U.S. automakers facing foreign troubles now extending to Canada due to US trade policy and **Trump threatening 100% tariffs on Canada if it seals a trade deal with China highlight escalating international trade tensions, while Starmer condemns Trump’s ‘appalling’ claim about NATO and China's Xi takes sole operational control of the army amid probes, reflecting complex global power dynamics and US strategy to counter China in the Indo-Pacific**; challenges for post-Maduro Latin America and **Syria’s Kurds on the defensive as the US turns its back further underscore shifting alliances and US foreign policy stances, with Japan's Treasury weighing currency intervention** following market tremors.

• U.S. Automakers’ Foreign Troubles Now Extend to Canada — The New York Times Business -
• Starmer condemns Trump’s ‘appalling’ claim that Nato avoided Afghan frontline — Financial Times -
• Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canada if it seals trade deal with China — Financial Times -

• Xi takes sole operational control of army as China probes military leaders — Financial Times -
• Q&A: The challenges for post-Maduro Latin America — Financial Times -
• Who can take the credit for taming Trump? — Financial Times -
• Syria’s Kurds on the defensive as US turns its back on former allies — Financial Times -
• Starmer’s dilemma: America or Europe? — Financial Times -
• Greenland, America and the end of Atlanticism — Financial Times -
• China Built a Vast Oil Stake in Venezuela. Now It Risks Getting Muscled Out. — Wall Street Journal -
• US unveils national defence strategy to counter China in Indo-Pacific — Financial Times -
• Tremors in Japan Prompt Treasury to Weigh Currency Intervention — The New York Times Business -

An outrage-provoking federal agent shooting a man dead in Minneapolis tops domestic news, as economists debate whether the US economy is as hot as Trump thinks amidst inflation risks, Trump's immigration crackdown not helping native-born employment creates a zero-sum labor market trap, and US banks are urged to cut their credit card rates; meanwhile, **Mamdani’s rent freeze in New York faces scrutiny, and Intel's stock came crashing back to Earth** after an initial 'Trump bump'.

• Federal agents shoot man dead in Minneapolis — Financial Times -
• Is the US economy as hot as Trump thinks? — Financial Times -
• Chart of the Week: The zero-sum labour market trap — Financial Times -

• US banks need to cut their credit card rates — Financial Times -
• Mamdani’s rent freeze is not the fairytale in New York he hopes for — Financial Times -
• How Intel Came Crashing Back to Earth After Its Trump Bump — Wall Street Journal -

A powerful winter storm is causing significant travel disruptions, leading to airlines canceling around 13,000 flights and widespread advisories on what to know if you plan to travel, as the snowstorm leaves thousands without power across the US with warnings that power outages may not go out until after the storm has passed due to sustained pressure on infrastructure.

• Here’s What to Know if You Plan to Travel During the Winter Storm — The New York Times Business -
• Snowstorm leaves thousands without power across US — Financial Times -
• Why the Power May Not Go Out Until After the Storm Has Passed — The New York Times Business -

Interest in law school is surging despite A.I. making the payoff less certain for legal work, while DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis warns AI investment looks 'bubble-like', reflecting concerns over the rapid growth of artificial intelligence; concurrently, a testing giant is shopping GRE and Toefl exams for a significant sum, and student loans are debated as a potential mis-selling scandal, highlighting shifts in the education sector, even as new ways people are using Claude Code demonstrate AI's practical applications.

• Interest in Law School Is Surging. A.I. Makes the Payoff Less Certain. — The New York Times Business -
• Testing Giant Shops GRE and Toefl Exams for Around $500 Million — Wall Street Journal -
• DeepMind chief Demis Hassabis warns AI investment looks ‘bubble-like’ — Financial Times -

• Will student loans be the next mis-selling scandal? — Financial Times -
• Five Ways People Are Using Claude Code — The New York Times Business -

The Washington Post abruptly tore up plans to cover the Winter Olympics, illustrating shifts in media priorities, while travelers compare costs when flying versus taking the train as Amtrak's dynamic pricing impacts decisions; additionally, discussions address whether leaving a terrible job makes one look flaky, and the NFL season's fiercest rivalry emerges between sports betting and prediction markets.

• Washington Post Tears Up Plans to Cover Winter Olympics — The New York Times Business -
• Will Leaving My Terrible Job Make Me Look Flaky? — The New York Times Business -
• Travel Math: When Flying Costs as Much as the Train, Who Wins? — The New York Times Business -

• This NFL Season’s Fiercest Rivalry Is Sports Betting vs. Prediction Markets — Wall Street Journal -

Andy Burnham is announcing a bid to stand for a Westminster seat, a move that could set up a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer, while in Latin America, a **fiery criminal defence lawyer is seeking Colombia’s presidency**.

• Andy Burnham announces bid to stand for Westminster seat — Financial Times -
• The fiery criminal defence lawyer seeking Colombia’s presidency — Financial Times -

A new hotel in Mérida, Cigno Mejorada, offers a blend of modern and Maya influences, and a **new film adaptation is bringing Emily Brontë’s 'Wuthering Heights'** to a fresh generation of fans.

• Cigno Mejorada, a hotel where modern and Maya collide — Financial Times -
• My weekend at Wuthering Heights — Financial Times -