U.S. Dollar Steadies Ahead of Fed Minutes as Markets Eye Policy Divisions 
Democratic Attorneys General Sue Trump Administration Over Proposed Limits on Gender-Affirming Care for Youth 
Federal Reserve Begins Treasury Bill Purchases to Stabilize Reserves and Money Markets 
Gold Prices Ease After Record Highs as Dollar Firms, Broader Bullish Outlook Intact 
Trump Delays Tariff Increases on Furniture and Cabinets for One More Year 
Bolsonaro Undergoes Phrenic Nerve Block Procedure After Surgery-Related Complications 
U.S. Stocks Slip as Gold Rebounds Ahead of Year-End, Markets Eye 2026 Outlook 
Texas App Store Age Verification Law Blocked by Federal Judge in First Amendment Ruling 
Asian Markets End Year on AI Optimism as Precious Metals and Currencies Shine 
U.S. Stock Futures Slip as Year-End Trading Turns Cautious 
European Markets Mixed as Pound Weakens and Major Corporate Deals Emerge 
John Carreyrou Sues Major AI Firms Over Alleged Copyrighted Book Use in AI Training 
DOJ Releases New Epstein Files Detailing Alleged Trump Flights on Private Jet 
South Korea Exports Hit Record High as Global Trade Momentum Builds 
Federal Judge Declines to Immediately Halt Trump’s $300 Million White House Ballroom Project 
Asian Markets Slip as Precious Metals Cool, Geopolitical Tensions Weigh on Sentiment 
Gold Prices Rebound in Europe as Geopolitical Tensions and Fed Outlook Support Bullion 
The Tokyo District Court ordered a Tokyo-based internet mail-order company to pay $208,900 (24 million yen) to a former employee who developed depression after it was subjected to 223 hours of overtime in a single month.
The plaintiff, a man in his 40s who was tasked with shipping and managing merchandise at the firm’s distribution center, also put in about 147 hours overtime in the previous month.
He sought 68 million yen in compensation.
The court, in its Feb. 22 ruling, recognized a causal relationship between his overtime work and the onset of depression, saying that the plaintiff’s workload increased significantly from November 2013 before he developed depression that affected his ability to sleep.
The ruling said the company could have anticipated his workload to become far heavier for the Christmas shopping season.
The court ruled that the firm failed in its duty to prevent the heavier workload from taking a toll on the man’s health.
The plaintiff is still receiving treatment for a sleep disorder.
Takashi Kajiyama, a lawyer representing the plaintiff, said the ruling showed that companies will be held legally liable for failing to take measures to prevent long working hours.
