Semafor

Maine Democrat Graham Platner suspended his Senate campaign, denying sexual assault allegations but stating he couldn't continue after his party abandoned him. The Maine Democratic Party announced a nominating convention to replace him, with Republicans benefiting from the situation.

Commercial space ventures in the US and China are raising capital as they compete in a space race. Blue Origin aims to raise $10 billion at a $130 billion valuation, following SpaceX's $86 billion IPO. Chinese banks are increasing lending to aerospace enterprises, including a $1.5 billion credit pledge over three years.

The use of GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy for weight loss in the US has increased from 3% to 11% in 2024, with an additional 4% reporting past use, per Gallup polling. Obesity rates in the US fell to 36.4% in 2024 from a peak of 39.9% in 2022, and early research suggests these drugs may offer benefits beyond weight loss, including treating alcohol abuse and reducing coronary disease risk.

President Trump alternated between threatening trade cuts with Spain and praising NATO during a summit, reigniting tensions over Iran and Greenland while later expressing support for the alliance. His shift in tone, including increased support for Ukraine, was described as a potential victory for NATO.

The IMF reduced its 2026 global growth forecast to 3% due to high energy prices from the Iran conflict, which is slowing economic growth and raising inflation. The fund noted AI demand helped avoid a sharper downturn and expects growth to rebound in 2027, while the US Federal Reserve remains divided over interest rate adjustments amid uncertainty about prolonged energy price impacts.

President Donald Trump agreed to provide Ukraine with licenses to build Patriot missile interceptors during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit in Türkiye. The decision, which involves companies like Lockheed Martin and RTX Corp., has not yet been communicated to the manufacturers, and production locations remain under discussion, with European officials suggesting alternatives to Ukraine to avoid targeting by Russia.

US Central Command launched strikes on Iran at the direction of President Donald Trump, as a ceasefire between the two countries collapsed. Trump warned of a potential military blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and stated an attack was imminent, though he also suggested the conflict may not escalate into a full war.

Graham Platner's Senate campaign faces a sexual assault allegation, while Bernie Sanders' movement, using entryism to influence the Democratic Party, remains resilient. Establishment Democrats struggle to counter Sanders' grassroots energy and influence, despite Platner's issues.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the Trump administration plans to remove Syria’s state sponsor of terrorism designation following a meeting with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. The move aims to enable private investment in Syria and foster regional stability, citing executive actions and Syria’s counterterrorism efforts as justification.

Reed experienced unexpected $500 charges from OpenAI's Codex due to a software glitch causing token overuse. He attempted to resolve the issue via Codex and OpenAI's customer service but received no refund, highlighting the financial risks of unmonitored AI usage.

Chinese government officials are promoting open-source AI models at the United Nations’ AI for Good summit, contrasting them with restrictive and expensive U.S. models. They argue these tools benefit lower-income countries and are working with allies like Russia, Pakistan, Zambia, and the Maldives to shape global AI governance.

Copenhagen remained the most livable city for the second consecutive year, while Chinese cities saw significant gains, with Fuzhou rising seven spots. Tokyo became the only megacity in the top 10, and Middle Eastern cities, including Oman's capital, fell sharply due to the Iran war's impact.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a ban on fully autonomous AI weapons, stating the decision to take life must remain human. Ukraine reportedly used AI-powered drones in 2024, while US tech employees protested Pentagon collaborations. Ethicists debate the morality of such weapons, with some arguing they could be more discriminate than human soldiers.

The Daily Wire is selling its consumer brand Jeremy’s Razors to Boreing Media, a company founded by its former CEO Jeremy Boreing. Jeremy’s Razors was launched after sponsor Harry’s Razors ended its deal with The Daily Wire over coverage disputes and generated $55 million in sales to date.

China is planning a large embassy in London with secret rooms near sensitive communications cables. The article highlights Chinese investment projects in Britain and mentions a book analyzing Chinese influence in the country over the past decade, featuring stories of Chinese migrants seeking democratic regimes.

Senegal’s president announced plans to establish a new political party, intensifying political divisions after firing his prime minister. The move follows legislative efforts to limit the president’s powers and disputes over managing undeclared debt from the previous government.

South Africa’s Treasury has withheld budget allocations for Johannesburg and dozens of municipalities, citing alleged wasteful spending ahead of local government elections. The move impacts Johannesburg, a key electoral battleground, and highlights concerns about fiscal responsibility amid political shifts.

Nigeria opened a $250 million lithium processing plant in Nasarawa state, built by Chinese companies Jiuling and Canmax. The facility will process 3 million metric tons of lithium ore annually, part of a broader African effort to add value to raw materials. Chinese firms have invested $1.3 billion in Nigeria's lithium processing capacity from 2023 to 2025, aiming to support the global electric vehicle battery market.

Microsoft is expanding its AI partnership with the UAE to automate government tasks, with Copilot software already deployed to 35,000 Abu Dhabi government employees. Inception42, a subsidiary of G42, is developing AI agents to handle procurement and other administrative tasks, supported by Microsoft’s $15.2 billion investment commitment to the UAE by 2030 and a stake in G42.

Saudi Arabia’s debt is projected to rise to 60% of GDP by 2030, according to Capital Economics, due to potential declines in oil prices. The Saudi government forecasts a lower debt level of 33% of GDP by 2028, citing investments in economic transformation projects and non-oil growth.