Global News Digest

Business

The Economist

RedBird, a small firm doing big media deals

RedBird Capital Partners has expanded its portfolio to include assets in the Hollywood film industry and the Italian football club AC Milan.

The Economist

Forget affordability. Europe has an availability crisis

Europe faces a housing crisis driven by scarcity, not just cost. Restrictive regulations stifle supply, creating a severe shortage of available homes.

The Economist

Why fewer Americans are giving than before

The decline of philanthropy is not just about Donald Trump

The Economist

The five biggest market developments of 2025

**Title: The Five Most Significant Market Shifts of 2025** **Reflecting on a Turbulent Year for Investors**

The Economist

How to interpret the pain at the edge of America’s labour market

The article analyzes U.S. labor market periphery data, noting historical links to economic weakness but suggesting current conditions may deviate from past trends.

The Economist

Watch who you’re calling childless

American women’s lifetime fertility rates have stabilized at levels comparable to two decades ago, challenging assumptions about declining birth rates.

The Economist

Meet the American investors rushing into Congo

US investors are rushing into the DRC despite risks like conflict, graft, and Chinese competition.

The Economist

This Christmas, raise a glass to concentrated market returns

Celebrate concentrated market returns this Christmas. Many firms now struggle to maintain their past glory, highlighting the power of market concentration.

The Economist

Where America’s most prominent short-sellers are placing their bets

This article profiles three leading US short-sellers, exploring their current market bets and investment strategies as prominent bear market experts.

The Economist

Crypto’s real threat to banks

Crypto is displacing Wall Street’s favored status among conservative Americans, posing a genuine threat to traditional banking.

The Economist

Germany has a lawyer problem

Relentless administrative regulations hinder reformers in Germany, trapping those attempting to drive change.

The Economist

What a stiff drink says about China’s economy

China’s baijiu industry faces intense internal competition, reflecting broader pressures within the nation’s economic landscape.

The Economist

America’s bond market is quiet—almost too quiet

Scott Bessent’s shrewd strategy has left America’s bond market unusually quiet, raising suspicions about the underlying stability and potential hidden risks in the current financial landscape.

The Economist

Wall Street is drooling over bank mergers

Wall Street eagerly anticipates bank mergers as the historically fragmented global banking sector prepares for significant consolidation and transformation.

The Economist

Asia’s inexpensive AI stocks should worry American investors

Asian AI stocks offer low costs but pose risks for US investors. Tech mania in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan differs significantly, warranting caution.

The Economist

Which economy did best in 2025?

The article introduces the annual economic rankings for 2025, highlighting which economies performed best. It serves as a return to this yearly assessment of global financial success.

The Economist

AI misinformation may have paradoxical consequences

Like side-blotched lizards, AI misinformation may backfire paradoxically. This dynamic suggests that efforts to combat false information could inadvertently reinforce it.

The Economist

Can golden toilets fix China’s economy?

The article satirically questions if "golden toilets" can fix China's economy, noting the Communist Party believes it holds the key to recovery.

The Economist

Bitcoin has plunged. Strategy Inc is an early victim

Bitcoin’s plunge has made Strategy Inc. an early casualty. The firm holds a 3% share of the global supply.

The Economist

American sanctions are putting Russia under pressure

US sanctions are increasingly pressuring Russia, though its tankers will eventually identify alternative pathways to mitigate this impact.