Europe’s AI Brain Gain: How Trump and Ukraine Supercharge Defence Tech Hiring

A shifting transatlantic landscape and the brutal realities of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are driving Europe’s defence industry into a high-stakes talent war for artificial-intelligence experts. Where once top AI engineers looked to Silicon Valley, today many are arriving—or returning—to work on Europe’s cutting-edge battlefield systems. Industry leaders, start-up founders and recruits point to U.S.…

Why Starbucks’ Growth Engine Stalled: Inside the Challenges Slowing the Coffee Giant

Starbucks’ ambitious turnaround has hit turbulence, as the global coffee chain grappled with a fourth consecutive quarter of same-store sales declines and shrinking profit margins. Despite bold promises from CEO Brian Niccol and a high-profile “Back to Starbucks” initiative, the company’s performance fell short of investor expectations. A confluence of factors—from inflated prices and menu…

China’s Factory Activity Declines Sharply Amid Tariffs and Weak Demand

In April 2025, China’s manufacturing sector experienced its most significant contraction in 16 months, highlighting the mounting challenges facing the world’s second-largest economy. The official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) fell to 49.0, down from 50.5 in March, signaling a contraction in factory activity. This downturn is attributed to a combination of factors, including aggressive U.S.…

Volvo Cars Unveils SEK 18 Billion Cost-Cut Plan and Abandons 2025-26 Guidance as Q1 Profit Halves

Volvo Cars today announced an ambitious SEK 18 billion (approximately $1.87 billion) “cost and cash action plan” and simultaneously scrapped its financial outlook for both 2025 and 2026, after reporting a sharp collapse in first‐quarter profit amid weakening sales, mounting price pressure and rising trade‐policy headwinds. The Chinese‐owned Swedish automaker posted an operating profit of…

Emerging Economies Top AI Trust Charts, Outpacing Advanced Nations

Emerging economies are leading the charge when it comes to trusting artificial intelligence (AI), according to a landmark global survey that highlights a widening trust gap between developing and mature markets. The study, which canvassed more than 48,000 respondents across 47 countries, found that 60 percent of individuals in emerging markets are willing to place…

Global Economic Slowdown Drags Oil Prices Lower as Demand Forecasts Tumble

Crude oil prices slid sharply on Tuesday, weighed down by a broad-based reassessment of global demand amid mounting economic headwinds. Investors and analysts cut their growth projections after fresh indicators pointed to slowing activity across major economies—from Europe’s manufacturing contraction to faltering consumer spending in China—casting a pall over the outlook for oil consumption in…

Unexpected Euro Rally Deepens Europe Inc’s Tariff Woes

The euro has rocketed nearly 10% against the dollar since early March, compounding the pain for Europe’s export-heavy companies already reeling from sweeping U.S. tariffs. Normally, currencies weaken in response to punitive duties, softening the blow by making exports cheaper. Instead, a confluence of factors—ranging from market jitters over U.S. trade policy to a sudden…

China’s Huawei to test AI chip aiming to rival Nvidia: Report

Huawei’s newest Ascend 910D AI chip, designed to challenge Nvidia’s leading H100 processor, is entering its testing phase as Huawei seeks to close the performance gap and capitalize on U.S. export restrictions that have hampered its American rival. The Shenzhen-based company has begun distributing sample units of the Ascend 910D to select domestic technology partners,…