The Capital Times

Fighting has resumed between the Iran-backed Houthi movement in Yemen and Saudi Arabia, according to The New York Times, which examines the reasons the conflict has flared up again. The Houthis, who control much of northern Yemen including the capital Sanaa, have fought a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in a war that has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Nvidia has authorized an additional $150 billion for its stock buyback program, which the New York Times describes as the largest ever. The move underscores the chipmaker's enormous cash generation from the artificial intelligence boom and its decision to return capital to shareholders. Market watchers are weighing what the unprecedented repurchase signals about Nvidia's confidence in future earnings and its valuation.

Ukraine launched drone attacks on Moscow during Russia's presidential election, in which Vladimir Putin was seeking another term. The strikes marked an escalation in long-range attacks on Russian territory, timed deliberately to coincide with the three-day vote. Commentators highlighted the symbolism of hitting the capital as Russians went to the polls, with many seeing it as Kyiv's message that the war continues regardless of the election.

The Financial Times reports that Nvidia is looking to insurers to help spread the financial risk of its massive AI infrastructure build-out. As the chipmaker commits billions to data centres and computing capacity serving the AI boom, insurance could cushion it against potential losses if demand or projects fall short.

New analysis argues that geopolitical risk is now directly shaping how banks lend worldwide. Researchers say lenders increasingly price political tensions into loan terms, affecting cross-border credit, capital flows and which firms and countries can borrow on acceptable conditions. The findings suggest global finance is fragmenting along political lines, with implications for trade, investment and monetary policy.

Russia is confronting a growing budget gap, and analysts at The Moscow Times argue that borrowing will not offer an easy way out. Years of high military spending and falling energy revenues have strained state finances, while Western sanctions limit Moscow's access to foreign capital markets, leaving the government with difficult spending and borrowing choices.

Ankara is drawing attention amid discussion of the global fallout from Ukraine's grain crisis, which analysts say could cost the world economy around 60 billion dollars. Turkey's capital has been a key venue for grain-deal negotiations. Separately, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with Turkish businessman Ahmet Çalık, underlining Ankara's growing economic ties in the region.

Rwanda defeated Sudan 3-0 in an AFCON 2027 qualifier played at Kigali Pele Stadium. The full-time result gives Rwanda a strong result in the qualifying campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Sudan, by contrast, left the Rwandan capital empty-handed after a heavy defeat away from home. Fans and local media are sharing reactions to the scoreline and what it means for both teams' qualification hopes.

Ajaccio is in the spotlight as the Corsican capital is listed among the locations for nationwide demonstrations planned for 29 September, according to the CGT union. The union has published a list of protest venues and times across France, and people in Ajaccio are checking where and when the local gathering will take place.

Kinzey Capital Management is reported to expect the Swiss National Bank to keep interest rates on hold, with attention on the bank's inflation forecasts. No further details about the firm's reasoning, positions or the timing of the decision are available from the report, so the substance of its analysis remains unknown beyond the headline claim.

Michael Weinberg, speaking at CFA Society New York, argued that retail investor money is flowing into private equity at precisely the moment when exits are stalling. With IPOs and sales of portfolio companies sluggish, retail capital is becoming a growing liquidity source for the industry. Weinberg's comments have drawn attention to the timing mismatch: new money is arriving while existing investors struggle to cash out, raising questions about valuation and liquidity risk in private markets.

The New York Times reports on Christa Pike, the only woman on death row in Tennessee, as she waits for her execution after decades spent largely in isolation. The piece examines her case, her upbringing and long confinement on death row, and how her coming execution has renewed debate over capital punishment in the state.

Ukraine is planning to launch a new housing finance platform aimed at unlocking private investment in the country's real estate sector. The initiative is intended to attract capital for housing construction and recovery at a time when large-scale reconstruction needs are pressing. Details on the platform's structure, funding sources and timeline have not yet been made fully clear.

India is grappling with a stiff challenge in attracting and retaining capital flows as countries worldwide compete for investment in artificial intelligence and manufacturing, the Economic Times reports. The report suggests global competition for capital is intensifying, putting pressure on India to secure funding for its industrial and technology ambitions amid shifting international investment patterns.

Venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz shared an anecdote about Adam Neumann negotiating flooring costs during his time running WeWork, recounting how he pushed hard on a seemingly minor expense. The story is drawing attention as a character study of Neumann's famously aggressive negotiating style, reigniting debate about his leadership ahead of his new ventures and ongoing reassessments of the WeWork saga.

Buying sentiment in the Seoul housing market has declined for the first time in four months, according to Maeil Business Newspaper. The report suggests the recent momentum in home purchases in the South Korean capital may be cooling, marking a shift after a sustained period of growing buyer appetite. Analysts and prospective buyers are watching to see whether this signals a broader slowdown in the Seoul property market.

Tesla has lined up $30 billion in credit lines as its capital expenditure roughly doubles, according to a report by Gadget Review. The funding gives the electric car maker extra financial headroom at a time when it is spending heavily on factories, new models and technology, and it is drawing attention from investors watching how the company manages costs.

A refinery worker retired on December 31, but closed on the sale of his house two days earlier. Because the capital gain landed in the same tax year as his final full salary, the added income pushed him into a higher Medicare bracket, raising both his Part B and Part D premiums. The story highlights how retirement timing and one-off gains can trigger the income-related premium surcharge.

Iran staged a military parade in Tehran in which two Shahed drones were paraded through the capital. Crowds lined the streets, cheering and waving national flags as the drones passed. The display, covered by Al Jazeera, underscores Iran's continued emphasis on its domestically produced drone programme as a symbol of national and military pride.

Proximal has raised a $15 million seed funding round and come out of stealth mode. Wilson Sonsini served as legal adviser on the deal. The startup's funding and product details are now public for the first time, drawing attention from the startup and venture capital community.

Noa Argamani has joined Vine Ventures, according to Calcalist, taking on a role focused on helping Israeli startups expand into the United States market. The move links a widely known Israeli figure with an early-stage venture firm at a time when Israel's startup ecosystem is seeking fresh routes to American investors and customers.

London fintech startups can no longer attract venture capital simply by existing, according to reporting carried by The Japan Times. Founders in the UK capital are now expected to demonstrate real commercial success to secure funding, and those who cannot are being forced to change their strategies. The shift marks the end of an era in which a London fintech label alone was enough to dazzle investors.

A short blog note offering brief and admittedly incomplete commentary on art and capitalism is being shared and discussed. The piece, published on Tilley's blog, appears alongside a companion memo on open access, oppression and the societal family unit. Readers appear drawn to its concise, self-acknowledged fragmentary take on how market forces shape artistic production.

Chick-fil-A has identified a site in Colonie, New York, for its next location, according to local business reporting. The move signals the fast-food chain's continued expansion in the Albany-area Capital Region, where demand for its restaurants has been strong. Details on timing and the specific property have not been disclosed.

Travellers are checking whether Bangkok is safe to visit amid flooding that has disrupted flights and airport operations. The latest guidance advises monitoring weather updates, checking with airlines before travelling, and allowing extra time for journeys, as authorities work to manage the disruption across the Thai capital.

Egyptian authorities are weighing plans to turn central Cairo's downtown into an entertainment district, part of a broader push to develop the capital's nightlife economy. The proposal would concentrate bars, restaurants and cultural venues in the historic city centre, though details on timing, funding and which streets or venues would be included have not been announced.

Bridge rounds without a new valuation accounted for 16.6% of all startup capital raised in the second quarter of 2025, up from 11.8% a year earlier, according to data from Carta. At the same time, the share of down rounds fell to 11.4% of new rounds, down from a peak of 22%, suggesting companies are avoiding markdowns while valuations stabilise.

The Saudi Central Bank has increased its stock holdings in JPMorgan Chase & Co., according to a regulatory disclosure reported by MarketBeat. The purchase adds to the bank's position in the largest U.S. lender by assets. Details on the size of the stake or the timing of the transaction were not immediately available, and JPMorgan Chase has not commented.

The Orthodox Church in America has acquired a new residence and chancery for its Metropolitan in Washington, DC. The purchase gives the church a permanent administrative and residential base in the US capital. Details on the property, its cost, and timing were not provided, and the church's announcement was the main source of information on the acquisition.

Police in Thiruvananthapuram have arrested two people for allegedly intruding towards the motorcade of Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan. The incident prompted a security response, with authorities detaining the pair shortly after. Details about the individuals' motives or the circumstances of the intrusion have not yet been made public, and no injuries were reported. The case is drawing attention given the Vice-President's presence in the Kerala capital at the time.