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

In today’s edition we are tackling the following:

⚠️ New York will require social media platforms to display mental health warnings.
🚨 South Korea charges 10 over alleged Samsung chip tech leak to China.
🕊️ Trump and Zelensky will meet Sunday to advance a potential peace plan.
📉 Oracle shares slump toward worst quarter since 2001 amid AI expansion concerns.
💥 US airstrikes in Nigeria shook villages and lit the night sky red.

TECHNOLOGY

• New York will require social media platforms to display mental health warnings (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: Engadget, Tech in Asia, Al Jazeera}}

  • New York passed a law mandating warning labels on addictive social media features.

  • Labels must appear during initial use and periodically afterward to warn young users.

  • Law reflects growing global concern linking social media use to youth mental health risks.

• Google lets users change Gmail addresses while keeping all data intact (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: LA Times, NDTV, Forbes}}

  • Pro-Russian hacking group Noname057 claimed responsibility for a cyberattack disrupting France’s national postal service.

  • Attack was a DDoS that knocked La Poste systems offline days before Christmas.

  • Outage halted package tracking and payments, prompting French intelligence to take over investigation.

• South Korea charges 10 over alleged Samsung chip tech leak to China (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: Tom’s Hardware, SCMP, Tech in Asia}}

  • Prosecutors arrested 10 former Samsung employees for allegedly leaking 10-nanometer DRAM technology to China’s CXMT.

  • The stolen technology helped CXMT produce China’s first 10-nanometer DRAM and advance HBM memory production.

  • Authorities estimate trillions of won in losses, citing Samsung sales declines and broader damage to South Korea’s economy.

BUSINESS

• Trump and Zelensky will meet Sunday to advance a potential peace plan (Axios)
  ^{_{More: BBC, NBC, NY Times}}

  • Zelensky plans to meet Trump in Florida to finalize a US-brokered peace plan for Ukraine.

  • Ukraine offers potential troop withdrawals and demilitarized zones in Donbas, contingent on Russian pullback.

  • Russian airstrikes continue in Kyiv and Kharkiv amid ongoing peace negotiations and high-level diplomacy.

• Oracle shares slump toward worst quarter since 2001 amid AI expansion concerns (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: NY Post, Yahoo!}}

  • Oracle stock has fallen 30% this quarter, marking its steepest drop since 2001.

  • Investors question Oracle’s ability to expand data centers supporting OpenAI’s massive ChatGPT infrastructure plans.

  • Weaker revenue, heavy AI spending, and rising debt pressure new CEOs early tenure.

• Brutal year for stock picking spurs trillion-dollar fund exodus (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Financial Post}}

  • Market gains were driven by seven US megacap tech stocks, squeezing diversified active portfolios.

  • Investor frustration led to roughly one trillion dollars exiting active equity mutual funds in 2025.

  • Passive equity ETFs attracted over six hundred billion dollars as benchmark concentration punished stock pickers.

MARKETS

WORLD

• Pro-Russian hackers claim cyberattack on French postal service (AP)
  ^{_{More: Yahoo!, Euro News}}

  • Pro-Russian hacking group Noname057 claimed responsibility for a cyberattack disrupting France’s national postal service.

  • Attack was a DDoS that knocked La Poste systems offline days before Christmas.

  • Outage halted package tracking and payments, prompting French intelligence to take over investigation.

• US airstrikes in Nigeria shook villages and lit the night sky red (AP)
  ^{_{More: ABC, WBAP, Fox21}}

  • Nigerian villagers were terrified as the night sky turned bright red from US missile strikes.

  • Strikes targeted alleged Islamic State staging areas, launched with GPS-guided missiles and MQ-9 Reaper drones.

  • Nigeria confirmed cooperation with the U.S., though casualty figures among militants have not been disclosed.

• Myanmar holds elections amid ongoing civil war and worsening humanitarian crisis (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: CNA, Straits Times}}

  • Campaigning in Myanmar’s general election lacks energy, overshadowed by civil war and humanitarian challenges.

  • The military-backed vote follows the 2021 coup, widely criticized as a sham to entrench junta power.

  • Election phases continue through January, with results announcement dates yet to be declared.

FUTURISM

• Coforge acquires Encora for $2.35B in all-stock transaction (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Economic Times, Business World}}

  • Coforge will acquire AI-native US engineering firm Encora for $2.35 billion, boosting cloud and data capabilities.

  • The combined entity is expected to generate $2.5 billion revenue, with AI-led services contributing roughly $2 billion by 2027.

  • Encora shareholders will own about 20% of Coforge, expanding presence in the US and Latin America.

• NASA chief Isaacman says U.S. will return to moon during Trump’s term (CNBC)
  ^{_{More: BBC, Reuters}}

  • NASA plans to return Americans to the moon within President Trump’s second term, says Isaacman.

  • Isaacman highlighted lunar missions as crucial for developing an “orbital economy,” including mining and data centers.

  • NASA collaborates with SpaceX, Blue Origin, and Boeing for its Artemis moon exploration program.

• Virtual reality helps older adults form stronger connections in real life (AP)
  ^{_{More: AL, Fox5}}

  • VR headsets allow seniors in retirement communities to virtually travel, reliving adventurous experiences from around the world.

  • Programs from Rendever enhance cognition and social interaction, transforming technology into a meaningful engagement tool for elderly.

  • Residents enjoy immersive activities like swimming with dolphins or hang-gliding, fostering shared experiences and joy together.

CONTENT

• Brian Halligan shares the highs and lows of building HubSpot successfully (My First Million)

  • Halligan discusses personal challenges, including imposter syndrome and whether trade-offs in building HubSpot were worth it.

  • He reflects on mistakes made, lessons learned, and how he would approach starting over.

  • Halligan explores broader topics like happiness, AI industry risks, and leadership pressures while growing HubSpot.

• Here’s what to do if you want to start in sales in 2026 (The Science of Scaling)

  • New sales professionals in 2026 have advantages using AI workflows, personal branding, and automation over experienced reps.

  • Mark Roberge outlines a roadmap for beginners to self-learn, scale careers, and maximize selling time effectively.

  • Choosing the right company, developing skills, and leveraging content creation are key strategies for success in sales.

• Bill Gurley explains his perspective on AI and investing in 14 minutes (Tim Ferriss)

  • Gurley describes AI as a real technology wave accompanied by speculative bubble-like behavior among investors.

  • Retail investors face high risks with SPVs and private AI deals, potentially losing all investments.

  • Successful angel investing focuses on niche industries, proprietary data, and AI-enabled workflows for sustainable advantages.

EXTRAS

• Thailand and Cambodia agree to truce, ending deadly border clashes (Reuters)
  ^{_{More: CNA, CNN}}

  • Thailand and Cambodia halt weeks of intense border fighting, involving artillery, rockets, and fighter-jet sorties.

  • Ceasefire agreement freezes troop movements to prevent escalation and encourage long-term conflict resolution.

  • Fighting killed at least 101 people and displaced over half a million across both nations.

• Trump’s White House East Wing ballroom project reaches first public hearing stage (Axios)
  ^{_{More: Independent, Washington Post}}

  • Federal committee schedules January 8 hearing on Trump’s $400 million East Wing ballroom construction project.

  • Public meeting allows White House officials to present plans and answer questions before formal spring review.

  • Court ordered Trump administration to submit project plans after preservation group sued over lack of required approvals.

• New York reports record weekly flu cases, surpassing previous seasonal highs (Bloomberg)
  ^{_{More: Investing.com, NY Times}}

  • New York recorded 71,123 flu cases in a single week, marking a historic weekly high.

  • Influenza hospitalizations surged 63 percent, reflecting increased severity and pressure on healthcare facilities statewide.

  • Health officials urge vaccination as the best protection amid rising infections across New York.

AND MORE

• Kennedy Center criticizes musician canceling concert after Trump name added to building.

• S&P 500 ends mostly flat after hitting record, finishes week with gains.

• Apps promising to help people make new friends gain growing popularity.

• Cypriot fishermen fight invasive lionfish, transform it into popular tavern dish.

• Investors share insights on what 2026 holds for startups and venture capital.

• Best smart glasses to buy this holiday for personal enjoyment and gifts.