China’s landmark Pinglu Canal has entered its final phase of construction and is set to begin trial operations as early as September, with a first shipping route linking the country’s heartlands to the free-trade port of Hainan, according to Chinese state media reports. The Pinglu Canal – China’s most ambitious waterway project in centuries – will stretch 134km (83 miles) from Nanning, capital of ...
China’s landmark Pinglu Canal has entered its final phase of construction and is set to begin trial operations as early as September, with a first shipping route linking the country’s heartlands to the free-trade port of Hainan, according to Chinese state media reports. The Pinglu Canal – China’s most ambitious waterway project in centuries – will stretch 134km (83 miles) from Nanning, capital of the southern Guangxi region, to the Gulf of Tonkin, known as the Beibu Gulf in China. Advertisement The aim is to give China’s less-prosperous inland regions quicker and easier access to global sea lanes , boosting local industry and strengthening trade with the country’s largest export market: the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). China’s surging trade with Southeast Asia played a key role in helping Beijing ride out a trade war with the United States last year, as a 13.4 per cent rise in Asean exports partly offset a 20 per cent drop in shipments to the US. The canal’s debut route will be a direct link to another Chinese region: the island province of Hainan, located just across the Gulf of Tonkin, which China is developing into a free-trade hub The shipping route from Nanning to Hainan’s Yangpu Port will be launched to coincide with the 23rd China-Asean Expo, which will take place in Nanning in September, the state-run Securities Times reported last week.
peshkov/iStock via Getty Images By Alison Coughlin and Gregor Spilker Lumber is a strong proxy for economic health, as demand for the product, which is essential for housing and construction, is closely tied to economic growth. Gold has historically been seen as the ultimate safe-haven asset, which people buy when they fear volatility and stress in the financial ecosystem. By dividing the price of...
peshkov/iStock via Getty Images By Alison Coughlin and Gregor Spilker Lumber is a strong proxy for economic health, as demand for the product, which is essential for housing and construction, is closely tied to economic growth. Gold has historically been seen as the ultimate safe-haven asset, which people buy when they fear volatility and stress in the financial ecosystem. By dividing the price of lumber futures by gold futures, a forward-looking gauge of risk appetite emerges. The ratio, which was made popular by Michael A. Gayed's research in 2015, may offer insight into when the economy stops focusing on building for the future and starts thinking about capital preservation. The lumber-gold ratio serves as a barometer of market sentiment: A high ratio signifies economic optimism and elevated risk appetite, as it means demand for growth-sensitive lumber (the numerator) is surging and/or capital is flowing out of safe-haven gold (the denominator). Conversely, a low ratio signals “risk-off” sentiment. A collapse would suggest a prioritization of capital preservation over growth by investors, which can be driven by two primary forces: a plunge in lumber prices indicating a potential structural economic slowdown or a surge in gold prices reflecting lower risk appetite amid systemic uncertainty. In either scenario, the lower ratio often acts as a leading indicator for increased broad-market volatility and a rotation into safer assets. As of early May, the lumber-gold ratio is sitting at historic lows of around 0.10. What does a ratio of 0.10 indicate? A ratio of 1, for instance, means that it takes 1 ounce of gold to buy the equivalent of 1,000 board feet of lumber. A ratio of 0.25 means that it only takes 0.25 ounces of gold to buy that same amount of lumber. Gold, the perceived safe haven asset, is richly valued compared to lumber, the building material used in the real economy. The Numerator: Lumber To understand what the ratio is signaling today, we must first exam...
Kaggle’s top 1.3% recognized for mathematical-modeling and machine-learning skills TOKYO, May 22, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that Tadakiyo Seki, an engineer at the company’s Engineering and Development Center in Japan, has been awarded the title of Kaggle Competitions Master by Kaggle, Inc., a Google LLC subsidiary and the world’s largest A...
Kaggle’s top 1.3% recognized for mathematical-modeling and machine-learning skills TOKYO, May 22, 2026--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (TOKYO: 6503) announced today that Tadakiyo Seki, an engineer at the company’s Engineering and Development Center in Japan, has been awarded the title of Kaggle Competitions Master by Kaggle, Inc., a Google LLC subsidiary and the world’s largest AI competition platform. The title is awarded based on the total number of medals a competitor accumulates. Kaggle medals recognize competitors who use superior skills in mathematical modeling or machine learning to develop effective solutions to challenges posed by companies, research institutions and other organizations. Seki has accumulated one gold medal and two silver medals, placing him among the top 1.3% of all Kaggle participants. Seki has competed in Kaggle competitions since 2024, using his expertise in physical modeling and machine-learning techniques honed through daily research and development. He won a gold medal by placing 10th out of 1,727 teams in the March Machine Learning Mania 2025 competition, which involved the statistical prediction of basketball game outcomes. He also earned a silver medal by placing 63rd out of 1,424 teams in the PhysioNet - Digitization of ECG Images competition, which required extracting waveform data from electrocardiogram images with high precision. Most recently, Seki secured a silver medal by placing 44th out of 1,867 participants in the Stanford RNA 3D Folding Part 2 competition, which focused on predicting the three-dimensional structure of ribonucleic acid (RNA) from base-sequence information. For the full text, please visit: www.MitsubishiElectric.com/news/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260521494824/en/ Contacts Customer Inquiries Engineering and Development Center Corporate Manufacturing and Engineering Group Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Tel: +81-6-6491-8031 www.Mitsub...
Pentagon Delegation's Beijing Visit Held Up Over Gargantuan US Arms Package For Taiwan China is using a Pentagon itinerary as structural leverage, and Taiwan remains front and center as the key geopolitical snag in bettering communications and relations between Beijing and Washington. According to a Financial Times report published Thursday, China is actively holding up a proposed visit by Elbridg...
Pentagon Delegation's Beijing Visit Held Up Over Gargantuan US Arms Package For Taiwan China is using a Pentagon itinerary as structural leverage, and Taiwan remains front and center as the key geopolitical snag in bettering communications and relations between Beijing and Washington. According to a Financial Times report published Thursday, China is actively holding up a proposed visit by Elbridge Colby , the Pentagon's under-secretary of defense for policy . The move is a transparent effort to pressure President Trump over a looming $14 billion weapons package for Taiwan . Elbridge Colby, left. While Colby had been actively discussing a summer trip to Beijing with Chinese officials, China has effectively frozen the process and logistics. Sources familiar with the talks report that Beijing has signaled it " cannot approve a visit until Trump decides how he will proceed with the arms package . " Trump admin officials have been quick to point out that Trump has approved "the sale of more weapons to Taiwan than any other US president." And so it appears that such bravado should come with a cost, in Beijing's apparent thinking. And yet, Trump has repeatedly publicly touted his personal relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping as "amazing" - though his recent Beijing trip did nothing to ultimately produce a breakthrough. Trump, upon returning from his trip earlier this month, stated that he "has not decided whether to proceed with the major weapons sale," injecting a fresh wave of strategic ambiguity over US support for the self-ruled island. He also in an interview with Fox News' Bret Baier had stated that he doesn't want "to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war" over Taiwan. "I'm not looking to have somebody to go independent and, you know, we're supposed to travel 9,500 miles to fight a war," Trump told Baier. "I'm not looking for that. I want them to cool down. I want China to cool down." Taiwan remains critically important to Washington because it is not only a ...
DeepSeek ’s senior management has told potential investors in its ongoing 70 billion yuan ($10 billion) funding round that the startup will prioritize groundbreaking AI research over short-term commercialization, people familiar with the matter said. Founder Liang Wenfeng pledged in at least one meeting with investors he will keep developing open-source AI models while pursuing a broader goal of a...
DeepSeek ’s senior management has told potential investors in its ongoing 70 billion yuan ($10 billion) funding round that the startup will prioritize groundbreaking AI research over short-term commercialization, people familiar with the matter said. Founder Liang Wenfeng pledged in at least one meeting with investors he will keep developing open-source AI models while pursuing a broader goal of achieving artificial general intelligence, one of the people said. The hedge fund manager and AI pioneer made it clear the main goal is to push the boundaries of the technology rather than monetization, the person said, asking to remain anonymous to discuss private deliberations. DeepSeek, the Chinese outfit that in 2025 upended Silicon Valley with a far cheaper AI model, has drawn strong interest from a plethora of investors. It’s in the final leg of discussions over a funding deal that may value the AI phenomenon at about $45 billion before the investment, according to people familiar with the matter. DeepSeek’s likely investors include the National Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund, a vehicle Beijing set up to propel strategic AI projects, the people said. Tencent Holdings Ltd. , IDG Capital and Monolith Capital are also close to securing their participation, the people said. Discussions remain in flux and details from investment amounts to final participants could still change. More generally, DeepSeek’s focus on developing AI over making profits aligns with the startup’s consistent approach to the AI industry. Chinese open-source models have proliferated globally because of their broad accessibility, an approach popularized by DeepSeek and used to great effect by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and its Qwen platform. At the same time, pressure is mounting on AI firms — including in China — to begin delivering on the bottom-line after hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in computing infrastructure. Liang’s research-first philosophy is striking at a ti...
(Bloomberg) -- DeepSeek’s senior management has told potential investors in its ongoing 70 billion yuan ($10 billion) funding round that the startup will prioritize groundbreaking AI research over short-term commercialization, people familiar with the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg Founder Liang Wenfeng pledged in at least one meeting with investors he will keep developing open-source AI mo...
(Bloomberg) -- DeepSeek’s senior management has told potential investors in its ongoing 70 billion yuan ($10 billion) funding round that the startup will prioritize groundbreaking AI research over short-term commercialization, people familiar with the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg Founder Liang Wenfeng pledged in at least one meeting with investors he will keep developing open-source AI models while pursuing a broader goal of achieving artificial general intelligence, one of the people said. The hedge fund manager and AI pioneer made it clear the main goal is to push the boundaries of the technology rather than monetization, the person said, asking to remain anonymous to discuss private deliberations. DeepSeek, the Chinese outfit that in 2025 upended Silicon Valley with a far cheaper AI model, has drawn strong interest from a plethora of investors. It’s in the final leg of discussions over a funding deal that may value the AI phenomenon at about $45 billion before the investment, according to people familiar with the matter. DeepSeek’s likely investors include the National Artificial Intelligence Industry Investment Fund, a vehicle Beijing set up to propel strategic AI projects, the people said. Tencent Holdings Ltd., IDG Capital and Monolith Capital are also close to securing their participation, the people said. Discussions remain in flux and details from investment amounts to final participants could still change. More generally, DeepSeek’s focus on developing AI over making profits aligns with the startup’s consistent approach to the AI industry. Chinese open-source models have proliferated globally because of their broad accessibility, an approach popularized by DeepSeek and used to great effect by Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. and its Qwen platform. At the same time, pressure is mounting on AI firms — including in China — to begin delivering on the bottom-line after hundreds of billions of dollars of investment in computing infrastructure. Liang’s researc...
美國眾院中國問題特別委員會指控華爾街三家金融巨擘，在明知已列軍工企業或強迫勞動名單下，仍為相關中企IPO。圖為美國華爾街。(資料照片/AFP) 美國聯邦眾議院中國問題特別委員會21日指出，調查發現摩根大通(JPMorgan Chase)與美國銀行(Bank of America)在明知中國電池大廠寧德時代(CATL)已遭美國國防部列為「中國軍事企業」後，仍擔任其香港首次公開募股(IPO)承銷商，協...
外長王毅下周二赴紐約 主持聯合國安理會高級別會議 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】外長王毅下周二前往美國紐約，主持聯合國安理會高級別會議，並於下周四至六轉到加拿大訪問。 外交部指這次會議由中方召開，...
外長王毅下周二赴紐約 主持聯合國安理會高級別會議 To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video 【有線新聞】外長王毅下周二前往美國紐約，主持聯合國安理會高級別會議，並於下周四至六轉到加拿大訪問。 外交部指這次會議由中方召開，主題為「維護聯合國憲章宗旨和原則，加強以聯合國為核心的國際體系」，期望各方以此為契機，重溫憲章確立的崇高目標，重申對多邊主義堅定承諾，以更大的團結與擔當，重振聯合國地位與作用，匯聚改革完善全球治理的更大合力。 王毅在紐約期間亦會出席「全球治理之友小組」會議，並與聯合國秘書長及有關國家外長等會面。
narvo vexar/iStock via Getty Images I previously rated Roblox Corporation ( RBLX ) as a Buy in February 2026, attributed to the more compelling valuations against the double-digit top-line growth prospects. In this article, I shall discuss why I am reiterating my Buy rating despite the near-term growth headwinds from the ongoing age verification processes. RBLX's Platform Reset Comes at a Cost RBL...
narvo vexar/iStock via Getty Images I previously rated Roblox Corporation ( RBLX ) as a Buy in February 2026, attributed to the more compelling valuations against the double-digit top-line growth prospects. In this article, I shall discuss why I am reiterating my Buy rating despite the near-term growth headwinds from the ongoing age verification processes. RBLX's Platform Reset Comes at a Cost RBLX 1Y Stock Price ( TradingView) Since my last Buy rating, RBLX has further retraced by -25.7% compared to the wider market at +7.7%, with the stock notably underperforming the gaming/GameDev peers. 1. Safety-Related Age Verification Much of RBLX's headwinds are naturally attributed to the global rollout of their age verification process, with it directly contributing to the average daily active users [DAU], engagement, and booking headwinds. For example, RBLX already reports the second consecutive quarter of moderating DAUs to 132M in FQ1'26 (-8.3% QoQ/-13.1% from the peak observed in FQ3'25 at 152M DAUs), with a similar trend also observed in the UCAN region at 23M (-4.1% QoQ/-11.5% from the peak observed in FQ3'25 at 26M DAUs). This development matters indeed, since the UCAN region reports the highest Average Revenue Per Daily Active User [ARPDAU] of $38.93 (+6.7% YoY). This naturally explains why the UCAN region comprises 58.1% of RBLX's revenues (-4.4 points YoY) and 51.8% of the bookings (-7.7 points YoY), despite the relatively smaller DAU ratio at 17.4% (-3 points YoY). 2. Necessary Pain With 18+ Cohort Tailwinds For now, I am of the opinion that RBLX's selloff has been overdone, given the accelerating growth of the deferred revenue (recorded bookings before the eventual recognition as revenues) at $4.42B in F1'26 ( +40.7% YoY , against a year ago at +25% YoY ), with it offering interested investors an excellent insight into their intermediate-term top-line performance. At the same time, readers may want to note the ongoing legal headwinds faced by Meta ( META ) and ...
File photo: Bi Baowen China’s top anti-corruption agency expelled former senior police official Bi Baowen from the Communist Party and referred his case to prosecutors, six months after authorities first announced an investigation into the retired official. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision said Thursday that Bi, a former vice governor of t...
File photo: Bi Baowen China’s top anti-corruption agency expelled former senior police official Bi Baowen from the Communist Party and referred his case to prosecutors, six months after authorities first announced an investigation into the retired official. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Commission of Supervision said Thursday that Bi, a former vice governor of the northeastern Heilongjiang province and former head of its public-security department, had been accused of accepting gifts and banquets that could have affected his official duties, taking money and valuables in personnel appointments, allowing relatives to use his influence for private gain and illegally issuing motor-vehicle license plates.
Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision via Getty Images For a catastrophe-prone state like Florida, property and casualty, or P&C, insurance is a must for its residents and business owners to protect their wealth and assets. For insurers, operating there is a double-edged sword due to high and secure demand versus high risk of claims and roofing scams. But with prudent and disciplined underwriting and risk ...
Thomas Barwick/DigitalVision via Getty Images For a catastrophe-prone state like Florida, property and casualty, or P&C, insurance is a must for its residents and business owners to protect their wealth and assets. For insurers, operating there is a double-edged sword due to high and secure demand versus high risk of claims and roofing scams. But with prudent and disciplined underwriting and risk diversification, insurers may enjoy returns there. That is why it is interesting to watch out for different players in the state. After a year, I am making another coverage of American Coastal Insurance Corporation ( ACIC ). After its strategic exit from personal lines, it has become smaller but more scalable. It remains a highly cyclical stock, but its robust fundamentals warrant some upside. Technicals are still close to its one-year low, but new buying opportunities emerge amid its recovery attempt. ACIC Q1 2026: A Strong Start The P&C insurance market in Florida has basked in a somewhat calm environment in the past year. Fewer and less intense hurricanes made landfall. Of course, some didn't enjoy that growth as they remained busy reducing their business capacity and balancing risks and returns. One of these is American Coastal Insurance Corporation. Even so, it remained stable with its strategic management and efficiency amid macroeconomic headwinds, as shown in its most recent performance. In Q1 2026, its operating revenue amounted to $71.2M , down by -1.4% YoY from $72.2M. This should not be surprising since it has already formally exited personal lines. That meant fewer policyholders and premiums. As you can see, gross premiums earned dropped by -13% YoY. On a lighter note, this YoY revenue growth was minimal for a company that discontinued a business segment. This can be attributed to its well-thought-out risk diversification. Its ceded premiums decreased, which meant a lower risk spread to its reinsurers. Despite this, this is a huge amount because that $75.5M was...