Police say a 19-year-old was motivated by the TikTok ban to set fire to a congressman's office. Image used for illustration purposes.
Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images
Police said a 19-year-old admitted to starting a fire at the weekend over the TikTok ban.
The fire took place at an office used by Wisconsin Rep. Glenn Grothman. The man was arrested nearby.
President-elect Donald Trump said he will issue an executive order delaying the ban.
A 19-year-old cited the TikTok ban as motivation for setting fire to a member of Congress's office over the weekend, police said.
The fire took place on Sunday at a strip mall in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, which included a district office used by Rep. Glenn Grothman, according to a statement from the local police.
Grothman, a Republican, was among the 352 members of Congress who voted in favor of the bill requiring ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, to divest from TikTok in the US or face it being banned there.
The local fire department said there was "moderate damage" to the outside of the office, but no injuries were reported. It said the blaze appeared "suspicious" in nature and that it would be investigated.
Police said in a statement that the 19-year-old suspect, who is from the Wisconsin city of Menasha, was arrested near the building.
The man, who was not named, "admitted to starting the fire in response to recent talks of a TikTok ban," it said.
Fire damage and exposed insulation at the side of an office used by Rep. Glenn Grothman.
Grothman's office did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider made outside working hours.
On Friday, the Supreme Court upheld the ban on TikTok. The platform was down for US users for 12 hours starting late Saturday night.
As of Sunday, however, the app was accessible again, and President-elect Donald Trump, who is due to take office on Monday, said that he will issue an executive order delaying the ban.
"Thanks for your patience and support," read a message to TikTok's US users. "As a result of President Trump's efforts, TikTok is back in the US!"
The threat of losing access to TikTok has dismayed many of its approximately 170 million users in the US, including the armies of creators and influencer marketers who make a living on the platform.
Some TikTokers posted confessions before the app's US ban.
wagnerokasaki/Getty Images
TikTok returned for US users less than 24 hours after it went dark over the weekend.
Some creators who thought the app was gone for good used the ban to expose their own secrets.
DuoLingo revealed the face of its mascot, while TikToker Charli D'Amelio confessed to an old rumor.
Ahead of what looked like a TikTok apocalypse in the US, some of the app's most popular creators made last-ditch confessions and exposed their own trade secrets.
But before the U-turn, some creators used a catchy sound from "Family Guy" to expose their long-running bits, confess to fake content, and debunk internet lore surrounding them.
DuoLingo, the language-learning app with over 14 million TikTok followers, revealed the face of its giant owl mascot: a staffer named Mark.
"Well this is awkward," DuoLingo wrote in the comments of its face-reveal video on Sunday after the app began making a comeback in the US.
Charli D'Amelio, a TikToker who rose to fame on the app in 2020, also took part in the trend. She confessed that a device she was caught using as a teenager wasn't actually an "anxiety pen," leading those who suspected it was a vape to say they'd been vindicated.
In the since-deleted clip, D'Amelio said: "While we're admitting things, if TikTok's going away, it wasn't an anxiety pen. I still, to this day, don't know who came up with that, but I'm sorry."
Other popular TikTokers used the trend to confess to faking parts of their content, such as Kaeli Mae, a TikToker with 14.5 million followers known for posting content of elaborate ice cubes with fruit.
Mae's confession? She's never used the ice cubes herself.
Mae's comment section was soon filled with questions and comments criticizing her for wasting food.
"Just sitting here thinking about all of the creators who made videos admitting their content was fake," one user wrote in a video referencing Mae's admission. "The ice cub girl? I cannot. I wanted to be like her so bad."
Mae later clarified that her friends and family enjoy the cubes because she prefers drinks at room temperature.
Ahead of the TikTok ban, some US creator criticized the move as infringing upon their rights to freedom of speech and said they wouldn't file taxes in protest.
Rob Hobson has eaten fewer ultra-processed foods over the past year or so.
Rob Hobson/Getty Images
Ultra-processed foods have been linked to health problems, including type 2 diabetes and cancer.
The nutritionist Rob Hobson tries to eat as few UPFs as possible without making life hard.
Hobson shared his quick and simple recipes for bread and cereal.
A busy nutritionist said making his own bread and breakfast cereal from scratch makes it easier to cut down on ultra-processed foods.
Rob Hobson, who is based in the UK, decided to eliminate UPFs from his diet as much as possible after learning about their links to diseases such as type two diabetes and cancer.
While there is no agreed definition of UPFs, they typically contain five or more ingredients, many of which you wouldn't find in a regular kitchen, Hobson told Business Insider.
They are typically highly marketed, have a long shelf life, and are designed to be ultra-palatable and, therefore, easy to overeat. Treats like candy, soda, and potato chips are obvious culprits, but even some nutritious foods, like wholemeal bread or fruit yogurts, are considered ultra-processed.
For a year, Hobson tried to cook everything he ate from scratch, but it was too time-consuming. Now takes what he sees as a "realistic" approach to eating fewer UPFs: cooking some dietary staples from scratch, but leaning on healthier UPFs like pasta sauce when he's busy or tired.
Hobson's advice for those who want to cut down on UPFs: "If you want to do this, you're better off making lots of small changes and doing the things that make life easier."
That includes making habits, such as buying a smaller bag of chips than you usually would, which are easy to stick to.
For Hobson, that includes baking his own bread and cereal.
Homemade granola
Instead of relying on store-bought breakfast cereals, which often contain additives and syrups, Hobson makes his own.
To make his granola, Hobson mixes together oats, pecans, seeds, dried coconut, cinnamon, extra virgin olive oil, smooth almond butter, and honey before placing the mixture on an oven tray to bake for 30 minutes at 302 degrees Fahrenheit, "so it's all toasted and lovely," he said.
He usually pairs it with Greek yogurt and some fruit.
Enough bread for a week
Wholemeal bread is a dietary staple that contains fiber, a nutrient most of us are lacking in, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. However, many store-bought versions also contain additives or preservatives, making them ultra-processed.
Hobson often eats bread, so making a loaf or two each week helps him eat fewer UPFs overall. He slices it up and puts it in the freezer so it lasts longer, but if he runs out of homemade bread, he'll happily buy a packaged loaf from the store.
"I still buy whole-meal packaged bread, and even though it has a few additives, you have to keep it quite real," he said.
This is Hobson's recipe for wholemeal and rye seeded bread:
Makes one loaf (12 slices)
Ingredients:
400g strong wholemeal bread flour, plus extra for dusting
100g rye flour
7g sachet fast-action dried yeast
1 tsp finely ground sea salt
1 tbsp honey
250ml tepid water
Extra virgin olive oil, for greasing
5 tbsp mixed pumpkin and sunflower seeds
1 egg yolk, beaten
Method:
Combine the flour, yeast, and salt in a large bowl. In a jug, mix the honey with the tepid water. Gradually stir the liquid into the flour mixture to form a slightly sticky dough. Add more water, a tablespoon at a time, if needed.
Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 10 minutes by hand (or use a stand mixer with a dough hook for five to seven minutes) until smooth and elastic. Lightly oil a bowl with a paper towel, place the dough inside, and turn it to coat in oil. Cover with Saran wrap and leave in a warm spot for one hour, or until the dough doubles in size. Lightly oil a 900g loaf tin.
Once risen, knead the dough for another three to five minutes, incorporating three tablespoons of the seeds as you knead.
Shape the dough to fit the loaf tin and place it inside. Cover with Saran wrap and leave to prove for 30 to 45 minutes, or until the dough doubles in size again. Preheat the oven to 392Β°F/356Β°F fan.
Test if the dough is ready by pressing a finger into it. If the dough springs back immediately, it needs more time; if the indentation remains, it's ready to bake. Brush the top with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle over the remaining seeds. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden brown and hollow-sounding when tapped underneath.
Remove the loaf from the tin and cool on a wire rack before slicing.
Welcome back, and happy MLK day! I'm in Davos, Switzerland this week for the World Economic Forum. My schedule is full of meetings, so you'll be in the very capable hands of my UK colleague Hallam Bullock for the rest of the week.
You can't get rid of me that easy, though. Look out for daily dispatches from me in the newsletter on the latest at Davos. And if you're in town, drop me a line.
President-elect Donald Trump, seen here in 2020, has promised to rollout a series of executive orders once he returns to the Oval Office.
Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images
Same face. Same place. Different case.
Donald Trump returns to the White House today, but his arrival looks and feels a lot different than his first stop there in 2017.
No longer a political outsider, Trump has firm control of the Republican party and a slew of high-profile executives backing him this time around. Business Insider's John L. Dorman and Brent D. Griffiths broke down all the ways 2025 Trump is a lot different from 2017 Trump.
One major tech leader expected to attend Trump's inauguration is TikTok CEO Shou Chew. TikTok restored its services in the US on Sunday following 12 hours of downtime, after Trump said he plans to issue an executive order on Monday to delay the ban. The president-elect once sought to ban TikTok in the US. But over the past year, he has embraced the app.
On the political side of things, Trump also has the benefit of his party controlling Congress. The GOP's advantage in the House isn't big (219-215), but the president-elect has a much better grasp of Washington's inner-workings than last time around.
He joked with Fox News host Sean Hannity last year that he'll only be a dictator "on day 1" as he looks to get his immigration and energy policies in place.
Another area Trump will likely look to move quickly on is tariffs, writes BI's Ayelet Sheffey. The president-elect's trade policies were a key piece of his campaign and a point he stressed following his victory.
Meanwhile, how people find out about any of these plans or the Trump administration's day-to-day dealings remains to be seen. During his first term, the "Trump bump" saw media outlets enjoying a rise in traffic from their coverage.
It's Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Financial markets are closed. All national parks have free admission.
Court hearing for 9/11 defendants in Guantanamo Bay.
Mark Zuckerberg cohosts reception in honor of Trump's inauguration.
The Insider Today team: Dan DeFrancesco, deputy editor and anchor, in New York. Grace Lett, editor, in Chicago. Ella Hopkins, associate editor, in London. Hallam Bullock, senior editor, in London. Amanda Yen, associate editor, in New York. Elizabeth Casolo, fellow, in Chicago.
Texas β known for chili, cowboys, and increasingly, cruises.
America's cruising culture is irrevocably intertwined with Florida. No other state has seven cruise ports, including the threebusiest in the world, and an established grip on the nearby leviathan Caribbean cruise market.
What the Sunshine State doesn't have, however, is Galveston.
The historic and unassuming Texas island is home to the state's only cruise port. Yet, it's quickly become a crucial battleground as vacation-at-sea companies compete for travelers' hearts and wallets.
The Galveston boom
Carnival has been sailing out of Galveston for about 25 years. Its Carnival Jubilee was designed for the Texas market.
Photo courtesy the Galveston Wharves
In 2022, Royal Caribbean opened a $125 million cruise terminal in the Galveston. A year later, the port invested $53 million in expanding Carnival's terminal, which now serves as the homeport for Carnival Jubilee, one of the cruise line's largest ships built specifically for the Texas market.
In 2024, the port saw a record 384 cruises and 1.7 million guests β half a million more travelers than the year prior.
Not much compared to the world's busiest Port of Miami, which saw 8.23 million passengers in 2024. However, while Florida's ports are near max capacity, Galveston's market is still quickly growing.
The Texas port plans to open a fourth $156 million terminal in November, which MSC and Norwegian will share. The launch would also mark the start of MSC's Galveston itineraries.
MSC Seascape, shown in a rendering, would sail out of Galveston when its terminal opens in November.
Photo courtesy the Galveston Wharves
"Florida doesn't have many more terminals," Rodger Rees, the port's director and CEO, told Business Insider. "The market has been somewhat saturated."
Galveston does, however, have more space to expand β and with it, aspirations to someday surpass Florida's Port of Everglades as America's third most popular cruise port.
"These ships are going out of here full every Saturday and Sunday," Rees said β a significant accomplishment, given that Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Princess, and MSC would all have some of their largest or newest ships sailing out of the Lone Star State this year.
For the port of Galveston, the local cruise boom has meant survival. The company almost declared bankruptcy 15 years ago, unable to generate profit from its aging cargo infrastructure, Rees said.
Now, the future is bright β in 2025, it expects to rake in $84 million, a 6.4% growth from the year prior, thanks to the growing vacation-at-sea business.
Bigger, better, and more convenient in Texas
Royal Caribbean's more than 161,330-square-foot Galveston cruise terminal can accommodate its largest ships.
Royal Caribbean International
Travelers in cities like Dallas, San Antonio, and Oklahoma City are a day's drive from Galveston. Houston and its two airports are only about an hour away β strategic, given that it's a shorter flight there than to Miami from metropolitans like Las Vegas, Chicago, and Phoenix.
Compared to Florida, "Texas is a similar-sized market that has half the penetration with a very similar propensity to cruise," Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, told analysts in late October 2024.
As important, Galveston is also close to popular ports of call in east Mexico, eastern Caribbean, and Central America, including Norwegian's private island in Belize.
The location is similarly crucial for Royal Caribbean, which has two private resorts β Perfect Day Mexico and Royal Beach Club Cozumel β scheduled to open in Mexico in 2026 and 2027.
Royal Caribbean's Royal Beach Club Cozumel, shown in a rendering, is scheduled to open in 2026.
Royal Caribbean International
"Having assets like the Royal Beach Club will allow us to drive more of the Gulf Coast markets that can have an easier fly-cruise experience and lower cost," Liberty added.
Royal Caribbean's resorts β in conjunction with its Symphony of the Seas, one of the world's largest cruise ships, sailing out of Galveston in 2026 β could continue to catapult its popularity.
"We're getting bigger and nicer ships here," the port's CEO said. "Why go all the way to Florida?"
One of Lina Khan's last official statements as FTC Commissioner warned about antitrust concerns stemming from partnerships between AI companies like OpenAI and tech giants like Microsoft.
Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Fast Company
The FTC released a staff report about partnerships between cloud service providers and AI companies.
The report raises antitrust concerns about deals between industry leaders like OpenAI and Microsoft.
Such deals may deprive startups of key AI inputs and undermine fair competition, FTC Chair Lina Khan said.
The Federal Trade Commission, in its latest staff report issued Friday, suggested that partnerships between artificial intelligence leaders like OpenAI and Anthropic with cloud service providers like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google could be the subject of future antitrust action.
TheΒ reportΒ outlines key elements of existing CSP and AI developer partnerships that may be subject to federal scrutiny, such as the equity and revenue-sharing rights that underpin these partnerships and exclusivity rights CSPs retain through massive investments with AI developers.
"For an individual using an AI chatbot to write a wedding speech or a small business owner generating logo ideas with an AI image generation model, corporate partnerships may seem abstract or distant," the FTC's staff report reads. "Yet, these partnerships may potentially impact AI model development β including which firms may effectively participate in the marketplace β and may determine many aspects of those individuals' and firms' experiences."
FTC Chair Lina Khan, in one of her last official statements before leaving office, cited the deals between the companies as a reason for "enforcers and policymakers" to "stay vigilant to guard against business strategies that undermine open markets, opportunity, and innovation."
"The FTC's report sheds light on how partnerships by Big Tech firms can create lock-in, deprive start-ups of key AI inputs, and reveal sensitive information that can undermine fair competition," Khan said.
Microsoft and Google have faced particularly pointed antitrust action in recent years. The FTC opened a probe into alleged anticompetitive behavior related to Microsoft's licensing agreements, while Google has faced federal antitrust cases over its advertising strategies and search business.
Google lost one antitrust case in 2024 when US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled it held a monopoly in its search business. Mehta's finding prompted the Department of Justice to propose that Google be forced to sell its Chrome browser as a remedy in the case. A final ruling in the case is expected in August, Business Insider previously reported.
In Donald Trump's incoming administration, Khan will be replaced as Chair by current FTC Commissioner Andrew Ferguson, the president-elect announced in December on Truth Social.
While Khan was the subject of intense political vitriol during the election for her staunch antitrust enforcement, Ferguson, in a post on X, vowed to continue the office's mission to promote innovation and "end Big Tech's vendetta against competition and free speech."
"We will make sure that America is the world's technological leader and the best place for innovators to bring new ideas to life," Ferguson wrote.
Representatives for Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Anthropic, and OpenAI did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
The author (not pictured) found it easy to make friends in her first semester at college.
Peathegee Inc/Getty Images/Tetra images RF
Before heading to college, I worried I would hate my dorm and that I wouldn't make any friends.
Luckily, I made my small dorm room at the Univeristy of Michigan work and found food I loved.
I also found friends easily, but classes were harder than expected.
After researching my freshman dorm using the incredibly reliable resource Reddit, I was slightly terrified to live in the Mary Markley building, which was built back in 1959 and is the oldest residence hall on the University of Michigan's campus.
Rumors of cockroaches, a lack of air conditioning, and the dreaded wind tunnel during the winter season increased my nerves tenfold.
After my parents had hugged me goodbye, it dawned on me that this was β as my roommate and I now like to call it β my home sweet dorm. I still don't understand how I managed to fit all my belongings in this tiny living space of 11 feet by 11 feet.
But, throughout my freshman year, I adjusted to my college life β and there were many surprises.
I slowly learned to make the best of my living situation
Community showers are quite disgusting, but romanticizing the horrible experience was my only viable option. Investing in a quality pair of shower shoes was a wise decision, specifically a design with holes so your shoes don't fill up with dirty water. Upon my arrival on campus, I received a staggering amount of Jibbitz, the little charms that stick into the holes of Crocs. My bright teal shower flip-flops are now adorned with multiple Michigan-themed Jibbitz, my theory being that if I must wear these in my bathroom, why shouldn't I be as stylish as possible?
Only my greatest obstacle remained: my lifelong struggle to find edible food. I'm a selective eater who doesn't appreciate the label of "picky." After scouring every inch of my dining hall in an effort not to starve, I found Mary Markley's greatest treasure: the build-your-own pizza station. I have fallen in love with buttering up the pizza dough, spreading around a tiny spoonful of red sauce, going overboard on the cheese, and topping it off with pepperoni and black olives.
With one semester under my belt, I am unable to debunk all rumors surrounding residence halls on college campuses, but there's always a silver lining. It just takes a little searching.
I had to embrace the absurd to make friends
My primary concern about college was finding a group of people who shared similar interests and passions as myself. I convinced myself that I would not find any friends. Little did I know that I would spend my first evenings and nights doing strange activities with people I hadn't even known for a day.
Less than an hour after I moved into my dorm, I received an invite to grab ice cream with a student organization. Looking back, the choice to tag along for dessert might have been the best decision I made my entire first semester because, on the very first night of college life, I found amazing friends. The adventures began soon afterward.
After sharing a highly personal fact about my favorite cereal, I found myself in the middle of a Meijer aisle, frantically searching for a box of cereal before the store closed. While passing a fountain in the early hours of the morning, my friends and I thought the only logical response was to jump in fully clothed.
To any incoming freshman who is afraid of new social interactions or finding their people, my best advice would be to embrace the crazy. I was surprised to learn that laughing your head off in the middle of the night will make one forget about their homesickness and the impending doom of an 8:30 a.m. class.
I learned a 'B' isn't the end of the world
I dreaded Math 115, a calculus course that my degree program required for graduation. Class attendance began to plummet as student after student dropped the class due to its difficulty and the long hours of work it entailed.
I'm pursuing a dual degree in business administration at the Ross School of Business and sports management through the School of Kinesiology. Originally a five-year program, I have little room for error when selecting classes as I hope to graduate within four years. Failing a class was not an option in my mind.
Right off the bat, I was faced with an extremely difficult challenge that I was convinced I wouldn't overcome. As a straight-A high school student who had quickly picked up new concepts, I struggled with the idea that I needed help and needed it badly.
After long hours spent in tutoring sessions, taking practice exam after practice exam, and many emotional phone calls with my father, I managed to squeak out a B-minus. My life did not, in fact, end after barely making it through a challenging class, and I surprised myself with perseverance and grit I wasn't aware I possessed.
And I surprised myself throughout my first semester. From my dorm room to my classes, I adapted quickly and (mostly) effortlessly.
Jamie Foxx ad-libbed baby oil jokes in Netflix's "Back in Action" film.
Director Seth Gordon told Business Insider the jokes were filmed a year before the Sean Combs "Freak Offs" scandal.
"I don't think that means you're not allowed to use the words baby oil again," Gordon said.
"Back in Action" is filled with funny moments from Glenn Close's horny grandma vibes to Cameron Diaz grooving to Salt-N-Pepa's "Push It." If those don't spark a chuckle, Jamie Foxx's on-set ad-libs about baby oil are sure to bring a few laughs from this Netflix action comedy.
In the movie, Matt (Foxx) and Emily (Diaz) are CIA agents who go into hiding to start a family. Fifteen years later, viewers get a glimpse of their domesticated lives in full parent mode before everything goes to hell and their cover is blown.
One of the running gags is Emily telling Matt how she wants to reconnect with their teenage daughter by bringing back movie night. She suggests they watch the "Creed" movies, and Matt responds by saying, "That's a lot of baby oil."
Scenes later, when Emily's daughter rejects movie night, Matt tells Emily the two of them will have a movie night.
Emily suggests "Creed 3," to which Matt responds: "To help, I'll put some baby oil on, like Michael B." Referring to "Creed" franchise star Michael B. Jordan.
Director Seth Gordon told BI that Foxx came up with those baby oil jokes on his own while shooting.
"That was an ad-lib Jamie did," he said. "It was hilarious."
Cameron Diaz and Jamie Foxx on the set of "Back in Action."
"We shot that the prior year," Gordon said. "The Diddy thing happened after picture lock. Also, I don't think that means you're not allowed to use the words baby oil again."
Jamie Foxx's Hollywood career spans over two decades.
Leon Bennett/WireImage
In September, Combs was indicted on racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges. Combs pleaded not guilty.
Since then, Foxx has distanced himself from Combs. Foxx, 57, who was hospitalized while filming "Back in Action," later explained in his December Netflix comedy special "What Had Happened Was" that he'd suffered a stroke. In the special, he also talked about his times with Combs, saying "I left them parties early. I was out by 9."
When my kid was diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy, my family and community jumped into action.
Melissa Noble
I was terrified when my son was diagnosed with a life-threatening allergy to almonds.
He handled the diagnosis bravely, and our friends learned how to use EpiPens.
He no longer has this severe allergy, but the experience made me so grateful for our community.
In July 2023, my 8-year-old son and I were having a smoothie together in our small town in Australia when he started to complain that his throat felt strange.
He kept on saying that his tongue felt like it was getting bigger, and I noticed he had a red rash down his chin. Our doctor referred us to an allergy specialist, and by October, he'd gotten a skin-prick test.
Allergies such as this can cause anaphylaxis, and symptoms can include difficulty breathing, coughing, fainting, severe stomach pain, and tongue or throat swelling β just like my son experienced.
If not treated immediately, anaphylaxis can be fatal. As I sat there listening to the prognosis, I couldn't believe it. No one in our families had ever had a severe allergy that we knew of, and I didn't know much about them at all.
The pediatric allergist gave us a referral for an EpiPen (an auto-injector used to treat life-threatening, allergic emergencies), issued us with an action plan about what to do in the event of exposure, and said she'd see us in 12 months.
Those first few weeks after the diagnosis, I had terrible anxiety about the situation. I cried often and had nightmares about my son having a bad reaction.
I worried what would happen if my kid had an allergic reaction and I wasn't there to help.
FG Trade/Getty Images
We began carrying an adrenaline injector and antihistamines with us every time we left the house. When my son ate something new, we'd check the labels meticulously for almonds in any form.
Grandparents were schooled in how to use an EpiPen. Friends offered to learn how to use one before a playdate, lest they should have to jab my son.
I started getting ahead of myself and worrying about the teenage years when my son might be drunk at a party and eat something without thinking or when he was older and traveling, unable to decipher ingredients in another language.
It was a rough period, but my son handled it all like a champ. He would religiously check every ingredient label himself, and he got into the habit of asking parents at birthday parties if the cake contained almonds.
After a year, it was time for the follow-up test
After 12 months of stress, we headed back to the allergy specialist for our follow-up appointment.
As I sat there watching my little boy's back flair up with a tapestry of different-sized welts (based on his reaction to the various skin-prick allergens), I felt terrified. What would this test reveal?
"That's interesting," the pediatric allergist said, just as my heart felt like it was going to leap out of my chest. "His almond reaction is half of what it was last year."
She suggested my son do an "almond challenge," in which they'd introduce small amounts of the nut into his system in a controlled setting. We agreed.
When the big day arrived, I asked my son how he felt. "I'm not scared, mummy," he said. "I'll be all right." As he drove with my husband to the allergist's office, I kept thinking how brave he was, even at such a young age.
That day, I could barely concentrate at work until my husband called with the best news of my life: Our son hadn't reacted.
Tears streamed down my face. I felt so overwhelmed with gratitude, but we still weren't quite out of the woods yet.
For seven days after, my son was instructed to eat a small amount of almonds a day at home and note any reactions. When there was nothing to report, he was given the all clear.
To mark a week of no reactions, I gave my son my full blessing to give his former arch-enemy β the almond β the middle finger, and our family had a good chuckle.
We found a silver lining in a stressful experience
Only a very small percentage of children with an allergy to tree nuts outgrow them. It seems my son was one of the lucky ones (or maybe there was another reason his initial skin-prick test was so elevated, we'll never know for sure).
A severe allergy diagnosis really does rock your world, and I feel for others who have to navigate those turbulent waters. Through this experience, though, I learned a lot about the value of true community and friendship.
Our friends made separate cakes just for our son, checked ingredient lists like forensic detectives, and stepped up when given an EpiPen to potentially use.
I also realized that bravery comes in all shapes and sizes and that we can often learn so much from our children. When presented with a scary situation, my young son faced it with courage β perhaps we could all use a little more of that.
My ex and I have joint custody, which means I only get to see my two kids every other week.
It's difficult to teach them responsible independence because their routines constantly shift.
Giving my kids phones has significantly improved my stress. I check on them daily when they're away.
When I signed the divorce papers, both of my kids were in elementary school, and I hadn't considered what their fast-approaching tween era would be like with joint custody.
Then, in the blink of an eye, my daughter was 10 and my son 12. Both were on their way to more independence but what that looks like differs in my home compared to my ex's.
In my home, I run a tight ship. On school nights, they have a steady curfew unless they're at an extracurricular activity. And when they want to go somewhere by themselves they must get my permission first.
I only get to see my kids half of the time, which makes parenting more difficult.
Courtesy of Isobella Jade
These hard rules are necessary because I only see my kids every other week, and these are the years when they're learning how to become their best selves. As I try to teach them how to be responsible young adults, I know these rules might not look the same at the other parent's home.
The inconsistency can be frustrating β both for me and the kids. However, as a divorced parent, I've learned there is nothing I can do to guarantee our different home routines will align.
My divorce was high conflict and involved a lot of stress. As a result, my ex and I don't typically chit-chat unless we have to, and even if I send a text message, it's not guaranteed I'll get a reply.
I felt out of touch so phones became a priority
The first year after the divorce, I felt extremely out of touch with my children when they were at the other parent's home.
Giving my kids phones was a great decision as a divorced parent.
Courtesy of Isobella Jade
When they would return to my home a week later, that's when I'd find out one went to a sleepover, or had a sunburn, or a homework assignment wasn't done.
I didn't like being out of the loop. I wanted to know if my daughter was going to a friend's house or if my son was going to the arcade with friends.
That's when phones became a priority. Giving my kids phones has significantly helped my stress as a divorced parent who shares custody.
Now, I text or call my kids daily when we're apart to check in about how they are doing, their whereabouts and plans, and to send reminders about getting homework done.
I'm also serious about getting healthy sleep. Often, when I call to say goodnight when the kids are at the other parent's home, they haven't gotten ready for bed, yet.
That's why, lately, I'm teaching them to value their own well-being, health, sleep, and academics. That way, no matter which home they're in, they can make positive choices for themselves.
I recognize that living in 2 households may not be the best for the kids
Despite only getting to see my kids every other week, I keep in touch with them every day over call and text.
Courtesy of Isobella Jade
Overall, I think my kids would be more independent if we weren't a divorced family because then they would have the same daily routines, which can affect independence.
My ex doesn't keep me informed during his time with the kids about how they're doing, and β to be honest β I don't either, unless he asks or it's about extracurricular activities, pick up, drop off exchanges, or an emergency. It's a hard lesson in how communication dies after a family breaks up.
Although I'm not always there in person, I can at least try to teach my kids about what responsibility looks like with friendly text reminders and check-in calls when they're away. It's a small but comforting win.
Jennifer Li, the CFO of Chinese robotaxi firm WeRide, told Business Insider that while both China and the US have a wealth of autonomous vehicle talent and technical knowledge, China's high-tech EV industry is giving its robotaxi firms a crucial edge.
"We have the luxury of being backed by the electric vehicle supply chain in China. The EV ecosystem in China has given us a tremendous advantage," said Li.
The WeRide executive said self-driving companies starting out in China had plentiful access to electric vehicles that could be easily retrofitted with autonomous driving technology, and could quickly and cheaply build custom autonomous vehicles in a variety of formats.
"We also have the cost advantage. We work closely with all the local carmakers to develop the best autonomous vehicles, and we can quickly bring them onto the market," Li said.
China's autonomous vehicle scene has also grown quickly in recent years. Robotaxi firm Pony.AI announced last month that it would expand its robotaxi fleet to 1,000 vehicles this year.
Meanwhile, Baidu's Apollo Go ride-hailing service, which operates robotaxis in multiple Chinese cities, has completed more than 8 million rides since it launched and recently announced its sixth-gen vehicle will have a price tag of under $30,000.
By contrast, the US robotaxi industry has hit a few speedbumps in recent years.
WeRide launched an initial public offering on the Nasdaq stock exchange last year that valued the company at over $4 billion. Its US debut came as many Chinese tech firms are increasingly entangled in growing geopolitical tensions between the US and China.
WeRide has been testing autonomous vehicles in California since 2017. The company received an expanded permit to test its vehicles with passengers without a safety driver in August, but unlike Waymo does not have permission to carry paying members of the general public.
Li told BI that WeRide's presence in the US was focused on R&D and testing, and that the company had no plans to offer public passenger services in the country.
Robotaxi firm Waymo has expanded rapidly in recent years and is now serving over 150,000 rides a week.
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
"We are not really actively looking to enter the market directly for now," said Li, adding that WeRide was still assessing the potential impact of the new rules.
A WeRide spokesperson confirmed the company had no plans to launch its products or services in the US, and said WeRide was "closely monitoring" policies in the US to maintain full compliance for its activities in the country.
Li said WeRide could not comment on measures it has not yet seen β but added the influence of Elon Musk over the new administration was a cause for partial optimism.
A modified version of Tesla's electric pickup was seized in the UK on Thursday, with police warning that it's not legal to drive there and could pose a danger to pedestrians and other road users.
The Cybertruck, which appears to have been fitted with a light bar and a custom "Cyberbeast" wrap, was stopped in the town of Whitefield, near Manchester in northwest England.
Authorities confiscated the vehicle after finding that the Cybertruck was registered and insured abroad, which is illegal in the UK.
In a post on X, Greater Manchester Police warned that the EV did not have a "certificate of conformity," making it illegal to drive on public roads in the UK.
"Whilst this may seem trivial to some, legitimate concerns exist around the safety of other road users or pedestrians if they were involved in a collision with a Cybertruck," police said.
The Cybertruck has become a common sight on US roads since it launched in 2023 β but despite arriving in Mexico and Canada last year, it remains unavailable in Europe, one of Tesla's biggest markets.
The truck's sharp edges, which have seen some owners report injuries in the US, likely breach rules in the European Union and UK that prevent vehicles with "sharp external projections" being sold.
The weight of the Cybertruck also poses a barrier for any European Tesla fans looking to ship one across the Atlantic.
The vehicle weighs 8,830 to 9,170 pounds, or between 4.4 and 4.5 tons when factoring in passengers and cargo. That means it's probably too heavy to be driven in Europe with a standard driver's license, experts previously told BI. Most drivers in the UK and EU need a different license for vehicles over 7,700 pounds.
A few modified Cybertrucks have been imported into Europe. Campaign groups have called for the truck to be banned completely after a truck with rubber-padded edges was registered in the Czech Republic last year.
Tesla has not made any announcement about a potential UK or EU launch and there's doubt about potential demand in Europe.
Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BI.
Do you own a Cybertruck outside the US? Get in touch with this reporter at [email protected]
British Airways was transporting gold jewelry from Bahrain to Chicago.
Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images
Almost 20 pounds of gold jewelry was stolen from a British Airways plane in Chicago.
Two employees from a ground handling firm were prosecuted over the incident.
BA is asking for compensation after a Bahraini court ordered the airline to pay back the jeweler.
British Airways has filed a $1.2 million lawsuit after almost 20 pounds of gold jewelry was stolen from one of its planes.
The airline says it was contracted by Al-Arefi Jewelry to transport the valuable cargo from Bahrain to Chicago in July 2023.
However, after the flight from London to Chicago O'Hare Airport landed, the jewelry was reported missing.
British Airways is suing Ground Services International, which is owned by the Emirati firm dnata and provides ground-handling services at several US airports.
The suit, filed in a Chicago court last October, says two GSI employees have been prosecuted for stealing the jewelry when the plane landed at O'Hare.
As a result of the theft, Al-Arefi brought legal action against the airline.
Last February, a Bahraini court ordered BA to pay the jeweler 153,000 dinars (roughly $406,000.)
BA says it wrote to GSI to request compensation over this, but the latter has refused, resulting in it taking legal action.
The airline says that GSI is in breach of the Standard Ground Handling Agreement because it did not safeguard valuable cargo and has not compensated it.
BA is asking for over $1.2 million, which consists of repaying the Bahraini court's judgment, attorneys' fees over $100,000, and more than $700,000 in consequential losses.
A settlement conference has been scheduled for February 11, according to a court document seen by Business Insider.
Dnata did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by BI outside US working hours.
People at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 20.
World Economic Forum/Ciaran McCrickard
Tech and business leaders are in Davos, Switzerland for the World Economic Forum.
They've been discussing Donald Trump's inauguration and AI as they wait for the event to begin in earnest.
This is what Business Insider is hearing and seeing at the convention of the rich and powerful.
The World Economic Forum in Davos doesn't begin in earnest until later on Monday, but business and tech leaders have already descended on the Swiss mountain resort.
AI, Donald Trump's reelection, and crypto are proving hot topics.
Business Insider is on the ground and talking to people. This is what we're hearing.
Talk of AI and AI agents is already in full swing here, but Mihir Shukla, CEO of Automation Anywhere, believes this year the conversation is turning from hype to questions about practical realities. "As CEOs here are chasing AI, they find it cool, but the job is to find value," he told BI in an interview. "I know this is cool, but what can I do with it? I think that conversation happens this year."
Can AI do his job yet? Not completely, but he admitted it could do some. A fun example: His company built a boardroom AI agent and trained it on years of the company's financial information and presentations. "It was able to match patterns that the most experienced people couldn't," he said. It was so good, they even gave the AI agent an empty seat at the boardroom table for dramatic effect. β Hugh Langley
One hurdle with AI agents: How do companies get paid for their work, and who gets the credit, and more importantly, the revenue, internally? Raj Sharma, EY's global managing partner for growth and innovation, told BI the power of AI agents is forcing the professional services giant to reconsider its commercial model. Instead of just charging clients based on the hours and resources EY might spend on a project, Sharma said with AI agents it can take a "service-as-a-software" approach where clients pay based on outcome.
The issue isn't just external. Some thought needs to be given to who owns the agents and is responsible for the revenue they bring in. "As much time as we are spending on the technology aspect of these things, the whole commercial model, the risk models associated with that, there's an equal amount of energy, at least companies like ours are spending, to say 'What is the right commercial model?'" Sharma said. β Dan DeFrancesco
This is my fourth Davos, and every year, one topic seems to take over. In 2023, it was AI's rapid rise. In 2022, inflation angst was the buzzword. This year is a three-way brawl between agentic AI, Trump's tariff talk, and crypto's regulatory tug-of-war.
Crypto isn't just a side conversation anymore. With bulls celebrating bitcoin passing the $100,000 mark and regulators clashing over how to rein in the Wild West of digital assets, crypto is now as much a part of Davos as cheese and fondue at high-powered dinner debates.
But which topic will dominate the late-night wining and dining and daytime-ski chatter? Crypto's got the hype, AI has the intrigue, and Trump? He can't help but be the main character. β Spriha Srivastava
It's a bit warmer than usual in the mountain town this week, with daily highs reaching the mid-to-high 30s. At night, it's only expected to drop to the mid-to-high 20s. (The daily average temperature for the town is typically in the low 20s.) And the famous "suits and boots" look the conference has become known for won't be as necessary this week with no snow forecast.
All of that is in stark contrast to the US, where the East Coast is dealing with some severe cold weather and a rare snow and ice storm threatens the South. β Dan DeFrancesco
Davos' Promenade is full of emerging economies setting out their stalls.
Spriha Srivastava/Business Insider
Walking down the Promenade in Davos Sunday night, I couldn't help but notice something different β emerging economies are showing up in a bigger way this year. Last year, India and Saudi Arabia made a splash, staking out prime real estate along this iconic stretch where you're just as likely to bump into a government leader as you are a tech billionaire.
But this year? The guest list has expanded. Brazil, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Korea have all joined the Davos scene, setting up their own hubs and signaling that they're ready to be heard. I've got meetings lined up with officials from these countries, and I'm curious to hear what's top of mind for them. One recurring theme? Donald Trump's reelection and what it could mean for the developing world. With global capital still flowing largely from the US, there's a lot at stake. Policies shaped in Washington have ripple effects from Jakarta to SΓ£o Paulo. The mood here suggests leaders aren't just watchingβthey're strategizing. β Spriha Srivastava
Davos is known for its big parties. JPMorgan hosts one of the week's biggest blow-out events. Google, Qualcomm, and others are also hosting big gatherings. CEOs and other folks on the ground tell me going to parties is the best way to network but say that the smaller parties can be best for meaningful conversations. β Hugh Langley
Homebuyers may have more success this year, but the bar is very low.
halbergman/Getty Images
Last year was the toughest for entry-level home affordability in four decades.
Prospective buyers have reasons to be hopeful, but mortgage rates aren't among them.
Here's what top real-estate analyst Ivy Zelman thinks will happen in 2025.
The US real-estate market is bound to have a better year in 2025 after a historically horrible stretch for housing affordability, but those looking for major improvements may be disappointed.
Entry-level home affordability reached a 40-year low last year, according to data compiled by Zelman & Associates, the real-estate research firm led by famed analyst Ivy Zelman.
2024 was the worst year for entry-level home affordability in four decades, according to Zelman & Associates (@zelmanZreport ). Planning to talk with Ivy Zelman about this next week for @BusinessInsiderpic.twitter.com/Hvafi23pJT
Younger generations who didn't already own property had it toughest. First-time homebuyers made up less than a quarter of purchases, Realtor.com found β the lowest rate since 1981. Housing analysts are likely sick of references to the 1980s, which was one of the toughest times on record for home affordability.
The new year often brings optimism, and 2025 is no different for those hoping to buy a house.
But it may be best to stay patient, based on year-ahead projections from Zelman and her team. Their estimates for mortgage rates, home sales, prices, and supply in a January report indicate that the year ahead will be better in many ways than 2024, though still full of headaches.
Below are eight charts from Zelman's report showing what's next for US real estate, which includes the housing and rental markets.
1. Mortgage rates stay stuck high
Zelman & Associates
Many of last year's upbeat predictions about the housing market, including from Zelman, centered around declining mortgage rates. The 30-year fixed rate had tumbled from 7.8% in late October to 6.6% by New Year's, and analysts said it would fall further as interest rates dropped.
Rates then reversed higher through April to 7.2%, which was a major surprise for Zelman. The unexpected jump in borrowing costs postponed sales, though it looked like a blip once rates trended lower through the summer and into the early fall.
But in the last four months, rates have steadily risen back to highly restrictive levels. The US economy is even healthier than expected, and investors think President-elect Trump will usher in even stronger growth and potentially higher inflation.
Either way, markets are counting on higher-for-longer rates, as is Zelman. She thinks rates will be roughly flat this year and sees the 30-year hovering around 6.7% before slipping to 6.5% in 2026. That means buyers shouldn't hold their breath for lower borrowing costs.
2. Home sales march higher
Zelman & Associates
Elevated mortgage rates are a dealbreaker for many buyers and unacceptable for others.
About three-quarters of current owners have mortgage rates below 5%, Zelman's firm found, and over half (56%) are locked into rates lower than 4%. It's no wonder why they're reluctant to swap that rock-bottom rate for a 7% mortgage.
However, those who need to move may decide they can't wait any longer, given that rates may stay near current levels for years.
Both new and existing home sales should rise about 5% next year in a healthy economy, in Zelman's view. A year ago, and last April, she thought sales would surge 8% in 2025, which reflects how higher-than-anticipated rates are weighing on demand.
3. Existing home prices rise at a modest pace
Zelman & Associates
Homeowners are already reluctant to move, so it stands to reason that they'll hold out for higher prices. Properties already on the market should sell for about 3% more than last year, according to Zelman & Associates, though that's below last year's rate and the expected figure for 2026.
4. New home prices inch up
Zelman & Associates
A glut of new homes entering the market will keep prices at bay, Zelman and her team say. They expect freshly made properties to sell for 1% more than in 2024, following a year of flat prices.
5. Single-family rent growth stays in check
Zelman & Associates
On the rental side, Zelman thinks landlords will still score price hikes, though at much lower rates than in the mid- and post-pandemic boom.
Rent growth should fall below 3% for single-family units for the first time in a decade, as rising inventory means that the occupancy rate isn't nearly as stretched as it was a few years ago.
6. Multi-family rent growth remains below-trend
Zelman & Associates
Rent for multi-family units, which includes apartments, will also stay subdued, Zelman's firm said. Rent in these setups may drift north of 2%, but that's still well below levels from the 2010s.
7. Rent hikes will trail wages again
Zelman & Associates
The silver lining for renters is that these increases shouldn't break the bank. Wage growth outpaced rent growth last year for the first time since at least the mid-2010s, according to Zelman & Associates, and the trend should continue this year and into 2026.
8. Multi-family supply growth slows but stays strong
Zelman & Associates
There's a simple reason why rent growth isn't budging much: tenants increasingly have options since apartment supply is soaring.
Last year saw the ninth-biggest increase in multi-family inventory in the last five decades, Zelman and her peers noted. Over 600,000 new multi-family setups went online in 2024, and while that figure may fall this year, it still should be a big year for apartment construction.
Starbucks is bringing back condiment bars and asking patrons to buy something to hang out in-store, among other changes.
ANGELA WEISS / AFP via Getty Images
Starbucks is in the middle of a turnaround effort.
The coffee chain is making changes, including some later this month, aimed at improving sales.
Here are the biggest shifts, from more free refills to the end of Starbucks' open-door policy.
Starbucks is starting off 2025 with some big changes.
Former Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol took the helm of the coffee chain in September. Since then, Starbucks has announced a series of shifts meant to get customers ordering drinks and food again.
The turnaround attempt comes asΒ Starbucks' sales,Β both in the US and globally, fell during its fourth quarter.
Here are the biggest changes that Starbucks has announced over the last few months:
Starbucks will require a purchase to hang out
Starbucks visitors will have to order something or be with someone who does in order to hang out at one of the chain's stores, starting January 27.
The coffee chain confirmed the change on January 13. It replaces the previous open-door policy, which Starbucks implemented after two black men were arrested in 2018 after one asked to use the bathroom at a Philadelphia store without buying anything.
Starbucks is offering free refills to more patrons
Another change taking effect on January 27 will allow all Starbucks customers, not just members of the chain's rewards program, to get free refills on many brewed coffees and teas.
Customers can get them by using a clean reusable cup of their own or an in-house ceramic one provided by the chain. They also have to order their drinks in-store, and refills are only available on a beverage during a single visit.
Starbucks' self-serve condiment bars are returning
Starbucks said last year that it would bring back self-service condiment bars in early 2025.
The change means customers will have to add their own milk, sugar, and other condiments to their drinks instead of relying on baristas to do it behind the counter. It will cut the time it takes baristas to serve hot cups of coffee, Niccol said on an earnings call in October.
Rewards members are getting fewer promotions through the app
The days of plentiful buy-one-get-one-free Frappuccino deals appear to be over.
Starbucks has been cutting back the number of promotions that it has offered rewards members through its app, the Wall Street Journal reported in October. It's part of a push to make the coffee chain feel more upscale, the Journal reported at the time.
The change was welcomed by some baristas, who previously said that they were overwhelmed when customers used the Starbucks mobile app to order multiple drinks at once, including through deals such as four beverages for $20.
Do you work at Starbucks and have a story idea to share? Reach out to this reporter at [email protected].
Β The author (not pictured) reconnected with family to develop her cooking skills and help heal her own grief.
SolStock/Getty Images
I always enjoyed my mother's cooking, but didn't learn from her while she was still alive.
Returning to Libya helped the me reconnect with family and learn traditional recipes.
I feel my mother's presence in my own kitchen as I now have the confidence to cook and entertain.
I was 18 when my mother died. As difficult as it was to process, another tragedy loomed over me, one far less visible to the naked eye β I never learned how to cook from her.
Food was the thread running throughout my mother's life. There was fluffy Libyan couscous topped with glowing orange slices of pumpkin for dinner, pink Barbie princess cakes and strawberry jammed pastries for birthdays, as well as platters of her bright mouthwatering lasagna that fed our entire mosque congregation. Libyan rishta kiskas that summoned her archaic pasta maker from the darkness of the kitchen cabinet; There was also her her pastries β basbousa, abambar, pasta flora, fruit tart β which she crafted for every house party she threw.
In her life, food stretched far beyond nourishment. It was one enormous show of love, one tangible anchor of memory. I reveled in her cooking, but I never took interest in learning. My inability to carry on my mother's culinary legacy caused me to feel I'd colluded in her death in my own way.
The last photo of food my mother prepared for a gathering, taken in April 2013, two months before she died.
Courtesy of Nour Naas
A sparse kitchen, and even fewer skills
After the funeral, I moved into the only place I could afford, a rundown apartment unit with not a whisper of a kitchen β no sink, no stove, no oven β which deepened my distance from food.
With only a thrifted fridge and a cheap electric cooktop I purchased from Walmart, I strove to learn. I would try making tilapia which I season poorly and cooked to shreds. Ultimately, I gave up on the kitchen, haunted by my lost inheritance. I survived off whatever I could unearth at the corner store or the surprise aluminum trays full of home-cooked meals community members dropped off.
A new chance to get it right
At 23, everything shifted when I left California to return to Libya for the first time since my mother's death to be with her family. Still entrenched in grief, being able to finally mourn together enabled me to wholeheartedly approach the kitchen.
I asked my Auntie Leila to teach me how to make couscous, and she happily agreed. It was a favorite dish growing up, one my mother would typically make on weekends. I peeled carrots and potatoes as she seasoned the bubbling lamb stew. My prodding about measurements and cooking times did nothing but elicit her to huff out an age-old Libyan proverb that roughly translates to "my eye is my scale."
It was a bittersweet compensation for all the years I missed with my mother in the kitchen. Though the couscous was not an exact replica of my mother's recipe, it managed to capture the essence of it, giving me the strength to move forward on my own culinary journey.
Finding the confidence to try
Upon returning to California, I cobbled together the best kitchen I possibly could. I splurged on a new fridge, a new cooktop, and thrifted a shelf to store spices. I even procured my first apron, which felt as symbolic as planting a flag atop Mount Everest.
I made dishes from around the world: gochujang chicken, doro wat, Γ§ilbir, and shokupan. At my mother's friends' homes, where I had always sat on the outskirts of their kitchens, I began to invite myself beside them at the stove. I learned their beloved recipes and I taught them the ones I had recently learned. I fell in love with the transformative ritual of kneading, mixing, and stirring. Most of all, I fell in love with how I was transforming, how each dish made my grief easier to carry.
I started to experiment with many different cuisines as I became more comfortable in the kitchen. Here's cheese fatayer, prepped and ready to go into the oven.
Courtesy of Nour Naas
Years later, I moved out of my unit and into a home fit for the living. The apartment was modest, but it felt like a palace to me, complete with a sink, stove, and oven. I ecstatically hosted my first-ever gathering. As I flitted from one corner of the kitchen to the next to prepare dinner, I felt my mother's gentle presence wrap all around me like I was being guided by her spirit while still making the kitchen my own.
I used to wish for a romantic story of how I learned to cook side-by-side with my darling mother. But the real story, pieced together in her absence, is no less filled with love.
On Friday, Huang was in Taiwan, where he told reporters he wouldn't be at Trump's inauguration as he will be celebrating Lunar New Year with employees.
"The year-end party is very important for us because the employees work so hard and it's my opportunity to thank everyone," Huang said, referring to festivities ahead of Lunar New Year, which starts on January 29.
Huang also told reporters he hasn't spoken with the incoming Trump administration but is looking forward to congratulating the team.
During his visit to Taiwan, Huang attended year-end parties at Nvidia and Wistron, a Taiwanese supplier, according to local media reports.
He also hosted a lunch with tech leaders including TSMC Chairman CC Wei and Foxconn Chairman Young Liu, highlighting the key role Taiwan plays in the world's tech supply chain amid geopolitical tensions with Beijing, which claims the island as its territory.
Huang's Taiwan trip also included a visit to his regular hair salon, stops at night markets, and dinner plans at TSMC founder Morris Chang's residence. Huang left Taipei on Sunday morning and is in China, according to local media reports.
An Nvidia spokesperson told Business Insider it doesn't comment on the travel schedules of its company executives.
Last year, Huang was also in Asia celebrating Lunar New Year in China.
'Jensanity' in Taiwan
Huang's 55-hour visit to Taiwan ignited excitement on the island, where he was swarmed by the media and by fans wanting his autograph.
Seen as the local boy who made good, Taiwan-born Huang is a star in Taiwan. The phenomenon has been coined "Jensanity."
During a visit to the island in June, Huang received a rockstar's reception and even signed one woman's chest. On Halloween, at least one Taiwanese kid dressed up as Huang, with his mom telling BI at the time that her 5-year-old son knew he was "dressed as a very remarkable person."
Nvidia is the leading producer of AI chips β a key domain the US and China are competing in. The company's share price has skyrocketed in the past two years.
Nvidia is now one of the world's most valuable companies, with a market capitalization of $3.4 trillion. Huang is the 12th-richest person in the world, with the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimating his net worth at $117 billion.
Nvidia shares closed 3.1% higher on Friday. They are up 2.6% year to date and 131% higher over the past year.
Tech leaders in the US prepare for Trump 2.0
Trump's four-day inauguration celebration kicked off on January 18.
Major tech CEOs β includingΒ Amazon's Jeff Bezos, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg, Tesla's Elon Musk, Google's Sundar Pichai, and TikTok's Shou Zi Chew β are expected to be at Trump's inauguration.
The inauguration has also drawn donations from tech giants. Google and Meta each donated $1 million to the event.
Earlier this month, Huang said he had not yet met Trump, but that he would be "delighted" to get an invite to visit Mar-a-Lago, Trump's Palm Beach resort.
Nvidia declined to comment to BI on whether the company or Huang has donated to Trump's inauguration.
Trump's inauguration also coincides with the first day of Davos in Switzerland, which draws heads of business and state from around the globe.
When the pandemic hit, Keith Romes moved to Mexico to work remotely without telling his employers.
Romes sought a better quality of life and lower living costs than he had in California.
He plans to work remotely abroad again because he values affordable living and cultural exploration.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Keith Romes, a 40-year-old tech professional in California. This story has been edited for length and clarity.
I didn't go to college after graduating from high school. Instead, I started applying for work right away in 2005. I enjoy tech, video games, and Star Wars, so I wanted to get a job in that world.
I became good at interviewing by doing group interviews and seeing what others did, and I landed a position doing quality assurance for LucasArts. I had a six-month contract to work on the video game Star Wars Battlefront II.
I landed more contract roles at Electronic Arts, Friend Finder, and eventually companies like Meta and TikTok. For my first few contract roles, I was living in California.
During some of my more recent contracts, I worked remotely from Mexico without telling anyone β and got away with it.
While working at Friend Finder, I took my first international trip
My pay at Friend Finder was enough for me to take my first international trip to Tokyo, which started my love for travel.
I stayed at Friend Finder until 2008 and then got a great opportunity β my first full-time job at Apple in the App Store division. I worked at Apple's headquarters in Cupertino.
I had a crazy schedule because the launch of the App Store involved a lot of work. I worked 80-hour weeks and reached burnout.
I realized I didn't want my work to be my entire life. I stayed there for two years and then decided to take shorter contracts again and build more breaks into my work.
I reentered the world of contract work in 2010
I got a contract with Google to work on the Google Play store and did the same quality-assurance work I had done at Apple. I was at Google for close to a year and left in 2011.
After that, I worked for a video-game company called Kabam in San Francisco for six months before leaving to take on a series of contract roles at Meta, working in developer operations and testing chatbots.
I did analysis work on Facebook's news feed feature but left because I felt like I had a terrible work-life balance and was burning out again.
After Meta, I worked for six months on a project-based contract at Twitter's headquarters in 2016. Then, I decided to take some personal time off to regroup.
In 2018, I returned to Meta for another contract role.
I realized I wanted a better quality of life and fewer bills than in California
I had been looking into dental work in Mexico because the cost was lower, and I heard there was a better quality of life there. I decided to move to Mexico in 2020 but had to figure out the logistics.
When the pandemic started, we were told remote work would be mandatory. That made the decision to go to Mexico much easier. I started that contract in California but didn't tell my bosses about my decision to move to Mexico.
I moved with just some luggage, set up my life and workstation in CancΓΊn, and started working for Meta remotely from Mexico. I had no time-zone challenges.
The cost of living was incredible compared to California β it was the total package for me. I enjoyed beach access, amazing food, the amenities of my apartment complex, and friendly people.
My new lifestyle was very affordable
I easily lived on less than $1,200 a month.For the first year, I lived in an Airbnb, and my expenses were one-third to one-fifth of my living costs in California.
I worried at first about having an issue remote working from another country, but as soon as I got there, I connected to Meta's systems. I didn't have to use a VPN for remote work β just a regular WiFi connection.
While in Mexico, my pets and I survived two hurricanes, and WiFi was pretty good both times β I didn't lose any data. The streams were great for holding meetings.
I had no issues working remotely internationally, so I stopped worrying about it
While still in Mexico, I got a second contract job as an app marketing manager for Avalara, an automated sales tax compliance software company for businesses. I used a family member's address in California to apply for the role and did not tell Avalara I lived in Mexico.
I had to fly back to California to pick up a company laptop but then returned to Mexico. I don't know if they would've fired me for quietly working from another country, but I didn't want to take any chances.
I took my meetings from my villa in Mexico, and I was loving life. I also visited cities near Mexico City, such as Guadalajara, and took mini vacations often.
I worked both jobs until December 2021, when my contract at Meta was completed. Then, I continued to work only in the role at Avalara.
A new job brought me back to the US
In March 2022, I left Avalara and started a new contract role at TikTok. That October, TikTok ordered me back into the office, and I returned to California to regroup.
I didn't want to leave Mexico but needed the money from the TikTok job. I stayed at TikTok until February 2023.
Currently, I work in two remote roles focused on content review and AI content from California.
I want to move abroad again
I plan to return to Mexico or explore other countries like Colombia, Japan, or the Philippines.
My salary averages around $40,000 per six-month contract. I plan to set up a side hustle in addition to my contract positions to make more money and have more flexibility.
I want to leave the US again for a better quality of life. Less expensive, universal healthcare and opportunities to explore other cultures are important to me.
It was a chilly night in Berkeley, California this past November when Sarah decided to stop by a buzzy after-party for an AI conference called The Curve. A year and a half ago, the 27-year-old had left her lucrative job as a trader in London to look for work in AI safety, which she considers the most important issue in the world, and she was eager to connect with others who felt the same. She certainly didn't expect to end the evening vilified as a Chinese spy.
At the party, the topic du jour was a recent article in The Economist, provocatively titled, "Is Xi Jinping an AI doomer?" Sarah, who was born in China a few hours from Shanghai, discussed the question with various AI researchers and policy analysts. Then one exchange turned sour.
"There's been rumors of espionage in Silicon Valley," Sarah recalled one person saying, "Like people preying on young, male, impressionable software engineers." The guy looked at Sarah. Uncomfortable, she excused herself from the conversation.
"I'm a Chinese national, but it's not like I'm a spy," she later recounted to another attendee.
Her comment was overheard by Samuel Hammond, an economist at the Foundation for American Innovation and an AI policy advisor for Project 2025. He posted it to X, where it attracted millions of views.
I was at an AI thing in SF this weekend when a young woman walked up. The first thing she said, almost verbatim: "I'm a Chinese national but it's not like I'm a spy or anything" *nervous laughter.*
I asked her if she thought Xi was an AI doomer and she suddenly excused herself. https://t.co/1mepDH6LRc
"So definitely a spy?" read one reply on X. "She was from Beijing and had a very posh accent," responded Hammond. (Sarah is from an entirely different part of China.) Other partygoers piled onto the speculation. "I'm glad I wasn't the only one who thought that," one said. Another insisted: "I can't dismiss the idea that she was CCP⦠If there's a plausible risk, & there is, she shouldn't be allowed in."
Sarah, who asked that I use just her first name, replied on X to clear up the confusion about why she left the conversation β it was cold and she had already been asked the same question by other people β but by then the exchange had reached escape velocity, spilling out across Silicon Valley. "Everyone knows," she said about the encounter. "I had to stop going to networking events. I just wanted this thing to die down."
As the race to develop advanced AI systems before China does ramps up, a new Red Scare has taken over the tech world. I spoke with Chinese workers and entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, many of whom spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid professional, personal, or legal repercussions, and found that Sarah's experience was far from rare. The same fear of Chinese espionage thatforced TikTok to shut down is now pushing out Chinese-born AI professionals at the exact moment that American AI experts report a critical talent shortage in the field.
Concerns over Chinese spying have been on the rise since the early 2010s, when the US escalated its efforts to address Chinese cyberattacks. In 2018, the Department of Justice under Donald Trump undertook a controversial "China Initiative," which aimed to prevent industrial espionage in the research community by investigating hundreds of academics suspected of having ties to China. It found only a few cases of actual spying.
The plurality of investigations, Bloomberg and MIT Technology Review reported in 2021, involved undisclosed funding and affiliations to Chinese institutions, while "just three claim that secrets were handed over to Chinese agents," Bloomberg wrote. Instead of catching spies, many cases just indicted professors for bureaucratic oversights β those found guilty claimed they didn't disclose their funding because they didn't think they had to.
The China Initiative's slipshod approach upended many people's lives. Gang Chen, a nanotechnologist, and Anming Hu, a physicist, were both US-based tenured professors who were arrested by the FBI, only for authorities to later realize they had made a mistake. During the yearlong investigations, Chen was barred from his university's campus, and Hu was suspended without pay and his work authorization revoked. (Though both were later reinstated to their positions, Chen said he would no longer take federal research funding). The suicide of the neuroscientist Jane Ying Wu last year came after a China Initiative investigation shut down her lab.
The Biden administration escalated Trump's competitive approach toward China. The 2022 CHIPS Act, whichaimed to bolster domestic production of semiconductors, the essential hardware powering AI, also restricted US investments, manufacturing, and research collaborations in China. Last April, Biden signed a bipartisan bill ordering the Chinese company ByteDance to sell TikTok on grounds of national security.
Whenever you say anything neutral about China, people will think, 'That's pro-China, and this person is bought by the CCP.'
Now, the fear of espionage has shifted to Silicon Valley. In June last year, AI researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner said he was fired from OpenAI for sharing concerns about foreign espionage with the OpenAI board. He then published a paper-cum-manifesto titled "Situational Awareness: The Decade Ahead," about the race to AGI, or artificial general intelligence β what he calls the "most powerful weapon mankind has ever created," comparable to nuclear weapons. "If we're lucky, we'll be in an all-out race with the CCP; if we're unlucky, an all-out war," he wrote. In a section called "The Free World Must Prevail," Aschenbrenner paints a dystopian scenario where the Chinese Communist Party steals model weights and algorithms and uses them to target "advanced bioweapons" at "anybody but Han Chinese," "individually assess every citizen for dissent," and "enforce the Party's conception of 'truth.'" The paper was widely circulated in Silicon Valley and even shared to X by Ivanka Trump. (OpenAI has said the concerns Aschenbrenner shared with the board were not the reason he was fired.)
The venture capitalist Marc Andreessen entertained a similar thought experiment last March. "Let's assume that AI in 2024 is like atomic technology in 1943," he wrote on X. "What we see is the security equivalent of swiss cheese. My own assumption is that all such American AI labs are fully penetrated and that China is getting nightly downloads of all American AI research and code RIGHT NOW."
In response to mounting concerns, the Financial Times reported that Google, OpenAI, and several other US tech companies have tightened personnel screening. Some startups are turning to third-party tools like Strider Technologies, which scours public data to investigate individuals' connections to "state-sponsored risk," as Strider's website puts it. If a current or prospective employee is flagged by Strider's AI, FT reported that its "due diligence" process will then investigate their "family or financial links abroad as well as their travel history."
A spokesperson for Google said they hadn't stepped up their screening processes and told me that the company has "strict safeguards" for preventing the theft of trade secrets, "none of which are based on employees' nationality." OpenAI did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
Meanwhile, members of the Chinese diaspora in Silicon Valley are feeling the strain and paranoia of geopolitical tensions pressing on their social and professional lives. One 26-year-old woman who works at a San Francisco startup said she was once called a "honeypot" by a dance partner at a local bar. "He told me he worked on a nuclear-related company," she said. "He was like, 'I cannot share anything with you. Are you looking at my phone? You don't seem like a honeypot, but I have to be careful given that you're a Chinese national.'"
As a tech worker, she has turned down AI-related job opportunities to avoid scrutiny for herself and her family from both the US and Chinese governments. She also tries to downplay her Chinese accent and cultural identity. "A lot of Chinese nationals don't agree with the Chinese government" on issues like Uyghur repression in Xinjiang, she said. "But in social situations, you have to vocalize it passionately just to lower the guard people have toward you."
We work for no government. We just want to build businesses.
Sarah affirmed this sentiment. She hoped to contribute to global AI safety work by bridging the information gap between Chinese- and English-language researchers and policymakers, but the hawkish environment has made collaboration difficult. "Whenever you say anything neutral about China, people will think, 'That's pro-China, and this person is bought by the CCP,'" she said.
Many Chinese startup founders are also deemphasizing their nationality. One founder of a consumer AI startup told me that an investor asked her to remove the word "China" from a pitch deck and replace it with "Asia." It's a notable shift from the start of the century when top venture-capital firms were eager to invest in Chinese super-apps and open China-based funds.
HeyGen, a generative-AI startupfounded in Shenzhen, dissolved its Chinese operation to rebrand and relocate to the US in 2023. It asked its Chinese investors to sell their equity, then raised a new Series A round from US- and UK-based funds to more easily purchase semiconductors under the CHIPS Act. One of HeyGen's original Chinese investors told me that it's now common for Chinese founders to turn down Chinese capital to avoid US governmental scrutiny.
Similarly, the TechCrunch journalist Rita Liao wrote that a Chinese company refused her coverage because her byline made them look "too Chinese." She said another Chinese founder told her: "We work for no government. We just want to build businesses."
Several people I spoke with described their situation as a "double bind." On one hand, they came to the US to pursue opportunities and liberties that Chinese society didn't afford them. But these days, eerily similar state and social sanctions are intruding on their work.
In some cases, the tensions are making it difficult for people from China to stay in the US. Ordinarily, foreign workers on visas who temporarily leave the US must get a stamp from a local US consulate before reentering. But more tech workers are being put through extra processing required for people working in sensitive industries before they can reenter the US, resulting in some people getting stranded abroad for months or years.
On forums for Chinese nationals, anxious students and professionals fret about how to avoid extended processing. "I work as a machine learning engineer in the Bay Area," reads one post from October. "I work on some AI product applications and do no core AI research. I thought that 'sensitive fields' referred to advanced defense research, but now I heard that any STEM field can be subject to checks. I'm feeling panicked."
Unlucky visa holders who get flagged have no choice but to appeal for an extended leave of absence from their university or workplace. One AI Ph.D. student wrote in November, "I have now waited for more than 130 days. My school has deferred me for one semester, but I cannot defer it again."
As tensions ramp up, many Chinese tech workers are reconsidering whether the American dream is worth the risk. When Microsoft offered its China-based employees a chance to relocate to another country, tensions between the US and China made some reluctant to take the offer, according to reporting by Rest of World. Going viral on X turned out to be a tipping point for Sarah. She returned to China in December. "Initially I was afraid of trouble on the Chinese side, but it turns out that the other side is more problematic," she said about the US.
It feels like we have this talent that no one wants.
Meanwhile, the US faces a critical talent shortage in AI. A 2021 report by the National Security Commission on AI found that the number of US-born STEM and AI doctorates is not nearly keeping pace with the industry's growth. While 42% of top-tier AI researchers worked in the US in 2022, only 18% of them received their undergraduate degree here, Macro Polo's AI Talent Tracker found. China is currently the largest source of these top-tier researchers β and more are choosing to stay in China.
"For the first time in our lifetime, the United States risks losing the competition for talent on the scientific frontiers," the NSCAI report says. "Immigration reform is a national security imperative."
Divyansh Kaushik, a tech and national security expert at Beacon Global Strategies, told me that America needs policies that are a "scalpel, not a sledgehammer." He recognizes the risk of espionage, citing China's 2017 National Intelligence Law, which legally obligates all Chinese citizens to "support, assist, and cooperate with state intelligence work." But Kaushik considers blanket bans on foreign nationals just as counterproductive. He instead pointed to policies that restrict students from specific Chinese-military-affiliated universities from obtaining visas. "There will be false positives and false negatives," but the US can mitigate the risk without overreaching, he told me.
Other experts believe that nationality-based anti-espionage efforts are more security theater than reality. Yangyang Cheng, a physicist and China researcher at Yale Law School, told me that AI risks "are not exclusive to Chinese firms or unique products of the Chinese authoritarian system." She cited examples of American professors who helped build biometric technologies for ethnic oppression in Xinjiang, arguing that we should be focused on preventing harm wherever it originates. She thinks the TikTok ban makes the same mistakes. "The focus on the Chinese government's subpoena power overlooks the many ways American companies cooperate with the state," she wrote for Wired.
It's unclear what stance this Trump administration will take. Some in Silicon Valley are hopeful that the president-elect will expand the visa program for high-skilled immigrants. During a recent intra-Republican fight over H-1B visas, Trump aligned with Elon Musk, telling supporters: "We need smart people coming into our country." But Trump's 2016 term oversaw higher costs, longer wait times, and increased denial rates for H-1B applicants. During a private dinner conversation in 2018 reported by Politico, Trump said, referring to China, "almost every student that comes over to this country is a spy."
Those who are staying in the US, meanwhile, say they feel exhausted. "I've been in the US for almost a decade," a Chinese-born data scientist and UC Berkeley graduate told me. "Many of us left to escape that political environment, and are the most liberal-leaning Chinese you can find. We spend so much time going through the American education and immigration system β and now the US says it doesn't welcome us either. It feels like we have this talent that no one wants."
Jasmine Sun is a writer covering tech, politics, and culture from San Francisco. She publishes a weekly newsletter on the "anthropology of disruption."
