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Intelligence for the New World Economy
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The World at a Glance
Updated 5:28pm EST
1
The US seized a Russian-flagged oil tanker accused of evading a naval blockade around Venezuela, rankling Moscow.
2Beijing is heightening its scrutiny of US tech ties though a directive on Nvidia chips and a review of the Meta-Manus deal.
3Alaska Airlines is buying 110 Boeing aircraft, adding momentum to the US plane manufacturer’s steady recovery.
4US job openings fell to a more than one-year low in November, and hiring was sluggish.
5Humanoids emerged as the hottest draw at CES this week, with Chinese firms representing more than half of the robot exhibitors.
6Beijing offered fiscal support for its provinces, but analysts warned the stimulus may not offer the promised economic relief.
The White House’s Greenland problem starts growing on Capitol Hill
More Republicans are telling the Trump administration to cool down its talk of using the military to take the Danish territory.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersIn Venezuela, Rubio the ‘careful’ meets Trump the aggressive
The secretary of state is playing translator for the tough-talking president. Some Republicans are paying more attention to the former than the latter.
Jonathan Ernst/ReutersTrump administration eyes next steps on Venezuelan debt
Caracas’ creditors are increasingly hopeful US involvement will help them recoup their losses.
Gaby Oraa/ReutersTensions grow over Somaliland after Israeli FM visit
Israel became the world’s first country to recognize Somaliland last month, sparking condemnation from multiple nations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Bernadett Szabo/File Photo/Reuters.AD
Saudi opens stock market to all
Lifting restrictions on investor access is part of efforts to revive the market.
Mohammed Benmansour/ReutersNvidia speeds up chip release as AI competition intensifies
CEO Jensen Huang previewed the company’s next generation of chips, and announced it would offer its chips and software to self-driving carmakers.
Steve Marcus/ReutersCongress starts to take Trump’s interest in Greenland more seriously
Lawmakers may have dismissed the president’s talk of US control of the Danish territory before. After Venezuela, that’s changing.
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Politics
Yves Herman/Reuters
Leonhard Foeger/ReutersKevin Lamarque/Reuters
Trump administration is ‘coming in force’ to Davos
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will join President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland later this month.
Yves Herman/ReutersMachado backers redouble their lobbying to keep her in Trump’s favor
The Venezuelan opposition leader isn’t in charge, but her allies are still confident she can eventually win an election in her country, with his support.
Leonhard Foeger/ReutersThe White House’s Greenland problem starts growing on Capitol Hill
More Republicans are telling the Trump administration to cool down its talk of using the military to take the Danish territory.
Kevin Lamarque/ReutersWhite House focuses on affordability as midterms loom
US President Donald Trump urged Republicans to tackle rising health care costs, while Democrats unveiled a push for cheaper housing.
Washington ups threats to buy or take Greenland
The remarks by the White House press secretary and the US secretary of state came after European leaders voiced solidarity with Copenhagen.
GOP fears Venezuela issue will eclipse affordability efforts
“We should not lose our focus here on the American people, who are in a lot of need right now,” Sen. Josh Hawley said.
Senate tries to close deal on health subsidies
An emerging bipartisan deal would include a two-year extension with income caps; end zero-dollar premiums; and extend the open enrollment period.
Trump administration eyes next steps on Venezuelan debt
Caracas’ creditors are increasingly hopeful US involvement will help them recoup their losses.
In Venezuela, Rubio the ‘careful’ meets Trump the aggressive
The secretary of state is playing translator for the tough-talking president. Some Republicans are paying more attention to the former than the latter.
House Republicans huddle with Trump on 2026 policy goals
Lawmakers will also hear from committee chairs on their plans for the year as they scope out their conference’s 2026 legislative agenda.
Walz’s retirement opens path for Klobuchar in Minnesota
The senior senator from Minnesota is seriously considering a bid for governor of her home state.
BusinessYves Herman/Reuters
Trump administration is ‘coming in force’ to Davos
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright will join President Donald Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland later this month.
Yves Herman/ReutersWhere are all the stock-market bears?
Wall Street analysts are all predicting more gains in 2026, despite the unsettled and uncertain situation in the world.
Venezuelan bonds get a boost after US raid
Venezuelan government bonds surged 30% on Monday, with investors betting the US’ strong hand will clear the way for a grand-bargain restructuring.
Nvidia speeds up chip release as AI competition intensifies
CEO Jensen Huang previewed the company’s next generation of chips, and announced it would offer its chips and software to self-driving carmakers.
2026 set to be a bumper year for M&A, IPOs
Three major US tech giants — AI firms Anthropic and OpenAI, as well as Elon Musk’s SpaceX — are all gearing up for IPOs.
Technology
Fabian Bimmer/Reuters
Courtesy of Doctronic
EU targets Musk’s Grok and TikTok over AI concerns
Europe is clamping down on AI-generated material on social media platforms that it says violates its laws.
Fabian Bimmer/ReutersUtah becomes first US state to test AI prescriptions
The system will involve a health-tech startup, Doctronic, which uses AI to prescribe refills for patients with chronic conditions.
Courtesy of DoctronicAI-generated Reddit post shows challenges in detecting fact from fiction
Social media users were duped with an apparently AI-generated, viral post claiming uncouth labor practices from an unnamed major food delivery company.
AI ‘godfather’ LeCun slights Meta’s superintelligence chief Wang
At the heart of the outburst — a rare occurrence at the upper echelons of the world’s most valuable companies — is a disagreement about the future of AI.
Data centers get makeovers to blunt NIMBY criticism
Tech companies are facing backlash over their data centers. Can a facelift help?
Nvidia speeds up chip release as AI competition intensifies
CEO Jensen Huang previewed the company’s next generation of chips, and announced it would offer its chips and software to self-driving carmakers.
Energy
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez (center). Marcelo Garcia/Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters.
Tuane Fernandes/Reuters
Yves Herman/File Photo
Venezuela agrees to give US 50 million barrels of oil
The deal is indicative of how the new leadership in Caracas is seeking to placate the White House.
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez (center). Marcelo Garcia/Miraflores Palace/Handout via Reuters.Trump’s bid for energy dominance at odds with dividends
Trump’s push to remake the US as a petrostate risks backfiring for its energy security, its economy, and the specific interests of oil company shareholders.
Tuane Fernandes/ReutersEU carbon border tariff takes effect
The new tax forces companies exporting pollution-heavy goods into the EU to pay for their products’ emissions.
Yves Herman/File PhotoGulf
Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters
Kuwait deports thousands of foreign workers in nationality crackdown
Nearly 40,000 expatriates were deported from Kuwait in 2025, and 69 citizens and their dependents were stripped of their nationality, Arab Times reported.
Mohamed Abd El Ghany/ReutersEnergy needs are reshaping alliances in the Middle East
Countries that until recently had frosty relations, like Qatar, Egypt, and Syria, are now striking energy cooperation deals.
Dubai remained the Gulf’s property king in 2025
The market in neighboring Abu Dhabi was smaller, but more buoyant, while in Saudi’s capital Riyadh it proved more volatile, new data shows.
Saudi opens stock market to all
Lifting restrictions on investor access is part of efforts to revive the market.
How the US oil empire could squeeze the Gulf
If US President Donald Trump’s plan to control oil production in the Western Hemisphere comes to pass, Washington would oversee more crude than OPEC+.
AfricaIsraeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Bernadett Szabo/File Photo/Reuters. 
Sodiq Adelakun/Reuters
Tensions grow over Somaliland after Israeli FM visit
Israel became the world’s first country to recognize Somaliland last month, sparking condemnation from multiple nations.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar. Bernadett Szabo/File Photo/Reuters.Nigerian oil billionaire Elumelu acquires key Seplat stake
The deal highlights the growing role of indigenous capital in the country’s hydrocarbon industry.
Sodiq Adelakun/ReutersCentral African Republic president Touadéra wins contested third term
Touadéra, a key ally of Russia’s, secured a victory following an election critics said was neither free nor fair.
South Africa marks 231 consecutive days in 2025 without loadshedding
The country has battled with inconsistent power supply in recent years on account of its aging and poorly maintained coal-powered plants.
Battle looms for African football broadcast rights
Changes to the Africa Cup of Nations cycle, and a new football tournament, look set to spark a new scramble for media rights
Nigeria radically overhauls tax system to boost revenues
The changes mark a fresh push to diversify one of the continent’s largest economies away from its historic dependence on oil exports.
Security
Ludovic Marin/Pool via Reuters
Marko Djurica/File Photo/Reuters
Stringer/Reuters
Europe agrees to provide military support for Ukraine
Under the proposed peace deal, Britain and France would supply troops and weapons to Ukraine as part of US-backed security guarantees.
Ludovic Marin/Pool via ReutersWashington ups threats to buy or take Greenland
The remarks by the White House press secretary and the US secretary of state came after European leaders voiced solidarity with Copenhagen.
Marko Djurica/File Photo/ReutersChina-Japan feud escalates after Beijing unveils export curbs
The raft of export restrictions included goods with potential military applications.
Stringer/ReutersMedia
Screenshot/YouTube/CBS Evening News
New anchor Dokoupil sets the tone for ‘CBS Evening News’
In his opening monologue, Tony Dokoupil lamented that his colleagues in the news business had leaned too much into the perspectives of subject matter experts.
Screenshot/YouTube/CBS Evening NewsKevin O’Leary on playing the villain and turning attention into power
Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary joins Mixed Signals to talk about his buzzy turn as a ruthless tycoon in Marty Supreme — and how it felt playing a fictionalized version of himself.
Audiobook growth contrasts with print
Overall, sales of audio versions of books grew 1% in the year through October after rising more than 20% in 2024.
What media leaders got wrong in 2025
Reflections from media leaders around the world.
What actually mattered in 2025, with Janice Min and Emily Sundberg
The Ankler’s Min and FeedMe’s founder Sundberg join Mixed Signals for a candid roundtable lookback at a disorienting year in media.
CEO Signal
Courtesy of WPP/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Target/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
Courtesy of Lyft/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor
‘AI is going to automate the ordinary’: Cindy Rose’s plan for ad giant WPP
The admaker has fallen behind its peers, but the Microsoft veteran sees opportunity in disruption.
Courtesy of WPP/Joey Pfeifer/Semafor‘We’ve got work to do’: The new CEO aiming at an elevated Target
Michael Fiddelke says a clearer focus and simpler messaging can return the retailer to growth.
Courtesy of Target/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforHow Lyft’s David Risher seized his ‘wet cement’ moment
The CEO of the No. 2 in US ridesharing says there’s more to growth than catching ‘the other guys.’
Courtesy of Lyft/Joey Pfeifer/SemaforAD