In BIG PICTURE NEWS, the IMF tells us what we all know, UK borrowing costs keep rising, Japan makes a major change, diesel prices jump again and Shell has high expectations for refineries. In TECH NEWS, China races to build data centres, Samsung's profits boom, restaurants considers AI-powered surge pricing, HSBC plans to axe wealth managers, Synthesia knocks it out of the park and Google launches a new platform. In CAR NEWS, China ignores EU requests, Lotus halves its British workforce and Porsche plans to raise prices. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS, higher mortgage rates impact the UK housing market, Boots finds a buyer and Royal Mail is to cut jobs.AND FINALLY, I bring you a race to the top...