IBM’s ‘big bet’ on new quantum processors - https-//www.semafor.com

The NewsIBM is hoping that an investment in quantum tech can transform industries worldwide — and push the company back into the center of the tech conversation.Quantum computing aims to solve problems too complex for classical computers to handle by using quantum bits, or qubits. Unlike traditional computer bits, which can only be in one of two states, qubits exist in multiple states at once and can become linked, enabling more information to be processed in new ways. Companies are racing to build the first quantum computer that can reliably handle its own errors as its computations grow, called a “fault-tolerant” quantum computer.IBM bets it will be able to make such a computer by 2029, through its method of cooling superconducting qubits and using microwave pulses to measure them. It says one of the processors, called Nighthawk, moves the field forward by handling tougher computations with the same level of accuracy as its predecessor. The other chip, Loon, is an experimental processor that demonstrates IBM can put all key hardware components into a device it will need to build in the future — a starting point to scale from.Google’s quantum computers use a similar type of superconducting qubit, though the company is focusing more on experimental performance and error correction than on developing commercial-scale systems. Other companies are taking different approaches, such as storing qubits in trapped ions or encoding them in photons.AD“We believe that IBM is the only company that is positioned to rapidly invent and scale quantum software, hardware, fabrication, and error correction to unlock transformative applications,” Jay Gambetta, IBM’s director of research, said in a statement.It’s an ambitious claim. The 114-year-old company is competing against a well-funded set of startups and research behemoth Google.The industry is ramping up to achieve “quantum advantage” — the point at which quantum computers can solve problems faster than classical computers — which is widely expected to be reached by the end of next year. Various tech firms have announced quantum product improvements in recent months, from Quantinuum’s new computer to Google’s algorithm, which it says has reached quantum advantage — though some researchers are skeptical.Google is likely to launch a fault-tolerant quantum computer to users first, said analyst Rob Enderle, who expects it will be of “[lower] quality than IBM is likely to launch with.” IBM has “the advantage of focus,” he said. And, perhaps more importantly, the company’s enterprise sales business gives it a pathway to building a business around the technology.ADIn this article:The NewsStep BackRachyl’s viewRoom for DisagreementNotableStep BackThe Trump administration has taken an interest in boosting quantum development. Darío Gil, undersecretary for science at the Department of Energy, last week challenged researchers to create the first fault-tolerant quantum computer that will accelerate science by 2028, one year ahead of IBM’s guidance.“There’s a difference between demonstrating components and delivering something to users,” IBM’s Gambetta said. “I feel confident we can deliver all the components by 2028.”Rachyl’s viewThe hype around AI turned one of IBM’s longtime competitors, Microsoft, from a maker of ubiquitous software into a top contender in an exciting tech arms race. It made Nvidia a household name and Jensen Huang’s fashion choices global news. Quantum promises similarly transformative technology. If IBM can deliver on a fault-tolerant quantum computer, that breakthrough could have an equivalent effect on the legacy tech business.ADIBM last captured the public’s imagination for technical innovation in 2011, when its Watson computer appeared as a contestant on a three-day Jeopardy! program, ultimately winning the top prize. The company cruised on that success, and had Watson suggest potential diagnoses for medical patients, advise Wall Street, and act as a personal shopping assistant. (Sound familiar?) In the two years following Watson’s Jeopardy! performance, IBM’s stock climbed 25% on strong earnings and investor confidence, continuing its growth from late 2008. Meanwhile, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon were speeding ahead in cloud computing — a business that would shape the next decade for Big Tech.IBM’s revenue and profit declined most quarters after 2011, and the company failed to meet a big earnings per share metric promised to investors in its “Roadmap 2015” strategy. By the late 2010s, analysts questioned whether Watson had generated any meaningful revenue for the company, and the supercomputer’s commercial offerings fell short of expectations. A $34 billion bet on software firm Red Hat in 2019 and a shift towards hybrid cloud helped stabilize the company, with investor interest growing on enterprise AI in recent years.Still, the biggest tech companies are plunging billions into AI, capital outlays with which neither IBM nor virtually any other enterprise can compete. With its quantum investment, the company is hoping to jump to the next big thing. “It’s certainly our big bet,” said the research division’s director of marketing, Brittany Forgione.Room for Disagreement“It’s hard for me to see how quantum computing could ever become the ‘main thing’ for a company of IBM’s size, or how it could come anywhere close to rivaling the practical impact of AI,” said Scott Aaronson, director of the Quantum Information Center at the University of Texas at Austin.While AI is influencing nearly every aspect of work, the “commercial applications of quantum computers tend to get wildly exaggerated,” he told Semafor. The computers will likely be game-changing in scientific research and cryptography, but potential use cases that will penetrate other industries, such as route optimization and machine learning, have yet to be proven, he said.NotableChina is also racing to create the first fault-tolerant quantum computer. Like in AI, researchers believe the US is currently leading in tech development, but China is quickly closing the gap. The narrative of US companies “battling each other is outdated,” a Bloomberg Opinion columnist wrote last month. “China isn’t just catching up, it’s generating new champions.”ADTop StoriesDivisions widen on US right over EpsteinAnnabelle Gordon/Reuters The old MSNBC relaunches into a new media world Dado Ruvic/ReutersThe curious life and lonely death of an American in Kabul Joey Pfeifer/Semafor/Rigsby FamilyBelén Garijo’s prescription for Germany’s MerckMerck/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor Laude Institute ramps efforts to bring more AI research to lightSnorkel AI’s Braden Hancock (R) and Semafor’s Reed Albergotti. Semafor/YouTube.New Walmart CEO John Furner bets on a ‘resilient customer base’Walmart CEO John Furner. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Semafor.Saudi crown prince’s US visit could reshape MidEast securityBrian Snyder/ReutersRecord-breaking US govt shutdown will cast long shadowKevin Lamarque/ReutersThe Worldat a GlanceUpdated 3:50am GMT+5:30Japan-China tensions rise over PM Taiwan’s commentsUpdated Nov 16, 2025, 5:20pm ESTNov 17, 2025, 3:50am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareKim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing escalated Sunday, stemming from a spat over Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments about Taiwan.China sent its coast guard and military drones to the waters around outlying islands that both countries claim; Beijing also advised citizens to avoid traveling to Japan, and warned students there of heightened risks.It comes after Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could trigger a military response from Tokyo — unprecedented remarks from a Japanese leader.Beijing’s retaliation could impact tourism in Japan — China “has a history of using economic levers as cudgels” against Tokyo, The Japan Times noted. The row now threatens to become the countries’ worst flare-up since 2012, when an East China Sea dispute triggered massive protests.— J.D. CapeloutoMassive protests hit MexicoUpdated Nov 16, 2025, 5:18pm ESTNov 17, 2025, 3:48am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareJose Luis Gonzalez/ReutersThousands protested across Mexico on Saturday, pushing back against corruption and the government’s handling of violent crime.While Mexico’s opposition is loosely organized and President Claudia Sheinbaum enjoys widespread popularity, the demonstrations point to rising unease over public safety.The country has seen several high-profile murders, including the assassination of a mayor who had clashed with Sheinbaum over confronting organized crime; the political initiative he founded — the Sombrero Movement — has since expanded, with the sombrero becoming “a symbol of resistance against the brutality of violence,” El País wrote.Saturday’s marches evoked the global wave of “Gen Z” protests opposing graft — thousands also rallied in Manila on Sunday — though young protesters were the minority in Mexico, according to El Universal.— J.D. CapeloutoADDivisions widen on US right over EpsteinUpdated Nov 16, 2025, 5:19pm ESTNov 17, 2025, 3:49am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareAnnabelle Gordon/Reuters Some Republicans are openly defying US President Donald Trump over files related to the late financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.Trump disavowed his once-close ally, Rep.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, after she criticized him for his handling of the documents, some of which reference Trump; lawmakers plan to vote this week on releasing more files.The growing rift in Trump’s base over Epstein comes at a politically fraught time for Republicans: Conservatives have been sparring over antisemitism accusations following Tucker Carlson’s interview with white nationalist Nick Fuentes, spurring questions about the MAGA movement’s trajectory. “What we are watching is a very old strain of the right vying for control of its future,” political commentator Ezra Klein said.— J.D. CapeloutoZelenskyy vows to clean up energy sector after corruption allegationsUpdated Nov 16, 2025, 5:18pm ESTNov 17, 2025, 3:48am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareLouisa Gouliamaki/ReutersUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed to overhaul the country’s embattled energy sector following accusations of widespread corruption.Zelenskyy sacked the leaders of three state-run energy companies and called for other organizational shakeups.Investigators last week alleged about $100 million was embezzled in a kickback scheme involving Ukrainian elites, including Zelenskyy’s former business partner.It marked Ukraine’s biggest corruption scandal since Russia’s 2022 invasion, and poses a fresh test for Zelenskyy, who came under fire earlier this year for curbing the independence of anti-corruption agencies, a decision he later reversed.Kyiv is trying to bolster its energy supply following Moscow’s attacks on power infrastructure: Zelenskyy struck a deal Sunday for Greece to provide liquefied natural gas to cover Ukraine’s needs this winter.— J.D. CapeloutoADGlobal web freedoms tumbleUpdated Nov 16, 2025, 5:18pm ESTNov 17, 2025, 3:48am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareFlorence Lo/ReutersGlobal internet freedom declined for a 15th consecutive year, according to Freedom House’s annual report.“Always grim reading,” this year’s is particularly sobering, Tech Policy Press noted, with the lowest-ever portion of users living in countries categorized as “free.”Conditions declined in 27 of the 72 countries assessed, with those in Kenya — where anti-corruption protests were quelled, in part, by a seven-hour internet shutdown — deteriorating the most.China and Myanmar tied for least-free, and the US’ ranking dropped, while Iceland retained its top spot for the freest digital environment. Bangladesh improved the most.The most consistent trend observed over 15 years, Freedom House noted, is the growing digital influence of state actors: “Online spaces are more manipulated than ever.”— Brendan RuberryPopular illegal sports streaming platform shut downUpdated Nov 16, 2025, 5:18pm ESTNov 17, 2025, 3:48am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareKen Blaze-Imagn Images via Reuters ConnectThe world’s largest illegal sports streaming platform was shut down — though perhaps not for long.Spanning some 120 different web domains, Streameast was not a single entity but a “piracy brand” drawing between 1.2 and 1.6 billion users, mostly from Europe and North America, and generating $6.5 million in ad revenue annually, according to the Motion Picture Association.In 2019, the MPA pegged the cost to the US economy of video piracy at $29.2 billion each year.Investigators traced crypto flows to a Dubai shell company and an Egyptian IP address, arresting two. But they expect copycats to emerge: “When we take one down, five more will come up,” the MPA’s anti-piracy director told The Athletic.— Brendan RuberryWeak data raises concerns for China’s economyUpdated Nov 14, 2025, 7:02am ESTNov 14, 2025, 5:32pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareGo Nakamura/File Photo/ReutersNew data raised fresh concerns about the health of China’s economy. Investment, manufacturing, and consumption figures all fell short of expectations, while a long-running property market downturn appeared to deepen, amplifying worries that the world’s second-biggest economy may miss its annual growth target of 5% this year. Beyond its trade disputes with the US, China is grappling with huge domestic economic challenges, including the risk of deflation, persistently high unemployment, and a mountain of debt. Policymakers have so far largely eschewed significant fiscal support, but with ambitious long-term economic growth targets, they may just be holding fire: “It will be a marathon, not a sprint,” ING’s China chief economist wrote.— Prashant RaoBBC apologizes to Trump over misleading speech editUpdated Nov 14, 2025, 6:59am ESTNov 14, 2025, 5:29pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareIsabel Infantes/ReutersThe BBC apologized to US President Donald Trump for misleadingly editing one of his speeches, but refused to pay compensation after he threatened to sue for $1 billion. The broadcaster’s leader resigned this week over a 2024 documentary featuring Trump’s remarks ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots. The scandal may derail BBC efforts to expand in the US: It has significantly boosted its investments in the country, doubling its reporting team since 2022 and imposing a paywall this year, part of efforts to address a hefty budget shortfall.

The Columbia Journalism Review noted that a key BBC selling point is its politically non-aligned image, and claims of ideological bias could damage that.— Tom ChiversUkraine energy corruption scandal threatens ZelenskyyUpdated Nov 14, 2025, 6:56am ESTNov 14, 2025, 5:26pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareUkrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via ReutersA widening energy corruption scandal in Ukraine is undermining President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as the country braces for a tough winter ahead in its war with Russia. Two government ministers have resigned over the scandal, with investigators alleging that a former business partner of Zelenskyy’s plotted to demand kickbacks of around $100 million from private subcontractors used by the state-run operator of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants. The issue is particularly sensitive because Russian attacks on energy infrastructure — including just this morning — regularly leave Ukrainians without power. Zelenskyy is also accused of curbing the independence of two key anti-corruption agencies, allegations he denies, and is now facing the greatest-ever challenge to his presidency, Radio Free Europe reported. The issue threatens Kyiv’s war effort as it seeks new funds from allies, while Moscow will likely keep targeting power facilities.— Tom ChiversNew Walmart CEO John Furner bets on a ‘resilient customer base’Rachyl JonesTech FellowUpdated Nov 14, 2025, 10:47am ESTNov 14, 2025, 9:17pm GMT+5:30BusinessShareWalmart CEO John Furner. Paul Morigi/Getty Images for Semafor.PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkSign up for Semafor Business: The stories (& the scoops) from Wall Street. Read it now.Email addressSign UpThe NewsJohn Furner, a Walmart veteran and head of its US operations, will be the retail giant’s new president and CEO, after longtime chief executive Doug McMillon steps down at the end of January, the company said Friday. McMillon, 59, led the company for nearly 12 years and oversaw its transition to an ecommerce juggernaut. Furner, 51, has been with Walmart for more than three decades, starting as an hourly worker. The announcement comes six days before the company is set to report quarterly earnings. Furner will be leading Walmart as it navigates the surge of artificial intelligence and the impact of global tariffs. Last month, Furner spoke at Semafor’s World Economy Summit about Walmart’s commitment to American manufacturing, the health of the consumer economy, and how AI can be used to meet customer needs.He predicted that if current trends hold, consumers are likely to keep shopping during the heavy holiday season despite tariffs. “We see a pretty resilient customer base,” he said, when asked about consumer behavior this winter, particularly with items impacted by tariffs. “We had a good summer. We had a good back-to-school [season]. The way seasons start, they tend to end that way.”The Trump administration’s tariffs on foreign products have hit a slew of American businesses, and Walmart — the nation’s largest retailer — is no different. In recent months, Walmart has raised prices on select items, including baby items and home goods, to account for the increases. But Furner, who has led Walmart’s US business since 2019, also noted that the retailer has 7,000 rollbacks right now, “up pretty substantially from where we were at the beginning of the year.”Walmart has been able to increase its quarterly sales and beat revenue forecasts by leaning on its grocery business and providing value for cost-conscious shoppers.In this article:The NewsKnow MoreNotableKnow MoreWalmart is also making a bigger push into AI products, largely to support its customers’ shopping experience.Last month, it announced an integration with OpenAI that lets ChatGPT users buy Walmart products directly through the chatbot. (OpenAI is a sponsor of the Semafor World Economy Summit: Fall 2025 Edition.)The retailer is integrating agentic features that will help consumers compare products on its website, make purchase decisions, and soon, complete the transaction more seamlessly, Furner said.“The idea that agents can help us in so many ways in our life is coming real very quickly,” he said. “The real trick for us is understanding at the beginning: What is the demand of an item, and what’s the demand of the category? And then understanding really clearly what we own and where it is, and knowing how deployable it will be in real time so that our customer needs are taken care of.”NotableA recent Yale study shows CEOs picked from within drive higher returns and consistently outperform outside hires.US approves weapons sale to Taiwan, risking Beijing’s ireUpdated Nov 14, 2025, 6:51am ESTNov 14, 2025, 5:21pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareAnn Wang/ReutersWashington approved the first tranche of military sales to Taiwan since US President Donald Trump took office, raising tensions with Beijing that had only recently eased over the superpowers’ trade war. The $330 million package of aircraft parts comes with China unveiling a raft of new, advanced defense equipment, including a mammoth new aircraft carrier and trials of an amphibious “drone carrier”. Despite the impressive new hardware, China’s military appears to be falling short in other ways, though: An intensifying purge of several top commanders, ostensibly over widespread corruption, has raised questions over the armed forces’ capabilities. Yet, as a Taiwanese official admitted to the Financial Times, “the outcome of these purges is still completely unclear.”— Prashant RaoWashington to ease tariffs on Latin AmericaUpdated Nov 14, 2025, 6:48am ESTNov 14, 2025, 5:18pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareAnnabelle Gordon/File Photo/ReutersWashington announced the lifting of some tariffs on Latin American nations, while Seoul unveiled a raft of investments in the US, the latest signs of easing global trade ties.The White House said tariffs on some food imports from Argentina, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Guatemala would be scrapped, a move that comes as the Trump administration attempts to tackle rising inflation. A recent poll showed cost-of-living issues dominate US voters’ worries. Meanwhile, South Korea said it would invest $350 billion in the US, almost half of which will go to support President Donald Trump’s plan to boost American shipbuilding. In response, Washington agreed with Seoul to build nuclear-powered submarines.— Jeronimo GonzalezChina’s Xi Jinping is latest leader to skip G20Updated Nov 14, 2025, 6:42am ESTNov 14, 2025, 5:12pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMaxim Shemetov/Pool/ReutersChina’s Xi Jinping became the latest global leader to say he will skip this month’s G20 meeting, a blow for South Africa as it prepares to host the bloc’s first summit on the continent. Xi’s decision means the gathering will lack the leaders of the world’s two biggest economies — US President Donald Trump announced this month that no American officials would attend over South Africa’s alleged mistreatment of its white population — while the presidents of Argentina and Mexico will also be missing, and Russia’s leader cannot attend because of an international arrest warrant. Xi, like other global leaders, has shifted to “home-court diplomacy,” Bloomberg reported, prioritizing bilateral meetings over multilateral institutions.— Jeronimo GonzalezEU conservatives and far right team up to roll back climate rulesUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 5:35pm ESTNov 14, 2025, 4:05am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareYves Herman/ReutersThe European Parliament on Thursday agreed to roll back corporate sustainability reporting rules, after center-right lawmakers teamed up with the far right. It marked the first time the legislative body has sent a major proposal to final EU negotiations because of such an alliance, showing a willingness from Europe’s leading conservative politicians to abandon their traditional centrist partners in service of an aggressive deregulation agenda, Politico EU wrote. The bill, which scraps companies’ mandatory climate transition plans, is the first landmark legislation under European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s second term; she is pursuing a “simplification” agenda aimed at improving the bloc’s business environment and innovation. One academic criticized the vote as a “self-inflicted wound that will define our era.”— J.D. CapeloutoRussian unit targets Ukraine drone pilotsUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 5:46pm ESTNov 14, 2025, 4:16am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareAlina Smutko/ReutersRussia’s military isn’t just targeting Ukrainian drones; it’s going after their pilots, too. An elite unit called Rubikon has made it its mission to track, hunt, and kill Ukraine’s drone operators, who have emerged as a scrappy and effective force in Kyiv’s war effort. “It’s easy to replace a drone, but it’s hard to replace a drone pilot,” one Ukrainian rapper-turned-operator said. It marks a “chilling reversal on the digital battlefield,” the Financial Times wrote, and suggests Russia’s typically sclerotic military is finding ways to innovate as the war approaches its fourth anniversary. “It’s a cat-and-mouse game with physics as the umpire,” an electronic warfare expert said.— J.D. CapeloutoPakistan expands power of army chiefUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 5:36pm ESTNov 14, 2025, 4:06am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareIranian Presidency/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesPakistan expanded the power of its army chief at a critical moment for the country’s national security.

Syed Asim Munir will now command all three branches of the military and has lifelong legal immunity. The move to constitutionalize his authority “collides with… the fragile equilibrium between civilian and military power,” Pakistani outlet Dawn wrote. Critics said it reflected a slide toward authoritarianism, but Islamabad argued it was necessary following a brief armed conflict with India in May. Bombings in both countries this week raised tensions, and Pakistanis “fear a multifront conflict,” an expert wrote, pointing to border clashes with Afghanistan. By contrast, Islamabad has turned around its rocky relationship with Washington; President Donald Trump called Munir his “favorite field marshal.”— J.D. CapeloutoChina’s growing robotics sector faces product challengesUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 5:31pm ESTNov 14, 2025, 4:01am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareCai Xiangxin/Xinhua via Getty ImagesChina’s robotics industry is rapidly growing, but faces major challenges in advancing its products. The sector’s revenue grew 29.5% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025, official data showed. The country has produced 595,000 industrial and 13.5 million service robots this year, more in both cases than last year’s totals. But most industrial robots remain relatively dumb, single-use tools. Generative AI leapt ahead by training on vast amounts of data gleaned from the internet, but real-world data necessary to create “embodied intelligence” that can power robots is harder to generate, meaning robots lack the sophisticated understanding of physics required for meaningful autonomy. “The industry is still at the starting line of a marathon,” one roboticist told Caixin.— Tom ChiversUS Congress to vote on releasing Epstein filesUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 6:58am ESTNov 13, 2025, 5:28pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareUS House speaker Mike Johnson. Al Drago/ReutersThe US Congress will vote next week on whether to release more files related to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. All 214 Democratic representatives were joined by four Republicans in signing a petition over the issue, and the speaker must now bring the measure to the floor. Washington is already in turmoil over the Epstein files after Democrats in the House of Representatives this week released thousands of emails in which Epstein repeatedly mentioned President Donald Trump. The broader files contain more than 33,000 pages amassed in a federal investigation; Trump has called them a “hoax.” Congressional Republicans are under pressure from their base, and the vote will force them to go on record supporting or blocking their release.— Tom ChiversCountries push homegrown messaging appsUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 5:47pm ESTNov 14, 2025, 4:17am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareShamil Zhumatov/ReutersCountries are promoting domestic messaging apps to counter popular global rivals. Tajikistan this week launched the national ORIZ app, targeting Tajik migrants working in Russia, where access is limited to Telegram and WhatsApp. And Indian officials have been promoting a homegrown competitor to the Meta-owned WhatsApp — a juggernaut in the country — as part of the government’s “Made in India” push aimed at bucking US tariffs. The moves mirror a tech nationalism drive in Russia and Kazakhstan: Moscow ordered its recently launched state-controlled MAX app to be pre-installed on all phones and tablets, part of the Kremlin’s efforts to more tightly control speech and online activity.— J.D. Capelouto‘No clear peak’ for global fossil fuel emissionsUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 6:59am ESTNov 13, 2025, 5:29pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareLisi Niesner/File Photo/ReutersGlobal fossil fuel emissions show no sign of slowing, with a new report suggesting they are on track to surpass records this year. Despite signs of CO₂ output slowing in Europe and China, an increase in oil and gas production, led by the US, has boosted global emissions, with a Global Carbon Project report showing they’re on track to be more than 1% higher than last year’s record. The figures come as global leaders are meeting in Brazil for COP30, the world’s most important environmental gathering. However, the lack of US presence and the diminished interest of private capital augurs negatively for the climate agenda. “There is no clear peak” on the horizon for emissions, one expert told The New York Times.— Jeronimo GonzalezNew malaria treatments show significant promiseUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 7:16am ESTNov 13, 2025, 5:46pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareNovartis’ new malaria medicine GanLum. Novartis/Handout via Reuters.Scientists have unveiled two new treatments to help combat malaria’s growing resistance to existing drugs, a promising advance in fighting the deadly disease. Swiss drugmaker Novartis said a trial of its next-generation treatment in 12 African countries had performed well, though the drug is a year away from being publicly available. Researchers in Gabon, meanwhile, said a single-dose mixture of four anti-malarial medications led to 93% of patients being parasite-free within 28 days. More than 600,000 people — mostly children — die from malaria every year, with 95% of those deaths occurring in Africa. Besides averting hundreds of thousands of fatalities, reducing malaria by 90% in the continent could boost its GDP by $16 billion a year, the World Health Organization said.— Jeronimo GonzalezJapan PM angers China with comments on Taiwan defenseUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 7:09am ESTNov 13, 2025, 5:39pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareYonhap via ReutersTensions surged between Beijing and Tokyo over China’s aggressive response to remarks by Japan’s new prime minister suggesting she could deploy military force to defend Taiwan. Beijing regards the island as a renegade province, but Tokyo sees it as critical to maintaining freedom of movement for Japan’s maritime fleet. The remarks by Japan’s leader drew huge backlash from Chinese officials: One diplomat stationed in Osaka appeared to threaten to behead the Japanese premier, a prominent propagandist called her “an evil witch,” and a state broadcaster said she must “pay a price.” China’s and Japan’s leaders appeared to have cordial talks at a recent summit, an apparent honeymoon period that is evidently now imperilled.— Prashant RaoEU to probe Google over search results, risking Washington’s ireUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 7:01am ESTNov 13, 2025, 5:31pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareCarlos Jasso/File Photo/ReutersEuropean authorities are reportedly readying a new investigation into Google’s parent company, potentially throwing a wrench into efforts to ease transatlantic trade tensions. EU officials are preparing a probe into the tech giant over its demotion of certain news outlets in its search results, the Financial Times said. European regulation of US Big Tech is a bugbear of Washington’s, so the timing of the inquiry is tricky for Brussels, which is looking to propose the next phase of its trade truce with Washington, according to Bloomberg. Brussels’ challenge points to a difficult truth: Where once it dealt with Washington as an economic if not geopolitical peer, Europe must now “reconcile itself with being the junior transatlantic partner,” one expert noted.— Prashant RaoArgentina’s inflation rate falls to its lowest level in seven yearsUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 7:13am ESTNov 13, 2025, 5:43pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMarco Bello/ReutersArgentina’s annual inflation rate fell for the 18th straight month, reaching its lowest level in more than seven years. While the 31.8% rate is still among the world’s highest, the new data represents vindication for Argentina’s President Javier Milei, who inherited inflation above 200%. In more good news for Milei, the US reportedly drew nearly $1 billion of its International Monetary Fund reserves to help Argentina make a critical debt payment, a sign of Buenos Aires’ deepening ties to the world’s biggest economy. Investors will be hoping that Milei’s recent legislative election win will lead to greater growth: Economic activity has cooled sharply in recent months.— Jeronimo GonzalezWaymo’s self-driving cars to operate on highways for first timeUpdated Nov 13, 2025, 7:06am ESTNov 13, 2025, 5:36pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareWaymo’s self-driving cars can now operate on highways in three US cities. The Alphabet-owned company has so far only rolled out its services on inner-city streets where it operates, which slows journeys: The freeway option could halve the time of some trips. Highways are, perhaps counterintuitively, easier for AI than streets, with clear signs and lanes, but have higher stakes, with accidents more likely to be deadly. Waymo is the clear US leader in the sector: Its 2,000 vehicles have logged over 100 million driver-free miles, and it says they cause 91% fewer serious injuries than human drivers, though it faces stiff competition abroad from Chinese autonomous driving firms like Baidu and WeRide.[@portabletext/react] Unknown block type "cta", specify a component for it in the `components.types` prop— Tom ChiversUS allies cut intelligence sharing with US over Caribbean strikesUpdated Nov 12, 2025, 7:18am ESTNov 12, 2025, 5:48pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareNTB/Lise Aserud via ReutersUS strikes against alleged drug traffickers in South America are putting key global security alliances at risk. Colombia — where most US-bound cocaine is produced — said it would stop sharing intelligence with Washington over what Bogotá called human rights abuses against “the Caribbean people.” The UK too said it would pause some intelligence sharing with the US over the strikes, and France warned that the buildup risked violating international law. Critics, including Republican members of Congress, say the attacks, which have killed dozens, are illegal. Despite the diplomatic ruptures, Washington, which sent its largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean, said it is committed to its “armed conflict” with traffickers in South America.— Jeronimo GonzalezUS lawmakers release Epstein emails referencing TrumpUpdated Nov 12, 2025, 5:24pm ESTNov 13, 2025, 3:54am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareKevin Lamarque/ReutersUS lawmakers on Wednesday released a trove of emails from Jeffrey Epstein that reference Donald Trump, heightening scrutiny over the president’s ties to the disgraced financier and sex offender. Some of the communications suggest Trump was more aware of Epstein’s conduct than he has acknowledged; the White House said the emails are cherry-picked. Still, their release — hours before a vote to end the government shutdown — is sure to reignite a debate in Washington, and among Trump’s own supporters, over his handling of the Epstein files. The scandal has pitted Trump against many members of his conservative base, including those who spent years promoting Epstein conspiracy theories, and Democrats will be eager to capitalize on Trump’s alleged links.— J.D. CapeloutoFossil fuel use could peak by 2030: International Energy AgencyUpdated Nov 12, 2025, 8:03am ESTNov 12, 2025, 6:33pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareDiego Vara/ReutersDespite increased political support for fossil fuels, their use could peak by 2030, an International Energy Agency report said. The annual World Energy Outlook, which coincides with the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, said that coal use is at or close to a peak, while oil and gas will follow in the next 10 years and nuclear, solar, and wind will all surge. The peak has been delayed from earlier projections, mainly thanks to shifting US priorities. The forecast assumes that the world’s governments will stick to their stated climate policies; if they abandon those goals, the peak would be later and warming would be faster. But the IEA said that it expected change to continue.— Tom ChiversWhite House moves to reduce trade tensionsUpdated Nov 12, 2025, 6:10am ESTNov 12, 2025, 4:40pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareKevin Lamarque/File Photo/ReutersThe White House looked to be reducing global trade tensions as officials noted progress on deals with several major countries. US President Donald Trump said tariffs against India, ratcheted up over the nation’s purchasing of Russian oil, would likely be lowered soon, and Switzerland was reportedly set to conclude an agreement with the US within weeks. Vietnam’s deputy prime minister, meanwhile, said his nation was working towards a deal with Washington, and tensions between the US and China over trade have notably lessened. Even when a deal appears close, however, talks can drag on: South Korea has been trying unsuccessfully to finalize an agreement Trump touted on a recent trip to Asia.— Prashant RaoUK aims to reduce animal testing in researchUpdated Nov 12, 2025, 5:27pm ESTNov 13, 2025, 3:57am GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareVuk Valcic/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesThe UK unveiled plans to reduce animal testing in research.

Science Minister Patrick Vallance said the government hopes to end some test types this year, and reduce the use of dogs and monkeys in testing by 35% by 2030, replacing animal experimentation with computer modeling and in-vitro testing. The number of animals used in UK research is already down 30% from its 2015 peak of 4.14 million. The US this year dropped some animal testing requirements, and the EU revealed a “roadmap” toward ending the practice. But scientists foresee difficulties: Vallance himself said we can’t “eliminate animal use in the foreseeable future,” and another scientist told the BBC that alternatives will “never replace the complexity” of animal testing.— Tom ChiversAfrica gets first continent-wide medical regulatorUpdated Nov 12, 2025, 8:02am ESTNov 12, 2025, 6:32pm GMT+5:30PostEmailWhatsappCopy linkShareMarvellous Durowaiye/ReutersAfrica’s first continent-wide medical regulator launched, part of wide-ranging efforts to build up local pharmaceutical capacity and reduce dependence on foreign agencies and companies. Africa lacks effective medical regulation: Only nine out of 55 African Union countries have regulatory systems that meet WHO standards, Nature reported.

The African Medicines Agency will ensure that once a treatment is approved in one African country, it can be recognized across others, and aims to boost research: Only 3% of clinical trials take place in Africa, meaning that treatments may not be effective for African populations. Boosting the continent’s medical and research self-sufficiency is a key development goal: South Africa this week began trials of the first locally developed vaccine in 50 years.