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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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The World at a Glance
Updated 12:38pm EST
1
The Trump administration said it is ending its immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota, after the crackdown drew widespread condemnation.
2Russia is seeking to block WhatsApp and push 100 million users onto a more easily monitored state-owned app.
3EU leaders are hoping to increase regional integration as part of a landmark summit focused on the bloc’s flagging economies.
4The US energy secretary called for greater US investment in Venezuela to revive the nation’s oil industry.
5A landmark general election in Bangladesh will likely be defined by concerns over unemployment and corruption, pollsters found.
6Iran is considering a more restrictive approach to digital surveillance as it turns the internet back on after a shutdown.
Shutdown odds spike amid Department of Homeland Security funding standoff
Democrats say the Trump administration has not responded to their requests with specificity.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Trump administration’s Venezuela approach gets murkier
There’s no sign of a second successful oil sale, or the movement of money out of a Qatari account to the US, as progress appears tougher to come by.
Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/ReutersSenate takes aim, gently, at tech companies’ supervoting stock
A new bipartisan bill would require companies to give shareholders more information about separate classes of stock that carry extra votes in corporate elections.
Go Nakamura/ReutersHow OpenAI got comfortable with the Pentagon using ChatGPT
The tech giant announced the US military will now have access to its chatbot.
Florence Lo/Reuters AD
House Republicans rebel against Canada tariffs
The move is mostly symbolic.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters Bessent pitches moving Powell probe to Senate from Justice Department
The Treasury secretary proposed to lawmakers that the Senate Banking Committee could investigate the Federal Reserve chair.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters Confusion surrounds sudden El Paso airspace closure
The government cited Mexican cartel drones.
Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters 
PoliticsGo Nakamura/Reuters Kent Nishimura/Reuters Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters
Senate takes aim, gently, at tech companies’ supervoting stock
A new bipartisan bill would require companies to give shareholders more information about separate classes of stock that carry extra votes in corporate elections.
Go Nakamura/ReutersHouse Republicans rebel against Canada tariffs
The move is mostly symbolic.
Kent Nishimura/Reuters Confusion surrounds sudden El Paso airspace closure
The government cited Mexican cartel drones.
Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters Skeptical Republicans willing to bite on Trump’s housing proposal
“If I can get [other housing] provisions — that’s the trade-off I need to get this done — then maybe it’s worth it,” one Republican member of Congress said.
Shutdown odds spike amid Department of Homeland Security funding standoff
Democrats say the Trump administration has not responded to their requests with specificity.
Bessent pitches moving Powell probe to Senate from Justice Department
The Treasury secretary proposed to lawmakers that the Senate Banking Committee could investigate the Federal Reserve chair.
Republicans chastise Trump administration for failed indictment of Democrats
The party’s leaders haven’t spoken out as forcefully, but rank-and-file senators made their disapproval clear.
Trump administration’s Venezuela approach gets murkier
There’s no sign of a second successful oil sale, or the movement of money out of a Qatari account to the US, as progress appears tougher to come by.
Trump vows to block opening of new bridge to Canada
Trump said the structure would not open until Ottawa “treats the United States with the Fairness and Respect that we deserve.”
NSA pick warns of China pursuing AI chips for weapons
Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd weighed in on the issue in response to written questions from Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass.
Hawley fumes at FDA over abortion drug study
The Missouri Republican told Semafor he was “really disappointed” in the FDA, which is led by Marty Makary.
Business
Mattie Neretin/CNP/Sipa USA
US government’s antitrust chief ousted
“It is with great sadness and abiding hope that I leave my role,” Gail Slater announced on X Thursday morning.
Mattie Neretin/CNP/Sipa USASenate takes aim, gently, at tech companies’ supervoting stock
A new bipartisan bill would require companies to give shareholders more information about separate classes of stock that carry extra votes in corporate elections.
EU leaders seek to revive economy in major summit
Fears of the European economy falling behind the US and China are not new, but worries have intensified as tensions rise with both Washington and Beijing.
US job growth stronger than expected
US employers added more jobs in January than economists had expected, but growth was concentrated in just a few sectors.
Google goes long with 100-year bond
Alphabet’s $11.5 billion bond sale is notable for two things: Its debt is really cheap, and a chunk of it will outlive anyone who bought it.
Technology
Ramil Sitdikov/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters
Amazon Alexa/YouTube
Russia seeks to block WhatsApp amid crackdown
Meta said Moscow was trying to push its 100 million Russian users onto a state-owned app, which is unencrypted and thus more easily monitored.
Ramil Sitdikov/Illustration/File Photo/ReutersAI Super Bowl ads show tech divides
Critics say the ads sent an “out of touch” message to consumers already skeptical of AI.
Amazon Alexa/YouTubeResearchers use AI to decode ancient Roman board game
Researchers used AI agents to play thousands of games using 100 different ancient and modern rulesets, and compared results to the levels of wear on the board.
Meta and Google social platforms face trial
The trial, which began in Los Angeles this week, tests claims that the social media platforms are designed to be addictive.
Trust in tech companies dropped globally: report
Trust fell not only in technology, but across nearly every institution since last year, including education, health care, and financial services.
AI’s challenge is not the tech, but the user: OpenAI chief economist
“There’s a difference between what our models can do and how people use them, and that’s the biggest story in AI in 2026 — closing that gap,” Ronnie Chatterji said.
Energy
Abidi/File Photo/File Photo/Reuters
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/Reuters
Fewer experts see climate change as global security threat, survey finds
In an Atlantic Council survey of nearly 450 experts, shared first with Semafor, 80% expect the world to become hotter over the next decade.
Abidi/File Photo/File Photo/ReutersTrump orders Pentagon to buy power from coal plants
It’s the latest effort by the White House to revive the dirtiest and most expensive fossil fuel.
Jonathan Ernst/ReutersUS energy secretary visits Venezuela to assess oil industry
The first steps are underway, including an overhaul of Venezuelan law to curb state-owned PDVSA’s control.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez. Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/ReutersGulf
Minister Khalid Al-Falih. Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/Reuters
Saudi replaces key minister amid pressure to attract foreign cash
A government reshuffle puts a Saudi wealth fund executive in charge of bringing in much-needed FDI.
Minister Khalid Al-Falih. Hamad I Mohammed/File Photo/ReutersQatar expands LNG fleet to support energy ambitions
QatarEnergy CEO Saad Sherida al-Kaabi called the fleet expansion the biggest shipbuilding program in the LNG industry’s history.
Gulf states build on UAE’s Mars breakthrough
The Gulf’s space ambitions are expanding five years after the UAE became the first Arab nation to establish a scientific presence on Mars.
Plans for first Gulf casino boost UAE luxury developer RAK
Plans for the Gulf’s first casino, in the once-sleepy emirate of Ras Al Khaimah, have been a boon for RAK Properties.
Saudi’s HUMAIN invests in sports AI
HUMAIN acquired a controlling stake in ai.oi, a UK company that uses AI to scout for sporting talent and suggest improvements for athletes’ performance.
Africa
Glody Murhabazi/AFP via Getty Images
Temilade Adelaja/Reuters
DR Congo inks AI deal with US firm to map country’s critical minerals
Atlas Park will use existing data on the country’s mineral deposits and conduct new geological surveys.
Glody Murhabazi/AFP via Getty ImagesAfrican e-commerce site Jumia maintains growth as it shutters in Algeria
The move is part of a cost-cutting strategy as it comes under mounting pressure from Chinese competitors Temu and Shein.
Temilade Adelaja/ReutersSouth Africa marks record agricultural exports
The 10% rise in shipments from the previous year was attributed to higher volumes and prices.
Zimbabwe moves to scrap direct presidential elections and extend term limits
The changes could keep President Emmerson Mnangagwa, 83, in office until 2030, two years beyond the end of his current term.
Nigeria steps up US lobbying push
The country’s first lady joined Nigerian lobbying efforts to counter the growing Christian genocide narrative on Capitol Hill.
South Africa mining minister criticizes DRC over US minerals deal
Gwede Mantashe urged African states to “deepen collaboration” on mining critical minerals.
Security
Staff Sgt. Roidan Carlson/Handout via Reuters
Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters
Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters
US weighs expanding its nuclear weapons arsenal
Within hours of New START lapsing last week, a senior State Department official complained of the pact’s “unacceptable” constraints.
Staff Sgt. Roidan Carlson/Handout via ReutersEU planning to expedite Ukraine’s entry into the bloc
Ukraine received EU candidate status in 2022, but progress has been stalled by Hungary.
Stephanie Lecocq/ReutersMacron signals possible resumption of dialogue with Russia
Macron broke off dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin seven months after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Stephanie Lecocq/ReutersMedia
Ken Cedeno/Reuters
Washington Post suffers marketing mishap with new slogan
The paper had prepared a new brand campaign, with a new tagline meant to convey its connection to America: “We The People.”
Ken Cedeno/Reuters New emails show how Epstein used the media to rehab his reputation
Most of the revelations in the files have not revealed journalistic sins, but have highlighted uncomfortably close relationships.
Washington Post CEO resigns, leaving no clear strategy
Will Lewis and Jeff Bezos presided over a sharp decline at the definitive Washington newspaper.
How McDonald’s embraced its Donald Trump drive-thru moment
Former CMO Tariq Hassan on why brands shouldn’t run away from news, politics and controversy.
Post cuts ripple through US journalism industry
But people who’ve spoken to owner Jeff Bezos say there’s no sign he’s looking to sell.
CEO Signal
Courtesy of GE Vernova/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of the Gates Foundation/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Takeda/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
The CEO behind GE Vernova’s $200B power surge
Scott Strazik says demand is surging, but his energy company won’t spend money on “hobbies.”
Courtesy of GE Vernova/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforHow the Gates Foundation’s CEO plans to shape its last 20 years
Mark Suzman wants to reframe the case for aid in the face of government cuts and intense public scrutiny
Courtesy of the Gates Foundation/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforTakeda’s Christophe Weber on avoiding a ‘lame duck’ succession
The pharmaceutical CEO says timing and openness are crucial to a smooth handover.
Courtesy of Takeda/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAD