The US continues to assert its influence with Trump weighing options in Iran, cutting off Venezuelan oil to Cuba, and provoking debate over Greenland with NATO allies and Nordic nations. These actions are reshaping global energy markets and international alliances.

• Iranians defy intensifying crackdown as Trump weighs options — Financial Times -
• FirstFT: Iranians defy intensifying crackdown as Trump considers intervention — Financial Times -
• Danish officials hope to calm the conversation over Greenland — Financial Times -

• Britain in talks with Nato allies over increasing presence in Arctic — Financial Times -
• Trump says Cuba will receive no more Venezuelan oil as he pushes for deal — Financial Times -
• Russian Flags Proliferate Over Shadow Fleet of Oil Tankers — Wall Street Journal -
• $100 Billion to Revive Venezuela’s Energy Industry? Oil Executives Are Not So Sure — The New York Times Business -
• Europe should embrace the idea of going it alone — Financial Times -
• Nato silence on Trump’s Greenland threats rattles European allies — Financial Times -
• Trump Organization deepens Gulf push with $10bn in Saudi projects — Financial Times -
• The off-ramps are narrowing for Iran’s regime — Financial Times -
• Nordics reject Trump’s claim of Chinese and Russian ships around Greenland — Financial Times -
• Venezuela: the Hizbollah connection — Financial Times -
• Indian oil refiners see opportunity in Trump’s Venezuela action — Financial Times -
• Trump’s Oil Grab Is a Big Problem for the OPEC Cartel — Wall Street Journal -
• US could ease sanctions on Venezuela next week, says Bessent — Financial Times -

Significant **M&A activity sees Allegiant acquiring Sun Country Airlines, while retailers like Saks Fifth Avenue grapple with debt and Wall Street debates growth strategies. The week also saw strong US corporate bond sales and major companies like Walmart expanding drone delivery**.

• Allegiant Travel to Buy Sun Country Airlines for About $1.1 Billion — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | The Debt of Saks Fifth Avenue — Wall Street Journal -
• Opinion | Go Around and Strangle Things — Wall Street Journal -

• Walmart Expanding Drone Delivery to Hundreds More Stores — Wall Street Journal -
• Leveraged luxury: fall of Saks Global to scorch US business stars — Financial Times -
• Healthcare companies set for deals spree as drug patents expire — Financial Times -
• US corporate bond sales hit $95bn in busiest week since Covid pandemic — Financial Times -
• How Bain took over a $1.6bn Native American casino in South Korea — Financial Times -
• AIG edges back towards risk two decades after financial crisis bailout — Financial Times -

Malaysia and Indonesia have banned Grok due to explicit content, highlighting AI regulatory challenges, while Google introduces personalized shopping ads and the industry faces a memory shortage. South Korean tech companies are positioning themselves as AI alternatives.

• Malaysia and Indonesia Block Access to Grok Because of Sexually Explicit Content — The New York Times Business -
• Google introduces personalised shopping ads to AI tools — Financial Times -
• AI Is Causing a Memory Shortage. Why Producers Aren’t Rushing to Make a Lot More. — Wall Street Journal -

• ‘South Korea’s Google’ pitches AI alternative to US and China — Financial Times -

British officials debate social media regulations for children and UK private equity firms increase offshore fund use, while the EU proposes a 'Farage clause' for Brexit talks. France's Marine Le Pen faces a court appeal, and economists push for a digital euro to counter US financial influence.

• Andy Burnham backs Kemi Badenoch’s call for stricter rules on children and social media — Financial Times -
• UK private equity firms sharply increase use of offshore funds — Financial Times -
• EU demands ‘Farage clause’ as part of Brexit reset talks with Britain — Financial Times -

• The UK needs a detox from fiscal turmoil — Financial Times -
• Digital euro ‘only defence’ against deepening US control of money, economists warn — Financial Times -
• Marine Le Pen’s presidential ambitions at stake in court appeal — Financial Times -
• The good news in the UK’s rising unemployment rate — Financial Times -
• Top artists call on EU to clamp down on unauthorised ticket reselling — Financial Times -

A California wealth tax proposal draws significant opposition funding from figures like Peter Thiel, while homeland security sends more agents to Minnesota. Discussions include potential Federal Reserve rate cut plans and the impact of Trump's policies on the US defense industry.

• Thiel Gives $3 Million to Group Seeking to Block California Wealth Tax — The New York Times Business -
• ‘Hundreds’ more agents head to Minnesota, says homeland security secretary — Financial Times -
• Will US inflation figures derail the Fed’s rate cut plans? — Financial Times -

• It’s a Weird Time to Be a Democrat in Silicon Valley — Wall Street Journal -
• Trump’s assault on US defence industry puts investors on edge — Financial Times -

**Saudi Arabia is pushing ahead with megaprojects by opening a $1 billion theme park, while Maersk explores new green fuel options to reduce reliance on China. Analysts also highlight eight tail risks for 2026 and caution against overconfidence in economic resilience**.

• Eight tail risks for 2026 — Financial Times -
• Beware of overconfidence — Financial Times -
• Saudi Arabia opens $1bn theme park as kingdom pushes ahead with megaprojects — Financial Times -

• Maersk explores more ethanol use to cut reliance on China for green fuel — Financial Times -

Podcasts achieve new industry status with Golden Globe nominations, reflecting their growing influence in entertainment. Meanwhile, Gen Z investors shift from meme stocks to index funds, and billionaires advocate for family financial education.

• Podcasts Hit the Golden Globes: Nominees Include ‘Call Her Daddy’ and More — The New York Times Business -
• Why This Billionaire Holds a Family Meeting About Money Once a Quarter — Wall Street Journal -
• How a Puzzling 401(k) Plan Changed One Woman’s Life — The New York Times Business -

• How Gen Z Investors Went from Meme Stocks to Index Funds — The New York Times Business -
• Why men should really be reading more fiction — Financial Times -
• The surprising joys of under-tourism — Financial Times -

A German elite army unit faces accusations of misconduct, including sexual harassment and Nazi salutes, while a notable art fraud case involves a music-industry legend and a con artist.

• Elite German army unit accused of sexual harassment, drug use and making Nazi salutes — Financial Times -
• A Con Artist, a Music-Industry Legend and the Feud Over a Masterpiece — Wall Street Journal -