International News 11 November 2025
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Alphabet to Pay Next Dividend on December 15 Amid Record-Breaking Q3 Performance
Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, announced its next cash dividend of US$0.21 per share, payable on December 15, 2025, to shareholders of record as of December 8. This marks the continuation of its quarterly dividend program, following the previous payment in September. With Alphabet’s stock trading around US$278, the payout represents a 0.30% forward yield and a 7.54% payout ratio, signaling significant room for future increases as profits continue to grow. Although Alphabet is still in the early stages of dividend distribution, the move reflects its growing maturity and alignment with other major tech firms like Apple and Microsoft. In the third quarter of 2025, Alphabet reported record revenue surpassing US$100 billion, up 16% year-on-year, while earnings per diluted share jumped 35% to US$2.87. Growth was broad-based, led by Google Search, YouTube ads, subscriptions, and Google Cloud, which surged 34% to US$15.2 billion on the back of AI-driven expansion. The company’s AI platform Gemini now boasts 300 million paid subscribers and 650 million monthly active users. Despite an 83% increase in capital expenditure to US$23.9 billion, Alphabet maintains robust financial strength with US$73.6 billion in free cash flow and US$98.5 billion in cash reserves, underscoring its ability to sustain shareholder returns while investing in long-term AI infrastructure growth.
South Korean Won Leads Asian Currency Gains as Market Sentiment Improves
The South Korean won strengthened the most among Asian currencies on Monday (Nov 10, 2025), gaining 0.58% to 1,453.10 per U.S. dollar, while other regional currencies moved narrowly. The Indonesian rupiah edged up 0.06% to 16,670, the Malaysian ringgit gained 0.10% to 4.169, and the Thai baht dipped 0.09% to 32.35 per dollar. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen weakened 0.3% to 153.86, and the Singapore dollar slipped 0.12% to 1.302. Offshore yuan remained steady at 7.120. Throughout 2025, the ringgit, baht, and Taiwan dollar have each appreciated more than 5%, while the rupiah and Indian rupee fell over 3%. The won’s rise was supported by optimism over South Korea’s economic growth outlook and improving global sentiment, despite ongoing uncertainty over U.S. interest rates and geopolitical risks. Regional currencies overall traded within a tight range as investors awaited clarity on the Federal Reserve’s next policy steps and the resolution of the prolonged U.S. government shutdown.
U.S. Senate Moves to End 40-Day Government Shutdown with Bipartisan Funding Bill
The U.S. Senate appeared poised on Sunday (Nov 9, 2025) to advance a bill aimed at reopening the federal government after a 40-day shutdown that has disrupted federal services, delayed food assistance, and caused travel chaos nationwide. Lawmakers were expected to vote Sunday night on a short-term funding measure through January 2026, bundled with three full-year spending bills previously approved by the House. At least eight Democratic senators were expected to back the bill, ensuring passage in the Republican-controlled Senate. The compromise, brokered by Senators Maggie Hassan, Jeanne Shaheen, and Angus King, includes restoring federal jobs lost during the shutdown and extending Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funding for one year. In exchange, Republicans agreed to hold a December vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies — a key Democratic demand. The prolonged shutdown has taken a toll across multiple sectors, with air travel disruptions threatening the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday and economists warning of potential negative GDP growth in Q4. President Donald Trump reignited tensions by calling to eliminate ACA subsidies and replace them with direct payments to individuals, labeling the current system a “gift to insurers.” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed Trump’s proposal would not be introduced until after the government reopens. Democrats, led by Senator Adam Schiff, criticized the move as an attempt to weaken the ACA and empower insurers to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. The Senate’s action marks the strongest effort yet to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.