Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.

On today's podcast:

(1) The US’s pursuit of a third oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela has intensified a blockade that the Trump administration hopes will cut off a vital economic lifeline for the country and isolate the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

(2) Gold rose to an all-time high, as escalating geopolitical tensions and bets on further US rate cuts added momentum to the best annual performance in more than four decades.

(3) US special envoy Steve Witkoff said Trump administration officials held “productive and constructive” meetings with Ukrainian and European counterparts in Florida as part of ongoing efforts to end the war.

(4) Justice Department officials were protecting victims of Jeffrey Epstein when they removed several images from agency’s release of files tied to the notorious sex offender, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said.

(5) Uber Technologies and Lyft are each teaming up with Baidu to trial driverless taxis in the UK, as ride-sharing companies race to deploy autonomous services around the world.

Podcast Conversation: Last-Minute Gift Guide for Whiskey, Wine and Spirits Lovers

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