Morning Edition · Wednesday, July 15, 2026
Markets
Oil Jumps Above 85 Dollars as US Reimposes Iran Blockade and Tehran Strikes Gulf States
Brent crude has gained more than 10 percent this week after a fourth night of US strikes, and Trump is demanding Gulf oil producers reimburse Washington 20 percent of their cargoes.
Macro
China Grows 4.3 Percent in Second Quarter, Weakest Pace Since Late 2022
Output fell below Beijing's own 4.5 to 5 percent target as a prolonged property slump and weak domestic demand offset strong artificial-intelligence-linked exports.
Markets
Gold Holds Near 4,000 Dollars and Silver Jumps as War and Fiat Doubts Drive Hard-Money Demand
Silver rose almost 3 percent to roughly 59 dollars an ounce while the European Union moved to bar Sudanese gold, tightening the supply of metal reaching Western markets.
Geopolitics
United States to Withdraw All Troops From Iraq by September 30
Trump told visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi that a 23-year military presence will end, with Baghdad linking the exit to disarming Iran-aligned militias.
Tech
Chinese Memory Maker CXMT Prices Record 8.5 Billion Dollar Shanghai Chip Listing
The offering values ChangXin Memory at about 85 billion dollars and would rank among the largest mainland semiconductor listings, surpassing SMIC's 2020 debut.
Markets
China's Critical-Minerals Controls Distort Markets and Fuel Resource Nationalism
Export restrictions on rare earths and niche metals are reshaping global supply even as researchers highlight gaps in Beijing's own mineral position.
World
Spain and Gibraltar Remove Border Checks Under New UK-EU Treaty
Fences came down and people and vehicles crossed freely for the first time, resolving one of the last unsettled questions of Britain's departure from the European Union.
Geopolitics
Russia Strikes Ukrainian Black Sea Ports Handling Military Supplies
Moscow said its overnight strikes hit vessels and port facilities used to move cargo for Ukraine's forces, as Ukrainian drones wounded civilians inside Russia.
Geopolitics
Ukraine to Buy Chinese Drone Components With European Union Funds
Brussels is letting Kyiv spend part of a 6 billion euro tranche on parts that Europe cannot supply, underscoring the continent's dependence on Chinese manufacturing.
Markets
BYD Says It Can Overtake Toyota Without Selling in the United States
The Chinese carmaker's international chief signaled an intensified push into Europe as domestic demand at home stays weak.
World
Cuba Suffers Third Nationwide Blackout in Two Weeks as Grid Collapses
Fuel has been scarce since Trump threatened tariffs on any nation supplying oil to the island, deepening an energy and economic crisis.
Tech
OpenAI's First Device Will Be a Screenless Speaker Built as an AI Companion
The movable home device marks a hardware push ahead of an initial public offering the company is preparing for the coming months.