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Major payments and technology companies are rushing to build out the infrastructure they see as the next evolution in global commerce: artificially intelligent agents that can perform searches, compare prices, and make purchases on behalf of consumers. This trend, known as “proxy commerce,” reflects consumers’ increased reliance on chatbots for everyday tasks, such as searching for products and transactions online. However, until recently, these tools lacked important functionality. Shoppers could search and compare within the chatbot, but needed to leave the interface to complete their purchase. Payment giants like Visa and Mastercard say things are changing. Over the past year,…
China’s military announced on Monday that it would mobilize its army, navy, air force and rocket forces around Taiwan for “large-scale military exercises” aimed at sending a “serious warning” against any movement for Taiwan’s independence or interference by “external” armed forces on the island. The exercise, dubbed “Mission of Justice-2025,” will test combat readiness and “blockade and control of major ports and critical areas,” China’s Eastern Theater Command said. According to information released by the command, live fire operations will be carried out in five sea and air areas surrounding the island. Taiwan’s government condemned the exercise, accusing China of…
I spent seven years researching high-achieving students and interviewing hundreds of students and their families.Many young people I met said they monitor their grades, rankings, and resumes, as if they were constantly evaluating their worth. Grades played a big role in some families, and some children wondered if their parents’ love had something to do with their high grades.A culture of achievement promises to open doors, suggesting that better grades and a better college degree guarantee a better future. But a growing body of research shows that this constant pursuit can breed perfectionism, a trait that can lead to higher…
U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands during a press conference after their lunch meeting at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on December 28, 2025.Jonathan Ernst | ReutersPresident Donald Trump on Sunday said progress has been made in negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Florida, but acknowledged thorny territorial issues remain.”I think we’re very close. Maybe very close,” Trump told reporters after leaving the meeting.In his remarks, Zelensky said the peace talks were “really great discussions” in which U.S. and Ukrainian security were “100% agreed…
An overview of the logo of South Korean online delivery service Coupang on December 9, 2025, in the building that houses the company’s headquarters in Seoul.Jung Young Jae | AFP | Getty ImagesSouth Korean online retail giant Coupang has announced that it will compensate 1.69 trillion Korean won ($1.17 billion) to 34 million users affected by a massive data breach revealed last month.The company announced in a statement on Monday local time that it plans to provide customers with purchase vouchers worth a total of 50,000 won for various Coupang services.Former customers who closed their Coupang accounts after the data…
abuja, nigeria — The people of Jabo in northwestern Nigeria are in a state of shock and confusion a day after some of the missiles fired by the United States hit their village, landing just meters from their only medical facility. Suleiman Kagara, a resident of a quiet, predominantly Muslim rural area in Sokoto state’s Tambuwal district, told CNN he heard a loud explosion and saw flames at around 10pm on Thursday as a projectile flew overhead. Moments later, it hit the ground and exploded, causing the villagers to flee in fear. “I couldn’t sleep last night,” Kagara said. “I’ve…
November 19, 2025, Shanghai, China: A boat sails on the Huangpu River passing through downtown Shanghai. The tallest building on the skyline is the Shanghai Tower (back). Bernd von Utrzenka | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesAsia-Pacific markets traded mixed on Monday as investors began the final trading week of the year.Japanese benchmark Nikkei Stock Average It fell by 0.55%, and TOPIX fell by 0.26%. South Korea’s Kospi rose 0.62%, and the Kosdaq index rose 0.19%.hong kong Hang Seng Index rose by 0.7%, but the mainland’s CSI 300 remained flat.Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 0.21%.Spot silver prices rose to a new record…
At least 13 people were killed and 98 injured after a train derailed in Mexico on Sunday, the Mexican Navy said. There were 250 people on board. The derailment occurred on the main train line between Veracruz and Salinacruz in Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca state. The Navy said in a statement that 36 people required hospital treatment and the rest had minor injuries. It said hundreds of naval personnel and rescue vehicles were dispatched to the scene. Mexico’s Attorney General Ernestina Godoy said in a post on X that an investigation will be launched to determine the cause of the derailment.…
Jessa Duggar (mother: Ben Seewald)Jim Bob and Michelle’s fifth child, Jessa Duggar, was born on November 4, 1992. Jessa met Ben through church and began courting him in 2013. The old-fashioned approach to romance seemed like an entirely new concept to many viewers. Since the children had never talked about their romance before their engagement, Jim Bob explained to People magazine, “Courtship is about getting to know each other in a group, where both families spend time together, and where the couple sets goals together to decide whether they intend to get married. On dates, couples are often paired up…
Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.new york stock exchangeStock futures were little changed Sunday night after the S&P 500 rose to record levels, with traders looking to sum up a strong 2025. S&P 500 futures rose slightly, along with futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Nasdaq 100 futures also traded near the flatline.The moves came after the S&P 500 index hit an intraday high of 6,945.77 on Friday before closing just short of breakeven. It’s been a great year for Wall Street, with the 2025 benchmark index up 17.7%. The Dow Jones Industrial…