Daily News Update

With Europe now at Trump’s table [2025-08-23] (bloomberg, ft), economic negotiations pivot on tariff pressures first felt across industries [2025-08-01] (reuters) after the EU weighed policy responses earlier in the year [2025-02-10] (reuters, reuters, reuters, ft), leading Brussels to threaten car duties [2025-05-08] (cnbc, nyt, bloomberg, ft) and highlighting stalled deal talks just weeks before the current summit [2025-07-04] (ft, reuters, ft, bloomberg, bloomberg).

Taiwan has faced an energy crunch since its final nuclear plant closure in mid-May [2025-05-15] (nikkei, bloomberg), with experts warning this exit has left the power grid vulnerable [2025-05-17] (bloomberg, nikkei). The government sought LNG cargoes to plug the gap after reactor shutdowns [2025-05-19] (bloomberg, nikkei), and industry analysts cautioned that reliance on gas was rising as a result of the nuclear phase-out [2025-01-06] (bloomberg). Nevertheless, the August 23 referendum to restart the plant failed to meet the approval threshold, potentially deepening supply challenges [2025-08-23] (nikkei).

Despite declaring a “total victory” in his New York fraud trial [2025-08-23] (bloomberg), Mr. Trump’s legal team is poised to file another appeal. He previously kicked off an appeal of the hush-money verdict on Jan. 29, 2025 [2025-01-29] (nyt, bloomberg), endured a failed immunity-based effort to toss that conviction on Dec. 17, 2024 [2024-12-17] (nyt, reuters, ft, cnbc, nyt), and lost a bid to overturn the same verdict on Jan. 3, 2025 [2025-01-03] (bloomberg). Most recently, he secured an appeal win over a freeze on foreign aid payments on Aug. 13, 2025 [2025-08-13] (reuters, bloomberg).

SMBC entered discussions to purchase a stake in Yes Bank in early May 2025, as first reported on 2025-05-06 (reuters, bloomberg), and shortly after agreed to acquire a $1 billion, 13.2% holding from SBI on 2025-05-09 (reuters, bloomberg) [2025-05-06 (reuters, bloomberg); 2025-05-09] (reuters, bloomberg). It has now won RBI approval to expand its holding to 24.99% [2025-08-23] (reuters).

After acquiring Costa Coffee from Whitbread for £3.9 billion in early September 2018 [2018-09-02] (ft, ft, wsj, nyt) and finalizing the £3.9 billion/$5.1 billion deal [2018-09-01] (ft, ft, wsj, nyt), Coca-Cola announced plans to accelerate the brand’s global expansion [2019-07-23] (ft). Now, as Sky News reports Coca-Cola is exploring the sale of Costa Coffee [2025-08-23] (reuters, reuters), the company appears to be revisiting its long-term commitment to the coffee chain.

The NBA’s secret data strategy for player evaluation [2025-08-23] (bloomberg) emerges amid a broader arms race in sports analytics. Basketball has joined rugby and football in a ‘big bet’ on data-driven insights that mirror the NFL’s previously guarded analytics playbook [2024-09-28] (ft) [2024-08-16] (wsj). However, the league must navigate challenges of data reliability, as statisticians warn of ‘dud data’ risk [2025-05-18] (ft), while investors insist that robust datasets are essential for strategic growth [2024-09-18] (ft).

Rebecca Watson’s new story “Look away” was released on 2025-08-23 (ft), establishing its title and core premise from the outset [2025-08-23] (ft). By matching the context announcement verbatim, the launch underscores a focused narrative identity centered on themes of perception and denial [2025-08-23] (ft).

Recent policy moves targeting solar overcapacity, including government calls to curb output [2025-08-19] (reuters, reuters, reuters) and an official crackdown [2025-08-19] (reuters, reuters, reuters), have weighed on new installations, prompting industry bodies to double down on restraint [2025-08-22] (bloomberg, bloomberg). Pricing reforms announced earlier in August further drag growth into H2 [2025-08-13] (reuters), setting the stage for the latest slowdown in solar additions [2025-08-23] (bloomberg).

Chinese restaurant and delivery platforms have engaged in deep discounting to court value-conscious diners [2024-12-07] (nikkei). Yum China saw its low-price approach gain traction as consumers tightened budgets [2024-02-07] (nikkei). Food delivery rivals suffered squeezed margins from aggressive discounts [2025-07-16] (nikkei, ft), prompting Meituan to warn of 'irrational' pricing competition [2025-05-27] (nikkei, bloomberg). The trend culminates in reports of free meals in the latest price war [2025-08-23] (nikkei).

Over the past year, Fed Governor Musalem has consistently emphasized caution, noting it was too soon to decide on a September rate cut [2025-08-14] (bloomberg, bloomberg) and warning against easing monetary policy prematurely to avoid risks to inflation and employment goals [2024-10-07 (marketwatch, bloomberg); 2025-08-08] (reuters). In his latest remarks, he reiterated that more data is needed before determining the appropriateness of a cut next month [2025-08-22] (reuters).

After multiple internal assessments questioned the extent of damage from the strike on Iran’s nuclear sites, the disbanded agency had contributed to a re-evaluation of the impact [2025-07-02] (nyt, bloomberg, bloomberg, bloomberg, bloomberg). Hegseth’s public rebuke of the media over these doubts underscored his pushback against dissenting views [2025-06-26] (nyt, bloomberg). The agency’s analyses formed part of a broader historical scrutiny of U.S. strikes on Iran dating back to earlier conflicts [2025-07-10] (nyt). His removal of the leading official crystallizes this clash over Iran strike assessments [2025-08-22] (bloomberg, nyt).

After stepping into the spotlight at Jackson Hole in 2024 [2024-08-17] (bloomberg, reuters, bloomberg) and with transcripts previewing his 2025 remarks [2025-08-20] (ft, ft), Powell faced a high-stakes moment on the eve of the symposium [2025-08-21] (ft, reuters). Now, Powell takes the stage in a unique moment for the Fed [2025-08-22] (bloomberg).

Trump’s announcement that furniture tariffs are on the horizon builds on his simultaneous probe into furniture imports [2025-08-22] (cnbc, reuters). This move aligns with his pattern of expanding protectionist measures seen with lumber tariffs earlier this year [2025-02-20] (reuters). Despite uncertainty in his rollout timeline [2025-08-03] (ft), his broader tariff policy remains unwavering [2025-01-06] (marketwatch, ft, ft, marketwatch, bloomberg).

Despite indications that Nelson Tanure may withdraw from the acquisition [2025-08-11] (reuters), his fund’s bid remains alive following Novonor’s confirmation of his controlling stake offer in May [2025-05-24] (reuters) and Tanure’s active courtship of banks to finance the deal [2025-06-10] (reuters), underscoring the persistence of negotiations even after exclusivity lapsed in the latest round [2025-08-22] (reuters).

Since cutting 1,100 corporate jobs [2025-02-24] (nyt, reuters, cnbc, ft, wsj), Starbucks saw profits slump under rising turnaround costs [2025-04-29] (ft, nyt, ft, marketwatch) and plunge further as expenses mounted [2025-07-29] (ft), prompting it to throttle US coffee plant operations to a five-day schedule to curb costs [2025-08-22] (reuters, bloomberg).

Powell's remarks at Jackson Hole have historically avoided provoking market shocks, as he sidestepped aggressive signals in 2024 [2024-08-23] (bloomberg, ft). He confronted a major policy crossroads just days before his address, indicating a preference for incremental adjustments [2024-08-21] (reuters, bloomberg, ft, marketwatch, marketwatch). Insights from last year's symposium reinforced his measured communication style [2024-08-23] (bloomberg, ft). His latest signal—good for just one rate cut—continues this pattern of cautious guidance [2025-08-22] (bloomberg).

US businesses’ equipment financing surged by 13% in July 2024 [2024-08-22] (reuters, bloomberg), and had even grown 4% in August 2022 [2022-09-23] (reuters), but borrowing levels dipped in April 2025 [2025-05-21] (reuters, reuters, nyt, caixin, reuters), foreshadowing the fall reported in July 2025 [2025-08-22] (reuters).

As explored in “The Bank of England Has Rarely Been This Split Over Inflation” [2025-08-09] (bloomberg, bloomberg, ft, reuters, ft) and its accompanying transcript “A divided Bank of England” [2025-08-08] (bloomberg, ft, ft, ft, ft), longstanding agreement among rate-setters is eroding, mirrored by dissent within the Federal Open Market Committee (“The FOMC and the luxury of dissent” [2025-07-31] (ft)). “The twilight of the central banking elite” [2025-08-22] (ft) captures how deepening internal rifts are signaling an end to the era of unified monetary policy consensus.

Senator Miguel Uribe was shot at a Bogota campaign event on June 8, 2025 [2025-06-08] (reuters, nyt, bloomberg) and died of his wounds on August 11, 2025 [2025-08-11] (ft, ft). His father’s decision to run for the presidency on August 22, 2025 [2025-08-22] (bloomberg) is widely seen as fulfilling his son’s political mission.

PensionBee’s promise lies in its ability to scale its digital pension platform efficiently, as early analysis highlighted its potential for operating leverage [2024-09-07] (ft). Chairman Mark Wood’s remarks on pension insurers underscore growing sector fundamentals that favor PensionBee’s model [2024-09-23] (ft, ft). Historical data on user retention shows a durable client base that strengthens its growth outlook [2021-02-16] (ft), making it a compelling stockpicker target in the latest feature [2025-08-22] (ft).

The latest delay in the Chinese embassy ruling [2025-08-22] (ft, reuters) follows a pattern of tit-for-tat measures between London and Beijing. Since London weighed removing CGN from nuclear power projects [2021-07-26] (ft), Beijing has retaliated by banning the BBC’s state network [2021-02-12] (ft, nyt). UK academics now report fear of harassment linked to Beijing’s influence [2025-08-10] (nikkei). Commentators suggest the UK could learn from Australia’s handling of Chinese diplomatic wrath [2021-03-21] (ft).

BNSF and CSX's new coast-to-coast freight link[2025-08-22] (reuters) follows a broader consolidation trend in U.S. rail highlighted by Union Pacific's July 2025 deal to acquire Norfolk Southern[2025-07-29] (nikkei, marketwatch, reuters, nyt, bloomberg) and other major mergers[2025-07-29] (nikkei, marketwatch, reuters, nyt, bloomberg), aiming to streamline transcontinental freight corridors and reshape the national freight landscape.

Julius Krein left Wall Street to build a platform critiquing existing finance paradigms [2025-08-22] (bloomberg), echoing earlier calls for a new discourse on capitalism in “A New Wall Street for the Journal” [2024-06-14] (wsj) and critiques of financial rituals [2025-01-10] (wsj). His journal embraces the rejection of neoliberalism seen in “Notable & Quotable: No More 'Neoliberalism'” [2024-08-23] (wsj) and builds on proposals to democratize private investment like Larry Fink’s pledge [2025-03-31] (bloomberg).

Building on a plan to list its EV arm and privatize the rest [2025-08-22] (reuters), Dongfeng earlier saw its shares surge after hinting at a sweeping restructuring [2025-02-10] (bloomberg), and has sold its 50% stake in the Honda engine joint venture ahead of the privatization [2025-08-18] (bloomberg).

Once defined by plummeting office rents and work-from-home pressures [2024-10-03] (bloomberg), Canary Wharf began its transformation into a mixed-use district with new restaurants [2024-08-16] (bloomberg, bloomberg) and organic public spaces [2025-03-18] (ft). Buoyed by the first rise in office values in three years [2025-08-15] (ft, ft), the estate has now opened its waters for public swimming [2025-08-22] (bloomberg), cementing its shift from corporate park to urban oasis.

Netskope filed for a US IPO on August 22, 2025, highlighting a marked revenue increase [2025-08-22] (reuters, reuters, bloomberg). A parallel filing underscored this revenue surge [2025-08-22] (reuters, reuters, bloomberg). Cyber peer Armis has achieved $300M in annual revenue en route to its IPO [2025-08-04] (bloomberg), and recent earnings beats from Palo Alto Networks have bolstered investor sentiment in cybersecurity [2025-08-19] (marketwatch, marketwatch).

Michael Faulkender was tapped as Deputy Treasury Secretary by President Trump on [2024-12-04] (bloomberg, bloomberg), but will depart after fewer than five months in the role ([2025-08-23] (reuters, reuters)). Treasury Secretary Bessent praised his service in announcing the departure on [2025-08-22] (reuters, reuters). This rapid turnover raises questions about leadership stability at the Treasury.

Ahead of the GST Council meeting on sweeping tax cuts [2025-08-22] (reuters, reuters), Prime Minister Modi vowed to implement October GST rate cuts [2025-08-15] (reuters, reuters), but faces tough negotiations with state officials concerned over revenue shortfalls [2025-08-21] (bloomberg). Meanwhile, the central government asserts it can meet its fiscal deficit targets despite planned cuts [2025-08-17] (reuters, reuters), building on earlier calls to lower rates [2025-03-11] (ft, bloomberg).

Following Space42's fundraising plans to expand its African mapping project [2025-08-22] (bloomberg, bloomberg), competition in satellite services has intensified with Musk's Starlink negotiating with South Africa [2024-09-13] (bloomberg). The growing interest in African space ventures parallels moves by other startups aiming for lunar and orbital achievements [2025-02-28] (bloomberg). Space42 seeks to leverage this momentum to secure funding and position itself as a continental leader.