US-Iran Talks Standoff: Iran says it won’t restart talks unless five trust-building preconditions are met—end hostilities (especially Lebanon), lift sanctions, release frozen assets, compensate war damage, and recognize Tehran’s Strait of Hormuz control—while Trump keeps insisting Iran must be blocked from nuclear weapons and attacks media coverage as “virtual treason.” Trump-Xi Summit, Tech in the Spotlight: Trump heads to Beijing with a heavyweight tech delegation, including Nvidia’s Jensen Huang, aiming to “open up” China while also pressing for movement on Iran; markets are watching whether the Iran ceasefire holds as oil stays jumpy. Markets & Inflation Hit: German inflation is confirmed at 2.9% (highest since Jan 2024) as Iran-linked energy costs bite, while Asia trades mixed with AI optimism battling war and inflation worries. Defense Tech Funding: Anduril just raised $5B, doubling its valuation to $61B—another sign investors are betting on autonomous defense as the Iran conflict reshapes demand. Local Fallout: UK housebuilder Vistry warns the Iran war is pushing up material and labor costs, pausing buybacks to protect cashflow.