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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

🤳🏻 Trump asks Supreme Court to pause U.S. TikTok ban.
🌐 Google CEO Pichai struggled to navigate a pressure-filled year.
🛢️ Aging U.S. Shale poses challenges for Trump's oil ambitions.
🌀 We need to 'gravitise' quantum mechanics, not quantise gravity.
📊 Italy’s 2025 budget gets parliamentary nod in boost for Meloni.

TECH

• Trump asks Supreme Court to pause law that could ban TikTok

  • Trump has urged the U.S. Supreme Court for a pause on the law that could ban TikTok.

  • He is arguing he should have time after taking office to pursue a political resolution to the issue.

  • The Supreme Court set to hear arguments in the case on January 10.

• Google CEO Pichai struggled to navigate a pressure-filled year

  • Sundar Pichai steered Google through a pivotal year by advancing its AI initiatives, including Bard and Gemini.

  • Google faced ongoing antitrust lawsuits, particularly around its search dominance.

  • Pichai managed difficult internal shifts, including layoffs and budget cuts.

• AT&T, Verizon say networks now clear after Salt Typhoon hack

  • Chinese hackers, Salt Typhoon, infiltrated U.S. telecom networks, geolocating and recording millions, targets like Trump and Vance.

  • U.S. Cybersecurity Agency urges encrypted communications for political figures in response.

  • Networks like AT&T and Verizon confirmed their systems remain secure despite the breach attempts.

BUSINESS

• Aging U.S. shale poses challenges for Trump's oil ambitions

  • U.S. shale fields are maturing, with fewer prime drilling locations available, hindering the ability to replicate past production growth.

  • The sector is consolidating under major oil companies like Exxon Mobil, focusing on profitability and efficiency rather than expansion.

  • Geological limits and financial discipline mean U.S. oil production is expected to grow modestly, with only a 3.6% increase forecast by 2030.

• Osamu Suzuki, 94, who turned automaker into a powerhouse, dies

  • Osamu Suzuki, former chairman and CEO of Suzuki Motor Corporation, passed away at 94 on December 25, 2024.

  • He built Suzuki Motor into a Japanese global brand making small vehicles and motorcycles.

  • Known for his strategic leadership and commitment to small cars, Suzuki retired in 2021 but remained a key figure in the auto industry.

• Mexico, Betting Trump Is Bluffing on Tariffs, Sees an Opportunity

  • Mexico believes Trump's tariff threats are negotiation tactics, not definite actions.

  • Tariffs could harm U.S. and Mexican economies, especially trade-dependent industries.

  • Mexico seeks diplomacy but is ready to defend its interests if tariffs are imposed.

CONTENT

• We need to 'gravitise' quantum mechanics, not quantise gravity

  • Roger Penrose speaks to Curt Jaimungal about key turning points in his life's work.

  • Penrose discusses the shortcomings and blatant contradictions of quantum mechanics which led his career down a different path to most.

  • Whilst others are on the quest to quantise gravity Penrose discusses his alternative approach to ‘gravitise’ quantum mechanics.

• How to Learn Faster by Using Failures, Movement & Balance

  • This Huberman Lab Essentials episode explores how errors and frustration enhance learning.

  • Also discussed; how physical activity supports cognitive development, and the differences in neuroplasticity between children and adults.

  • Huberman Lab Essentials are short episodes focused on essential science and protocol takeaways from past Huberman Lab episodes.

• Building multiple AI agents in just 100 minutes: CrewAI, Zapier, Cursor AI

  • This episode with João Moura, Founder of CrewAI, shares the overview of the platform for building and managing AI agents.

  • João showcased creating agents for lead enrichment and email automation.

  • How to build complex multi-agent systems using Crew AI and more.

WORLD

• South Korean plane crash kills 179, leaves two survivors

  • A Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 crashed at Muan Airport, South Korea, killing 179 passengers.

  • Investigators are examining bird strikes and weather conditions as possible factors.

  • Only two crew members survived out of 181 on board, marking South Korea's deadliest air disaster in decades.

• Putin apologizes over ‘tragic incident’ involving crashed plane

  • Putin apologized to Aliyev for Russia's mistaken downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane near Armenia.

  • He extended condolences to victims' families, citing a misidentification by air defenses.

  • Both nations stressed transparency to prevent future incidents.

• Italy’s 2025 budget gets parliamentary nod in boost for Meloni

  • Italy's parliament approved the 2025 budget, securing a win for PM Giorgia Meloni.

  • The Senate passed it with 112 votes.

  • Lower borrowing costs may save Italy €1.7 billion next year.

AND MORE…

• Milan Airports’ websites hit by hackers, Corriere reports

  • Russian hackers targeted the websites of Milan's two main airports on Sunday as part of a wider cyberattack.

  • The operator of Malpensa Airport and Milan-Linate Airport said flights continued as normal.

  • Italian police said the attack targeted the websites Italy's Foreign Ministry website and the public transport networks in Siena and Turin.

• Banks want in on Tether’s billions in stablecoin profits

  • Major banks like Société Générale and Standard Chartered seek to enter the stablecoin market.

  • Blockchain-based payment systems drive demand, prompting banks to compete.

  • Banks embracing stablecoins highlight the merging of traditional finance and crypto.

• Bitcoin rally fizzles as Token’s record-breaking Year winds down

  • Bitcoin’s year-end momentum slows after a record-breaking 2024, reflecting market uncertainty.

  • Other major tokens also experience declines, signaling a pullback across the cryptocurrency market.

  • Analysts attribute the slowdown to profit-taking and macroeconomic factors impacting sentiment.