The fragmented financial markets across Latin America are slowly becoming unified through the use of crypto platforms. This new wave of technology allows for easier cross-border investments and transactions, similar to how European markets function. Key countries like El Salvador and Brazil are leading by advancing digital asset regulations.
Key Facts
Latin America has traditionally had fragmented financial systems due to different currencies and regulations.
Cross-border payments in the region often rely on intermediaries like the U.S. banking system, causing delays and extra costs.
New crypto platforms are creating financial systems that allow easier investments across borders using technologies like blockchain.
Stablecoins, which are digital currencies backed by another asset, are helping businesses make quick payments across Latin American countries.
El Salvador made Bitcoin legal tender in 2021 and is leading in developing crypto regulations.
Brazil has passed a law for regulating cryptocurrencies, aiming to become a central player in regional crypto activities.
Chile has created a licensing system for crypto exchanges and wallet providers.
Countries like Peru and Colombia are still in the process of developing their crypto regulatory frameworks.
More than 2,000 seniors with Medicare Supplement plans from UCare might lose their coverage soon. UCare announced it will stop offering these Medigap policies, leading these seniors to seek alternative health plans before they face coverage gaps.
Key Facts
UCare is a health insurer based in Minneapolis.
Around 2,500 people with Medicare Supplement policies are affected by UCare's decision.
Without a Medicare Supplement plan, seniors generally need to pay about 20% of their healthcare costs.
UCare initially planned to move policyholders to Medica in the new year but it is uncertain if this transition will happen.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce is working to help Minnesotans find a new plan by March 4, 2026.
The changes are linked to UCare stopping its Medicare business, impacting many seniors in Minnesota.
Seniors have certain rights to guaranteed issue plans if they have documentation of their lost coverage.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) plans to increase prices for various shipping services starting January 18, 2026. However, First-Class Mail stamp prices will stay the same. There are several ways to find discounted USPS stamps, like using online platforms or buying from discount retailers.
Key Facts
USPS shipping service prices will rise on January 18, 2026.
First-Class Mail Forever stamps cost 78 cents each in December 2025.
Amazon and Stamps.com may offer significant postal rate discounts.
BuyDiscountStamps.com provides stamps at 10 to 15 percent off on average.
Discount retailers like Costco sell stamps at slightly reduced prices, but savings are generally small.
A USPS official recommended not raising prices for First-Class Mail in January 2026, with changes possible mid-year.
USPS aims to maintain a cost-effective service under its modernization plan.
A UK company linked to Baroness Michelle Mone, PPE Medpro, has been liquidated and is unlikely to repay the £148 million it owes to the government for faulty personal protective equipment (PPE). The company, managed by Mone's husband, Douglas Barrowman, breached a contract to supply surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic and has very little money left to pay back creditors.
Key Facts
PPE Medpro was linked to Baroness Michelle Mone and run by her husband, Douglas Barrowman.
The company breached a contract to supply 25 million surgical gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.
PPE Medpro owed the UK government £148 million for faulty PPE and also owed £39 million in taxes to HM Revenue & Customs.
The company was liquidated after a High Court ruling, indicating it was insolvent and unlikely to repay the debts.
Judge Sebastian Prentis stated that the debt came from supplying defective equipment during a national crisis.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has vowed to recover taxpayer money from PPE Medpro.
PPE Medpro received government contracts through a fast-tracked approval process, but the equipment was not proven to be properly sterilized.
An official from the UK government's insolvency service will investigate the company's failure and the conduct of its directors.
WH Smith is under investigation by the UK's financial regulator due to accounting mistakes in its North American operations. The company announced plans to recover bonuses and reported a significant drop in share value after the errors were revealed.
Key Facts
WH Smith is being investigated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for possible rule violations related to investor information.
The company found accounting errors in its North America business, which may have overstated revenues by up to £50 million.
WH Smith plans to recover bonuses given to executives last year as a response to these errors.
The company's chief executive, Carl Cowling, resigned after an independent review of the situation.
The value of WH Smith shares fell by 40% due to the accounting mistakes.
WH Smith sold its 480 High Street stores, which were rebranded by a new owner as TG Jones.
The business retained around 1,300 branches located in places like airports and railway stations.
The company's pre-tax profit, not counting special costs, was £108 million for the year ending in August.
The Trump administration launched a pilot program called Farmers First Regenerative Agriculture, promising $700 million to support sustainable farming practices. Critics argue this funding is inadequate given the administration's previous cuts to other agricultural support programs. There is also concern about the lack of clear definitions and regulations for regenerative agriculture.
Key Facts
The Farmers First Regenerative Agriculture pilot program offers $700 million to help farmers with sustainable practices.
Critics say the program is inadequate because it follows cuts to other agricultural initiatives, like the $3 billion Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has lost a significant number of staff under the Trump administration, affecting its ability to run new programs.
Regenerative agriculture aims to improve soil health, conserve water, and increase carbon capture, but lacks clear definitions and standards.
The trend of regenerative agriculture is growing, but there's concern over potential misuse of the term by large agribusinesses.
Critics argue that the Trump administration's broader policies have negatively impacted American farmers and the environment.
Immigration raids and trade policies under Trump have led to worker shortages and reduced export income for the agricultural sector.
Starbucks launched a limited-edition Bearista cup in November 2025, causing a huge increase in store visits. The $30 bear-shaped reusable cup led to the chain's biggest sales day on record and kept customer interest high. This trend shows how special editions and holiday campaigns can boost sales and customer loyalty in the competitive coffee market.
Key Facts
Starbucks introduced the Bearista cup in November 2025.
The Bearista cup is a bear-shaped reusable cup priced at $29.95.
Store visits increased by 37.8% compared to the 12-month average after the launch.
Customers lined up as early as 4:00 a.m. to purchase the cup.
The day of the Bearista launch became Starbucks' biggest single-day sales event.
The momentum continued into Red Cup Day, with a further 6.2% increase in visits year-over-year.
Limited-edition merchandise drives significant customer engagement and sales.
Location data analysis by Placer.ai was used to study foot traffic trends related to this event.
UK government borrowing was higher than analysts expected in November, reaching £11.7 billion. This borrowing amount, however, was still lower than November of last year and marks the lowest November borrowing in the past four years. The borrowing for the current financial year has totaled £132.3 billion.
Key Facts
In November, UK government borrowing was £11.7 billion.
Analysts had anticipated the borrowing to be around £10 billion.
This November's borrowing was £1.9 billion less than November last year.
It was the lowest amount borrowed in November for the past four years.
The ONS said higher tax and National Insurance receipts helped reduce borrowing.
Retail sales fell unexpectedly in November despite Black Friday.
Total borrowing for the financial year up to November is £132.3 billion.
Treasury official highlighted a budget aim to reduce debt and borrowing.
President Trump is focusing on revisiting and strengthening the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to protect U.S. businesses, particularly in terms of intellectual property and drug prices. His administration aims to restore key protections for American innovators that were removed under Democratic pressure. The review of USMCA may address issues with Canada and Mexico's current handling of IP protections and drug pricing policies.
Key Facts
The USMCA is a trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
President Trump aims to restore intellectual property protections removed from the original USMCA.
The U.S. wants Mexico and Canada to offer protections for new medicine data, similar to those in the U.S.
Mexico and Canada are criticized for making it easier to replicate U.S. drugs, impacting American companies.
Mexico is on the U.S. trade representative's Priority Watch List for IP concerns, such as counterfeiting.
Canada, on the Special 301 Watch List, faces criticism for patent rules and drug price controls affecting U.S. companies.
The U.S. provides 12 years of regulatory data protection, which was reduced in the current USMCA.
Canada and Mexico's actions are seen as undercutting American innovation and making it harder to fund research.
A man named Gary Quittenton-Shaw bought a £40 job lot and discovered two rare buttons made by artist Alberto Giacometti for designer Elsa Schiaparelli. He auctioned them for £61,000. These buttons were highly valuable because they were rare and unique pieces.
Key Facts
Gary Quittenton-Shaw bought a batch of items, including the buttons, for £40.
The buttons were made by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti in the 1930s for Italian designer Elsa Schiaparelli.
Giacometti was famous for sculpting thin and fragile-looking human forms.
Quittenton-Shaw discovered the buttons' history after research linked them to Schiaparelli's 1930s designs.
Auctioneers initially valued the buttons between £5,000 and £8,000 due to their rarity.
The buttons sold at a London auction for £61,000.
The auctioning process involved verification by the Alberto Giacometti committee before the sale.
Quittenton-Shaw plans to save the money and expressed disbelief at the sale outcome.
The governor of the Bank of England, Andrew Bailey, stated that artificial intelligence (AI) might replace jobs similarly to how many jobs changed during the Industrial Revolution. He emphasized the need for training and education to help workers shift to AI-related roles. The UK's unemployment rate has recently risen, with younger workers particularly affected, partly due to AI adoption.
Key Facts
The Bank of England's governor says AI is likely to change the job market by replacing some jobs.
He compares this change to the job shifts seen during the Industrial Revolution.
Andrew Bailey stresses the importance of training and education for workers to adapt to AI-related jobs.
The unemployment rate in the UK rose to 5.1% in recent months, affecting younger workers significantly.
AI impacts are felt in entry-level jobs in areas like law, accountancy, and administration.
Some business leaders express uncertainty about hiring numbers due to AI efficiencies.
Historical concerns about technology affecting jobs are referenced, similar to today’s AI impact.
Bailey believes AI could boost UK economic growth by increasing productivity over time.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced recalls for four products sold on Amazon due to safety risks that could lead to injury or death. The affected products, including children's toys and power strips, were sold by third-party vendors and failed to meet U.S. safety standards. Consumers are advised to stop using these products and follow instructions to secure refunds.
Key Facts
CPSC issued recalls for four products on Amazon over safety risks.
The products include children's toys, power strips, dressers, and bed rails.
These items pose hazards such as fire, injury, and death, particularly to children and the elderly.
About 3,090 toy sets were recalled due to dangerous batteries that can cause internal injuries if swallowed.
Over 11,200 power strips were recalled due to overheating and fire risks.
Around 4,740 dressers were recalled for stability issues, risking tip-overs.
Approximately 12,000 bed rails were recalled for potential entrapment hazards.
No injuries have been reported from these products, but consumers should stop use and seek refunds.
TikTok has made a deal to sell its U.S. business to a group of investors, allowing it to continue operating in the United States. The agreement involves companies Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, and is expected to be finalized by January 22.
Key Facts
TikTok has agreed to sell its U.S. operations to keep the app running in the United States.
Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX are the firms involved in this new joint venture.
These companies will own almost half of the new U.S. entity.
ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, will keep 20% ownership.
The remaining 30% will be held by existing ByteDance investors.
The deal is expected to be completed by January 22.
This agreement was communicated to TikTok employees by CEO Shou Chew.
The decision helps ensure TikTok's growth and presence in the U.S. market.
Grocery prices in the U.S. have gone up recently, partly because of soil problems in farming areas. Poor soil makes crops harder to grow, leading to higher costs for farmers and, in turn, higher prices for consumers. These issues have roots in soil degradation, which affects water retention, making farms more prone to droughts and floods.
Key Facts
Grocery prices increased by 2.7% over the year ending in September, according to the Consumer Price Index.
Meat, poultry, fish, and eggs prices rose by 5.2% in the same period.
Soil degradation is identified as a key factor, causing difficulty in farming, especially due to poor water retention.
The quality of soil impacts crop yields, which affects the prices of everyday groceries.
America's soil condition costs the economy up to $85.1 billion annually, according to SaveSoil estimates.
Over half of the Midwestern Corn Belt's topsoil has been lost, affecting major crop production.
Modern irrigation, needed due to lower soil quality, can cost up to $160 per acre each year.
Japan's central bank increased its main interest rate to its highest level in 30 years to address inflation issues. The rate hike was designed to strengthen the country's currency and manage the cost of imports contributing to inflation. Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi supports efforts to control inflation, though increased interest rates could impact government borrowing costs.
Key Facts
The Bank of Japan raised its interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to approximately 0.75%.
This is the first rate increase since January and the highest rate in 30 years.
The rate hike is intended to combat inflation that is above the bank's target.
Japan's inflation rate, excluding food and fuel, rose by 3% in November.
A stronger yen could lower import costs and help reduce inflation.
Higher interest rates can increase government borrowing costs.
The Bank of Japan might raise rates again next year to reach 1%.
Major central banks elsewhere, such as in the US and UK, are lowering their interest rates.
ByteDance, the company that owns TikTok, has agreed to sell most of its TikTok business in the United States to a group of investors. This sale is set to complete on January 22 to address U.S. national security concerns.
Key Facts
ByteDance owns TikTok, which is a popular app for sharing short videos.
ByteDance signed agreements with investors, including Oracle, Silver Lake, and MGX, to sell most of its U.S. business.
The deal is expected to be finalized on January 22.
The sale comes after efforts by the U.S. government to push ByteDance to sell TikTok's U.S. operations.
President Donald Trump delayed a law that would ban TikTok unless it was sold.
The agreement will allow over 170 million Americans to keep using TikTok.
TikTok described the agreement as opening up a world of endless possibilities for its users in the U.S.
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has decided to lift the current contactless card payment limit of £100. Banks and card providers will have the option to set their own payment limits or go unlimited, and consumers can also choose to set personal limits or disable contactless payments.
Key Facts
The new rules allowing changes to contactless payment limits will start in March.
Banks can set payment limits or allow unlimited payments without a PIN.
The FCA encourages banks to let customers set their own limits or turn off contactless payments.
The current contactless limit in the UK is £100, which was gradually increased over time.
Contactless payments using a smartphone don't have a spending cap, relying on security like thumbprints.
The FCA survey showed most consumers (78%) do not want the limit changed.
People express concern that unlimited contactless limits could lead to increased spending and potential financial abuse.
The UK's Cash Access UK is opening more shared banking hubs to maintain access to cash.
This year, a traditional Christmas dinner with turkey and sprouts will cost more than last year. The increase is mainly due to bird flu affecting turkey supplies and bad weather impacting sprout harvests. Overall, food prices are rising more slowly now compared to past years.
Key Facts
A typical Christmas dinner costs about £32.45 this year, a 4% increase from last year.
Turkey prices have increased by 7.37% due to bird flu, rising to £20 for a standard 10lb bird.
Brussels sprouts are up by more than 9%, costing 94p a bag.
Dry weather affected sprout harvests, requiring extra watering for crops.
Food price increases have slowed since the 2022 spike after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Other costs like pork are also up, with pigs in blankets costing 5.3% more.
Some supermarkets are lowering vegetable prices to compete for Christmas shoppers.
Instacart has settled charges from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) by agreeing to pay $60 million in refunds. The FTC accused Instacart of misleading customers about its free delivery offers and subscription service terms. The company denies any wrongdoing but agreed to the settlement to move forward.
Key Facts
Instacart will pay $60 million in refunds to settle FTC allegations.
The FTC claims Instacart misled shoppers about free delivery offers and subscription terms.
Court documents were filed in San Francisco.
Instacart denies the allegations but chose to settle.
The FTC is also investigating Instacart's pricing practices involving its Eversight tool.
A study indicated price discrepancies for the same items at the same stores.
Concerns were raised about the use of AI to adjust prices possibly leading to higher costs.
Instacart's stock fell by 1.5% following the news of the settlement.
The United States has outlined its demands for changes to the trade relationship with Canada, particularly in areas like dairy market access and online streaming regulations. The demands came from U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer during discussions on the North American trade agreement, USMCA. Key requests include opening Canada's dairy market to U.S. products and revising Canadian laws affecting U.S. media companies.
Key Facts
U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer listed U.S. trade demands to Congress.
The U.S. wants Canada to open its dairy market more to U.S. farmers.
Canada’s current dairy system limits how much U.S. dairy can enter without tariffs.
The U.S. accuses Canada of unfair pricing and export practices in the dairy sector.
The U.S. wants changes to Canada's Online Streaming Act, which affects U.S. media companies.
The law requires platforms like Netflix to promote and financially support Canadian content.
The U.S. also seeks resolution on the Canadian Online News Act, influencing tech companies like Meta and Google.
President Trump has previously considered leaving the USMCA agreement, but Canada and Mexico wish to continue it.
