Business

Kia unveiled the EV2 at the Brussels Auto Show as a compact, lower-cost electric model for Europe, offered in Standard (42.2 kWh, 317 km WLTP) and Long-range (61 kWh, 440+ km WLTP) trims; Kia says production of the standard-range model starts in Slovakia in February 2026, with longer-range and GT trims following in June 2026.

U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by 50,000 in December, below Reuters poll forecasts, and global shares rose while the dollar eased as markets weighed the outlook for Federal Reserve rate cuts.

A crane removed the Hampton Inn by Hilton sign in Lakeville, Minnesota after reports that the independently owned hotel denied stays to ICE and immigration officers; the General Services Administration removed the property from its list of approved federal lodging and Hilton said it removed the hotel from its systems.

Missouri is awaiting a $25.7 million federal payment that was due in December, and state officials say they are communicating with federal stakeholders while payments to child care providers remain paused.

U.S. stocks produced three consecutive years of strong, double-digit gains through 2025, and Morningstar data show many stock and bond fund categories posted solid returns last year. The article notes geopolitical tensions, fiscal and monetary policy questions, and market momentum as key factors that could influence 2026 outcomes.

ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane said the euro could play a larger role as some investors reassess the dollar amid U.S. policy shifts, and he called for expanding common euro safe assets while stressing member states must keep debt paths sustainable.

Patrick Zalupski told Dream Finders Homes shareholders on Dec. 29 that the Rays' "world class baseball operations will stay in place" and emphasized that a new ballpark and surrounding development are central to the team's future.

U.S. forces were reported to have attacked Venezuela and detained President Nicolás Maduro, and the Canadian dollar fell about 0.7% as oil prices softened and concerns rose about heavy crude displacement.

President Trump announced a proposed $1.5 trillion defense budget for 2027 and said tariff revenues would fund the increase. Analysts estimate the plan could cost about $5 trillion through 2027–2035, and a Supreme Court ruling on the administration's tariff authority is pending.

The Southern Transitional Council's secretary-general announced the group will dissolve after talks in Saudi Arabia, saying the move is meant to preserve peace and security; the STC also reported loss of contact with its Riyadh delegation and there are reports the STC leader went to the UAE.

Minnesota officials say the FBI denied state investigators access to the federal probe into the fatal shooting of Renee Nicole Good, and the state's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has withdrawn from the investigation while the FBI leads the inquiry.

Labor productivity rose at a 4.9% annualized rate in the third quarter while GDP expanded about 4.3%, even as job gains stayed modest and inflation-adjusted hourly compensation edged down.

An EPA mandate requires replacement of all lead pipes within 10 years; New London Utilities has notified customers and says about 318 households still need replacements.

The article notes Tesla posted record deliveries, strong energy deployments and about $4 billion in quarterly free cash flow, but an analyst says markets are priced for perfection and maintains a hold rating.

Spanish police arrested 34 people in a nationwide operation against the 'Black Axe' network, with Europol saying suspects face charges including fraud, money laundering and document forgery.

Retail passenger‑car sales fell 14% in December to 2.26 million units while full‑year sales rose 3.8% to 23.7 million; new‑energy vehicles made up 57% of passenger‑vehicle sales in 2025.

U.S. crude output has surged from shale but much of that oil is light while many domestic refineries were built to run heavier, sour grades; about 70% of U.S. refining capacity runs most efficiently with heavier crude and roughly 40% of refinery feedstock is imported.

Zhipu completed a Hong Kong public debut after raising more than $500 million and reported about $27 million in sales for the first half of 2025; chairman Liu Debing said price competition that has lowered margins for Chinese AI firms could spread to U.S. developers.

China Vanke is preparing a debt restructuring plan at the request of authorities, a step that would likely suspend payments and be treated as a default. Beijing must approve the plan before it is sent to creditors, and holders have given a local note a 30‑trading‑day reprieve through late January.

Grocery sales at J Sainsbury rose 5.4% in the third quarter ended Jan. 3, while overall like-for-like sales excluding fuel increased 3.4%, below analysts' expectations as weaker clothing and electricals weighed on results.

Exxon Mobil said lower crude prices may cut upstream profit by $800 million to $1.2 billion, and its fourth‑quarter earnings report is scheduled for January 30.

South Dakota K-12 enrollment fell 0.5% to 163,053 for the 2025 headcount, while alternative instruction and homeschooling rose 8% to 12,433 students.

Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz said Turkey will not relax its tight economic policy despite easing inflation, and officials expect disinflation with fiscal support to sustain monetary policy.

Rates on savings accounts were largely unchanged from a week earlier, with the highest advertised standard-account yield at 5.84% and top high-yield tiers reported at 4.88% (for a $10,000 minimum) and 4.17% (for a $25,000 minimum), according to Curinos data cited by Forbes Advisor.

Developers plan five residential buildings across a two-block span in West Palm Beach’s 13‑acre Nora District that could include potentially more than 1,200 apartments and condominiums. The first 12‑story, 350‑unit building is expected to break ground this summer and several projects are targeted for completion by 2029.

Shop price inflation in Britain rose to 0.7% year-on-year in December, up from 0.6% in November, driven mainly by a 3.3% annual increase in food prices.

A U.S. jobs report due Friday is expected to show modest hiring gains while the Federal Reserve has cut interest rates in recent months to support the labor market.

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.'s December-quarter revenue rose about 20% to NT$1.05 trillion, above Bloomberg-based estimates, and the company will report full quarterly results and a 2026 capital spending forecast next week.

Canada's leaders are promoting a new westward oil pipeline to send heavy crude to Asian markets, and recent U.S. actions to reopen Venezuelan oil have strengthened the political case for export diversification.

Modella Capital, a UK restructuring-focused investor, bought Claire's and The Original Factory Shop within the last year; the chains now face expected collapse with about 2,550 jobs at risk.