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Financial Brief: A Weekly Roundup on the Geopolitics of Money | Feb 17
EXECUTIVE TAKEAWAYS
A week of cautious markets and sovereign stress. Asian equities traded tentatively as oil rose on U.S.-Iran talks, with markets pricing de-escalation before...
A Global Euro May Come With a Stronger Currency
As transatlantic tensions deepen and strategic autonomy gains urgency, European Union leaders are accelerating efforts to expand the global role of the euro. Discussions...
China Emerges as Backdoor Hub for Foreign Cars Entering Russia
Despite sweeping sanctions imposed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of foreign-brand vehicles continue reaching Russian buyers through gray-market channels routed...
Australia Refuses Repatriation Aid for Families of IS Militants
The government of Australia has ruled out assisting Australians held in a Syrian detention camp for families of suspected Islamic State fighters to return...
Demand Everything, Secure Enough: The Logic of Trump’s Foreign Policy
The second term of President Donald Trump has marked a transition from improvisational disruption to a more systematic and self-consciously structured foreign policy doctrine....
New Mexico Orders Full Probe into Epstein’s Zorro Ranch
Lawmakers in New Mexico have approved a comprehensive investigation into alleged sexual trafficking and abuse at Zorro Ranch, the sprawling estate owned by the...
Humanoid Robots Headline China’s Lunar New Year Gala
China used its most-watched television broadcast, the CCTV Spring Festival Gala, to showcase humanoid robotics as a symbol of national technological advancement and industrial...
Geneva Nuclear Talks Begin Under Military Shadow as U.S.–Iran Standoff Intensifies
Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran resumed in Geneva amid heightened regional tensions and the looming threat of military escalation. The talks,...
AI Jitters and Hedge Fund Bets Shake Luxury Stocks at a Fragile Turning Point
Europe’s luxury sector is navigating renewed turbulence after a two-year slowdown ended the post-pandemic boom in high-end consumption. Flagship houses such as LVMH, Kering,...
French Police Raid Arab World Institute in Epstein-Linked Investigation of Jack Lang
French authorities have intensified their investigation into former culture minister Jack Lang, focusing on his alleged ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Lang,...