Zuckerberg’s new manifesto reveals Meta’s shape-shifting strategy
State Department to send $93 million in food aid to 13 nations
The World at a Glance
Updated 1:08pm EDT
1
OpenAI unveiled GPT-5, calling it ‘a significant step’ toward artificial general intelligence, the latest salvo in the battle for AI supremacy.
2US President Donald Trump demanded the resignation of chipmaker Intel’s CEO over his alleged ties to Chinese firms.
3Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are set to meet as soon as next week, the Kremlin announced.
4Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Israel intends to occupy the Gaza Strip, ahead of a cabinet meeting to discuss the plan.
5US tariffs on foreign imports came into effect today, roiling the country’s trading partners worldwide.
6The Bank of England cut interest rates for the fifth time in a year, following a historic split vote.
OpenAI debuts GPT-5, calling it ‘major upgrade’ from previous models
The model is still not ‘AGI’ but CEO Sam Altman says it’s a significant step in that direction.
Ken Cedeno/ReutersShould New York’s $270B pension fund abandon Wall Street?
A candidate running to be New York’s chief money manager wants to move much of its $270 billion pension fund into passive index funds.
Courtesy of Drew Warshaw‘You’re welcome’: Biden’s antitrust chief points to Figma IPO as vindication of his policy
Jonathan Kanter, a former Justice Department official, says it was their robust antitrust approach that helped the design software firm thrive.
Graeme Sloan/Sipa USA via ReutersGhana, Rwanda lead Africa’s race for cutting-edge nuclear: Industry chief
The two countries are likely to be first on the continent to deploy small modular reactors.
Romain Doucelin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesAD
Trump hikes India tariffs to 50%
Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over its purchase of Russian oil, ratcheting tensions with New Delhi.
Kevin Lamarque/File Photo/ReutersState Department pauses most visa processing in Zimbabwe
The decision comes as the Trump administration reportedly presses African nations to accept deported non-national migrants.
Umit Bektas/ReutersUkraine, Russia ramp up attacks on energy infrastructure
Russian drones damaged a gas compressor station linking Ukrainian pipelines to an LNG import terminal in Greece, which had been used to receive gas from the US.
Sofiia Gatilova/Reuters
Politics
Department of Housing and Urban Development
David Weigel/Semafor
Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters
The Nevada Democrat pushing against her party’s progressive pull
When Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto clashed on the floor with a colleague, it spoke loudly about the party’s ongoing internal struggles.
Department of Housing and Urban DevelopmentStevens bets against a Democratic shakeup in Michigan
The Senate primary features one unabashed progressive, one pragmatic outsider — and a pro-Israel congresswoman with a throwback image.
David Weigel/SemaforState Department to send $93 million in food aid to 13 nations
The assistance will be focused on children suffering from malnutrition in 12 African countries and Haiti.
Sodiq Adelakun/ReutersNew Trump tariffs come into force worldwide
The effective US tariff rate now stands at its highest level since World War II, with further increases looming.
Trump-Putin talks agreed for coming days, Kremlin says
Russia’s announcement of the bilateral meeting came amid increasing US frustration over the war.
More Ukrainians want negotiated deal with Russia, poll finds
Support among Ukrainians for continuing the war until a potential victory has plummeted, according to Gallup.
Vulnerable Republican congressman hit over stock trades
The Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund is spending early against Pennsylvania Rep. Rob Bresnahan with ads shared first with Semafor.
Draft Trump order would penalize banks for ‘past’ debanking
The order is set for signing as soon as this week.
State Department pauses most visa processing in Zimbabwe
The decision comes as the Trump administration reportedly presses African nations to accept deported non-national migrants.
US cancels $500M in mRNA vaccine research
The decision will hit 22 projects on viruses such as bird flu and COVID-19.
Democrats win special elections, progressives gain in city races
Detroit’s city council president won most of the primary vote for mayor.
Business
Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Zuckerberg’s new manifesto reveals Meta’s shape-shifting strategy
Mark Zuckerberg’s understanding that his “real asset isn’t any app, it’s attention” might make it harder for Meta to deliver new products, an analyst said.
Joey Pfeifer/SemaforShould New York’s $270B pension fund abandon Wall Street?
A candidate running to be New York’s chief money manager wants to move much of its $270 billion pension fund into passive index funds.
‘You’re welcome’: Biden’s antitrust chief points to Figma IPO as vindication of his policy
Jonathan Kanter, a former Justice Department official, says it was their robust antitrust approach that helped the design software firm thrive.
Bank of England cuts rates following historic split vote
A lack of consensus necessitated a second vote for the first time in the Monetary Policy Committee’s history.
Trump hikes India tariffs to 50%
Trump announced an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods over its purchase of Russian oil, ratcheting tensions with New Delhi.
TechnologyKen Cedeno/Reuters 
Jim Acosta/Substack
OpenAI debuts GPT-5, calling it ‘major upgrade’ from previous models
The model is still not ‘AGI’ but CEO Sam Altman says it’s a significant step in that direction.
Ken Cedeno/ReutersJim Acosta’s talk with Parkland shooting victim’s avatar sparks AI debate
The parents of Joaquin Oliver said they created the avatar as a way to hear their son’s voice and advocate against gun violence.
Jim Acosta/SubstackDeepMind’s new AI Genie 3 could change physics modeling
The accuracy of the new model at predicting how physics works suggests that neural networks could eventually replace physics modeling, impacting fields like robotics and science.
US’ Anduril to open Taiwan office, sell AI drones
Taiwan’s chipmaking prowess is of strategic importance to the US and its AI ambitions, even as President Trump attempts to reshore chip manufacturing.
Why Perplexity’s CEO couldn’t wait for perfection to launch an operating system for the AI era
The AI search engine startup is releasing products that anticipate where AI will be in the future.
OpenAI launches new open models, rivaling offerings by DeepSeek and Meta
Sam Altman’s firm hopes its latest models will create a one-stop shop for businesses currently using multiple services.
Net ZeroRomain Doucelin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images 
Nathan Howard/Reuters
Patrick T. Fallon/Reuters
Ghana, Rwanda lead Africa’s race for cutting-edge nuclear: Industry chief
The two countries are likely to be first on the continent to deploy small modular reactors.
Romain Doucelin/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe Trump administration’s new beef with renewable energy
The US interior secretary, in describing his agency’s attitude toward renewables, has complained they are “gargantuan.”
Nathan Howard/ReutersCalifornia is pushing the limits of crowdsourced energy
The state’s biggest-ever test of ‘virtual power plants’ was a success.
Patrick T. Fallon/ReutersGulf
Shahbaz Hussain’s Photos/Gettyimages
Kuwait plans $164B regional investment targeting Saudi
The decision is a boon for Saudi Arabia, which aims to attract $100 billion in annual foreign direct investment by 2030.
Shahbaz Hussain’s Photos/GettyimagesDubai marriage program spurs wedding surge
The program offers marriage planning, modern wedding venues, and post-wedding counseling.
China, Kuwait build joint ammunition factory
Despite growing defense and trade ties with China — a trend seen across the Gulf — the US remains the Kuwait’s top military partner.
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goals are shifting
The goal of Vision 2030 is building a viable post-oil economy and advancing social development, particularly for women.
Dubai launches virtual ‘Emirati Family’
A recent study ranked Dubai among the top five cities globally for AI adoption, ahead of San Francisco.
Africa
Simon Maina/AFP via Getty Images
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images
Airtel targets network expansion, mobile money in Safaricom battle
Airtel Africa’s Kenyan arm is accelerating a push to break Safaricom’s dominance in East Africa’s biggest economy.
Simon Maina/AFP via Getty ImagesRwanda, US agree deportation deal
Rwanda will receive up to 250 deportees from the US.
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty ImagesSouth Africa unveils US tariff response
The 30% rate is due to take effect on Friday.
US announces new visa bonds for travelers from Zambia, Malawi
Applicants will need to pay up to $15,000 for some tourist and business visas under a new pilot program.
Shoprite to exit Ghana, Malawi
The move is part of the chain’s efforts to focus on its home market.
Orange taps OpenAI LLMs for translating African languages
Orange is one of Africa’s major mobile network and internet service providers with a presence in 18 countries.
Media
Mario Anzuoni/File Photo/Reuters
Murdoch’s News Corp. to launch California version of New York Post
Media titan Rupert Murdoch is seizing on the continued hollowing out of California local media and the consolidation of many Hollywood trades.
Mario Anzuoni/File Photo/ReutersHow media tides turned on Gaza
The Nelk Boys’ interview with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not go over well with their young fanbase.
New New York Times culture section edges toward video
The paper moved four of its critics around the newsroom as it rethinks its critical voice.
Who lost (the information war with) China?
While the hot American debate over censorship and propaganda has centered almost entirely on Russia, the long-term competition for global goodwill is in fact with China.
As the Gaza narrative shifts against Israel, The New York Times lives under a microscope
Behind the New York Times’ update on its Gaza hunger story, and the shifting media perspective on the war.
Security
Mikhail Metzel/Pool/Reuters
A Japanese frigate. David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty Images
Ammar Awad/File Photo/Reuters
Trump hails ‘highly productive’ meeting between Witkoff and Putin on Ukraine war
The meeting comes days ahead of a White House-imposed deadline for Moscow to agree a ceasefire with Kyiv.
Mikhail Metzel/Pool/ReutersAustralia, Japan sign major naval agreement
The deal marks a significant deepening of military ties between the two nations, which are increasingly wary of Chinese expansionism.
A Japanese frigate. David Mareuil/Anadolu via Getty ImagesIsraeli minister sparks fury by praying at Al-Aqsa holy site
Itamar Ben-Gvir led 1,250 Jews in prayer at the Al-Aqsa mosque, also known as Temple Mount, contravening a decades-old agreement.
Ammar Awad/File Photo/ReutersAD