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Google, Microsoft and Apple are advising some employees on U.S. work visas to avoid international travel due to delays of up to a year for visa stamping appointments at embassies. Immigration law firms representing the companies said the delays stem from new social media screening requirements, and warn that staff risk being stranded outside the U.S. if appointments are postponed. "While in the past the emphasis may have been on processing cases quickly and reducing wait times, our embassies and consulates around the world, including in India, are now prioritizing thoroughly vetting each visa case above all else," a spokesperson for the Department of State told Business Insider.

 

Business Insider

Reuters

Austria’s Supreme Court has said that Meta’s personalized advertising model breaches the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), in a ruling which forces the company to overhaul how it handles user data across the bloc. Under the ruling, Meta must give users full access to all personal data it holds within 14 days of a request. The court found that Meta collected user data from third-party apps and websites and processed sensitive information without "specific, informed, unambiguous and freely given" consent for personalized advertising. "[The ruling] is enforceable throughout the EU by the plaintiff, meaning that, depending on the country of enforcement, non-compliance could result in daily fines or even a prison sentence for the relevant decision-makers at Meta," privacy advocacy group noyb told Reuters.

 

Reuters

Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a $167.5m settlement in a class-action lawsuit alleging they conspired to maintain high ATM access fees. The settlement, filed in a Washington federal court, requires judicial approval. Visa will contribute $88.8m, while Mastercard will pay $78.7m to a fund for affected ATM users since October 2007. The lawsuit, initiated in 2011, challenged the companies' rules that allegedly hindered independent ATM operators from lowering fees. Attorneys for the plaintiffs described the settlement as "an excellent result in light of the risks of continued prosecution."

 

Reuters

The Guardian

Wanxiang Group Corp.'s U.S. arm has agreed to pay $53m to resolve a lengthy investigation by the Justice Department regarding misclassification of imported auto parts and unpaid tariffs on wheel hub assemblies from China. The settlement concludes nearly a decade of disputes, during which time the U.S. government sought nearly $100m in back tariffs and penalties after auditing the company's practices from 2007 to 2012. Although Wanxiang did not admit to any wrongdoing, the case underscores concerns over compliance with trade regulations and tariff orders.

 

Reuters

Meta is adopting a new age-checking system that promises to streamline how the social media group adapts to the proliferation of new child protection regulations around the world.

 

Financial Times

Eleven House Ways & Means Democrats have written to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent demanding details on the IRS’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to manage legacy COBOL systems underpinning taxpayer records. The lawmakers raised concerns over the accuracy and security of AI-generated code, asking for information on deployment plans, third-party involvement, and protections for taxpayer data. They urged the Treasury to ensure proper scrutiny of AI use in light of federal privacy laws, with written responses requested by January 10th 2026.

 

FedScoop

Nike has reported a surprise increase in global revenue but weakening sales in important markets around Asia and Latin America, showing mixed quarterly results as the company attempts to pull out of a slump. The firm's shares fell as much as 10% in after-market trading, despite it reporting a 1% increase in sales for the three months to November 30th to $12.4bn, ahead of the $12.2bn expected among Wall Street analysts. Net income totalled $792m. Sales increased 9% in North America to $5.63bn, but were down 17% to $1.4bn in greater China and 4% to $1.7bn in the Asia Pacific and Latin America region. Gross profit margin declined three points to 40.6%, which the company attributed to higher tariffs in North America.

 

Financial Times

New York Times

The Oregonian

Reuters

On December 18th, a group of U.S. Senators, including Raphael Warnock (D-GA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), urged Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to end the hiring freeze at the IRS. They emphasized the need for adequate staffing to support the Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS), which resolves over 230,000 taxpayer issues annually. The senators expressed concern that the ongoing freeze and recent personnel cuts would hinder TAS's ability to provide timely assistance, leading to increased wait times for taxpayers. "Ensuring Americans can access their full tax benefits in a timely manner falls squarely within the national interest," they stated. The senators requested clarity on the criteria for lifting the freeze and highlighted the urgency of hiring to prepare for the upcoming tax season.

 

Tax Notes

Anti-immigration policies are reshaping migration flows to high-income countries, despite urgent labor shortages. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reported a 21% drop in work-related migration to its member states last year. The decline is attributed to rising political opposition and tighter visa regimes, particularly in the U.K. and New Zealand. Ana Damas de Matos, a senior policy analyst at the OECD, noted that the U.K.'s reforms could exacerbate labor shortages. Across the European Union, around two‑thirds of jobs created between 2019 and 2023 were filled by non‑EU citizens, according to the International Monetary Fund.

 

Deutsche Welle (EN)

A growing number of Chinese companies are seeking to establish their operations in Singapore to mitigate risks associated with escalating Sino-U.S. tensions, a trend some analysts refer to as "Singapore washing." As companies explore such moves, benefits appear to favor smaller enterprises, while larger corporations face hurdles in maintaining operational integrity amidst scrutiny. "Demand has always been rising . . . and the key thing right now is that it's probably going to accelerate at a more rapid pace," said KG Tan, CEO of InCorp Group, which helps companies relocate or expand in nine Asia-Pacific locations.

 

Reuters

Bloomberg reports that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s campaign to crack down on drug cartels which smuggle huge amounts of fuel into the country has also led to the arrest of a high-ranking naval officer and precipitated the ouster of Sheinbaum’s attorney general, who had been heading up the investigation. Sheinbaum’s critics say this demonstrates her ruling party has ties to the smuggling. Sheinbaum has denied wrongdoing by members of her left-leaning National Regeneration Movement. 

 

Bloomberg

President Donald Trump has instructed his administration to expedite the reclassification of marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. This change, while not legalizing marijuana federally, could enhance the marijuana industry's profitability and facilitate medical research. Mr. Trump acknowledged the need for a more tolerant federal stance, saying: "The facts compel the federal government to recognize that marijuana can be legitimate in terms of medical applications." The reclassification could also allow marijuana businesses to claim tax deductions, potentially saving them hundreds of millions. However, concerns about increased commercialization persist.

 

US News and World Report