Africa's potential economic growth is highlighted, alongside China's tax crackdown on online vendors and Japan's corporate efforts to overcome past economic trauma, while the UK debates closer alignment with the EU single market and Europe faces challenges in its renewables push.

• Africa’s growth could outpace Asia’s this year — Financial Times -
• UK should seek ‘closer alignment’ with EU single market, Starmer says — Financial Times -
• Junior lawyers want their pound of flesh — or two pounds in a good year — Financial Times -

• Ed Davey: ‘Europe is crying out for closer relations with Britain’ — Financial Times -
• Europe’s renewables push slowed by waits for links to grid, operator warns — Financial Times -
• Investor urges corporate Japan to get over bubble-era ‘trauma’ — Financial Times -
• China targets online vendors in tax crackdown — Financial Times -

New social media alternatives are emerging from Twitter and Pinterest founders, while America's drone manufacturing capabilities face competition, Elon Musk's financial trajectory is under scrutiny, and US productivity is expected to surge due to AI advancements.

• Twitter and Pinterest founders launch app as antidote to social media — Financial Times -
• America’s drone dilemma — Financial Times -
• Simulation or Not, Musk’s Surreal Year Could Push Him to $1 Trillion Heights — Wall Street Journal -

• US to extend productivity lead on back of AI boom, say economists — Financial Times -

Student loan repayment challenges are a focus for the new year, Berlin investigates a major power outage potentially caused by extremists, and Germany faces doctor shortages amid rising anti-Syrian rhetoric, while corporate leaders share jet lag hacks, and new cultural phenomena like fitness trends among Gen Z and factory tours in China gain traction.

• Opinion | Painting ‘Animal Farm’ Red — Wall Street Journal -
• Behind on Student Loans? Here’s What to Do Now for the New Year — The New York Times Business -
• Berlin suspects ‘leftwing extremists’ of causing huge power outage — Financial Times -

• CEOs With Crazy Travel Schedules Told Us How They Crush Jet Lag — Wall Street Journal -
• Colleen Keating, CEO of Planet Fitness, on Gen Z and Strength Training — The New York Times Business -
• Kevin O’Leary on ‘Marty Supreme’ and Notes He Gave Josh Safdie — The New York Times Business -
• German doctors warn of labour shortages amid rising anti-Syrian rhetoric — Financial Times -
• Bin the bucket list in 2026 — Financial Times -
• Tiger Moms Battle for the Hottest Ticket in China: a Tour of a Factory Floor — Wall Street Journal -