Stay Informed, Stay Ahead

Snow and ice warnings remain in effect across the UK, with the Met Office cautioning about potential severe snow in southern England later this week. Northern Scotland is under an amber alert until Tuesday night. The cold wave has led to widespread school closures and travel disruptions. Further snowfall and adverse weather conditions are expected towards the end of the week.

Nicolás Maduro, the president of Venezuela, appeared in a New York City courtroom, claiming he was kidnapped by US forces. He and his wife, Cilia Flores, pleaded not guilty to drug and weapon charges. Both remained in custody pending further proceedings.

Following the controversial actions by the US regarding Venezuelan President Maduro, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has opted for a cautious strategy, refraining from publicly criticizing President Trump to maintain a stable relationship with the White House. This approach has sparked mixed reactions both within the Labour Party and from other political factions.

Intel is gearing up to launch its Core Ultra Series 3 processors later this month, with advanced features including the new 18A manufacturing process. Initially targeting high-end ultraportable PCs, these chips will introduce 14 models across five product families, promising extensive use across 'over 200' PC designs. The first processors will be available on January 27th, with additional rollouts throughout the first half of the year.

AMD's recent announcements at CES unveiled the Ryzen AI 400 series, offering subtle improvements over the previous generation. These chips incorporate minor enhancements in clock speeds and memory support but largely retain the same architecture as the Ryzen AI 300 series.

After initial proposals from the Trump administration threatened to reduce NASA's science budget by nearly 50% for fiscal year 2026, Congress intervened to protect the agency's funding. Lawmakers allocated $24.4 billion for NASA, resulting in only a 1% reduction to its science programs.

Investor Michael Burry, noted for predicting the 2008 financial crisis, discussed his ongoing investment in Valero Energy amid increasing U.S. involvement in Venezuela's oil industry. He cites the potential for improved margins due to refineries optimized for Venezuelan heavy crude.

JPMorgan introduces 'Special Advisory Services,' an initiative offering select clients insights and best practices from the bank's internal expertise. Led by Liz Myers, the service aims to enhance long-term client relationships, though it may eventually include a fee structure for extensive projects.

Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari indicates that the central bank may soon stop cutting interest rates, as discussions pivot between addressing a slowing labor market or persistent inflation.