Uber expressed interest in Expedia

As we speak’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 attainable bid for Expedia, the almost $20bn US journey reserving web site.

What occurred: The ride-hailing firm approached advisers in current months after the thought of an Expedia acquisition was broached by a 3rd get together to look at whether or not such a deal could be attainable and the way it might be structured, in accordance with three folks conversant in the method. 

Why it issues: A take care of Expedia would make it by far Uber’s largest acquisition because it appears to be like to diversify additional and discover new avenues for development. In recent times, 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 “tremendous app”.

Uber chief Dara Khosrowshahi informed the Monetary Occasions this week: “Anyplace you wish to go in your metropolis and something that you just wish to get, we wish to empower you to take action.” Including Expedia and its reserving know-how would turbocharge these ambitions. Read the full report.

Right here’s what else I’m holding tabs on at present:

• 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 shopper 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 Bank 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 tons of of 1000’s of individuals in north Gaza in every week and a half if Israel doesn’t instantly enable a pointy improve in support deliveries, its director within the Palestinian territories has warned. Israel has prevented the UN from providing any aid to the north for two weeks, in accordance with 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 “complicated” customers and “polluting” the time period by utilizing it to explain the Llama AI mannequin, which stops in need of full openness, stated Open Supply Initiative head Stefano Maffulli. Read the full interview.

3. Many unbranded toys made exterior Europe however offered inside the EU by on-line retailers together with Temu and Amazon are harmful for youngsters, an business survey exhibits. Toy Industries of Europe stated at present that 79 per cent of the toys it examined didn’t meet EU security requirements. Here’s why toys with choking hazards and chemicals manage to get through.

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 concern the challenge will undermine efforts to rebuild belief with customers after years of high-profile collapses and frauds. Learn extra on World Liberty Monetary, the crypto venture the Trump family 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 12 months. Reeves has confronted resistance from a variety of ministers over her plan to rein in public spending in 2025-26, with some cupboard colleagues writing letters to Starmer to complain about the Treasury’s approach.

• Capital positive factors tax: Reeves is more likely to goal her anticipated improve in UK CGT on the sale of shares relatively 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 number 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 concern 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, supplies the general public with a greater sense of the campaigns’ stability sheets. Here are the four key takeaways.

Take a break from the information

Prada and the US start-up Axiom Area 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 thought for its experimental nature, the spacesuit endeavour is taking it to the next level.

Further contributions from Benjamin Wilhelm and Gordon Smith