Highlights:

• Australia Weighs LNG Windfall Tax as World Faces Soaring Prices — Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has asked Treasury to examine imposing a windfall tax on the country's liquefied natural gas industry to capitalize on elevated fuel prices. Bloomberg

• Pop Mart, Laopu Gold See Bright 2026 Despite China Spending Slump — Pop Mart International Group and Laopu Gold are positioned for triple-digit growth, standing out in China's retail sector amid sluggish domestic consumer spending. Bloomberg

• Australia's New South Wales State to Prohibit New Coal Mines — New South Wales, Australia's second-largest coal-producing state, will ban new mine applications for coal. Bloomberg

• Unilever Is Said in Talks to Merge Food Business With McCormick — Unilever is in talks to sell its food business to McCormick & Co. Bloomberg

• Super Micro Co-Founder Charged in China AI Tech Case — A Super Micro Computer co-founder was charged in New York with conspiring to illegally divert billions of dollars in artificial intelligence technology to China. Bloomberg

• Rio Shuts Bauxite Mines as Cyclone Hits Northern Australia — Rio Tinto shut two bauxite mines as tropical cyclone Narelle struck Australia's Northern Queensland coast with destructive winds and heavy rains. Bloomberg

• China's Gold Miners Set for Strong 2026 on Deals, Higher Output — China's gold miners are positioned to outperform global peers in 2026, driven by record gold prices and aggressive expansion plans. Bloomberg

• BYD Showrooms Are Bustling Across Asia After Iran Oil Shock — BYD electric vehicle dealerships across Asia are experiencing surging demand, with one Manila location reporting a month's worth of orders in two weeks. Bloomberg

• After Qatar LNG Plant Outage More Buyers Turn to US Suppliers — Following an attack on Qatar's LNG complex, more liquefied natural gas buyers are turning to US suppliers to secure supplies amid global shortages. Bloomberg

• Billionaires Thiel and Uihlein Pump Millions Into Republican PAC — Billionaire Peter Thiel is increasing his federal political engagement after sitting out the 2024 election cycle. Bloomberg

• Citigroup Global Investment Banking Chair John Chirico to Retire — John Chirico, Citigroup's global chair of investment banking, is retiring after decades serving the bank's major clients. Bloomberg

• Trump Medicare Chief Says Private Plans Not Controlling Costs — The Trump administration's Medicare chief stated that privately-run Medicare plans are not adequately controlling costs, raising questions about upcoming rate updates. Bloomberg