01
Tech Giants Prep Record IPOs Amid AI Bubble Fears
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Leading U.S. tech companies—SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic—are planning to go public in 2026, marking a potential historic event for stock exchanges. The combined valuation of these listings could exceed all 2025 IPOs combined, creating a colossal liquidity pool for investors and banks. For SpaceX, this involves a secondary share sale valuing the company at around $800 billion, placing it alongside the world's largest corporations. OpenAI is discussing fundraising at a $500 billion valuation, despite lacking legal advisors at the moment. However, this frenzy comes amidst growing market skepticism: recent sell-offs in Oracle and Broadcom signal fear of a "bursting AI bubble."
02
Iran Hawks High-Tech Arms for Crypto to Evade Sanctions
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Iran's state export entity, Mindex, has begun openly offering modern weaponry, including ballistic missiles and drones, in exchange for cryptocurrency. This move represents a direct attempt by Tehran to bypass the Western financial blockade and create an alternative settlement channel for its military-industrial complex. Using digital assets allows Iran to trade with other sanctioned regimes while minimizing the risk of transaction tracking via SWIFT. The inventory includes Emad missiles and Shahed drones, actively used by pro-Iranian groups in the Middle East.
03
Swiss Resort Tragedy Hits Luxury Tourism Sector
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A fire at the Le Constellation bar in the Crans-Montana resort, claiming nearly 40 lives, exposes systemic safety issues in the European premium leisure sector. The use of pyrotechnics in an enclosed space with flammable insulation points to gross negligence despite the resort's high status. For the insurance market, this event will trigger risk reassessments and premium hikes for hospitality venues in the Alps. Canton Valais authorities have ruled out terrorism, focusing on negligence.
04
Europe Underestimated Threat of Drug Gangs and Port Corruption
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The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) has admitted that the EU missed the moment drug trafficking turned into a systemic national security threat. A sharp rise in cocaine imports from Latin America is accompanied by unprecedented levels of violence and corruption in key logistics hubs like Antwerp and Rotterdam. Criminal groups have shifted to "crime-as-a-service" tactics, hiring hitmen via social media and bribing officials, police, and judges. For business, this means rising logistics security costs and cargo delay risks.
05
Conglomerates Shed Assets Under Investor Pressure
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Asset sales by major corporations reached $1 trillion in 2025, a three-year high. Giants like Unilever and Kraft Heinz are forced to simplify business structures and shed non-core divisions under pressure from activist investors. This trend marks the end of the diversified conglomerate era in favor of more focused and agile business models. For M&A markets, this creates a stream of opportunities attractive to private equity firms holding significant dry powder.