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Paramount Skydance is reportedly preparing a $71 billion bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, involving sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Abu Dhabi. Denials have been issued, but reports of meetings with Middle Eastern officials suggest potential regional backing. The deal could reshape media ownership amid regulatory and political considerations.
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UBS's latest report shows a record increase in billionaires worldwide, reaching 2,919 with collective wealth of $15.8 trillion. Women are outpacing men in wealth growth for four consecutive years, and inheritance continues to drive the rise, especially in the US and Europe. The billionaire class is diversifying and expanding rapidly.
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As of December 31, 2025, Larry Ellison has personally guaranteed $40.4 billion to support Paramount Skydance's $108 billion hostile all-cash bid for Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). This move addresses WBD's concerns over financing reliability, challenging Netflix's $82.7 billion cash-and-stock offer for part of WBD. The Ellisons aim to acquire all of WBD, including CNN and Discovery, intensifying a contentious bidding war with regulatory and shareholder implications.
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The Bank of Japan increased its short-term policy rate to 0.75%, the highest since 1995, signaling a shift toward normalizing monetary policy amid rising inflation and a weakening yen. The move impacts markets, including a dip in bitcoin, and reflects confidence in economic recovery.
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On December 18-19, 2025, TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance signed binding agreements with Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi's MGX to form a US joint venture. The deal, set to close January 22, 2026, complies with US law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok's US operations or face a ban. The new entity will control US data, algorithm security, and content moderation, while ByteDance retains global commercial control.
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Georgia Power's $16.3 billion plan to build a large-scale data center to meet AI demand has been approved, with projected costs covered by future customer payments. Critics warn of financial risks and environmental concerns amid political tensions and industry backing.
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Despite concerns over AI-driven overvaluation, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley forecast continued US stock growth in 2026. Goldman expects a 7% return, citing strong earnings and economic resilience, while Morgan Stanley predicts a 13% rise driven by global cyclical recovery and commodity demand. Experts warn of potential risks, including a possible market correction and shifts in investor confidence.
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Multiple countries in the Middle East and Africa are advancing AI strategies and financial reforms. The UK plans to re-establish a civil service training school focused on AI, Nigeria is launching a microfinance bank leveraging payment data, and Arab nations are investing heavily in AI infrastructure and regulation amid geopolitical shifts.
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On January 23, 2026, TikTok finalized a deal creating a majority American-owned joint venture to operate its US business, avoiding a ban mandated by a 2024 law. Investors including Oracle, Silver Lake, and Emirati firm MGX hold over 80%, while ByteDance retains 19.9%. The US algorithm will be retrained on American data, with data stored locally under strict safeguards.
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A planned $100 billion investment deal between Nvidia and OpenAI has fallen apart amid reports of internal doubts and dissatisfaction with Nvidia's chips. Both companies deny tension, but the deal's collapse raises questions about AI infrastructure funding and industry confidence as OpenAI explores alternatives.
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Leaders and industry experts warn of increasing pressure for countries to develop sovereign AI capabilities amid US-China tech rivalry. The GCC has invested early, while Europe focuses on building local infrastructure. Open-source models are seen as key for middle powers to maintain control.
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As of February 2026, a landmark trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court is underway against Meta and Google's YouTube, accused of deliberately designing platforms to addict children and harm their mental health. The case centers on a 19-year-old plaintiff, KGM, and could set precedent for hundreds of similar lawsuits. TikTok and Snap settled earlier. Meta denies wrongdoing, citing complex mental health factors and safeguards.