Only 1.4% of the $82 trillion US assets under management went to diverse fund managers in 2021, despite their 16% returns versus 9% industry benchmarks. California Wellness Foundation changed that by committing its $1 billion endowment to diverse, mission-aligned fund managers starting in 2018. This strategic move goes beyond

The global oil market rarely favors single players, yet Russia faces a unique squeeze as its oil revenues dropped almost a third year-over-year in November 2025. The twin forces at play: weakening crude prices and an unexpectedly strong ruble currency. This isn’t just a price story—it's

Millions of UK consumers may have been quietly overcharged by O2, Vodafone, EE, and Three, sparking a £1.1bn class-action lawsuit. This legal battle exposes a systemic weakness in how these major UK phone networks have designed their billing and customer retention systems. But this is not just about money

The Chinese property sector is in a deep downturn, with official sales data increasingly absent. Shanghai’s recent crackdown on doom-mongering content on platforms like RedNote and Bilibili shows that controlling the narrative is now a strategic lever in the market’s recovery efforts. Shanghai's Cyberspace Administration ordered

Shadow AI use is rising fast, putting enterprises at risk with unseen vulnerabilities. SandboxAQ just launched AQtive Guard AI-SPM, a platform that identifies and evaluates hidden AI assets across corporate tech stacks. This move isn’t just about tracking AI — it’s about redefining how organizations control risk by making

Managing autonomous vehicles requires far more than car tech—it demands centralized orchestration to unlock scalable safety. Autolane, a Palo Alto-based startup, raised $7.4 million to develop an “air traffic control” platform for self-driving cars. This investment targets a constraint beyond vehicle autonomy: coordinating complex, real-time road interactions citywide

Cybersecurity budgets in emerging markets lag global averages by 30%. Saudi Arabia is rewriting this norm as COGNNA secures $9.2 million to expand AI-driven defenses worldwide. Founded in 2022 by Ibrahim Alshamrani and Ziyad Alshehri, COGNNA combines scalable AI automation with human oversight through its Agentic SOC platform. But

Securing new International Monetary Fund loans often hinges on budget approvals, but the details reveal much deeper leverage. Ukraine's parliament recently passed its 2026 state budget, a critical step for unlocking fresh IMF funding that supports its ongoing economic resilience amid conflict. This move is less about basic

New York’s subway system rarely serves as a luxury fashion backdrop. Chanel flipped this script by staging its latest Métiers d’Art runway on an authentic platform at the Bowery station in Manhattan. This unconventional location isn’t mere spectacle—it taps into the city’s pulse as a

Europe's inflation has shown surprising stability near the European Central Bank’s (ECB) target, defying predictions of runaway prices seen elsewhere. On December 3, 2025, ECB President Christine Lagarde reaffirmed that inflation will remain close to the 2% goal in the near term, despite risks from tariffs. This

Argentina attempts to re-enter international bond markets after years of financial turbulence and serial defaults. Argentine officials aim to issue new bonds by early 2026, pending favorable market conditions, according to sources close to the discussions. This move isn’t just debt issuance—it's about recalibrating financial leverage

Traditional brokerages serving offshore investors often lag behind with slow, opaque access to U.S. markets. Ostium, a decentralized exchange founded by two Harvard graduates, just raised $20 million in a round led by General Catalyst, Jump Trading’s crypto arm, Coinbase Ventures, and others. This raise isn’t just

Holiday apparel marketing often relies on traditional seasonal discounts and broad advertising budgets costing millions. American Eagle just lifted its shares by leaning into celebrity campaigns this season, aiming to boost demand without triggering price wars. But the real game isn’t celebrity glitz — it’s about leveraging brand amplification

Robotaxis are accelerating across the US, with Uber just launching self-driving cars in Dallas. The fleet uses Hyundai Ioniq 5 EVs powered by Avride's autonomous system, initially staffed with human safety drivers. But this rollout isn’t just about adding robots to ride-hailing—it resets the industry’s

Smartphone makers in India faced a costly mandate requiring them to preload the Sanchar Saathi app, sparking backlash over privacy and user choice. The Indian government has now revoked this requirement, altering the dynamics of pre-installed apps on the country’s rapidly growing mobile base. This move is not just

Remittance costs in Africa far exceed global averages, often biting into recipients’ purchasing power. Ghana just disrupted that pattern with Remit Choice launching a multi-million cedi holiday rewards campaign this December 2025. This isn’t a mere festive giveaway—it’s a bold repositioning that leverages customer incentives as a

Cloud AI infrastructure costs often lock companies into slow, costly hardware upgrades. fal, an AI infrastructure startup, just raised $125 million at a $1.5 billion valuation to reshape this dynamic. This round isn’t simply about funding—it signals a shift toward automated, scalable AI compute platforms that reduce

Seaborne oil flows worldwide took a sharp hit last month, led by deep declines from Russian Black Sea ports and the US Gulf. Russian maritime exports plunged amid geopolitical constraints while US Gulf shipments fell, disrupting global oil logistics in November 2025. This isn’t just a volume issue—it

Investment in emerging markets often faces skepticism over scale and control costs. Daiwa Securities Group Inc., a major Japanese financial player, is acquiring a minority stake in Ambit Wealth Pvt Ltd., one of India’s largest money managers, marking a strategic move in December 2025. This partnership is more than

South Africa's currency volatility often outpaced similar emerging markets, with traders bracing for sudden swings against the US dollar. Today, the gauge measuring expected volatility for the rand clocks in at its lowest since 2000, indicating calm ahead as 2025 ends. This shift isn't luck—it&

Digital transformation costs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region traditionally rely on top-down government mandates and large corporate initiatives. Yet, grassroots Web3 communities across the GCC are now catalyzing genuine adoption through local meetups and hackathons, changing this paradigm. Community-led events in cities like Dubai, Riyadh, and Abu Dhabi

Spotify Wrapped engages 245 million users annually, a figure eclipsing many marketing campaigns. The streaming giant’s yearlong production involves hundreds of designers, data scientists, and marketers working in tightly coordinated systems. This labor-intensive process isn’t just about user nostalgia—it’s about creating a self-reinforcing user acquisition and

Spotify Wrapped has long been a data-driven annual ritual boasting deep personal insights for over 400 million users worldwide. This December 2025, Spotify introduced Wrapped Party, its first multiplayer feature, transforming a solo recap into an interactive social experience. But this isn’t just gamification—it repositions user engagement as

The euro has climbed to its highest point against the dollar since late October, driven not just by spot currency moves but by a surge in options demand. Market positioning and options pricing suggest this rally could sustain beyond typical short-term corrections. But this is not just a currency move—

China is betting on XR to break the global tech chip oligopoly dominated by Apple, Qualcomm, and Meta. GravityXR, a Chinese startup founded by ex-Apple engineer Wang Chaohao, unveiled last week the Jizhi G-X100, the country’s first 5-nanometre all-in-one mixed reality chip. This move signals more than hardware competition—