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862949c8fe9b70195bf51ed97e5adc74de5a97d8059f992ab29fac14786b35fa
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2026-01-01T14:24:54+00:00
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End of an era: Warren Buffett serves last day as Berkshire Hathaway's CEO
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While change for the company Buffett bought six decades ago is likely to be gradual, it is also inevitable.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/01/warren-buffett-retires-as-berkshire-hathaway-ceo.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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c2d771ea47278cab1e76bf1874717148fe5094e885303904f639b1da7ec14ea9
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2026-01-01T14:30:01+00:00
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This investment account is 'like a super-powered Roth,' expert says. And 6 million more Americans are now eligible to contribute
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ABLE accounts are tax-advantaged investment accounts for Americans with disabilities and other medical conditions. Now even more savers can open one.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/01/6-million-more-americans-are-now-eligible-to-contribute-to-able-accounts.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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0aee41d35302585852a5e2ca99378d87ad5dd4eeab041c169ed4a8ab60439c65
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2026-01-01T14:15:02+00:00
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There are 6 ‘money personalities’—finding out yours can help you be happier and richer in 2026
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"Recognizing your tendencies empowers you to make intentional shifts and cultivate healthier behaviors," says Steph Wagner, National Director of Women & Wealth at Northern Trust.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/01/there-are-6-money-personalities-finding-out-yours-can-help-you-be-happier-and-richer.html
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Business & Finance
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svg
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8cc43f851430227381c4d784e3ff2c9dde232b11e1b1081cd59fcad23111ebfb
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2026-01-01T16:34:32+00:00
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NG borrowings surge in November
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By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter THE NATIONAL Government’s (NG) gross borrowings surged in November amid a sharp rise in domestic and foreign borrowings, the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) said. Latest data from the Treasury showed that total gross borrowings jumped by 74.55% to P113.53 billion from P65.05 billion in the same month a year ago. Month on month, gross borrowings rose by 29.3% from P87.81 billion in October. Domestic borrowings increased by 59.57% to P78 billion in November from P48.88 billion in the same month last year. This accounted for the bulk or 68.7% of the total gross borrowings in November. Domestic borrowings were mainly composed of P70 billion in fixed-rate Treasury bonds (T-bonds) and P8 billion in Treasury bills (T-bills). On the other hand, external borrowings, which mainly consisted of project loans, jumped by 119.81% to P35.53 billion in November from P16.17 billion in the previous year. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said the higher gross borrowings in November were due to the need to plug the budget deficit. “This could be attributed to the continued NG budget deficit that needs to be financed by NG borrowings/debt, despite lower maturing government bonds in the fourth quarter,” he said in a Viber message. In the first 11 months of the year, NG’s gross borrowings inched up by 4.07% to P2.6 trillion from P2.49 trillion a year ago. The 11-month tally made up around 99.85% of the revised P2.6-trillion financing program for 2025. As of end-November, domestic borrowings made up 81.32% of the total. Domestic debt went up by 10.42% to P2.11 trillion in the period ending November from P1.91 trillion a year ago. This accounted for 99.98% of the P2.112-trillion domestic borrowing program for the year. Domestic debt was composed of P1.19 trillion in fixed-rate T-bonds, P425.61 billion in retail T-bonds, P300 billion fixed-rate Treasury notes, and P192.2 billion in T-bills. Meanwhile, gross external borrowings stood at P484.89 billion as of end-November, 16.75% down from P582.41 billion a year ago. This accounted for 99.33% of the P488.174-billion external borrowing program this year. Broken down, foreign debt included P201.35 billion in program loans, P191.97 billion in global bonds, and P91.57 billion in project loans. The end‑November external debt reflected the $3.3-billion global bond issuance completed in late January and settled in February. Mr. Ricafort said there is a seasonal increase in the budget deficit towards the end of the year, which would require more borrowings to finance the widening budget deficit. The budget deficit shrank by 26.02% year on year to P157.6 billion in November, but still pushed the fiscal gap to P1.26 trillion in the 11-month period. This represented 80.92% of the revised full-year target of P1.56 trillion for 2025.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/02/721894/ng-borrowings-surge-in-november/
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Business & Finance
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e81da41a862daf286e12a62642a5d38e0f157983a1687d758a8c3b3a5d63ff56
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2026-01-01T16:33:32+00:00
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White corn gives Cagayan farmers a lifeline after years of debt and flood losses
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1 of 2 WHILE yellow corn is a feed and industrial crop, white corn is eaten directly and draws higher farmgate prices — P35 to P45 per kilo, roughly double the P18 farmers usually get for yellow corn. — VONN ANDREI E. VILLAMIEL VONN ANDREI E. VILLAMIEL By Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel CAGAYAN — For decades, Crecencia B. Garan planted yellow corn in the river plains of Alcala, Cagayan — only to watch most of her earnings circle back to the middlemen who financed her inputs. Each planting season left the 67-year-old Filipino deeper in debt, and each flood that swept through her low-lying community wiped out whatever gains remained. “For yellow corn, we shoulder all the expenses, and we often borrow from middlemen,” she told reporters invited by the Agriculture department to Alcala on Dec. 5 in Filipino. “What we earn just ends up being used to pay our debts.” Today, Ms. Garan says she is finally making money from the same land. She is part of a small but rising group of farmers shifting to white corn, a variety long grown for household consumption but now fetching higher prices and attracting steadier buyers as Alcala tries to rewire its corn economy. While yellow corn is a feed and industrial crop, white corn is eaten directly and draws higher farmgate prices — P35 to P45 per kilo, roughly double the P18 farmers usually get for yellow corn. Grown alongside the yellow variety, white corn has become a crucial second stream of income that helps farmers absorb losses from the more volatile yellow corn market. Input access has also changed the equation. Seeds, fertilizer and pesticides are provided by government programs pushing white corn planting, while Alcala’s municipal processing hub buys the harvest and channels it to institutional buyers. “Because of white corn, we earn more because of higher prices,” Ms. Garan said. “Farmers also receive free fertilizer and insecticide, and we can borrow tractors and rotavators.” Alcala’s farmers have long depended on yellow corn, grown across more than 4,200 hectares and sold to livestock growers and feed millers across Cagayan Valley. That model began to crack after Typhoon Ulysses struck in 2020, sending floodwaters across the province and destroying about P52 million worth of crops and livestock in Alcala alone. Municipal agriculturist Vincent C. Espejo said years of heavy herbicide use in yellow corn areas contributed to vegetation loss and soil runoff, worsening the impact of flooding. Local officials began looking for crops that required fewer chemicals and encouraged more manual weeding — conditions that pointed them to white corn. “We have about 4,200 hectares planted to yellow corn, and almost all of them use herbicide,” Mr. Espejo said in Filipino. “The local government decided to adopt white corn because it does not use herbicide.” Today, about 100 hectares in Alcala are planted with white corn, producing roughly 170 metric tons per cycle. The changes required deliberate intervention. During the first harvests, the town government had to buy white corn because there were no buyers yet. “We bought it at P25 per kilo and sold it at P20 per kilo,” Mr. Espejo said. “The LGU (local government unit) would incur losses, and that was not sustainable.” That experience led to the creation of the Alcala Product Center, which now buys white corn, processes part of it, and connects farmers to institutional buyers. One of them is snack maker Nacho King, which buys at P45 per kilo and has a monthly requirement of up to 10 metric tons, according to Alcala’s agriculture office. ‘BIG BROTHER’ The center’s purchases reach about 30 metric tons per cropping cycle. Roughly 3 tons are turned into corn-based products — noodles, coffee, corn bits and corn rice — sold in groceries, trade fairs and pasalubong stores, reaching markets as far as Manila and Palawan. The Alcala Fine Producers Cooperative, which manages the center, uses what it calls a “big-brother, small-brother” setup to support growers. “We are the big brother, and they are the small brother,” cooperative manager Jennifer M. Pagaduan told reporters in Filipino. “We help them process and market their products. They no longer need to find buyers themselves.” For farmers like Belly A. Duruin, president of the White Corn Growers Association, the mix of input assistance, equipment access and market guarantees has transformed their outlook. “This is a big help to us farmers,” she said in Filipino. “Because of growing white corn, our income increased. We no longer suffer losses.” Still, expansion remains slow. Of Alcala’s more than 4,000 hectares of corn land, only around 100 hectares have shifted to white corn. Habits, market familiarity, and yield differences continue to anchor farmers to yellow corn. “White corn is more labor intensive,” Mr. Espejo separately told BusinessWorld. “Unlike yellow corn, which only needs to be sprayed with herbicide, white corn requires manual weeding.” White corn yields about 2 metric tons per hectare, less than half the 5 tons typical for yellow corn. And although white corn commands higher prices, its market is smaller. Yellow corn remains easier to sell — traders and livestock growers will pick it up directly from farms. The processing center has also reached its limits. Drying equipment is scarce, and the town still lacks a proper warehouse for bigger volumes. Despite the constraints, Alcala sees momentum turning. As more buyers explore white corn for snacks and other food products, farmers are finding demand that did not exist just a few years ago. “When demand for white corn increases, production will also increase. Before, buyers could only find yellow corn, but now producers are available,” Mr. Espejo said. The local government aims to expand white corn planting to 20% of Alcala’s corn land — around 800 hectares — within five years. The expectation is that demand for locally grown white corn will continue rising as processors and food manufacturers search for unique ingredients and as consumers explore alternatives to traditional staples. For now, farmers like Ms. Garan say white corn has already changed their lives. After decades of borrowing from middlemen, she says she no longer ends each harvest season in debt. “We no longer suffer losses. We earn more now.”
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/02/721893/white-corn-gives-cagayan-farmers-a-lifeline-after-years-of-debt-and-flood-losses/
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Business & Finance
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f104357cd2b575cf5da6fc003618d9cc85d6e96358930fb867337794aa7a47e4
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2026-01-01T16:32:33+00:00
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Easing bank secrecy law likely to boost Philippines’ efforts vs financial crimes
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By Katherine K. Chan, Reporter THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS to the country’s decades-old bank secrecy law would be a sensible preemptive measure against illicit financial activities, despite being limited to bank officers and employees. “The Philippines is one the very few countries with this, so (it is) a welcome development to align with global best practices (and) to help improve governance standards,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort told BusinessWorld in a Viber message. In December, the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading a bill introducing amendments to the Philippine bank secrecy law. Under House Bill (HB) No. 6707, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) will be granted the authority to access bank accounts owned by bank officers and employees linked to financial crimes. The measure consolidated eight similar House bills under the 20th Congress, including HB Nos. 7, 1674, 1786, 1918, 3026, 3196, 4388 and 5152. If the proposal is signed into law, the BSP will be allowed to examine the bank deposits of officials, employees, or any related parties of entities under any BSP-supervised institution. BSP-supervised institutions are banks, nonbank financial institutions with quasi-banking functions, and other entities that are engaged in financial activities like pawnshops, electronic money issuers, money service businesses, and trust corporations. The bill, which is included in the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council’s priority measures for the 20th Congress, likewise seeks to permit the BSP to exercise the same authority in investigating closed banks. Asked if limiting the scope to bank officers and employees is sufficient, Mr. Ricafort said: “Better to align banking standards with other ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) or Asian countries and with other developed countries, based on global banking best practices.” Meanwhile, John Paolo R. Rivera, a senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute for Development Studies, said despite the limitations, the proposal is still a “sensible first step” to combat financial crimes involving banking officials. “It is a sensible first step because it targets areas of highest risk and accountability without undermining depositor confidence,” he told BusinessWorld in a Viber message. “Many financial crimes involve insiders who facilitate or ignore suspicious transactions, so tighter scrutiny here can meaningfully strengthen enforcement while preserving the principle of bank secrecy for the general public.” The central bank has been pushing for amendments to the Philippines’ tight bank secrecy laws to boost its oversight of the financial sector by preventing cases of insider abuse, citing cases where bankers themselves borrow from their own banks or hide proceeds of fraudulent activities in their banks, which endanger depositors. Mr. Rivera said introducing further amendments to require ordinary account holders suspected of ties to illegal financial activities to waive bank deposit secrecy could potentially undermine public confidence. “Allowing BSP to look into accounts of the general public would be far more sensitive and could raise serious privacy and confidence concerns if not narrowly defined,” he said. “Any broader access should be strictly risk-based, court-authorized, and tied to specific investigations, not blanket powers. Otherwise, it risks capital flight, weaker trust in banks, and reputational damage to the financial system,” he added. Meanwhile, analysts said easing the bank secrecy law could boost investor confidence in the Philippines. “Easing bank secrecy is a game-changer,” Jonathan L. Ravelas, senior adviser at Reyes Tacandong & Co., said via Viber. “It strengthens BSP’s ability to fight fraud and money laundering, keeps us off global gray lists, and signals that the Philippines is serious about transparency.” “That builds investor confidence and makes us more attractive for foreign capital — because trust is the currency that drives investment,” he added. Mr. Rivera noted that investors appreciate clear rules, strong governance and transparent financial channels, all of which are reflected in the rationale behind the proposed amendments to the bank secrecy law. “Clear, risk-based access paired with due process signals lower regulatory and reputational risk, which can ultimately make (the Philippines) a more attractive and trustworthy investment destination,” he added. In a report for its Article IV Consultation with the Philippines released last month, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said the Philippines should continue to prioritize advancing efforts to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. “Amendments to the Bank Deposits Secrecy laws in line with international good practices should be pursued to enhance the BSP’s supervisory powers and strengthen AML/CFT (anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism) supervisory effectiveness,” the IMF said. “Strengthening the AML/CFT frameworks is also important to support broader anti-corruption efforts and effectively combat the laundering of proceeds of corruption,” it added. In February 2025, the Philippines exited the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “gray list” or the list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring for money laundering. The FATF is set to reassess the country in 2027, when it will verify whether the country’s anti-money laundering measures are being sustained and still in place.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/02/721895/easing-bank-secrecy-law-likely-to-boost-philippines-efforts-vs-financial-crimes/
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Business & Finance
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5d5e928353e2b8329686a581dd7de0abc1438a468eafb25eddaf720f51c4f9a6
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2026-01-01T16:31:03+00:00
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PSEi rebound seen this year if governance issues resolved
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By Alexandria Grace C. Magno THE PHILIPPINE Stock Exchange’s (PSE) main index will most likely consolidate or move sideways this year amid continued uncertainty, according to analysts. China Bank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet said as things stand today, the PSE index (PSEi) could go up to the 6,700 level if governance issues are resolved and gross domestic product (GDP) growth remains above 5%. “There’s a chance that the market could rise to around 6,600-6,700 if we see decisive action on governance issues as well as a sustained trend of GDP growth above 5%,” he said in a Viber message. “Conversely, there’s a risk of the index revisiting 5,600 or lower if economic growth stalls or fresh governance concerns emerge.” Economic managers expect 6-7% GDP growth this year, slightly faster than the 5.5-6.5% goal in 2025. A corruption scandal involving anomalous flood control projects has already shaken investor confidence and slowed economic activity last year. An independent commission is still investigating the allegations that government officials, lawmakers and contractors received billions of pesos in kickbacks from anomalous projects. The flood control mess has affected the stock market, which slumped in 2025. The PSEi ended lower on Monday — the final trading day of 2025 — at 6,052.92, down by 7.29% or 475.87 points from its end-2024 finish of 6,528.79. Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., said that if anti-corruption measures and governance reforms are pursued seriously, markets could sustain gains above 6,000. “Local market sentiment was largely supported recently by the S&P’s latest affirmation on the Philippine credit ratings and positive outlook shows that the country’s economic and credit fundamentals remain intact despite geopolitical risks, the Trump factor, and local political noises recently,” Mr. Ricafort said in a Viber message. In November, S&P Global Ratings kept the Philippines’ long-term “BBB+” and short-term “A-2” ratings with a “positive” outlook, noting that growth prospects remain solid despite the corruption scandal. The “BBB+” sovereign rating is a notch below the “A”-level grade targeted by the government, while a positive outlook means the Philippines’ credit rating could be raised within 24 months if improvements are sustained. AP Securities, Inc. Equity Research Analyst Shawn Ray R. Atienza said the PSEi may get stuck between the 6,000 and 6,400 level as weak manufacturing, slow consumer spending, and tighter infrastructure disbursements could hold back growth. “Conversely, we anticipate 2025 fourth-quarter earnings of mining stocks to cushion macroeconomic woes and serve as a natural hedge against the weakening equity market and depreciating peso,” he said. The peso on Monday closed at P58.79 per dollar, depreciating by eight centavos from its P58.71 finish on Friday. Year to date, it weakened by 94.5 centavos or 1.61% from its P57.845 close on Dec. 27, 2024. In a Viber message, Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said the market could see a “solid recovery, potentially reaching 6,300-6,500” if data show strong fourth-quarter GDP growth and inflation remains stable. Philstocks Financial, Inc. Research Manager Japhet Louis O. Tantiangco said the local economy needs positive catalysts to restore confidence and get economic growth back on track. “This would include inflation remaining under control, a robust labor market, signs that household consumption growth is re-accelerating, investments in the country are recovering, more progress on the investigation of the Philippines’ corruption issues that would in turn help reignite consumer and investor confidence,” he said. F. Yap Securities Investment Analyst Marky Carunungan said that investors are weighing political and governance uncertainties, which may temper investment and economic momentum. “For early 2026, we expect the PSEi to trade in a relatively contained 5,900-6,200 range as the market navigates mixed signals from both macroeconomic and policy fronts. The 5,900 level remains as key support, while heavy resistance around 6,120-6,200 continues to cap upside,” he said in a Viber message. “Until there’s a clearer visibility on governance clarity, fiscal execution, and sustained foreign inflows, our stance remains wait-and-see, with a more constructive market outlook contingent on a decisive break above 6,200 level,” Mr. Carunungan added. PSE President and Chief Executive Officer Ramon S. Monzon on Monday said that despite the PSEi’s decline last year, there are reasons to be optimistic this year. “If our government succeeds in its drive to hold the corrupt accountable and institute real and lasting improvements in transparency and governance, our market should be one of the best-performing markets in the region next year,” he said in a statement on Monday. IPO ACTION The Philippine stock market may still face limited initial public offering (IPO) action in 2026, as some analysts forecast pointing to no more than four listings. “We might have at most four IPOs in 2026. The most likely candidates are REITs and those in defensive sectors,” Mr. Colet said, noting that proposed changes to real estate investment trust (REIT) rules and lower interest rates could motivate some sponsors to move forward with REIT IPOs. In November, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) released a draft memorandum circular proposing updates to the REIT rules to broaden the definition of income-generating assets, extend sponsors’ reinvestment deadlines, and strengthen disclosure and governance requirements.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/02/721870/psei-rebound-seen-this-year-if-governance-issues-resolved/
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Business & Finance
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e3a2f580284a80536eeafe9a0bbfbf6f21ea8188a4e17ff38dc50dc0273712e1
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2026-01-01T16:06:25+00:00
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Flexible workspaces may sustain growth in 2026
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By Beatriz Marie D. Cruz, Reporter THE PHILIPPINES’ flexible workspace market is set to expand further this year as global capability centers (GCC) and multinationals increase their presence in key business districts and regional hubs, analysts said. “We expect continued growth in the flexible workspace sector, supported by both local and global trends,” Mikko Barranda, director for commercial leasing at Leechiu Property Consultants, said in an e-mailed reply to questions. “Global economic uncertainty and cost optimization requirements will reinforce demand further to look for adaptable solutions.” GCCs, or in-house service hubs of multinational companies, continue to see the Philippines as a key location for talent and cost efficiency. “For many of these companies, flexible workspaces provide a low-risk entry point before committing to larger, long-term offices,” Mr. Barranda said. He added that flexible workspaces — offering hot desks, pods, meeting rooms and lounges — have become a staple in corporate real-estate strategies. These models attract project-based teams and market entrants looking to scale operations amid uncertain global conditions and high leasing costs. Local coworking operator GreatWork Global Workspaces plans to double its footprint by 2026 to capture rising demand. “We have a strong pipeline of local and international companies requesting GreatWork locations in areas where they are scaling operations and hiring talent,” Ruth Coyoca, assistant vice-president for sales and business development at GreatWork Global Workspaces, said in a Viber message. GreatWork is in talks with more than 20 landlords across Metro Manila, Clark, Cebu and select regional business districts. Its offices offer coworking areas, private suites and virtual office services with designs featuring natural light, ergonomic layouts and premium finishes. In 2025, the company recorded about 90% occupancy in its Quezon City and Mandaluyong branches. About 60% of its tenants are foreign companies — including business process outsourcing and Fortune 500 companies — while 40% are Filipino-led enterprises and government clients. “This mix provides resilience across economic cycles and reinforces our positioning as a premium, enterprise-ready coworking operator,” Ms. Coyoca said.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/02/721877/flexible-workspaces-may-sustain-growth-in-2026/
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Business & Finance
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70980eabc372497b940feefb9bf63d4b84d151a2c2ef646acd7ab598d0377c34
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2026-01-01T16:05:25+00:00
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PHL firms told to prepare for rise in AI-driven scams
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PHILIPPINE ORGANIZATIONS face a higher risk of scams driven by artificial intelligence (AI) this year and should strengthen intelligence-led cybersecurity and employee awareness to limit exposure, according to Trend Micro. “In 2026, cybercriminal tactics will increasingly be driven by AI and automation,” Trend Micro Philippines Country Manager Ian V. Felipe said in an e-mailed reply to questions. Autonomous or agentic AI systems are expected to make fraud campaigns more targeted, persuasive, and scalable, according to the cybersecurity software firm’s 2026 Scam Predictions report. These tools let attackers automate scam creation, social engineering and fraud execution with limited human oversight, Mr. Felipe said. Trend Micro expects phishing, impersonation scams and payment-related fraud to continue rising, often paired with malware infections or account takeover attempts. Organizations with digital customer touchpoints such as online payment systems, customer service platforms and cloud-based applications are likely to face the highest exposure. “While the Philippines shares many of the same risk factors as other Asia-Pacific countries, including reliance on hybrid environments and digital platforms, its growth in digital adoption has made proactive cybersecurity a strategic imperative,” Mr. Felipe said. The company also warned that Philippine organizations would remain targets of advanced persistent threats this year, particularly those handling sensitive data or connected to national and economic infrastructure. “Any organization with a significant digital footprint, reliance on cloud or hybrid environments or exposure to regional and global networks should consider itself a potential target and take a proactive, intelligence-driven approach to security,” he added. Other scam types expected to persist include multi-channel fraud, relationship and investment scams, instant payment fraud and delivery- and billing-related schemes, according to Trend Micro. Scammers are also expected to time attacks around major events such as natural disasters, layoffs and elections to increase credibility and success rates. Trend Micro estimates that global losses from scams reached $442 billion in 2024, underscoring the scale of the threat as AI-driven techniques become more accessible and sophisticated. The firm said organizations that combine technical defenses with employee awareness programs would be better positioned to limit risk as scam tactics continue to evolve. — Beatriz Marie D. Cruz
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/02/721876/phl-firms-told-to-prepare-for-rise-in-ai-driven-scams/
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Business & Finance
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e229bf12854948143a2ced826920c14efd7c9614c9fb893bd5427fa2d6b697f7
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2026-01-01T16:04:25+00:00
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SEC warns investors against Adscent International
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THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has warned the public against Adscent International, saying it is promoting investment schemes that promise unusually high returns over short periods. In an advisory, the corporate regulator said Adscent International, using Facebook and agents, is soliciting funds or offering loans with promised returns of 120%, 350% and 300% over seven, 20 and 15 days, depending on the completion of certain tasks. The scheme also offers a 10% bonus for referring others. “Investors may register through their website… or join Facebook groups managed by team leaders to manage their investments and serve as advisers in future transactions,” the SEC said. The regulator noted that Adscent International’s social media posts offer three investment plans with different profit margins linked to varying minimum and maximum investment amounts. The SEC said such arrangements constitute an investment contract, which under the Securities Regulation Code must be registered and authorized by the commission. The code defines an investment contract as a security where funds are invested in a common enterprise with profits expected primarily from the efforts of others. Adscent International does not have a license to solicit investments. Its chief executive officer has also not been registered as an associated person, compliance officer, salesman or certified investment solicitor for any broker-dealer, investment house, underwriter, investment adviser or mutual fund distributor, the SEC said. The company’s website link is unavailable, and no other contact information for Adscent International is publicly listed. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/02/721875/sec-warns-investors-against-adscent-international/
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Business & Finance
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8d2dc78b7562dc12f28efa8e25de957a7335c4842caaeb92e20be1f0cda9f82c
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2026-01-01T16:04:21+00:00
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A show for lawyers
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Movie Review Bar Boys: After School Directed by Kip Oebanda Produced by 901 Studios MTRCB Rating: PG
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https://www.bworldonline.com/arts-and-leisure/2026/01/02/721808/a-show-for-lawyers/
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Business & Finance
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256de6d1986dae3b65c94cc4851f6b89c7353153b0ee1c3f1362e453fc69d61b
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2026-01-01T16:03:42+00:00
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Desiderata for the Philippines: Piercing the upper limit
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https://www.bworldonline.com/opinion/2026/01/02/721842/desiderata-for-the-philippines-piercing-the-upper-limit/
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Business & Finance
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c177b1d1fde833ae4c84afc4e0abe0b3c72613c4962048f8b5ad88480abba9e1
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2026-01-01T16:03:25+00:00
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Further BSP, Fed policy easing may stabilize market sentiment
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FURTHER RATE CUTS from both the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) and the US Federal Reserve could put some pressure on the peso in the near term, but may help stabilize markets and investor sentiment, analysts said. “Both the Fed and the BSP signaling room for another rate cut generally point to a more supportive liquidity backdrop… One more cut from both central banks would likely put more mild pressure on the peso’s depreciation as rate differentials remain, while also increasing demand for government securities in the short term as investors can take advantage of lower policy rates and softer yield expectations,” Regina Capital Development Corp. Head of Sales Luis A. Limlingan said in a Viber message. “In the medium term, further easing could help stabilize financial conditions and partially support risk sentiment.” The BSP on Dec. 11 delivered a fifth straight 25-basis-point (bp) reduction in benchmark borrowing costs, bringing the policy rate to an over three-year low of 4.5%. It has lowered benchmark rates by a total of 200 bps since its easing cycle began in August 2024. BSP Governor Eli M. Remolona, Jr. has left the door open to one final 25-bp cut this year to help boost the economy amid a dismal outlook due to a wide-ranging corruption scandal involving government infrastructure projects, which has affected public spending and investor confidence. The Monetary Board will hold its first meeting for this year on Feb. 19. Meanwhile, the Fed cut by 25 bps for a third consecutive time at its Dec. 9-10 meeting to bring its target rate to the 3.5%-3.75% range. It next meets on Jan. 27-28, with investors currently expecting the central bank to leave its benchmark rate unchanged, Reuters reported. The Fed agreed to cut interest rates at its December meeting only after a deeply nuanced debate about the risks facing the US economy right now, according to minutes of the latest two-day session. Even some of those who supported the rate cut acknowledged “the decision was finely balanced or that they could have supported keeping the target range unchanged,” given the different risks facing the US economy, according to the minutes released on Tuesday. “Most participants” ultimately supported a cut, with “some” arguing that it was an appropriate forward-looking strategy “that would help stabilize the labor market” after a recent slowdown in job creation. Others, however, “expressed concern that progress towards the committee’s 2% inflation objective had stalled.” “One more rate cut from BSP and Fed would likely pull yields lower and keep demand for GS (government securities) strong as investors position for a prolonged easing cycle. For the Philippine peso, additional cuts may cause mild short-term pressure, but this should be manageable if global conditions remain stable and inflows hold,” Philippine Institute for Development Studies Senior Research Fellow John Paolo R. Rivera said in a Viber message. However, further policy accommodation by both central banks may not be enough to boost investor sentiment, he said. “While rate cuts help liquidity and valuations, they may not be enough to fully offset weak sentiment from slower growth expectations. Monetary easing can cushion markets, but restoring confidence will still depend on improved growth prospects, fiscal execution, and clearer policy signals.” In 2025, global financial markets were roiled by US President Donald J. Trump’s shifting trade policies that he said are meant to reestablish the world’s largest economy’s dominance, as well as geopolitical concerns. In the Philippines, the graft scandal linking officials of the Public Works department, lawmakers, and private contractors to corruption in allegedly anomalous flood control projects also weighed on investor sentiment, especially in the second half of the year, causing stocks to hit multi-year troughs and the peso to post fresh record lows. — A.M.C. Sy with Reuters
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https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/01/02/721781/further-bsp-fed-policy-easing-may-stabilize-market-sentiment/
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Business & Finance
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0886c40ddc6a909c2dc7ce2907036e97f1fb2d2801a94252af7c7285b4bbf27c
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2026-01-01T16:03:24+00:00
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FLI focuses on bigger Laguna projects after exit from CCPC
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FEDERAL LAND, INC. (FLI) said it would concentrate on bigger developments in Laguna province after the divestment of Crown Central Properties Corp. (CCPC). “The master-planned community in Biñan developed by CCPC, our joint venture with Crown Equities, is almost fully sold out and represents a small, legacy portion of our total development portfolio,” FLI President Jose Mari H. Banzon said in a Viber message on Monday. “We decided to divest from CCPC and focus our resources on our more recent and larger developments in Laguna,” he added. In October, Mr. Banzon said the company had completed its 2025 project launches and was preparing several residential developments for 2026, including a 21-hectare horizontal project in Biñan, Laguna, as a continuation of its Meadowcrest community. He said the Biñan project is among the company’s bigger developments. “It includes the sequel to Hartwood, a village in Meadowcrest. Federal Land still has a significant land bank in Biñan and Sta. Rosa,” he added. Last month, FLI and unit Horizon Land Property Development Corp. sold their combined 52% stake in Crown Central Properties to Crown Equities, Inc. for P73.48 million. Crown Equities acquired 62.5 million common shares from FLI valued at P68.12 million, and 5 million shares from Horizon Land worth P5.37 million. The board approved the acquisition on Dec. 16, and the deal remains subject to closing conditions. After the transaction, Crown Equities now owns 100% of Crown Central Properties, which develops residential and commercial projects. Crown Central was originally established in 1996 as a joint venture between Crown Equities and Solid Share Holdings — now Federal Land — to develop Palma Real Residential Estates in Biñan, Laguna. In 2003, it entered a memorandum of agreement with Sta. Lucia Realty and Development, under which Crown Central contributed land and initial improvements while Sta. Lucia completed the subdivision. Federal Land is a unit of GT Capital Holdings, Inc., a diversified group with interests in automotive, banking and real estate. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/02/721874/fli-focuses-on-bigger-laguna-projects-after-exit-from-ccpc/
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Business & Finance
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6da8bbac1c44844cd8c2da89720d553bb1febf21909b41d40c0b083e9ce96afa
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2026-01-01T16:02:33+00:00
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Peso may trade in tight range to open the year amid holiday-thinned liquidity
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THE PESO could move within a limited range to open 2026 amid a lack of catalysts, with activity likely to be driven by positioning and entities keen to take advantage of bargains to secure their dollar requirements. On Dec. 29, the last trading day for 2025, the local unit closed at P58.79 versus the greenback, depreciating by eight centavos from its P58.71 finish on Dec. 26, 2025. Year on year, the peso depreciated by 94.5 centavos or by 1.61% from its P57.845 close at end-2024. Philippine financial markets were closed on Dec. 30, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1 for Rizal Day and the New Year holidays. The peso will likely continue to move sideways when the market reopens on Friday as players seek fresh leads, a trader said in a text message. “There could still be some accumulated though residual seasonal increase in OFW (overseas Filipino workers) remittances and conversion to pesos to finance Yuletide- and New Year-related holiday spending, though offset by some bargain hunting by some importers and others with requirements for US dollars,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message. He expects the peso to move between P58.65 and P58.95 per dollar on Friday. Meanwhile, the US dollar advanced on Wednesday, erasing earlier declines after a stronger-than-expected labor market reading, Reuters reported. The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of currencies, rose 0.27% to 98.50. For the year 2025, the dollar was down more than 9%. — AMCS
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https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/01/02/721821/peso-may-trade-in-tight-range-to-open-the-year-amid-holiday-thinned-liquidity/
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Business & Finance
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4de3afaa825a5dc00700ed079f1e6a8728e06d8e591eeb9d749cebd431cf184c
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2026-01-01T16:02:24+00:00
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Analysts weigh impact of stock exchange’s one-share trading rule
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By Alexandria Grace C. Magno THE Philippine Stock Exchange’s (PSE) proposal to adopt a one-share board lot and revise run-off and trading-at-last rules could broaden retail participation, though analysts warn the changes may also lead to fragmented liquidity, execution challenges and higher operating costs for brokers. “In theory, allowing investors to buy a single share improves accessibility and aligns the PSE with global practices, especially as digital platforms attract younger, smaller-ticket investors,” Toby Allan C. Arce, head of sales trading at Globalinks Securities and Stocks, Inc., said in a Viber message. “However, the trade-off is a higher risk of fragmented and choppy trading, as order books may become crowded with very small orders that add noise rather than depth,” he added. In December, the PSE released proposed changes that would standardize the minimum lot size at one share for all listed securities, regardless of price. The move will effectively abolish the odd-lot market and lower the minimum capital required to buy any stock, as part of the exchange’s broader trading system upgrade. Mr. Arce said overall participation might rise, but liquidity quality could initially deteriorate, particularly in thinly traded stocks where wider bid-ask spreads and sharper price movements are more likely. “Much will depend on how brokers implement minimum order value policies and how quickly market participants adapt their order-routing and aggregation strategies,” he added. Under the proposed amendments, the revised board lot will reduce the minimum investment for any security to its market price. “The proposed board lot will allow investors to trade a single share of a security and effectively reduce the minimum investment for any security to its market price, making stock market investing more affordable and accessible to retail investors,” the PSE said. China Bank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet said a uniform board lot would also shift all trades to the regular market, removing inefficiencies tied to odd-lot transactions. “Trading participants are allowed to set a reasonable minimum order value, so the rule change is a win-win for both brokers and small investors,” he said in a Viber message. By consolidating liquidity into the regular market, the proposal could eliminate price distortions and wide bid-ask spreads that typically characterize odd-lot trades, Mr. Colet said. To address concerns from trading participants whose business models may not suit a one-share structure, the PSE said brokers could impose minimum order values when accepting client orders. This provision is meant to offset higher processing costs from handling many small-value trades, especially for firms focused on institutional clients. The exchange said any minimum order value must be implemented without exceeding commission limits under existing laws and regulations. Mr. Arce noted that while the change could help attract first-time investors and incremental retail activity, it is not a complete solution to boosting market participation. He noted that if brokers set minimum order values too high, accessibility gains could be diluted, while setting them too low might create operational inefficiencies and weaker per-trade economics. “Over time, the reform could shift retail behavior toward more frequent but smaller trades, which may boost headline trade counts but not necessarily value turnover,” Mr. Arce said. BDO Securities also said it does not expect major issues from the proposed changes, particularly in terms of retail participation, noting that removing odd lots could boost transaction volumes without lifting peso turnover value. “Overall, the Philippine stock market has not been performing well, which has led retail investors to other types of investments outside the PSE,” it said. It added that institutional clients generally view odd-lot trades as immaterial, but brokers will need to update systems to support the framework. These upgrades “will entail added costs, which will vary from broker to broker.” The board lot proposal coincides with the PSE’s migration to Nasdaq Eqlipse Trading. The exchange said it completed a detailed gap analysis comparing Nasdaq Eqlipse Trading with PSEtrade XTS across operational, functional and regulatory requirements. One identified gap involves trading during the run-off or trading-at-last period. Under PSEtrade XTS, incoming orders are rejected if the counterparty order price is more favorable than the established closing price. The PSE noted that under Nasdaq Eqlipse Trading, orders priced at the closing price will be accepted and matched at that level, even if existing orders are priced more favorably. This lets more trades go through at the close, without disadvantaging investors whose orders are executed at the closing price. Mr. Arce said the combined impact of broker-level minimum order values and revised run-off trading rules could complicate execution for institutional and end-of-day rebalancing trades. “In the medium term, the success of these reforms will hinge on calibration — how minimum order values are set, how brokers adapt execution models and how effectively the PSE balances inclusivity with market efficiency as it transitions to a more technologically advanced trading environment,” he said.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/02/721873/analysts-weigh-impact-of-stock-exchanges-one-share-trading-rule/
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Business & Finance
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d9f8a34bbcece6ab188451dd98ee8c9a8337dd4dd1ed544ba84471629f7463b3
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2026-01-01T16:02:09+00:00
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Minimum wages raised in most Philippine regions
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THE PHILIPPINE government has wrapped up most of its 2025 regional minimum wage reviews, leading to a round of pay increases for workers across the country, the Department of Labor and Employment (DoLE) said. Fourteen regional wage orders covering private sector workers were issued last year by Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Boards, the agency said in a statement. These covered the National Capital Region (NCR), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and Caraga. The increases ranged from P20 to P100 daily. The NCR kept the highest minimum wage level nationwide, with daily rates ranging from P658 to P695. Other regions approved more modest adjustments, reflecting differences in local economic activity, cost of living and productivity conditions. Separate wage orders were also issued for domestic workers. DoLE said 11 wage orders covering domestic workers were released in the CAR, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Mimaropa, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksargen and Caraga. These orders granted monthly minimum wage increases ranging from P300 to P2,000. DoLE estimates that more than 4.5 million minimum wage earners in private establishments directly benefited from the wage adjustments in 2025. About 755,000 domestic workers were also covered by the revised rates. “Wage orders were issued in consultation with workers and employers to ensure balance between protection and needs, reasonable returns on investments and employment generation,” the agency said. It added that about 8 million full-time wage and salary workers earning above the minimum wage could also benefit indirectly. These adjustments may trigger wage distortion corrections at the enterprise level. DoLE defines wage distortion as a situation where a mandated wage increase reduces or eliminates established pay differences among employee groups within the same company. Separately, DoLE confirmed that the National Wages and Productivity Commission has affirmed the wage orders for Northern Mindanao, which will take effect on Jan. 16. These include a P39 daily minimum wage increase for private sector workers, to be implemented in two tranches, and a P500 monthly increase for domestic workers. Once fully implemented, minimum daily wages in Northern Mindanao will range from P485 to P500. Monthly pay for domestic workers in the region will rise to P6,500. Meanwhile, wage boards in the Davao Region and Bicol Region are expected to begin their wage review processes in January and February, respectively. DoLE said wage-setting decisions continue to rely on consultations with labor and management groups, alongside assessments of regional economic conditions, productivity trends and employment levels. Beyond wage setting, DoLE said the National Wages and Productivity Commission and wage boards have reached more than 28,000 micro, small and medium enterprises through productivity and gain-sharing programs. A portion of these firms had begun executing productivity-based action plans as of November 2025. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking
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https://www.bworldonline.com/labor-and-management/2026/01/02/721850/minimum-wages-raised-in-most-philippine-regions/
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Business & Finance
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0578732d25c6fc2f78b744dfcaded3bd237e34819b3d4b73fabd0c28f250cda2
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2026-01-01T16:01:32+00:00
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A sober look at the New Year
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https://www.bworldonline.com/banking-finance/2026/01/02/721820/a-sober-look-at-the-new-year/
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Business & Finance
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fc83165541200aa1f367f4ef7e8a273d701f2ef4a6543ad19b30554327665896
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2026-01-01T16:01:23+00:00
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NNIC records over 50M passengers in 2025
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NEW NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) said it handled 52.02 million passengers in 2025, with holiday travel driving overall growth at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA). “Managing higher passenger volumes requires both infrastructure and close coordination,” it said in a statement on Thursday. “The focus has been on improving flow, reducing bottlenecks and ensuring the airport can handle peak demand more effectively.” December alone saw 4.86 million passengers, with 2.37 million international travelers and 2.5 million domestic passengers. Despite the surge, airport operations remained stable, the company said. It did not provide comparative year-ago figures. NNIC credited operational improvements introduced last year for the smooth handling of passengers. These include new biometric immigration gates, upgraded passenger processing systems and enhanced terminal facilities. Data from the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) showed NAIA’s passenger volume for January to September 2025 rose 3.96% to 38.86 million from a year earlier. Domestic traffic grew 3.29% to 20.75 million, while international passengers increased 4.74% to 18.11 million. Over the same period, MIAA recorded 218,086 flights, down 0.6% from 2024. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
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https://www.bworldonline.com/corporate/2026/01/02/721872/nnic-records-over-50m-passengers-in-2025/
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Business & Finance
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54d47a2b34ef8b230d69c7631b73bc3679f4de3246de02d6dc34725811bc0aee
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2026-01-01T16:01:09+00:00
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Rejecting worker ideas without creating hatred
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https://www.bworldonline.com/labor-and-management/2026/01/02/721851/rejecting-worker-ideas-without-creating-hatred/
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Business & Finance
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d9accb0c5acb09b53c55b3849fd4de55298105526673327f148509c7c220604d
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2026-01-01T16:00:28+00:00
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CEBR: Philippines to be 24th largest economy by 2040
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The Philippines is expected to become the 24th largest economy globally by 2040, according to the latest edition of the World Economic League Table. Published by London-based think tank Center for Economics and Business Research (CEBR), the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) is projected to hit $1.5 trillion. This represents a nine-rank improvement from the country’s 2025 ranking of 33rd among 190 economies.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/infographics/2026/01/02/721861/cebr-philippines-to-be-24th-largest-economy-by-2040/
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Business & Finance
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a00137427906bc0b4e2b4f67b4a426f2965260cea227ae2dc71b1fb69ea4ea09
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2026-01-01T13:00:21+00:00
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PHL market may kick off 2026 on cautious note
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PHILIPPINE STOCKS may start 2026 moving mostly sideways as trading activity is expected to remain thin due to the holidays and as the market awaits developments on the National Government’s budget for the year. On Dec. 29, the last trading day for 2025, the bellwether Philippine Stock Exchange index (PSEi) dropped by 0.21% or 12.72 points to end at 6,052.92. Meanwhile, the broader all shares index increased by 0.24% or 8.58 points to 3,473.24. Year on year, the PSEi was down by 7.29% or 475.87 points from its end-2024 finish of 6,528.79. Philippine financial markets were closed on Dec. 30, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1 for Rizal Day and the New Year holidays. As trading resumes on Friday, the market is expected to start the year on a quiet note amid the holiday lull, F. Yap Securities Investment Analyst Marky Carunungan said. “For the first trading day of 2026, we expect the market to trade cautiously with a slight downside bias given a thin holiday liquidity and lingering uncertainty around the delayed signing of the 2026 budget,” he said. “While broader fundamentals point to a gradual recovery later in the year, near-term sentiment may still remain fragile until there’s clarity on fiscal execution.” Executive Secretary Ralph G. Recto said on Tuesday that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and his team are reviewing the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and the changes made by lawmakers. Mr. Marcos is expected to sign the GAA on Jan. 5, forcing the country to operate on a reenacted budget in the first few days of 2026. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said players could take cues from how other stock markets performed over the Philippine bourse’s three-day trading break. “There is a chance for a start-of-the-year rally, depending on forecasts, especially on reform measures on anti-corruption and further improving governance standards — especially if these priority reform measures are taken seriously,” Mr. Ricafort said. Meanwhile, for this year, analysts said the PSEi could continue to struggle to find its footing as economic uncertainties linger. “There’s a chance that the market could rise to around 6,600-6,700 if we see decisive action on governance issues as well as a sustained trend of GDP (gross domestic product) growth above 5%. Conversely, there’s a risk of the index revisiting 5,600 or lower if economic growth stalls or fresh governance concerns emerge,” China Bank Capital Corp. Managing Director Juan Paolo E. Colet said. “We expect the index to tread sideways between the 6,000 and 6,400 range as a multitude of headwinds, such as the slowdown in manufacturing activities, softer consumer spending, and tightening infrastructure disbursements which could taper economic growth once again,” AP Securities, Inc. Equity Research Analyst Shawn Ray R. Atienza added. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno
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https://www.bworldonline.com/stock-market/2026/01/01/721817/phl-market-may-kick-off-2026-on-cautious-note/
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Business & Finance
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0f722a1cbde8d1ec64d4e4466025920faedc62cdbead80da05a1f6d23a60c5ea
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2026-01-01T22:59:57+00:00
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California delays cancellation of thousands of migrant trucker licenses
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A series of fatal crashes in 2025 prompted a deeper look into non-domiciled CDL holders.
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https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/5669336-california-migrant-truck-driver-licenses/
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World & Politics
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0e539fb11b7c3324617d02369d3fbd10c5777310ef793559aba35af4cb377397
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2026-01-01T22:24:45+00:00
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Andy Cohen takes aim at Eric Adams’s ‘chaotic’ tenure as NYC mayor
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Bravo host Andy Cohen took aim at former New York City Mayor Eric Adams early Thursday, slamming his tenure leading the nation’s largest city as “chaotic” and “horrible” as his successor, Zohran Mamdani, was sworn in.   “Watching the final moments of Mayor Adams’s chaotic, horrible … I just want to say, he got his pardons … No, I’m just saying.…
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https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/5669330-andy-cohen-cnn-new-years-eric-adams-zohran-mamdani/
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World & Politics
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5c2ce89fbf4d127b18a556e524bf04583c0790d4cc07ea921f182c47156e3253
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2026-01-01T22:00:01+00:00
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Democrats start 2026 with fresh momentum — and lingering challenges
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Democrats are heading into the midterm year energized by a string of recent electoral victories, but they also acknowledge the party faces tough challenges as it grapples with deeper troubles. The party says it has found a winning strategy by emphasizing the high cost of living under President Trump, which helped propel their candidates to…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5668732-democrats-midterm-momentum-challenges/
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World & Politics
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c4b5669daa492e20fe2f32727b694053b2a17bdc3b4468239db7fbdf1781a651
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2026-01-01T21:38:53+00:00
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Trump Mobile delays gold-colored phone rollout: Report
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The Trump Mobile gold-colored smartphone was slated to launch in August but has yet to ship.
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https://thehill.com/business/5669309-trump-mobile-t1-gold-phone-delay/
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World & Politics
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fd09190e82798a63b849d4261adf71e330aa33e149d7859d277c3c14262e8eff
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2026-01-01T21:35:55+00:00
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US cuts proposed tariffs on Italian pasta exporters
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The U.S. has significantly reduced proposed tariffs on 13 Italian pasta exporters, the Commerce Department said Wednesday.  The pasta-makers previously faced a potential 92 percent duty after the agency determined they were selling their pasta at unfairly low prices. Proposed tariffs on Garofalo were cut down to 13.89 percent, while those on La Molisana were reduced to 2.26 percent. The other 11…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5669306-commerce-department-pasta-tariffs/
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World & Politics
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840cd626119b20cc1ce453cfbb4ac0e93688e2ba9526a13f7d7366a41e03a828
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2026-01-01T20:46:43+00:00
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Mamdani defends agenda, pans ‘small expectations’ in inaugural address
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Newly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani defended his ambitious agenda Thursday, rejecting the prospect of “small expectations” in his inaugural address from outside City Hall. Mamdani — a democratic socialist whose policy proposals for rent freezes, city-owned grocery stores and free city buses have often been dismissed as unfeasible — attempted to strike a balance in his remarks between standing by his campaign promises and…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5669268-nyc-mayor-mamdani-defends-agenda/
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World & Politics
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2a2275e4e0907f28099dec2dc7341f45b4ac9a4c7377493e114b47a56cf6a02f
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2026-01-01T19:17:36+00:00
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Ocasio-Cortez touts ‘new era for New York City’ at Mamdani inauguration
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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) touted a “new era for New York City” Thursday at the inauguration of fellow progressive New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. “This ascent marks a new era for New York City, led by a historic new mayor in Zohran Mamdani, guided by his dedication to a working class that makes our beautiful city run,” Ocasio-Cortez said…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5669194-ocasio-cortez-zohran-mamdani-inauguration-speech/
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World & Politics
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eba761546482e9bebae6828a9af80753e4272bf0c8a3146467a242906cef3048
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2026-01-01T19:00:00+00:00
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Trump blames others, but never himself, for America’s problems
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President Donald Trump has consistently refused to take responsibility for failures and mistakes, instead blaming others and touting his successes, while great leaders like John F. Kennedy, Harry Truman, and Dwight Eisenhower have taken responsibility for their failures.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/white-house/5668530-trump-blames-others-failures/
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World & Politics
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0fd1cfaf585c911ae669a0c497b69c74239d581379b5a5ff2062ffb556018d4a
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2026-01-01T18:01:02+00:00
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Putin, Zelensky deliver contrasting New Year’s Day speeches amid push to end war
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Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered contrasting speeches to ring in the new year amid a push to end the nearly four-year war between the two countries. Putin delivered a brief address, suggesting the people of Russia are “united” and only touching on the war at the end of his remarks.  “You have taken upon yourselves the duty of fighting for our native…
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https://thehill.com/policy/international/5669130-putin-zelensky-new-year-speeches/
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World & Politics
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5b67e5c09a45e36e1a56c8b3829139026ac7c46bf3b21471576f78ac223f21f2
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2026-01-01T18:00:00+00:00
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Courts versus Congress: The rise of lawfare in US policymaking
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Litigation has become an increasingly important policy tool in the U.S., with lawsuits targeting the energy sector in particular, resulting in higher costs and uncertainty for investors and consumers.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/finance/5667513-litigation-policy-tool-rise/
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World & Politics
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ecd283a1feb22ece3958bb75533723d78d00e0ed0182895d764a51627c9fb726
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2026-01-01T17:45:24+00:00
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Trump says there’s ‘nothing’s wrong’ with his health, got CT scan not MRI
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President Trump disputed the idea that there was anything wrong with his health and clarified that he got a CT scan instead of an MRI scan when he visited Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for a “secondary” physical.  Trump, who is 79, told The Wall Street Journal in an interview published Thursday it was “too bad” he…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5669120-trump-health-scan-results/
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World & Politics
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9fedf1b4d9a83bef761fbe3534866f8708775ee6ff8c0234c745cb449d7c3789
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2026-01-01T17:14:05+00:00
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Fight over stock trading ban to heat up in Congress: What to know
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The push for a congressional stock trading ban is set to reach a critical juncture in the new year. After months of sustained pressure from rank-and-file lawmakers, House Democratic and Republican leaders are rolling out their own proposals to address the issue.  Most Democrats have pushed for any ban to extend to the executive branch,…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5662825-stock-trading-ban-congress/
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World & Politics
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f4f020d7c2ea613c7c24917335c1fbb40c5b5d31796a77c3ff27e4b3096a304b
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2026-01-01T17:09:44+00:00
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Hochul to put forward ‘no tax on tips’ proposal in New York
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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) will put forward a “no tax on tips” proposal in her New York Executive Budget proposal for fiscal 2027, her office announced Thursday. Hochul, who’s gearing up for a reelection bid this November, will be proposing that up to $25,000 on tipped income would be exempt from state income taxes during the 2026 tax…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5669082-hochul-to-put-forward-no-tax-on-tips-proposal-in-new-york/
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World & Politics
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e0beb4bb44474e7c580872711781d363593c5fe13f91ad65a6c1f82c3d33e4c9
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2026-01-01T17:00:00+00:00
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Encouraging signs of political civility bring hope for 2026
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Americans have reason to hope that our political culture can change.
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https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5666901-hope-for-better-politics/
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World & Politics
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0a69fbf69b575e7338c1b8fb83a68c4c0e9a1528461b8f23a8928bdabb46c904
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2026-01-01T17:00:00+00:00
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New ‘CBS Evening News’ anchor pledges transparency, urges viewers to hold him accountable
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Tony Dokoupil, who’s set to helm “CBS Evening News” starting Monday, criticized legacy media outlets for some of their coverage and pledged to be transparent with viewers in his new role anchoring the network’s flagship news program. “A lot has changed since the first person sat in this chair. But for me, the biggest difference is people do…
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https://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/media/5669062-tony-dokoupil-cbs-evening-news/
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World & Politics
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75a7bfc198139a6513a4ffceb35ea8b8270bb335472caafc45b85576052756c9
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2026-01-01T14:00:06
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Tokamak experiments exceed plasma density limit, offering new approach to fusion ignition
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Researchers working on China's fully superconducting Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) have experimentally accessed a theorized "density-free regime" for fusion plasmas, achieving stable operation at densities well beyond conventional limits.
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https://phys.org/news/2025-12-tokamak-exceed-plasma-density-limit.html
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Space & Physics
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4661b4247fc67c685b5d737370783c718d7f7e45f34c44aa790638bef394fa08
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2026-01-01T22:00:00+00:00
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One of the best meteor showers of the year peaks at the worst possible time this week
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A daylight peak and a full moon combine to sabotage the powerful Quadrantid meteor shower in 2026.
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https://www.space.com/stargazing/meteor-showers/one-of-the-best-meteor-showers-of-the-year-peaks-at-the-worst-possible-time-this-week
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Space & Physics
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5d44f870794a49d1615606c1c8f0200d8056ea6a0a6ab38acf26bf505ec303a3
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2026-01-01T21:05:00+00:00
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Playmobil versus Lego: Which is the best USS Enterprise set?
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Lego has recently released their first-ever Star Trek set, the 3600-piece U.S.S Enterprise, but is it better than Playmobil's model?
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https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-toys-lego/playmobil-versus-lego-which-is-the-best-uss-enterprise-set
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Space & Physics
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a6ce937750af8f4d5446af021e8fd8df7718987b1b79101e2a7363e3e54ff9ca
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2026-01-01T19:00:00+00:00
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Nebula nights: Award-winning sci-fi literature through the ages
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Think you know your Le Guin from your Liu? Let’s find out
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https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-books/nebula-nights-award-winning-sci-fi-literature-through-the-ages
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Space & Physics
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d5e35eabb009b22c32413b044ef896e8c3ed3cf3ab6cd024869270a4bf607b77
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2026-01-01T17:00:00+00:00
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Moon landings, asteroid missions and new telescopes: Here are the top spaceflight moments to look forward to in 2026
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From astronauts looping around the moon to spacecraft reaching Mercury and asteroids near Earth, 2026 is shaping up to be a landmark year for space exploration.
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https://www.space.com/space-exploration/moon-landings-asteroid-missions-and-new-telescopes-here-are-the-top-spaceflight-moments-to-look-forward-to-in-2026
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Space & Physics
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8508b1fe8f8af76304d98da9be71dbe8ceb2fdd34ea3b55917415865890654ba
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2026-01-01T20:23:36+00:00
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When Stars Blow Bubbles
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For the first time, astronomers have caught a stellar nursery in the act of blowing giant celestial bubbles, revealing a massive outflow of gas stretching over 650 light-years from one of the Milky Way’s most extraordinary star clusters. Using nearly two decades of data from NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, researchers traced this budding stream of supercharged particles as it expands beneath our Galaxy’s disk, offering crucial insights into how young, massive stars shape galactic evolution.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/when-stars-blow-bubbles
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Space & Physics
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b6b515f3d91c050a5df243c6cd42993ee7fd61731e068bc3786a0eb620693dd7
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2026-01-01T20:03:58+00:00
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The Sticky Problem of Lunar Dust Gets a Mathematical Solution
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Lunar dust poses one of the most persistent challenges for spacecraft operations on the Moon, clinging stubbornly to surfaces and infiltrating equipment with potentially devastating consequences. Now, researchers have developed a comprehensive mathematical model that reveals exactly how electrically charged dust particles behave when they collide with spacecraft at low speeds, uncovering surprising insights about what makes them stick and what allows them to bounce away.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-sticky-problem-of-lunar-dust-gets-a-mathematical-solution
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Space & Physics
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svg
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ac6dfde3cbd830dfc590459c423e80b1fc373f1ede49545592b460d5fc8cae26
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2026-01-01T19:43:55+00:00
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The Interstellar Comet That’s Spilling Its Secrets
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Astronomers have measured water streaming from interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS for the first time since it passed closest to the Sun. Using a spacecraft that’s been watching the Sun for nearly three decades, scientists detected hydrogen glowing around the comet and calculated that it was producing water at extraordinary rates. These measurements not only confirm that interstellar comets behave remarkably like our own Solar System’s icy wanderers, but also provide crucial clues about what comets looked like in the early universe.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-interstellar-comet-thats-spilling-its-secrets
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Space & Physics
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svg
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6768dbf2cc3da8df83e7864bc5203f27180ee1d02dffaec7879a0f947e6fbc2c
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2026-01-01T15:48:39
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Myth busted: Your body isn’t canceling out your workout
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Being active boosts your daily calorie burn more than previously thought. Researchers found that increased physical activity raises total energy use without triggering the body to conserve energy elsewhere. Basic functions keep running at full speed, even as movement increases. The result: exercise truly adds to your energy output rather than being metabolically “offset.”
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228020012.htm
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Science
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svg
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7d28daddb529db147ead43de4999c8cccad1a876a0b670ed0825053b858e2395
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2026-01-01T11:23:26
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A key Alzheimer’s gene emerges in African American brain study
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Scientists studying Alzheimer’s in African Americans have uncovered a striking genetic clue that may cut across racial lines. In brain tissue from more than 200 donors, the gene ADAMTS2 was significantly more active in people with Alzheimer’s than in those without it. Even more surprising, this same gene topped the list in an independent study of White individuals. The discovery hints at a common biological pathway behind Alzheimer’s and opens the door to new treatment strategies.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251227004153.htm
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Science
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svg
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842deea45b3867aa8aef3c5b95e57c4ed4beaba5591b546726c2c203f23b328e
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2026-01-01T15:56:07-05:00
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5 cool innovations in sports and outdoors in 2025
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High-altitude mountaineers have historically dressed in cumbersome, Gumby-like down suits for summiting 8000-meter peaks. They were sweaty on the approach, expensive, and task-specific. The North Face’s new 24-piece Advanced Mountain Apparel Collection, which is part of a 31-piece Advanced Mountain Kit–provides elite athletes with the same extreme weather protection for climbing the world’s highest peaks, in a kit that can be used comfortably for mountain missions, including 8000-meter peaks, in a variety of weather in a range of altitudes. The kit is comprised of layers purpose-built for technical alpine climbing and mountaineering in all weather, including high-altitude environments. It’s a modular system. Each layer enhances the performance of others to help elite athletes succeed, whatever their objective. Lightweight, compressible to take up minimal packed space, and tough, the kit is built with cutting-edge fabrics, construction, and design, including Spectra yarns that are stronger than steel yet lightweight, and continuous baffle Cloud Down that eliminates cold spots and optimizes packability. DotKnit fabric marries the thermal and odor benefits of wool with active moisture transfer. The shell jacket and pants use an electrospun breathable membrane, and the down layers are infused with titanium and aluminum that reflects body heat. Staring into our phones, tablets, and computers produces a lot of stress on our eyes and brains, whereas e-readers like the Kindle offer a gentler option for screentime. However, these e-readers generally don’t have the processing power necessary to make them as useful as a regular tablet or computer. The Daylight Computer splits the difference. Its monochrome tablet uses transflective LCDs in a patented fastest e-paper display ever that unlocks full computer functionality with the glare-free reflective display, which makes it ideal for working outdoors. The tablet is low-stimulation because there are no bright and saturated colors, fast-paced flashing, or brain-agitating blue light, so it’s not addictive like other phones, tablets, and computers. It won’t disrupt your sleep or put you in a negative feedback dopamine desensitization loop. The display stack feels paper-like, and it’s fast enough to be used for anything on the internet. That makes this a great tablet for kids, who are especially susceptible to the addictive properties of other devices. Most bike helmets use expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam to absorb blunt impacts, but EPS is bad at dispersing the rotational forces that cause traumatic brain injury in a crash. RLS is a pioneering safety breakthrough that diffuses the rotational forces that can cause traumatic brain injury through exterior panels that slide on ball bearings, then release in a crash, taking stress off a cyclist’s brain. The outer shell panels rotate on 1500 tiny polycarbonate bearings on a vinyl sticker shell base. In a crash, mechanical fasteners release, allowing the bearings to roll freely and the outer shell to slide away, dissipating energy with concussion-level force applied to the shell. Then the bearings can roll freely, and the outer shell can slide away. That allows the brain time to decelerate inside the skull, minimizing internal damage when the helmet contacts the ground. Eventually, the RLS technology will be available for motorcycle, industrial, equestrian, snow, American football, and other sports and activities in entry-level to advanced helmets. According to Virginia Tech testing, the gold standard for cycling helmets, the tech works. This helmet is currently rated #1 safest cycling helmet you can buy. The post 5 cool innovations in sports and outdoors in 2025 appeared first on Popular Science.
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https://www.popsci.com/technology/sports-outdoors-innovations-2025/
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Science
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e2c5bfc559d7c27ca4783188f5d407ab485b74c182441803224c92db4934ae9d
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2026-01-01T12:02:00-05:00
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How the timber rattlesnake became a symbol of American independence
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The post How the timber rattlesnake became a symbol of American independence appeared first on Popular Science.
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https://www.popsci.com/environment/timber-rattlesnake-american-symbol/
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Science
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9ef2d90bcdcb4cf0ee6570f3880b6727bb112d2ad83331d656b817ab724619e2
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2026-01-01T15:00:00-05:00
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The University Observatory (Observatoriet) in Frogner, Norway
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Free tours are regularly arranged at this 1833 observatory right behind Solli plass (check the official website). Although the observatory is today in the heart of Oslo, at the time of its construction the building would have dominated its surroundings; in fact, the observatory predates the 1849 completion of the royal palace. Designed by Christian Grosch (who also designed the University buildings on Karl Johans gate, as well as Oslo stock exchange), the observatory combined a professors residence with cutting edge observational equipment. Today the interior is beautifully preserved, and museum displays on the inside showcase maps and observational equipment used on site.
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https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-university-observatory-observatoriet
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Science
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svg
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a1cd93e9636714d0f9d319edd1dbdd081078b3d80f973ea9ed116c8d44f61da1
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2026-01-01T19:00:40+00:00
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Rare Saturn-sized rogue planet is first to have its mass measured
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Researchers have confirmed the mass of a free-floating planet thanks to a lucky convergence of ground- and space-based telescopes
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https://www.newscientist.com/article/2509858-rare-saturn-sized-rogue-planet-is-first-to-have-its-mass-measured/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home
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Science
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77dabe1d1a4f3f8fb58c3ee4be463aba0185d831395ae14028c69d1ccad9d21e
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2026-01-01T19:00:10+00:00
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Chess can be made fairer by rearranging the pieces
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Chess960 involves shuffling the pieces at the back of the board, and an analysis suggests doing so can increase the complexity of the game to favour white, black or neither player
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https://www.newscientist.com/article/2509800-chess-can-be-made-fairer-by-rearranging-the-pieces/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home
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Science
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f55e0ffd2308f8b5080d981e7245b6d4620ac1ee69e4ef7b49d5c29bc9a53cff
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2025-12-30T18:00:28+00:00
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World's first subsea desalination facility will start running in 2026
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Flocean, a Norwegian company, is set to open the world’s first commercial-scale subsea desalination plant, an approach that could cut the cost and energy used to make seawater drinkable
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https://www.newscientist.com/article/2506884-worlds-first-subsea-desalination-facility-will-start-running-in-2026/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home
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Science
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10c713078a3ada417ff7d10cadfd42fe3038f1fb342dc20c009f72143af30f1b
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2025-12-30T18:00:10+00:00
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2026 Mars mission will set out to solve the mystery of its moons
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The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency will be launching the Martian Moons eXploration mission next year, which should finally tell us how Mars acquired the moons Phobos and Deimos
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https://www.newscientist.com/article/2505029-2026-mars-mission-will-set-out-to-solve-the-mystery-of-its-moons/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home
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Science
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733a5a215a80774ec871ffc4d108b60f725d62f6d501f98364d0075486e37829
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2025-12-30T18:00:00+00:00
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Could James and the Giant Peach inspire the future of food?
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In the latest in our imagined history of inventions yet to come, Future Chronicles columnist Rowan Hooper reveals how by the 2030s, botanists had worked out how to grow hybridised superplants to help feed the world
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https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg26935760-200-could-james-and-the-giant-peach-inspire-the-future-of-food/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home
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Science
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19d3ff12582a135bc2103e116a3178f385f7ef39ce1810fd6c61c19707b0f17f
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2026-01-01T19:00:00+00:00
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Why can't you wiggle your toes one at a time?
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A biological anthropologist explains why humans can't wiggle their toes in the same way they can wiggle their fingers.
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https://www.livescience.com/health/anatomy/why-cant-you-wiggle-your-toes-one-at-a-time
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Science
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e242c2f5648df7e1f0b41e2c431aa7b4a847ec01a8d0a9bc95d203902a89f544
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2026-01-01T21:02:13+00:00
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A beginner’s guide to Mastodon, the open source Twitter alternative
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Unless if you’re really in the know about nascent platforms, you probably didn’t know what Mastodon was until Elon Musk bought Twitter and renamed it X. In the initial aftermath of the acquisition, as users fretted over what direction Twitter would take, millions of users hopped over to Mastodon, a fellow microblogging site. As time […]
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https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/01/what-is-mastodon/
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Technology
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svg
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6d8fac0baad2db4a71eedd3ae86c01a94fc7a9cb0ff496f42f8269628b1b6e8c
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2026-01-01T20:28:20+00:00
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European banks plan to cut 200,000 jobs as AI takes hold
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The bloodletting will hit hardest in back-office operations, risk management, and compliance.
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https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/01/european-banks-plan-to-cut-200000-jobs-as-ai-takes-hold/
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Technology
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svg
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f49740b187d8d11c1c6e66eceae1061bed38b093612be39f17d2a640493a9d13
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2026-01-01T18:29:29+00:00
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OpenAI bets big on audio as Silicon Valley declares war on screens
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The form factors may differ, but the thesis is the same: audio is the interface of the future. Every space -- your home, your car, even your face -- is becoming an interface.
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https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/01/openai-bets-big-on-audio-as-silicon-valley-declares-war-on-screens/
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Technology
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svg
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574aec0383a3736993f4f774aa48785b190ceee5f4130fafbb7bf3b2c371b448
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2026-01-01T20:18:26+00:00
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Marvel rings in new year with Wonder Man trailer
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Marvel Studios decided to ring in the new year with a fresh trailer for Wonder Man, its eight-episode miniseries premiering later this month on Disney+. Part of the MCU’s Phase Six, the miniseries was created by Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of Five Rings) and Andrew Guest (Hawkeye), with Guest serving as showrunner. As previously reported, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II stars as Simon Williams, aka Wonder Man, an actor and stunt person with actual superpowers who decides to audition for the lead role in a superhero TV series—a reboot of an earlier Wonder Man incarnation. Demetrius Grosse plays Simon’s brother, Eric, aka Grim Reaper; Ed Harris plays Simon’s agent, Neal Saroyan; and Arian Moayed plays P. Clearly, an agent with the Department of Damage Control. Lauren Glazier, Josh Gad, Byron Bowers, Bechir Sylvain, and Manny McCord will also appear in as-yet-undisclosed roles Rounding out the cast is Ben Kingsley, reprising his MCU role as failed actor Trevor Slattery. You may recall Slattery from 2013’s Iron Man 3, hired by the villain of that film to pretend to be the leader of an international terrorist organization called the Ten Rings.Slattery showed up again in 2021’s Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,rehabilitated after a stint in prison; he helped the titular Shang-Chi (Simu Liu) on his journey to the mythical village of Ta Lo. Read full article Comments
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https://arstechnica.com/culture/2026/01/marvel-rings-in-new-year-with-wonder-man-trailer/
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Technology
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6e79252ad3941911de6ce56d47aaa7fc28f0e7e698eeff6a81b668a5cb15802d
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2026-01-01T19:43:45+00:00
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Research roundup: 7 cool science stories we almost missed
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It’s a regrettable reality that there is never enough time to cover all the interesting scientific stories we come across each month. In the past, we’ve featured year-end roundups of cool science stories we (almost) missed. This year, we’ve experimented with a monthly collection. December’s list includes a fossilized bird that choked to death on rocks; a double-detonating "superkilonova"; recovering an ancient seafarer's fingerprint; the biomechanics of kangaroo movement; and cracking a dark matter puzzle that stumped fictional physicists on The Big Bang Theory, among other tantalizing tidbits Credit: Thornton et al., 2025/CC BY 4.0 Kangaroos and wallabies belong to a class of animals called macropods, with unique form and style of movement. Their four limbs and tail all contact the ground at slow speeds, while they use a hopping gait at higher speeds. Typically, high-speed movements are more energy-intensive than slow-speed motion, but the opposite is true for macropods like kangaroos; somehow the hopping speed and energy cost become uncoupled. According to a paper published in the journal eLife, this may be due to changes in a kangaroo's posture at higher hopping speeds. Read full article Comments
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https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/01/research-roundup-7-cool-science-stories-we-almost-missed-2/
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Technology
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16525939c335589584e0b76fd7f1ea672bc1c8bf2aa57a895a3a2fde912dd024
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2026-01-01T22:00:36+00:00
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There Is Almost Too Much Anime to Watch This Month
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From 'Jujutsu Kaisen' to 'Frieren: Beyond Journey's End,' here are the anime to watch in the new year.
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https://gizmodo.com/there-is-almost-too-much-anime-to-watch-this-month-2000704345
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Technology
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93a9c6416b49a9853635621969d43aeadf93e97b3470c88e1bb81b6a2b44b04b
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2026-01-01T20:00:42+00:00
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There Is So Much New Lego You Can Buy in January
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The new year is always a wild time for Lego releases, and 2026 is certainly no exception.
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https://gizmodo.com/lego-january-2026-sets-star-wars-marvel-stranger-things-2000704414
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Technology
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46e8d0f4443551ca36d76510b4b23a982d748a3ec1a5383befdf288968597158
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2026-01-01T18:00:51+00:00
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42 New Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror Books Releasing in January
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Happy New Year, and happy new books!
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https://gizmodo.com/42-new-sci-fi-fantasy-and-horror-books-releasing-in-january-2000702259
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Technology
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e1dcf8f41570e872df9226c2844e7ec56b3be7c056bcedb72b849ae48f694a84
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2026-01-01T17:24:11+00:00
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Marvel Rings In 2026 With a ‘Wonder Man’ Trailer
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A new year means new Marvel shows to watch, and the first to come in 2026 is 'Wonder Man.'
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https://gizmodo.com/marvel-rings-in-2026-with-a-wonder-man-trailer-2000704706
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Technology
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5db308bc8dec203f8d58717f1ab8426f05eeab686a34493025481de6e4ddd6ba
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2026-01-01T13:16:10-05:00
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LG’s new karaoke-ready party speaker uses AI to remove song vocals
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Read the full story at The Verge.
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https://www.theverge.com/news/852362/lg-xboom-stage-501-karaoke-launch-ces-2026
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Technology
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svg
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9628779a2708effe454522739e23928e4ace5e980d472f4f59c2c4ce0923a2b0
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2026-01-01T11:30:00-05:00
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Public domain 2026: Betty Boop, Pluto, and Nancy Drew set free
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Read the full story at The Verge.
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https://www.theverge.com/policy/852332/public-domain-2026-betty-boop-nancy-drew-pluto
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Technology
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svg
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9df519fc499201244216e7555106d96d1cf3aad5df2e29c0dd4c3747846bf5c6
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2026-01-02T05:00:06+00:00
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Christine Lagarde’s pay is 50% higher than disclosed by ECB
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Europe’s top central banker earns almost four times more than Fed chair Jay Powell, FT analysis shows
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https://www.ft.com/content/c7cd22f0-efe5-40de-a448-fa9075926a6a
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Business & Finance
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515496c3290ae3ecb2c235a7ff42124cad989b22e87611009bc161b913cd470f
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2026-01-02T05:00:16+00:00
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China doubles down on export-led growth model
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The country plans to reinforce its dominance of global manufacturing, despite persistent deflation at home and rising tensions abroad
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https://www.ft.com/content/079f2014-ed56-4137-89ee-561d7a8226cf
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Business & Finance
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1524d935166e7f8402ce4e4d80ac27ac1a287a019694697a89ed4160b74895f0
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2026-01-02T05:00:16+00:00
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Why we should know what we don’t know
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Cognitive blind spots are undermining our ability to see the world as it is, rather than as we would like it to be
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https://www.ft.com/content/d8b26855-c6d8-4d76-b9f2-663e90548d6c
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Business & Finance
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74062c8fada16e654d379360609ad13e3164777f5bf7e73ad218e74e0735510a
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2026-01-02T05:00:16+00:00
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Iran protests put president’s reform agenda to the test
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Rallies over collapse in living standards rattle authorities in country with history of cracking down on demonstrators
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https://www.ft.com/content/6f079a18-78bc-4e12-b6d5-957526761298
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Business & Finance
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6eaa4f426484dca21b91bc54865ded781ecb8e41734e52aed1815623ef4ec405
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2026-01-02T05:00:07+00:00
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Europe has ‘lost the internet’, warns Belgium’s cyber security chief
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EU law enforcement too dependent on digital infrastructure from US tech companies, Miguel De Bruycker says
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https://www.ft.com/content/854fcad0-0d39-438b-975b-adf9d8b89827
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Business & Finance
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a897476db87aed0fb2bc61e73856da5ed631e810ef079fa51734d916e0c1b628
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2026-01-02T05:00:07+00:00
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Prices for lab monkeys surge on China biotech boom
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More drugs entering middle or late-stage development drive up demand
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https://www.ft.com/content/9036fb08-51ce-4008-b7b0-3321ea8f3ce7
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Business & Finance
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272157a3aaecb617046546012c1cd230afebec1b00d0631f824eeb6c234423ff
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2026-01-02T05:00:06+00:00
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Luxury discounting on the rise as years of price increases bite
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About 35% to 40% of designer goods were sold at steep markdowns this year, analysts say
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https://www.ft.com/content/9553baf3-7cfc-40c2-b6bd-1871844af800
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Business & Finance
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552b49dffad9389f380d0d0e076b865ec6621641be82a77e5283b3c63f8c279f
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2026-01-02T07:21:44+00:00
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European stocks poised to start 2026 in positive territory; gold and silver prices rally
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European markets were set to kick off the first trading day of the year on a positive note.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/02/european-markets-on-january-2-stoxx-600-ftse-dax-cac-gold-silver.html
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Business & Finance
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b75888076dedf0b6ec1cae873e5d0407c3a113a7d131c8b748976bcc86c0c5d4
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2026-01-02T06:10:08+00:00
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Shares of KFC and Pizza Hut Indian operator Devyani jump on merger with rival franchisee Sapphire
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Two major franchisee operators for Yum!Brands in India will merge to create a single unified franchisee for KFC & Pizza Hut in the country
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/02/devyani-sapphire-merger-yum-brands-india-kfc-pizza-hut-taco-bell-dominos.html
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Business & Finance
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4c4a1d3303521816f01f14f170a1d77a19292c7757f74ad3b4c14b0490722b95
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2026-01-02T06:46:39+00:00
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Baidu’s semiconductor unit Kunlunxin files for Hong Kong listing amid AI chip boom in China
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Baidu has announced plans to spin off its artificial intelligence chip subsidiary, Kunlunxin, and list the new firm on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/02/baidus-semiconductor-kunlunxin-hong-kong-ipo-ai-chips-listing-china.html
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Business & Finance
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8207e6af4cde81b9f26c87d3be1213bda974d87fff19e6e0fbae96f7c8f53d2c
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2026-01-02T03:06:11+00:00
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Singapore economy jumps 5.7% in fourth quarter, highest since 2021, on manufacturing growth
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The advance figure was also up from the 4.2% growth in the quarter before, and pushed the country's full year GDP to 4.8%
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/02/singapore-fourth-quarter-gdp-jumps-5point7percent-beats-expectations-on-strong-manufacturing.html
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Business & Finance
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24b161caf54779e293134d2ed264f77a15eab458adf7382ec7898fcf3a3ccd11
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2026-01-02T07:17:45+00:00
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South Korea's Kospi hits record high as region trades mixed at the start of 2026
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Some Asian markets are still closed for the holidays, including Japan and mainland China.
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https://www.cnbc.com/2026/01/02/asia-pacific-markets-asx-200-hang-seng-index.html
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Business & Finance
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4eb4e3413c17ef9622474a2c88cf01b61a9a7d809c56557b0acfcfa307d9b5a3
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2026-01-02T03:56:09+00:00
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Animal Kingdom Foundation Launches Hard-Hitting “Bugok!” Billboard Calling Out False Cage-Free Claims
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Billboards are a common sight along NLEX but as they pass through in Apalit, Pampanga, a peculiar sight will greet them. A chicken with a basket of eggs beside her, staring directly at them from a roadside billboard. As they notice the chicken, they will read the headline that pulls no punches: “Bugok! Stop Lying.” This new billboard has been unveiled by the Animal Kingdom Foundation (AKF). They are challenging companies that falsely claim to source cage-free eggs while refusing to provide transparency on where those eggs truly come from. Many fail to disclose which farms supply them or whether those farms meet any verifiable animal-welfare standards. The case of these companies being bugok In Filipino, bugok means “rotten,” this deliberate wordplay is used by AKF to spotlight the growing problem of greenwashing in the egg industry. There is a blatant dishonesty behind the growing number of companies claiming to use “cage-free” eggs without showing a shred of transparency. According to AKF, some farmer claims that some of the large buyers are pushing for cage-free sourcing, only to back out when it came to pricing. They are operating in the assumption that the cost of cage-free eggs would be the same with the regular table eggs. This is problematic as the farmers take risks to improve hen welfare, only to be met with their buyers lowballing their prices for their egg produce. A call for transparency and honest labeling AKF appeals for verifiable sourcing hence additional message in the billboard “Get your eggs from certified cage-free farms.” Once these companies claim to use eggs sourced from true cage-free farms, it is their responsibility to substantiate these claims. When companies use cage-free as a marketing badge while failing to support the very people producing them, that’s not just misleading — it’s exploitative. For AKF, this isn’t merely a marketing issue. It is a matter of integrity, consumer protection, and basic accountability. “Filipino consumers deserve honesty,” the organization said. “If a company claims to be cage-free, they must show proof — otherwise, that claim is bugok.” How cage-free can actually be verified? Locally, cage-free standards for egg farms are filed under the Philippine National Standards for Cage-Free Egg Production (PNS/BAFS 312:202). While there is no government endorsed cage-free certification scheme yet, AKF operates an independent cage-free auditing program aligned with the criteria also being used by other countries globally. Farms must meet requirements on space, nesting areas, perches, litter, and hen behavior before receiving certification. A clear way to identify eggs that truly come from cage-free systems is established and are backed by on-site inspections, documentation and recurring audits. Why cage-free matters? Cage-free systems encourage hens to roam around and exhibit natural behaviors as opposed to the conventional cages where they spend their entire lives in cramped spaces. Cage-free egg production entails a meaningful step toward a more humane egg production. The “Bugok!” billboard is AKF’s latest effort to educate the public and pressure companies to adopt real, verifiable animal-welfare policies. By placing the message along one of the country’s busiest expressways, the organization hopes to spark conversation on false advertising on humane sourcing of eggs. Spotlight is BusinessWorld’s sponsored section that allows advertisers to amplify their brand and connect with BusinessWorld’s audience by publishing their stories on the BusinessWorld Web site. For more information, send an email to online@bworldonline.com. Join us on Viber at https://bit.ly/3hv6bLA to get more updates and subscribe to BusinessWorld’s titles and get exclusive content through www.bworld-x.com.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/spotlight/2026/01/02/721970/animal-kingdom-foundation-launches-hard-hitting-bugok-billboard-calling-out-false-cage-free-claims/
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cdb9b1ea7e48712a05804a848d66b9b9f063abc56a3bd06cf5546334fce1c1af
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2026-01-02T03:08:55+00:00
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Philippine PMI rebounds in December
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By Aubrey Rose A. Inosante, Reporter Philippine factory activity improved in December, rebounding from the slump in November amid a rise in new orders and softer decline in production. S&P Global Philippines Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) expanded to 50.2 in December, a turnaround from November’s 47.4 which was the “strongest deterioration” in over four years. The headline PMI is a composite indicator of manufacturing performance. A PMI reading below 50 shows a deterioration in operating conditions, while a reading above 50 denotes better operating conditions from the preceding month. December saw the highest PMI in four months or since the 50.8 reading in August. In a report on Friday, S&P Global said the local manufacturing sector closed the fourth quarter showing early signs of recovery, marking a slight improvement after months of “solid deterioration.” “New order volumes rose for the first time in four months, which helped partly ease the ongoing downturn in production,” Maryam Baluch, economist at S&P Global Market Intelligence, said. S&P Global said the rise in new orders in December snapped the three-month contraction, but the pace of increase remains modest. However, overseas demand worsened in December, with fewer new export orders weighed the rise in overall sales. “While the modest rise in new orders led to a softer fall in production levels, it was unable to reverse the downturn. Output fell moderately in December,” it said. S&P Global said the drop in output led to four consecutive months of decline, the longest since 2021. Meanwhile, the higher intake in new orders led manufacturing firms to raise their purchasing activity, the first time in three months and at the fastest pace since August. “Fuelled by this positive direction, companies increased their purchasing activity for the first time since September, while the labor market showed signs of stabilizing,” Ms. Baluch said. This allowed firms to better manage their inventory levels. “After a sharp depletion in November, holdings of pre-production items were unchanged in December. Additionally, stocks of finished goods rose following a strong decline in November. Firms reportedly built up post-production inventories in anticipation of future demand,” S&P Global said. According to the report, manufacturers reduced staffing for the second consecutive month, but at a weaker rate than in November. “Some firms reduced workforce numbers in response to declining production requirements, but others increased staffing levels amid greater new order inflows and anticipations of improving demand conditions in the coming months,” S&P Global said. Operating expenses slightly increased in December, driven by higher material prices that raised input costs. This is the weakest rate of inflation in the current 19‑month period of rising costs. “Meanwhile, the pace of output price inflation accelerated from November, as many firms indicated they passed higher raw material costs on to customers,” it said. At the same time, firms also reported longer input lead times in December, reversing the gains from November, due to port congestion and bad weather. “With new orders rising while both production and employment remained in contraction, companies experienced a higher volume of requests for goods than they could fulfill. Consequently, backlogs of work increased further in December,” S&P Global said. Despite this, manufacturers anticipate output to pick up over the next 12 months, along with upcoming projects, the launch of new product lines, and business expansion plans. However, S&P Global noted that overall sentiment fell from November’s recent 12-month high. “That said, the improvement was tepid across the sector, and its sustainability will largely depend on whether demand can be maintained and further bolstered, bringing growth back to production,” Ms. Baluch said. She noted the sector faces headwinds from “sharply declining export market conditions, which are limiting the potential for broader expansion.” “Consequently, at present, the manufacturing sector’s growth is primarily being driven by domestic demand, with external markets offering little support,” Ms. Baluch added.
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https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2026/01/02/721965/philippine-pmi-rebounds-in-december/
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Business & Finance
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f23722eb0769667e5621c3b5353ed49d92304e800578aab8f0dc843b147336ad
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2026-01-02T07:06:00+00:00
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4 pros and cons of buying Lloyds shares in 2026!
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Lloyds (LSE:LLOY) was one of the FTSE 100‘s best performers in 2025, its shares rising almost 80% in value. Retail banks were under pressure as the UK economy struggled and interest rates dropped. But a strong operating performance reassured investors and helped Lloyds’ share price spring to just below £1. Is the Black Horse bank a top stock to consider in 2026? Let’s consider some of the key elements of its investment case. Tough economic conditions can play havoc with banks’ profits, hammering loan growth and driving up impairments. Lloyds’ excellent loan quality has helped it negotiate these pressures, resulting in the enormous share price gains of last year. For 2025, it targeted a rock-bottom asset quality ratio (which measures bad loans against total loans) of 0.2. It was 0.18 in the first nine months of the year. Supreme brand power has also helped the company grow loans despite tough economic conditions. Net income rose 6% in the nine months to September. Strong brand recognition could help Lloyds to thrive again next year. Or could it? While Lloyds’ performance has been impressive of late, it may run out of steam as the economic landscape worsens. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) recently slashed its UK growth forecasts to 1.4% for 2026. This was down half a percentage point from previous estimates. It’s not just a weak economic conditions that could to trouble Lloyds. The threat from digital-led banks, which offer excellent customer service and ultra-competitive products, is steadily increasing. And it could get much worse from next year, if looser regulatory rules encourage mergers and acquisitions among the challenger banks. One major weapon Lloyds has in its arsenal, though, is its leading position in mortgages. Holding a fifth of the home loans market, the bank enjoys a major earnings driver. Encouragingly, the outlook here is improving as the Bank of England trims interest rates. Building society Nationwide expects average house values in the UK to increase up to 4% in 2026 as homebuyer affordability steadily improves. I’m expecting Lloyds to enjoy strong and sustained mortgage growth as Britain’s population steadily improves. Government plans to build 300,000 new homes a year to 2029 by reducing planning red tape could give it an extra boost. While Lloyds has proved pretty resilient, its subsequent share price surge now leaves it looking hugely expensive. At 12.8 times, the bank’s trailing 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is miles above the 10-year average of 9.7. Furthermore, its price-to-book (P/B) multiple of 1.5 sails above the average of 0.9 seen over the last decade. It also indicates Lloyds trades at a meaty premium to the value of its assets. This could substantially reduce the bank’s chances of enjoying more juicy share price gains. So on balance, are Lloyds shares a top Buy for 2026? I’m not so sure. To my mind, the good news surrounding the bank is more than baked into its current share price. And it faces significant challenges that could pull it sharply lower in the New Year. I’d personally rather find other FTSE 100 shares to invest in. The post 4 pros and cons of buying Lloyds shares in 2026! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Lloyds Banking Group plc made the list? More reading Royston Wild has no position in any of the shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Lloyds Banking Group Plc. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/02/4-pros-and-cons-of-buying-lloyds-shares-in-2026/
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0e24e368a47f03f7a56f63985746547abd28365ac0708d9c3266acf387333425
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2026-01-02T06:41:00+00:00
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Prediction: AI stocks will rise again in 2026 and Nvidia’s share price will soar to this level
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For three years now, artificial intelligence (AI) stocks like Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA) have been on the up. With AI technology going mainstream thanks to apps like ChatGPT and Gemini, the theme has dominated the market. Can these stocks perform again in 2026? I think so. Below, I’ll explain why. I’ll also provide my target share price for Nvidia. Many investors today think AI’s overhyped. I don’t share their scepticism though. I believe we are in the early stages of a multi-year AI-powered tech revolution. In my view, AI’s going to disrupt every industry in the years ahead. In 2026, I think we’re likely to see a lot of exciting developments on the AI front (that separate hype from reality) including: Put all this together and the outlook for AI stocks is favourable, in my view. I’ll point out that I don’t expect every stock in this area of the market to do well – there will be some laggards. I also expect to see some volatility at times. Yet taking a 12-month view, I’m optimistic about the overall prospects for this area of technology. As for my price target for Nvidia in 2026, it’s $250. I realise that’s a decent jump (about +30%) from the current share price but here’s my logic. Demand for Nvidia’s chips is going to remain very high, in my view. Recently, the company has said it has about $500bn in revenue visibility from its Blackwell and Vera Rubin chips from the start of 2025 through the end of calendar year 2026. Now, at present, analysts expect the company to generate earnings per share of $7.69 for FY2027 (the financial year starting 1 February 2026). Let’s assume this forecast’s going to be accurate. And then let’s assume that earnings growth the following year is going to be 20%. That gives us an earnings forecast of $9.23 per share for FY2028. Apply a forward-looking earnings multiple to that and we get: I’ll go with the middle multiple as I think that’s very fair. It’s worth noting that this price target’s very close to the average analyst price target right now ($253). Of course, I’m making a lot of assumptions here. And there are plenty of factors that could derail my bullish investment thesis, including a slowdown in AI spending and increased competition in the chip space. I continue to believe that Nvidia has significant growth potential though. In my view, investors should consider buying on pullbacks. The post Prediction: AI stocks will rise again in 2026 and Nvidia’s share price will soar to this level appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Nvidia made the list? More reading Edward Sheldon has positions in Nvidia and Salesforce. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Nvidia, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/02/prediction-ai-stocks-will-rise-again-in-2026-and-nvidias-share-price-will-soar-to-this-level/
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Business & Finance
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c4cd740771e12d640f9721df3f429362acd6c4ae84093fd0fbdabcbc2eed61ad
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2026-01-02T06:21:00+00:00
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3 S&P 500 growth stocks that could make index funds looks silly over the next 5 years
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The S&P 500 index can be a goldmine for stocks that have huge growth potential. Over the last few decades, many shares in this index (Nvidia, Amazon, Apple, etc) have made investors an absolute fortune. Here, I’m going to highlight three S&P 500 stocks that I reckon will soar over the next five years, and make passive index fund strategies look silly. Are these names worth a closer look today? Over the next five years, the cybersecurity industry is likely to experience prolific growth as companies embrace artificial intelligence (this will increase the attack surface). This industry expansion should fuel strong growth at CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD). It’s one of the largest players in the cybersecurity sector with a market-cap of around $120bn. It aims to secure the most critical areas of risk for businesses – endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data – to keep customers ahead of cyber criminals. Now, like a lot of high-growth stocks, CrowdStrike carries a fair bit of risk from an investment perspective. Not only does it operate in a very dynamic environment (the cybercrime landscape’s always shifting) but it has a high valuation because its earnings are still small. Taking a five-year view however, I see a ton of potential. I think it’s worth a look right now. Another industry I believe will see massive growth in the years ahead is semiconductor (chip) manufacturing. And one company that looks well placed to benefit here – and could be worth considering as a long-term investment – is KLA Corp (NASDAQ: KLAC). It specialises in process control and yield management solutions for the industry. So it’s essentially a ‘picks-and-shovels’ play on the theme – it should do well no matter which companies have the best chips. One thing I like about this company from an investment perspective is that it’s very profitable. Return on capital employed (ROCE) is very high, meaning that the company should have plenty of capital to reinvest for future growth (and get bigger). I’ll point out however, that the chip industry is cyclical (up and down). So while I’m bullish on the long-term outlook here, there could be periods where this stock experiences some short-term underperformance. Finally, I’m bullish on Axon Enterprise (NASDAQ: AXON). It’s known for its Tasers (stun guns) but it also manufactures other policing and security solutions such as body cameras and drones. This company has been growing at an incredible rate in recent years. Over the last five years, for example, revenue has climbed from $531m to $2,083m. Looking ahead, I expect it to continue growing at a fast pace. Ultimately, it looks set to benefit from a ‘perfect storm’ of socio-political factors (more unrest globally, lower levels of police staffing, the demand for policing transparency, etc). Of course, there are risks here. Slowing growth’s one – right now the stock’s priced for strong growth. When I look to the long term here though, I can see this stock doing very well given the complex socio-political backdrop. I think it’s worth considering while it’s 30% below its highs. The post 3 S&P 500 growth stocks that could make index funds looks silly over the next 5 years appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Axon Enterprise made the list? More reading Edward Sheldon has positions in Amazon, Apple, KLA Corp, CrowdStrike, and Nvidia. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Amazon, Apple, Axon Enterprise, CrowdStrike, and Nvidia. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/02/3-sp-500-growth-stocks-that-could-make-index-funds-looks-silly-over-the-next-5-years/
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6c45a955947c56b7c28ed62089735b7f11c64a35ef4c270e82525bb33d61220b
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2026-01-02T06:02:00+00:00
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Here’s how to start building a passive income portfolio worth £2k a month in 2026
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One of the most efficient ways to invest in shares and build a passive income portfolio is through a Stocks and Shares ISA. It’s simple and genuinely takes minutes to open. What’s more, any dividends or capital gains earned within the ISA are completely tax-free. That means more of your returns stay invested and compound over time, without the drag of income or capital gains tax. You can invest in individual shares, funds or ETFs, reinvest dividends automatically, and adjust your portfolio as your goals change. For long-term investors focused on growing income, a Stocks and Shares ISA is hard to beat. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions. Building a portfolio takes time. However, if I were starting from scratch today, I’d probably look to pick one or two stocks a month, allotting around £600 to these investments. After 20 years, and assuming a strong (but far under my average) annual return of 10%, the portfolio would be worth just shy of £460,000. That’s almost enough to generate £2k a month in passive income. So what stocks would I consider investing in? Well, my starting point’s already the stock’s current valuation rather than long-term themes or trends. After all, a company may look well positioned to benefit from a certain trend, but it’ll be a rubbish investment if it’s already priced accordingly. With that in mind, I typically stay away from companies like Palantir. Yes, it’s an incredibly company, but I can’t quantify its value, and that means there’s no margin of safety as it trades at 260 times forward earnings. With that in mind, I’m more inclined to consider companies where the metrics make sense. Fresh Del Monte Produce (NYSE:FDP) is one such company. The firm operates in the production, marketing, and distribution of fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. It owns huge plantations including 45,509 acres in Costa Rice and 8,973 acres in Guatemala. I think this is really interesting in a world where land’s increasing competed for. It also has a solid balance sheet, with a modest $243m net debt position. It’s trading around 12.5 times forward earnings, and earnings growth is expected around 17% in 2025 and 8.5% in 2026. These figures, combined with a healthy 3.4% dividend yield, make me confident that the stock will appreciate. Analysts agree with a price target 26% above the current price. Of course, risks exist. The company’s highly exposed to climate change and adverse weather patterns. Still, I believe it’s very much worth considering. There’s a world of investment opportunities out there. As we look towards 2026, companies like TBC Bank, Sanmina Corporation, SkyWest, and Modine Manufacturing are also on my watchlist. I may even be tempted back to Super Micro Computer — having sold my shares almost 18 months ago — and I continue to monitor the memory AI play, potentially adding Seagate to my memory holdings like Micron Technology. The post Here’s how to start building a passive income portfolio worth £2k a month in 2026 appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. made the list? More reading James Fox has positions in Fresh Del Monte Produce, Micron Technology, TBC Bank, and Sanmina Corporation. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/02/heres-how-to-starting-building-a-passive-income-portfolio-worth-2k-a-month-in-2026/
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Business & Finance
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efe8d354baddfcac0de189e19c2466b63d4b84046756a4e4b07048f6197d93e6
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2026-01-02T06:00:00+00:00
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How much do you need in an ISA to target £1,000 of monthly passive income?
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Generating £1,000 a month from a Stocks and Shares ISA may sound ambitious, but it’s realistic with time, discipline, and compounding. At a 5% annual yield, that income equates to £12,000 a year — implying a portfolio worth roughly £240,000. Reaching that figure doesn’t require a windfall, but it does require starting early and allowing reinvested returns to do the heavy lifting inside a Stocks and Shares ISA. The challenge then becomes choosing investments capable of growing capital steadily before eventually supporting a sustainable income stream. The beauty of an ISA is that the compounding and the dividends are free from capital gains and tax. Please note that tax treatment depends on the individual circumstances of each client and may be subject to change in future. The content in this article is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to be, neither does it constitute, any form of tax advice. Readers are responsible for carrying out their own due diligence and for obtaining professional advice before making any investment decisions. To reach a £240,000 portfolio, the early focus should be less on headline yield and more on total return. Businesses with strong cash generation, structural growth drivers, and scope for future shareholder returns tend to offer better long-term outcomes than high-yield but low-growth shares. One stock worth considering in this context is Sanmina Corporation (NASDAQ:SANM). Sanmina’s a US-listed electronics manufacturing specialist and it sits at the heart of several long-term growth trends, including cloud computing, AI infrastructure, and advanced industrial systems. The company has recently moved further up the AI value chain following its acquisition of ZT Systems’ data-centre infrastructure manufacturing business. This deal materially reshapes what Sanmina does and how it earns money. Historically, Sanmina was best described as a high-quality electronics manufacturing services (EMS) provider, producing boards, sub-assemblies, and finished units to customer specifications. The ZT transaction changes that profile. With ZT’s assets, Sanmina can now manufacture and integrate entire data-centre racks, combining compute, networking, power, and advanced cooling into fully assembled, tested systems ready for deployment. This pushes the group beyond component-level manufacturing into systems-level delivery, where average selling prices are higher, customer relationships are deeper, and switching costs are materially greater. Importantly, Sanmina also becomes a strategic manufacturing partner to AMD (from whom it’s buying ZT) for cloud and AI infrastructure. This means it’s much more embedded into hyperscaler supply chains. Over time, this shift should support a higher-quality revenue mix, stronger margins, and more resilient earnings than traditional EMS alone. From a valuation perspective, the shares look attractive relative to growth prospects. Sanmina trades on a forward non-GAAP price-to-earnings of 15.9, around 35% below the sector median, while its forward non-GAAP price-to-earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.63 suggests growth isn’t fully reflected in the share price. This combination of strong earnings growth and modest valuation makes it worth considering. Especially when we compare it with Celestica. Celestica’s an EMS player with significant AI offerings. I banged on about it for ages, but it now trades at 51 times forward earnings having surged 3,853% over three years. To me, this comparison suggests Sanmina might have a lot of room to run. However, it’s worth noting that the ZT deal could compromise the balance sheet, especially if there’s any slowdown in global AI spending. The post How much do you need in an ISA to target £1,000 of monthly passive income? appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. When investing expert Mark Rogers has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the flagship Motley Fool Share Advisor newsletter he has run for nearly a decade has provided thousands of paying members with top stock recommendations from the UK and US markets. And right now, Mark thinks there are 6 standout stocks that investors should consider buying. Want to see if Sanmina Corporation made the list? More reading James Fox has positions in Celestica and Sanmina Corporation. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.
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https://www.fool.co.uk/2026/01/02/how-much-do-you-need-in-an-isa-to-target-1000-of-monthly-passive-income/
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Business & Finance
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b502c3e84ee22e399c1840d8ef12abc45f9cec63685a063f077bb6139e22873c
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2026-01-02T03:50:23+00:00
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SBA says it has suspended ‘6,900 Minnesota borrowers’ over suspected fraud
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Small Business Administration (SBA) Administrator Kelly Loeffler said Thursday night that her agency has suspended “6,900 Minnesota borrowers” over suspected fraudulent activity regarding COVID-era lending programs. Loeffler said the SBA over the last week reviewed “thousands” of potentially “fraudulent” Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) payouts that were approved in Minnesota. …
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https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5669459-minnesota-fraud-sba-ppp/
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World & Politics
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e38357e8e0855df5722bf0db10e2a767c7d4c6557d12fb8644d179e40abf22d0
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2026-01-02T02:51:14+00:00
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Maduro open to talks with US on drug trafficking and oil, dodges on CIA drone strike
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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says he is open to holding talks with the Trump administration over drug trafficking and the country’s oil reserves, but he dodged when asked about the CIA’s recent drone strike inside his South American nation. “The U.S. government knows, because we’ve told many of their spokespeople, that if they want to…
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https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5669450-maduro-venezuela-cia-strike/
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World & Politics
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7651c1f71804c700262adc738edfdb4f324c551a7da5f9e481fe1f267c082353
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2026-01-02T02:07:54+00:00
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Mamdani signs EO to undo Eric Adams’s orders since his indictment
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Freshly sworn-in New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani signed a number of executive orders on his first day in office Thursday, including one to revoke most executive orders issued by former Mayor Eric Adams after he was indicted in September 2024. “We speak about this day as a new era. And in order to fulfill…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5669436-zohran-mamdani-executive-orders-new-york-eric-adams/
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World & Politics
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a5e9ccf2bed6d3434189ad543b8ba67fc6bddc5c8d08943a95efde82cec7c70b
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2026-01-02T01:01:06+00:00
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Trump rejects doctors’ advice to take less aspirin: ‘I want nice, thin blood’
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President Trump said in new interview regarding his health that he has rejected his doctors’ advice to take less aspirin for cardiac prevention because he has been taking it for more than two decades and is a “little superstitious.” “They say aspirin is good for thinning out the blood, and I don’t want thick blood…
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https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5669408-trump-health-aspirin/
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World & Politics
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3b5060906e86f324a35dc71b0b09400fda5183642d6bb23c7cc5df972ba82aac
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2026-01-01T23:27:20+00:00
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Iran protests escalate with deadly police clashes
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The widening protests in Iran over the country’s worsening economy escalated Thursday, with demonstrators clashing with police in multiple provinces, leaving several people dead. At least three protesters were killed and 17 others wounded during an attack on a police station in Iran’s western province of Lorestan, the semiofficial Fars News Agency reported. The clashes…
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https://thehill.com/policy/international/5669381-iran-protests-tehran/
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World & Politics
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c3a85999d7e4d148f2b7845abdd51b86826a572d505d71e09a3a68c4758d8b1d
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2026-01-02T00:02:11+00:00
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The ALMA Array is Completed With 145 New Low-Noise Amplifiers
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The Atacama Millimeter/Submillimeter Array (ALMA), the world's most powerful radio telescope, has received 145 new low-noise amplifiers (LNAs) that will increase its range and sensitivity.
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https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-alma-array-is-completed-with-145-new-low-noise-amplifiers
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Space & Physics
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61240965a514eb0c23d6f98f306890061acbf3d2a4a5afd7d741f95cc4794c32
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2026-01-01T23:50:27+00:00
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The Best Meteor Showers in 2026
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The Quadrantids and Eta Aquariids will have Moon trouble in 2026, but the beloved Perseids and Geminids should be glorious. The post The Best Meteor Showers in 2026 appeared first on Sky & Telescope.
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https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/the-best-meteor-showers-in-2026/
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Space & Physics
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1377c84ef79ff3ca88e5f00556364f48884d819b684618971bbb693533cf0ab3
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2026-01-01T16:34:08
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Something hidden deep underground supercharged this Chile earthquake
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A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck northern Chile in July 2024—and it wasn’t supposed to be that strong. Unlike Chile’s infamous shallow “megathrust” quakes, this one ruptured deep inside the Earth, where shaking is usually weaker at the surface. Researchers discovered that the quake broke long-held assumptions by tearing through hotter rock layers than expected, fueled by a rare chain reaction that accelerated the rupture.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251228020002.htm
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Science
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8224f1b08b6ae35359efce43ceca0a7f5f69a6febfc6bb7fe9b62fd9555e0d6f
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2026-01-01T22:28:09
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This tiny plant is helping solve crimes
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Moss may look insignificant, but it can carry a hidden forensic fingerprint. Because different moss species thrive in very specific micro-environments, tiny fragments can reveal exactly where a person has been. Researchers reviewing 150 years of cases found moss has helped solve crimes across multiple countries, including one case where it led investigators directly to a buried child. The study urges law enforcement to pay closer attention to these silent witnesses.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080738.htm
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Science
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d45df4d8a9db74057de6762e0433dcaf4acebfdda2b2e793b1d0e87640ccd486
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2026-01-01T23:12:42
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Did an exploding comet wipe out the mammoths?
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Scientists are uncovering new clues that a cosmic explosion may have rocked Earth at the end of the last ice age. At major Clovis-era sites, researchers found shocked quartz—evidence of intense heat and pressure consistent with a comet airburst rather than volcanism or human activity. The event could have sparked massive fires, blocked sunlight, and triggered a rapid return to ice-age conditions. These harsh changes may explain the sudden loss of megafauna and the disappearance of the Clovis culture.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225080736.htm
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Science
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svg
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958ef38c591cd1954843ba9dd5fdadb1064cef4b2329cf1bc7a75cf8ebfe9907
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2026-01-01T17:02:26
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A planet just vanished. NASA’s Hubble reveals a violent cosmic secret
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Astronomers tracking a nearby star system thought they had spotted an exoplanet reflecting light from its star. Then it vanished. Even stranger, another bright object appeared nearby. After studying years of Hubble Space Telescope data, scientists realized they were not seeing planets at all, but the glowing debris left behind by two massive collisions between asteroid-sized bodies.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225035346.htm
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Science
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svg
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28ac68d5259bc88f5f301774c82aa862e683751fb60b5e3e1b2005415f32dce0
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2026-01-01T17:30:33
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This tiny chemistry change makes flow batteries last far longer
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A new advance in bromine-based flow batteries could remove one of the biggest obstacles to long-lasting, affordable energy storage. Scientists developed a way to chemically capture corrosive bromine during battery operation, keeping its concentration extremely low while boosting energy density through a two-electron reaction. This approach sharply reduces damage to battery components and allows the use of cheaper materials.
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https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251224015653.htm
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Science
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05bf21a4460a077b69c8186210e20c8123de1dd412623b4e3798c482d035e2d5
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2026-01-01T21:49:46-05:00
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Amazon is clearing out Stanley tumblers, water bottles, food containers and more during this limited sale
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Here’s the complete deal list with pricing from the PDF: Featured Deals Stanley IceFlow Flip Straw Tumbler 30 oz Rose Quartz – The IceFlow series delivers reliable temperature retention with vacuum insulation that keeps drinks cold for 12 hours or iced for 2 days. The 30 oz capacity means you can fill it up twice and have enough hydration for a full workday without constant refills. The flip straw lid makes one-handed drinking simple while you’re juggling a laptop or groceries, and the integrated handle fits most car cup holders despite the generous size. Stanley Quencher ProTour Flip Straw Tumbler 30 oz Cranberry Gloss – The ProTour series upgrades the popular Quencher design with a truly leakproof lid, solving the main complaint about earlier models. The built-in flip straw means no more lost straws rattling around in your bag, and the stainless steel construction keeps your cold brew legitimately cold through a full morning of meetings. At 30 oz, it holds enough coffee or water to reduce refill trips while still fitting in standard cup holders. Stanley Classic Legendary Vacuum Bottle 20 oz Black 2.0 – This thermos represents Stanley’s heritage design updated for modern use. The 40% discount makes it an exceptional value for vacuum insulation technology that genuinely works—keeping coffee hot for hours on a job site or during outdoor activities. The 20 oz size is substantial enough for a full morning’s worth of coffee but compact enough to toss in a work bag, and the leakproof cup lid doubles as a drinking vessel. The post Amazon is clearing out Stanley tumblers, water bottles, food containers and more during this limited sale appeared first on Popular Science.
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https://www.popsci.com/gear/stanley-water-bottle-tumbler-amazon-deals-winter/
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Science
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7e6cefff42b4108599f1092800a8b51870907a9a900945499d369cb0f7f911ea
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2026-01-02T07:00:00+00:00
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Even as global crop prices fall, India’s Arya.ag is attracting investors — and staying profitable
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Arya.ag, an Indian agritech company offering storage facilities near farms and offering lending services to hundreds of thousands of farmers, has drawn investor interest and remained profitable even as global crop prices continue to fall in a volatile commodities market. The investor interest has taken shape in the latest all-equity Series D round from GEF […]
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https://techcrunch.com/2026/01/01/even-as-global-crop-prices-fall-indias-arya-ag-is-attracting-investors-and-staying-profitable/
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Technology
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