President Trump targets Greenland, what next for Syrian refugees and why Netflix is winning again
January 2025
Hello and welcome!👋
Happy Lunar New Year from Hong Kong! Wishing you success and joy in all aspects of life.
MAKE GREENLAND GREAT AGAIN?
It’s impossible to begin this edition without talking about Donald Trump’s return to the White House. There are numerous angles to consider, from Silicon Valley’s warm embrace of the president to the flurry of executive orders signed shortly after the inauguration.
The issue of Greenland, in particular, has caught my attention. Western Europe and the US are steadfast allies - and Scandinavia tends to fly under the radar. So to see Trump take aim at Denmark in his first week is unusual.
Trump’s renewed call for Washington to control Greenland was not on anyone’s bingo card, not least Copenhagen. His interest in the semi-autonomous island stems from security calculations. Greenland occupies a strategic location in the North Atlantic and Arctic Circle. Additionally, the territory is rich in mineral deposits and the melting ice could spark a ‘gold rush’ among mining firms.
This video by the Wall Street Journal explores the steps required to actually acquire Greenland.
If geopolitics is a genre you enjoy, I also recommend watching the excellent Danish (fictional) TV series Borgen, especially Season 4 which delves into Greenland’s status.
SYRIA’S REFUGEE CRISIS
According to reports received by the UN, more than 115,000 Syrians have returned home since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime.
Syrians form the world’s largest refugee population, with approximately six million people receiving shelter in foreign territories. The majority of Syrians who fled during the civil war crossed the border into Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey.
With a new leader at the helm, and an interim government seemingly committed to peace, discussions on the future of these refugees are slowly starting. One German minister has already suggested that some Syrians may need to go back [nearly a million live in Germany].
For many displaced Syrians, the risks are serious. Safety concerns remain and there are no guarantees of stability. It’s unclear if religious freedom will be tolerated and how different communities will prosper following a decade of bloodshed. Then there’s the matter of the economy and reconstruction efforts - sanctions haven’t been lifted, and hundreds of bombed out buildings and roads lie in disrepair.
THE COMEBACK KID
When Netflix lost subscribers in 2022, entertainment executives began to speculate whether other platforms would eventually reign supreme. But fast forward two years later and Netflix still dominates the video streaming market. In fact, the company is doing better than ever.
Netflix’s share price climbed to a record high on 22 January after posting impressive results for the final quarter. In the October to December period, Netflix added 18.9 million paid subscribers, beating the estimate of 9.8 million.
Analysts say the second season of Squid Game and live sporting events, such as the boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, were huge draws. These wins have given co-CEOs Greg Peters and Ted Sarandos the confidence to allocate an extra $1 billion on content spending in 2025.
Still, Netflix has Disney+ and HBO Max hot on its heels. As monthly fees rise, maintaining a consistent conveyor of quality shows becomes essential. Netflix certainly offers volume but does it often produce critical darlings or viral hits? With The Crown wrapped up and Stranger Things ending this autumn, the platform is on the hunt for material to generate buzz.
Thanks for reading! Take care and stay curious, Sara x