Daily Buzz: 18 November 2025

UN Security Council Endorses Gaza Peace Plan

The UN Security Council voted to endorse President Donald Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, which resulted in a ceasefire and the exchange of hostages and prisoners in its first step last month. The plan also calls for an interim international body to take over administration of the enclave, a multinational peacekeeping force and reconstruction of the war-torn territory. Ultimately, the plan envisions possible Palestinian statehood if conditions are right. Details of future implementation of the plan remain sketchy. China and Russia abstained in the vote, which was supported by 13 nations.

US Increases Pressure on Venezuela

The US ramped up its campaign against Venezuela by announcing the Cartel de Los Soles, which it alleges is run by President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials, will be designated a foreign terrorist organization this month. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said "neither Maduro nor his cronies represent Venezuela's legitimate government." The US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean offshore from Venezuela and has conducted strikes on 21 vessels it claimed were carrying illicit drugs. Washington contends Maduro won the last election by rigging the vote.

Chile Appears to Swing Right

Ultra-conservative lawyer José Antonio Kast has emerged as the favorite to become Chile's next president after the first round of elections on Sunday. He will face Communist candidate Jeannette Jara in a runoff election next month. The winner will replace outgoing center-left President Gabriel Boric. Kast has promised to crack down on crime and immigration with an "iron fist."

Ousted Bangladesh Leader Sentenced to Death

Sheikh Hasina, the ousted Bangladesh prime minister now in exile in India, was sentenced to death in abstentia after the nation's domestic war crimes court found her guilty of crimes against humanity in the violent suppression of student protests last year that led to the collapse of her government. It held her responsible for inciting hundreds of extra-judicial killings carried out by law enforcement. Hasina, who ruled Bangladesh for 15 years, denounced the verdict in a statement issued in India.

Polish-Ukraine Rail Line Blown Up

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said an explosion that blew up part of a rail line from his country to Ukraine was a deliberate act of sabotage, with security officials suggesting but not naming Russia as the perpetrator. The railway network is part of a critical military supply channel for Ukraine.

Top Business

Geely Auto Profit Jumps on Robust Sales

Geely Automobile Holdings, one of the world's top 10 selling car brands, posted a 59 percent increase in third-quarter net profit from a year earlier to 3.9 billion yuan (US$549 million) on aggressive price discounting and surging sales of electric vehicles. Revenue rose 27 percent to 89.2 billion yuan, a quarterly new record for the company. Car deliveries surged 43 percent in the quarter, with electric vehicles accounting for 54 percent of sales in the first nine months of the year. The company manufactures and sells vehicles under the Geely, Lynk & Co and Zeekr brands. It holds a majority stake in Sweden's Volvo Cars and the Swedish electric car brand Polestar, and also owns 17 percent of Aston Martin. Founded by current owner Li Shufu, Geely began as a refrigerator-parts company in 1986, moved into motorcycles in 1994 and expanded into automobiles in 1997.

Xpeng Narrows Loss to Smallest in 5 Years

Chinese electric automaker Xpeng Motors narrowed its third-quarter loss to 380 million yuan (US$53.5 million) from 1.8 billion yuan a year earlier – the smallest loss in five years. Revenue doubled to 20.4 billion yuan, slightly under market estimates. The surge in revenue was largely driven by a nearly 150 percent jump in car deliveries. The company's fourth-quarter revenue forecast came in below expectations. Its shares in New York tumbled 10 percent on Monday.

In recent years, the Guangzhou-based company has expanded its scope to include autonomous driving technology, aerial cars, robotics and chip development. In 2023, it acquired the self-driving technology of ride-hailing company Didi, and last year, it introduced its first humanoid robot. This year, the company said mass production of its new "flying car" will begin next year, and it unveiled its self-developed Turing computer chip aimed at powering high-end AI models for autonomous driving. The company has a partnership with Volkswagen on mid-sized electric models.

China Showcases C919 Jetliner in Dubai

China displayed its domestically developed C919 commercial jetliner for the first time at the Dubai Airshow. Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, the plane's maker, has been stepping up its promotion in the global jet market, though both the narrow-body C919 and its sister model, the short-range C909, have yet to receive certification from Western regulators.

Economy & Markets

Tech Stocks, Bitcoin Continue Pullback

Technology stocks in the US continued their decline on Monday as investors awaited third-quarter results from giant Nvidia, due after the close of trading on Wednesday. Nvidia shares fell 2 percent, helping pull the tech-heavy Nasdaq down 0.8 percent. The S&P 500 index slid almost 1 percent, and the Dow Jones lost more than 500 points in its third straight day of losses. Investors have been taking a second look at high valuations for the biggest tech companies and their heavy investment in AI-related technologies.

Bitcoin, which Reuters said is becoming a barometer of investor sentiment toward technology stocks, slid 2.4 percent in New York on Monday, following its worse weekly decline last week that took the world's largest cryptocurrency by market cap below US$95,000 and erased its 30 percent gain this year. Recent data show a sell-off by so-called "whales," or investors holding large positions of usually 1,000 or more coins. Many are the same investors who have poured funds into big tech stocks, linking the two trades. Bitcoin was trading at 92,034 at the close in New York.

Japanese Economy Shrinks 1.8 Percent in Third Quarter

Japan's economy, the second-largest in Asia, contracted 1.8 percent in the third quarter from a year earlier and fell 0.4 percent from the March-June period, its first quarter-on-quarter decline in a year-and-a-half. Exports fell by 4.5 percent in the September period from a year earlier, hurt by US tariffs. Public demand grew 2.2 percent but private demand tumbled 1.8 percent on a 32 percent drop in residential investment. Private consumption slipped 0.1 percent from the second quarter.

The Nikkei newspaper reported over the weekend that Japan is considering spending around 17 trillion yen (US$110 billion) under new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's first stimulus package, highlighting her focus on expansionary fiscal policy.

Singapore Home Prices Hit One-Year High

Singapore home sales rose to their highest level in a year in October on declining borrowing rates and an influx of wealthy foreigners into what was already one of the world's most expensive real estate markets. Developers sold 2,424 private homes in the latest month, Bloomberg News reported, citing data from the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority Monday.

Corporate

JD.com Launches New Takeout Apps

Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com on Monday launched three spin-off apps related to its new takeout business. Company founder Richard Liu said many potential customers have been lost because many users simply couldn't find the takeout section on its main app. He also introduced an app to compete with China's largest lifestyle platform Meituan-Dianping, also known as a super version of Yelp. JD's Dianping-style app uses AI analysis to form review reports for restaurants, hotels, and tourist sites, among other venues. Liu promised that the reviews will never be commercialized.

CATL Co-Founder to Sell Down Stake

Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world's biggest maker of batteries for electric cars and energy-storage systems, said co-founder and third-largest shareholder Huang Shilin plans to sell a 10th of his stake to institutional investors, reducing his holding to 9.2 percent. CATL shares in Shenzhen fell 3.3 percent.

Unitree Robotics One Step Closer to Shanghai IPO

Unitree Robotics, one of China's leading humanoid robot manufacturers, has completed its pre-initial public offering tutoring process, a major step towards a listing on the Shanghai STAR market, according to government documents. The Hangzhou-based startup is reportedly seeking a valuation of up to US$7 billion.

V Muse Plans First Shop in Shanghai

Chinese jeweler V Muse plans to open its first store next year in Shanghai, aiming to become a luxury retailer on par with global firms like Van Cleef & Arpels, the South China Morning Post reported. Co-founder Alex Fan told the newspaper, "With a store, we will not only have a house to trade jewellery, but also a place to share our philosophy of making jewelry and our aesthetic standards." The firm, founded with jewellery designer Vivian Jia, has created a collection based on antique treasures.

Labubu Dolls Head for the Big Screen

Sony Pictures has acquired the screen rights for a film based on Chinese toymaker Pop Mart's popular Labubu dolls. How the dolls, described as "scruffy cute-ugly monsters," will be appear in cinemas is currently under development, with a franchise series possible.

Pet Fresh Closing Down Shops

Pet Fresh, a startup catering to cats and dogs that was started by Hou Yi, co-founder of Alibaba grocery chain Freshippo, will close 18 physical stores in Shanghai after opening its first one eight months ago, Yicai reported, citing Chinese retail platform Linkshop.som. Seven of the shops have already halted operations and the remaining 11 are running half-price sales.