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Intelligence for the New World Economy

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Intelligence for the New World Economy
Semafor World Economy
Tom Chivers

Tom Chivers

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Europe EV sales overtook gas cars for the first time in December

Sales of all-electric vehicles overtook gasoline-only ones in Europe for the first time in December, boosted by an influx of low-cost Chinese models.
Volkswagen EVs at a company plant in Hanover, GermanyFabian Bimmer/Reuters

British PM Starmer courts China amid US unpredictability

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer headed to China for a visit as he seeks to improve Britain’s flagging economy.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China in 2024.Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping of China in 2024. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via Reuters.

Smallpox vaccine pioneer William Foege dies aged 89

The disease was among the world’s deadliest: It killed around a third of those infected.
Foege. William Foege. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

Anthropic CEO Amodei warns of AI’s fast-coming changes

Dario Amodei’s 19,000-word essay warned against both “doomerism” about AI and dismissiveness of its risks.
Dario Amodei. Dario Amodei. Denis Balibouse/Reuters

430,000-year-old wooden tool found in Greece

The 81-centimeter (31-inch) alder-tree staff may have been used for digging or for food preparation
An archaeological site in Greece. Yiorgos Karahalis/Reuters

Japan parts with Chinese pandas as tensions with Beijing grow

Their departure leaves the country without pandas for the first time since 1972.
Lei Lei at Ueno Zoo.Issei Kato/File Photo/Reuters

Volkswagen considers pulling out of US factory plans over tariffs

The car giant’s CEO told Handelsblatt that US levies cost VW $2.5 billion in the first nine months of 2025, and that reductions were necessary.

London’s Heathrow airport relaxes rules over fluids

The rules have been in place since 2006, following a foiled plot involving a bomb disguised as soft drinks.

Taiwan monitoring China after Beijing fires top general

The move raises “doubts about the country’s war readiness,” The Economist noted.

White House says it will review Minnesota killing by immigration agents

Alex Pretti was shot repeatedly on Saturday, apparently after having been disarmed.

‘Sinners’ snags Oscar nominations record as Hollywood embraces horror

Its 16 nominations beat the record of 14 previously held by All About Eve, Titanic, and La La Land.

Gas prices spike ahead of major US storm

Much of the East Coast and Midwest will see snow and sleet, with travel likely to be disrupted.

Anthropic vows to protect humanity with AI ‘constitution’

Anthropic updated Claude’s rules, spelling out the chatbot’s “ethical character” and, crucially, requiring it not to “kill or disempower” humanity.

Russia, Ukraine, US to meet for talks in Abu Dhabi

Officials said the meeting would be the first trilateral talks since Moscow’s 2022 invasion.

Poland begins largest overhaul of navy since Cold War

Proportionally NATO’s biggest spender, Warsaw’s maritime forces have largely been neglected.

Trump touts ‘framework of a deal’ on Greenland

Trump had previously threatened tariffs and potential military action.

Blue Origin to launch satellite network to rival Starlink

The move is a sign that SpaceX’s near-total dominance of the private space sector is facing genuine challenges.

Two thirds of US hit by drought or unusually dry winter

The season has seen record-low snowfall and warm conditions across the western US.