The Research Grants Council (RGC) has allocated a total of HK$478 million to Hong Kong universities for research initiatives under the Areas of Excellence (AoE) and Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS), with City University, HKU, and Polytechnic University receiving the most funding.
Officials from the French Prime Minister's office met banking executives in Paris to explore state-guaranteed loans for political parties, including the National Rally, to finance presidential campaigns and prevent foreign interference, as strict donation caps make bank loans crucial.
Shanghai, home to the world's largest container port, has released a five-year plan to enhance its shipping services sector, leveraging AI and automation. The strategy aims to expand value-added industries like financing, insurance, and legal services, intensifying competition with hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and London.
President Lee Jae Myung's apartment sale in Bundang for 2.9 billion won sparked controversy as ownership transferred before full payment, with Lee providing seller financing. This unusual method bypassed strict mortgage lending rules, highlighting a gap between regulations and market realities.
Beijing-based AI start-up Moonshot AI is set to close its current funding round at a US$30 billion valuation and plans a subsequent round as early as August, targeting up to US$50 billion before a potential listing, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Chinese capital has continued to support Filipino private businesses, providing nearly $9 billion in loans over two decades, including a $3.9 billion syndicated loan to Dito Telecommunity in 2023, despite geopolitical friction.
Ant International, an affiliate of Chinese fintech giant Ant Group, has raised approximately US$1.2 billion in a Series A funding round. The Singapore-based company, backed by Ant Group and Alibaba, plans to use the capital to accelerate global expansion and drive innovation in merchant payments and financial services.
Homeplus Co. filed an appeal against a Seoul court's decision to terminate its corporate rehabilitation proceedings after securing financing from Meritz Financial Group, guaranteed by owner MBK Partners, aiming to revive its restructuring process.
New Eurostat data shows corporate debt exceeding 85% of GDP in seven EU states, including Luxembourg (251.1%), Denmark (115.4%), and Sweden (108.6%). While many high figures are due to international financial hubs, France and Sweden's real estate sector show genuine macroeconomic vulnerabilities.
Cantor Equity Partners I and BSTR have halted Adam Back's 30,021-BTC treasury deal, citing the need to revise terms to reflect current market conditions. The companies are renegotiating financing, postponing a shareholder meeting and returning redeemed shares.
Labour's bill to reform UK politics returns to Parliament amid scrutiny of Reform party funding. Experts and MPs urge tougher rules on donations, including permanent crypto bans and lower spending limits, to counter the influence of wealthy donors and tech billionaires.
AI infrastructure providers like CoreWeave are securing massive funding, including a recent $3.1 billion loan, due to predictable revenue and physical collateral, contrasting with Bitcoin's decline despite global liquidity growth. Investors favor AI's tangible assets and multiyear contracts over Bitcoin's volatile, non-yielding nature.
The EU is reportedly set to allow Ukraine to purchase weapons from the UK using a €60 billion defense procurement fund for 2026-2027. This move requires UK government participation in financing such purchases.
Shapoorji Pallonji Group has secured approximately Rs 21,500 crore in its initial debt refinancing tranche, attracting both domestic and global institutional investors. The funds will be used to replace higher-cost debt with longer-term financing, with a portion of the refinancing linked to potential milestones for Tata Sons' listing.
TeraWulf is reportedly seeking $3.5 billion in debt financing led by Morgan Stanley to expand its Kentucky data center campus, leased by AI firm Anthropic. This move highlights growing funding opportunities for data center operators driven by AI demand.
The Philippines attracted only US$9 billion in FDI last year, ranking sixth in Southeast Asia amid a regional capital boom. Analysts cite a corruption scandal and systemic issues for the gap, with Singapore and Indonesia leading inflows.
Multilateral lenders offer cheaper financing to developing countries, but it comes with reform conditions. Critics argue this extends lender influence over domestic policy, while supporters say it ensures funds are used effectively and reduces debt risks. Kenya's recent $750m World Bank package highlights this debate.
Hong Kong's RMB Business Facility, a yuan financing tool for banks run by the HKMA, has been significantly expanded with a 150% quota increase to 500 billion yuan. Launched Friday, it aims to boost yuan usage in global business by offering cheaper financing for trade, capital expenditure, and working capital loans.
Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos, is seeking its first outside investment of $10 billion at a $130 billion pre-money valuation to accelerate growth and compete with SpaceX. CEO Dave Limp stated the fundraising reflects investor confidence in the company's long-term plans.
AI chip startup SambaNova secured $1 billion in financing, valuing the company at $11 billion. The funding, led by General Atlantic, aims to challenge Nvidia's dominance in AI semiconductors, particularly for inference chips.
EasyJet's board is criticized for accepting a £5.5bn takeover offer from Castlelake at 690p per share, seen as an undervaluation despite the premium. Analysts argue the airline has strong assets and a clear path to higher profitability, suggesting the board gave up too easily.
EasyJet's board is criticized for accepting a £5.5bn takeover bid from Castlelake at 690p per share, seen as a sign of timidity. Despite recent challenges, the airline has a clear path to increased profitability and strong assets, suggesting a higher valuation is achievable.
NATO leaders convened in Ankara to address defense spending and support for Ukraine. Key initiatives include the Multilateral Defence Mechanism (MDM) and the proposed Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSR Bank) to boost investment and procurement.
Tencent Holdings reduced its stake in Kuaishou Technology to 9.37% from 15.68%, causing Kuaishou's shares to drop over 6%. The divestment follows Tencent's lead in a $3 billion financing round for Kuaishou's AI unit, Kling AI.
