The AI arms race between Washington and Beijing has entered a new phase, and China is no longer playing catch-up. A wave of high-performance, dirt-cheap AI models from Chinese developers has effectively closed the technology gap with their American counterparts, giving President Xi Jinping significant new leverage over how global… Listen ⇢

Chinese President Xi Jinping just delivered his first-ever keynote speech at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, an event that’s been running since 2018. Beijing wants the world to know it’s serious about leading the AI race. The 2026 WAIC, running from July 17 to 20 under the theme… Listen ⇢

President Trump has declared that the United States is “winning big” in Iran, promising imminent results from the ongoing conflict. This statement comes amid heightened military tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, following the recent collapse of a ceasefire agreement. Trump’s assertion aligns… Listen ⇢

Kansas City Federal Reserve President Jeffrey Schmid isn’t sugarcoating it. In a speech delivered on July 16 at an economic forum in Grand Island, Nebraska, Schmid made clear that inflation remains his single biggest concern, calling it “too hot and above target for too long.” Five years above target and… Listen ⇢

The US military struck multiple bridges in southern Iran on July 15 and 16, targeting supply routes that feed into a port city and naval base along the Strait of Hormuz. CENTCOM forces hit bridges near Bandar-e Khamir and two others west of Bandar Abbas, the Iranian city that sits… Listen ⇢

Qatar’s Defence Ministry announced the interception of a missile attack, raising concerns about regional security and potential escalation of tensions in the Gulf. This development comes amid heightened geopolitical activities in the Middle East. The interception, coupled with China’s central bank injecting its largest weekly liquidity since January 2023, adds… Listen ⇢

The People’s Bank of China announced an injection of 450.5 billion yuan ($62.3 billion) into the banking system via 7-day reverse repos at a rate of 1.40%, according to a statement. This move maintains the record low policy rate unchanged since its reduction in May 2025. The central bank’s action… Listen ⇢

A newly unveiled billboard in central Tehran appears to suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump is the next target in a series of threats against perceived enemies of Iran. The billboard, which features an image of Trump in a coffin with the slogan “We Kill Trump,” follows the recent death… Listen ⇢

Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani has condemned recent US military actions, describing them as “serious violations of international humanitarian law” and potential war crimes in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. This development, reported by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, comes amid ongoing hostilities between the United States… Listen ⇢