The 2025 Paris Airshow has emerged as a pivotal moment for the global defense industry, where major contractors and disruptive startups showcased a new generation of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) known as "loyal wingmen." These AI-powered combat drones are engineered to operate in tandem with manned fighter aircraft, augmenting capabilities and reducing pilot risk in increasingly contested airspaces.
Trump Media & Technology Group $DJT, the parent company of the conservative-leaning social media platform Truth Social, has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to launch a new cryptocurrency ETF. The proposed fund would invest in both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) — the two most valuable cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. This marks DJT’s second ETF application in under two weeks, signaling a strategic pivot toward financial products amid intensifying competition in the digital asset space.
In a development poised to reshape the Portuguese financial sector, U.S.-based private equity firm Lone Star Funds has reportedly agreed to sell its 75% stake in Novo Banco to France’s Groupe BPCE, one of the largest banking groups in Europe. According to the Portuguese financial news outlet ECO, the transaction would value Novo Banco—Portugal's fourth-largest lender—at approximately €7 billion (≈ $8.14 billion USD).
Meta Platforms Inc. $META, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is reportedly finalizing a massive $14 billion investment in Scale AI, a San Francisco-based artificial intelligence data infrastructure startup. The potential acquisition or strategic stake is not only one of the largest AI-related investments in 2025 but also a personal priority for CEO Mark Zuckerberg, according to sources cited by CNBC.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) announced on Thursday a forecast of unprecedented global investments in clean energy technologies for 2025. Despite prevailing economic uncertainty and escalating geopolitical tensions, total spending on global energy is expected to reach a record $3.3 trillion (approximately €2.89 trillion). This marks a significant shift in the energy sector, emphasizing the accelerating transition from fossil fuels to sustainable alternatives.
Oil prices began Tuesday's Asian trading session with notable gains as geopolitical and environmental factors reignited fears of supply shortages. Brent crude futures climbed by 55 cents, or 0.85%, reaching $65.18 per barrel by 00:00 GMT. U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) followed suit, increasing by 59 cents, or 0.94%, to $63.11 per barrel. These gains extend the momentum from the previous trading day, where both benchmarks posted a nearly 3% rally.
Goldman Sachs $GS forecasts that the oil-producing alliance OPEC+, which includes major exporters such as Saudi Arabia and Russia, will raise its output by 410,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August. The projection, published in the bank's latest research note, follows the group’s decision on Saturday to increase July production by the same volume, signaling a clear intent to regain market share and exert pricing discipline on downstream refiners.
Volvo Cars $VOLCAR-B.ST, the Swedish automaker known for its premium vehicles and ambitious electric vehicle (EV) transition, announced on Monday that it will cut approximately 3,000 white-collar jobs. The move is part of a broader restructuring plan triggered by increasing operational costs, declining global EV demand, and macroeconomic uncertainties in international trade.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s public endorsement of Nippon Steel’s $5401.T proposed $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel Corporation $X has injected fresh momentum into the controversial cross-border deal. Trump's remarks emphasized the potential economic benefits and job creation tied to the transaction, intensifying scrutiny of both its strategic rationale and the long-term implications for industrial policy and U.S.-Japan corporate relations.
Chinese technology giant Xiaomi Corporation $1810.HK announced a substantial commitment to research and development, pledging to invest 200 billion yuan (approximately USD 27.8 billion) over the next five years. This announcement, made by founder and CEO Lei Jun on Thursday during a Beijing event, signals Xiaomi’s intensified focus on advancing core technologies as the company prepares to unveil its first electric sport utility vehicle (SUV) and the new mobile processor Xring01, alongside other cutting-edge products.
Chinese internet giant Baidu Inc. $9888.HK, also traded as BIDU on the NASDAQ, announced better-than-expected revenue for the first quarter of 2025, driven primarily by strong growth in its AI-powered cloud services segment. This surge offset a decline in Baidu’s traditional online advertising business, reflecting a broader shift in the company’s revenue streams amid evolving market dynamics.
Subaru $7270.T of America announced on Monday a price increase on several of its vehicle models, marking the latest move by automakers to pass rising costs onto consumers amid the ongoing tariff environment enforced by the Trump administration. The price adjustment reflects broader industry challenges as tariffs continue to exert upward pressure on manufacturing expenses and supply chains.
