International. Malaysian court convicts Najib Razak. A Malaysian court found former prime minister Najib Razak guilty of abuse of power in a major trial linked to the one Malaysia Development Berhad corruption scandal, marking a key moment in one of Southeast Asia’s most significant legal cases; the decision concludes years of judicial proceedings and may still be challenged through appeals within Malaysia’s legal system. Markets. Precious metals rally as trading resumes. Silver reached new record levels while gold and platinum also advanced as financial markets reopened after the Christmas holiday, supported by thin year end liquidity and expectations of future interest rate cuts in the United States; oil prices also moved higher as investors monitored geopolitical tensions and potential supply disruptions. Innovation. Researchers unveil three dimensional chip design. Researchers introduced a prototype three dimensional semiconductor that vertically integrates memory and computing components, aiming to reduce internal data transfer delays and boost performance in artificial intelligence applications; the technology remains in the experimental phase, with additional testing and scaling required before commercial use. Politics. White House plans East Wing ballroom presentation. The White House announced plans to present a proposal in January for a new ballroom in the East Wing, with the initiative added to the official government planning schedule; no construction timeline or cost estimates were disclosed in the initial announcement.

Companies. Alphabet expands clean energy strategy. Alphabet announced the acquisition of clean energy developer Intersect for four point seven five billion dollars, and the deal strengthens Alphabet’s ability to supply renewable power to data centers supporting artificial intelligence growth. Politics. Lawmakers press Justice Department over Epstein files. United States lawmakers criticized the Justice Department’s handling of documents linked to Jeffrey Epstein, and bipartisan leaders demanded fuller disclosure while warning of possible contempt proceedings if responses are delayed. International. Indonesia and United States near tariff agreement. Indonesia said negotiations with the United States are effectively complete and that President Prabowo Subianto and President Donald Trump are expected to sign a tariff deal in January, and the agreement would grant tariff exemptions in exchange for broader access to Indonesian resources. Markets. Wall Street rises in holiday-shortened trading. United States stock markets moved higher with gains led by technology companies, as investors focused on recent economic data and corporate signals while trading volumes remained lighter due to the holiday calendar. Innovation. Lawmakers question Nvidia chip exports to China. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative Gregory Meeks requested details from the Commerce Department on approvals for Nvidia H two hundred artificial intelligence chip exports, and the inquiry focuses on transparency and national security implications.

Companies. Samsung Biologics expands manufacturing in the United States. Samsung Biologics announced the purchase of a biologics production facility in Rockville, Maryland, from GlaxoSmithKline for two hundred eighty million dollars; the site will become its first drug manufacturing base in the United States and is expected to support long term growth and strengthen the company’s role in the global pharmaceutical supply chain. Politics. White House plans broader immigration enforcement. The administration of President Donald Trump is preparing measures to expand immigration enforcement beginning in the year two thousand twenty six, including increased funding for border and interior operations; the plan aims to raise detention capacity and intensify enforcement activity, prompting political resistance in some states while remaining a central issue in national policy debates. International. Russia dismisses revised peace proposals on Ukraine. The Kremlin stated that changes made by European governments and Ukraine to peace proposals drafted by the United States do not improve prospects for ending the war; Russian officials described the revisions as inadequate, while diplomatic contacts continue without announced progress toward a comprehensive settlement framework. Markets. Gold reaches record high amid rate expectations. Gold prices climbed to an all time high as investors increased expectations for future interest rate cuts by the United States Federal Reserve; demand was also supported by safe haven buying, with market participants linking the move to shifting monetary policy expectations and ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

Companies. Cerebras revives initial public offering plans. Cerebras, a United States artificial intelligence chipmaker, is preparing to file for an initial public offering after delaying an earlier attempt due to a national security review; the renewed move highlights stronger investor demand for specialized artificial intelligence hardware and a gradual reopening of the technology listing market. Politics. Donald Trump faces headwinds entering campaign cycle. President Donald Trump enters the new campaign phase with recent legislative victories and a loyal political base; at the same time, internal Republican divisions and voter concern about living costs are shaping the political environment ahead of congressional and national races. International. Russia intensifies strikes on southern Ukraine. Russian forces increased air and drone attacks on the Odesa region, damaging port infrastructure and transport links vital to Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea; diplomatic contacts between United States and Russian representatives continued alongside military operations without visible de-escalation. Markets. Wall Street advances led by technology stocks. United States stock markets closed higher as technology and semiconductor shares rebounded, with Micron Technology among the strongest performers; investors remained focused on inflation data, central bank signals, and corporate developments driving sector-specific movements.

Companies. Howard Hughes Holdings agrees to acquire Vantage Group. Howard Hughes Holdings announced an all-cash agreement to acquire Vantage Group Holdings, expanding its presence in the specialty insurance sector; the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and standard closing conditions, with details confirmed in the official announcement. The Economy. United States inflation eases in November. The United States Consumer Price Index rose two point seven percent year on year in November, below market expectations; the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted data collection issues from previous months, which influenced comparisons and shaped expectations for Federal Reserve interest rate decisions. International. European Union approves major loan package for Ukraine. Leaders of the European Union agreed on a ninety billion euro financing package for Ukraine covering the next two years; the bloc opted to raise funds in capital markets rather than immediately use frozen Russian assets, citing legal and financial constraints. Markets. United States stocks rise on lower inflation data. United States equity markets closed higher as technology shares led gains following the softer inflation report; Micron Technology was among the notable movers, while investors adjusted interest rate outlooks in response to the latest economic data and policy expectations.

Companies. Micron raises outlook on artificial intelligence demand. Micron Technology reported quarterly earnings and revenue above expectations, supported by strong demand for memory used in artificial intelligence servers; management raised guidance for the next quarter, citing sustained orders for high bandwidth memory and continued momentum from data center customers. The Economy. Inflation forecast edges higher. A survey of economists projected United States consumer prices rising about three percent year over year in November, marking the fastest annual pace in more than a year; the estimate reflects market expectations ahead of the official Consumer Price Index release. Politics. House passes healthcare bill. The United States House of Representatives approved a Republican healthcare bill that does not extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits; without further action, millions of enrollees could face higher insurance costs when the credits expire at the end of the year. International. Tensions rise over Venezuelan oil. The United States ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers linked to Venezuela, prompting Caracas to request an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting; the move added pressure to strained relations and contributed to short term volatility in oil markets.

Companies. UWM Holdings Corporation announces strategic acquisition of TWO. UWM Holdings Corporation agreed to acquire mortgage technology company TWO in an all‑stock deal that will significantly increase UWM’s public float and result in existing UWM shareholders owning about eighty‑seven percent of the combined company while TWO shareholders hold roughly thirteen percent; the transaction is structured as tax‑free to TWO investors and will expand UWM’s board of directors. This deal reflects consolidation in the United States mortgage technology sector and positions UWM with a larger public‑market footprint amid ongoing competition. The Economy. United States labor market shows modest jobs growth in November. United States nonfarm payrolls increased by sixty‑four thousand in November while the unemployment rate rose to four point six percent, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics; the figures follow a revised decline in October affected by federal employee count anomalies and show moderation in wage growth. The data highlight continued labor market resilience alongside persistent soft spots, contributing to debates about economic momentum and labor conditions. Politics. United States expands travel entry restrictions to additional countries. The United States government issued a presidential proclamation adding seven countries to full entry bans and broadening partial restrictions for others, citing deficiencies in security screening and information sharing; effective dates and implementation criteria were outlined by the administration. The expansion affects travelers from nations including Syria, Burkina Faso and others, reflecting the administration’s focus on national security and border policy. International. United States Trade Representative warns of countermeasures after European Union penalty on X. The Office of the United States Trade Representative signaled potential retaliatory trade actions in response to a European Union fine on social media platform X, characterizing the European Union’s action as discriminatory against United States service providers and outlining possible fees or restrictions on European firms if perceived unfair treatment continues. The statement underscores rising tensions in digital trade relations between the United States and the European Union.

Companies: Oracle issues weak outlook. Oracle reported quarterly results that fell short of expectations and warned that its spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure will rise significantly, causing a sharp drop in its shares, and the company also projected lower revenue and profit for the next quarter, increasing uncertainty around its cloud expansion plans. The Economy: United States labor costs cool. The Employment Cost Index for the third quarter showed slower wage and benefit growth, signaling easing pressure in the labor market, and this slowdown aligned with other indicators pointing to a more moderate hiring environment and contributed to the decision by the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates, reinforcing expectations of a softer economic trajectory. Politics: United States House approves major defense bill. The House of Representatives passed a defense authorization package totaling about nine hundred one billion dollars and advanced the measure to the Senate, including provisions for troop compensation and continued support for international partners, while the vote maintained long-standing congressional priorities and prepared the way for further debate in the upper chamber. Markets: United States stocks rise after Federal Reserve cut. Equity indexes moved higher while Treasury yields declined following the twenty-five basis point rate reduction by the central bank, and investors initially reacted with optimism to projections that indicated a gradual path for future monetary policy before volatility increased after weak guidance from Oracle added pressure on technology shares.

Empresas: Amazon expands investment in India. Amazon plans to invest more than 35 billion dollars in India by 2030 to grow cloud services, artificial intelligence and logistics. The company says the plan will support local businesses by expanding digital infrastructure and boosting exports. Economia: Markets expect Federal Reserve rate cut. Futures markets show strong expectations that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 25 basis points at the December meeting. Investors are focused on the policy statement and new economic projections that may guide rate decisions next year. Poltica: Education Department moves to end SAVE plan. The United States Department of Education reached a settlement with the State of Missouri to end the Saving on a Valuable Education student loan repayment plan. The agreement would stop new enrollments and move current participants to other available plans, pending court approval. Internacional: China pushes domestic artificial intelligence chips. China added locally developed artificial intelligence chips to its official government procurement list for the first time, directing public sector purchases toward domestic suppliers and supporting national efforts to reduce dependence on foreign semiconductor technology.

Companies: Paramount challenges Warner with hostile bid. Paramount Skydance launched a hostile offer to buy Warner Bros Discovery for more than one hundred billion dollars, bypassing management and appealing directly to shareholders, and the move disrupts a previous agreement between Warner Bros Discovery and Netflix, raising the prospect of a lengthy review by competition authorities. The Economy: United States job openings show cooler labor demand. The latest Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey reported seven point two million vacancies, showing a gradual easing in hiring needs across the economy, and the Small Business Optimism Index from the National Federation of Independent Business rose slightly, indicating modest confidence while concerns about labor costs continue. Politics: Supreme Court reviews limits on presidential power. The United States Supreme Court heard arguments on whether to expand presidential authority to remove members of independent agencies, potentially overturning long-standing precedent, and the case could reshape the balance between the executive branch and regulatory institutions. Innovation: Nvidia gains approval for chip exports to China. President Donald Trump announced that Nvidia may export its H two hundred artificial intelligence processors to selected customers in China under a revenue sharing condition, and the decision lifted Nvidia shares and raised debate among lawmakers over national security and technological leadership.