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The World at a Glance
Updated 9:26am EDT
1
South Africa’s president arrived in Brazil for a visit aimed at bolstering ties, amid the upheaval sparked by US tariffs.
2Chinese exports surged 22% in the first two months of 2026, despite US tariffs.
3Donald Trump intensified his threats to ‘take over’ Cuba, as Washington’s oil embargo on the island nation sparks protests.
4Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered to provide drone advice to the US and Gulf nations in the war against Iran.
5Donald Trump promised an investigation into whether the US was responsible for a strike on an Iranian school that killed 175.
6Soaring energy prices sparked by the Iran war roiled global markets, with EU leaders due to discuss the issue today.
DC gets jammed up with gridlock
President Donald Trump says he’ll stop any legislation (except for DHS funding) until he gets his wish of ID and citizenship requirements for voting.
Nathan Howard/Reuters Trump delivers Republicans a mixed message on Iran
The president took the stage at his party’s House retreat and talked not about party-line policy, but about different war timetables.
Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Trump’s China trip planning still scattershot, sources say
Sparse details surrounding the meeting reflects the gulf between the superpowers — and their starkly differing operating styles.
Reuters/Rashmi AichOil prices dip under $100 after Trump says Iran war ‘very complete’
Oil prices dipped on Monday after US President Donald Trump said the war against Iran was “very complete.”
Benoit Tessier/ReutersSenate Democrats vow to force Iran war votes if Republicans don’t hold hearings
The group of five, led by New Jersey’s Cory Booker, wants to shine a brighter public spotlight on President Donald Trump’s conflict.
Nathan Howard/ReutersHow one GOP senator blocked a nominee — and ended up with a real opponent
Democrat Scott Colom talked to Semafor about his challenge to Mississippi’s Cindy Hyde-Smith, who blocked his bid to become a federal judge three years ago.
Kylie Cooper/ReutersTrump’s Iran options include special operations raid on nuclear sites
Former government sources and military experts say elite units have long prepared to land in Iran.
Mohamed Azakir/Reuters
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Politics
DVIDS/Handout via ReutersNathan Howard/Reuters 
Mehr News/Handout via Reuters
Trump vows to investigate strike on Iranian school that killed 175
Trump originally said the attack was carried out by Iran, but analysts said that was implausible.
DVIDS/Handout via ReutersDC gets jammed up with gridlock
President Donald Trump says he’ll stop any legislation (except for DHS funding) until he gets his wish of ID and citizenship requirements for voting.
Nathan Howard/Reuters Republicans pledge scrutiny of Iran school strike
The party wants answers on the bombing of an Iranian school that killed 175 people, which appears to have been caused by a US Tomahawk missile.
Mehr News/Handout via ReutersTrump’s China trip planning still scattershot, sources say
Sparse details surrounding the meeting reflects the gulf between the superpowers — and their starkly differing operating styles.
Trump delivers Republicans a mixed message on Iran
The president took the stage at his party’s House retreat and talked not about party-line policy, but about different war timetables.
Oil prices dip under $100 after Trump says Iran war ‘very complete’
Oil prices dipped on Monday after US President Donald Trump said the war against Iran was “very complete.”
Live Nation settles antitrust case with US DOJ
The outcome had already prompted the ouster of the US’ top antitrust enforcer.
Anthropic sues the Pentagon over supply chain risk designation
The action marks the latest chapter in the feud between the Trump administration and the AI startup.
How one GOP senator blocked a nominee — and ended up with a real opponent
Democrat Scott Colom talked to Semafor about his challenge to Mississippi’s Cindy Hyde-Smith, who blocked his bid to become a federal judge three years ago.
Senate Democrats vow to force Iran war votes if Republicans don’t hold hearings
The group of five, led by New Jersey’s Cory Booker, wants to shine a brighter public spotlight on President Donald Trump’s conflict.
UK PM Starmer attempts to defuse tensions with Trump over Iran
US President Donald Trump recently railed against Britain’s limited involvement in the war on Iran.
Business
Mike Blake/Reuters
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square files for IPO
This is Ackman’s second attempt at listing Pershing Square, after withdrawing an oversized plan in 2024 that found little market appetite.
Mike Blake/ReutersExperts advise against US Treasury trading in oil futures
Officials are considering buying long-term futures while selling shorter-dated ones to tamp down gasoline and oil prices.
Bilt thinks it’s solved its ‘four-banana problem’ — and gamified paying your rent
CEO Ankur Jain told Semafor Bilt is “not a payments or financial platform,” but rather “a membership program for where you live.”
Trump’s China trip planning still scattershot, sources say
Sparse details surrounding the meeting reflects the gulf between the superpowers — and their starkly differing operating styles.
Iran war revives stagflation fears
Rising oil prices are triggering an energy shock and risk blunting growth momentum.
Technology
Jason Reed/Reuters
Anshuman Daga/Reuters
Anthropic sues the Pentagon over supply chain risk designation
The action marks the latest chapter in the feud between the Trump administration and the AI startup.
Jason Reed/ReutersPayments startup Airwallex expands into US, crosses $1B in assets under management
Airwallex hopes its infrastructure, which took a decade to build, will put it in a good position to capitalize on the AI boom, which is driven by subscriptions and API fees.
Anshuman Daga/ReutersAnthropic’s Amodei grows up on the job
Anthropic appeared to have the upper hand — until a leaked memo surfaced Wednesday showing Amodei calling Trump a petty dictator.
AI guardrails more popular than beating China, survey finds
Support for AI guardrails is one of the most bipartisan issues in the US, according to a new survey shared exclusively with Semafor.
Nvidia stops making China-bound AI chips: Report
Nvidia has stopped making its H200 chips intended for the Chinese market, the Financial Times reported.
US military is using Claude in Iran amid Anthropic feud
The Pentagon deployed the powerful tool during its attack on Iran within hours of banning it, and is reportedly still using it.
Energy
Barbara Lewis/File Photo/Reuters
Lisi Niesner/File Photo/Reuters
Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters
Mining, metals sector account for 11% of global emissions, report finds
The International Council on Mining and Metals’s new data highlights the sector’s role as both a major emitter and a linchpin of the clean energy transition.
Barbara Lewis/File Photo/ReutersEurope scrambles for gas alternatives amid surging prices
European leaders will meet today to discuss a response to the spike in natural gas prices.
Lisi Niesner/File Photo/ReutersG7 leaders agree not to release oil reserves
The price of Brent crude fell back below $90 per barrel on Tuesday, after soaring to nearly $120.
Kim Hong-Ji/ReutersGulf
Dado Ruvic/Illustration/Reuters
Abu Dhabi’s Judan buys major stake in US AI investor
Judan will have a 50.1% stake in Alpha Wave Global, a Miami-based alternative asset manager and investor in Anthropic, OpenAI, and SpaceX.
Dado Ruvic/Illustration/ReutersUAE banks move data abroad following Iran strikes
UAE banks suffered service outages after an Amazon data center in the country was hit by drones.
Gulf airlines grapple with long-term cost of war
Even when peace is restored, super-connectors like Emirates and Qatar Airways will find it harder to persuade passengers to transit via their hubs.
Foreign workers in the Gulf bearing brunt of Iran strikes
At least nine civilians have been killed so far across the region, and only one was a Gulf citizen.
Aramco CEO warns of ‘catastrophic consequences’ for oil markets
The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iran war is “by far the biggest crisis the region’s oil and gas industry has faced,” Amin Nasser said.
Africa
Lines at a petrol station in Bamako. AFP via Getty Images.
Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
The Iran war risks upending Africa’s Sahel
The junta-led nations around the Sahel — Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — are particularly vulnerable to the impact of a global energy crisis.
Lines at a petrol station in Bamako. AFP via Getty Images.Djibouti taps carbon fund for climate challenges
Djibouti created the Sovereign Carbon Initiative in 2023 to help reduce national greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030.
Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty ImagesAfrican Development Bank eyes green fund expansion
The Sustainable Energy Fund for Africa is the continent’s largest fund, launched in order to catalyze private investment in renewables.
Dangote Refinery halts petrol loading on Iran war
Higher crude oil prices could greatly benefit Nigeria and other African oil producers.
The challenge and opportunity of America First’s new health deals
Zambia, Zimbabwe are among African countries pushing back at bilateral health pacts.
Implats drags Zimbabwe’s FX row to Pretoria
Harare has imposed to surrender about one-third of foreign-currency receipts to its central bank to rebuild its foreign currency stock.
Security
US Patriot missile defense systems at a base in South Korea. Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters.DVIDS/Handout via Reuters 
Stringer/Reuters
Ukraine advises US, Gulf on downing Iranian drones
The Patriot missiles used to shoot down Iranian strikes are akin to “using a bazooka to kill a fly,” The New York Times wrote.
US Patriot missile defense systems at a base in South Korea. Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters.Trump vows to investigate strike on Iranian school that killed 175
Trump originally said the attack was carried out by Iran, but analysts said that was implausible.
DVIDS/Handout via ReutersIran slows attacks on Gulf neighbors
Tehran fired just 33 missiles and drones at the UAE Monday, down from around 350 a day at the start of the war.
Stringer/ReutersMedia
Hasan Piker on streaming all day, his relationship with Zohran Mamdani, and the lefty media machine
Since 2018, Hasan Piker has gone from streaming alone in his bedroom to becoming one of North America’s most influential leftist creators.
Bulwark CEO wants to help Democrats ‘Eat’ MAGA
The founder of the Bulwark wants to help chart a path back to power for the Democratic party.
Politico founder plots new Washington newspaper war
A damaged Washington Post could face a big new challenger.
Left-of-center groups plead with AGs to stop WBD-Paramount deal
“With President Trump having weaponized independent agencies and antitrust enforcers to do his political bidding, it is essential that states fill the void and aggressively protect consumers,” the groups wrote.
It’s bots vs. reporters at the AP
The tensions inside the wire service reveal a broader conflict playing out across the media over how AI should be applied within journalism.
CEO Signal
Courtesy of Autodesk/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Aflac/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor 
Autodesk’s model for building an AI ‘moat’
CEO Andrew Anagnost says software companies need three defensive qualities.
Courtesy of Autodesk/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAflac’s Dan Amos on succession after 36 years as CEO
The long-tenured leader has a time and a person in mind — and some advice on what the job takes.
Courtesy of Aflac/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor US Soccer’s goal for the 2026 World Cup
CEO JT Batson says the tournament is forcing brands to see the value of the sport’s fans.
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