August 2026
All columns and Brief analyses.
10 results
Technology groups surge capital and research spending to defend market share
Alibaba Group reported a 75 per cent rise in quarterly capital spending alongside a 75 per cent drop in net income. Concurrently, NetEase increased its research and development expenditure despite a stronger gaming quarter.
The United States debt passes 40 trillion as the Treasury expands bond buybacks
The federal debt crossed the 40 trillion threshold five months after reaching its previous trillion mark. Concurrently, the department doubled its long-dated bond buybacks to improve market liquidity.
Trump announces economic campaign against Iran as UAE halts trade transactions
Trump announced sweeping economic measures against Iran, while the UAE halted all trade following missile strikes near its waters and NATO warned it was prepared to counter threats against European bases.
Trump scales back South Korea drills and signals Kim summit
US President Donald Trump ordered joint military exercises with South Korea cut in half, and confirmed he plans a new in-person summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un before the end of the year.
Ukraine faces interceptor shortage as drone incidents spill into NATO airspace
President Volodymyr Zelensky blamed a shortage of air defence missiles after deadly overnight strikes on Kyiv, while NATO jets scrambled as a drone crashed inside neighboring Romania.
Unitree's IPO relies on state data sales, while Generalist AI trains robots from short clips
Robot maker Unitree reached a massive valuation through state-backed data sales. Meanwhile, robotics startup Generalist AI unveiled a model that lets robots perform physical tasks after watching a 3- to 12-second demonstration.
US-Canada deal averts tariffs as Switzerland and China scrap duties
Canada and the US reached a trade agreement that averts 50 per cent tariffs, though the lower aluminium duties hit Norsk Hydro. Elsewhere, Switzerland and China concluded an updated deal eliminating most tariffs.
Victoria vaccinates wild little penguins, a melanoma vaccine meets both endpoints and synapse loss in schizophrenia runs heavier on the left side
Australian wildlife teams have begun vaccinating wild little penguins against H5N1, while a personalised mRNA vaccine met its endpoints in resected melanoma, and a brain imaging study tracked synapse loss in schizophrenia.
Washington readies unprecedented Iran sanctions and redesignates Hezbollah
The US Treasury will announce "the toughest sanctions in history" against Iran and targeted networks moving cash to Hezbollah, as Tehran rejected the economic threats as failed policies.
Washington tests allied loyalty while targeting the court
The United States sanctioned the International Criminal Court president, abruptly scaled back joint military drills with South Korea, and distributed a Pentagon questionnaire testing the political loyalty of its NATO allies.