UPS disclosed Monday that it is investing more than $2 billion across its international, healthcare, and supply chain solutions businesses, revealing the total figure for the first time. The investments began in 2024 and are set to continue through 2028, the company said.
Scott Szwast, UPS vice president of international strategy, framed the spending as an effort to build out capabilities that help customers in specialized sectors navigate increasingly complicated global supply chains. "These investments are really aligned to one of our big strategic areas of focus, which is creating capabilities to enable our customers, particularly in complex industries, to more effectively run their global supply chains," he told CNBC.
Among the initiatives are a new hub in the Philippines slated for this year, a facility in Ontario, Canada, due to open in 2027, and an air hub at Hong Kong International Airport scheduled for 2028. UPS has also opened a technology-enabled logistics center in Taiwan and an Amsterdam facility that integrates freight forwarding, customs brokerage, and cold-chain capabilities under one roof. The Taiwan facility has used automation and robotics to cut total supply chain time by one day, Szwast said. UPS also operates weekly service on the Paris–Hong Kong route and the Shenzhen–Sydney route, each running five days a week.
Szwast said that as global supply chains come under growing strain, companies have moved to spread risk across multiple sourcing and distribution points rather than relying on a single node, even as those same businesses push out new products with unfamiliar logistics demands faster than ever before. "What they find in a lot of cases is that their supply chains look more like their histories than their strategies," he said.
The $2 billion figure encompasses a previously announced $48 million buildout of 27 temperature-controlled facilities across the Americas, Europe, and Asia aimed at handling temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals, including GLP-1 weight loss drugs. UPS said the healthcare initiative is part of its broader effort to grow in higher-margin logistics services.

#chains #facility #Logistics

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has awarded $500m to seven companies developing domestic critical minerals processing, battery recycling and advanced battery-material projects, according to a DoE press release and reporting by Reuters.
The announcement comes as the US administration seeks to expand domestic supply chains for materials used across energy, industrial and defence applications.
The funding, announced on 20 August, is the third round of grants under the DoE's Battery Materials Processing and Battery Manufacturing and Recycling programmes. The department said the selected projects would expand US processing and recycling capacity while reducing reliance on foreign sources.
The awards come as President Donald Trump has called for the US to become the world's "minerals superpower" and reduce its dependence on China for critical materials. Reuters reported that the administration has been using loans, grants and government investments to encourage domestic mining and processing projects.
Audrey Robertson, ****** istant Secretary at the DOE, told Reuters that hundreds of applications had been received for the latest funding round. The selected projects, she said, were those considered "most promising" and offering the highest potential return in areas of the battery supply chain identified as priorities.

#battery #recycling #materials #domestic

Aoris Investment Management, a specialist international equity manager, released its Q2 2026 investor letter for "Aoris International Fund". A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. The fund invests in high-quality, wealth-generating businesses managed by prudent and capable teams, targeting an annual return of 8–12% after fees over a 5–7-year market cycle. During the June quarter, international equity markets, as represented by the MSCI AC World Accumulation Index ex Australia, returned 13.8% in AUD terms. In local currencies, the return 15.1%. The Portfolio's Class A (Unhedged) returned 5.7% after fees, underperforming its benchmark by 8.1%, while the Class C (Hedged) gained 6.7%, 8.4% less than its benchmark. The June quarter continued to reflect an unusual year, marked by significant share price increases among AI infrastructure companies, particularly semiconductor producers and data center suppliers. Economic sectors like banks and commodity producers saw gains, but the firm chose not to invest due to their cyclicality and low growth prospects. Conversely, concerns about enterprise software and data companies, challenged by AI, negatively impacted performance. The letter outlined potential incremental opportunities for portfolio companies through AI. Additionally, reviewing the Fund's top five holdings could help identify its best picks for 2026.
In its Q2 2026 investor letter, Aoris Investment Management highlighted InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG). InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) is a leading hospitality company owns, manages, franchises, and leases hotels globally. On August 21, 2026, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) closed at $159.91 per share, reflecting a market capitalization of $23.55 billion. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) posted a one‑month return of 0.25%, while its shares gained 32.18% over the past 52 weeks.
Aoris Investment Management stated the following regarding InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) in its Q2 2026 investor letter:
"InterContinental Hotels Group PLC (NYSE:IHG) is a brand owner and franchisor of global hotel chains, including Holiday Inn, InterContinental and Crowne Plaza. Hotel owners pay IHG a franchise fee in exchange for access to its brands, loyalty program, and IT systems to help manage their properties, reservations and pricing. IHG franchisees earn better economics than independent hotels, which is why an increasing share of new and existing hotels are choosing to partner with IHG.
IHG's technology systems are a core advantage over smaller chains and independent hotels. AI can widen this gap through improvements in its search functions, booking process, customer service, pricing, marketing, and operational efficiency. For example, IHG is developing AI-powered conversational search to help guests book properties and receive more detailed information about its franchisees' rooms and services.…" (Click here to read the full text)

#inves

Major supermarket chains, including Kroger, Stop & Shop, and The Raley's Companies, are in the middle of a downsizing mode that began in 2025 and will continue for some companies through 2027.
Kroger said it expected to close approximately 60 stores across its portfolio by the end of 2026, according to the company's first-quarter fiscal 2025 earnings call. Giant Ahold Delhaize's Stop & Shop chain confirmed in July that it will close store locations in Basking Ridge and Westfield, N.J., also in 2026
And now Raley's has said that it will close another Northern California store located in Petaluma, Calif., on Jan. 26, 2027, affecting 48 workers' jobs.
The closures are part of Raley's regional downsizing plan that calls for seven store closings in California and Nevada. Raley's said it will offer transfer opportunities to as many affected employees as possible, KSRO radio reported.
The Raley's Companies cited local market conditions and long-term financial sustainability for the downsizing.

#store #shop #major

Texas A&M's 2026 season opener vs. Missouri State on Saturday, Sept. 5, is just two weeks away, and after a dozen preseason practices, third-year coach Mike Elko and his staff, now including first-year OC Holmon Wiggins and DC Lyle Hemphill, should feel pretty confident that the revamped 2026 roster is ready for the new season, especially redshirt quarterback Marcel Reed.
The Aggies' new nine-game SEC schedule, which includes five brutal road matchups vs. LSU, Missouri, Alabama, South Carolina, and Oklahoma, will more than likely determine if Mike Elko can lead his team back to the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive season after losing to eventual national runner-up Miami in the first round.
Texas A&M could enter the Week 8 road battle vs. Alabama in Tuscaloosa at 6-1 or 7-0 based on the Aggies' favorability in earlier matchups, while Marcel Reed, who is entering his second full starting season, holds a slight advantage under center, but on Saturday, Alabama's starting quarterback battle came to a close, as former five-star and redshirt sophomore QB Keelon Russell has reportedly won the job.
On paper, this could be a low-scoring game given both teams' deep secondaries, which can prevent explosive passing plays, and the pressure on Reed and Russell to make efficient throws and move the chains, and based on Alabama's early schedule vs. East Carolina, Kentucky, Florida State, South Carolina, Mississippi State, Georgia, and Tennessee, will Keelon Russell still be the starter by then?
My guess? Yes, based on his high NFL upside and ability to make plays with his legs, providing Coach Kalen DeBoer with the most complete quarterback he's had since arriving in Tuscaloosa.

#missouri

Our ******* ysts just identified a stock with the potential to be the next Nvidia. Tell us how you invest and we'll show you why it's our #1 pick. Tap here.
Revenue growth of 87.6% in the first half of 2026 was primarily driven by a 153.9% increase in U.S. customer demand, which now represents over 80% of total revenue.
Gross margin expansion to 32.5% reflects improved production efficiency and a strategic shift toward higher average selling price (ASP) sales in the U.S. market.
Management attributes the sequential revenue decline in Q2 to lower solar cell volumes, which were only partially offset by increased solar module sales and OEM service revenue.
The company views the recent Section 232 determination as a structural positive that validates its strategy of using U.S.-produced inputs and allied nation supply chains.

#Solar #management #section #analysts

The SEC just formally proposed Regulation Crypto ******* ets, a new offering framework that would let crypto projects raise up to $5M through a one-time startup exemption or up to $75M annually through a tiered fundraising exemption.
The exemptions: The startup lane allows $5M over four years with no accredited-investor requirement or per-investor cap. The fundraising lane allows $75M every 12 months, split into a $20M Tier 1 and $75M Tier 2, with Tier 2 issuers needing audited financials and ongoing reporting, and non-accredited buyers capped at 10% of income or net worth. Tokens sold under either lane wouldn't carry a rule-based resale lockup.
The safe harbor: Once a team finishes, or permanently drops, the managerial work it promised, its token can shed "investment contract" status for good—a formalized version of the concept the SEC's March interpretive guidance first floated. The rule would also preempt state-level securities registration for these offerings and certain secondary trades.
What's missing: The SEC's separate "innovation exemption," expected to let firms tokenize actual securities like stocks and trade them onchain, wasn't part of Tuesday's release. The agency explicitly said it isn't touching registered-offering rules for "digital securities" this round, so tokenized equities on public blockchains remain unaddressed.
Why the delay: CoinDesk reported the tokenization piece had been expected to land alongside the fundraising rule before the SEC abruptly pulled an Aug. 14 meeting. The holdup has been tied to White House concerns about muddying live CLARITY Act talks, internal questions over the SEC's own statutory authority, and Wall Street's SIFMA objecting to using exemptive relief for market-structure changes.

#lane #rule #Crypto

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The wars in Iran and Ukraine are turning into a money-making opportunity for Indian and U.S. oil refiners as traditional global supply chains get jammed up. These refiners are running near capacity and subbing for Russian and Gulf oil in Asia, Europe and Latin America. In exchange, they're minting billions of dollars in export income.
Washington and New Delhi might have their own squabbles over oil, but that's not stopping either from sitting on an export windfall worth billions of dollars, mostly from selling heating oil and diesel.
U.S. refiners exported diesel and heating oil at a record 1.9 million barrels per day in the week ending August 7. Also, jet fuel exports of 443,000 bpd were just below May's record of 455,000 bpd.
Brazil, historically a top buyer of Russian diesel, imported 196,000 bpd of U.S. diesel last month, more than double June's volume, after Moscow extended its fuel-export ban to January 2027, according to Kpler vessel-tracking data.

#refiners #dollars #record #fuel

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The wars in Iran and Ukraine are turning into a money-making opportunity for Indian and U.S. oil refiners as traditional global supply chains get jammed up. These refiners are running near capacity and subbing for Russian and Gulf oil in Asia, Europe and Latin America. In exchange, they're minting billions of dollars in export income.
Washington and New Delhi might have their own squabbles over oil, but that's not stopping either from sitting on an export windfall worth billions of dollars, mostly from selling heating oil and diesel.
U.S. refiners exported diesel and heating oil at a record 1.9 million barrels per day in the week ending August 7. Also, jet fuel exports of 443,000 bpd were just below May's record of 455,000 bpd.
Brazil, historically a top buyer of Russian diesel, imported 196,000 bpd of U.S. diesel last month, more than double June's volume, after Moscow extended its fuel-export ban to January 2027, according to Kpler vessel-tracking data.

#Diesel #refiners #export #russian

Most of the world's top cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), have struggled over the past year as inflation, fears of interest rate hikes, and other macro challenges drove investors toward more conservative investments. Bitcoin, which set a record high of over $126,000 last October, now trades at around $64,000. Ethereum, which reached an all-time high of nearly $5,000 last August, has dropped below $1,900.
That "crypto winter" will likely persist until those headwinds dissipate. However, there's one sector of the crypto market that continues to grow as conventional tokens fizzle out. According to CoinShares, deposits of real-world ******* ets (RWAs) on blockchains more than tripled year over year to $7.4 billion in the second quarter of 2026. Let's see why that niche market is expanding, and how investors can profit from its future growth.
Missed Nvidia in 2009? This Rare Signal Is Flashing Again. In 2009, a "Double Down" signal flashed for a little-known chipmaker called Nvidia. For the first time in years, that same "Total Conviction" signal is flashing for a company 1/100th the size of Nvidia. Continue »
Tokenized RWAs are physical or traditional financial ******* ets -- including stocks, bonds, commodities, real estate, and even fine art -- that are digitized into tokens on a blockchain. That tokenization makes those ******* ets easier to transfer and cuts out the middlemen.
Tokenized stocks and bonds can be traded 24/7 at faster speeds and lower fees than traditional brokerages and banks. Tokenized commodities, such as gold and silver, can be traded easily, with instant liquidity and no physical storage issues. Tokenized real estate and art can be sold much faster, with ownership easily split into fractional shares among multiple buyers. Stablecoins, which are pegged to stable fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar or the euro, can be traded faster and more cheaply while earning higher yields than their conventional counterparts.

#tokenized #year

While the market looks for AI plays, billionaire Dan Loeb bought a new stake in a food service distributor.
Recent filings show billionaire Loeb's Third Point bought Performance Food Group (NYSE:PFGC) in the second quarter. The stake is worth about $75.5 million, and it's a new position for the fund.
Performance Food Group is one of the largest food distributors in North America. It buys food, drinks, and supplies from thousands of vendors and sends them to places that sell food away from home. It runs three businesses. Foodservice is the biggest. It supplies restaurants, from independent diners to chains like Jersey Mike's. This is where most of the profit comes from.
Convenience supplies convenience stores and gas stations with snacks, candy, drinks, and cigarettes. Specialty supplies vending machines, movie theaters, concession stands, and offices.
The stock recently fell after the company posted earnings. Revenue and earnings missed estimates. Net income jumped 23%, gross profit grew 8.3%, and adjusted profit grew 7.4%.

#group #billionaire #drinks

De'Zhaun Stribling's first NFL action doubled as a reality check he set for himself, even after he had a great debut.
The San Francisco 49ers' second-round pick led the team in the preseason opener against the ******* ans, catching seven of eight targets for 63 yards. The signature moment came on third-and-5 in the second quarter, when Stribling twisted through contact for a 32-yard gain to move the chains.
Despite the success, Stribling wasn't ready to call it a finished product. Speaking with Yahoo Sports' Jori Epstein after the game, the rookie receiver pointed to a few areas he can shore up as he continues his NFL journey.
"A lot of things I can clean up," Stribling said. "A lot of things I can be better at [with my] route running and then details of the offense."
He also flagged his get-off as an emphasis point, saying he wants to better time the snap count so he can accelerate into his routes faster and pressure defensive backs with straight-line speed rather than relying on route craft alone.

#route #despite

FLA's new guidance offers a "strategic approach and concrete recommendations" informed by labour rights standards and frameworks, including its work with the Responsible Purchasing Practices Working Group. It is based on FLA's learnings from evaluating over 50 companies' responsible purchasing and production practices over the last decade; insights gleaned from conversations with buyers; and more.
"Purchasing decisions directly influence working conditions in supply chains," said FLA vice president of research & development in social compliance Tiffany Rogers. "Cost negotiations, payment terms, and lead times are just a few of the elements companies must consider in light of their impact on workers. Our latest guidance is designed to help businesses develop clear processes for working responsibly with suppliers that avoid creating risks for both workers and business operations."
Just Style coverage yesterday on the back of data from ESG ratings agency EcoVadis, revealed most UK retailers currently have no mechanism in place for workers to safely report labour rights abuse. EcoVadis ***** sed nearly 3,000 suppliers to UK retailers, 242 of which were based in countries classified as high risk for labour and human rights abuses.
While 72% of these suppliers had a written human rights policy in place, 56% had no formal channel available for workers to safely report labour-rights issues such as unpaid wages, harassment or forced labour conditions.
"FLA to issue new guidance on responsible purchasing practices" was originally created and published by Just Style, a GlobalData owned brand.

#labour #responsible

There were a lot of positive developments for the Denver Broncos in their 27-7 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in the first game of the preseason. The defense forced some turnovers, Jarrett Stidham played well starting at quarterback, and Offensive Coordinator Davis Webb dialed up a lot of creative plays.
However, one of the best aspects was how well their rushing attack performed. The Broncos rushed for 162 yards against the Falcons in their preseason opener. As a group, they averaged a respectable 4.2 yards per carry and moved the chains with nine first downs on the ground. By doing so, they controlled the pace of the game and the clock, earning themselves a decisive victory in the process.
Head Coach Sean Payton was pleased with the stable of back's efforts. Last season, the Broncos struggled in the latter portion of the season when J.K. Dobbins went down with injury. In order to keep their ground game strong for the upcoming season, Denver drafted Washington standout Jonah Coleman with one of their fourth-round picks in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In his NFL debut, Coleman had just four carries. He racked up 24 yards on the ground, including an impressive 13-yard scamper that showcased his vision, contact balance, and ability to break tackles and create extra yards after contact. All key reasons why the Broncos believe highly in his future with the franchise. When asked why Coleman's carry total and playing time in the preseason opener was limited, Payton had a short and sweet answer.
"I didn't need to see additional evidence of what I've been seeing for three weeks," Payton stated.

#payton

It's safe to say Paul Hollywood grew up on staple English foods like sticky toffee pudding, Scotch eggs, jam roly-poly, and beans on toast. And while Americans may think barbecue-less beans with a light tomato-based sauce piled on toast sounds just plain weird, many Brits are similarly perplexed by the idea of a peanut ****** er and jelly sandwich. Hollywood is one such Brit who used to think PB&J seemed like an unusual pairing — until he tried it, that is.
The renowned baker and television personality told Mashed that, while he had been curious about peanut ****** er and jelly sandwiches, having heard about them in movies, he didn't grow up with them and remained skeptical. "I was always like, 'What are you crazy? That doesn't go together,'" he said. He'd had both spreads separately before but only had them together when someone on "The Great British Bake Off" made him a peanut ****** er and jelly sandwich. Hollywood didn't fall in love with the sandwich but dubbed it "all right." At least he can now see the appeal of the beloved sweet-and-savory combination. Perhaps he'd be more fond of Ina Garten's elevated PB&J.
Read more: 10 Nostalgic Sandwich Chains That Are Slowly Being Forgotten
Matthew Ashmore/Shutterstock
So, peanut ****** er and jelly didn't wow Paul Hollywood. But one sandwich the "Bake Off" judge does love is an egg and cress, another traditional British favorite often served with afternoon tea. The simple sando features creamy egg salad and peppery watercress nestled between slices of soft bread. But there's one thing he thinks his favorite sandwich should have in common with the average American first-grader's PB&J. In a short video shared on Facebook, Hollywood declared that he prefers to upgrade tea sandwiches by cutting the crusts of his bread off. The celebrity chef also mentioned that he enjoys a ham and cheese sandwich on a crusty baguette as well as a steak sandwich with rocket (aka arugula) on focaccia bread.

#sandwich #jelly #paul

New England Patriots QB Tommy DeVito Getty
The New England Patriots quarterbacks Getty
Not many backup quarterbacks have a well-known nickname. Then again, Tommy DeVito of the New England Patriots isn't your standard issue backup quarterback.
While with the New York Giants, DeVito briefly became a sensation. While playing in the NFL, he became known for living with his parents and being incredibly proud of his Italian heritage. It was also around that time when he earned the nickname Tommy Cutlets, for his love of the chicken cutlets his mom would make for him.
Now with the Patriots, head coach Mike Vrabel decided it was time for a new nickname. DeVito is now "Two Chains."

#getty

The Dallas Cowboys' first preseason game is in the books, and while they may have won the game, 17-7. it's more important to see how individual players performed. These are the moments when players can start separating themselves from the competition, either to make the roster or move up the depth chart. It also gives the Cowboys coaching staff and front office a chance to evaluate the roster and identify areas that still need to be addressed.
Overall, it was a decent showing from the Cowboys, but they still have work to do to get the penalties under control. Dallas had players on both sides of the football who performed above expectations, while others fell short. In a time when every snap counts, here are two studs who were able to generate positive plays and help themselves, and two duds who'll need to step up their game moving forward.
The Cowboys knew exactly what they were getting when they signed Trigg after the draft and had a plan for him. In his first preseason game, Trigg showed the rest of the league why he's such a difficult matchup after catching four of his five targets for 30 yards. What's even more impressive was how he performed during the two-minute drill Dallas ran.
Trigg was able to move the chains in a high-pressure situation and did so with ease. The biggest area of concern for Trigg entering the league was his blocking, but in his first preseason game, he looked better than expected. He was able to hold his ground and sustain blocks when called upon. That's a good sign for Trigg because if he can continue to develop as a blocker, he could become a real weapon for Dallas this season and beyond.
It's never a good sign for a cornerback to constantly hear his number called out by referees, but that was Carson's reality on Saturday.

#game #first

By Michael Martina
WASHINGTON, Aug 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. is preparing to tell dozens of countries they must pick sides in the artificial intelligence race with China, warning they will be excluded from a U.S.-led AI coalition if they also sign up for Beijing's competing framework, ‌according to a U.S. official and an internal draft reviewed by Reuters.
Washington last year launched the Pax Silica initiative aimed at securing supply chains ‌for AI models, semiconductors and critical minerals, amid a fierce technology rivalry with Beijing.
About two dozen countries have joined, including Kazakhstan, a key potential source of critical minerals that has also joined China's coalition, as well as close U.S. allies such as ****** an, Australia and South Korea.
The draft letter, prepared by the State Department, is addressed to the 35 signatories of a U.S. "AI Opportunity Statement" signed in June, which includes members of the non-binding Pax Silica framework and other countries that have expressed a desire to align cooperation on AI with Washington.

#coalition #critical #minerals

The Seattle Seahawks are set to kick off their preseason opener at 5 p.m. PST against the Dallas Cowboys at Lumen Field. Here are four bold predictions surrounding main narratives in this game, which will give us the first taste of game action as defending champions.
First, I believe six to seven healthy running backs- George Holani, Jadarian Price, Emanuel Wilson, Velus Jones Jr., Jacardia Wright, TJ Harden, and Justin Jones- to get carries. We'll see them all side-by-side and make a fair evaluation on the eye test, then discuss after the game in takeaways and Studs & Duds. Maybe we'll even get a feel for the baseline RB pecking order at the current moment.
Second, don't sleep on Dallas' depth along both the offensive and defensive line. They've bolstered their formidable new interior duo of Kenny Clark and Quinnen Williams with a plethora of edge pieces, from Otito Ogbonnia and Rashan Gary to Donovan Ezeraiku and Dee Winters, plus backups like Jaishawn Barham and rookie LT Overton out of Alabama that should play a lot tonight. This will be a much better measuring stick for the Seahawks' developmental pieces than the Raiders were last year. That could mean Mason Richman, Bryce Cabeldue and the rest of the backup offensive line need to step up and prove their level in the second half.
Ironically, Brian Schottenheimer returns to Seattle with low stakes, but his offense still struggles to move the chains more than it should. Expect him to try to go deep and to the boundary and get his young skill players involved, but with the Seahawks positively violent mentality which was featured on the most recent Hard Knocks, screens and out routes will be no match- regardless of the level of depth the game calls for.
Finally, Brian Fleury's offense will reveal its foundation to the world, or at least, whoever's watching this game. I don't know how much influence he'll bring from Kyle Shanahan or the San Francisco 49ers offense, or if it'll be productive. A first-time offensive play caller is as good an opportunity for surprise as any, so I expect this to be the talking point of the night when all is said and done. Follow us here during the game for breakdowns of exactly what Fleury and Mike Macdonald are cooking up, and check back postgame for takeaways, Studs & Duds, and all your other Seahawks needs!

#offensive #duds

Ty Simpson is on the board with his first (unofficial) touchdown pass in the NFL. The Los Angeles Rams rookie threw a 9-yard screen to running back Dean Connors in the fourth quarter, putting the Rams up 13-9 on the Chiefs after the two teams traded field goals for the first 45 minutes of the game.
It was the first career touchdown pass for Simpson, who completed 15 of his first 17 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Connors did most of the work on this play, slipping two defenders on his way to the end zone on a nicely designed screen pass by the Rams.
Simpson has looked comfortable all afternoon, operating the offense well and keeping the chains moving. He didn't push the ball down the field but he did what was asked of him.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Watch Rams rookie Ty Simpson's first touchdown pass in the NFL

#screen

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As Anthropic preps for its initial public offering, there's a math puzzle not even its ultrafrontier models can solve: What's the right price?
Not just the price of its eventual IPO (though that's certainly top of mind these days), but also the price of using its suite of high-powered artificial intelligence tools. On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that Anthropic is in talks to pay $6 billion for startup Decart, which makes software that improves chip efficiency, reducing the cost of training and running AI. It's a big sign that it's reading the room on cheaper open-source models.
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READ ALSO: Growth at Fast Food Joints Like Wendy's Looks Soggy Next to Casual-Dining Chains and Ackman's Pershing Touts Value Investing Amid Bid to Stir Demand for Funds

#anthropic

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Back to Pershing Square one? It's been a busy year for Bill Ackman. In addition to listing his alternative ****** et manager Pershing Square and its new stock-picking fund Pershing Square USA, he abandoned a $1.5 billion position in Universal Music after the company said no to a $65 billion takeover.
On Thursday, he revealed one of the biggest shakeups at those funds in years, writing that Pershing took on six new holdings in the second quarter: Netflix, Mastercard and Visa, eye care firm Alcon, exchange operator Intercontinental, and financial data provider S&P Global. You can expect to hear a lot about it.
Sign up for The Daily Upside at no cost for premium ****** ysis on all your favorite stocks.
READ ALSO: Anthropic's $6 Billion Deal Talks With Decart Show Focus on Cost Efficiency and Growth at Fast Food Joints Like Wendy's Looks Soggy Next to Casual-Dining Chains

#cost

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There's only one place you can sit in a booth surrounded by Egyptian columns, European-style frescos, and fiery blown-glass light fixtures that resemble the Eye of Sauron and scarf down a slice of "Reese's Peanut ***** er Chocolate Cake Cheesecake." That's Cheesecake Factory of course, which, along with other kitsch dine-in chains, is having a moment as diners ditch fast food for sit-down experiences they can't have at home (or so one hopes).
Chains including Cheesecake Factory, BJ's, IHOP and Chili's have seen sales and foot traffic climb alongside their shares, while fast-food companies like Wendy's are struggling to keep sales warm.
Sign up for The Daily Upside at no cost for premium ***** ysis on all your favorite stocks.
READ ALSO: Anthropic's $6 Billion Deal Talks With Decart Show Focus on Cost Efficiency and Ackman's Pershing Touts Value Investing Amid Bid to Stir Demand for Funds

#fast

The Cheesecake Factory, along with a group of sit-down restaurant stocks including Texas Roadhouse and BJ's Restaurants, have seen a median gain of about 62% over the past three months, according to recent data from Yahoo Finance. The news outlet also reported that the 62-point gap was "wider than anything seen from 2016 through 2025," and comes as stocks from popular fast-casual chains like Chipotle, Wingstop, and Shake Shack have, in comparison, stayed put.
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#stocks #seen #cheesecake #chipotle

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a new interview said he's seen "boxes and boxes" of McDonald's food while traveling on Air Force One with President Trump, who he said eats fast food because he's worried about food poisoning.
"When you get on his airplane, it's just boxes and boxes of McDonald's," he said during an appearance on the "Net Positive" podcast.
One of the hosts, John Crist, asked Kennedy if he ever tried to correct Trump's diet or if it conflicted with the secretary's agenda.
"I'm not like a scold," Kennedy responded. "He eats really good food most of the time, but when he's traveling, he likes to eat food from national chains because he's scared of getting food poisoning."
"When he's at Mar-a-Lago or the White House, that's the best food; it's all fresh produce, and a lot of it is locally sourced. So he is eating good food most of the time," he added.

#Food #boxes #good #time

Ja Morant flexes hard with $250K iced-out chandelier set on his birthday originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Ja Morant's final year with the Memphis Grizzlies was underwhelming by his standards. In 20 appearances during the 2025-26 season, he averaged 19.5 points and 8.1 ***** ists. Plus, his shooting percentage hit a career-low 41.0 percent from the field and 23.5 percent from three-point range.
Due to a mix of suspensions and severe injuries over his final years in Memphis, the Grizzlies traded him to the Portland Trail Blazers for Jerami Grant and Kris Murray. Morant, who spent seven seasons with the franchise, has since called the move an opportunity to start fresh and shed his "bad guy" image.
He turned 27 this Monday and celebrated his birthday by flashing an iced-out chandelier grill set in an Instagram video shared via plug_geo. It reportedly cost $250,000 and features GIA-certified diamonds. In the close-up video, he could also be seen smiling while showing off layered chains and stud earrings.
However, fans on social media shared mixed feelings about Morant's luxury mouthpiece.

#chandelier #birthday

Borderlands Mexico is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week in Borderlands Mexico: USMCA gives Mexico an edge as global trade barriers rise; **** eX plans $16.8B semiconductor factory in Texas; and Taiwan-based AI firm to invest $450M in Ciudad Juárez.
Mexico is experiencing a new export boom that could strengthen its position at the center of North American supply chains — but whether that boom translates into a broader nearshoring investment wave and faster economic growth remains an open question.
The latest surge is being powered increasingly by technology rather than the automotive industry that has traditionally dominated Mexican manufacturing.
BBVA México economists said the country's exports of machinery covered under Chapter 84 of the Harmonized System — a category increasingly driven by computers and data-processing equipment — have doubled in just a few years to roughly $200 billion on a trailing 12-month basis.
Founded in 1932, BBVA México is the largest financial institution and bank in the country.

#boom #increasingly #xico #usmca

Throughout 2026, tariffs, inflation, and shifting geopolitical dynamics have added additional pressure to medtech supply chains, with the diabetes technology supply chain being no exception.
For diabetes technology, these factors are reshaping where devices are made, how they're priced, and ultimately, which products reach patients. On 18 August, GlobalData Healthcare ***** ysts Dr Andrew Thompson, director of therapy research and ***** ysis, medical devices, and Charlie Whelan, senior director of consulting, medical devices, will host a webinar ***** sing the impact these challenges.
During the "Lifting the Lid on the Diabetes Tech Supply Chain" webinar, Thompson and Whelan will draw on revenue and volume data across the diabetes device market to show how macroeconomic forces translate into real commercial and patient-level outcomes.
Topics under ***** sment will include how globalised manufacturing across the diabetes device market creates exposure to tariff and inflation risk, where revenue and volume flows sit today, and the relationship between gate pricing and macroeconomics, with Thompson and Whelan ***** sing what these factors mean for manufacturers, payers, and patients as geopolitical uncertainty continues.
Keen to learn more about how market challenges are impacting pricing and production dynamics in the diabetes technology supply chain?

#diabetes #supply #technology

The move, outlined in a meeting held last week between Hirdaramani Group director Sid Hirdaramani and General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) CEO Dr. Mohamed Awad, is part of Egypt's continued push to attract foreign direct investment, particularly in export-oriented manufacturing.
According to GAFI, Hirdaramani Group intends to establish Egypt as a regional centre for manufacturing and exports to global markets, leveraging what the company described as Egypt's "competitive advantages".
The group, which operates more than 30 factories across several countries and employs over 55,000 staff, reported annual revenues of approximately $1.2bn with monthly garment production ranging from 12 million to 18.4 million units exported internationally.
During the meeting, Dr. Awad reiterated GAFI's support for facilitating Hirdaramani's expansion, highlighting the importance of attracting international manufacturers as part of Egypt's strategy to grow its export base and deepen local industrial capabilities.
He stated that such investments help integrate Egypt further into global supply chains and support the development of local supplier industries capable of meeting high international standards.

#part

Standard Chartered has initiated coverage of Chainlink with a price target of $200 by the end of 2030, implying a roughly 25-fold gain from around $8 today and outperformance of both Bitcoin and Ethereum over the period.
Geoff Kendrick, the bank's global head of digital ***** ets research, laid out staged targets in a note published Monday: $13 by the end of this year, then $41, $82 and $133 before reaching $200. The same note pencils in Bitcoin at $500,000 and Ethereum at $40,000 by end-2030.
Kendrick expects the value of tokenized ***** ets on-chain to climb roughly 12-fold to $4 trillion by end-2028 from about $340 billion now, and ***** ets deployed in DeFi to grow 37-fold to $2.7 trillion by 2030. Because Chainlink charges for delivering data and moving ***** ets between chains, the bank estimates its fees should rise about 25 times over that period, and ***** umes the token price follows fees.
Chainlink's incumbency is the other half of the argument. The note puts its total value secured above $110 billion, covering roughly 70% of oracle-dependent value in DeFi globally and more than 80% on Ethereum. Aave V3 alone accounts for 44% of that secured value.
Kendrick named Swift, DTCC, Euroclear, JP Morgan, Mastercard, UBS, Fidelity and S&P Global among institutions using Chainlink services, and expects off-chain customers to become a growing share of fees. Tokenized funds and bonds need net ***** et values, rates and reserve attestations, making them more data-hungry than crypto-native ***** ets.

#kendrick #fees