylvania seemed aimed to recapture the campaign’s momentum immediately following the July shooting.
Carlos Barria/ReutersInside Obama’s bid to help save Senate Democrats’ majority
The former president cut ads and is embarking on a nationwide tour as his party looks to capitalize on his purple state popularity.
Mike Segar/ReutersKamala Harris chases the disaffected Republican vote
Liz Cheney and former Nikki Haley backers are encouraged by her outreach. Some on the left are worried.
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersWhat US foreign policy could look like under Harris
Analysts think the Democratic presidential candidate will likely shelve her boss’ democracy-vs-autocracy framing if she wins next month’s election.
It’ll be an unhappy holidays for Congress and the next president
The post-election “lame duck” session is always higher-stakes after presidential campaigns. And this year looks like one for the books.
Environmental exceptions for chips underscore tensions in Biden’s economic agenda
The legislation, which the president signed Wednesday, divided lawmakers, with some saying it undermines the administration’s climate and health goals.
National Republicans reel in crucial $30M for Senate battle
It’s a record fundraising haul for the party’s campaign arm, which needs the cash as Democratic candidates post whopping sums themselves.
Vance wants to be a ‘pro-family’ Republican. His party isn’t there yet.
The vice presidential nominee wants a bigger child tax credit and other benefits for building families. His party is still divided on whether to follow.
China’s domestic struggles won’t change its trajectory in Washington
No matter the economic indicators that show growth slowing for America’s chief economic rival, the next president and Congress want to get even tougher on Beijing.
The ‘Midwest Nice’ debate: Vance and Walz put the ‘civil’ in civil war
The likely last face-off between the tickets before the election was disarmingly friendly.
What to expect from the Tim Walz, JD Vance faceoff
David Weigel breaks down the two candidates’ debate history and opposing styles.
business
Courtesy of Mubadala
Blackstone, Gulf sovereign fund eye private-fund stakes
The business of Wall Street firms buying pieces of each other is booming.
Courtesy of MubadalaEU taps Emanuele Tarantino as new chief competition economist
The Italian academic is tasked with guiding the bloc as it tries to balance reining in Big Tech with innovation.
Dockworkers strike poses political dilemma just before election
In the New York City area alone, nearly 100,000 containers are now waiting to be unloaded, with 35 more container ships on their way.
Ex-Amex CEO Ken Chenault is a top candidate for jobs in a Harris administration
The Democratic donor, who was one of the only Black CEOs of a major company, could be up for Treasury secretary if Harris wins.
US central bank chief hints at how rest of 2024 could play out
The Federal Reserve’s committee in charge of interest rate cuts meets next in November.
technology
will.i.am staff
@talai.polina/@foodtown.pl
Talking through AI and the future of music with will.i.am
How will.i.am has immersed himself in AI and left his humanity intact.
will.i.am staffDJs are debating whether AI can replace them
Software companies that make DJing platforms are increasingly adding AI capabilities to their tech, allowing DJs to automate some tasks. The reception within Berlin’s iconic club scene is mixed.
@talai.polina/@foodtown.plGoogle’s new AI-powered search will deliver personalized ads
The search engine is rolling out new features geared toward getting consumers to shop more online.
ChatGPT creator OpenAI is now valued at $157 billion
The latest funding round puts the AI startup on par with household brands, like Uber and AT&T.
The Nobel-, Emmy-winning genius who became Google’s star antitrust witness
Paul Milgrom and his company, Auctionomics, have stayed out of the spotlight for years, despite having an outsized impact on the world.
America’s emerging AI leaders: Amazon, Walmart and Wells Fargo?
A new analysis from Georgetown University unearthed some unlikely new US leaders in AI.
net zero
Muyu Xu/Reuters
Ricardo Moraes/Reuters
Molly Darlington/File Photo/Reuters
Solar boom in China turns electricity prices negative
China is building twice as much wind and solar as the rest of the world combined.
Muyu Xu/ReutersA London lawsuit could amp up environmental pressure on big businesses
The unusual case underlines how the prospect of hefty financial returns is enticing deep-pocketed investors to fund novel class-actions.
Ricardo Moraes/ReutersBritain becomes first G7 country to phase out coal
The UK’s energy mix will be coal-free for the first time in nearly 150 years.
Molly Darlington/File Photo/Reutersgulf
Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
Israel launches major strikes on Beirut ahead of Oct. 7 anniversary
The balance of power in the Middle East has been indelibly altered in the year since Hamas attacked Israel.
Mohamed Azakir/ReutersConstruction resumes on world’s tallest skyscraper after nearly seven-year hiatus
Dubai’s long-cherished superlative will soon be snatched by Saudi Arabia.
Saudi HQ rules force firms to scramble for loopholes
Riyadh’s requirement to set up regional headquarters in the kingdom are puzzling executives.
Gulf strives to put a lid on boiling Middle East tensions
Saudi Arabia is continuing to push for Saudi-Israel normalization, even as its foreign minister met with Iran’s president Wednesday.
ADNOC’s still on the hunt after $13 billion acquisition
ADNOC’s biggest global deal so far is part of a $150 billion five-year spending plan.
africa
Felix Crown
Arlette Bashizi/File Photo/Reuters
From Afrobeats to public policy: The reinvention of Banky W
The star of Nollywood blockbuster The Wedding Party talks about switching to public policy and politics to make real change on the continent.
Felix CrownWHO approves first mpox diagnostic test
The agency declared the disease a global health emergency in August after a new deadly strain began spreading in Africa.
Arlette Bashizi/File Photo/ReutersThe drone business is going mainstream across Africa
The rise in drone adoption in Nigeria reflects a broader trend of wider use in different sectors across Africa to bypass poor road and rail networks.
South African economy rides coalition’s positivity wave
South African stocks are on a tear, while the coalition government has buoyed hopes that the country’s debilitating power and transport problems can be fixed.
Gabon and Equatorial Guinea are battling for oil-rich islands
The tiny island of Mbanié off the coast of Gabon is the subject of a dispute pitting Equatorial Guinea against Gabon at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands.
How the AU’s African credit rating agency plan could work
The African Union’s planned credit ratings agency could unlock the capital needed to develop the continent’s digital infrastructure, say top bankers.
media
Mixed Signals: How AI cures writer’s block
And when will the chatbots replace us? A conversation with playwright Ayad Akhtar.
InfoWars’ victims and enemies consider buying it
The auctioning off of Alex Jones’ conspiracy theory-laden network has sparked some serious behind-the-scenes interest.
Politico’s wonky Pro service to roll out new AI tool
The new AI tool will aim to help users quickly pull together information from Politico and Politico Pro content to create comprehensive reports.
Mixed Signals: Can centrism go viral? with The Bulwark’s Tim Miller
Is there a political caucus behind The Bulwark?
How Tim Miller and The Bulwark became 2024’s unlikely YouTube stars
The Never Trump outlet The Bulwark is becoming one of the breakout media successes of the 2024 election.
security
Artillery fired by the Israeli Army into Lebanon from northern Israel. Jim Urquhart/Reuters
Iranians celebrate in the streets of Tehran after the IRGC attacked Israel. Majid Asgaripour/Reuters
Yves Herman/Reuters
Israel vows revenge on Iran as diplomacy falters
After pledging a “significant retaliation” on Tehran, Israeli officials banned the UN secretary general from entering the country.
Artillery fired by the Israeli Army into Lebanon from northern Israel. Jim Urquhart/ReutersCountries call for restraint and de-escalation after Israel’s incursion into Lebanon
Many world leaders called for a de-escalation in the conflict as fears of wider Middle East war with Iran mount.
Iranians celebrate in the streets of Tehran after the IRGC attacked Israel. Majid Asgaripour/ReutersMark Rutte becomes NATO chief as alliance faces critical tests
The former Dutch prime minister takes the helm of the Western defense alliance weeks before the US presidential election, which could be pivotal to its future.
Yves Herman/ReutersAD