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Wall Street’s Energy Transition Funds Include Natural Gas
Brussels exhibition turns modern slavery statistics into portraits
Sequoia ends its scout program as venture firms rethink the model
Trump Reportedly Weighs Executive Order Targeting Nonprofits
Mamdani Challenges Vance to End Iran War He Blames for GOP Losses
Vance Says Iran Strike Decision Rests With Trump, Drawing Criticism
Newsroom
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Trump Reportedly Weighs Executive Order Targeting Nonprofits
A proposed executive order could let the Trump administration label some nonprofits as having “terrorist” ties and suspend their tax-exempt status, the Wall Street Journal reported Friday. The reported approach would rely on a federal tax-code provision that can bypass the usual IRS investigation and appeals process.
Mamdani Challenges Vance to End Iran War He Blames for GOP Losses
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused Vice President JD Vance of trying to distance himself from the Iran war after Vance said the conflict was the reason Republicans lost control of Congress. “This is a war that they started,” Mamdani said Thursday, adding that the administration could also bring it to an end.
Vance Says Iran Strike Decision Rests With Trump, Drawing Criticism
Vice President JD Vance urged Americans to trust Donald Trump on whether to take further action against Iran, saying the decision belonged to the president. Critics countered that Congress—not the president alone—has authority to authorize war, and at least 25 lawmakers have backed legislation aimed at preventing unilateral U.S. military action.
Progressives Question Schumer and Jeffries After Democratic Wins
Progressives are urging Democrats to choose new congressional leaders after an election they describe as a mandate for change, even as Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries appear poised to lead the Senate and House. Schumer says his caucus is united; critics say both leaders must do more to challenge corporate influence and President Donald Trump.
Idaho Paid Hunters $24,000 to Kill 12 Wolf Pups
Three hunters received $24,000 in reimbursements for killing 12 newborn wolf pups in Idaho’s northern Panhandle in late April, according to records reported by Public Domain. The payments—$2,000 per animal—have drawn condemnation from conservationists, who say at least one entire litter may have been killed at or near its den.
Trump’s Miller Appointment Draws Criticism From Both Parties
Stephen Miller, the architect of the Trump administration’s mass deportation policy, is set to become White House chief of staff next week, replacing Susie Wiles after two years in the role. The appointment drew sharp rebukes from Democrats and criticism from several Republicans, with immigration policy at the center of their objections.
Energy
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Wall Street’s Energy Transition Funds Include Natural Gas
As COP31 approaches in Antalya, Türkiye, a report on Wall Street investment funds highlights a tension in the energy transition: portfolios marketed around the shift to cleaner power can include natural gas, a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Analysts say the term “energy transition” is interpreted broadly by some investors.
Trump Faces Four Iran Options After Midterm Defeat
With Democrats set to take control of both chambers of Congress in about two months, President Donald Trump must decide whether to negotiate with Iran, resume major attacks, or maintain the current standoff. His Republican Party’s midterm losses have sharpened the pressure: Vice President JD Vance blamed the war for the defeat, and Trump called that assessment “largely true.”
U.S. Nuclear Expansion Faces a Fuel Supply Bottleneck
The United States has the world’s largest nuclear power capacity, but expanding it will require more than new reactors: the country still imports 93 percent of the raw uranium used for nuclear fuel. Tight supplies and geopolitical risks leave both existing plants and planned development exposed, according to a January Stanford Energy report.
Oil Traders Seek U.S. Licenses for Sanctioned Tankers
Chartering a supertanker from the U.S. Gulf Coast to China cost nearly $80 million in October, about ten times the pre-conflict average. With shipping costs surging and vessels in short supply, major oil traders are seeking U.S. approval to buy or lease tankers currently under sanctions.
U.S. Rig Count Edges Higher as Oil Prices Slide
U.S. oil and gas drillers added two active rigs in the latest reporting week, lifting the national count to 604, Baker Hughes data showed Friday. The increase came as Brent and WTI prices fell sharply from a week earlier, while U.S. crude production reached a record in the week ending October 30.
Norway’s 2040 Oil and Gas Gap Could Reach 2.2 Million boepd
Norway’s oil and gas output is projected to fall 1.9 million barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) short of potential demand by 2040 in Rystad Energy’s base case. The consultancy warns the gap could widen if exploration stays at recent levels, as smaller discoveries near existing infrastructure cannot replace the large fields that once drove production.
Startups & Technology
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Sequoia ends its scout program as venture firms rethink the model
Sequoia’s decision to close a program it pioneered 17 years ago is prompting questions about the future of venture capital scouting. The firm’s broader overhaul also includes shutting its London office, but observers say the end of the scout program offers a clearer signal about changing investment practices.
Big Tech courts Democrats as midterms sharpen AI scrutiny
As the midterms shift Washington’s balance of power, technology companies that cultivated closer ties with President Donald Trump’s administration are reaching out to Democrats, who have promised tighter oversight of AI. Their efforts come as data-center opposition grows and state governments continue to pursue their own rules.
Google takes over Crusoe’s unfinished Wyoming data center
Google has taken over an unfinished data center project in southeastern Wyoming from Crusoe, the Denver-based developer confirmed Friday. The campus was planned to reach 10 gigawatts of power capacity, but Google had raised concerns about its cost and construction schedule under Crusoe’s management, according to reports.
OpenAI reportedly raises $11 billion in unfinished funding round
OpenAI has reportedly raised $11 billion in a funding round that remains open and values the company at $1.25 trillion. Bloomberg reported Friday, citing people familiar with the matter, that the round could reach about $20 billion when it closes in the coming weeks.
Apple says more than 100,000 apps now support iPhone Duo
More than 100,000 apps built for Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo are now available on the App Store, the company said Friday, with thousands more added daily. The announcement came alongside updates to more than a dozen prominent apps, as developers continue adapting software to the device’s unusual screen.
Censys finds more than 800 exposed Artex AI deployments
More than 800 Artex deployments were reachable online without a password, cybersecurity firm Censys said, exposing copies of an autonomous penetration-testing tool that has been linked to attacks. The company said it was unclear why so many were publicly accessible, since the software does not need an internet-facing connection.
Europe
All materials →Brussels exhibition turns modern slavery statistics into portraits
A woman returns to a Nepalese village wearing jewellery and promising children jobs in Kathmandu. Villagers support the plan, unaware she has been trafficked herself. The story is among those behind a Brussels photography exhibition documenting modern slavery, which opened ahead of European Parliament discussions on new anti-trafficking strategies.
Italy Continued Rejecting Some EU Asylum Transfer Requests
The European Commission said Italy was still rejecting transfer requests from other EU countries at the end of September, despite being identified as responsible for the asylum cases. The dispute over returns risks adding pressure to Schengen’s passport-free travel area, where governments have responded to migration concerns with internal border controls.
EU leaders to debate envoy role for Ukraine peace talks
At an informal summit in Dublin on 13 November, EU leaders are due to discuss who could represent them in potential high-level Ukraine peace talks. The agenda follows an exchange of letters in which Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned of disarray among Europe’s diplomatic formats on the war.
EU prosecutor probes Spanish rail agencies over possible €110m fraud
A second deadly crash on Spain’s Madrid–Seville high-speed railway has been followed by an EU investigation into possible fraud involving up to €110 million in European funds. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office opened the probe on Friday, 6 November, focusing on money for maintenance of the line.
Russian sources say RPG-armed Ukrainian ground robots were repelled
Russian accounts say Ukrainian forces sent as many as 28 ground drones into an assault without putting soldiers directly into the fighting. The reported attack, involving robots armed with RPGs and grenade launchers, appears to have failed, though details so far come only from Russian sources.
EU states approve one-year delay to methane import rules
EU ambassadors agreed on Friday, 6 November, to postpone methane requirements for oil and gas imports by a year, while adding a review that could lead to further delays. The compromise was backed at the member states’ third attempt in a matter of weeks.
Wealth
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HSBC, Gallagher and St James’s Place Announce Wealth Hires
HSBC Private Bank is reshaping its UK leadership and adding a Dubai-based role for British expatriate clients, while Gallagher and St James’s Place have also announced appointments across their UK wealth businesses.
Mediobanca Profit Climbs 13.3% in First Nine Months of 2026
Mediobanca reported attributable net profit of €1.09 billion ($1.10 billion) for the first nine months of 2026, up 13.3% from a year earlier. Pre-tax profit increased 8.6% to €1.98 billion, the Milan-headquartered bank said.
Bank of England raises rates as Middle East energy shock lifts inflation
The Bank of England raised its rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4%, seeking to curb inflation that stands at 3.5% as conflict in the Middle East pushes energy costs higher. Wealth managers and economists differed over whether the move signals a longer tightening cycle or a one-off response to inflation risks.
Hong Kong Private Wealth Assets Climb 24% to Record HK$12.9 Trillion
Hong Kong’s private banking and wealth-management assets rose 24 per cent to HK$12.9 trillion (about US$1.65 trillion) in 2025, while net fund inflows increased 79 per cent year on year, according to a report by the Private Wealth Management Association and KPMG.
Anthony Lim to Succeed Peter Seah as DBS Chairman in 2027
Peter Seah will leave the chairmanship of DBS Group Holdings and DBS Bank on 31 December 2026, with current board member Anthony Lim set to take over the next day. Seah will remain as a senior adviser for one year to support the handover, DBS said.
Schroders Sees Investment Opportunities Broadening Beyond US Megacaps
After years of equity returns dominated by a small group of US giants, Schroders says investors are finding opportunities across more markets and sectors. Dorian Carrell, who leads the UK manager’s multi-asset group, says diversification is proving useful, though inflation, debt and the costs of the AI boom remain risks.