Google Gemini is shaking up its AI leadership ranks
White House signals no deadline for Musk’s DOGE departure
The World at a Glance
Updated 5:00pm EDT
1
US President Donald Trump unveiled baseline 10% tariffs on all imports, with far higher rates for some nations, marking the greatest upheaval in American trade policy in decades.
2South Africa’s parliament passed a controversial budget law without support from the ANC’s main coalition partner, putting the government’s future in doubt.
3Senior Russian official Kirill Dmitriev is reportedly in Washington, as the White House grows increasingly impatient with Moscow over peace negotiations.
4A federal judge dismissed NY Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption charges, ruling that the DOJ can not revive the case at a later date.
5Global markets were gripped by volatility hours before US President Donald Trump announces his sweeping tariff plan.
6Myanmar’s military junta declared a temporary ceasefire in the country’s civil war as foreign aid groups scrambled to get earthquake relief into the worst-hit areas.
Global markets await US tariff clarity on Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’
Global markets were rocked by volatility hours before US President Donald Trump announces his sweeping tariff plan this afternoon.
Francis Mascarenhas/ReutersSenior Russian negotiator expected to meet Witkoff in Washington this week
Kirill Dmitriev’s trip, which has not been officially confirmed by the Kremlin or the Trump administration, would mark the first visit by a senior Moscow official to Washington since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Maxim Shemetov/ReutersTrump faces tariff rebellion
As US President Donald Trump readies new levies to be announced Wednesday, he’s taking heat at home and abroad.
Leah Millis/ReutersPaywall removal sites mysteriously redirect to Kremlin-controlled media outlet
A cybersecurity analyst told Semafor that Russian hackers could be behind the issue.
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US-Mexico border crossings plummet amid Trump immigration crackdown
US President Donald Trump’s policies could ultimately push more migrants to try and cross to the border, analysts warned.
Jose Luis Gonzalez/ReutersAfrica’s AI ambitions take the spotlight in Rwanda
The first-ever global artificial intelligence summit on Africa begins this week.
Cristina Aldehuela/File Photo/AFP via Getty ImagesThe four goals of Liberation Day — and whether they’ll work
Hours out from the Rose Garden announcement, details are scant on exactly how the president plans to upend 30 years of global commerce.
Carlos Barria/Reuters
politics
Vincent Alban/Reuters
Leah Millis/Reuters
Jeenah Moon/Reuters
How Democrats found their voters again
The desire to punish MAGA was, on Tuesday, more powerful than the desire to show up and thank Trump.
Vincent Alban/ReutersRepublicans link arms with Trump amid tariff and spending stress
If they’re apprehensive about the political and economic risks ahead, most in his party aren’t showing it.
Leah Millis/ReutersUS judge drops federal corruption charges against NY mayor
The federal judge ruled that the government’s case against Eric Adams could not be reopened.
Jeenah Moon/ReutersTrump faces tariff rebellion
As US President Donald Trump readies new levies to be announced Wednesday, he’s taking heat at home and abroad.
Democrats’ anti-Musk campaign pays off in Wisconsin
Republicans had hoped that by nationalizing the race, they could excite enough 2024 Donald Trump voters. But they came up short.
What’s behind Democrats’ bid to torpedo permanent Republican tax cuts
The party can’t stop the Trump cuts from indefinite extension. It can only hope to contain them.
White House signals no deadline for Musk’s DOGE departure
His “special government employee” status is set to expire at the end of May, but that may not mean much to the Trump administration.
Bipartisan pair of senators warn Trump over Houthi strikes
Jeff Merkley and Rand Paul say the attacks in Yemen risked emboldening the Iranian-backed group.
Republicans double down on voter ID — even though it may not help them
The two major parties’ coalitions are shifting, and the old assumption is no longer clear.
Senate Democrats push back on GOP’s housing ‘turmoil’
In a new letter, Senate Democrats raise concerns about changes at the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
Trump’s week of tests
Republicans are charting a course for Trump’s agenda, while elections in Florida and Wisconsin test the president’s support.
businessFrancis Mascarenhas/Reuters
Global markets await US tariff clarity on Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’
Global markets were rocked by volatility hours before US President Donald Trump announces his sweeping tariff plan this afternoon.
Francis Mascarenhas/ReutersRahm Emanuel is coming to Wall Street
The former Chicago mayor and 2028 presidential contender will rejoin Centerview Partners, historically an outpost of Democratic influence.
Top Nippon Steel executive to meet with Commerce’s Lutnick at pivotal moment
The key meeting is one of the final hurdles for Nippon Steel before it makes it case directly to the White House.
‘It’s not who we are anymore:’ BlackRock emerges from vanilla roots for good
CEO Larry Fink has a plan to index opaque corners of private investing.
Nippon, US Steel offer increased investment to Trump officials to close deal
Under a deal being discussed with administration officials, Nippon would invest billions into US steelmaking facilities and be allowed to complete its $14 billion takeover of US Steel.
technology
Annegret Hilse/File Photo/Reuters
xAI
Google Gemini is shaking up its AI leadership ranks
Sissie Hsiao, who led the Gemini chatbot project after the launch of ChatGPT, will step down. She’s being replaced by Josh Woodward, who heads Google Labs.
Annegret Hilse/File Photo/ReutersElon Musk is building an AI giant — and Tesla will be central
Musk plays catch-up in the high-stakes AI race.
xAISignal downloads skyrocket in Yemen, US after leak
The news resurfaced privacy concerns, but may also suggest growing adoption from bad actors.
Tech mogul Jon McNeill on placing long-term AI bets
The GM board member and former Tesla president says “AI infrastructure is like the internet” in terms of its prolonged cycle.
New York’s longest-running play offers AI-powered live translations to attract new audiences
Attendees can select from 60 languages to hear the play in their preferred language.
Nvidia looks to grow its AI empire
The tech industry is crazy about Nvidia and its leather-clad CEO Jensen Huang. Wall Street, less so.
net zero
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Carlos Barria/File Photo/Reuters
Annie Rice/Reuters
The SEC wants to ignore climate risks. They’re not going away
The Securities and Exchange Commission wants to let one of its signature accomplishments of recent years wither.
Liz Hampton/ReutersGlobal renewable energy capacity hits record expansion
The growth, however significant, is still short of the pace needed to achieve the COP28 goal of tripling capacity by 2030.
Carlos Barria/File Photo/ReutersClimate investors see opportunity in Trump’s anti-climate push
Bad vibes for renewables means bargains for patient investors.
Annie Rice/Reutersgulf
Jon Nazca/Reuters
Abu Dhabi’s XRG invests in Mozambique gas
ADNOC’s international investment arm has acquired a stake in a LNG project in Mozambique.
Jon Nazca/ReutersTrump to visit Saudi Arabia for first international trip: report
The decision mirrors a move the US president made at the beginning of his first term, and cements Riyadh’s growing heft in global diplomacy.
‘Global South’ digital advocate wants a say on AI policy
Riyadh-based Digital Cooperation Organization represents 16 countries working to shape policies on artificial intelligence, misinformation, and e-commerce.
Kuwaiti government official accused of fixing raffles
The Ya Hala Kuwait Shopping Festival, which organized the raffle, has paused draws while authorities investigate a three-year scam allegedly involving up to 20 people.
Dubai real estate billionaire Alabbar eyes Montenegro
The developer behind the Burj Khalifa has submitted the highest bids for leases on a stretch of the Balkan country’s southern coastline, but locals are pushing back.
africa
South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Esa Alexander/File Photo/Reuters
Brian Snyder/Reuters
SAfrica passes contentious budget without ANC securing top coalition partner’s support
The country has been in a budget deadlock for weeks.
South Africa’s Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Esa Alexander/File Photo/ReutersTrump’s daughter’s father-in-law named senior adviser for Africa
Massad Boulos is set to travel to Africa to advance peace talks in the eastern DR Congo this week.
Brian Snyder/ReutersFlutterwave CEO targets profitability ‘this year’
The head of Africa’s most valuable unicorn said it was “open” to being acquired.
Africa’s AI ambitions take the spotlight in Rwanda
The first-ever global artificial intelligence summit on Africa begins this week.
The power struggle behind South Africa’s budget delay
Port and rail infrastructure have been major sticking points between the two biggest parties in the coalition government.
Somaliland dismisses ‘misguided’ offer to hand over ports to US
Somalia’s breakaway region of Somaliland is hoping to be recognized as an independent state by the Trump administration.
media
Mixed Signals: Nick Denton’s surprising return, courtesy of Elon Musk, Denmark, and Chinese cars
Why the Gawker founder is back online after disappearing from public life for almost a decade.
Journalists consider briefing room sit-in as Trump clashes with White House press corps
The White House Correspondents’ Association is mulling its response to a briefing room seating change.
Get out of their bubbles, or harden them? Newsom, Democrats debate their media future
The relentlessly anti-Trump style of the MeidasTouch Network is a stark contrast with California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s friendly interviews with conservative pundits.
A blogger in Moscow
Former CIA agent Larry C. Johnson, once a cable news regular and now a fringe figure, sat down with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov last month — and thinks no one’s listening to the Russians.
Audacy rolls out new podcast advertising tools
The company is also tapping a new head of podcasts.
security
Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Ritzau Scanpix/via Reuters
Flickr Creative Commons Photo/NNSA
Stringer/File Photo/Reuters
US scales back Greenland visit after criticism
US President Donald Trump’s expansionist overtures are creating a ‘permissive space’ for other world leaders bent on territorial acquisition, analysts argued.
Christian Klindt Soelbeck/Ritzau Scanpix/via ReutersDOGE reviews nuclear contractors
A review of National Nuclear Security Administration contractors has sparked concern within the agency that it could lose manpower at a critical time.
Flickr Creative Commons Photo/NNSAUK clamps down on Russian espionage, as Moscow ramps up pressure on Europe
Russia is increasingly reliant on private intelligence operatives and criminals to carry out espionage missions, UK security experts said.
Stringer/File Photo/ReutersAD