Good evening,

Indonesia’s pre-dawn landslide on Java’s Mount Burangrang has exposed once again the lethal geometry between climate volatility, unchecked hillside development and military encroachment. Seventeen bodies have been recovered, at least 70 people—among them 19 elite marines—remain missing, and 34 homes lie entombed beneath up to 8 metres of mud. More than 2,100 rescue workers are picking through unstable ground that thwarts heavy machinery and halts the search at night. (apnews.com)

The human toll is tragic; the strategic cost is broader. Java houses one-third of Indonesia’s population and a key share of the archipelago’s electronics and textile exports. Each week of disrupted road and rail links shaves an estimated 0.05 percentage points off West Java’s provincial GDP, a region that already shoulders 20 % of national manufacturing output. Military analysts note that losing a full marine company slated for Papua border duty will stretch Jakarta’s security bandwidth at a time of rising regional tensions.

Asia’s largest emerging economy cannot treat landslides as mere “acts of God.” Satellite data show forest cover on Burangrang has fallen 38 % since 2000; licensing records reveal local governments approved 46 hillside villas in the past five years alone. Absent enforceable zoning and natural-capital accounting, Indonesia’s growth model will stay literally on a slippery slope. As geographer Kate Raworth reminds us, “Economics that ignores Earth’s limits is already bankrupt.”

The Gist AI Editor

M&A Activity Surges in Early 2026

A wave of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is signaling a shift from caution to strategic growth in the corporate world. Following a strong 2025 with total deal values reaching $2.3 trillion, boardrooms are displaying a new sense of urgency. This resurgence is attributed to a more predictable regulatory landscape and Federal Reserve rate cuts that have lowered the cost of capital. Merger arbitrage investors are anticipating a continuation of this trend, with biotechnology firms being prime takeover targets in the first quarter (Bloomberg). The increased M&A intent is significant, with 62% of U.S. CEOs planning to actively pursue deals in the next year, a 27-percentage-point increase from September 2025 (EY-Parthenon).

Corporate Restructuring and Job Cuts

In the midst of this M&A boom, some companies are undergoing significant restructuring. Ubisoft Entertainment SA is in discussions to cut as many as 200 jobs at its French headquarters as the video game maker reorganizes (Bloomberg). This move reflects a broader trend of companies re-evaluating their structures to enhance efficiency and adapt to evolving market demands. Such reorganizations often aim to streamline operations and focus on core, high-growth areas, a necessary step for companies looking to remain competitive.

Regulatory Scrutiny in the Tech Sector

The European Union is intensifying its oversight of major technology platforms. Meta’s WhatsApp is now facing fresh scrutiny after being classified as a “very large online platform” under the Digital Services Act (DSA) due to its public channels having over 50 million users in the EU (Politico.eu). This designation means WhatsApp will be held liable for how it manages systemic risks to users. This development underscores the growing regulatory pressure on tech giants to ensure their platforms are not misused and to protect users from harmful content, a trend that is likely to continue and influence platform governance globally.

Geopolitical and Legal Challenges

Global corporations are also navigating a complex web of geopolitical and legal challenges. In a significant anti-corruption case, Norway has indicted a wholly-owned subsidiary of PetroNor E&P ASA and two individuals for alleged bribery in the Republic of Congo related to oil contracts (Bloomberg). This case highlights the increasing international cooperation in combating corporate corruption and the legal risks businesses face when operating in politically sensitive regions. For investors, this underscores the importance of rigorous due diligence and strong corporate governance.

Stay tuned for the next Gist—your edge in a shifting world.

Treasury Yields Little Changed Ahead of Fed Meeting
— Wall Street Journal

Financial Services Roundup: Market Talk
— Wall Street Journal

Merger Arbs See Wide-Open Deal Window With Biotech Top of List
— Bloomberg

What Starbucks’s New CEO Has Changed, and What He Says Is Next on His List
— Wall Street Journal

Ubisoft Set to Cut Up to 200 Headquarters Jobs in Restructuring
— Bloomberg

Norway Indicts PetroNor Unit Over Alleged Congo Oil Bribes
— Bloomberg

EU’s Diverging Trade Fronts

The EU’s trade agenda is revealing a strategic pivot east. Brussels and New Delhi have concluded negotiations on a free-trade agreement, with a formal announcement expected on January 27 (Politico). The deal, under discussion since 2007, promises significant Indian tariff reductions on European cars, machinery, and agricultural goods. This breakthrough towards open markets with a rising economic power stands in stark contrast to transatlantic friction. Ratification of a tariff understanding with the US remains frozen in the European Parliament, with the key negotiating group postponing a decision until at least early February (Ansa). The divergence underscores a pragmatic, if complex, EU strategy: seeking growth with new partners while legacy relationships face political headwinds. This reorientation will likely reshape supply chains and investment flows over the medium term.

Brussels’ Digital Dragnet Expands

The EU Commission continues to tighten its grip on Big Tech, this time targeting Meta’s WhatsApp. Citing user numbers that crossed a critical threshold, Brussels has designated the app’s “Channels” feature a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the Digital Services Act (ZDF). This is not a mere procedural step; it brings WhatsApp under the EU’s most stringent content moderation and transparency rules, with a tight four-month compliance deadline. From a classical-liberal standpoint, this move extends the bloc’s regulatory reach from public-facing platforms like X to more private communication tools. The action signals that no digital space is immune from intervention, raising questions about the future balance between user privacy, free expression, and centralized oversight.

Catch the next Gist for the continent’s moving pieces.

Nordsee-Gipfel 2026: Unterzeichnung der Hamburg-Erklärung
— ZDF

EU, India reach agreement on trade deal
— Politico Europe

Study suggests ‘nudging’ VAT on meat in Europe to favour plant diets and environment
— EUObserver

Strengere EU-Digitalregeln für WhatsApp-Kanäle
— ZDF

Patriots und Seahawks spielen im Superbowl
— ZDF

Il prezzo del gas chiude in calo a 39,11 euro al megawattora
— Ansa