Dismantling US Africa Command could create a damaging power ‘vacuum’
Uncommon bonds: US support for Taiwan
The World at a Glance
Updated 8:41pm EST
1
The US has paused military aid to Ukraine, as Donald Trump ramps up the pressure on Kyiv following Friday’s disastrous Oval Office meeting.
2Trump said 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico will take effect Tuesday, triggering an immediate slide in the US stock market.
3Taiwan chip giant TSMC announced $100 billion in US investment, becoming the latest tech company to promise to expand its American footprint.
4The US plans to amass a “strategic” reserve of five cryptocurrencies, Trump announced Sunday, sending the price of bitcoin soaring.
5Iranian hardliners impeached the country’s finance minister in a major blow to President Masoud Pezeshkian’s more moderate administration.
6A record number of UK citizens applied for Irish passports last year, as Britons seek “backdoor” access to the EU.
UK, France scramble to draft peace plan for Ukraine as US support falters
French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer have positioned themselves as potential intermediaries between the US and Ukraine.
NTB/Javad Parsa/via ReutersThe high stakes of China’s ‘Two Sessions’ summits this week
Beijing is expected to reveal its economic growth targets, its monetary and fiscal priorities, and its broader policy course.
Go Nakamura/ReutersChina won’t ‘replace’ USAID in Africa
But the exit of US foreign assistance has created an opportunity for Beijing to strengthen its presence on the continent, say experts.
South Africa government/FlickrSpain’s migration approach bucks a Europe-wide trend
The country’s socialist government has opted to soften many of the country’s immigration rules instead of taking a more hardline approach.
Borja Suarez/ReutersAD
European leaders chart new Ukraine peace talks path after Oval Office debacle
Kyiv’s European allies gathered in London Sunday for talks aimed at crafting a peace plan, but questions remain as to US support.
Justin Tallis/Pool via ReutersHigh property prices squeeze Saudis out of homeownership
The Saudi property market has rebounded after four years of decline, but soaring prices and high interest rates are locking out many locals.
Mohammed Benmansour/File Photo/ReutersWhy the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting imploded
It happened in part because the White House perceived a loss of focus on the reason they were even gathering.
Nathan Howard/Reuters
politics
Leah Millis/Reuters
Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo/Reuters
Trump ratchets up pressure on Ukraine as Republicans urge a thaw
While military aid may be paused, his other options range from a revived minerals deal to looser Russia sanctions.
Leah Millis/ReutersTackling Washington’s Tax and Spend Priorities
Tax cuts are back — but so are the big questions.
McConnell protégé Cameron leads in early Kentucky Senate primary poll
A pollster with Cameron ties found Cameron, Kentucky’s former attorney general, leading in a primary with Rep. Andy Barr and businessman Nate Morris.
Elizabeth Frantz/File Photo/ReutersTrump’s SEC pick is in paperwork purgatory
Three months after President Trump tapped Paul Atkins as SEC chair, the White House still hasn’t produced the paperwork needed to schedule his confirmation hearing.
Uncommon bonds: US support for Taiwan
The self-governing island enjoys strong backing in Congress, in part due to cross-aisle angst toward China.
European leaders chart new Ukraine peace talks path after Oval Office debacle
Kyiv’s European allies gathered in London Sunday for talks aimed at crafting a peace plan, but questions remain as to US support.
Why the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting imploded
It happened in part because the White House perceived a loss of focus on the reason they were even gathering.
Kevin McCarthy pushes for nuclear energy policy
The former House speaker released a blueprint urging to reform the permitting process and giving tax credits to energy providers to increase nuclear energy production.
Global health funding takes new hits with more USAID cuts
Programs identified by the State Department as life-saving were terminated Thursday as part of the Trump administration’s move to cut more than 10,000 foreign aid contracts.
Republicans start to sweat as Trump takes ownership of US economy
The party is conscious of the strain tariffs and federal layoffs would add to sagging consumer sentiment and a slowing labor market.
Trump says Putin would ‘keep his word’ on Ukraine peace deal
Trump said peace talks to end the war in Ukraine are moving quickly, as UK’s Keir Starmer courted the US president for Kyiv’s security guarantees.
business
Reuters/Stringer/File Photo
India’s Adani could revive planned $10B US investment despite federal charges
India’s Adani Group has reportedly resumed plans to make major investments in the US, despite the company’s billionaire founder facing federal charges there.
Reuters/Stringer/File PhotoAmerican business leaders are turning on Trump — fast
Biden-era regulations are still standing, and new ideologically driven crackdowns and market-roiling policies are being piled on. The MAGA vibes are fading.
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.
Owners 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.
technology
Reed Albergotti/Semafor
Florence Lo/File Photo/Reuters
Autonomous driving technology has crossed a threshold, and there’s no going back
I turned the family ski trip into an autonomous driving experiment and saw the future of transportation.
Reed Albergotti/SemaforApple 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.
Corporations 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.
net zero
Carmen Jaspersen/Reuters
Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters
Wikimedia Commons
Europe puts its energy transition on life support
Spiraling energy prices have turned many Europeans against the region’s ambitious climate goals.
Carmen Jaspersen/ReutersCongress 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 gulfMohammed Benmansour/File Photo/Reuters
High property prices squeeze Saudis out of homeownership
The Saudi property market has rebounded after four years of decline, but soaring prices and high interest rates are locking out many locals.
Mohammed Benmansour/File Photo/ReutersGulf countries race to attract motorsports fans beyond F1
Saudi Arabia has announced plans for a Mercedes F1 experience center to rival Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World, built in 2010.
Abu Dhabi to make electric ‘seagliders’ to ease transport burden
The Emirati city partnered with a US-based startup to develop the vehicles, which promise to offer helicopter-like speed at taxi prices.
Saudi’s PIF partners with German elevator factory with $168M investment
The partnership establishes a Saudi unit that will manufacture elevators, escalators and moving walkways to meet demand from the kingdom’s giga-projects and large developments.
Saudi Arabia’s biggest stocks hit by petrochemical slide
Rising global petrochemical supplies have driven down prices, weighing on a sector central to Saudi’s diversification strategy.
africa
Alexis Akwagyiram/Semafor South Africa government/Flickr
UK agrees $50M African trade deal
The agreement with Ghana International Bank aims to boost trade in seven African countries.
Alexis Akwagyiram/SemaforChina won’t ‘replace’ USAID in Africa
But the exit of US foreign assistance has created an opportunity for Beijing to strengthen its presence on the continent, say experts.
South Africa government/FlickrDismantling US Africa Command could create a damaging power ‘vacuum’
Reports that the Trump administration will shutter a US military unit that protects American interests on the continent threatens US-Africa diplomacy.
Rwanda’s multimillion-dollar tourism industry is under threat over DR Congo conflict
Critical sports and brands deals are particularly at risk.
Africa’s share of renewables in power mix to jump to 40% by 2030: Report
There is vast untapped potential in solar and wind energy, a report by the African Energy Chamber found.
Nigeria’s economy could be turning a corner
The country’s GDP grew 3.4% last year, up from 2.7% in 2023.
media
Mixed Signals: Why Netflix is “obsessed” with winning an Oscar, with Puck’s Matt Belloni
How Hollywood and the Academy have followed cultural shifts in the past, and if they’ll change course in 2025.
FCC’s Carr defends broadcast probes, slams social media ‘threat’
The FCC chairman said social media giants are “the greatest threat” to free speech in recent times.
NPR ‘confident’ they comply with FCC guidelines, CEO Maher says
The public broadcaster’s CEO also said it has no plans to replace the retiring chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer.
NBCUniversal’s Conde teases news subscription service
The network is eyeing a launch in the second half of 2025, Cesar Conde told Semafor.
White House restrictions on media signal ‘worrying’ precedent: Fox News’ Baier
While the network’s top political journalist said he supports The Associated Press in its fight with the White House, he stressed that the story is not of interest outside of Washington.
security
Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
Frank Augsten/Pool via Reuters
Evelyn Hockstein/Pool/Reuters
Iran expands stockpile of near-weapons grade uranium by 50%
Tehran’s growing uranium stockpile is of “serious concern,” the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog warned.
Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via ReutersStarmer 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/ReutersAD