Happy holidays to all readers! Work has kept me rather busy over the last few months, which partly explains the lack of regular updates made to this blog. I am now looking forward to a short break and the chance to explore more of north Vietnam. I will sign off for the year with some final reading links (expanded slightly to make up for the lack of recent posts). Wishing everyone all the best for 2026! 

• Lex Fridman: Jack Weatherford on Gengis Khan and the Mongol empire.
• Japan Today: How Kouta Matsuda launched Tully’s Coffee in Japan in 1997. Scroll to the bottom for other interesting stories in the “When They Opened in Japan” series.
• Business Wire: 3D Investment releases a presentation highlighting management issues at SQEX Holdings and seeks shareholder views. Presentation link here.
• Talking Billions Podcast: Interview with Dan Rupp of Parkway Capital.
• Pangolin Asia Fund: James Hay and team’s write-up on Haw Par.
• NLB: Library of Mistakes brings lessons from global financial history to Singapore.
• The Guardian: How cyclones and monsoon rains converged to devastate parts of Asia – visual guide.
• Asia Centric: Conversation with Tim Moe, Goldman’s chief Asia-Pacific equity strategist.
• How I Built This with Guy Raz: Craig Newmark – the Forrest Gump of the internet.
• Forbes: The inside story of how a former hedge fund star made his first billion On Grindr.
• Sprott Radio Podcast: Uranium outlook 2026 with John Ciampaglia.