Jonathan Wong
The Latest
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U.S. Greenlights H200 Shipments to China, Triggering Security Backlash and 25% Import Tax Requirement
President Donald Trump moved to loosen export restrictions on artificial intelligence hardware, announcing that the United States will allow Nvidia's H200 chips-its second-most advanced AI semiconductors-to be shipped to China under a 25% fee structure. The move, disclosed in a Truth Social post and later clarified by White House officials, marks a significant reversal in Washington's effort to curtail Beijing's access to high-end computing power. 
President Donald Trump moved to loosen export restrictions on artificial intelligence hardware, announcing that the United States will allow Nvidia's H200 chips-its second-most advanced AI semiconductors-to be shipped to China under a 25% fee structure. The move, disclosed in a Truth Social post and later clarified by White House officials, marks a significant reversal in Washington's effort to curtail Beijing's access to high-end computing power. -
Paramount Launches $108.4 Billion Hostile Bid as CEO Cites 'Inherent Bias' in Warner Bros Sale Process
The hard-fought battle for Warner Bros Discovery erupted into open corporate combat this week after Paramount Skydance unleashed a $108.4 billion hostile bid that bypasses the board and goes directly to shareholders, challenging Netflix's earlier $72 billion agreement for the storied media empire. The move injects fresh uncertainty into one of the largest entertainment deals in U.S. history and thrusts Washington, Hollywood unions, and global investors into an increasingly fraught contest over who will control intellectual property such as HBO, DC Comics, and major film franchises. 
The hard-fought battle for Warner Bros Discovery erupted into open corporate combat this week after Paramount Skydance unleashed a $108.4 billion hostile bid that bypasses the board and goes directly to shareholders, challenging Netflix's earlier $72 billion agreement for the storied media empire. The move injects fresh uncertainty into one of the largest entertainment deals in U.S. history and thrusts Washington, Hollywood unions, and global investors into an increasingly fraught contest over who will control intellectual property such as HBO, DC Comics, and major film franchises. -
Netflix’s $82 B Warner Deal Faces Political Storm as DOJ Calls Content ‘Woke Garbage’
Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is facing an unusual combination of antitrust scrutiny and political hostility, as the Trump administration's Department of Justice signals that cultural criticism may intersect with formal regulatory review. The tensions escalated after Pentagon officials, under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, attacked Netflix for producing what they called "woke garbage," drawing the streaming giant deeper into broader political battles while it pursues an $82 billion media takeover. 
Netflix's proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery is facing an unusual combination of antitrust scrutiny and political hostility, as the Trump administration's Department of Justice signals that cultural criticism may intersect with formal regulatory review. The tensions escalated after Pentagon officials, under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, attacked Netflix for producing what they called "woke garbage," drawing the streaming giant deeper into broader political battles while it pursues an $82 billion media takeover. -
Netflix Shares Slide After $83 Billion Warner Bros. Deal Shocks Hollywood
Netflix jolted the entertainment industry Friday after announcing a sweeping agreement to buy Warner Bros. and HBO, a move that would merge the world's largest streaming platform with one of Hollywood's most storied studios. The deal, valued at roughly $72 billion plus debt-or $82.7 billion in total enterprise value-poses the most significant test yet for U.S. and international regulators confronting consolidation in the entertainment landscape. Netflix said it expects the transaction to close within 12 to 18 months, pending regulatory approval. 
Netflix jolted the entertainment industry Friday after announcing a sweeping agreement to buy Warner Bros. and HBO, a move that would merge the world's largest streaming platform with one of Hollywood's most storied studios. The deal, valued at roughly $72 billion plus debt-or $82.7 billion in total enterprise value-poses the most significant test yet for U.S. and international regulators confronting consolidation in the entertainment landscape. Netflix said it expects the transaction to close within 12 to 18 months, pending regulatory approval. -
U.S. Holiday Layoffs Surge as 31% of Companies Cut Staff, Leaving 1.1 Million Out of Work
A surge of year-end layoffs across the United States is poised to leave more than a million Americans without work heading into the Christmas season, as nearly one in three companies prepares to cut jobs before December ends. Resume.org's November 2025 survey of 1,008 U.S. business leaders found that 31% of firms plan layoffs before January, adding pressure to an already battered labor market that has logged the worst job-cut numbers since 2020. More than 1.1 million workers have been laid off through October, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. 
A surge of year-end layoffs across the United States is poised to leave more than a million Americans without work heading into the Christmas season, as nearly one in three companies prepares to cut jobs before December ends. Resume.org's November 2025 survey of 1,008 U.S. business leaders found that 31% of firms plan layoffs before January, adding pressure to an already battered labor market that has logged the worst job-cut numbers since 2020. More than 1.1 million workers have been laid off through October, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. -
Costco Sues Trump Administration as $90 Billion Tariff Battle Reaches Supreme Court
Costco Wholesale Corp. has moved to protect itself from potentially unrecoverable tariff costs, filing suit against the Trump administration and arguing that the sweeping import duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unlawful. The complaint, lodged Nov. 28 in the U.S. Court of International Trade, seeks assurance that the company will receive a "complete refund" if the Supreme Court strikes down President Donald Trump's tariff program. The filing underscores fears among major importers that without litigation, they may be excluded from any eventual refund process. 
Costco Wholesale Corp. has moved to protect itself from potentially unrecoverable tariff costs, filing suit against the Trump administration and arguing that the sweeping import duties imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unlawful. The complaint, lodged Nov. 28 in the U.S. Court of International Trade, seeks assurance that the company will receive a "complete refund" if the Supreme Court strikes down President Donald Trump's tariff program. The filing underscores fears among major importers that without litigation, they may be excluded from any eventual refund process. -
AT&T Data Breach Settlement Offers up to $7,500 as Millions Check Eligibility Before 2025 Deadline
AT&T's agreement to pay $177 million in a nationwide class-action settlement has set off a wave of inquiries from current and former customers seeking to determine whether they qualify for payments that could reach as high as $7,500. The settlement, tied to two major data breaches disclosed in 2024, covers tens of millions of people whose personal information or call-metadata records were exposed as litigation mounted against one of the nation's largest telecommunications providers. 
AT&T's agreement to pay $177 million in a nationwide class-action settlement has set off a wave of inquiries from current and former customers seeking to determine whether they qualify for payments that could reach as high as $7,500. The settlement, tied to two major data breaches disclosed in 2024, covers tens of millions of people whose personal information or call-metadata records were exposed as litigation mounted against one of the nation's largest telecommunications providers. -
Airbus Shares Drop 10% as New A320 Fuselage Defect Threatens Year-End Deliveries
Airbus suffered one of its sharpest market setbacks of the year on Monday as shares fell nearly 10% after the planemaker confirmed a new quality issue affecting fuselage panels on several dozen A320-family aircraft. The disclosure, first reported by Reuters, came as Airbus enters a critical year-end delivery push and faces heightened scrutiny following recent software-related fleet disruptions across global airlines. 
Airbus suffered one of its sharpest market setbacks of the year on Monday as shares fell nearly 10% after the planemaker confirmed a new quality issue affecting fuselage panels on several dozen A320-family aircraft. The disclosure, first reported by Reuters, came as Airbus enters a critical year-end delivery push and faces heightened scrutiny following recent software-related fleet disruptions across global airlines. -
Amazon Faces Worker Revolt as AI Expansion Sparks Job-Loss and Climate Warnings
Amazon's rapid expansion into artificial intelligence has triggered unusually broad internal dissent, as more than a thousand employees warned that the company's aggressive rollout of AI could accelerate layoffs, undermine climate commitments and expand surveillance capabilities. The pushback comes as Amazon plans major data-center investments to support AI tools, prompting workers to argue that the strategy ignores both environmental risks and the human cost of automation. 
Amazon's rapid expansion into artificial intelligence has triggered unusually broad internal dissent, as more than a thousand employees warned that the company's aggressive rollout of AI could accelerate layoffs, undermine climate commitments and expand surveillance capabilities. The pushback comes as Amazon plans major data-center investments to support AI tools, prompting workers to argue that the strategy ignores both environmental risks and the human cost of automation. -
EU Targets Shein After France Uncovers Child-Like Sex Dolls and Banned Weapons on Platform
European lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of global fast-fashion retailer Shein after French authorities discovered listings for "child-like" sex dolls and illegal weapons on the company's online marketplace. The findings prompted immediate legal action in France and triggered a wider political push in Brussels to determine whether Shein violated the European Union's Digital Services Act, the sweeping regulatory framework governing online platforms with tens of millions of users. 
European lawmakers are intensifying scrutiny of global fast-fashion retailer Shein after French authorities discovered listings for "child-like" sex dolls and illegal weapons on the company's online marketplace. The findings prompted immediate legal action in France and triggered a wider political push in Brussels to determine whether Shein violated the European Union's Digital Services Act, the sweeping regulatory framework governing online platforms with tens of millions of users.
