Uber expressed curiosity in Expedia

Right now’s agenda: Gaza meals scarcity; Meta will get rebuked; Africa and AI; Trump’s crypto embrace; and the astronaut wears Prada

Good morning. We start with an unique story on Uber, which explored a doable bid for Expedia, the practically $20bn US journey reserving web site.

What occurred: The ride-hailing firm approached advisers in latest months after the thought of an Expedia acquisition was broached by a 3rd celebration to look at whether or not such a deal could be doable and the way it may very well be structured, based on three individuals acquainted with the method. 

Why it issues: A cope with Expedia would make it by far Uber’s largest acquisition because it seems to diversify additional and discover new avenues for development. Lately, Uber has expanded from its ride-hailing roots into practice and flight bookings, meals supply, company logistics and promoting because it seeks to remodel itself right into a “super app”.

Uber chief Dara Khosrowshahi informed the Monetary Occasions this week: “Anywhere you want to go in your city and anything that you want to get, we want to empower you to do so.” Including Expedia and its reserving know-how would turbocharge these ambitions. Learn the total report.

Right here’s what else I’m conserving tabs on immediately:

• Excessive-level conferences: Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte hosts defence ministers for the primary time since taking on his function. The European Council’s two-day summit begins with Ukraine and Center East wars on the agenda.

• Financial information: The EU has September client inflation figures. IMF managing director Kristalina Georgieva speaks on the worldwide financial outlook forward of annual IMF and World Financial institution conferences in Washington subsequent week.

• Central banks: The European Central Financial institution and Turkey resolve on rates of interest.

• Outcomes: ABB, Blackstone, Centamin, Mondi, Netflix, Nokia, Publicis Groupe and Schindler report.

5 extra prime tales

1. The World Meals Programme will run out of provides for a whole bunch of 1000’s of individuals in north Gaza in per week and a half if Israel doesn’t instantly permit a pointy enhance in assist deliveries, its director within the Palestinian territories has warned. Israel has prevented the UN from offering any assist to the north for 2 weeks, based on the pinnacle of the UN company for Palestinian refugees.

2. Meta has been criticised for calling its synthetic intelligence fashions “open-source” by the group that has spearheaded open-source software program for the previous 25 years. The social media group is “confusing” customers and “polluting” the time period through the use of it to explain the Llama AI mannequin, which stops wanting full openness, stated Open Supply Initiative head Stefano Maffulli. Learn the total interview.

3. Many unbranded toys made exterior Europe however offered throughout the EU by on-line retailers together with Temu and Amazon are harmful for kids, an business survey reveals. Toy Industries of Europe stated immediately that 79 per cent of the toys it examined didn’t meet EU security requirements. Right here’s why toys with choking hazards and chemical substances handle to get by.

4. A brand new digital property enterprise promoted by Donald Trump and his three sons is being shunned by a lot of the crypto business as executives worry the venture will undermine efforts to rebuild belief with customers after years of high-profile collapses and frauds. Learn extra on World Liberty Monetary, the crypto enterprise the Trump household is embracing.

5. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer yesterday joined forces with chancellor Rachel Reeves to face down a cupboard revolt over plans for “grim” curbs to public spending subsequent yr. Reeves has confronted resistance from a lot of ministers over her plan to rein in public spending in 2025-26, with some cupboard colleagues writing letters to Starmer to complain concerning the Treasury’s method.

• Capital good points tax: Reeves is more likely to goal her anticipated enhance in UK CGT on the sale of shares slightly than second properties, former Treasury officers stated.

The Large Learn

Synthetic intelligence is being marshalled in a number of fields to alleviate issues in a few of the world’s poorest international locations — in Zambia to assist enhance medical diagnostics, in Kenya to allow farmers to determine crop illness and in Ethiopia to tailor training supplies to pupils’ wants. However some worry the technological rush will deepen a digital divide.

We’re additionally studying . . . 

Chart of the day

Federal filings present Kamala Harris raised $500mn greater than Donald Trump within the third quarter because the candidates head into the ultimate stretch of the US presidential marketing campaign. The info, launched late on Tuesday, offers the general public with a greater sense of the campaigns’ steadiness sheets. Listed below are the 4 key takeaways.

Take a break from the information

Prada and the US start-up Axiom House unveiled yesterday the spacesuits that may take astronauts to the Moon on Nasa’s upcoming Artemis III mission. The 200kg-plus extravehicular mobility unit spacesuit comes with a sizing scheme that’s anticipated to accommodate a variety of physique shapes. Whereas the Italian vogue group is understood for its experimental nature, the spacesuit endeavour is taking it to the subsequent stage.

Extra contributions from Benjamin Wilhelm and Gordon Smith