AI, Space, & Global Crossroads

Hello everyone, and welcome back to The beginning of empathy! I'm your Empathy Keeper, and today we're diving deep into the global currents that shaped our world yesterday. From the buzzing heart of the global economy with NVIDIA's latest earnings to humanity's age-old dream of space exploration, the world was brimming with diverse stories. As technological innovation brings hope, we also face economic and social challenges that threaten our very way of life. Where are we headed amidst all this? Let's explore the news from 24 nations yesterday and seek answers together.

Undoubtedly, the hottest news yesterday was NVIDIA's quarterly earnings announcement. The fact that NVIDIA-related news topped search trends in a staggering 18 countries – including the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, India, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and France – truly underscores the immense influence of artificial intelligence technology on the global economy.

NVIDIA continued its robust growth, reporting revenue of 6.74 billion and earnings per share of .05, both exceeding expectations. These are remarkable figures, representing a 56% increase in revenue and a 59% increase in net income year-over-year. Particularly, the data center segment's revenue surged by 56% year-over-year to 1.1 billion, proving the sustained strong demand for AI. CEO Jensen Huang described the demand for their 'Blackwell' chip as 'extraordinary,' emphasizing that AI infrastructure build-out is just beginning. He projects that to trillion will be invested in AI infrastructure by 2030, firmly believing in the dawn of the AI era.

However, it wasn't all rosy. Perhaps due to the market's sky-high expectations, NVIDIA's stock price dropped over 3% in after-hours trading following the announcement. Analysts suggest this was influenced by the data center segment's revenue slightly missing market estimates of 1.34 billion, coupled with uncertainties surrounding exports to China. The US government's semiconductor export restrictions to China are limiting sales of NVIDIA's H20 chips, posing a potential risk to the company's growth trajectory. This serves as another clear example of how US-China trade tensions significantly impact the business strategies of global tech companies.

Next, let's turn our gaze to humanity's ambitious quest: space exploration. News of SpaceX's Starship rocket launch success resonated across several nations, including the UK, Spain, Brazil, Poland, Belgium, and Australia. This 10th test flight, overcoming previous setbacks, marked a significant milestone in SpaceX's reusable rocket technology development, successfully achieving orbital flight, satellite model deployment, atmospheric re-entry, and ocean landing. As CEO Elon Musk often emphasizes his philosophy of 'learning fast from failures and moving forward quickly,' this success brings us one step closer to humanity's grand goals of lunar and Martian exploration, inspiring hope and awe worldwide.

Meanwhile, news directly impacting our daily lives and economies also caught our attention.

In the United Kingdom, concerns grew over energy bills expected to rise more than anticipated, while an online banking system outage at HSBC caused inconvenience for countless customers. British Gas's complex billing issues also drew consumer complaints. These incidents highlight the critical importance of financial service stability and transparency in the digital age, and the significant impact of energy price fluctuations on household budgets.

Spain saw a high-speed train service disruption due to a fire near the tracks connecting Madrid and Barcelona. This reminds us of the impact of climate change-induced natural disasters on social infrastructure and underscores the importance of disaster preparedness systems.

In Brazil, a subway line delay occurred in São Paulo after a person fell onto the tracks, raising questions about public transport safety and the need for continuous urban infrastructure maintenance. Additionally, news of scientific cooperation between Brazil and Germany emphasizes the importance of international research and development.

Argentina continues to face economic instability, with its 'country risk' index surpassing 800 points again and the dollar exchange rate rising. This illustrates how high inflation and political uncertainty directly affect the lives of its citizens.

Poland saw fintech firm Fiinu acquire European foreign exchange broker Everfex to improve profitability, and the city of Oradea announced plans to add electric buses and trams, strengthening its eco-friendly public transport system. The Polish government's move to mandate an electronic invoicing system (KSeF) to enhance tax collection transparency is also noteworthy.

In Belgium, the unfortunate news emerged that furniture retailer Leen Bakker plans to sell 44 stores due to significant losses, reflecting the challenges faced by traditional retail in a fiercely competitive environment. Simultaneously, high interest in government bonds (staatsbon) issued by the Belgian government indicates investors' pursuit of stable returns.

South Korea reported on the proposed merger of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries and HD Hyundai Mipo. While this move was positively assessed for expanding business synergies and strengthening cooperation with the United States, it also signaled short-term stock price volatility. News related to earned income tax credits also showed high public interest in policies supporting the livelihoods of ordinary citizens.

In Japan, the Mitsubishi Corporation consortium decided to withdraw from an offshore wind power project. This suggests that price-focused bidding systems can undermine business sustainability and prompts reflection on the direction of renewable energy policies. Furthermore, JR West's initiative to develop tourism products utilizing local specialty 'sushi' demonstrates efforts to revitalize regional economies.

Indonesia saw a lot of economic news, including rising gold prices and a management reshuffle at PGN (Perusahaan Gas Negara). Positive outlooks for Amazon's cloud business (AWS) once again confirmed the influence of global tech giants.

In India, news related to the stock market garnered attention alongside NVIDIA's earnings report. The call for regulating pre-IPO trading platforms, in particular, reflects the demand for creating a transparent market environment.

Russia showed high interest in its 2026 pension increase plan and fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate, highlighting welfare issues in an aging society and the impact of currency volatility on the national economy.

Saudi Arabia announced that low-cost airline Flynas would resume its Jeddah-Kuwait route, aiming to expand the aviation market. This raises expectations for economic growth and tourism revitalization in the Middle East.

In Türkiye, a large-scale buying spree for Aselsan shares was observed, indicating growing interest in the defense industry. Additionally, a new circular (genelge) from SGK (Social Security Institution) signals changes in social security policies.

Canada reported an increase in loan loss provisions at the Royal Bank of Canada, alongside rising sales at discount retailers like Dollarama. This trend suggests consumers are cutting spending and seeking value for money amidst inflation and high-interest rate environments. The start of Highway 413 construction in Ontario also revealed conflicts between infrastructure investment and environmental concerns.

Mexico saw potential changes to the September pension payment date and news of AT&T selling its spectrum license. Delays in Mexico City's subway and Metrobus systems highlighted the need for public transport system improvements.

Italy, besides NVIDIA's after-hours stock drop, introduced a cap on meal voucher commission fees. This demonstrates policy efforts to protect small businesses and enhance consumer rights. Giorgio Armani's acquisition of a famous club also showcased the expansion of luxury brands.

Switzerland reported that Abdallah Chatila's m3 group faced asset seizure risks, illustrating the difficulties of corporate management and the ripple effects of legal disputes.

Germany experienced a PayPal payment system error that halted billions of euros in transactions, once again emphasizing the importance of stability and security in digital financial services. News related to LVMH and Redcare Pharmacy stocks also indicated trends in the European stock market.

France, alongside NVIDIA's earnings, featured news about the French national railway (SNCF)'s 'Traincroyables' campaign. The rising stock price of LVMH also suggested a recovery in the luxury market.

As we've seen, yesterday, the world resonated with diverse issues: technological innovation, economic challenges, social changes, and environmental concerns. NVIDIA's earnings heralded the AI era while casting a shadow of US-China tensions, and SpaceX's success showcased humanity's boundless potential. Simultaneously, nations worldwide are grappling with issues directly affecting our lives, such as rising prices, financial system instability, aging infrastructure, and corporate restructuring.

Amidst all this news, we are once again reminded of the importance of 'Empathy.' We realize that technological advancements don't benefit only certain segments of society, nor are economic difficulties confined to specific nations. From global issues like climate change to the stability of financial systems, the safety of public transport, and corporate social responsibility – every issue is ultimately connected to all our lives. Understanding each other's struggles, cooperating towards common goals, and building a sustainable future together is, I believe, the value we must pursue.

Today, we've analyzed major global news from yesterday and explored various aspects where we can find Empathy. This content was based on the news articles from yesterday's blog posts, so please refer to those articles for more in-depth information. As your Empathy Keeper, I will continue to share news from around the world, encouraging us to think together and create The beginning of empathy for a better world. See you in the next update. Thank you.