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This is the world in Brief from The Economist.

Our top stories, Larry Ellison, Oracle's chairman and one of the world's richest people,

pledged a personal guarantee of roughly $40 billion to backstop Paramount's takeover bid for Warner Brothers'

discovery. The American Film Company is led by Mr. Ellison's son, David. The $108 billion

hostile bid has come under scrutiny for insufficient financing. Last week, Warner told its

shareholders to back a rival offer by Netflix.

Donald Trump sparked backlash in Denmark and Greenland by naming an envoy to the Arctic

territory.

Jeff Landry, the Republican governor of Louisiana, said he was honored to work to, quote, make Greenland a part of the

U.S. Mr. Trump has repeatedly expressed his hopes to take possession of the Danish-controlled island.

Lars Luka Rasmussen, the Danish foreign minister, called the move unacceptable.

America's Coast Guard said it was in active pursuit of an oil tanker which it claimed was part of Venezuela's, quote, illegal sanctions evasion. It was the

second such operation over the weekend linked with Mr. Trump's, quote, complete blockade of sanctioned

tankers entering or leaving Venezuela.

On Saturday, officials boarded a ship allegedly carrying stolen oil.

China said that by arbitrarily seizing vessels, America, quote, grossly violates international law.

A senior Russian general in charge of training soldiers died in a car bomb explosion.

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