Israel’s economy rebounded strongly after the brief but intense war with Iran, with Q3 2025 GDP surging at an annualised 12.4%. Consumer spending, exports, and investment all jumped above 20%, lifting stocks and the shekel, even as Gaza-related costs and reconstruction needs continue to weigh on longer-term prospects.
Yann LeCun, Meta’s chief AI scientist and a Turing Award–winning “godfather” of deep learning, is reportedly preparing to leave Meta to launch his own AI startup. The move follows growing friction over Meta’s LLM-focused “superintelligence” strategy, which LeCun criticizes, favoring alternative “world model” approaches instead.
China warned Japan it would suffer a “crushing defeat” if it used force to intervene over Taiwan, escalating a weeklong spat sparked by PM Sanae Takaichi’s remark that a Chinese attack could trigger a Japanese military response. Tokyo summoned China’s ambassador to protest inflammatory posts by a Chinese diplomat online.
After 43 days, the longest U.S. government shutdown ended when President Trump signed a funding bill soon after a 222–209 House vote. The measure reopens agencies through Jan. 30, restores back pay, and resumes services including SNAP, air traffic operations, and data releases, though ACA subsidy extensions were excluded.
Global stocks hovered near record highs as investors awaited a U.S. House vote to end the record shutdown. Gold was steady. NY Fed chief John Williams said the Fed may soon buy bonds to manage market liquidity—technical operations, not a policy shift—while Europe’s STOXX 600 notched fresh records on Wednesday.
Tropical Storm Fung-wong has brought heavy rain and strong winds to Taiwan, injuring at least 13 people and forcing over 3,300 residents to evacuate from high-risk areas. Schools and offices in several counties are closed, and all domestic flights for Wednesday have been canceled amid fears of flooding and landslides.
Typhoon Fung-wong has slammed into the northern Philippines, killing at least four people and forcing over a million from their homes. Torrential rain and powerful winds triggered floods, landslides, and power cuts across Luzon. Authorities rushed evacuations, suspended classes and flights, and warned of continued heavy rain in affected regions.
China has reportedly lifted export restrictions affecting chips supplied by Nexperia, easing pressure on global carmakers and electronics manufacturers that depend on its components. The move should help stabilize supply chains strained by earlier curbs and geopolitical tensions, though companies remain cautious about future regulatory shifts and diversifying away from single-country dependencies.