B → πK puzzle: Solutions in the Standard Model and in New Physics

The present B → πK data is studied in the context of the standard model (SM) and with new physics (NP). We confirm that the SM has difficulties explaining the B → πK measurements. By adopting an effective‐lagrangian parametrization of NP effects, we are able to rule out several classes of NP. Our model‐independent analysis shows that the B → πK data can be accommodated by NP in the electroweak penguin sector.