Chinese DeepSeek AI Model a Challenge to US AI Lead Despite U.S. efforts to restrict China's access to advanced A.I. technology, Chinese company DeepSeek has made significant progress in developing competitive A.I. models using fewer resources. The effectiveness of U.S…
Uncertainty Still Persists on Trump Tariffs The U.S. economy grew by 2.5% last year, driven by strong consumer spending, although this rate was slightly lower than the previous year's 3.2%. Despite economic challenges and high inflation, the job market remained…
Tariffs are a Negotiation Tool under Trump President Trump announced plans to impose a 10% tariff on Chinese imports starting February 1, 2025, in response to China's role in the fentanyl crisis affecting the U.S. This comes alongside a planned…
Bank of Japan Policy Rates Most in 17 Years The Bank of Japan is anticipated to raise its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 0.5, marking the largest increase in 18 years. This decision reflects increased confidence in…
A Deal before Trump Takes Power: Will it Hold? A provisional cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas has been announced, set to last six weeks and focusing on the release of hostages and humanitarian aid. The initial phase includes specific…
CPI Rose 2.9% but Underlying Inflation More Encouraging In December 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) experienced a notable increase of 0.4%, marking the fastest rise in monthly prices since February. Year-over-year, inflation was measured at 2.9%. While the core…
Trump Claims China Controls Panama Canal The leader of the Panama Canal Authority, Ricaurte Vásquez Morales, refuted President-elect Donald Trump's claims that China controls the Panama Canal and dismissed the suggestion that U.S. ships should receive preferential rates. These claims…
Negotiating Tactic or Real Bid to Acquire Greenland President-elect Donald Trump is sparking controversy with efforts to acquire Greenland, despite Denmark's firm stance against selling the territory. Greenland's strategic importance lies in its mineral resources and geopolitical significance in the…
China and Mexico in Crosshairs of Trump Tariff Threats Mexico and China could face tariffs when Trump takes power at the end of January 2025. Of the two countries China is most at risk given its weak economic performance as…
HTS will need to Pursue a Pragmatic Approach in Syria The text discusses the evolving political landscape in Syria following the actions of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani. HTS has attempted to rebrand itself as…