Author: Grace Johnson

A turbulent political opening to the yearThe year 2026 opened in turmoil. President Donald Trump threatened “strong action” against Iran after US forces captured Venezuela’s leader. His administration launched a criminal investigation into the Federal Reserve chair. The White House also attacked affordability by targeting core profit drivers for banks and institutional investors. These moves rattled global politics and markets alike. Stocks shrug off the stormMany observers expected a sharp stock market selloff. That collapse never came. Equities traders largely ignored the political shocks. US stocks reached an all-time high on Monday. Prices then slipped only slightly in subsequent sessions.…

The US government has approved Nvidia’s sale of advanced artificial intelligence chips to China. The Department of Commerce confirmed the decision on Tuesday. Officials said the move follows a review of supply conditions in the United States. The decision marks a shift in Washington’s export controls on high-end semiconductors. The approval allows Nvidia to ship its H200 processors to Chinese buyers. Authorities had previously restricted the chip over national security concerns. US officials feared the technology could boost China’s tech sector and military capabilities. The new policy changes those limits under specific conditions. Conditions tied to domestic supply and security…

A moment that forces action For President Trump, the moment for a decision has arrived. Ten days ago, he said the United States stood ready to rescue Iranian protesters if authorities used violence. He said the country was locked, loaded, and ready to act. Those remarks came before the crackdown escalated. Now the scale of violence shocks observers. The world watches how Trump will respond. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said only Trump knows his next move. She said the world can keep waiting and guessing. That uncertainty now drives intense speculation. The question remains how long that waiting…

Elon Musk said critics of his social media platform X seek any excuse to justify censorship. He spoke after outrage over Grok, an artificial intelligence chatbot linked to the platform. Users used the tool to create sexualised images without consent. Critics accused the system of enabling serious abuse. Musk rejected those claims and framed the response as an attack on free speech. Regulator launches urgent assessment Media regulator Ofcom said it launched an urgent assessment of X. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall backed the move publicly. She said the government expected rapid answers. Ofcom confirmed it contacted X earlier this week.…

US President Donald Trump has withdrawn the United States from dozens of international organisations. Many of them focus on climate change and environmental protection. Almost half of the 66 affected bodies connect to the United Nations system. The list includes the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which underpins global efforts against warming. The decision also affects organisations working on development, gender equality, and conflict prevention. The Trump administration often criticised these areas as promoting “globalist” or “woke” ideas. The White House said these groups no longer serve American interests and promote hostile agendas. White House Defends Decision as Protection of…

China’s BYD stands on the brink of a major milestone. The automaker is set to surpass Tesla as the world’s largest electric vehicle seller. The development would mark the first annual sales lead over its US rival. BYD reported strong figures on Thursday. Sales of battery electric cars climbed by nearly 28 percent last year. Total global deliveries rose beyond 2.25 million vehicles. Tesla will disclose its full 2025 sales numbers later on Friday. Analyst estimates already outline the likely outcome. They indicate Tesla sold about 1.65 million vehicles across the year. Mounting Pressure on Tesla Tesla navigated a challenging…

Gold and silver closed the year with heavy volatility after an exceptional rally. Both metals moved toward their strongest annual gains since 1979. Trading remained unsettled in the final sessions. Investors responded to interest rate signals, geopolitical tension, and fragile markets. Gold prices climbed more than 60 percent over the year. The metal reached a record peak above 4,549 dollars per ounce. Prices slipped after Christmas. Gold traded near 4,330 dollars per ounce on New Year’s Eve. Silver mirrored that turbulence. Prices settled around 71 dollars per ounce at year end. Earlier, silver surged to an all-time high of 83.62…

In a rare show of bipartisanship, four House Republicans broke ranks to join Democrats in a vote to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies. The move ensures continued health insurance support for millions of Americans. The vote comes amid ongoing debates over healthcare funding and the ACA’s role in providing affordable coverage. Lawmakers say the subsidies are critical for keeping premiums manageable and maintaining access to insurance for low- and middle-income families. Supporters of the extension argue that these subsidies prevent sudden spikes in healthcare costs and reduce the number of uninsured citizens. The bipartisan vote highlights shared concern over…

Meta has agreed to acquire the Chinese-founded artificial intelligence start-up Manus to expand its AI ambitions. The company said the deal would strengthen its technology across consumer and business products. Meta wants to accelerate development of advanced AI agents. Analysts point to multi-billion dollar price Market analysts from Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal estimated the deal value above two billion dollars. Meta declined to confirm the purchase price publicly. The acquisition signals strong confidence in Manus technology. Agents sit at the center of Meta strategy Meta said the deal would give users access to powerful digital agents. These tools…

Ukraine rejected Russian claims of a drone attack on one of President Vladimir Putin’s residences. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow of spreading false claims to sabotage peace efforts. He said Russia sought justification for further military action. Ukrainian authorities insisted no such operation took place. Russia Claims Massive Overnight Drone Operation Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine launched 91 long-range drones overnight. He claimed the drones targeted Putin’s state residence in the Novgorod region. Russian officials did not confirm Putin’s location at the time. Moscow announced it would reconsider its position in peace negotiations. Zelensky Calls Allegations Fabricated Zelensky…