Why SoftBank’s Massive Bet on OpenAI Drove Its Profit to $16.6 Billion

SoftBank Group’s second-quarter net profit of 2.5 trillion yen (approximately US$16.6 billion) signals more than just a good quarter—it reflects the culmination of a bold pivot into artificial intelligence (AI) led by its substantial investment in OpenAI. The gain is more than double the 1.18 trillion yen reported during the same period last year, underscoring…

Why It’s Still Too Soon to Bet Against the AI Boom, According to State Street

Amid volatility in technology stocks and whispers of rotation toward value sectors, State Street Global Advisors maintains that the artificial intelligence (AI) rally is far from over. The Boston-based asset manager argues that despite intermittent pullbacks, the underlying structure of the AI-driven market remains intact — a function of deep capital expenditure cycles, investor psychology,…

Russia’s Shift to Homegrown Wines: How Sanctions, Tariffs and National Strategy Reshaped the Industry

Russia’s wine market is undergoing a profound transformation. Once brimming with French Burgundies, Italian Barolos and South American imports, supermarket shelves now showcase mainly Russian-made vintages. The shift, punctuated by Western sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine in early 2022, is not simply a consumer re-orientation—it embodies changing trade flows, protectionist impulses and a broader…

France’s Crackdown on Shein: How a Scandal Over Banned Listings Sparked a National Showdown

France has launched formal proceedings to suspend operations of Chinese fast-fashion giant Shein after authorities discovered the online marketplace was selling prohibited items — including childlike sex dolls and banned weapons. The timing was striking: the government’s move came on the same day Shein opened its first physical store in Paris, turning what was meant…

How Lower Drug Prices Are Opening Weight-Loss Treatments to Many More Americans

The recent agreement by major drug manufacturers to reduce monthly costs of weight-loss medications is poised to unlock access for millions of Americans who had previously been priced out. Lower out-of-pocket costs, expanded insurance eligibility — particularly for older adults — and increased availability of oral options are reshaping the treatment landscape. But while the…

Mounjaro’s Meteoric Rise: How Eli Lilly’s Weight-Loss Drug Became India’s Top-Selling Therapy by Value

Eli Lilly’s injectable weight-loss drug Mounjaro has rapidly overtaken established pharmaceuticals in India’s competitive market, emerging as the country’s top-selling drug by value in October 2025. The milestone reflects a seismic shift in healthcare priorities among Indian consumers and doctors, where chronic diseases and body-weight management have become central medical and social concerns. Mounjaro’s rise…

China’s Factory Sector Slips Further as October PMI Hits Six-Month Low Amid External and Domestic Headwinds

China’s manufacturing sector sank deeper in October, with the official Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) falling to 49.0—its weakest reading in six months and below economists’ expectations. The downturn continues a contractionary streak that now stretches into its seventh consecutive month, highlighting how external shocks, weak domestic demand and structural challenges are converging to test the…