Welcome back to your daily memorandum talking tech, business, AI, markets, and more. 🗞️

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

💬 WhatsApp adds optional third-party chat support for EU users.
🛒 Google debuts conversational shopping with agentic checkout features.
📉 Verizon plans deep layoffs as new CEO pushes restructuring.
🛰️ UN orders probe into Sudan atrocities after mass civilian killings.
🔒 Anthropic blocks first major AI-driven global cyber espionage campaign.

TECHNOLOGY

• WhatsApp is launching third-party chat integration in Europe (The Verge)

  _{^{More: TechCrunch, Engadget, MacRumors}}

  • Meta will enable EU WhatsApp users to message contacts on BirdyChat and Haiket apps.

  • The optional feature maintains end-to-end encryption and complies with Digital Markets Act interoperability requirements.

  • Users will see Settings notifications to opt-in for third-party chats on mobile devices.

• Mozilla announces an AI 'window' for Firefox (The Verge) 

  _{^{More: Engadget, Digital Trends, Thurrott}}

  • Mozilla is developing an opt-in AI Window browsing mode alongside classic and private windows.

  • The feature lets users choose their preferred AI models while maintaining control over engagement.

  • Firefox will continue offering traditional browsing without forced AI integration for all users.

• OpenAI says it's fixed ChatGPT's em dash problem (TechCrunch) 
  _{^{More: Business Insider, NPR}}

  • ChatGPT now respects user instructions to avoid em dashes in custom personalization settings.

  • The punctuation became an identifier for AI-generated content across emails and professional documents.

  • CEO Sam Altman called the fix a small but happy win after prolonged complaints.

BUSINESS

• Amazon and Microsoft back effort that would restrict Nvidia's exports to China (WSJ) 
  _{^{More: Reuters, Benzinga}}

  • Amazon and Microsoft support the GAIN AI Act requiring chipmakers prioritize domestic demand first.

  • The legislation would restrict Nvidia's advanced AI chip exports to China and embargoed countries.

  • Nvidia opposes the bill while Anthropic backs the policy amid industry supply tensions.

• Germany lines up new powers to fend off Chinese tech (Politico) 
  _{^{More: Bloomberg, Atlantic Council}}

  • Germany plans to exclude Chinese components from its 6G network infrastructure citing security concerns.

  • Chancellor Merz announced the policy shift to protect digital sovereignty and reduce technology dependencies.

  • Berlin excluded Huawei and ZTE from 5G networks in 2024 after years of delay.

• Samsung hikes memory chip prices by up to 60% as shortage worsens (Reuters) 
  _{^{More: Benzinga, Seeking Alpha}}

  • Samsung raised DDR5 memory chip prices up to 60% from September amid AI datacenter demand.

  • The shortage triggered panic buying and delayed orders for other chip categories globally.

  • Samsung expects quarterly contract price increases of 40-50% exceeding industry averages through 2026

MARKETS

WORLD

• Reeves backs away from income tax rates rise after improved economic forecasts (BBC) 
  _{^{More: Financial Times, Reuters, Bloomberg}}

  • UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves abandoned plans to raise income tax rates following improved fiscal forecasts.

  • Better wage growth projections narrowed the budget gap from £30 billion to approximately £20 billion pounds.

  • Labour avoids breaking manifesto pledge but may pursue alternative measures including threshold freezes and smaller taxes.

• Chinese astronauts arrive home after suspected debris strike delays return to Earth (CNN) 
  _{^{More: Bloomberg, Associated Press, Reuters}}

  • Three Chinese astronauts returned safely after nine-day delay caused by cracked window from space debris.

  • Crew used replacement Shenzhou-21 spacecraft instead of damaged vessel which remains in orbit for experiments.

  • Incident leaves current space station crew temporarily without return vehicle until Shenzhou-22 launches next year.

• UN rights council orders probe of 'appalling' abuses in Sudan's el-Fasher (Al Jazeera) 
  _{^{More: Reuters, Bloomberg, Associated Press}}

  • UN Human Rights Council ordered urgent investigation into mass killings following RSF paramilitary takeover of el-Fasher.

  • Nearly 100,000 civilians fled city amid reports of ethnically targeted executions and widespread sexual violence.

  • UN warns atrocities constitute gravest crimes with hundreds killed including patients murdered inside hospitals and schools.

FUTURISM

• How a first-year legal associate built one of Silicon Valley's hottest startups (TechCrunch) 
  _{^{More: Bloomberg, Fortune, Bloomberg Law}}

  • Legal AI startup Harvey reached $8 billion valuation after three funding rounds in 2025 alone.

  • Company surpassed $100 million annual recurring revenue serving 700 clients across 63 countries including majority of top firms.

  • Founder Winston Weinberg cold-emailed Sam Altman in 2022 which led to OpenAI Startup Fund backing the venture.

• NotebookLM adds Deep Research and support for more source types (Google) 
  _{^{More: Engadget, TechCrunch, WinBuzzer}}

  • Google launched Deep Research feature for NotebookLM enabling autonomous web browsing across hundreds of sources for reports.

  • Tool automates complex research by creating plans and synthesizing findings with citations into multi-page documents.

  • Update adds support for Google Sheets, Microsoft Word documents and direct Google Drive URL imports.

• Disrupting the first reported AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign (Anthropic) 
  _{^{More: Axios, The Register, CBS News}}

  • Anthropic detected and disrupted first documented AI-orchestrated cyber espionage campaign targeting 30 global organizations

  • Chinese state-sponsored group jailbroke Claude Code to execute attacks with AI handling 80-90% of operations autonomously.

  • Attack targeted tech companies, financial institutions, chemical manufacturers and government agencies with successful breaches in several cases.

CONTENT

• The Brutal Truth About Biotech: Why $2B Per Drug Is Killing Innovation (a16z)

  • Investors outline rising development costs, slowing productivity, and structural inefficiencies constraining progress across global biotech.

  • They compare America’s slow processes with China’s rapid trials creating shifting competitive dynamics for new medicines.

  • Conversation highlights AI acceleration, aging-focused treatments, and emerging platforms enabling future biotech breakthroughs worldwide.

• The Brutal Truth About Biotech: Why $2B Per Drug Is Killing Innovation (Y Combinator)

  • Elliot Hershberg describes core pressures increasing drug costs and limiting productivity across today’s biotech landscape.

  • They examine China’s regulatory speed and cost advantages reshaping global competition in pharmaceutical development.

  • Discussion emphasizes AI discovery, new scientific tools, and technologies enabling creation of previously unreachable therapeutics.

• How to Hire A+ Players (My First Million)

  • Alex Hormozi explains hiring intelligent generalists, building talent density, and strengthening performance across teams.

  • He outlines incentives, partner distinctions, and decisive firing habits improving execution within growing companies.

  • Insights include persuasion techniques, communication systems, and processes attracting exceptional candidates consistently over time.

• Dive into the 100 Greatest Business Books Database*

  • We've curated an exhaustive database of the top 100 business books of all time, as voted by legends like Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, and more.

  • And guess what? We've seamlessly integrated it into a trackable Notion checklist.

  • Tackle these masterpieces one by one, and soon you'll be strategising and executing like the pros.

EXTRAS

• Hurricane Melissa Leaves Behind a Staggering Homelessness Toll (New York Times) 
  _{^{More: CNN, NPR, CBS News}}

  • Hurricane Melissa destroyed 146,000 structures in Jamaica leaving thousands of families homeless with damage estimated at $7 billion.

  • Category 5 storm killed at least 45 people with approximately one million affected and 1,400 living in shelters.

  • Relief agencies focus on urgent food and water needs while facing daunting challenge of housing displaced families.

• Indigenous protesters block entrance to COP30 climate summit in Brazil (Reuters) 
  _{^{More: CNN, Associated Press, Al Jazeera}}

  • About 100 Munduruku Indigenous protesters peacefully blocked COP30 main entrance for 90 minutes, demanding forest protection action.

  • Demonstrators demand government reject river development plans,the grain railway project, and deforestation carbon credits in the Amazon.

  • Protest marks second disruption this week following Tuesday clash where Indigenous activists stormed venue, injuring two security guards.

• Walmart CEO Doug McMillon to retire, insider John Furner named top boss (Reuters) 
  _{^{More: Bloomberg, CNN, Fortune}}

  • Doug McMillon will retire as Walmart CEO on January 31 after decade-long tenure transforming retailer into technology powerhouse.

  • John Furner, current Walmart U.S. CEO, will succeed McMillon effective February 1 becoming sixth leader in company's history.

  • Under McMillon's leadership, Walmart stock rose 323% and market cap grew from $250 billion to over $800 billion.

AND MORE

• An attack by Ukrainian drones and missiles on Russia’s Novorossiysk oil depot halted about 2% of global crude shipments.

• Global stock markets fell sharply as comments from U.S. Fed officials erased expectations of a December rate cut.

• The COP30 in Brazil remains deadlocked over fossil-fuel phase-out language, with Indigenous protesters blocking access.

• Only 29% of Americans now support military use against drug suspects without judicial oversight, a Reuters/Ipsos poll finds.

• Roko’s Basilisk skips the buzz words and cuts straight to what moves markets, products, and careers.*

• The South African rand slipped from a two-year high as traders waited on an upcoming sovereign credit-rating decision.

• Global equity funds attracted just US$4.11 billion last week as tech valuation worries and U.S. labour-market weakness spooked investors.

• Markets remain on edge with major themes: delayed U.S. data after the shutdown, a potential AI-stock bubble and unclear Fed policy direction.

• The United States and Switzerland reached a provisional trade deal, cutting U.S. tariffs to 15% and securing Swiss investment.