Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Nintendo Shares Slide After Earnings Miss Raises Switch 2 Margin Concerns 
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised 
Why a ‘rip-off’ degree might be worth the money after all – research study 
TSMC Eyes 3nm Chip Production in Japan with $17 Billion Kumamoto Investment 
Japan’s Agricultural, Forestry and Fishery Exports Hit Record High in 2025 Despite Tariffs 
China Services PMI Hits Three-Month High as New Orders and Hiring Improve 
Gold Prices Slide Below $5,000 as Strong Dollar and Central Bank Outlook Weigh on Metals 
Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe 
Palantir Stock Jumps After Strong Q4 Earnings Beat and Upbeat 2026 Revenue Forecast 
CK Hutchison Unit Launches Arbitration Against Panama Over Port Concessions Ruling 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
Novo Nordisk Warns of Profit Decline as Wegovy Faces U.S. Price Pressure and Rising Competition 
Oil Prices Slip as U.S.–Iran Talks Ease Supply Disruption Fears 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
McDonald’s Korea will adopt an automatic tolling system dubbed Hi-Pass allows drivers to pay tolls without having to stop at toll booths on major expressways for its drive-thru (DT) service.
The South Korean unit of McDonald’s signed a deal with Korea Expressway Corp., Shinhan Card Co., and KIS Information & Communication Inc. to introduce the DT Hi-Pass system on its DT platform.
With the Hi-Pass system installed in a vehicle, payments by a person who orders food through a drive-thru will be automatically made.
The system will be trialed at two South Korean restaurants starting on Dec. 20 before expanding to around 30 restaurants across the country within the first half of next year.
