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

On today's podcast:
(1) The French National Assembly approved a stopgap budget law for 2026 to keep the state running into January after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on the full fiscal plan.

(2) The Trump administration on Tuesday imposed visa sanctions on former European Union Commissioner Thierry Breton and four other people for trying to make American tech companies police political speech on their platforms.

(3) Gold rose to an all-time high above $4,500 an ounce on escalating tensions in Venezuela and expectations for more US rate cuts. Silver and platinum also advanced to records.

(4) The Justice Department’s long-awaited rollout of the Jeffrey Epstein files has been a chaotic spectacle that, so far, has largely turned the spotlight back to his previously known associates, including President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, while fueling frustrations.

(5) Alan Howard, co-founder of Brevan Howard Asset Management, joined the ranks of wealthy individuals exiting the UK amid tax hikes, surfacing as a resident of Switzerland.

Podcast Conversation: Five Top Tables: Where to Eat in Edinburgh for Business, Value

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Your morning briefing, the business news you need in just 15 minutes.
On today's podcast:

(1) President Donald Trump warned President Nicolas Maduro not to challenge the US and vowed to keep oil seized from a supertanker but declined to say if he’s seeking to oust the Venezuelan leader.

(2) Larry Ellison is throwing his personal fortune behind Paramount Skydance’s bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, aiming to give his son’s company an advantage in a fiercely contested takeover battle with Netflix.

(3) Novo Nordisk won approval to sell a pill version of its blockbuster obesity shot Wegovy in the US, a crucial step in its effort to defend its market share from rival Eli Lilly

(4) Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan said that artificial intelligence is starting to have a bigger impact on the US economy.

(5) UK businesses ended 2025 feeling more upbeat about the economy’s prospects after they were spared much of the tax pain at last month’s budget.

Podcast Conversation: Restaurants Turn to Sweet Wines to Save Labor, Fatten the Check

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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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.