The OECD downgrades forecasts for many of the world's biggest economies due to the US-Israel war with Iran. Continue Reading »

Pensions Minister Torston Bell said those affected would receive compensation "where appropriate". Continue Reading »

A judge said the right to defence was paramount as prosecutors argued the couple should not be able to use Venezuelan government funds to pay their lawyers. Continue Reading »

The level rose slightly on the previous year while the number of children living in poverty has remained steady. Continue Reading »

The women's category of Olympic sports will be limited to biological females from 2028, says the International Olympic Committee. Continue Reading »

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• Fox-Dominion trial delay 'is not unusual,' judge says • Fox News' defamation battle isn't stopping Trump's election lies Continue Reading »

The judge just announced in court that a settlement has been reached in the historic defamation case between Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems. Continue Reading »

A settlement has been reached in Dominion Voting Systems' defamation case against Fox News, the judge for the case announced. The network will pay more than $787 million to Dominion, a lawyer for the company said. Continue Reading »

Trump said the U.S has "very substantial talks going on with respect to Iran," though Tehran has denied direct talks have taken place. Continue Reading »

Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey and former Walmart CEO Doug McMillon have told CNBC that the next wave of artificial intelligence is a reason for their departures. Continue Reading »

Several changes await MLB after this season, including its CBA's expiration, new media partners, and potential expansion and league realignment. Continue Reading »

President Donald Trump, in his latest jibe at Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, called him a "moron,' and blasted him over keeping interest rates too high. Continue Reading »

The U.K. is predicted to be worse hit by the Iran war than its developed market counterparts, the OECD said in its interim economic outlook on Thursday. Continue Reading »

Par AFP Par Claire GALLEN © 2026 AFP Les évêques français ont présenté jeudi, à l'issue d'une assemblée percutée par l'annonce de la condamnation de Mgr di Falco, les contours de leur très attendu dispositif pérenne d'accompagnement des victimes mineures de violences sexuelles."Nous mettons en place un ensemble d’actions baptisé Renaître", a affirmé Gérard Le Stang, évêque d'Amiens, en marge de l'assemblée plénière de la conférence des évêques de France (CEF) à Lourdes.Cette annonce était très attendue à l'approche de l'été, qui marque la fin du mandat de l'Inirr, l'instance de réparation créée en 2021 par l'épiscopat. "Dès le 1er septembre, toute personne qui a besoin d’être entendue pourra être prise en compte", a assuré Mgr Le Stang.Mais l'architecture sera très différente.Au lieu d'une instance nationale, les victimes saisiront désormais des cellules d'accueil dans les diocèses, sous la responsabilité des évêques, chargées de les écouter et les accompagner vers des démarches restauratives."C'est un réseau de proximité, pour permettre aux personnes d'être jointes au plus proche et en présentiel", a expliqué Mgr Le Stang.Par ailleurs un organisme national va être créé pour vérifier que les écoutants et accompagnateurs des cellules sont formés, et "qu'il y a une équité des traitements", ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP © 2026 AFP Véronique Sarselli (LR), élue jeudi première femme présidente de la puissante Métropole de Lyon, a assuré lors de son investiture ne pas vouloir une "confrontation institutionnelle" avec le maire écologiste de Lyon Grégory Doucet.Le rival malheureux de ce dernier, Jean-Michel Aulas, a pour sa part été désigné Premier vice-président de la Métropole, et s'est engagé à jouer le rôle "de pilier" du groupe majoritaire.Unies sous la bannière "Grand coeur lyonnais" et menées par Véronique Sarselli, les listes de la droite et du centre-droit ont remporté dimanche une nette victoire, avec 92 élus sur 150 conseillers métropolitains. Lors du premier conseil de ces nouveaux élus, jeudi, ils ont sans surprise porté Mme Sarselli à la tête de cette collectivité qui englobe 58 communes et 1,4 million d'habitants, dotée d'un budget de quatre milliards d'euros.C'est la première fois depuis la création de la Métropole de Lyon en 2015 que son président n'a pas la même étiquette politique que le maire de Lyon."Avec la Ville de Lyon, comme avec toutes les communes, ma volonté n'est pas d'entrer dans une logique de confrontation institutionnelle", a assuré Mme Sarselli dans son discours d'investiture, en présence de M. Doucet ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP © 2026 AFP Un homme a été tué jeudi dans le nord d'Israël à la suite de tirs en provenance du Liban, où des affrontements opposent l'armée israélienne au mouvement islamiste Hezbollah, un allié de l'Iran qui a aussi mené de nouvelles frappes sur le pays.Dans un communiqué, le Magen David Adom (MDA), équivalent israélien de la Croix-Rouge, a annoncé "le décès d'un homme d'une trentaine d'années", tué par des éclats d'obus à Nahariya.L'organisation a également indiqué avoir évacué onze blessés vers l'hôpital, dont un homme d'une cinquantaine d'années dans un état grave.Des images de l'AFP à Nahariya montrent une zone sécurisée, plusieurs ambulances aux gyrophares allumés, ainsi qu'un pompier projetant de la mousse extinctrice sur des voitures calcinées. Fichier vidéo D'autres vidéos diffusées par les secours montrent un incendie accompagné d'épais panaches de fumée noire s'échappant d'un immeuble de plusieurs étages.Au moins dix vagues de missiles tirés du Liban ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP © 2026 AFP "Fiers": les Ghanéens ne cachaient pas leur joie jeudi dans les rues d'Accra, la capitale, après l'adoption la veille d'une résolution des Nations unies reconnaissant la traite des esclaves africains comme le "plus grave crime contre l'humanité"."Ce n'est pas seulement un moment historique pour notre pays, mais cela reconnaît également les souffrances de nos ancêtres et ouvre la voie à la justice", s'est réjouit l'étudiante ghanéenne Abigail Selikem Teye, tenue décontractée et sac en bandoulière. Mercredi, date symbolique - c'était la Journée internationale de commémoration des victimes de l'esclavage et de la traite transatlantique des esclaves -, l'Assemblée générale de l'ONU a proclamé la traite des esclaves africains comme crime le plus grave contre l'humanité, un combat porté par le Ghana et son président John Mahama, qui espère des excuses et la justice.La résolution, adoptée par 123 voix pour, trois contre (États-Unis, Israël, Argentine) et 52 abstentions (dont le Royaume-Uni et les États membres de l'Union européenne), déclare "la traite des Africains réduits en esclavage et l'esclavage racialisé des Africains" comme "les plus graves crimes contre l'humanité", condamnant cette "injustice la plus inhumaine et la plus persistante commise contre l'humanité". Reconnaissance - ... Continue Reading »

Par AFP Par Delphine TOUITOU et Stuart WILLIAMS © 2026 AFP Les ministres des Affaires étrangères du Groupe G7 ont entamé jeudi, sans l'Américain Marco Rubio, une réunion près de Paris avec la volonté affichée de pousser Washington à une désescalade au Moyen-Orient sans pour autant oublier l'Ukraine.Le secrétaire d'Etat américain rejoindra vendredi matin ses homologues à l'Abbaye des Vaux-de-Cernay, près de Rambouillet, à une cinquantaine de kilomètres de Paris. Fichier vidéo L'Allemagne, le Canada, la Grande-Bretagne, la France, l'Italie et le Japon ont clairement signalé jeudi leur souhait de trouver une issue diplomatique à l'offensive militaire américano-israélienne en Iran, qui a des répercussions économiques mondiales en raison du quasi blocage du détroit d'Ormuz par Téhéran depuis près d'un mois.A son arrivée, la cheffe de la diplomatie européenne Kaja Kallas a suggéré aux Etats-Unis de mettre davantage de pression sur la Russie, estimant que les guerres en Ukraine et au Moyen-Orient étaient "étroitement ... Continue Reading »

A US court has ordered a former Boston BLM activist to forfeit $244,000 in embezzled nonprofit donations Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

The $6 million verdict follows Facebook’s parent company was ordered to pay $375 million for profiting from exposing kids to online abuse Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

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A delegation of Russian MPs has begun talks with US Congress members in Washington, a senior MP, Boris Chernyshov has said Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

Russian police have detained a man who spent eight years hiding in the forest to avoid community service for a minor crime Read Full Article at RT.com Continue Reading »

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Различия между ними исчезают при охлаждении воды до температуры минус 58-66 градусов Цельсия и при сжатии до давления в 800-1000 атмосфер, сообщили в Стокгольмском университете Continue Reading »

Португалец восстанавливался от травмы в Мадриде Continue Reading »

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LONGEST WAIT TIMES IN HISTORY (Main headline, 1st story, link) Related stories:ICE FAILS TO EASE PAINPRESSURE MOUNTS TO END IT Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron Continue Reading »

ICE FAILS TO EASE PAIN (Main headline, 2nd story, link) Related stories:LONGEST WAIT TIMES IN HISTORYPRESSURE MOUNTS TO END IT Continue Reading »

PRESSURE MOUNTS TO END IT (Main headline, 3rd story, link) Related stories:LONGEST WAIT TIMES IN HISTORYICE FAILS TO EASE PAIN Continue Reading »

4.2% INFLATION? (First column, 1st story, link) Related stories:Politicians trying to make life cheaper. Economists appalled... Drudge Report Feed needs your support!   Become a Patron Continue Reading »

Politicians trying to make life cheaper. Economists appalled... (First column, 2nd story, link) Related stories:4.2% INFLATION? Continue Reading »

More than 250,000 people flee Lebanon in two weeks, with 125,000 crossing into Syria, including 7,000 Lebanese citizens. Continue Reading »

Metropolitan Police says reviewing footage of incident, reporters must be able to work 'without intimidation'. Continue Reading »

Follow our live build-up, with full team news coverage, before our comprehensive text commentary stream. Continue Reading »

Plan, submitted by Board of Peace head Nikolay Mladenov, calls for gradual disarmament over eight months. Continue Reading »

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said that Iran war is 'stuff for the history books'. Continue Reading »

The OECD downgrades forecasts for many of the world's biggest economies due to the US-Israel war with Iran. Continue Reading »

Pensions Minister Torston Bell said those affected would receive compensation "where appropriate". Continue Reading »

A judge said the right to defence was paramount as prosecutors argued the couple should not be able to use Venezuelan government funds to pay their lawyers. Continue Reading »

The level rose slightly on the previous year while the number of children living in poverty has remained steady. Continue Reading »

The women's category of Olympic sports will be limited to biological females from 2028, says the International Olympic Committee. Continue Reading »

Steve Witkoff, a diplomatic envoy, used the Board of Peace to announce an agreement that could raze a Pakistan-owned Manhattan hotel. Now the country is involved in negotiating peace talks with Iran. Continue Reading »

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the United States hit 6.38 percent, the fourth increase since the war began. Continue Reading »

The drones are an improved version of a weapon that Iran sent to Russia for use in its war in Ukraine. Continue Reading »

President Trump is making new plans in one of the most significant renovations in the history of the White House. Continue Reading »

The Justice Department’s demands for admissions-related data from Stanford, Ohio State and the University of California, San Diego, represent a flex of federal power. Continue Reading »

The Chinese upstart says it has trained high-performing AI models cheaply, without using the most advanced chips. Continue Reading »

DeepSeek, SoFi and more in the latest Market Talks covering Technology, Media and Telecom. Continue Reading »

DeepSeek is called “amazing and impressive” despite working with less-advanced chips. Continue Reading »

The LinkedIn co-founder is starting Manas AI with “The Emperor of All Maladies” author Siddhartha Mukherjee. Continue Reading »

Apps can add flexibility and freshness to your routine. Just try not to get injured. Continue Reading »

Israel allowed displaced Gazans to begin crossing a military zone that bisects the enclave after a deadlock over hostage releases was broken. Continue Reading »

Troubles at Vanke raise questions about the continued spread of the property crisis and whether the Chinese state will step in. Continue Reading »

Some of the women were held alone for extended periods and spent eight months in tunnels, an Israeli medical official said. Continue Reading »

The alliance mounted its first coordinated response to a suspected sabotage campaign against critical infrastructure after another cable was severed in the Baltic Sea. Continue Reading »

Residents of Goma reported gunfire and shelling after rebels overran Congolese troops. U.N. officials estimated that more than one million displaced people were now inside the city. Continue Reading »

Mortgage rates on a 30-year loan just hit 7 percent, intensifying problems on the demand side. Mortgages plus insurance—which turns a half-million dollar house into a $1.2 million house plus property taxes—became unaffordable for another class of buyers while already out of reach for most people. Continue Reading »

There were nearly 630,000 more sellers than buyers in the U.S. housing market last month, marking the largest gap in records dating back to 2013, according to Redfin data. Continue Reading »

Mortgage rates hit their highest point in five months, and mortgage applications plunged last week as escalating borrowing costs cast a heavier pall over the housing market. Continue Reading »

Several prominent right-wing figures including Tucker Carlson, Candance Owens, Mark Levin and Megyn Kelly have come out against the war in Iran. Joe Kent, the National Director of Counterterrorism resigned from the Trump administration over the war. Continue Reading »

NBC's "Today" host Savannah Guthrie spoke out in her first interview since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing, the victim of an apparent kidnapping nearly two months ago. In the interview with Hoda Kotb, she recalled the moment when she found out about her mother's disappearance. Continue Reading »

Israel said it killed the commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard navy, who was "directly responsible" for mining and blocking the Strait of Hormuz, in overnight strikes. Meanwhile, Pakistan said the U.S. and Iran were engaged in indirect talks through messages it was relaying, and that Tehran was considering Washington's proposals to end the conflict. In a post on social media, President Trump said Iran's leadership "better get serious soon" about talks. Trump, who has told associates that he wants the war brought to an end in the coming weeks, also said public statements from Iran's leaders were different from their private comments. Continue Reading »

As U.S., Israeli and allied forces continue to intercept the vast majority of Iranian missiles and drones, a new report and expert analysis reveal a growing concern behind the headline success: the cost and sustainability of the defense itself. More than 90% of Iranian projectiles have been intercepted during the war, according to a report obtained by Fox News Digital from the Jewish Institute for National Security of America (JINSA), thanks to a layered regional air defense system built during years of coordination. But beneath that success lies a widening imbalance that could shape the next phase of the conflict. The report highlights a critical trend: Iran's least expensive weapons are proving the most disruptive and are draining costly U.S. and Israeli interceptors. Continue Reading »

Is the U.S. winning the war with Iran? Even though President Trump claims success, it doesn't quite feel like it — oil and gas prices are high, the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed, and the Iranian regime is still in place. Mark Dubowitz, the chief executive of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a prominent Iran hawk, explains why "total victory" is within reach in spite of the cost. I pressed him on the gap between Trump's desire for a quick deal and his desire to end the Islamic Republic. Continue Reading »

Senate Democrats insisting on major reforms to the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations in exchange for ending the 40-day shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) are worried they may be undercut by centrists looking for a way to end the stalemate. Almost every Senate Democrat voted again Wednesday to block a House-passed bill to fund the DHS through September to give their leadership more time to pursue additional concessions from the White House. Centrist Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who has repeatedly broken with his party on shutdown votes and other issues, was the only Democrat to vote to advance the proposal. Continue Reading »

If you want to understand what's really happening in Iran right now, don't listen to the spin. Watch the behavior. Watch who's being expelled. Watch who's being deployed. Watch who's suddenly willing to talk. Because when you line up the facts—not the narratives—you see something unmistakable: This isn't a stalemate. This is a regime in collapse. Let's start with the battlefield reality. According to U.S. leadership, Iran's military—long hyped as a regional powerhouse—has been dismantled at a pace that even seasoned observers didn't expect. War Secretary Pete Hegseth didn't mince words, describing the campaign as historically decisive, noting that a "modern military" had been "rapidly… obliterated" from the outset. That's not rhetoric. That's results. Continue Reading »

Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed legislation Wednesday limiting face coverings worn by law enforcement, including federal ICE agents, making New Jersey the second state this year to enact such a law. Washington state's Democratic governor, Bob Ferguson, signed a similar law earlier this month while Democratic-led legislatures in other states have passed or are considering such restrictions as well. Sherrill, who took office Jan. 20, has been critical of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts and said Wednesday the anti-mask provision is part of a multipronged effort to keep the residents of New Jersey safe. "I can't believe we have to say this, but in the United States of America, we're not going to tolerate masked roving militias pretending, pretending to be well-trained law enforcement agents," she said. The new law also requires officers to present identification prior to arresting or detaining someone. Continue Reading »

Washington state Governor Bob Ferguson signed a pair of new bills Thursday that prohibit federal immigration agents from wearing masks, as well as and impose harsher penalties for impersonating a law enforcement officer. Why It Matters The measures, approved by the state Legislature earlier this month, are part of a push by Democratic lawmakers to prohibit ICE agents from wearing masks during enforcement. Since last year, Democrats in more than 30 states have filed legislation seeking to restrict the use of facial coverings by law enforcement officers, according to the Associated Press. Continue Reading »

Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a trio of sweeping immigration laws on Wednesday that dramatically restrict when New Jersey can cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. The moves mark one of the most aggressive state pushbacks against ICE and the immigration agenda of President Donald Trump's administration. "We're not going to tolerate mass-roving militias pretending to be well-trained law enforcement agents," Sherrill, a Democrat, said at the bill signing event in Newark. One law, S3114, bars both local and federal law enforcement officers — including ICE — from wearing masks during interactions with the public in the state. Another, S3522, prohibits state agencies from sharing a person's immigration status without a warrant. Continue Reading »

Futures for oil and stocks worth billions of dollars changed hands just 15 minutes before a social media post from US President Donald Trump sent crude prices tumbling and equities soaring. Continue Reading »

Prediction market apps that let users wager on outcomes ranging from sports and politics to military action are drawing fresh scrutiny on Capitol Hill, where lawmakers are pushing for new federal rules and restrictions. Continue Reading »

Roughly $580 million worth of oil futures changed hands in a single minute early Monday morning, only about 15 minutes before President Trump posted on Truth Social that the U.S. had been engaged in "productive conversations" with Iran to end the war. Continue Reading »

A Los Angeles jury on Wednesday found Meta and Google liable in a closely watched trial accusing social media platforms of designing their products to get young users addicted, awarding the plaintiff $6 million in damages. Meta was ordered to pay 70% of the awarded compensatory damages, while Google is responsible for the remaining 30%, for a total of $3 million. Hours later, the jury ordered Meta to pay another $2.1 million and Google an additional $900,000 in punitive damages. Unlike compensatory damages, jurors were not asked to award punitive damages as a percentage of a lump sum. The verdict came after nine days, including roughly 43 hours of deliberations. Continue Reading »

A 20-year-old woman prevailed in a landmark social-media trial against Meta Platforms and Google's YouTube in which the companies were accused of designing their apps to be addictive and harmful to adolescents. A jury found Instagram's owner Meta and YouTube negligent for operating a product that harmed kids and teens and failed to warn about those dangers. The decision dealt a blow to the companies that have historically been shielded by Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The jury ordered the companies to pay $3 million to the plaintiff, named Kaley G.M., who testified that social-media use that started before she was a teenager had dominated her life for years and had contributed to mental health issues including anxiety, depression and body dysmorphia. Continue Reading »

A California jury on Wednesday found that Meta and Google's YouTube were to blame for the depression and anxiety of a woman who compulsively used social media as a small child, awarding her $3 million in a rare verdict holding Silicon Valley accountable for its role in fueling a youth mental health crisis. The jurors concluded that Meta and Google should pay the woman $3 million in compensatory damages, with Meta on the hook for 70% of that amount, or $2.1 million. The jury also decided that the companies' actions should trigger punitive damages, which means there will be a separate phase of the trial where the jury will decide what amount of damages is appropriate to punish the multi-trillion-dollar companies for their conduct. Continue Reading »

The White House issued a stark warning to Iran Tuesday, saying President Donald Trump is prepared to "unleash hell" if Tehran refuses to step back from its nuclear ambitions and its ongoing threats against the United States and its allies. "President Trump does not bluff, and he is prepared to unleash hell," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said at the beginning of Wednesday's White House press briefing. "Iran should not miscalculate again. Their last miscalculation cost them their senior leadership, their navy, their air force and their air defense system... Continue Reading »

Hegseth Declares 'Pentagon Will Keep Negotiating With Bombs' - Trump Seeks To Assure War Ending 'Soon' Summary Iran rejects US plan but says diplomacy continues (indirectly, apparently) - White House, Pentagon reviewing options for 'final blow' as Trump tells Iranians 'get serious' about talks. Hegseth: we'll "negotiate through bombs". Trump touts "present" of several tankers allowed by Tehran through Strait, while at the same time warning Tehran of 'no turning back' if it doesn't negotiate. Cabinet meeting hails 'successes' while saying war to 'end soon', confirms 15-point plan delivered via Pakistanis. Israel says it has killed Alireza Tangsiri, commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy. Iran "laying Traps" & "building up defenses" on Kharg Island; NYT report says 13 US regional bases largely 'uninhabitable' in wake of Iran ballistic missile retaliation on Gulf. *  *  * Support us here Trump Touts Gift of Several Tankers Allowed by Tehran Through Strait President Donald reiterated in a televised cabinet meeting on Thursday that Iran had given the US "present" in the form of several boats carrying oil, able to pass through the otherwise closed Strait of Hormuz. Trump claimed Iran had planned to send over eight large vessels of oil ... Continue Reading »

Jesse Ventura Claims Trump Staged Assassination Attempt With Wrestling 'Blade Job' On His Own Ear Authored by Steve Watson via modernity.news, Jesse Ventura went full conspiracy mode on Piers Morgan’s show, suggesting President  Trump faked the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, complete with a self-inflicted “blade job” cut to his ear for dramatic effect. The former Minnesota governor and wrestling personality repeatedly questioned the authenticity of the event that left Trump bloodied but defiant, while downplaying the death of Corey Comperatore, the firefighter who was killed shielding his family. Morgan highlighted Trump’s immediate response: standing up and pumping his fist with the call “fight, fight, fight.” “Oh yeah, right, right, right. You ever hear of a blade job?” Ventura replied. Morgan pressed back: “A blade? What, you think it was fake?” “I don’t know. Where’s his scar today?” Ventura said. “Somebody died, literally, sitting behind him,” Morgan countered Ventura continued: “Come on, Piers. You’re gonna tell me this guy’s a big hero now?” “I thought that day he was, yeah,” Morgan responded. “Yeah, well, then he accomplished what he wanted out of you guys,” Ventura shot back. Morgan held firm: “No, I think you can be heroic ... Continue Reading »

'13 US Bases Uninhabitable': Pentagon Admits Much Of Iran War Overseen By Personnel 'Working Remotely' The New York Times really buried the lede in a fresh report entitled "Iran’s Attacks Force US Troops to Work Remotely." With the report noting that before the Iran war started the Pentagon had some 40,000 troops in the region, we are told that many have been widely dispersed due to the Iranian retaliatory bombing campaign on the Gulf, even as far as Europe, and must 'work remotely'. Somehow readers expect they are about to read a story mainly about how troops are now confined to hotels and office spaces throughout the region: "So now much of the land-based military is, in essence, fighting the war while working remotely, with the exception of fighter pilots and crews operating and maintaining warplanes and conducting strikes," NY Times writes. But then several paragraphs in comes a huge confirmation of what many analysts suspected was the case over the course of the last weeks of expanding war: "Many of the 13 military bases in the region used by American troops are all but uninhabitable, with the ones in Kuwait, ... Continue Reading »

Gold Vs Bitcoin: Can Either Usurp The Dollar's Reign? Tonight at 7pm ET, wealth manager Peter Schiff will debate bitcoin investor Mark Moss on the future of hard assets and the global monetary system.  Since the start of the war in Iran, Bitcoin and gold have reversed roles. While BTC used to trade like a leveraged tech stock, tanking on any shaky geopolitical news, it surged since Trump started bombing. Gold meanwhile, briefly dropped into a technical bear market. Are traders anticipating a swift end to the war or has there been a structural shift in the assets? Regime shift really kicking in: gold -13% since start of the Iran war, bitcoin +6% https://t.co/H6AMd039bF pic.twitter.com/5E5C97Cr30 — zerohedge (@zerohedge) March 20, 2026 Still, zooming out, gold had an incredible surge last year and still sits comfortably at around +50% year over year. Bitcoin meanwhile is around -18% yoy at the time of writing. Monthly trading swings aside, the important question for an investor is which is the superior asset, or even currency. Could either replace the dollar as the global reserve currency? Being backed by gold is arguably what allowed for the U.S. dollar’s global adoption. Is ... Continue Reading »

USC Cancels Gubernatorial Debate Due To Absence Of Candidates Of Color Authored by Jonathan Turley via jonathanturley.org, The University of Southern California (USC) is under fire after canceling the California gubernatorial debate with less than 24 hours’ notice.  The reason? None of the polling candidates are people of color. It was a crushingly revealing moment in a state where universities have long defied voters who demanded an end to affirmative action in admissions. USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future and ABC/KABC Los Angeles were scheduled to co-host the debate at Bovard Auditorium on Tuesday evening. Then it was canceled on Monday. Former Biden Health and Human Services Secretary and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra had sent a letter to President Beong-Soo Kim, alleging “election rigging” and objecting “you disqualified all of the candidates of color from participating.” For many,  USC succeeded in beclowning itself by first defending USC Professor Christian Grose’s “data-driven” selection process and then abruptly canceling the debate lineup selected through that process. If that seems incomprehensible, welcome to American higher education. The cancellation is only the latest unexpected turn in the election, where the two top vote-getters will face each ... Continue Reading »

US Postal Service Plans 8% Fuel Surcharge As Iran War Raises Transport Costs By Eric Kulisch of FreightWaves, The U.S. Postal Service is seeking permission to impose a fuel surcharge on parcel products for the first time ever to cover soaring transportation costs for gasoline and diesel fuel, which have jumped more than 30% since the invasion of Iran by the United States and Israel nearly a month ago. Parcel shipments would be charged an 8% fee, on top of their regular transportation charge, if the fee is approved. The quasi-private agency on Wednesday sought permission from the Postal Regulatory Commission for a time-limited price adjustment on parcel shipments because of rapidly changing market prices for fuel. It would be the first time in its history that the Postal Service has applied a fuel fee, a common practice with private carriers like DHL, FedEx and UPS.  The Postal Service also said that the temporary surcharge would help it transition to a permanent mechanism for imposing surcharges on competitive products to support its universal service obligation in a more financially sustainable way. Last fiscal year, the USPS lost $9 billion, with an operating loss of ... Continue Reading »

One Day Until Trump's Self‑Imposed 5-Day Deadline On Iran But Markets Appear Increasingly Numb By Molly Schwartz, Cross Asset Macro Strategist at Rabobank More persistent inflation Yesterday, Iran rejected the US-proposed 15-point plan, instead laying out its own conditions in a 5-point plan; (1) halt the killing of Iranian officials; (2) means to make sure no other war is wage against it; (3) reparations for the war; (4) an end to all hostilities; and (5) Iran’s “exercise of sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.” The probability that Washington would accept these terms in exchange for a ceasefire is roughly equal to the likelihood that Tehran would have accepted the original US proposal…zero. Against that backdrop, the clock on Trump’s self‑imposed five‑day deadline continues to tick down. The relative calm in markets suggests some investor confidence that hostilities may eventually wind down, however slim that prospect remains. Still, even a “diplomatic” resolution at this stage would carry material costs for both the US and Israel. We have repeatedly argued that the Iranian regime’s overriding objective is survival; a negotiated outcome that leaves it intact (see Venezuela) in effect constitutes a strategic defeat. As Michael ... Continue Reading »

"Historic Injustice": DOJ Settles With Retired Gen. Flynn For Malicious Russiagate Prosecution Authored by Troy Myers via The Epoch Times, The Department of Justice (DOJ) and retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a former national security adviser in President Donald Trump’s first term, reached an undisclosed financial settlement Wednesday, according to court documents. Flynn sought a $50 million payout from the government for what he claimed were politically motivated actions against him. The settlement brings an end to a years-long dispute that stemmed from false claims of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. Once Flynn has confirmed receipt of the settlement funds, he and the DOJ will file a joint dismissal of the case with prejudice, with each party bearing its own costs and fees, the agreement shows. Flynn’s lawyer provided an emailed statement to The Epoch Times, including a statement from the former Trump adviser as well. Although the case has reached a settlement, Flynn said, “Nothing can fully compensate for the hell that my family and I have endured over these many years.” “There should never again be such a brazen attempt to weaponize federal law enforcement against political opponents or innocent citizens,” Flynn ... Continue Reading »

Iran "Laying Traps" And "Building Up Defenses" On Kharg Island, Preparing For U.S. Ground Attack Iran has recently bolstered its defenses around Kharg Island, anticipating a possible US move to seize the key oil export hub, CNN reported this week. The island is vital to Iran’s economy, handling roughly 90% of its crude shipments, and has become a focal point in escalating tensions. The Trump administration has explored the option of sending US forces to take control of the island as leverage to pressure Iran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz. But military officials caution that such an operation would carry serious risks. Iran has reinforced the island with additional air defense systems, including portable missiles, and has planted mines along likely landing zones. There is also growing skepticism among US allies and policymakers about whether capturing the island would achieve its broader objective. Even if successful, it may not resolve the wider dispute over energy flows and could instead intensify the conflict. An Israeli source warned that US troops could face attacks from drones and shoulder-fired missiles if they attempt a landing. “I would be very worried about this,” said retired ... Continue Reading »

Jobless Claims Hover Near Record Lows Sustaining 'No Hire, No Fire' Narrative The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the first time was flat from the prior week at 210.5k (215k exp). Simply put, these numbers are hovering near their lowest levels since 1969... Source: Bloomberg Continuing claims also printed below expectations at 1.819 million Americans. This is the lowest level since May 2024... Source: Bloomberg Finally, as a reminder, sentiment surveys suggest the labor market is bifurcated with 'jobs hard to get' but joblessness not surging... Source: Bloomberg That chart reinforces the 'no hire, no fire' economy remains the status quo - no worse, no better. Tyler Durden Thu, 03/26/2026 - 08:35 Continue Reading »

Stocks, Bonds Slide As Ceasefire Hopes Fade It's Day 27 of the war: stocks and bonds fell globally as ceasefire optimism fades given mixed messages on progress toward ending the war in Iran and growing uncertainty over Iran’s willingness to engage in talks about a ceasefire in the Middle East sent oil prices higher. Futures gapped lower just after 5am ET, when Axios reported that the Pentagon is developing military options for a “final blow” in Iran that could include ground troops.  Trump urged Iran “to get serious” before it was too late but Tehran is steadfast saying no negotiations are occurring and both side rejecting each other’s deal demands as the fighting continues & more military assets arriving. As of 8:00am ET, S&P 500 futures dropped 0.9%, at session lows, with about 48 hours before a US delay in strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure expires. Nasdaq futures slumped more than 1%.In premarket trading, Mag7 names were down with all sectors lower ex-Energy. Brent resumed its advance, rising 3.8% to above $106 a barrel; Oil is on track for its biggest monthly jump in more than three decades, as the Trump administration examines ... Continue Reading »

Will AI Trigger The Next Great Depression? Authored by Michael Lebowitz via RealInvestmentAdvice.com, Our article title is certainly scary. The question we pose has become a hot topic following the release of “The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis,” by Citrini Research. While evaluating the impact of AI on the labor market is complex, we can distill both optimistic and pessimistic views into two straightforward questions. Will AI bring about an era of unmatched prosperity and productivity, freeing workers from monotonous tasks, revitalizing old industries, and creating new and unimaginable ones? Or will AI displace many white-collar workers faster than the economy can absorb them, triggering a deflationary spiral with consequences that rival the Great Financial Crisis or worse, the Great Depression? To better understand how AI might affect the labor market and, ultimately, the economy, we review the bleak Citrini article alongside more optimistic rebuttals from Citadel Securities and Bianco Research. The articles and our summaries provide a useful primer on how the labor markets may adjust to the upcoming major technological changes. The articles we review are linked below. The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis – Citrini Research The 2026 Global Intelligence Crisis – Citadel Securities An Alternate View ... Continue Reading »

Western Intel Says Russia Preparing Kamikaze Drone Shipment To Iran A senior Western official told Financial Times reporters that new intelligence indicates Moscow is preparing to ship a batch of kamikaze drones to Iran as part of a broader support package, with the US-Iran conflict nearing the one-month mark. When asked about the drone shipment, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told FT reporters, "There are a lot of fakes going around right now. One thing is true: we are continuing our dialogue with the Iranian leadership." One thing is certain: Iranian forces have launched what reports estimate to be as many as 3,000 drones at US air bases, energy infrastructure, tankers, and neighboring Gulf states that coordinate with US and allied forces. FT's report suggests that Iran may need additional drone supplies after an overnight update from Operation Epic Fury, US Central Command Chief Admiral Brad Cooper said Wednesday that US forces had struck their 10,000th target. "Together, we have struck thousands more, clearly demonstrating that we're stronger together," Cooper said. Cooper said US forces have severely degraded Iran's missile capabilities and heavily bombarded its missile, drone, and naval production sites. He added that Iran's ... Continue Reading »

Saudis Bypass Hormuz As Oil Exports From Yanbu Surge Toward 5 Million Target One week ago, when fears that the Strait of Hormuz blockade would mean a permanent collapse in oil supply (we have since seen that Iran is allowing "friendly" ships to cross the strait, especially if they grease the toll-keeper with $2 million per crossing) hit a fever pitch and pushed the price of Brent to $120, we said that "Saudi Arabia Has Already Revived More Than Half Its Oil Exports Via Hormuz Bypass."   With Iran blocking Saudi ships from cross Hormuz for the time being, the Kingdom had drastically ramped up its oil exports to more than half of normal levels despite the disruptions from the Iran war, a successful sign for the kingdom’s ambitious contingency plan to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. To do this, Saudi Arabia has ramped up crude shipments from Yanbu export terminals on the Red Sea coast as it diverted supplies away from the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz via the East-West pipeline. Saudi Arabia, along with the UAE, is one of only two countries in the region that can divert significant amounts ... Continue Reading »

The 'Blame Game' In Private Credit Begins Submitted by QTR's Fringe Finance This morning I warned (again) this wasn’t a normal market in private credit. It was a liquidity event. And today it’s becoming something else too. According to the Financial Times, the SEC is now questioning whether Egan-Jones, a small but deeply embedded credit rating agency in private credit, can “consistently produce credit ratings with integrity.” That’s not a routine inquiry. That’s the regulator openly wondering whether one of the key cogs in the machine was ever doing its job properly in the first place. Think S&P during The Big Short…   And the timing is almost too perfect.   Because just as gates go up, withdrawals get capped, and investors start asking for their money back, the conversation is shifting from “everything is fine” to “who signed off on this?” That shift matters just as much as the redemptions. For years, private credit sold stability. It worked because nobody had to test it. As long as money kept coming in and nobody needed to get out all at once, the system held together. You know, kinda like Madoff. Now people are trying to get out, and suddenly the inputs behind those ... Continue Reading »

Zelensky: Trump Pressuring Him To Give Up On Donbas And End War Soon With the Ukraine war now marching into its fifth year, and with the next weather-driven "fighting season" underway, a frustrated Ukrainian President Volydymyr Zelensky says the Trump administration is pressuring him to give up the Donbas region in exchange for US security guarantees. He also claims that Russia is offering to stop providing intelligence to Iran if the United States stops giving intel to Ukraine.  Last week, we reported that trilateral talks about the Ukraine war had been suspended, thanks to the United States now having to focus on executing Trump's war on Iran with Israel. However, in an interview with Reuters, Zelensky said that Trump is now pressuring Ukraine to cave on its biggest demand just to wipe the war off his to-do list. In his 2024 campaign, Trump told voters that he'd have the war settled "before I even arrive at the Oval Office."  “The Middle East definitely has an impact on President Trump, and I think on his next steps. President Trump, unfortunately, in my opinion, still chooses a strategy to put more pressure on the Ukrainian side,” ... Continue Reading »

Iran Says "No Talks With US... Which Has Failed In War Goals" - Warns Of "Relentless" Response To Any Island Campaign Summary Iranian FM says there are no talks with the US, wants a permanent end to the conflict; Tehran demands a permanent end to the war and compensation for destruction. Ghalibaf warns against island campaign. Central Command Says Nearly 300 US Military Troops Injured in Iran War 3,000 elite Army Airborne soldiers & Marines still en route after Trump said Monday says Iran has been destroyed "militarily".  Iran is tightening control of Hormuz, demanding detailed ship data and in some cases large fees for passage. Iran continues to say it is ready for long war, monitors US troop movements: Parliament Speaker says "Do not test our resolve to defend our land." *  *  * Tehran Issues Ominous Warning Against Potential Island Campaign Iran has threatened to attack any country which assists in future possible US assault on strategic islands which lie off Iran, amid reports that President Trump could order American troops to force open the Strait of Hormuz.  The parliament speaker, who is increasingly someone being looked to as de facto running the country at this point, has warned "all the ... Continue Reading »

Net Zero Activists Stumped By Shock New Evidence Showing No Link Between CO2 & Temperature Over Last Three Million Years Authored by Chris Morrison via DailySceptic.org, The climate science world (‘settled’ division) is in shock following the discovery in ancient ice cores that levels of carbon dioxide remained stable as the world plunged into an ice age around 2.7 million years ago. Levels of CO2 at around 250 parts per million (ppm) were said to be lower than often assumed with just a 20 ppm movement recorded for the following near three million-year period. In addition, no changes in methane levels were seen in the entire period. Massive decreases in temperature with occasional interglacial rises appear to have occurred without troubling ‘greenhouse’ gas levels, and this revelation has caused near panic in activist circles. The assumed level three million years ago of CO2 was around 400 ppm, a convenient mark that has been used to explain the subsequent ice age and a drop to 250 ppm. Due to the recently published paper, this explanation has become more problematic and natural climate variation is correctly noted to have occurred with the temperature changes. Alas, ... Continue Reading »

Hungary To Halt Gas Deliveries To Ukraine Over Its Energy 'Blackmail': Orban Hungary is moving to choke off gas flows to Ukraine, escalating an energy standoff after Kiev halted Russian oil transit via the Druzhba pipeline. Prime Minister Viktor Orban in a fresh social media video address reiterated that Ukraine has blocked the Soviet-era route for a month, and he newly warned: "As long as Ukraine does not provide oil, it will not receive gas from Hungary," according to a translation. via Reuters Orban added that diverted supplies will be stockpiled domestically, filling up the country's own reserves, arguing the move is justified as Ukraine "is also attacking the southern gas pipeline that supplies Hungary," referring to the TurkStream corridor. Framing the dispute as an energy security battle, Orban declared: "We will defend Hungary’s energy security, the protected petrol price, and the reduced gas prices" - adding Hungary has so far "successfully defend against Ukrainian blackmail." Orbán further called the Russian oil stoppage "Ukrainian blackmail". According to more from The Associated Press: There was no immediate comment from Kyiv and a Hungarian government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment by The Associated ... Continue Reading »

The US Shows A Way Out Of Germany's Energy Trap Submitted by Thomas Kolbe Big developments are underway in Tennessee and Alabama. Over the next five years, the joint Japanese-American project will bring several so-called small modular reactors (SMRs) of the BWRX-300 type online. Almost one percent of U.S. electricity production—slightly more than three gigawatts—will be added to the existing energy mix by reactors designed by Hitachi and GE Vernova. A caveat for purists of market economics: this is a hybrid project. While the majority is privately financed, export support from Japan as well as offtake guarantees and credit facilities accounting for roughly one percent of the total volume come from the U.S. Overall, this project represents an investment of $40 billion. It joins a number of major initiatives currently being driven largely by the private sector in the U.S. Major platform operators and tech giants—Google, Meta, and Microsoft—are deeply involved in building new nuclear capacities. This disproves, above all, the claims of most German ideologues who insist that nuclear power has no future worldwide. The fog has lifted. The truth is indisputably on the table. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz ... Continue Reading »