President Trump's wide-ranging influence includes Honduras election disputes, ethical questions around Stephen Miller's stock sale, and the struggles of Cracker Barrel following criticism; the Supreme Court grapples with campaign finance limits and insulating the Federal Reserve, while China plans to restrict Nvidia's H200 chips despite Trump's approval for exports, and tariffs continue to impact US companies like Campbell's and AutoZone.

• Honduras president declares elections ‘null’ after Trump ‘meddling’ — Financial Times -
• Stephen Miller’s Stock Sale Raises Questions, Ethics Experts Say — The New York Times Business -
• Cracker Barrel’s logo retreat fails to boost restaurant sales — Financial Times -

• Now Cracker Barrel Diehards Think the Food Isn’t Up to Scratch, Either — Wall Street Journal -
• FirstFT: China plans to limit access to Nvidia’s H200 chips despite Trump export approval — Financial Times -
• Supreme Court Grapples With Whether to Lift Campaign Finance Limits — The New York Times Business -
• Federal Judge Finds Trump’s Halt on Wind Energy Is Illegal — The New York Times Business -
• Trump Defends Tariffs Amid Growing Concerns Over Affordability — The New York Times Business -
• Tariffs Dent Campbell’s Soup Sales — Wall Street Journal -
• China set to limit access to Nvidia’s H200 chips despite Trump export approval — Financial Times -
• AutoZone Profit Falls as Higher Costs Continue from Tariffs — Wall Street Journal -
• Nvidia can sell H200 AI chips to China, Trump says — Financial Times -
• Trump decides to let Nvidia export powerful H200 chips to China — Financial Times -
• Nvidia’s China Lobbying Wins Big. But the True Payoff is Less Certain. — The New York Times Business -
• Trump is choosing the broligarchs over his base — Financial Times -
• Supreme Court Struggles With How to Insulate the Federal Reserve From Politics — The New York Times Business -
• BoJ governor says economy has weathered Trump’s tariffs — Financial Times -
• Trump opens new fronts in federal regulation battle — Financial Times -
• US dealmakers prepare for more White House intervention — Financial Times -
• Trump Says U.S. Will Allow Nvidia H200 Chip Sales to China, Get 25% Cut — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump Plans $12 Billion Bailout to Aid Farmers Hit by Tariffs — The New York Times Business -
• US judge strikes down Trump’s ban on new wind permits — Financial Times -

US job market data indicates stabilization in openings but cooling employment prospects, while oil futures decline and **silver surges above $60** amid a global supply squeeze; JPMorgan shares slide on projected expense jumps, and central bankers debate future rate hikes with Turkey's persistent inflation serving as a warning, complemented by rising small-business sentiment and a commodities rally.

• Rise in US job openings offers hope of labour market stabilisation — Financial Times -
• Oil Futures Decline for Second Straight Session — Wall Street Journal -
• JPMorgan shares slide as bank says expenses will jump $9bn in 2026 — Financial Times -

• Bank of England rate-setters divided ahead of decision next week — Financial Times -
• Silver surges above $60 for first time on global supply squeeze — Financial Times -
• Official jobs data points to further cooling in US employment prospects — Financial Times -
• Investors should look to the data, rather than the Fed, for guidance — Financial Times -
• The commodities rally — Financial Times -
• In a tough year, private credit bosses are pointing fingers — Financial Times -
• Central bankers, let Turkey be a warning — Financial Times -
• Are retail traders the captains now? — Financial Times -
• U.S. Small-Business Sentiment Inches Up — Wall Street Journal -
• Investors increase bets on ECB rate rise in threat to dollar — Financial Times -
• Debate about the Fed’s balance sheet is heating up — Financial Times -
• The significance of the next Fed chair choice — Financial Times -

USA Today's top editor's sudden departure and Charlie Kirk's new bestselling book highlight dynamic shifts in media, while Netflix and Paramount intensify their battle for Warner Bros. Discovery, complicated by political ties and antitrust concerns; the movie theater industry faces an uncertain future, and CBS News undergoes a vision shift amidst the ongoing blockbuster takeover struggle.

• USA Today’s Top Editor Departs, the Second in Less Than Two Years — The New York Times Business -
• Charlie Kirk’s Newest Book Is a Hit—and Out of Stock on Amazon — Wall Street Journal -
• Netflix and Paramount Battle for Warner Bros. — Have We Seen This Show Before? — The New York Times Business -

• Netflix vs Paramount: politics could decide battle for Warner Bros — Financial Times -
• Channel 4 raids Sky for new chief executive — Financial Times -
• Opinion | It Will Soon Be Curtains for the Movie Theater — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | Netflix Enters the MAGA Wars — Wall Street Journal -
• ‘Politically toxic’: how CNN became a pawn in blockbuster takeover battle — Financial Times -
• CBS News Adds Correspondent Matt Gutman as New Vision Takes Shape — Wall Street Journal -
• Tech, Media & Telecom Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -
• FirstFT: Inside Paramount’s $108bn hostile bid for Warner Bros — Financial Times -
• Ghosting turns hostile: Ellison gatecrashes Netflix’s deal with WBD — Financial Times -
• Behind Paramount’s Relentless Campaign to Woo Warner Discovery and President Trump — Wall Street Journal -
• Jimmy Kimmel’s ABC Deal Is Extended Through May 2027 — The New York Times Business -

Palantir secures a Navy deal for AI-driven submarine maintenance, while Wall Street approaches AI valuations cautiously amidst bubble fears, and mysterious data centers emerge in New Mexico; AI-created travel influencers gain traction, prompting an EU probe into Google's AI content use, as China leverages open-source AI and Australia prepares a social media ban for children.

• Navy Strikes Deal With Palantir for AI Overhaul of Submarine Maintenance — Wall Street Journal -
• Some Teens Are on Social Media ‘Almost Constantly,’ Survey Says — The New York Times Business -
• Wall Street Is Shaking Off Fears of an A.I. Bubble. For Now. — The New York Times Business -

• A Data Center Wrapped in a Mystery Comes to the New Mexican Desert — The New York Times Business -
• Same Product, Same Store, but on Instacart, Prices Might Differ — The New York Times Business -
• Cyber Startup Saviynt Raises $700 Million to Secure Identity and Access — Wall Street Journal -
• These Travel Influencers Don’t Want Freebies. They’re A.I. — The New York Times Business -
• EU opens probe into Google’s use of online content for AI models — Financial Times -
• China’s open-source AI is a national advantage — Financial Times -
• The countdown to the world’s first social media ban for children — Financial Times -

**Dave & Buster's experiences declining same-store sales, while GameStop's collectibles provide a bright spot, and Anglo American shareholders approve a $50 billion merger with Teck**; ExxonMobil slashes low-carbon spending but forecasts higher future earnings, and CVS Health boosts its guidance, as BMW names a new chief and Ford and Renault partner on electric vehicles amid news of a deadly cruise incident.

• Dave & Buster’s Same-Store Sales Continue Decline as Third-Quarter Loss Widens — Wall Street Journal -
• Mackenzie Scott Announces $7 Billion of Giving This Year — The New York Times Business -
• Auto & Transport Roundup: Market Talk — Wall Street Journal -

• GameStop Sales Fall as Collectibles Remain Only Bright Spot — Wall Street Journal -
• Anglo American shareholders vote in favour of $50bn merger with Teck — Financial Times -
• Cruise Passenger Was Served 33 Drinks Before Deadly Encounter With Crew, Suit Says — The New York Times Business -
• Thomas O. Hicks, Who Had Big Wins and Big Losses in Private Equity, Dies at 79 — Wall Street Journal -
• PepsiCo’s truce with Elliott may be the calm before the storm — Financial Times -
• ExxonMobil to slash low-carbon spending by a third — Financial Times -
• Weight-loss drugs are bringing a new commercial reality — Financial Times -
• Exxon Mobil Sees Higher Earnings, Greater Returns in New 2030 Plan — Wall Street Journal -
• CVS Health Boosts Guidance, Expects Momentum to Continue — Wall Street Journal -
• BMW Names New Boss to Guide It Through Industry Upheaval — Wall Street Journal -
• Home Depot Shares Fall as Retailer Gives Guarded Fiscal 2026 Forecast — Wall Street Journal -
• TotalEnergies to Partner with Galp Energia on Mopane Discovery in Namibia — Wall Street Journal -
• Eni Makes Gas Discovery in Indonesia — Wall Street Journal -
• BAT Sets Out $1.73 Billion Share Buyback, Backs 2025 Targets — Wall Street Journal -
• Thyssenkrupp Swings to Net Profit But Warns Challenging Conditions Remain — Wall Street Journal -
• Ford and Renault Team Up in Europe to Compete Against Low-Price Chinese Cars — Wall Street Journal -
• Todd Combs Leaves Berkshire Hathaway for JPMorgan Chase as Buffett Nears Retirement — The New York Times Business -
• BHP to Sell Stake in Western Australia Power Infrastructure to BlackRock in $2 Billion Deal — Wall Street Journal -
• Donald E. Petersen, 97, Who Rescued Ford Motor Co., Is Dead — The New York Times Business -
• First Brands rescue loan tumbles in value as bankruptcy drags on — Financial Times -

The US-Indonesia trade deal faces collapse and **Canada launches a C$1.7 billion fund to poach academic talent from the US**, underscoring global competition; **Ukraine restructures $2.6 billion in debt as Trump presses Zelenskyy for a peace response, while Russia's oil industry could suffer long-term damage from Ukrainian drone attacks, and Iran intensifies cloud seeding** amidst a water crisis.

• US-Indonesia trade deal at risk of collapse — Financial Times -
• Canada launches C$1.7bn fund to poach academic talent from the US — Financial Times -
• French welfare budget passes in win for premier Lecornu — Financial Times -

• British soldier dies in Ukraine after ‘tragic accident’ — Financial Times -
• The meaning of China’s $1tn trade surplus — Financial Times -
• Ukraine strikes deal to restructure $2.6bn of growth-linked debt — Financial Times -
• Trump gives Zelenskyy ‘days’ to respond to peace proposal — Financial Times -
• Iran steps up cloud seeding amid water crisis — Financial Times -
• Russia’s oil industry could suffer long-term damage from Ukrainian drone attacks — Financial Times -
• Congo rebels thumb nose at Trump’s peace deal — Financial Times -
• Lithuania declares state of emergency over smuggler balloons from Belarus — Financial Times -
• Zelenskyy tours allied capitals as European-led peace plan comes together — Financial Times -
• Russia’s hybrid warfare puts Europe to the test — Financial Times -
• Nepal Charges Chinese Construction Firm for Corruption Over Airport — The New York Times Business -

Prime Minister Starmer's promised changes are slow to materialize, while Brexit is acknowledged as a "shock" and tighter visa rules are projected to cost billions; a report criticizes MI5 over an IRA spy and another highlights fraud in Covid schemes, as UK employers offer fewer perks and consumer card spending falls.

• Starmer came to power promising action — but change is taking longer than his MPs expected — Financial Times -
• Badenoch cites Brexit as ‘shock’ to UK — Financial Times -
• Stakeknife report criticises MI5 for withholding information on top IRA spy — Financial Times -

• Tighter visa rules will cost UK up to £10.8bn — Financial Times -
• UK’s Covid schemes ‘left front door open’ to fraud, says report — Financial Times -
• No, rising ADHD diagnoses are not causing surge in Neets — Financial Times -
• Why Britain doesn’t have enough dentists — Financial Times -
• What would an Angela Rayner government look like? — Financial Times -
• British Cycling seeks private capital to wring more cash from races — Financial Times -
• City of London explores outside investment for housing projects — Financial Times -
• Hot property: six homes for sale in Yorkshire — Financial Times -
• UK employers less likely to disclose salary or to offer perks amid hiring slump — Financial Times -
• Budget uncertainty blamed for sharp fall in card spending by UK consumers — Financial Times -
• Hospitals in England see more patients but waiting lists scarcely fall — Financial Times -