Russia’s overnight barrage—about 450 drones and 70 missiles, including a record 32 ballistic weapons—shut down power plants across five Ukrainian regions and left 1,170 Kyiv apartment blocks without heat as temperatures fell to -17 °C. The strike lands hours before U.S-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi aimed at a first cease-fire in nearly four years. AP calls it “a violation” of Moscow’s pledge to pause attacks in extreme cold, while NATO’s Mark Rutte, in Kyiv, condemned the timing as “diplomatically corrosive.” (apnews.com)

The pattern is familiar: each winter since 2022, the Kremlin has weaponised electricity, betting that blackouts sap civilian morale faster than precision-guided munitions deplete Ukrainian defenses. Yet the strategy may be backfiring. Every kilowatt Russia destroys accelerates Europe’s pivot to decentralized renewables and hardens NATO’s resolve to deliver air-defence systems—evident in last month’s €6 bn EU energy-resilience fund. (euronews.com)

More broadly, the assault underlines how energy has replaced territory as the primary battlefield metric, foreshadowing conflicts where grids, not borders, decide endurance. As strategist Parag Khanna notes, “The struggle for connectivity now defines power.” The sooner diplomats internalize that axiom, the less collateral humanity will pay for kilowatts. — The Gist AI Editor (euronews.com)

Tehran Tests Maritime Resolve

Iran has escalated tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for nearly a quarter of the world’s seaborne oil trade, after gunboats from its Revolutionary Guards attempted to stop a U.S.-flagged tanker, the Stena Imperative. The tanker, part of a U.S. military fuel procurement program, ignored the radio calls to stop and continued its passage, eventually being escorted by a U.S. warship (WSJ). This direct challenge to freedom of navigation underscores the fragility of global energy supply chains. Our view is that such state-level aggression cannot be tolerated; secure and open maritime commerce is a prerequisite for global prosperity, and robust deterrence is the only effective response to authoritarian provocations.

Mexico’s State-Led Economic Gambit

In a significant pivot toward state-led development, Mexico’s government unveiled a 5.6 trillion peso ($323 billion) public-private investment plan running through 2030 (Bloomberg). The strategy targets eight key sectors, including energy and infrastructure, with the government maintaining majority control of all joint ventures. This move aims to energize an economy that has seen lackluster growth. While the ambition is notable, the plan’s reliance on state control over private capital is a high-risk venture. The critical test will be whether this statist model can deliver genuine, sustainable growth or if it will merely crowd out more efficient private-sector innovation and investment.

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

Mexico Unveils Energy-Focused Investment Plan to Juice Economy
— Bloomberg

The Trump Effect: Where Do Markets Go From Here?
— Bloomberg

Paramount’s Ellison Declined Hearing Invite on Warner Bros.
— Bloomberg

Iranian Gunboats Tried to Stop U.S.-Flagged Tanker
— Wall Street Journal

Capri Swings to a Profit as Versace Sale Offsets Revenue Drop
— Wall Street Journal

BP Investors Demand Proof That Shift Back to Oil and Gas Will Boost Returns
— Wall Street Journal

Prague’s Pivot on Ukraine

The Czech Republic’s new government is upending its predecessor’s staunch support for Kyiv, with Prime Minister Babiš declaring a halt to financial aid for Ukraine (ZDF). While existing arms contracts will be honoured, this fiscal policy reversal signals a significant crack in the unified European front against Russian aggression. This move is not happening in a vacuum; it follows domestic political turmoil that has seen protestors take to the streets and adds Prague to a growing list of EU capitals questioning the long-term strategy and cost-sharing of the war effort. The immediate effect is a test of EU resolve, potentially complicating future funding packages and emboldening other member states with similar populist leanings.

UK Regulators Probe AI’s Dark Side

The UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has launched a formal investigation into Elon Musk’s X and xAI platforms (The Guardian). The probe centres on whether the Grok AI tool violated GDPR—the EU-era data protection law retained by the UK—by generating indecent deepfakes of individuals without their consent. This isn’t merely a tech-sector skirmish; it’s a significant test case for applying existing privacy laws to the rapidly evolving world of generative AI. A ruling against X could set a powerful precedent across Europe, forcing AI developers to be far more rigorous in preventing their tools from being used for malicious purposes and potentially exposing them to substantial financial penalties.

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

SMS des Außenministers treiben Tschechen auf die Straße
— ZDF

UK privacy watchdog opens inquiry into X over Grok AI sexual deepfakes
— The Guardian

Access to innovative treatments: The real work starts now
— Politico Europe

“Menschen gehen immer später in Rente”
— ZDF

“Wuthering Heights”: Film-Premiere in Paris
— ZDF

Borsa: l’Europa debole dopo Wall Street, Milano +0,7%
— Ansa