Stay Informed, Stay Ahead

Justice Secretary David Lammy revealed that 12 more prisoners have been accidentally released recently, adding to the 91 mistakenly freed earlier this year. While two remain at large, Lammy emphasized that such errors stem from the current paper-based system and anticipates improvements with a future digital transition.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to hold talks with U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, as optimism grows for a peace agreement to end the conflict in Ukraine. Jared Kushner is also expected to attend, following negotiations between U.S. and Ukrainian officials aimed at refining a peace plan seen as favorable to Russia. Despite 'constructive' discussions, Ukrainian President Zelensky cautions that difficult issues remain, particularly regarding territorial sovereignty.

The unexpected resignation of Richard Hughes, head of the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), due to the premature release of Budget details, presents significant challenges for Chancellor Rachel Reeves. She must find an independent and credible replacement while navigating political pressures that could impact market perceptions.

Russia's new Sarmat missile, heralded by its leaders as a groundbreaking weapon, has faced repeated test failures. The latest incident underscores ongoing challenges in replacing their outdated ICBM fleet, crucial for nuclear deterrence.

The Supreme Court discussed potential obligations of Internet service providers to terminate the accounts of users accused of copyright infringement, during oral arguments in a case involving Cox Communications and prominent record labels.

OpenAI is under legal pressure to disclose why it deleted controversial datasets linked to pirated books, as it faces a class-action lawsuit from authors. The outcome may hinge on these deletions, which OpenAI initially explained were due to 'non-use.'

Kalshi has begun offering tokenized versions of its prediction market contracts on the Solana blockchain, aiming to attract cryptocurrency investors by enhancing anonymity and liquidity. Partnering with DeFi protocols like DFlow and Jupiter, Kalshi hopes to strengthen its competitive edge against rivals like Polymarket, whose user base largely consists of active crypto traders.

President Donald Trump has decided on the next Federal Reserve chair but has yet to disclose the choice. National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett is seen as the leading candidate amidst a competitive field. While markets speculate on the appointment, the new chair will confront a divided Fed and potential shifts in U.S. economic policy.

Goldman Sachs has announced an agreement to purchase Innovator Capital Management, a provider of defined-outcome ETFs, for approximately $2 billion. The acquisition aims to enhance Goldman Sachs' ETF offerings and is expected to finalize in the second quarter of 2026.