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Today’s Flagship
Europe’s election begins, Nvidia’s share value hits $3 trillion, and Boeing’s Starliner takes off at last.
Chinese investments slip in Europe, but EVs and healthcare buck the trend
REUTERS/Bernadett Szabo Brazil is in the grip of a dengue fever outbreak with no end in sight
European Central Bank cuts interest rates ahead of US Fed
US eyes antitrust investigation against Nvidia as market value surpasses $3 trillion
SpaceX Starship makes first splashdown, a major milestone for Elon Musk’s megarocket
EU looks to own budget as collateral for Ukraine loan amid concerns over US plans
Gina Barr takes over as Trump’s Black outreach director
World’s largest solar farm brings China’s Uyghurs into spotlight
Crisis of gender violence confronts Mexico’s first woman leader as female mayor gunned down
AI workers warn that companies are silencing their concerns
Hamas seeks to ensure its Gaza influence in ‘day after’ talks
How two very different Latin American leaders reveal the region’s growing populism
Mexico’s new president inherits López Obrador’s troubled climate legacy
Boeing, NASA launch Starliner in first crewed test for spacecraft after slew of setbacks
Politics
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon ordered to prison by July 1
Bannon was handed a four-month prison sentence for defying subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee.
Business
The strange tale of a $457 million deposit, 100 million masks from China, and one tiny bank
A US bank regulator has been asked to look into a 2020 wire transfer that has roped the Republican party’s favorite lender and JPMorgan into a long-running dispute.
China, Russia, and environmental advocates brace for EU elections impact
Voting begins for the four-day European Parliament election in which a potential trade war and rollbacks on a Green New Deal are at stake.
Insights from France 24, The Guardian, and Politico EU
Today’s Flagship
Europe’s election begins, Nvidia’s share value hits $3 trillion, and Boeing’s Starliner takes off at last.
Politics
Tim Scott backs new super PAC push aimed at Black voters
The South Carolina senator, in the mix to be Trump’s running mate, says he sees a generational “racial shift” this cycle.Africa
Ethiopia’s transition to green mobility encounters headwinds amid economic slowdown
Ethiopia has inaugurated its biggest electric vehicle factory as part of an ambitious strategy to turn the country into a leading player in green mobility on the continent — but its plans face economic headwinds.Politics
Why Congress’s No. 1 crypto fan is feeling so good about 2024
Republican Rep. Tom Emmer thinks it’s a pivotal political year for the industry, and that the bitcoin faithful could give Republicans an edge.Tech
AI safety bill driven by fears Trump would reverse efforts to rein in technology
Backers of the California plan include people connected to a potential Trump ally: Elon Musk.Net Zero
Despite tech breakthroughs, carbon removal still won’t save the planet
A tech breakthrough in Switzerland doesn’t change the basic economics of a controversial climate solution.Politics
The US president will join D-Day commemorations as part of a visit in which he will meet leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.Insights from Time, The Washington Post, and Le Monde
Politics
What Trump’s Black outreach looks like in Philly
As Trump opened up a new Philadelphia office, Reps. Wesley Hunt and Byron Donalds held a cigar-and-cognac event targeted at Black men.Politics
Biden’s new immigration order earns some tepid support from Democrats
Even the party’s border hawks have their doubts about the bill.
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politics
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon ordered to prison by July 1
Bannon was handed a four-month prison sentence for defying subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee.
Mexican president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum cements her party’s power with landslide win
Morena’s influence is ratified with a more than 30-point win for Claudia Sheinbaum, while the EU could see a broad far-right alliance, and a Thai progressive is the country’s preferred prime minister. The latest updates to our Global Election Hub.
Tim Scott backs new super PAC push aimed at Black voters
The South Carolina senator, in the mix to be Trump’s running mate, says he sees a generational “racial shift” this cycle.
Why Congress’s No. 1 crypto fan is feeling so good about 2024
Republican Rep. Tom Emmer thinks it’s a pivotal political year for the industry, and that the bitcoin faithful could give Republicans an edge.
Gina Barr takes over as Trump’s Black outreach director
The former Michigan Republican aide fills a critical slot as the campaign hopes to make its polling gains reality.
business
Ritsuko Shimizu/Reuters
Chinese investments slip in Europe, but EVs and healthcare buck the trend
Chinese investments in Europe fell to their lowest point since 2010, according to a new report.
European Central Bank cuts interest rates ahead of US Fed
The ECB signaled their confidence that inflation was being dampened but struck a cautious tone by refusing to commit to further easing.
The strange tale of a $457 million deposit, 100 million masks from China, and one tiny bank
A US bank regulator has been asked to look into a 2020 wire transfer that has roped the Republican party’s favorite lender and JPMorgan into a long-running dispute.
The World of Work
This year’s State of the Global Workplace Report from Gallup shows us that pandemic-era trends are continuing to reshape how employees across industries, and the world at work, feel, and plan for their futures.
Nippon executive warns of “nightmare” scenario for a solo US Steel
The Japanese official, on a charm tour in Washington, tells Semafor that a takeover of the faded American icon is the best choice for union workers and national security.
technology
Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Brendan McDermid/REUTERS
Oriental Image via Reuters Connect
AI safety bill driven by fears Trump would reverse efforts to rein in technology
Backers of the California plan include people connected to a potential Trump ally: Elon Musk.
AI workers warn that companies are silencing their concerns
Staffers of AI companies authored an open letter calling for more protection of whisteblowers.
Roaring Kitty instigates another GameStop surge, stoking market-manipulation fears
The video game retailer’s shares soared 21% on Monday after Keith Gill, who goes by Roaring Kitty online, posted a screenshot apparently showing his stake in the company.
Inside Google DeepMind’s effort to understand its own creations
As OpenAI’s missteps put a renewed focus on AI safety, DeepMind reveals new details of its efforts to police models. But AI advances pose challenges.
africa
Samuel Getachew/Semafor
CIAT/NeilPalmer
Ethiopia’s transition to green mobility encounters headwinds amid economic slowdown
Ethiopia has inaugurated its biggest electric vehicle factory as part of an ambitious strategy to turn the country into a leading player in green mobility on the continent — but its plans face economic headwinds.
“Blood Tea”: A community’s fight to take back the Lipton tea estates in Kenya
A community-led consortium in Kenya’s tea-growing region is fighting to stop a global private equity firm selling the Lipton tea estates to a Sri Lankan conglomerate.
A Kenyan agri-data startup tipped to underpin global food security shuts down
Gro Intelligence, a once high-flying food security startup founded in Kenya is shutting down after failing to secure financing to continue operations.
South Africa on a knife edge as ANC discusses coalition options
Leaders of South Africa’s ruling party are locked in intense talks over who to partner with in a coalition government.
How a legend is taking Ethio Jazz to the world
Ethiopian percussionist Mulatu Astatke — widely recognized as the father of Ethio-Jazz — wants the sub-genre he helped kickstart nearly 60 years ago to have a more prominent role on the world stage.
net zero
Solar Panel Production in Hefei/China Daily via REUTERS
Climeworks
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
Cheerlyn Fredrick/via REUTERS
World’s largest solar farm brings China’s Uyghurs into spotlight
Beijing is turning Xinjiang into a green energy hub, but issues like Uyghur forced labor detract from its global impact.
Despite tech breakthroughs, carbon removal still won’t save the planet
A tech breakthrough in Switzerland doesn’t change the basic economics of a controversial climate solution.
World may not triple renewables by 2030, but it’s still ‘achievable,’ energy agency says
Only 14 countries have explicit national targets to expand renewable energy by 2030, the report found.
Heat dome will test California’s solar-heavy grid’s resilience
California and the southwest are bracing for a heat wave that could see temperatures surge to the triple digits for days.
security
REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
Chinese activists commemorate 35th Tiananmen anniversary as Beijing cracks down on dissent
The story of the June 4 massacre at Tiananmen Square is a point of contention and resistance to Beijing’s control, particularly among the Chinese diaspora.
Russia ramps up disinformation campaigns ahead of European elections
Analysts say the EU isn’t equipped to deal with the surge in Russian disinformation.
Salman Rushdie’s alleged assailant seeks plea deal with US
Negotiations with state and federal prosecutors on behalf of Hadi Matar could shed light on whether a foreign government or terrorist organization was involved in the attack.
US faces a China conundrum in chip licensing restrictions
Washington is slowing AI chip exports to the Middle East over concerns about China’s access.
Biden says Israel has proposed a new ceasefire agreement to end the war in Gaza
The US president detailed Israel’s proposal for a new ceasefire agreement that involved seeing a “cessation of hostilities permanently.”
media
Wikimedia Commons
Transcript: Vivek Ramaswamy on BuzzFeed, politics and media
A full transcript of the discussion “Mixed Signals” hosts Ben Smith and Nayeema Raza had with the entrepreneur and former presidential candidate.
Why politicians want to buy the news
Vivek Ramaswamy, who recently acquired a stake in BuzzFeed, at one point joined a call with tech titans Peter Thiel and Elon Musk to talk over a new media venture.
Money woes, staff issues strain the Intercept
Fundraising problems have fractured the progressive news site.
The new pink slime media
An excerpt from “The Death of Truth” from Steven Brill.
CNN seeks millions in debate ads
The Donald Trump-driven boom times are back for the business of American television — at least, for one night in June.
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