Business
→ NewsBerkshire Hathaway's $382 Billion Cash Pile Prompts Questions After Buffett Retires
Berkshire Hathaway holds a record $382 billion in cash as Warren Buffett retired and Greg Abel became CEO; the company has not announced any direct investments in cryptocurrencies.
Asian factory activity shows modest growth while cost pressures cloud recovery
December PMI readings showed narrow manufacturing expansion in parts of Asia, with Taiwan at 50.9 and South Korea at 50.1, while firms reported rising input costs and some material shortages.
Venezuela says US carried out strikes on Caracas
Venezuela's government accused the United States of carrying out strikes on Caracas and said both military and civilian areas were hit; explosions were heard around the capital.
Pound outlook may weaken and affect holiday money
The article reports the Chancellor's November Budget included about £26bn of tax rises and that the Bank of England recently cut interest rates to 3.75%, facts analysts say could weigh on the pound in 2026.
Mamdani Moves to Protect Renters by Intervening in Pinnacle Bankruptcy
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said New York City will intervene in the Pinnacle Group’s bankruptcy to protect tenants as more than 5,000 rent‑stabilized units face an auction and residents report long-standing disrepair.
Yemen's southern separatists seek path to independence as fighting continues in Hadramout
Southern separatists have called for a path to independence while the internationally recognised government says it launched an operation, with Saudi support, to recapture the Hadramout province.
Iran's nuclear stance helped spark a currency crisis
Iran's decision to keep its uranium-enrichment program has stalled talks with the West and coincided with a sharp fall in the rial and renewed public protests.
AeroMexico named world's most on-time airline for second year
U.K.-based Cirium named Mexico-based AeroMexico the world's most on-time airline in its 2025 On-Time Performance Review, reporting 90.02% of 188,859 flights completed on time and marking a second consecutive global win.
How many H-1B visas and EB-2 green cards are granted each year in the U.S?
By law the H-1B program is capped at 85,000 new visas per fiscal year, and the EB-2 employment-based green card category receives about 40,000–43,000 allocations annually.
Gold prices record their biggest-ever weekly dollar decline
Front-month gold futures fell Friday after losing $220.40 an ounce this week, the largest weekly dollar drop on record, closing at $4,314.40.
Claimed Social Security early: two ways to undo early filing penalties
The article notes that claiming Social Security before full retirement age typically lowers ongoing benefits and that you can rescind a claim within 12 months to undo those reductions, but rescinding requires repaying all benefits received.
Maryland man collects second lottery prize eight years later
A Prince George's County man who won $250,000 in 2018 collected a $50,000 Powerball prize at Maryland Lottery headquarters after matching four white balls in the Oct. 18 drawing.
NIO reports November deliveries of 36,275 vehicles, a 76.3% year-over-year increase
The article reports NIO shipped 36,275 vehicles in November, up 76.3% from a year earlier, bringing cumulative deliveries to 949,457 as of November 30.
Lucid Group's Gravity SUV arrives with high hopes and some risks
The article mentions Lucid Group, Inc. (LCID) is expanding production of its Gravity three-row SUV while reporting a third-quarter net loss of about $1 billion and holding roughly $5.5 billion in liquidity.
Berenberg maintains a Buy rating on Ferrari N.V.
The article reports Berenberg cut its price objective for Ferrari to €381 while keeping a Buy rating, and notes BNPP upgraded the stock to Outperform earlier in December.
Oil tanker goes dark after crew painted a Russian flag.
U.S. officials say the tanker Bella 1 painted a Russian flag and turned off its tracking while avoiding a Coast Guard boarding; the Coast Guard had a warrant to seize the ship but has not boarded and has tactical teams ready.
Tax breaks Trump is counting on to drive 2026 economic growth
A sweeping 2025 tax law signed as the One Big Beautiful Bill takes effect for the 2025 tax year and will show up in early 2026 filings; the nonpartisan Tax Foundation estimates average after-tax pay will rise about 5.4% as a result.
FBI says undercover operation disrupted an ISIS-inspired attack
Federal authorities reported they disrupted a plan by an 18-year-old in North Carolina who was reportedly inspired by the Islamic State to attack a grocery store and restaurants, and that he has been charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization.
Crypto billionaires warn California that proposed 'billionaire tax' could prompt departures
California is proposing a one-time 5% 'billionaire tax' in 2026 that would include startup shares and crypto holdings, and several tech and crypto founders have warned it could prompt relocation of wealthy builders while crypto markets showed little immediate reaction.
Negative electricity prices are increasing in parts of Europe while U.S. household bills rise
Wholesale electricity prices in parts of Europe have turned negative more often as renewable capacity has grown, and EU household electricity costs were down about 1.5% in the first half of the year; by contrast, U.S. household electricity prices showed a year-over-year rise of about 6.9% in November.
Real ID software error requires 325,000 Californians to replace cards
California's DMV says a legacy software glitch misapplied expiration dates on some Real IDs, affecting about 325,000 people; the agency will notify impacted holders and waive replacement fees.
Crash in New Hampshire leaves two people deceased and driver charged with negligent homicide
Officials say a Danville crash on Dec. 31 killed two people after a vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic, and the driver was charged with two counts of negligent homicide and held pending arraignment.
Saks owner races to raise $1 billion in financing as CEO steps down
Saks Global is seeking more than $1 billion in rescue financing to address outstanding debts, and CEO Marc Metrick is stepping down after nearly three decades with the company.
Brighton pier put up for sale as Labour council criticised
Brighton Palace Pier has been placed on the market by owner Brighton Pier Group, which cited trading difficulties; a local Conservative councillor attributed the situation to Labour-run Brighton and Hove council's approach to tourism.
Crypto tax reporting expands as UK and dozens of countries adopt CARF
The U.K. and nearly 50 jurisdictions have begun implementing the OECD's Cryptoasset Reporting Framework, and exchanges must collect users' tax residency and report crypto transactions.
FTSE 100 hits 10,000 and may be a symbolic milestone
The FTSE 100 has reached 10,000; the rise reflects easing inflation, lower interest-rate expectations and stronger bank performance.
Gulf of Finland cable damage leads to arrest of two ship crew members
Finnish police arrested two crew members after damage was found to an undersea telecommunications cable in the Gulf of Finland; authorities have opened criminal and customs investigations that are ongoing.
Retiring at 65 with $500K: ways to pursue an extra $2,000 a month
A hypothetical 65-year-old with $500,000 in savings and about $1,700 a month from Social Security still needs roughly $2,000 more monthly; the article outlines options including delaying retirement, income investing, part-time work and tapping home equity.
UWM Holdings CEO Mat Ishbia sold about 1.63 million shares for roughly $9.4 million.
UWM Holdings CEO Mat Ishbia reported an open-market sale of about 1.63 million shares held via his trust. The SEC filing values the transactions at roughly $9.4 million.
401(k) accounts help people save more for retirement, study says
A 2025 study found that people with 401(k) plans saved about 29% more for retirement than those without. Employer matching and tax benefits likely helped boost their savings.
