Companies Bid $279 Million in Gulf Lease Sale

 

WASHINGTON — Oil companies offered $279.4 million Wednesday for offshore drilling rights in the Gulf of Mexico in the first of 30 lease sales planned under the Trump administration’s energy agenda. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management received roughly 219 bids from 30 companies, including Chevron and BP, for tracts...

USPS expands automation to address mounting delivery problems

 

United States postal operations reported increased package volumes and localized delivery disruptions. USPS officials and facility managers deployed new High Output Parcel Sorters, robots, and artificial intelligence to clear peak-season backlogs and process millions of parcels. State and local officials logged complaints, prompting a senator to request an Inspector General...

States Secure $700M Google Play Settlement; Payouts Pending

 

Columbia, S.C. — Attorneys general and Google reached a $700 million settlement to resolve claims Google used anticompetitive practices in Play Store. Preliminary approval occurred Nov. 20, 2025, and court will hear approval on April 30, 2026; notices began Dec. 2. Consumers who bought apps or in‑app content from August...

South Carolina Eyes Revival of Abandoned Nuclear Reactors

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Santee Cooper and Brookfield Asset Management announced a memorandum of understanding that would, if finalized, transfer control of the unfinished V.C. Summer reactors and provide Santee Cooper with $2.7 billion and a targeted 25% ownership stake. The agreement begins up to a two-year feasibility and negotiation period...

Multiple Companies Announce Financial, Strategic Updates This Week

 

United States — issuers announced a series of financial and strategic developments. On Tuesday and December 9–11, TopBuild hosted an Investor Day in New York, Omni‑Lite secured a five‑year precision‑casting agreement, and 3D Systems agreed to equitize $30.8 million of convertible notes. FG Nexus authorized a preferred‑share repurchase program, iPower...

December Public Offerings: Biotechs and EV Company Report

 

United States. Several companies announced or completed public equity offerings this week. On Dec. 9 Terns Pharmaceuticals filed for a proposed $400 million offering with a 30-day option for $60 million, and Denali Therapeutics filed for a $200 million offering with a $30 million option. On Dec. 11 Blink Charging...

Trump Signals Tariffs on Indian Rice, Canadian Fertiliser

 

Washington: President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that his administration may impose new tariffs on agricultural imports, notably Indian rice and Canadian fertiliser, after unveiling a USD 12 billion aid package for US farmers. At a White House roundtable, farmers and officials cited falling domestic prices and alleged dumping from...

Community drives face toy shortages ahead of holidays

 

United States — Community organizations and businesses across multiple states organized Toys for Tots drives this holiday season, while several locations reported shortages and a theft. This week, Indianapolis bank branches collected thousands of toys; Duplin County appealed for donations for nearly 400 families ahead of a December 20 giveaway;...

Washington Allows Nvidia H200 Chip Exports To China

 

Washington — President Donald Trump announced Monday that the administration will permit Nvidia to export H200 artificial-intelligence chips to approved customers in China under conditions the government says will maintain national-security protections. The policy excludes Nvidia's most advanced Blackwell and Rubin chips; Commerce Department officials will finalize licensing details while...

U.S. Companies Report Mixed Quarterly Financial Results Nationwide

 

United States — Multiple U.S. companies released quarterly financial results Tuesday and this week. Oil-Dri reported first-quarter fiscal 2026 net sales of $120.5 million, down 6% year-over-year, and noted its second-highest quarterly net income. AeroVironment posted fiscal second-quarter revenue of $472.5 million, up 151% year-over-year with record bookings. BillionToOne reported...