China weaponises trade as Washington fiddles

Corporate AI deployment is happening faster than governments can write the rulebooks — and that's exactly how Silicon Valley planned it. Companies are embedding AI into core business processes while regulators are still debating definitions, creating a fait accompli that makes future restrictions nearly impossible. The European AI Act and proposed US frameworks assume they can catch up to technology that's already reshaping every knowledge job. They can't. By the time meaningful oversight arrives, AI will be so integrated that rolling it back would crash entire industries.

Someone just tried to murder the world's most prominent AI CEO at his home — which means the technology that's reshaping civilisation now comes with assassination attempts. The charges of attempted murder against the attacker signal this wasn't random violence but targeted action against Altman specifically. Tech executives have faced protests and criticism, but physical violence represents a dangerous escalation. If AI leaders need security details just to live in their own neighbourhoods, it suggests the public debate around artificial intelligence has moved far beyond policy disagreements into something much darker.

Korean Air's shares are climbing despite industry-wide concerns about fuel costs — proof that operational excellence can override macro headwinds, at least temporarily. The earnings surprise comes as airlines globally are bracing for higher fuel expenses, making Korean Air's performance a useful stress test for the sector. Either they've found efficiencies others haven't, or they're better at hedging energy costs. The jet fuel fears affecting other carriers haven't disappeared; Korean Air just isn't feeling them yet.

The Future Fund reviewing investment positions suggests Australia is reassessing its long-term asset allocation amid global uncertainty. Sovereign wealth funds don't reorganise their investment approach without good reason — they're either seeing opportunities others are missing or risks others are ignoring. Given the current geopolitical climate and market volatility, the review likely reflects concerns about traditional portfolio construction in an increasingly fragmented world. When a $200 billion fund starts second-guessing its strategy, private investors should pay attention.

Celebrity opposition to media consolidation rarely stops deals, but it does signal how the creative class views industry concentration. The Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger would create another streaming-plus-content behemoth, giving talent fewer places to sell their work and audiences fewer independent voices. Hollywood stars understand market dynamics better than most — they've watched streaming platforms slash content budgets while demanding global rights. Their opposition isn't nostalgia; it's economics. Fewer buyers means lower prices for creative work.

Colombia's credit chief is planning a $4 billion buyback of external bonds — either a sign of fiscal strength or pre-emptive damage control.

The Chilean copper giant is signalling interest in Argentina's mining opportunities as global demand for the metal intensifies.

Washington asked Tehran to halt uranium enrichment for two decades — suggesting either serious diplomacy or serious desperation.