Bloomberg News Now: Storms, Ukraine War, AI Spending, and Corporate Deals

Post-Holiday Travel Disruptions

• ✈️ Major storms are causing widespread travel chaos across the US, with over 600 flights canceled and more than a thousand delayed, particularly impacting New York and New Jersey.
• ⚠️ In the West, mudslides in Los Angeles have washed out roads and damaged homes, leading to rescues from flash floods.

Ukraine Conflict and International Relations

• 💥 Russia launched overnight missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's capital, causing power and heat outages for millions.
• 🇺🇦 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is en route to the US to meet with President Trump, aiming to discuss territorial issues and secure peace talks.
• 🇨🇦 Zelensky plans a stopover in Canada to meet Prime Minister Mark Carney and will hold a video call with European leaders regarding security guarantees.
• 🇳🇬 Nigeria's government confirms coordination with the US on Christmas Day airstrikes against a terror group, denying accusations of targeting Christians.

US Legal and Immigration Issues

• ⚖️ A hearing is scheduled regarding the prosecution of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man mistakenly deported by the Trump administration.
• 🔍 Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador and later brought back to the US, facing human smuggling charges.

Business and Technology Trends

• 📈 A chipmaker, potentially Nvidia, climbed 1% after a $10 billion acquisition of licensing rights from AI startup Grok, with Grok executives joining the company.
• 💰 Bank of America anticipates continued AI spending and benefits for taxpayers and businesses, noting AI's marginal impact on economic growth.
• 🛡️ President Trump is expected to meet with US defense contractors to encourage increased spending on weapons development over stock buybacks and dividends.
• 🤝 Warner Brothers Discovery shares fell amid reports that Paramount may sue over the handling of a sale, alleging an inferior bid was accepted due to CEO relationships.

Lottery and Major Prizes

• 💰 No one has yet claimed the $800 million Powerball prize from a late Christmas Eve drawing in Arkansas, the second-largest jackpot in US history.