The EU is set to pass a trade deal with South American trade bloc Mercosur after Brussels unveiled new concessions this week. Also in this edition: HSBC has agreed to pay nearly €268 million to the French treasury to settle a case over fraud on dividend tax payments. Plus, a protest from hundreds of UK pubs over higher business rates seems to have been successful.

US President Donald Trump has called for the US military budget to reach $1.5 trillion in 2027, more than half of the allocated spending for this year, in a bid to build a "dream military" in "troubled and dangerous times". He also vowed to crack down on US defence firms who privilege payouts to shareholders and executives instead of investing in building new manufacturing plants. Plus, China's AI startup sector gets its litmus test with a string of stock market launches this week. 

Warner Brothers Discovery has rejected the latest takeover bid from Paramount Skydance, saying it's still inferior to a rival offer from Netflix. Despite a $40 billion guarantee from billionaire Larry Ellison, WBD's board says the plan is a risky leveraged buyout, financed by debt. But first, the United States says it's "selectively" removing sanctions to bring Venezuelan oil back into international markets, starting with the sale of up to 50 million barrels to the US. 

In a Truth Social post late on Tuesday night, US President Donald Trump announced that Venezuela would be "turning over" between 30 and 50 million barrels of oil to the US, where it will then be sold at market prices. In this edition, we explore what impact this move could have for the US as well as for China, which was the top buyer of Venezuelan oil before a US-imposed blockade last month. Elsewhere, Japan reacts angrily to China's decision to ban exports of "dual-use" items.

A severe cold snap has gripped Europe, causing deadly accidents and travel chaos. In the German capital Berlin, freezing temperatures have made the situation even worse for tens of thousands of households that have been affected by a widespread power outage since Saturday. A suspected arson attack claimed by a left-wing group is thought to have knocked electricity offline, sparking questions over the vulnerability of Germany's wider infrastructure. 

French farmers are continuing their protests across the country this Tuesday, in a bid to raise awareness about the difficult financial situation they face and the threat posed by the EU-Mercosur trade pact. This as Italy has reportedly planned to support the deal when EU ambassadors vote on the measure on January 9. Also in this edition: automaker Hyundai showcases its new humanoid Atlas robot at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, saying the robots will be rolled out in production sites in 2028.

The Trump administration is reportedly planning to meet executives of top US oil companies to discuss Venezuela this week, after the administration declared it would "run" the country and US Big Oil firms would revive the oil industry. As Washington accuses Venezuela of "stealing American oil", we take a look back at its long history of involvement in the Latin American country's vital sector. 

US President Donald Trump has made no secret of his desire for American firms to take control of Venezuela's massive oil reserves. But the dilapidated state of the country's petroleum infrastructure will make exploiting those reserves difficult and expensive. Meanwhile, China is facing the loss of one of its key suppliers of sour, heavy crude. We take a closer look in this edition.

The European Union's controversial new rules on polluting industrial imports have gone into effect on January 1, following a two-year transition period. Heavy goods such as steel, aluminium and cement are now subject to a new fee levied according to the amount of CO2 emitted during their production. Beijing has issued a statement slamming the measure as unfairly targeting Chinese goods.   

As Bulgaria formally adopts the euro currency this January 1, residents in the capital Sofia queued up in front of ATMs just after midnight to withdraw the new banknotes. Also in this edition: the world's 500 richest people added a record $2.2 trillion to their fortunes in 2025. Plus, on the occasion of Netflix's "Stranger Things" finale, we see how the show became a cash machine for the streaming giant over the past decade.

It's only been three years since ChatGPT leaped onto the world stage, but artificial intelligence is now becoming an integral part of daily life. The technology has been integrated into search engines, social media apps and online shopping sites, but has also shaken financial markets. We take a look back at how AI moved the world in 2025. But first, as Bulgaria remains divided on the eve of joining the euro, we take a look at the possible implications of switching to the single currency. 

Bulgaria will formally adopt the euro as its currency starting on January 1, leaving behind the lev, which it has used since the late 19th century. The move is unpopular with almost half the country's population over fears it could spark higher inflation, something that mistrusted authorities have been trying to downplay. Also in this edition: a central district of Budapest bans short-term rentals starting this January in a bid to fix a housing crisis.

It's the end of an era for the Danish post office. Citing a 90 percent drop in letter-sending over the past quarter-century, PostNord has ended delivering paper letters in the country, a service first started in 1624. Plus, France is set to issue €310 billion in new sovereign bonds next year, a move that's set to complicate its effort to reduce its debt pile, which already stands at over 117 percent of GDP. 

China's cyberspace administration has issued new draft rules aiming to regulate how AI chatbots can affect users' emotional wellbeing. The proposed measures come amid a surge in new AI chatbots in the country and concerns over how they can affect minors' mental health. Also in this edition: Australians buy metal detectors in droves in the hope of prospecting gold. Plus, Beyoncé joins Forbes' billionaire club.

Iran's state TV says the country's central bank chief Mohammad Reza Farzin has stepped down, as the country faces growing protests over the high cost of living. The move comes after the Iranian rial plummeted to a record low against the dollar on Sunday. The central bank has been accused of printing too much money in an effort to shore up the currency, but instead pushing the nation on the verge of hyperinflation. Also in the segment: the price of silver briefly hits a record high. 

Over a month after announcing a massive data breach affecting 34 million of its users, South Korean e-commerce company Coupang announced this Monday it would offer 1.69 trillion won in compensation (around €1 billion) to customers in the form of vouchers. Also in this edition, former EU digital chief Thierry Breton gives his first interview since being sanctioned by the US. Plus, Nokia's archived mobile design plans are now open to the public.

London-based energy giant BP announced on Wednesday it was appointing Meg O'Neill as CEO starting on April 1. The executive, who has been at the head of Australian group Woodside Energy for the past four years, is expected to focus her efforts on the company's core oil and gas activities in a bid to catch up with rivals. Also in this edition: YouTube gains the rights to broadcast the Oscars ceremony starting in 2029, underlining streaming's increasing power in Hollywood. 

Warner Brothers Discovery has rejected Paramount Skydance's hostile takeover bid, saying it carries many risks and is inferior to Netflix's offer. The company's board said the Ellison family that controls Paramount "consistently misled" them about guarantees as it urged shareholders not to sell their stocks. Plus, as oil prices rise following US President Donald Trump's order to blockade oil tankers in and out of Venezuela, we take a look at just how central oil is to the South American country's economy. 

Crude benchmarks were rising on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump said the US would put a stop to any traffic of sanctioned oil tankers in and out of Venezuela. The country's oil revenue is a lifeline for the Maduro government, which now mainly sells its barrels to China. Also in this edition: Warner Bros. Discovery is reportedly telling its shareholders to reject a takeover bid from Paramount Skydance. Plus: FIFA offers $60 tickets for the 2026 World Cup amid criticism over high prices.

The European Union has proposed changes to a 2023 law that effectively banned the sale of new internal combustion engine cars from 2035. Instead of cutting CO2 emissions by 100 percent from 2021 levels, carmakers would be required to reduce them by 90 percent, meaning small-scale production of petrol or hybrid cars could continue. The auto industry and some member states had been lobbying hard to get the rules relaxed in the face of slow market growth for EVs.