Newsletter Dec 27, 2023

Quick Six

Apple plans to appeal US import ban on latest smartwatches
Apple said on Tuesday it will appeal a US import ban on its latest smartwatches after the Biden administration opted to not veto a ruling on patent infringements. The ban on Apple's smartwatch models took effect Tuesday, with the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 no longer available in stores or online. The US International Trade Commission decided in October to ban the Apple Watch models over a patented technology for detecting blood-oxygen levels. Apple had threatened to appeal the ruling.
SEE OTHER MAJOR PATENT BATTLES INVOLVING BIG TECH

US holidays sales increase 3.1% in mixed data for economy
US holiday sales increased 3.1% compared with the year-ago period, a solid but unspectacular increase reflecting mixed sentiment on the economy. The figures, supplied by Mastercard SpendingPulse, pointed to apparel and restaurants among stronger areas of spending in the period between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, while electronics and jewelry experienced declines.
WHAT THE DATA SAYS ABOUT DIRECTION OF US ECONOMY

Ubisoft opens suspected data security breach investigation
"Assassin's Creed" publisher Ubisoft announced Tuesday it was investigating a suspected data security breach, he latest cyber-attack against a major actor in the video game industry. Hackers attempted to snatch 900 gigabytes from Ubisoft servers but the French studio's security team reportedly rebuffed the breach.
SEE THE OTHER GAMERS TO BE HIT BY CYBERATTACKS

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Markets

DJIA	37,545.33	0.43%
S&P 500	4,774.75	0.42%
Nasdaq Composite	15,074.57	0.54%
Japan: Nikkei 225	33,305.85	0.16%
UK: FTSE 100	7,697.51	0.04%
Crude Oil Futures	75.24	-0.44%
Gold Futures	2,077.50	0.37%
Yen	142.39	-0.01%
Euro	1.10	-0.01%
* As of market close

Kremlin confirms Ukraine attack on warship

The Kremlin on Tuesday acknowledged a Ukrainian attack had damaged a warship in the occupied Crimean port of Feodosia in what Ukraine and its Western allies called a major setback for the Russian navy. Ukraine said its air force destroyed the Novocherkassk landing ship, with President Volodymyr Zelensky joking on social media that the vessel had now joined "the Russian underwater Black Sea fleet". Russia's defense ministry said that the ship was damaged by guided aerial missiles. Ukraine's military said its air force destroyed the Russian naval ship in a missile attack on the eastern Crimean port.

UKRAINE'S BOLD STRIKE COULD SEND SIGNAL TO THE WEST

Navalny found 'fine' in Arctic penal colony

Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny said he was "fine" Tuesday after a "pretty exhausting" 20-day transfer to a penal colony in the Arctic Circle. The Kremlin critic's whereabouts had been unknown for more than two weeks, but he is now in a penal colony in Russia's far north and has been visited by his lawyer, his supporters said. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. I'm totally relieved that I've finally made it," Navalny wrote on X after arriving at the colony nicknamed "Polar Wolf".

SEE NAVALNY'S JOKE COMPARING HIMSELF TO SANTA CLAUS

Toyota-owned Daihatsu ends domestic line

Japanese car maker Daihatsu suspended all its domestic production as the Toyota-owned company faces a massive safety testing scandal. The firm, which has about 9,000 factory workers in Japan, closed the last of its four domestic plants, which could affect more than 8,000 companies across the country. Last week, the company said it had been manipulating safety tests since at least 1989, affecting 64 models.

SEE HOW THE SCANDAL IMPACTS JAPANESE AUTO INDUSTRY

Extra point

What automaker has ranked No. 1 in sales for three consecutive years?

Tuesday's answer: The most expensive Banksy painting sold at auction was Love is in the Bin. It went for £18.6 million GBP ($23.7 million US).

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