Owners of former Trump hotel quietly shopping the reemergent Washington hot spot
US Steel, Nippon executives court Trump officials in bid to salvage deal
The World at a Glance
Updated 2:33pm EST
1
Shareholders voted to keep Apple’s diversity programs, despite the broad corporate backlash to DEI after Donald Trump’s reelection.
2German GDP figures suggest the country fell into a recession last year, underscoring the incoming government’s uphill battle to reinvigorate the world’s third largest economy.
3UK leader Keir Starmer announced plans to raise defense spending to 2.5% of GDP to counter “tyrants like Putin.”
4Russia floated the possibility of allowing the US to explore for critical minerals, as Washington and Kyiv appeared even closer to a deal.
5China expelled a former defense executive from the Communist Party, the latest in a series of graft-related removals.
6Trump is no longer seeking regime change in Venezuela, the special envoy said, instead cooperating with Maduro on deporting migrants.
The White House asserts control over press pool, deepening its tensions with US media
Donald Trump’s press secretary said Tuesday that the White House will control which outlets are allowed into the pool instead of the Correspondents Association.
Brian Snyder/ReutersTrump push to control independent regulators might hit the Fed
His administration has pitched a narrow carve-out for the central bank, but some legal experts doubt it holds.
Brian Snyder/ReutersUkraine ‘ready to sign’ US minerals deal as Putin floats alternative bargain
Kyiv reportedly agreed to the terms of minerals-for-aid deal with Washington after the US some of its more onerous demands, the Financial Times reported.
Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via ReutersSyria’s new leaders host national dialogue in show of political inclusivity
The talks are an optimistic indicator that the new government in Damascus is moving the country toward democracy.
Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa. Khalil Ashawi/Reuters.AD
Macron emphasizes European defense readiness in key Trump meeting
US President Donald Trump told the French leader Monday that Russia’s war in Ukraine could be over ‘within weeks.’
Brian Snyder/ReutersGermany looks to nuclear despite unlikely comeback
Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out a coalition with the hard-right Alternative for Germany but the two parties have at least one thing in common: An interest in nuclear power.
Wikimedia Commons Anthropic’s latest AI marks shift toward reasoning models
AI is moving away from the chatbot model, which is prone to hallucinations, and towards more autonomous and contemplative systems.
Wikimedia Commonspolitics
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersBrian Snyder/Reuters 
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Jeffries takes heat as Democrats’ base seeks anti-Trump fight
The House minority leader is getting his first — occasionally, harsh — taste of what it’s like to lead the Democratic caucus under the pugnacious president.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersTrump push to control independent regulators could hit the Fed
His administration has pitched a narrow carve-out for the central bank, but some legal experts doubt it holds.
Brian Snyder/ReutersUS federal agencies rebuff Musk’s directive to justify jobs
Monday marks the deadline for federal employees to respond to a request from the OPM to list their recent accomplishments, but it’s unclear if they’ll face repercussions for not replying.
Nathan Howard/ReutersBlackRock and JPMorgan CEOs, along with US lawmakers, tackle looming retirement ‘crisis’
They will be part of a March summit in Washington to address the issue, after BlackRock found one-third of Americans have no retirement savings.
Debatable: Is Trump’s ‘Fork in the Road’ program legal?
A judge’s ruling that allowed deferred resignations to move forward didn’t settle some questions surrounding them.
Divisions emerge among American right over Trump, Musk approach
A recent Reuters poll found a “notable portion” of 2024 Trump supporters opposed some of his early actions.
Republicans eye rollback of Biden rules on banks, WiFi and more
The House and Senate are coordinating closely on a growing list of regulatory moves that the party still has time to unwind.
‘The party looks like a failure’: AOC’s former chief of staff on his challenge to Nancy Pelosi
Saikat Chakrabarti talked with Semafor recently about his decision to run for Congress, and why he thinks it’s better to save the Democratic Party than to replace it.
‘A Trump revolution’: At CPAC, conservatives hope for a global populist movement
Attendees looked to export Trump’s goal of deconstructing the administrative state around the world.
The FBI braces for a shakeup under Trump loyalist Kash Patel
A long-time critic of the FBI, Patel has vowed to radically overhaul the agency.
Trump’s legislative agenda is in turmoil
After bickering for months over strategy, House and Senate Republicans are starting to diverge over policy as well.
business
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Signs of economic doubt emerge in the US
Stocks in the US and Asia fell Tuesday after Trump vowed to go ahead with tariffs against Mexico and Canada.
Brendan McDermid/ReutersOwners of former Trump hotel quietly shopping the reemergent Washington hot spot
Investment bank BDT & MSD Partners is also continuing to negotiate with the Trump family business about repurchasing hotel.
US Steel, Nippon executives court Trump officials in bid to salvage deal
The case to save the merger that just won’t die is now filtering down to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the Commerce Department.
Corporate giants want a free hand to merge. They might not get it.
Trump’s antitrust cop signals no retreat from tough Biden merger rules, a not-so-fast moment for the business community; the “Khanservatives” appear in charge for now.
A MAGA adviser is proposing a ‘DOGE dividend’
James Fishback, who launched an anti-woke fund an has been advising DOGE, wants to send its savings back to Americans.
technology
Florence Lo/File Photo/Reuters
Microsoft/Handout via Reuters
Apple announces $500B US investment as Trump tariffs loom over tech
The Silicon Valley giant also said it would hire more than 20,000 people in the US as part of the effort.
Florence Lo/File Photo/ReutersMicrosoft’s quantum chip creates new state of matter
The new “topological state” — which isn’t a solid, liquid, or gas — had previously only existed in theory.
Microsoft/Handout via ReutersCorporations dig deeper: using bunkers to secure data (and their CEOs)
Several large companies are building underground housing for their data centers and executives.
Crypto heavyweight Coinbase releases US legislative wishlist
After battling regulators in the Biden administration and funneling millions to Republicans in the 2024 elections, the crypto exchange is formalizing its asks of a GOP-controlled Washington.
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.
ChatGPT: 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.
net zero
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersWikimedia Commons 
Alexey Malgavko/Reuters
Congress is about to put Biden’s climate strategy to the test
Will Inflation Reduction Act tax credits survive budget negotiations led by House Speaker Mike Johnson?
Evelyn Hockstein/ReutersGermany looks to nuclear despite unlikely comeback
Germany’s likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out a coalition with the hard-right Alternative for Germany but the two parties have at least one thing in common: An interest in nuclear power.
Wikimedia Commons Trump is playing a dangerous game with Russian energy
Lifting sanctions and allowing Russian oil and gas back into the global market could backfire for the US.
Alexey Malgavko/Reutersgulf
@SAMA_GOV/X
Saudi joins rarefied league of nations with a currency symbol
Saudi officials say the newly launched riyal symbol will reinforce financial and national identity.
@SAMA_GOV/XSaudi Arabia project NEOM’s linear city slowly takes shape
NEOM gave rare media access to Al Arabiya to show off progress at The Line, its ambitious 170-kilometer linear city project, following reports that it was being downsized and delayed.
More Gulf companies rely on private financing as a funding source
Private financing is used as an alternative to bank lending, share sales, and bond markets, an analysis from S&P Global Ratings found.
‘Empathy’ investing gets a $1B boost in the Gulf
2PointZero, part of Abu Dhabi’s International Holding Company, plans to pump $1 billion into financial services for low- and middle-income individuals and small businesses.
Analysis: Moscow’s Gulf dealmaker is trying to restore Russia’s economy
The Kremlin’s appointment of Kirill Dmitriev as special envoy signals that Moscow is ready to make the deals necessary for its return to global markets.
africa
Flickr
A family planning talk in Nigeria. File Photo/Creative Commons.
Uncertainty grows over future of Africa-US trade deal under Trump
The African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) provides sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the US market.
FlickrWomen’s education influences family size in sub-Saharan Africa, research finds
Personal educational attainment drives reduced fertility rates, but so does the broader influence of other women’s educational levels.
A family planning talk in Nigeria. File Photo/Creative Commons.Analysis: Why ending aid dependency is an opportunity for African countries
We should be preparing for the end of a decades-old aid model, writes political scientist Ken Opalo.
African investors must seek ‘alternative partnerships’ for renewables under Trump administration
Investors must adjust to US climate skepticism in order to ensure renewables continue to dominate infrastructure finance in Africa, an industry figure said.
South African businesses in limbo after budget delay
The unprecedented postponement of the budget has prompted uncertainty around the government’s economic plans.
Kenyan tea exporters fear Sudan blowback over RSF meeting
Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces paramilitary held a symbolic political event in Nairobi that may have repercussions for Kenya’s biggest commodity.
mediaBrian Snyder/Reuters
The White House asserts control over press pool, deepening its tensions with US media
Donald Trump’s press secretary said Tuesday that the White House will control which outlets are allowed into the pool instead of the Correspondents Association.
Brian Snyder/ReutersHost Rachel Maddow fights recent MSNBC programming decisions
Maddow told staff she had privately fought the network’s decisions, including the cancellation of shows hosted by Joy Reid and Alex Wagner.
Reporters launch new TikTok-like news platform
Noosphere is a mobile-first platform that will charge less than $20 a month to access a feed of content produced by independent journalists.
When did the media go wrong? A new book blames Robert Caro.
The YIMBY movement picks an unlikely villain.
Innovating to Restore Trust in News: A National Summit
The movement to shape a new era of trusted journalism.
security
Frank Augsten/Pool via Reuters
Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/Reuters
Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters
Starmer plans to hike UK defense spending to counter ‘tyrants like Putin’
Keir Starmer said the increased investment was necessary because ‘tyrants like Putin only respond to strength.’
Frank Augsten/Pool via ReutersZelenskyy: ‘Nobody decides anything behind our back’ as US, Russia hold Ukraine talks
The Ukrainian leader sharply criticized Tuesday’s US-Russia bilateral talks in Riyadh.
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/ReutersAD