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Today’s Flagship
Blinken meets Xi in Beijing, Big Tech’s investments are paying off, and the Mona Lisa may be moved so that people can actually see it.
Blinken meets Xi in Beijing to ease escalating tensions
Mark Schiefelbein/Pool via Reuters US military begins construction on Gaza pier
In battle against Russia, US focuses on Moldova
US birthrate dips to record low in line with global trend
China orders hotels to scrap facial recognition over privacy fears
Israel set to invade Rafah as Egypt fears influx of refugees
Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns, transitional council sworn in
Biden on notice as inflation jumps and growth slows
Trump lawyer tells Supreme Court that political assassinations could be covered by presidential immunity
DR Congo demands answers from Apple over ‘blood mineral’ supply chain concerns
NY court overturns Harvey Weinstein’s conviction, but he won’t be released
Russia embraces K-pop and anime as sanctions limit Western entertainment
Why airplane enthusiasts are flocking to Venezuela
What’s left for Congress with Ukraine aid done
Top Democrats pressed for Rahm Emanuel to lead Biden campaign
Panicked over Biden’s winter polling, donors looked to a familiar face to right the ship.
Joey Pfeifer
Net Zero
How KKR plans to chase dollars and emissions at once
The private equity firm wants to tackle the ‘valley of death’ plaguing climate tech companies.
A worker stands in front of a steel furnace. Umit Bektas/Reuters
Africa
Why Europe is rejecting African visa applications
Nearly a third of Africans applying for a visa to Europe’s Schengen area are rejected — the highest refusal rate of any region, according to a new report.
Seyllou/AFP via Getty ImagesToday’s Flagship
Blinken meets Xi in Beijing, Big Tech’s investments are paying off, and the Mona Lisa may be moved so that people can actually see it.
Politics
Mike Johnson saved Ukraine aid. Will donors care?
Critics warn he’s a “lame duck” whose Ukraine decision alienates the grassroots. But some think it may help him fix his problems with large donors.
Africa
Malaria treatments will make huge strides in Africa this year
This year’s World Malaria Day comes at a time when scientists are making huge strides in the fight against the disease. Two malaria vaccines will be introduced across Africa this year.
Business
Private equity’s latest trade: The financial futures of millions of retirees
Regulators and workers are worried, and recent lawsuits challenge the plans of AT&T, Lockheed and Alcoa to turn their pensions over to an insurer owned by Apollo.
Africa
US and Russia are vying to build Ghana’s nuclear energy plant
The United States and Russia are locked in a race against China, France, and South Korea to build the first nuclear power plant in Ghana.News
EU hints at new China tariffs in toughening stanceThe bloc may launch additional tariffs on Chinese-made cars.
Insights from Politico, Reuters, Euronews, Financial Times, and the Economist Intelligence Unit
Tech
Sam Altman-founded crypto project Worldcoin faces an orb shortage
With more than 10 million users, the startup is ramping up production of the silver devices that scan people’s irises in exchange for a token.
News
Semafor World Economy Summit: Policymakers and business leaders discuss Trump, AI, and China
Follow our coverage of Semafor’s second annual World Economy Summit where more than 100 of the world’s most influential economic and business decision makers discuss the global economic landscape.
Africa
AfDB president seeks end to loans linked to Africa’s natural resources
The African Development Bank’s president doubles down on criticism of resource-backed loans for African countries, calling them “asymmetrical” and “non-transparent.”
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politics
Emma Roshan
Top Democrats pressed for Rahm Emanuel to lead Biden campaign
Panicked over Biden’s winter polling, donors looked to a familiar face to right the ship.
Blinken meets Xi in Beijing to ease escalating tensions
China and the US have become locked in a trade war in recent months.
In battle against Russia, US focuses on Moldova
Ahead of a trip to the European nation, a top USAID official warns of rampant Russian disinformation.
Mike Johnson saved Ukraine aid. Will donors care?
Critics warn he’s a “lame duck” whose Ukraine decision alienates the grassroots. But some think it may help him fix his problems with large donors.
Nearly one billion people are eligible to vote in India
India’s voter registration approaches one billion citizens, Brazil’s local elections will be an indirect clash between Lula and Bolsonaro, and Kenyan legislators take a controversial look at increasing term limits. All of this and more, in the latest updates to our Global Election Hub.
Emma Roshanbusiness
Biden on notice as inflation jumps and growth slows
The US economy is cooling down, negatively impacting voters’ perception of Biden in critical swing states.
Victor Khosla on “toasty” equity, a real-estate reckoning, and ducks
The founder of Strategic Value Partners warns about volatility ahead and notes the current market isn’t a good fit for a regular investor buying regular debt.
Private equity’s latest trade: The financial futures of millions of retirees
Regulators and workers are worried, and recent lawsuits challenge the plans of AT&T, Lockheed and Alcoa to turn their pensions over to an insurer owned by Apollo.
Boeing lost less revenue than expected amid safety crisis
Boeing’s cash burn was less than forecasted, largely driven by operations outside its commercial airplane sector.
Tesla reports 55% drop in profit as Chinese competitors dominate
Tesla has slashed prices and announced global layoffs in recent months as the EV giant struggles to compete with Chinese companies.
technology
Medha Singh/Reuters
Denis Balibouse/File Photo/Reuters
Tome
Sam Altman-founded crypto project Worldcoin faces an orb shortage
With more than 10 million users, the startup is ramping up production of the silver devices that scan people’s irises in exchange for a token.
Medha Singh/ReutersU.S. military pits AI against human pilots in first ever dogfight test
In a media briefing, the commandant of the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School said that he couldn’t comment on whether the human or AI pilot won.
Is there enough text to feed the AI beast?
A study suggested training data could run out this year, but researchers say there are ways to extend it.
Denis Balibouse/File Photo/ReutersAI startup Tome makes cuts in pursuit of new focus
The company is reorienting itself toward bringing in revenue, concentrating on sales teams that use its product to create customized decks.
TomeafricaSeyllou/AFP via Getty Images 
Brian Ongoro/AFP via Getty Images
Why Europe is rejecting African visa applications
Nearly a third of Africans applying for a visa to Europe’s Schengen area are rejected — the highest refusal rate of any region, according to a new report.
Seyllou/AFP via Getty ImagesMalaria treatments will make huge strides in Africa this year
This year’s World Malaria Day comes at a time when scientists are making huge strides in the fight against the disease. Two malaria vaccines will be introduced across Africa this year.
Brian Ongoro/AFP via Getty ImagesDR Congo demands answers from Apple over ‘blood mineral’ supply chain concerns
Lawyers representing the DR Congo have written to Apple CEO Tim Cook demanding answers on the sourcing of minerals used to manufacture the company’s products.
US and Russia are vying to build Ghana’s nuclear energy plant
The United States and Russia are locked in a race against China, France, and South Korea to build the first nuclear power plant in Ghana.
AfDB president seeks end to loans linked to Africa’s natural resources
The African Development Bank’s president doubles down on criticism of resource-backed loans for African countries, calling them “asymmetrical” and “non-transparent.”
net zeroA worker stands in front of a steel furnace. Umit Bektas/Reuters 
Turar Kazangapov/Reuters
Unsplash/Zach Kirby
REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier
How KKR plans to chase dollars and emissions at once
The private equity firm wants to tackle the ‘valley of death’ plaguing climate tech companies.
A worker stands in front of a steel furnace. Umit Bektas/ReutersPoor countries have a climate bomb on their balance sheets
COP29 needs to tackle sovereign debt, the ‘elephant in the room’ of climate finance.
Turar Kazangapov/ReutersPatagonia is the latest energy flashpoint for China and the West
The southern tip of South America is now perhaps one of the world’s most lucrative hubs for energy and mineral sourcing.
Unsplash/Zach KirbyMore than one in five cars sold in 2024 will be electric: IEA
Despite an ongoing slowdown in global EV sales, the IEA forecasted that sales will pick up this year, thanks to Chinese consumers’ access to cheaper EVs.
REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonniersecurity
Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reuters
US military begins construction on Gaza pier
The safety of the site has been questioned after IDF soldiers and UN officials came under mortar fire.
China orders hotels to scrap facial recognition over privacy fears
Cities in China are banning hotels from using facial recognition, a sign that the government is recognizing the public’s privacy concerns.
Israel set to invade Rafah as Egypt fears influx of refugees
Israel appears set to start military operations in southern Gaza despite widespread misgivings among its allies.
EU, UN call for probe into reported mass graves at Gaza hospitals
The graves have added to fears of human rights abuses in the Gaza Strip.
UK announces ‘biggest defense budget boost in a generation’
The UK has pledged to spend 2.5% of GDP on defense by 2030, although some analysts question where the money will come from.
Aleksandra Szmigiel/Reutersmedia
Al Lucca/Semafor
Axel Springer’s Trump years
The courtship between Axel Springer and the Trump administration offers an unusual glimpse of a publisher navigating the new political landscape.
Al Lucca/SemaforThe Intercept is running out of cash
The left-wing U.S. newsroom, a hub for pro-Palestinian coverage, is scrambling for funding.
Jina Moore Ngarambe: ‘The idea that empathy is zero-sum’
In her first interview since her exit, former Guernica editor-in-chief Jina Moore reflects on the uproar over an essay the progressive magazine published on Israel and Palestine.
Semaforum with Maria Ressa: “Every time you personalize, you tear apart the public sphere.”
The Nobel Laureate and journalist talks about how tech tears us apart, what we can do about it, and what makes her optimistic.
Soros fund is building an audio empire
Soros Fund Management, the firm founded by the billionaire investor and now controlled by the Open Society Foundations, has gotten into radio.
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