As DNC fight sharpens, Democrats move past Biden
Corporate M&A, like the economy, is all about vibes
The World at a Glance
Updated 11:32am EST
1
The US Supreme Court ruled that TikTok will be banned unless it divests from its Chinese owner, rejecting arguments that the ban violated free speech.
2Donald Trump held phone talks with Xi Jinping, but China’s leader declined an invitation to attend his inauguration, sending his vice president instead.
3The IMF raised its US economic forecast, as the American economy continues to outperform the rest of the world.
4China’s GDP growth exceeded expectations in the fourth quarter, though some analysts still expressed concern about the risk of deflation.
5Israel’s security council voted to approve a Gaza truce and hostage release deal after overcoming last-minute disputes with Hamas over the agreement.
6US officials accused Sudan of using chemical weapons against rebels, as Washington readies to sanction the country’s military chief for war crimes.
Trump, Xi hold phone talks on TikTok and trade
The US president-elect had his first call with China’s leader since 2021.
Kevin Lamarque/File Photo/ReutersTikTok users scramble as SCOTUS upholds US ban
The Supreme Court’s decision further impedes any attempt by the Trump administration to lift the app’s ban starting Sunday.
Dado Ruvic/ReutersIMF raises US economic forecast as Canada and Europe fall behind
The IMF warned that tariffs and trade uncertainties could lower global economic growth in 2025.
IMF Chief Economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Ken Cedeno/File Photo/ReutersIsraeli security council approves Gaza ceasefire deal
The wider Israeli cabinet still needs to green-light the vote at a meeting later today, though it is expected to be approved.
Maya Alleruzzo/File Photo/Pool via ReutersAD
The Senate’s new power duo is John Fetterman and Katie Britt
It’s a new breed of bipartisan alliance compared with the gangs of Joe Biden’s presidency.
Mike Segar and Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersChina GDP growth beats analyst expectations, hits target
Stimulus packages and higher demand for exports bolstered the economy, though experts still see significant challenges ahead.
Florence Lo/ReutersNuclear energy to generate record levels of electricity in 2025: IEA
Renewed momentum around nuclear is driving investment, but significant hurdles remain.
Mike Segar/Reuters
politics
Michael A. McCoy/Reuters
Daniel Steinle/Reuters
Daniel Cole/Reuters
Greg Casar has a plan for Democrats
The Texas Democrat thinks the party needs to lean into working class issues.
Michael A. McCoy/ReutersAs DNC fight sharpens, Democrats move past Biden
The DNC race lays bare the party’s internal debates about how to organize in the wake of defeat.
Daniel Steinle/ReutersHouse lawmakers to vote on Republican-led wildfire prevention bill
The Fix Our Forests Act could be one of the first House-passed bills under the Trump administration.
Daniel Cole/ReutersMarco Rubio set to be first confirmation to Trump’s cabinet: Reports
Early signals from Democrats point toward allowing a vote on Rubio’s confirmation on Day 1.
The Senate’s new power duo is John Fetterman and Katie Britt
It’s a new breed of bipartisan alliance compared with the gangs of Joe Biden’s presidency.
Ideological extremes are growing in the US, new survey finds
The share of Americans who identify as moderate has declined over time, while people increasingly identify as conservative or liberal.
The New York Times rethinks political endorsements
The paper has already dropped local endorsements, and a broader, more radical change may be underway.
‘I don’t over-promise’: John Thune builds his own bond with Trump
The new Senate majority leader didn’t need Trump’s endorsement like the House speaker did. But it’s important to stay close.
Ramaswamy eyeing Ohio governor’s race
He’s reported as a contender to replace JD Vance in the Senate. But he has another goal.
Marco Rubio previews hawkish China approach in confirmation hearing
China has “cheated, hacked and stolen” its way to global power, Sen. Marco Rubio said.
Trump tops risk factors for Latin America in 2025
The region relies heavily on agricultural exports so threats of tariffs from the incoming US president may leave many countries vulnerable.
business
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Corporate M&A, like the economy, is all about vibes
A dealmaker is back in the White House. Will the deals follow?
Brendan McDermid/ReutersDefense contractor L3Harris CEO Kubasik makes appeal to Musk and Ramaswamy
Chris Kubasik said in a letter that the new Department of Government Efficiency, the quasi-official group tasked with cutting federal spending, offers a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for change.
Investor interest in defense grows
Asset managers debuted 15 defense-focused funds in Asia last year, compared to six in the four years prior.
US finance watchdog SEC faces potential dilemmas over Musk, crypto suits
A new lawsuit filed against Elon Musk Tuesday is one of the last actions the agency will take under Joe Biden, setting a potential challenge for the incoming Trump administration.
Key US inflation metric cools, in welcome news for markets
The cooling boosted expectations of an interest rate cut this year, leading US bond yields to slide.
technology
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Manuel Orbegozo/Reuters
US Supreme Court upholds TikTok ban-or-sale law
The ban will go into effect Sunday — though incoming US President Donald Trump is reportedly exploring ways to save the app.
Jonathan Ernst/ReutersAnalysis: Zuckerberg’s cozying up to Trump spurs public backlash
Meta’s CEO was enjoying a few peaceful years after being slammed by the tech media following Trump’s 2016 election, but his likeability has plummeted again.
Manuel Orbegozo/ReutersTikTok users scramble as SCOTUS upholds US ban
The Supreme Court’s decision further impedes any attempt by the Trump administration to lift the app’s ban starting Sunday.
Jeff Bezos’ company Blue Origin successfully launched its first rocket into orbit
The launch marks the first real challenge to the dominance of Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
An AI coding company on how computers as we know it will change
Replit’s Amjad Masad discusses the breakthrough that quintupled his company’s revenue.
Trump, Musk dined with Microsoft CEO at Mar-a-Lago
Satya Nadella is the latest corporate chief to visit the president-elect before he takes office.
net zero
REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzMike Segar/Reuters 
REUTERS/Ringo Chiu
Trump’s energy ‘dominance’ agenda may not look too different than Biden’s
Cabinet nominee Chris Wright plans to embrace LNG, but otherwise maintain many Biden-era energy priorities.
REUTERS/Elizabeth FrantzNuclear energy to generate record levels of electricity in 2025: IEA
Renewed momentum around nuclear is driving investment, but significant hurdles remain.
Mike Segar/ReutersThe home insurance crisis can’t be fixed with money alone
LA’s wildfires make clear that insurance is too cheap. But geophysics are a bigger problem.
REUTERS/Ringo Chiugulf
Adam Gray/Reuters
Tesla eyes Saudi market entry
Saudis have so far been reluctant buyers of electric cars but that is anticipated to change if more infrastructure is installed.
Adam Gray/ReutersUAE energy giant Masdar plans renewable projects in Philippines and Europe
The company has signed a $15B deal to develop 1 GW of of clean energy in the Philippines by 2030.
Jared Kushner and Dubai billionaire to partner on Trump hotel in Serbia
Kushner’s investment firm and Dubai billionaire Mohamed Alabbar will work on a project Trump himself considered before running for president in 2016.
Masdar plans global green hydrogen push
Abu Dhabi’s renewables giant plans to produce 1 million tons of green hydrogen — half of it domestically — by 2030.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil company pivots to lithium mining
A growing number of fossil fuel giants are investing in the metal to keep up with the global green energy transition.
africa
Tiksa Negeri/File Photo/Reuters
Zohra Bensemra/Reuters
US House committee calls for Somaliland office to counter China
The call comes as Somalilanders hope that the incoming Trump administration will improve their chances of international recognition.
Tiksa Negeri/File Photo/ReutersMining companies turn to arbitration over West African disputes
Canadian miner Barrick Gold, Australian gold explorer Sarama Resources, and French uranium giant Orano are among those that have launched arbitration proceedings in the Sahel.
Zohra Bensemra/ReutersMozambique inaugurates new president as unrest grows
Daniel Chapo’s victory in a vote international observers said was beset by irregularities raises questions over his legitimacy.
Fewer Africans find their food nutritious, research finds
The fall in perception of nutritious eating coincided with double digit inflation in several African countries in 2023.
Analysis: The risk of outsourcing Africa’s ambition
Africa must not “outsource its ambition” to external powers, the former Liberian Minister of Public Works W. Gyude Moore argues in a new Semafor column.
Ghana fire devastates garment traders
Accra’s Kantamanto Market receives around 15 million used clothes from the Global North every week.
media
Mixed Signals: Davos, the inauguration, and media’s place in the new global order, with Ian Bremmer
Has digital media changed how global politics works, or vice versa?
The Washington Post’s traffic tanks
Over the last four years, web traffic has cratered, according to internal data shared with Semafor in recent weeks.
Chuck Todd to exit NBC
He has quietly been meeting with Washington media organizations about his post NBC-future.
‘This American Life’ faces rare staff cuts
Host Ira Glass has quietly discussed the likely cuts with the show’s top leadership.
Ashlee Vance launches media startup Core Memory
The company will produce high-end documentaries along with the usual “digital” products.
security
El-Tayeb Siddig/ReutersMaya Alleruzzo/File Photo/Pool via Reuters 
Mohammed Salem/Reuters
US sanctions Sudan military chief over use of starvation as weapon
International observers worry that an escalation in Sudan’s nearly two-year war could see chemical weapons used in densely populated areas.
El-Tayeb Siddig/ReutersIsraeli security council approves Gaza ceasefire deal
The wider Israeli cabinet still needs to green-light the vote at a meeting later today, though it is expected to be approved.
Maya Alleruzzo/File Photo/Pool via ReutersIsrael and Hamas agree Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal: Biden
Israel said that the agreement details could be finalized within hours, while US President Joe Biden hailed the deal.
Mohammed Salem/ReutersAD