Tom Chivers

London

Lead writer, Flagship at Semafor

"Far too nice to be a journalist": Terry Pratchett. Lead writer, Flagship. Semafor. chiversthomas(a)gmail. Third book, Everything is Predictable, out now!

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Articles

Europe braces for long Ukraine war, despite Trump assurances on peace talks

1 week ago | semafor.com | Madeleine Wright |Tom Chivers

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Atlantic Council, The Bulwark, Le MondeDonald Trump’s Kremlin-friendly rhetoric and pivot away from Europe “have encouraged [Vladimir] Putin to believe that he can outlast the West in Ukraine,” one analyst wrote: US military aid to Kyiv will run out in the coming months.
Mexico reports first human death from H5N1 bird flu

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

Mexico reported its first human death from H5N1 bird flu. A three-year-old girl, the country’s first confirmed case of the virus, died Tuesday. Health officials worldwide are on alert for cases of the virus, which has killed millions of birds worldwide and spread to mammals, raising fears of a human pandemic. In the US, H5N1 has affected dairy herds in 17 states and led to 70 confirmed human cases, including one death.
Clean energy provided record share of electricity in 2024

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

Clean energy provided more than 40% of global electricity in 2024, a record. Solar’s rapid growth drove the increase — it accounts for 7% of the world’s power — although it was still dwarfed in overall contribution by hydropower, at 14%. Nuclear, wind, and bioenergy account for most of the rest. Research by the think tank Ember suggested that clean power’s expansion will outpace growth in electricity demand.
US to end fluoride recommendation despite little evidence of harm

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

The US Health Department will stop recommending water fluoridation. The new Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr is a longtime skeptic of fluoride, which he has linked to IQ loss, cancer, and other problems, and has urged states to follow Utah’s move last month to ban its use in public water systems. The evidence that fluoride harms health is weak — a 2022 UK government report declared it safe — but fears of the impact of ending fluoridation may also be overblown.
Uranium deposits could run out by 2080, industry bodies warn

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

Known uranium deposits will run out by 2080 if demand for nuclear energy continues to grow, industry bodies said. Several countries have pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050, tech firms view the once-controversial technology as a clean way to power data centers, and it is increasingly seen as a reliable source of low-carbon energy. But it takes 10-15 years to get a new mine running, uranium firms warn, and reserves are concentrated.
France’s Le Pen slams ‘political’ verdict after corruption trial

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

Marine Le Pen, France’s most prominent anti-immigration hardliner, protested her five-year ban from running for president but stopped short of wider criticism of the country’s judiciary. Speaking at a sparsely attended rally in Paris, Le Pen told supporters that the guilty verdict against her over embezzlement was a “political decision,” and promised to appeal.
Bonobo calls reveal language-like traits

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

Bonobos’ vocal calls share an unexpected feature of human communication, suggesting that the building blocks of language developed earlier in our evolutionary history than previously thought.
Bonobo calls reveal language-like traits

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Tom Chivers

The NewsBonobos’ vocal calls share an unexpected feature of human communication, suggesting that the building blocks of language developed earlier in our evolutionary history than previously thought.
Nearly 5 million more people visited London’s West End than New York’s Broadway last year

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

Nearly 5 million more people went to shows in London’s West End than New York’s Broadway in 2024, and the gap is expected to grow as international tourists boycott the US. London theaters have rebounded since the pandemic: Attendance last year was 11% higher than in 2019, partly thanks to tax incentives which encourage producers to bring shows to Britain. Industry figures say theaters offer a major boost to the economy, and that every £1 spent on tickets brings a further £1.27 in other spending.
Trump fires top national security officials as Waltz under pressure

2 weeks ago | semafor.com | Tom Chivers

US President Donald Trump fired top national security officials, as his foreign policy team faced pressure over a group chat scandal and accusations of disloyalty. The White House removed the head of the National Security Agency as well as key National Security Council officials, apparently after Laura Loomer, a rightwing activist, argued they were insufficiently aligned with Trump’s mission.