US efforts to blockade Venezuela's oil shipments intensify with Coast Guard actions, while Israel plans new settlements in the West Bank and Indonesia deploys military for rapid deforestation, highlighting global power dynamics and regional conflicts. This follows a year of Trumpian attacks on the rules-based international order, as Europe and the UK also grapple with maritime security and intra-European political shifts.

• US steps up blockade of Venezuela by seeking to board third oil tanker — Financial Times -
• U.S. Coast Guard Chasing Another Tanker Involved in Shipping Venezuela Oil — Wall Street Journal -
• Europe needs strategic purpose matched with action — Financial Times -

• Israel to build 19 more settlements in occupied West Bank — Financial Times -
• A new maritime security architecture for the UK and her neighbours — Financial Times -
• A year of Trumpian attacks on the rules-based international order — Financial Times -
• Sweden boards sanctioned Russian vessel off its coast — Financial Times -
• Role reversal: how foot-dragging France blindsided newly assertive Berlin — Financial Times -
• Indonesia calls in military to help clear forests at rapid pace — Financial Times -
• The unlikely Arab kingmaker aiming to sway Israel’s next election — Financial Times -
• A Neighborhood in India Fears Being Blamed for a Distant Atrocity — The New York Times Business -
• US coastguard boards tanker carrying Venezuelan oil in Caribbean — Financial Times -

Affordability crises are prominent, particularly in California, amidst questions of a potential Santa rally and mixed performances in global markets like China, affecting consumer spending habits and the US travel industry. Macro hedge funds, meanwhile, enjoyed their best year since 2008 due to market upheavals, while NYC holiday markets offer both profit and peril for small businesses.

• Opinion | Why the Affordability Crisis Is Most Severe in California — Wall Street Journal -
• How Much More Can the U.S. Travel Industry Take? — The New York Times Business -
• Market upheavals drive biggest gains since 2008 for macro hedge funds — Financial Times -

• Will markets stage a last-minute Santa rally? — Financial Times -
• Makers of Everyday Essentials Once Offered Investors Safety. Do They Still? — Wall Street Journal -
• How Many Toys Will Parents Buy for Their Kids This Christmas? — The New York Times Business -
• NYC Holiday Markets Offer Profit and Peril for Small-Business Owners — The New York Times Business -
• Year in a word: Affordability — Financial Times -
• Chinese stocks cool on weak economic data — Financial Times -

The US Justice Department is under fire for allegedly removing a Trump image from Epstein files, with Bill Clinton also a focus of related documents, highlighting ongoing controversies. Separately, Trump World figures are picking sides in the battle for Warner Bros., indicating political influence in business.

• US justice department under fire for removing Trump image from Epstein files — Financial Times -
• How Bill Clinton became the focus of the Epstein files — Financial Times -
• Trump World Is Picking Sides in the Battle for Warner Bros. — Wall Street Journal -

The 'Avatar' sequel sees a slower box office start, contrasting with FAO Schwarz's focus on experiential retail to draw customers from online. **JPMorgan questioned Tricolor’s accounting before its collapse, and foreign buyers are snapping up cheap UK companies, alongside Ford's struggles in the EV market and an obituary for stock trader turned art dealer Robert Mnuchin**.

• ‘Avatar’ Sequel Is Neither Fire Nor Ash at North American Box Office — The New York Times Business -
• Third ‘Avatar’ Movie Off to Slower Box Office Start Than Predecessor — Wall Street Journal -
• FAO Schwarz Entices Toy Shoppers With the One Thing They Can’t Get Online — Wall Street Journal -

• JPMorgan questioned Tricolor’s accounting a year before its collapse — Financial Times -
• Betting against New York is always a losing proposition — Financial Times -
• Foreign buyers snap up cheap UK companies as dealmaking hits new high — Financial Times -
• Can a Hemorrhoid Cream Be Cool? — Wall Street Journal -
• How Ford Failed to Bottle Tesla’s EV Magic — Wall Street Journal -
• When Something Goes Wrong With Your Flight, These People Take Charge — The New York Times Business -
• Sikh Truckers Found Refuge In Trucking Until The Trump Administration’s Crackdown — The New York Times Business -
• Robert Mnuchin, Stock Trader Turned Art Dealer, Dies at 92 — The New York Times Business -
• Wool is no longer the black sheep of agricultural commodities — Financial Times -

Trail hunting is set to be banned in England and Wales, reflecting a new animal welfare strategy, while alcohol consumption falls to a record low in Britain. On the political front, Kemi Badenoch's position as Conservative leader appears steadier, and **Manchester police face questions regarding a synagogue attacker’s phone examination**.

• Trail hunting to be banned in England and Wales — Financial Times -
• Manchester police refuse to say if synagogue attacker’s phone was examined before incident — Financial Times -
• Alcohol consumption falls to record low in Britain — Financial Times -

• Has Kemi Badenoch steadied the Tories’ sinking ship? — Financial Times -

The EU struggles with carbon reduction policies, considering subsidies to offset tariffs designed to counteract taxes, highlighting the complexity of climate action. Separately, U.S. ethanol policy's historical issues are critically examined as a 'hubristic' and 'bad idea'.

• Opinion | The EU Fights Carbon and Loses — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | The History of Hubristic U.S. Ethanol Policy — Wall Street Journal -

A wheelchair user's pioneering flight to space marks a significant milestone in accessibility, while a SpaceX explosion posed greater danger to flights than publicly known. In a concerning development, fraudsters are using AI to fake artwork authenticity and ownership, forging convincing sales documents.

• In a First, a Wheelchair User Joins a Short Flight to Space — The New York Times Business -
• Fraudsters use AI to fake artwork authenticity and ownership — Financial Times -
• The SpaceX Explosion That Put Flights in Danger — Wall Street Journal -

Power was restored for most of San Francisco after a widespread outage affected nearly a third of the city, forcing the closure of transit stations.

• Power Restored for Most of San Francisco After Widespread Outage — The New York Times Business -