CBS News business analyst Jill Schlesinger breaks down financial tips and money moves to make as we mark the halfway point of 2025 – from reviewing insurance accounts to your retirement savings.
The retailer has made a bold announcement to reverse an alarming trend in its stores.
The Trump administration's crackdown on immigrants might be the most profound change in the American labor market right now. Industries that rely on immigrant labor are especially vulnerable, as ICE continues to raid businesses believed to have unauthorized workers. Today on the show, we talk to representatives from the agriculture, construction and long-term care industries to ask: Are people still showing up to work? Related episodes: What's missing in the immigration debate Is the 'border crisis' actually a 'labor market crisis?'For sponsor-free episodes of The Indicator from Planet Money, subscribe to Planet Money+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Fact-checking by Sierra Juarez. Translation help by Ella Feldman. Music by Drop Electric. Find us: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, Newsletter.
Plans to launch evergreen fund later this year, building the base for a new strategy to attract high net worth investors
Check out some of the stocks posting the largest moves in midday trading.
Natural gas prices pulled back after the release of the EIA report.
Richardson, Texas, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The oppressive summer heat has everyone going inside to seek a reprieve from the relentlessly high temperatures outside. Extreme heat puts home systems and utility bills to the test, but Service Experts, one of the leading residential HVAC service companies in the U.S., has tips on how to weather the heat with minimum strain on your home and wallet. An Ounce of PreventionThe outside HVAC unit should be clear of anything that can cut down on air flow. Pay attention to not mow grass into the unit as any debris can obstruct air flow, as will a clogged filter. The more blockage a filter has, the less air will move through the system, directly limiting the amount of cooling it can do.The Literal Dog DaysDid you know that dogs can have a direct impact on keeping cool? If male dogs have access to an outside unit and hike their leg on it, it can eat away at the aluminum on the fans. In that case, the unit may run but ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Analyst sends bold message on Tesla stock after disappointing news TheStreetTesla Is in Disarray. Musk Has Already Moved Beyond Caring About Cars. WSJTesla Stock Rallies After Q2 Deliveries As Investors Feared The Worst Investor's Business DailyTesla reports 14% decline in vehicle deliveries, marking second straight year-over-year drop CNBCTesla reports record sales plunge from last year CNN
The sister is a Temecula resident. Her companies won at least $350,000 in contracts from the FBI.
Vietnam strikes trade deal with America. The S&P 500 rises to close at a fresh record. The White House lifts chip software curbs on China. The U.S. lost private sector jobs in June. A weak jobs report could trigger a sell-off.If I had to choose between having a job and paying less for Nike shoes, you’d see me running barefoot to the office. Wednesday’s market moves, however, suggested that Wall Street preferred the cheaper shoes. The U.S. economy lost private sector jobs in June, the first time hiring had contracted since March 2023, according to payrolls processing firm ADP. It’s even more startling because a Dow Jones survey of economists had pegged job numbers to expand by 100,000.Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his social media site Truth Social that the country had made a trade deal with Vietnam, in which the Southeast Asian nation will face a 20% duty on imports to America. That means companies that rely heavily on Vietnam for manufacturing, such as Nike, Crocs and Lululemon, will face less onerous costs and might not hike prices as much, compared with the original tariff rate of 46%.After weighing both pieces of news, investors decided the good news was more important and lifted the S&P 500 to a new closing high. Granted, the ADP report has had a spotty track record in predicting the official job figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But it’s still worth thinking about how that’s a sign financial markets could be slightly disconnected from the real economy: Who can afford to buy shoes and pump up stocks if they don’t have jobs?What you need to know todayVietnam strikes a deal with America. Imports from the Southeast Asian nation to the U.S. will be subject to a 20% tariff, while the U.S. gets tariff-free access to Vietnam’s market, Trump announced Wednesday.The S&P 500 rises to close at a fresh record. On Tuesday, the index also scored an intra-day high, while the Nasdaq Composite notched a record close. The Vietnam Index on Wednesday rose to its highest level since April 2022, following news of the country’s deal with America.The White House lifts chip software curbs on China. Semiconductor software companies Synopsys and Cadence announced Thursday that they are restoring access to their products after the U.S. government reversed export restrictions.U.S. private sector jobs shrank in June. Job losses amounted to 33,000, reported ADP on Wednesday. Economists polled by Dow Jones had expected an increase of 100,000 jobs for the month.[PRO] Revenue-generating concerts are boosting K-pop stocks. Amid declining sales of music albums, K-pop agencies are pivoting their strategy — leading to a surge of over 100% in stock price for some.And finally...Paul Yeung | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesThe CATL listing ceremony at the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on May 20, 2025.Hong Kong’s IPO market is on fire — here’s what’s fueling the surgeNew listing volumes on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange jumped around eight times to $14 billion in the first half of this year, from just $1.8 billion in the same period in 2024, according to Dealogic.That puts the city on track to become the world’s largest listing destination this year, surpassing the Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange. PwC projected up to 100 IPOs in Hong Kong this year, with total fundraising to exceed $25.5 billion.— Anniek Bao
U.S. lifts chip software curbs on China amid trade truce, Synopsys says CNBCCadence says restoring software access in China after US lifts export curbs ReutersDonald Trump eases chip software restrictions as part of tech trade thaw with China Hindustan TimesThe Semiconductor Standoff: Is Siemens' Export Win a Buy Signal for Chip Design Stocks? AInvestUS Lifts Chip Design Curbs On China as Part of Trade Deal Yahoo Finance
TOKYO, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), the Tokyo Stock Exchange, Inc. (TSE), and Fujitsu Limited on June 2, 2025 signed MOU to develop a SaaS-based Request for Quote (RFQ) platform. Fujitsu will develop the platform based on "CONNEQTOR," an RFQ platform for the ETF market developed by TSE and Fujitsu, and provide it to ASX.The initiative aims to modernize the process for ETF pricing in Australia by implementing a SaaS RFQ platform, built and managed by Fujitsu. The foundation of this new platform is the CONNEQTOR system provided by TSE, one of Asia's most successful RFQ platforms. Since its launch in February 2021, CONNEQTOR has enabled over 290 ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
U.S. stocks experienced a surge on Wednesday, with the S&P 500 setting new record highs following a surprising decline in private payrolls, which bolstered expectations of Federal Reserve rate cuts. The S&P 500 soared above 6,200 points, marking new record highs. The index gained 0.5% for the day. The Nasdaq also rose by 0.9% to 22,393.13. Meanwhile, the Dow Jones Industrial Average held steady around 44,500.These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day:BigBear.ai Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BBAI)BigBear.ai stock rallied by 13.68% to close at $7.56. The stock hit an intraday high of $7.85 and a low of $6.50. The 52-week high and low are $10.36 and $1.16. The stock’s significant and rapid rally over the past week could indicate a potential short squeeze.Rigetti Computing (NASDAQ:RGTI)Rigetti Computing stock ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
NEW ORLEANS, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until August 25, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Hims & Hers Health, Inc. ("Hims" or the "Company") (NYSE:HIMS), if they purchased the Company's securities between April 29, 2025 and June 23, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.Get HelpHims investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-hims/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
NEW ORLEANS, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 8, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Compass Diversified Holdings (NYSE:CODI), if they purchased the Company's securities between March 1, 2023 and May 7, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Central District of California.Get HelpCompass Diversified investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-codi/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC are available to discuss your legal options.About the LawsuitCompass and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
NEW ORLEANS, July 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ClaimsFiler, a FREE shareholder information service, reminds investors that they have until July 22, 2025 to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Organon & Co. (NYSE:OGN), if they purchased the Company's securities between October 31, 2024 and April 30, 2025, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.Get HelpOrganon investors should visit us at https://claimsfiler.com/cases/nyse-ogn/ or call toll-free (844) 367-9658. Lawyers at Kahn Swick & Foti, ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Statement of defence filed in lotto ticket lawsuit CTV NewsLotto corporation denies liability in lawsuit over $5-M ticket Winnipeg Free PressWoman sued by former partner over $5M lottery prize claims she was rightful winner YahooWoman in $5-M lotto fight with ex says money is hers Winnipeg Free Press
Her latest buy signals she’s backing an AI player clawing back share from the giant
Tesla second-quarter sales slid more than 13%, but saw stronger-than-expected demand for Models 3 and Y vehicles.
U.S. stocks are drifting as Wall Street’s record-breaking rally slows ahead of a highly anticipated report coming Thursday about the U.S. economy. The S&P 500 edged up by 0.1% on Wednesday, coming off its first loss after hitting all-time highs...
NEW YORK (AP) — In a case seen as a challenge to American free-speech principles, Paramount has agreed to pay $16 million to settle a lawsuit by President Donald Trump over the editing of CBS’ “ 60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October.
Oil Falls as U.S. Crude, Gasoline Inventories Rise Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.comOil Holds Gain With Middle East Tensions, US Stockpiles in Focus Bloomberg.comSurprise Crude Oil Inventory Build Ends 5-Week Draw Streak Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.comOil climbs after US trade deal and signs of slumping US drilling Forexlive | Forex News, Technical Analysis & Trading ToolsCrude Oil Prices Supported by Middle East Tensions Yahoo Finance
Crude oil inventories in the United States increased by 3.8 million barrels during the week ending June 27, according to new data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released on Wednesday. The build brings commercial stockpiles to 419 million barrels, roughly 9% below the five-year average for this time of year. Crude prices were trading up ahead of the report. The American Petroleum Institute (API) on Tuesday had estimated a 680,000-barrel build for the week ending June 27 after analysts had estimated a much smaller 2.26-million-barrel...
Empire, Lactalis Canada become first to officially sign on to grocery code of conduct - Business News CastanetCanada Grocery Code Bulletin announces launch of member portal Grocery Business Magazine
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump keeps saying that Republicans’ mega tax and spending cut legislation will eliminate taxes on federal Social Security benefits.
"I loved mine so much that I bought one for my daughter."
NEW YORK—Fashion “dupes,” or less expensive versions of high-end clothing and other accessories, are just about everywhere these days. They’re also drawing some businesses into legal battles. In the latest example, Lululemon slapped a lawsuit against Costco on Friday, accusing the wholesale club operator of selling lower-priced duplicates of some of its popular athleisure apparel. [...]
Republicans in the Senate have done what everyone (er ... almost everyone) could have predicted. They have passed a huge budget bill that will blow up the US deficit by providing massive tax cuts to billionaires and massive corporations while cutting policies that actually support the US economy and create ... [continued]The post Big Horrible Budget Bill Still Going To Kill Countless American Jobs appeared first on CleanTechnica.
How Iran War Exposed Limits Of Chinese Influence In Middle East Authored by Terri Wu via The Epoch Times,The world had a moment of clarity during the Israel–Iran conflict.For years, analysts have noted that China is closing in on the United States as a peer competitor, whether in terms of high-tech industries, naval fleets, or the size of its diplomatic corps.That power shift seemed to have also played out in the Middle East, a region where the United States has traditionally held significant influence.Two years ago, Beijing brokered the normalization of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Later the same year, the China-led BRICS bloc, designed to counterbalance the U.S.-led Western democracies, admitted four new members from the region: Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.The bloc was formed by Brazil, Russia, India, and China in 2009 and expanded to include South Africa in 2010.However, the action of the United States—and the inaction of China—during the 12-day Israel–Iran conflict revealed that the power gap between Beijing and Washington remains sizable.The United States joined its ally Israel in the conflict on June 21 by attacking key Iranian nuclear sites with 30,000-pound bunker-buster bombs. Two days later, President Donald Trump announced a cease-fire between Israel and Iran. The truce appears to be holding so far.By contrast, Beijing’s support for Iran remained largely rhetorical.The Chinese regime condemned Israel and criticized the United States over the strikes on Iran. It also released joint statements with member states of BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a China- and Russia-led security grouping, expressing “grave concern” that the attacks on Iran violated international law.The revelation of the power gap between the United States and China means that countries will move closer into Washington’s orbit, according to Yeh Yao-yuan, a professor of international studies at the University of St. Thomas in Houston.That means Middle Eastern countries will shift from a pro-Beijing position to a neutral stance in the contest between China and the United States as the world moves into two camps led by the two powers, he told The Epoch Times.Beijing is keenly aware that the U.S. focus is on Asia, particularly China, according to Christopher Balding, a senior fellow at the UK-based Henry Jackson Society. The Chinese regime deliberately kept a low profile during the Israel–Iran military conflict, he said.“The more that they can keep the U.S. working on other non-China issues, I think that they see it as better for them,” Balding, also a contributor to The Epoch Times, told the publication.According to China expert Alexander Liao, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is uncertain about its next steps.“Beijing has realized that its existing assessment of the world—that the East is rising and the West is declining—doesn’t hold anymore,” Liao told The Epoch Times.“Should they change the course of their strategic directions? If so, how? They haven’t made up their mind yet.”Iran's Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh (C) attends the Shanghai Cooperation Organization defense ministers’ meeting in Qingdao, China, on June 26, 2025. The SCO’s nine official members include China, India, and Russia. China’s support has helped Iran sustain its economy and nuclear program despite decades of U.S. and UN sanctions. Pedro Pardo/AFP via Getty ImagesIran’s Role in China’s PlanChina’s support is the main reason Iran could sustain its economy and nuclear enrichment program despite decades of sanctions by the United States and the United Nations. The International Atomic Energy Agency verified a few days before the Israel–Iran conflict that Iran had 400 kilograms of enriched uranium.Iran holds high geopolitical value to China. Its location, linking East and West, has made it an important node for the CCP’s Belt and Road Initiative. This foreign policy platform presents itself as a global infrastructure development program.Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping visited Iran in 2016, during which the two countries formed a so-called comprehensive strategic partnership.In 2021, Beijing and Tehran signed a 25-year agreement. China committed $400 billion in investments in telecom, banking, ports, and other infrastructure in Iran. In return, Iran agreed to supply China with oil.Today, China purchases approximately 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil. Last year, the daily volume was about 1.5 million barrels, according to market intelligence company Kpler.To circumvent sanctions, the oil trade between China and Iran is typically conducted in Chinese yuan or as a barter. This reduces trade volumes transacted in U.S. dollars and aligns with Beijing’s ambition to de-dollarize and increase the importance of the yuan in global trade.The Rise of NATODuring this year’s NATO summit in The Hague, 32 member states agreed to increase defense spending to 5 percent of their gross domestic products (GDPs) by 2035.That means the NATO military spending will more than double, given that members on average spent 2 percent of their GDPs in 2024.According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, NATO members accounted for about 55 percent of the total $2.7 trillion in global military expenditure. With NATO’s double spending, the ratio is expected to increase to roughly 70 percent.NATO also reaffirmed its “ironclad” commitment to Article 5, which states that any attack on a member country is an attack on all.On June 25, the military alliance also released a statement, along with its Indo-Pacific partners, stating that “the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific is interconnected.” The four partners are Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.The Chinese regime is monitoring NATO developments closely.NATO heads of state and government pose for an official photo at the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Netherlands, on June 25, 2025. Among other matters, 32 member states agreed to increase defense spending to 5 percent of their GDPs by 2035. A day later, China’s foreign ministry criticized the move as well as NATO’s increasing focus on the Asia-Pacific region. Omar Havana/Getty ImagesA Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in a post on social media platform X on June 26, criticized the spending boost and the alliance’s growing interest in the Asia-Pacific region.Liao considers it “very likely” that democracies will expand their regional security alliances to one that’s global in scope.“If such a significant expansion happens, it will be lethal to the Chinese Communist Party,” he said.The expansion would mean that the Article 5-style commitment would cover Indo-Pacific nations, Liao said. He said he believes that the United States is poised to expand the current security alliance; it’s just waiting for the right time and opportunity.“Any conflict with South Korea or Japan will evolve to a conflict with a group that accounts for 70 percent of global military spending,” he said. “This will make China’s goal of taking over Taiwan very challenging.”Amy K. Mitchell, a founding partner at geopolitical consultancy Kilo Alpha Strategies, said that there’s a “very strong potential” that Trump will try to establish a NATO-like security alliance in the Indo-Pacific.That would be a “very big legacy project for President Trump,” she told The Epoch Times.For now, she sees the president himself and his unpredictability as the main deterrent to China.“The Chinese Communist Party is probably rethinking how it’s going to handle the administration,” Mitchell said.China still faces uncertainty in the ongoing trade war with the United States.Beijing announced new controls on two fentanyl precursors on June 20, a day after a rare meeting between Chinese Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong and U.S. Ambassador to China David Perdue. Wang told Perdue that the regime was open to collaboration on curbing narcotics and illegal immigration, according to Chinese state media reports.The move was aimed at lifting the 20 percent fentanyl-related U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods. The current tariff level on China is about 50 percent, which is the cumulative rate composed of fentanyl tariffs, 10 percent reciprocal tariffs, and existing levies from the Biden administration.A worker moves pieces of steel machinery at a manufacturing company in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, on June 16, 2025. China’s factory output rose less than expected in May amid continued uncertainty from its trade war with the United States. STR/AFP via Getty ImagesChina signed an additional trade agreement with the United States last week, detailing the terms negotiated in Geneva in May. For now, the 20 percent U.S. tariff tied to China’s role in fentanyl trafficking will remain.Beijing’s slow walk on exporting rare earth elements has been a focal point in rounds of negotiations between the two countries.The Chinese Commerce Ministry on June 27 stated that it would “review and approve eligible export applications for controlled items in accordance with the law” as a part of the framework agreement. While it did not explicitly mention rare earths, the statement was made in response to an unnamed reporter’s question on rare earths exports.Rare earths are essential for producing permanent magnets, a must-have component of modern manufacturing. They are also critical to military and defense hardware. China’s export licenses only cover civilian purposes and need to be renewed every six months.Balding said China is likely to hold more tightly onto its near-monopoly control over rare earth supply.“In addition to demonstrating its power over the global economy, China does not want to be helping the U.S. military prepare when each side is focusing more and more on how to fight each other,” he said. Tyler DurdenTue, 07/01/2025 - 22:35
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Koreans swam, rode water park slides and enjoyed other water activities at a newly opened mammoth beach resort, state media reported Wednesday, as the country largely maintains a ban on the entry of foreign...
Santander has agreed to buy British high street lender TSB for £2.65 billion from Catalonia’s Sabadell in an all-cash deal. “We never thought of leaving the U.K. The U.K. is very important for us,” Santander Chief Financial Officer Jose Garcia Cantera told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday. The transaction further complicates the picture for consolidation in the Spanish banking sector, where TSB-owner Sabadell seeks to fend off the advances of BBVA. In one move, Santander has silenced months of speculation over it’s allegiance to the British high street – and complicated a year-long consolidation saga in Spain’s banking sector.On Tuesday, Spain’s largest lender said it agreed to buy British high street lender TSB for £2.65 billion ($3.6 billion) from Catalonia’s Sabadell in an all-cash deal subject to approval. The transaction will generate a return on invested capital of more than 20%, bringing its return on tangible equity in the U.K. from 11% last year to 16% by 2028, Santander said.Acquisitions have been at the heart of Santander’s British expansion after it entered the market in 2004 through the purchase of Abbey National. But the profitability of the U.K. branch has faltered — with pre-tax profit down by an annual 38% last year — sparking questions over Santander’s long-term presence in Britain. A March announcement of potential layoffs and 95 branch closures did little to abate the rumors despite CEO Ana Botin’s frequent denials.“We never thought of leaving the U.K. The U.K. is very important for us,” Santander Chief Financial Officer Jose Garcia Cantera told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday. “It’s actually the largest balance sheet of all the countries [where] we operate. It’s a high quality, low-risk business, predictable returns, in hard currency, in sterling, and this helps to stabilize our risk-return profile.” He added that the U.K. has “always been a very important and core component of Santander’s diversification strategy.”The TSB acquisition, meanwhile, “not only makes sense strategically, as I said, the U.K. helps with our risk-return profile, but it’s also financially very, very compelling.”The deal could work as a defensive play from Sabadell, which only took over TSB from Lloyds in 2015 and seeks to stop a takeover bid from Spanish peer BBVA. The two banks have been locked at odds since Sabadell rejected BBVA’s initial all-share merger offer in May last year, on grounds of it undervaluing the acquisition target.Now entrenched in a potential 14-billion-euro hostile takeover, BBVA has decided to keep its bid alive despite a recent condition from the Spanish government that the takeover may only proceed if the two banks do not integrate their operations for at least three years.Over this period, “both entities maintain [must] separate judicial identity and assets, as well as autonomy in the management of their activities,” Spanish Economist Minister Carlos Cuerpo said during a press briefing, according to a CNBC translation.Spanish banking competition ‘toughest in Europe’Madrid — whose government under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez depends on parties in Sabadell’s home base of Catalonia — has long opposed the deal amid concerns over job losses, received a late-May caution from the European Commission against hindering the merger unduly.“It is important that banking sector consolidation can take place without undue or inappropriate obstacles being imposed,” said Olof Gill, the European Commission’s spokesperson for financial services, according to Reuters. Spain’s antitrust watchdog has already cleared the acquisition. It remains to be seen whether the TSB sale will dull BBVA Chairman Carlos Torres Vila’s appetite to press ahead with submitting a merger offer to Sabadell shareholders once permissions come through.RBC analysts on Wednesday assessed that Santander’s acquisition of TSB “seems to be a last major effort to convince [Sabadell]’s shareholders to not accept BBVA’s offer during the upcoming take-up period” and would “likely further complicate” BBVA’s takeover.“We are completely neutral on the Sabadell-BBVA transaction,” Santander’s Garcia Cantera told CNBC. “This is an asset that becomes available in one of the countries where we operate, and it’s our fiduciary duty to look at all these opportunities and try to do our best for our shareholders.”Yet he recognized that competition in Spanish banking at present is “probably the toughest in Europe,” citing the weak price of domestic mortgages.“I don’t think this is going to make banking in Spain more comfortable. Probably the opposite,” Garcia Cantera said.
Asian Shares Dip as Trump Revives Tariff Threat: Markets Wrap Bloomberg.comJapan in the crosshairs: Asia opens under tariff countdown cloud FXStreetAsian Markets See Mixed Results As Global Worries Persist FinimizeNikkei 225 Drops 1.2% Amid Global Concerns, KOSPI Rises 0.6% on Domestic Optimism AInvestJapan Stock Market May Spin Its Wheels On Wednesday Nasdaq
Tariffs are keeping U.S. interest rates high. The S&P 500 dips from its record. Singapore stocks hit a high. XPeng maintains steady sales in June. Trump’s megabill squeaks through the Senate. Hedge funds are betting against the Swiss franc.It’s the what-could-have-beens that hurt the most. The childhood sweetheart who moved to a different country. The early opportunity to invest in a company designing graphics chips for games. The lower interest rates if not for tariffs.On Tuesday, U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed that tariffs — and, specifically, their unexpectedly large “size” — are the chief reason the central bank hasn’t lowered rates this year since it last cut them in December.Imagine that. We could have been living in a world where the fed funds rate is at a range of 4% to 4.25%. If inflation was staying obediently below the Fed’s 2% goal, the range could even be 3.75% to 4%, given that the central bank in June kept last year’s projection of two rate cuts in 2025.The thought stings. But it might help to think that if U.S. President Donald Trump hadn’t slapped tariffs on partners and penguins, his other policies could have similarly pushed inflation forecasts higher.Remember how all three major U.S. indexes surged and hit new records on Trump’s election victory because Wall Street was anticipating tax cuts and looser corporate regulation. Without the dampening effect of tariffs, economic optimism might have spilled over into exuberance and higher inflation.Better to play the cards we were dealt with than to lapse into imagined futures.What you need to know todayTariffs are keeping U.S. interest rates high. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday the central bank would have lowered rates this year if not for Trump’s tariffs, which caused inflation forecasts to go up “materially.”The S&P 500 dips from record. On Tuesday, the index slipped 0.11%. Tesla shares tumbled after Trump suggested DOGE take a look at the company’s subsidies. Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Wednesday, but Singapore stocks hit a record high.XPeng maintains steady sales in June. The electric car startup delivered 34,611 cars, the eighth straight month of breaking the 30,000 level. BYD remained the market leader, delivering more than 10 times the number of vehicles XPeng did.Trump’s megabill squeaks through the Senate. Vice President JD Vance cast a final, tie-breaking vote that sends the bill back to the U.S. House for approval. While the bill would increase the deficit, some banks think it’ll give the U.S. economy a shot in the arm.[PRO] Hedge funds are betting against the Swiss franc. The move is part of a “carry trade,” a strategy in which investors borrow in a currency with a lower interest rate — the franc, in this case — to buy a currency with a higher rate and pocket the difference.And finally...Jack Guez | AFP | Getty ImagesIsraeli army soldiers ride in the turret of a Merkava battle tank.Germany’s defense industry is booming. Here’s where its weapons are goingThe value of German military exports hit 13.2 billion euros ($15.5 billion) last year, according to preliminary figures — more than double 2020′s 5.82 billion euros. Related stocks have also boomed.Where are the record orders going?According to the German government’s most recent export log, 80% of arms exports were to “close partner countries” in the first quarter of 2025. — Lily Meckel and Greg Kennedy
B.C. Hydro impersonation scams surged in May Times ColonistBC Hydro warns customers of sophisticated new scams Prince George CitizenBC Hydro warns of ‘convincing’ fraud attempts after spike in May CHEK News60 BC Hydro customers fall victim to scams in May, another 92 targeted Surrey Now-Leader
SoftBank’s Ampere Deal Faces In-Depth US Probe in Threat to AI Ambitions Bloomberg.comFTC seeks more information about SoftBank's Ampere deal, Bloomberg News reports ReutersFTC to Review SoftBank’s Acquisition of Chip Firm Ampere The InformationSoftBank's Ampere deal to face in-depth review by FTC, Bloomberg News reports Yahoo FinanceSoftBank's Ampere Deal: Regulatory Crossroads or AI Inflection Point? AInvest
U.S. Treasury yields rose on Wednesday as investors weighed the impact of President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” which narrowly passed the Senate on Tuesday.At 5:17 a.m. ET, the 10-year yield rose over 3 basis points to 4.282%. The 30-year bond yield was also up 3 basis points to 4.814%. The 2-year note yield was up over one basis point to 3.793%.One basis point is equal to 0.01%, and yields and prices move in opposite directions.Trump’s spending bill cleared the Senate on Tuesday with a final vote of 51-50. The megabill now has to go through the House, where there are still some holdouts from Republican lawmakers.The bill is expected to add $3.3 trillion to the fiscal deficit over the next decade, and some Republican lawmakers continue to show resistance to the bill. Trump has insisted that he wants the bill on his desk by July 4.“We expect to see more volatility in fixed income, even once they get the bill passed, whatever that looks like,” said Jose Rasco, CIO of HSBC Global Private Banking and Wealth Management Americas, on “Closing Bell: Overtime.”“Once these things get resolved and once the [Federal Reserve] gets back in gear, there’s a lot of upside here,” Rasco said.Investors are also waiting to see more negotiations on trade deals as Trump’s 90-day pause on some of the highest tariffs are due to expire next week.On the economic data front, investors will await the nonfarm payrolls report for June on Thursday. The bond market will be closed on Friday for Independence Day.
Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) founder and executive chairman, Jeff Bezos, has offloaded another significant chunk of the company’s shares, worth $737 million, over three transactions, late last week and early this week.Check out the current price of AMZN stock here.What Happened: According to an SEC Form-4 filing dated July 1, Bezos offloaded a total of 3,324,926 Amazon shares from June 27 to June 30. This was done as part of a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted on March 4, 2025, which essentially allows corporate insiders to sell shares at predetermined times and volumes, helping them avoid accusations of insider trading.According to the filing, the largest block of over 3 million shares was sold at a weighted average price of $221.41 on June 27. An additional 16,860 shares were sold the same day at an ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Tariffs are keeping U.S. interest rates high. The S&P 500 dips from its record. Singapore stocks hit a high. XPeng maintains steady sales in June. Trump’s megabill squeaks through the Senate. Hedge funds are betting against the Swiss franc.It’s the what-could-have-beens that hurt the most. The childhood sweetheart who moved to a different country. The early opportunity to invest in a company designing graphics chips for games. The lower interest rates if not for tariffs.On Tuesday, U.S. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell confirmed that tariffs — and, specifically, their unexpectedly large “size” — are the chief reason the central bank hasn’t lowered rates this year since it last cut them in December.Imagine that. We could have been living in a world where the fed funds rate is at a range of 4% to 4.25%. If inflation was staying obediently below the Fed’s 2% goal, the range could even be 3.75% to 4%, given that the central bank in June kept last year’s projection of two rate cuts in 2025.The thought stings. But it might help to think that if U.S. President Donald Trump hadn’t slapped tariffs on partners and penguins, his other policies could have similarly pushed inflation forecasts higher.Remember how all three major U.S. indexes surged and hit new records on Trump’s election victory because Wall Street was anticipating tax cuts and looser corporate regulation. Without the dampening effect of tariffs, economic optimism might have spilled over into exuberance and higher inflation.Better to play the cards we were dealt with than to lapse into imagined futures.What you need to know todayTariffs are keeping U.S. interest rates high. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday the central bank would have lowered rates this year if not for Trump’s tariffs, which caused inflation forecasts to go up “materially.”The S&P 500 dips from record. On Tuesday, the index slipped 0.11%. Tesla shares tumbled after Trump suggested DOGE take a look at the company’s subsidies. Asia-Pacific markets mostly fell Wednesday, but Singapore stocks hit a record high.XPeng maintains steady sales in June. The electric car startup delivered 34,611 cars, the eighth straight month of breaking the 30,000 level. BYD remained the market leader, delivering more than 10 times the number of vehicles XPeng did.Trump’s megabill squeaks through the Senate. Vice President JD Vance cast a final, tie-breaking vote that sends the bill back to the U.S. House for approval. While the bill would increase the deficit, some banks think it’ll give the U.S. economy a shot in the arm.[PRO] Hedge funds are betting against the Swiss franc. The move is part of a “carry trade,” a strategy in which investors borrow in a currency with a lower interest rate — the franc, in this case — to buy a currency with a higher rate and pocket the difference.And finally...Jack Guez | AFP | Getty ImagesIsraeli army soldiers ride in the turret of a Merkava battle tank.Germany’s defense industry is booming. Here’s where its weapons are goingThe value of German military exports hit 13.2 billion euros ($15.5 billion) last year, according to preliminary figures — more than double 2020′s 5.82 billion euros. Related stocks have also boomed.Where are the record orders going?According to the German government’s most recent export log, 80% of arms exports were to “close partner countries” in the first quarter of 2025. — Lily Meckel and Greg Kennedy
By Gavin van Marle (The Loadstar) – Despite ongoing reports and warnings of worsening port congestion levels in North European ports, container shipping lines’ schedule reliability to the region saw a...
Once the exception and now the rule, disruptions are a way of life in the global supply chain. But experts told a recent podcast that shippers can still make hay even as they take steps to find their way.The post “Brace!” Endless disruptions mark new path to supply chain resiliency appeared first on FreightWaves.
Shares of renewable energy companies are rising after a tax on solar and wind was removed from the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Senate narrowly passed the legislation Tuesday and will now be considered by the House of Representatives. The American Clean Power Association had warned that tax would up to $7 billion to the wind and solar industry’s burden.Clean energy stocks rose on Tuesday after a tax on solar and wind projects was removed from the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Shares of NextEra Energy, the largest renewables developer in the U.S., rose nearly 3% after the Senate narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s bill on Tuesday. AES, a leading renewable provider, rose almost 2%. The megabill will now go to the House of Representatives, where lawmakers will consider the Senate’s changes.The clean energy industry was surprised and outraged to find over the weekend that a tax on wind and solar projects had been inserted into a version of the Senate legislation. The tax applied to projects that use components from foreign entities of concern above a certain threshold. Foreign entities of concern is widely understood to basically refer to China.The American Clean Power Association and Solar Energy Industries Association told CNBC that the tax was struck from the Senate legislation. ACP had described the tax as punitive and warned that it would add up to $7 billion to the solar and wind industry’s tax burden.The Senate bill, however, still phases out the investment and electricity production tax credits that have supported the growth of solar and wind power in the U.S.The benchmark Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) was up about 4%, while the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) was trading more than 1% higher after the legislation passed.Shares of First Solar, the largest solar panel manufacturer in the U.S., slipped less than 1%. Sun tracker manufacturers Array Technologies and Nextracker jumped more than 11% and about 5%, respectively.Residential solar installer Sunrun rose 9% while inverter manufacturers SolarEdge and Enphase were up about 8% and 4%, respectively.But the Solar Energy Industries Association cautioned that the improvements in the Senate bill are “limited” and the legislation overall is still harmful to renewable energy.“This legislation undermines the very foundation of America’s manufacturing comeback and global energy leadership,” CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said in a statement. “If this bill becomes law, families will face higher electric bills, factories will shut down, Americans will lose their jobs, and our electric grid will grow weaker.” Why oil prices swung so wildly during the Iran-Israel conflict and where the market goes from herePlay this natural gas stock for a big breakout, says Carter WorthRooftop solar stocks face ‘wipe out’ but First Solar shares could double, says clean energy investorWall Street thinks these comeback stocks can keep going as S&P 500 nears a new highTrack all the latest coverage of oil prices and the oil and gas industry at CNBC.com.
Meta Platforms, Inc. (NASDAQ:META) CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made a decisive move to reshape the company's entire AI strategy by consolidating all artificial intelligence efforts under a newly formed division called Meta Superintelligence Labs. The restructuring aims to drive Meta toward its goal of creating superintelligence—AI systems that surpass human cognitive abilities.Read Next: What Happened With Apple Stock Today?Unified AI Leadership and VisionLeading the new Superintelligence Labs is Alexandr Wang, the 28-year-old founder and former CEO of Scale AI, who now serves as Meta's Chief AI Officer. Wang, known for building Scale AI into a critical infrastructure provider for training data powering major AI models like ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
The latest New Jersey tax laws include a new ‘mansion tax’ and Stay NJ payouts. Here’s what to know.
NEW YORK (AP) — Anne Wojcicki’s bid to buy 23andMe, the genetic testing company she cofounded nearly 20 years ago, has received the court greenlight. That means Wojcicki’s nonprofit TTAM Research Institute will purchase “substantially all” of San Francisco-based 23andMe’s assets for $305 million. The transaction — which arrives more than three months after 23andMe [...]
Shares of renewable energy companies are rising after a tax on solar and wind was removed from the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The Senate narrowly passed the legislation Tuesday and will now be considered by the House of Representatives. The American Clean Power Association had warned that tax would up to $7 billion to the wind and solar industry’s burden.Clean energy stocks rose on Tuesday after a tax on solar and wind projects was removed from the Senate version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.Shares of NextEra Energy, the largest renewables developer in the U.S., rose nearly 3% after the Senate narrowly passed President Donald Trump’s bill on Tuesday. AES, a leading renewable provider, rose almost 2%. The megabill will now go to the House of Representatives, where lawmakers will consider the Senate’s changes.The clean energy industry was surprised and outraged to find over the weekend that a tax on wind and solar projects had been inserted into a version of the Senate legislation. The tax applied to projects that use components from foreign entities of concern above a certain threshold. Foreign entities of concern is widely understood to basically refer to China.The American Clean Power Association and Solar Energy Industries Association told CNBC that the tax was struck from the Senate legislation. ACP had described the tax as punitive and warned that it would add up to $7 billion to the solar and wind industry’s tax burden.The Senate bill, however, still phases out the investment and electricity production tax credits that have supported the growth of solar and wind power in the U.S.The benchmark Invesco Solar ETF (TAN) was up about 4%, while the iShares Global Clean Energy ETF (ICLN) was trading more than 1% higher after the legislation passed.Shares of First Solar, the largest solar panel manufacturer in the U.S., slipped less than 1%. Sun tracker manufacturers Array Technologies and Nextracker jumped more than 11% and about 5%, respectively.Residential solar installer Sunrun rose 9% while inverter manufacturers SolarEdge and Enphase were up about 8% and 4%, respectively.But the Solar Energy Industries Association cautioned that the improvements in the Senate bill are “limited” and the legislation overall is still harmful to renewable energy.“This legislation undermines the very foundation of America’s manufacturing comeback and global energy leadership,” CEO Abigail Ross Hopper said in a statement. “If this bill becomes law, families will face higher electric bills, factories will shut down, Americans will lose their jobs, and our electric grid will grow weaker.” Why oil prices swung so wildly during the Iran-Israel conflict and where the market goes from herePlay this natural gas stock for a big breakout, says Carter WorthRooftop solar stocks face ‘wipe out’ but First Solar shares could double, says clean energy investorWall Street thinks these comeback stocks can keep going as S&P 500 nears a new highTrack all the latest coverage of oil prices and the oil and gas industry at CNBC.com.
Anne Wojcicki's nonprofit, TTAM Research Institute, has received court approval to buy 23andMe — the genetic testing company she cofounded. The $305 million deal, which was approved on Friday, includes most of 23andMe's assets, such as its DNA testing kits...
Trump pulled the DOGE Card on Elon Musk in an early morning social media blast, after the Tesla CEO threatened to tank Trump's "Big, Beautiful" tax bill and start his own political party.The post Best Cage Match Ever: Tesla CEO Elon Musk Vs. US President Donald Trump appeared first on CleanTechnica.
Insight Enterprises (NASDAQ:NSIT) has outperformed the market over the past 15 years by 4.76% on an annualized basis producing an average annual return of 17.22%. Currently, Insight Enterprises has a market capitalization of $4.39 billion. Buying $1000 In NSIT: If ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
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FBI Charges 4 Californians In Largest-Ever COVID Tax Credit Fraud Scheme Authored by Naveen Athrappully via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),Four Californians were charged by a federal grand jury on June 11 for their alleged involvement in a $93 million COVID-19 tax credit fraud scheme, deemed to be the “largest ever identified,” the FBI said in a June 26 statement.The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters in Washington on Nov. 6, 2023. Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch TimesThe individuals are Kristerpher Turner, 52, of Harbor City; Toriano Knox, 55, of Los Angeles; Kenya Jones, 46, of Compton; and Joyce Johnson, 55, of Victorville.The fraud is related to a COVID-19 tax credit program authorized by Congress called the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA). The program required certain employers to provide workers with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for reasons related to the pandemic. Employers would then be reimbursed in the form of tax credits.In the fraud scheme, Turner and his co-conspirators allegedly submitted fraudulent forms under certain companies, including bogus ones, claiming FFCRA tax credits. These companies did not pay for sick or family leave to any employees at any time, the FBI said.The defendants submitted fraudulent filings not only on behalf of their own purported businesses but also for companies under the name of other people—including romantic partners, family members, and friends—who were recruited into the scam, it added.For each fraudulent client that received checks from the Treasury under the scheme, Turner reportedly charged somewhere between 20 to 40 percent of the receipts.“In total, from approximately June 2020 and December 2024, the defendants and their co-conspirators submitted and caused the submission of fraudulent forms for at least 148 companies, seeking a total of approximately $247,956,938 in tax refunds to which they were not entitled,” the FBI said.“In reliance on the fraudulent forms and the false statements, the IRS issued Treasury checks in the total amount of at least approximately $93 million.”When defendants learned that the IRS was inquiring about the scheme, Knox, Jones, and other individuals attempted to murder Turner on or about Aug. 29, 2023, to prevent him from speaking to law enforcement, the FBI said. Turner was shot multiple times but survived and is now paralyzed.All four defendants were charged with mail fraud, conspiracy to commit mail fraud, and conspiracy to submit false claims. Knox and Jones are charged with attempting to kill a witness and using a firearm in furtherance of that crime.Each mail fraud charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. The attempted murder charge is punishable with a 30-year jail term, while the firearm charge can result in life imprisonment.The Epoch Times was unable to reach the legal representatives of the four defendants.Another case of a major COVID-19 tax credit fraud came to light earlier this year when seven people were charged with allegedly stealing millions of dollars.On Jan. 22, the Department of Justice said the individuals were charged with “operating a multi-state conspiracy in which they attempted to defraud the United States of more than $600 million by filing more than 8,000 false tax returns claiming COVID-19-related employment tax credits.”While the fraudsters filed for $600 million in tax credits, the IRS reportedly ended up disbursing $45 million.Tackling Pandemic FraudOn June 26, the Pandemic Response Accountability Committee (PRAC) announced the release of its semiannual report. PRAC was set up under the CARES Act for independent oversight of funds provided under the Act, as well as other related spending bills.Between Oct. 1, 2024, and March 31, PRAC provided investigative support to over 49 law enforcement partners in more than 1,100 investigations related to the pandemic with a potential fraud loss of $2.4 billion.“The PRAC’s data analytics tool has helped recover for the taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars—far more than our total appropriation from Congress,” said Michael E. Horowitz, chair of the committee.“Now, with three months remaining until our sunset, we urge Congress to maintain our data analytics center to assist agencies and the oversight community in fraud prevention.”In an April 9 report, the Government Accountability Office said that the true scale of the fraud involved in the pandemic relief funds “will never be known with certainty.”“The scope of the pandemic-relief response; the inherently deceptive nature of fraudulent activities; and the resources needed for detection, investigation, and prosecution of fraud make it difficult to measure. However, estimates indicate hundreds of billions of dollars in potentially fraudulent payments were disbursed,” the report said.Between March 2020 and December 2024, the Justice Department secured more than 650 settlements and judgments worth more than $500 million to resolve fraud and overpayment allegations in connection with the pandemic relief programs, it said.By the end of last year, the Justice Department had announced fraud-related charges against more than 3,000 defendants, of whom 2,148 were sentenced, according to the report. Tyler DurdenTue, 07/01/2025 - 10:45
X will let AI chatbots generate their own Community Notes, which are user-submitted comments attached to some posts that offer additional context.
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS./MARKHAM, ON, June 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. (the "Company" or "Pond") (TSXV:POND) announces the filing of the first quarter unaudited condensed interim consolidated financial statements of the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2025 and the related management's discussion and analysis which have been filed and are available for review on ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Austin, TX, June 30, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Area 52 today launches its nationwide fulfillment service, solidifying its position as the first online dispensary that ships to all states. This is a groundbreaking development for cannabis consumers, particularly in states with limited recreational access, providing a safe, federally legal, and reliable way to buy weed online and secure direct-to-home weed delivery.(click photo to check customer reviews)A Legal Cannabis Solution for Texas, Florida, and North CarolinaResidents in states like Texas, Florida, and North Carolina have historically faced a significant challenge: a strong demand for cannabis with no state-level legal framework for recreational sales. Area 52 directly solves ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES. ANY FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS RESTRICTION MAY CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF U.S. SECURITIES LAWS./MARKHAM, ON, June 30, 2025 /CNW/ - Pond Technologies Holdings Inc. (the "Company" or "Pond") (TSXV:POND) announces the filing of the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 2024 and the related management's discussion and analysis which have been filed and are available for review on SEDAR+ at Full story available on Benzinga.com
On Monday, Jesus "Jay" Malave was officially announced as Boeing Co.’s (NYSE:BA) incoming Chief Financial Officer, succeeding Brian West.With an impressive background in finance and leadership across major aerospace and defense companies, Malave brings a wealth of experience to the aerospace giant.Here are some key facts about the man now overseeing Boeing’s financial strategy.BackgroundMalave was born to Puerto Rican immigrants in Hartford, Connecticut. His father served as a U.S. Postal Service supervisor and his mother worked as a nutritionist at a local hospital. Growing up in Newington, a small town with a blend of blue-collar and white-collar families, Malave shared with CT Insider in 2022 that he developed a strong appreciation for diversity and hard work from an early age.See Also: Pierre Ferragu Takes Apple To Task For Dismissing The AI Revolution: ‘Has Its Head In The Sand’Personal LifeAfter graduating, Malave met his future wife, Janine, that summer as she was pursuing a career in education. Janine would later become a teacher and department head at Maloney ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey told CNBC Tuesday that interest rates should come down gradually. Economists widely expect policymakers to cut rates by 25 basis points at the next gathering in August, taking the central bank’s base rate to 4%. Bailey said inflationary pressures, such as averages wage outpacing inflation and higher energy prices, looked like they were cooling.Hollie Adams | Bloomberg | Getty ImagesAndrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, at the central bank’s headquarters in the City of London, U.K., on Nov. 29, 2024. Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey told CNBC Tuesday that “the path of interest rates will continue to be gradually downwards,” as the central bank juggles taming inflation and stoking elusive economic growth.“I haven’t changed my mind on that,” he told CNBC’s Annette Weisbach in Sintra, Portugal, where the European Central Bank is holding a forum. “But in terms of where are we going to go in the next meeting? Well, we’ll see.”Economists expect policymakers will cut rates by 25 basis points at their next gathering in August, which would take the central bank’s base rate from 4.25% to 4%.But BOE’s Bailey told CNBC that policymakers needed to gauge whether persistent inflationary pressures, such as averages wage outpacing inflation and higher energy prices, would continue to soften.“For me, the key question is, is that softening that we’re beginning to see going to come through and create the context where inflation will come back down to target?” he cautioned.The BOE has a 2% inflation target, but price rises have stubbornly exceeded that level, landing at 3.4% in May — well above the neighboring euro zone’s latest inflation print of 2% in June. Growth meanwhile remains elusive, with the U.K. economy shrinking sharply in April as global trade tariffs and new domestic tax rises kicked in.U.K. Finance Minister Rachel Reeves — who last fall introduced tax increases on businesses to largely fund a mammoth public spending program — said the latest growth data was “clearly disappointing.”She also responded to the May inflation reading by insisting that the Treasury had taken “the necessary choices to stabilise the public finances and get inflation under control,” referencing her “fiscal rules” that dictate that day-to-day government spending won’t be funded by borrowing.In the time since those “non-negotiable” rules were set last October, however, the U.K.’s economic and fiscal outlook has become more challenging, with higher debt interest payments and weaker-than-expected tax receipts converging with lower economic growth forecasts. Back in March, the independent Office for Budget Responsibility said that it expects the U.K. to record 1% growth this year and 1.9% in 2026.Mark Kerrison | In Pictures | Getty ImagesShoppers and tourists pass in front of boutiques and antique shops on Portobello Road in London, United Kingdom. Chancellor Reeves has acknowledged that there is “more to do” as the government desperately seeks to boost growth in the U.K. economy.In order to achieve that while sticking to her fiscal rules, Reeves has essentially been left with three options: cut public spending, increase borrowing or raise taxes further.Economists say the latter choice is the government’s only real option, as it has already committed to higher public spending and a more sustainable borrowing framework.Read moreThe UK insisted unpopular tax rises were a one-off. Economists say hikes are now inevitableUK finance minister set on ‘renewing Britain’ as she unveils spending plansUK economy shrank sharply in April as Trump tariffs and tax rises kicked inCentral bank policymakers tend to steer clear from commenting on governments’ fiscal policies to avoid accusations of interference or bias. Bailey nevertheless on Tuesday told CNBC that, while it was important that Reeves had “set out a very clear fiscal framework,” there should be a “suitable amount of flexibility in that.”“The U.K. has got a fiscal framework that the chancellor and I discuss it often. I know the chancellor is very committed to having a robust fiscal policy in place, and that is important as a backdrop to macroeconomic stability,” he said.
The Coward's Bargain Authored by Josh Stylman via The Brownstone Institute,Everyone’s Afraid to SpeakSomeone our family has known forever recently told my sister that they’ve been reading my Substack and that if they wrote the things I write, people would call them crazy. I got a kick out of that—not because it’s untrue, but because it reveals something darker about where we’ve ended up as a society. Most people are terrified of being themselves in public.My sister’s response made me laugh: “People do call him crazy. He simply doesn’t care.” The funniest part is that I don’t even write the craziest stuff I research—just the stuff I can back up with sources and/or my own personal observations. I always try to stay rooted in logic, reason, and facts, though—I’m clear when I’m speculating and when I’m not.This same guy has sent me dozens of private messages over the last 4 or 5 years challenging me on stuff I share online. I’ll respond with source material or common sense, and then—crickets. He disappears. If I say something he doesn’t want to hear, he vanishes like a child covering his ears. Over the last few years, I’ve been proven right about most of what we’ve argued about, and he’s been wrong. But it doesn’t matter—he’s got the memory of a gnat and the pattern never changes.But he’d never make that challenge publicly, never risk being seen engaging with my arguments where others might witness the conversation. This kind of private curiosity paired with public silence is everywhere—people will engage with dangerous ideas in private but never risk being associated with them publicly. It’s part of that reflexive “That can’t be true” mindset that shuts down inquiry before it can even begin.But he’s not alone. We’ve created a culture where wrongthink is policed so aggressively that even successful, powerful people whisper their doubts like they’re confessing crimes.I was on a hike last year with a very prominent tech VC. He was telling me about his son’s football team—how their practices kept getting disrupted because their usual field on Randall’s Island was now being used to house migrants. He leaned in, almost whispering: “You know, I’m a liberal, but maybe the people complaining about immigration have a point.” Here’s a guy who invests mountains of money into companies that shape the world we live in, and he’s afraid to voice a mild concern about policy in broad daylight. Afraid of his own thoughts.After I spoke out against vaccine mandates, a coworker told me he totally agreed with my position—but he was angry that I’d said it. When the company didn’t want to take a stand, I told them I would speak as an individual—on my own time, as a private citizen. He was pissed anyway. In fact, he was scolding me about the repercussions to the company. What’s maddening is that this same person had enthusiastically supported the business taking public stands on other, more politically fashionable causes over the years. Apparently, using your corporate voice was noble when it was fashionable. Speaking as a private citizen became dangerous when it wasn’t.Another person told me that they agreed with me but wished they were “more successful like me” so they could afford to speak out. They had “too much to lose.” The preposterousness of this is staggering. Everyone who spoke out during Covid sacrificed—financially, reputationally, socially. I sacrificed plenty myself.But I’m no victim. Far from it. Since I was a young man, I’ve never measured achievement by finance or status—my benchmark for being a so-called successful person was owning my own time. Ironically, getting myself canceled was actually a springboard to that. For the first time in my life, I felt I’d achieved time ownership. Whatever I’ve achieved came from being raised by loving parents, working hard, and having the spine to follow convictions rationally. Those attributes, coupled with some great fortune, are the reason for whatever success I’ve had—they’re not the reason I can speak now. Maybe this person should do some inward searching about why they’re not more established. Maybe it’s not about status at all. Maybe it’s about integrity.This is the adult world we’ve built—one where courage is so rare that people mistake it for privilege, where speaking your mind is seen as a luxury only the privileged can afford, rather than a fundamental requirement for actually becoming established.And this is the world we’re handing to our children.We Built the Surveillance State for ThemI remember twenty years ago, my best friend’s wife (who’s also a dear friend) was about to hire someone when she decided to check the candidate’s Facebook first. The woman had posted: “Meeting the whores at [company name]”—referring to my friend and her coworkers. My friend immediately withdrew the offer. I remember thinking this was absolutely terrible judgment on the candidate’s part; however, it was dangerous territory we were entering: the notion of living completely in public, where every casual comment becomes permanent evidence.Now that danger has metastasized into something unrecognizable. We’ve created a world where every stupid thing a fifteen-year-old says gets archived forever. Not just on their own phones, but screenshot and saved by peers who don’t understand they’re building permanent files on each other—even on platforms like Snapchat that promise everything disappears. We’ve eliminated the possibility of a private adolescence—and adolescence is supposed to be private, messy, experimental. It’s the laboratory where you figure out who you are by trying on terrible ideas and throwing them away.But laboratories require the freedom to fail safely. What we’ve built instead is a system where every failed experiment becomes evidence in some future trial.Think about the dumbest thing you believed at sixteen. The most embarrassing thing you said at thirteen. Now imagine that moment preserved in high definition, timestamped, and searchable. Imagine it surfacing when you’re 35 and running for school board, or just trying to move past who you used to be.If there was a record of everything I did when I was sixteen, I would have been unemployable. Come to think of it, I’m way older than that now and I’m unemployable anyway—but the truth still stands. My generation might have been the last to fully enjoy an analog existence as children. We got to be stupid privately, to experiment with ideas without permanent consequences, to grow up without every mistake being archived for future use against us.I remember teachers threatening us with our “permanent record.” We laughed—some mysterious file that would follow us forever? Turns out they were just early. Now we’ve built those records and handed the recording devices to children. Companies like Palantir have turned this surveillance into a sophisticated business model.We’re asking children to have adult judgment about consequences they can’t possibly understand. A thirteen-year-old posting something stupid isn’t thinking about college applications or future careers. They’re thinking about right now, today, this moment—which is exactly how thirteen-year-olds are supposed to think. But we’ve built systems that treat childhood immaturity as a prosecutable offense.The psychological toll is staggering. Imagine being fourteen and knowing that anything you say might be used against you by people you haven’t met yet, for reasons you can’t anticipate, at some unknown point in the future. That’s not adolescence—that’s a police state built out of smartphones and social media.The result is a generation that’s either paralyzed by self-consciousness or completely reckless because they figure they’re already screwed. Some retreat into careful blandness, crafting personas so sanitized they might as well be corporate spokespeople for their own lives. Others go scorched earth—if everything’s recorded anyway, why hold back? As my friend Mark likes to say, there’s Andrew Tate and then there’s a bunch of incels—meaning the young men either become performatively brash and ridiculous, or they retreat entirely. The young women seem to either drift toward fearful conformity or embrace monetized exposure on platforms like OnlyFans. We’ve managed to channel an entire generation’s rebellion into the very systems designed to exploit them.The Covid Conformity TestThis is how totalitarian thinking takes root—not through jackbooted thugs, but through a million small acts of self-censorship. When a venture capitalist whispers his concerns about immigration policy like he’s confessing to a thought crime. When successful professionals agree with dissenting views privately but would never defend them publicly. When speaking obvious truths becomes an act of courage rather than basic citizenship.George Orwell understood this perfectly. In 1984, the Party’s greatest achievement wasn’t forcing people to say things they didn’t believe—it was making them afraid to believe things they weren’t supposed to say. “The Party seeks power entirely for its own sake,” O’Brien explains to Winston. “We are not interested in the good of others; we are interested solely in power.” But the real genius was making citizens complicit in their own oppression, turning everyone into both prisoner and guard.History shows us how this works in practice. The Stasi in East Germany didn’t just rely on secret police—they turned ordinary citizens into informants. By some estimates, one in seven East Germans was reporting on their neighbors, friends, even family members. The state didn’t need to watch everyone; they got people to watch each other. But the Stasi had limitations: they could recruit informants, but they couldn’t monitor everyone simultaneously, and they couldn’t instantly broadcast transgressions to entire communities for real-time judgment.Social media solved both problems. Now we have total surveillance capability—every comment, photo, like, and share automatically recorded and searchable. We have instant mass distribution—one screenshot reaching thousands in minutes. We have volunteer enforcement—people eagerly participating in calling out “wrongthink” because it feels righteous. And we have permanent records—unlike Stasi files locked in archives, digital mistakes follow you forever.The psychological impact is exponentially worse because Stasi informants at least had to make a conscious choice to report someone. Now the reporting happens automatically—the infrastructure is always listening, always recording, always ready to be weaponized by anyone with a grudge or a cause.We saw this machinery in full operation during Covid. Remember how quickly “two weeks to flatten the curve” became orthodoxy? How questioning lockdowns, mask mandates, or vaccine efficacy wasn’t just wrong—it was dangerous? How saying “maybe we should consider the trade-offs of closing schools” could get you labeled a grandma-killer? The speed at which dissent became heresy was breathtaking.History has shown us that governments can be terrible to citizens. The hardest pill to swallow was the horizontal policing. Your neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members became the enforcement mechanism. People didn’t just comply; they competed—virtue-signaling their way into a collective delusion where asking basic questions about cost-benefit analysis became evidence of moral deficiency. Neighbors called police on neighbors for having too many people over. People photographed “violations” and posted them online for mass judgment.And the most insidious part? The people doing the policing genuinely believed they were the good guys. They thought they were protecting society from dangerous misinformation, not realizing they had become the misinformation—that they were actively suppressing the kind of open inquiry that’s supposed to be the foundation of both science and democracy.The Ministry of Truth didn’t need to rewrite history in real time. Facebook and Twitter did it for them, memory-holing inconvenient posts and banning users who dared to share pre-approved scientific studies that happened to reach unapproved conclusions. The Party didn’t need to control the past—they just needed to control what you were allowed to remember about it.This wasn’t an accident or an overreaction. This was a stress test of how quickly a free society could be transformed into something unrecognizable, and we failed spectacularly. Anyone who actually followed the science understood that the only pandemic was one of cowardice. Worse, most people didn’t even notice we were being tested. They thought they were just “following the science”—never mind that the data kept changing to match the politics, or that questioning anything had somehow become heretical.The beautiful thing about this system is that it’s self-sustaining. Once you’ve participated in the mob mentality, once you’ve policed your neighbors and canceled your friends and stayed silent when you should have spoken up, you become invested in maintaining the fiction that you were right all along. Admitting you were wrong isn’t just embarrassing—it’s an admission that you participated in something monstrous. So instead, you double down. You disappear when confronted with inconvenient facts.Raising PrisonersAnd this brings us back to the children. They’re watching all of this. But more than that—they’re growing up inside this surveillance infrastructure from birth. The Stasi’s victims at least had some years of normal psychological development before the surveillance state kicked in. These kids never get that. They’re born into a world where every thought might be public, every mistake permanent, every unpopular opinion potentially life-destroying.The psychological impact is devastating. Research shows that children who grow up under constant surveillance—even well-meaning parental surveillance—show higher rates of anxiety, depression, and what psychologists call “learned helplessness.” They never develop internal locus of control because they never get to make real choices with real consequences. But this goes far deeper than helicopter parenting.The ability to hold unpopular opinions, to think through problems independently, to risk being wrong—these aren’t just nice-to-haves. They’re core to psychological maturity. When you eliminate those possibilities, you don’t just get more compliant people; you get people who literally can’t think for themselves anymore. They outsource their judgment to the crowd because they never developed their own.We’re creating a generation of psychological cripples—people who are practiced at reading social cues and adjusting their thoughts accordingly, but who have never learned to form independent judgments. People who mistake consensus for truth and popularity for virtue. People who have been so thoroughly trained to avoid wrong-think that they’ve either lost—or never developed—the capacity for original thought entirely.But here’s what’s most disturbing: the kids are learning this behavior from us. They’re watching adults who whisper their real thoughts, who agree privately but stay silent publicly, who confuse strategic silence with wisdom. They’re learning that authenticity is dangerous, that having real convictions is a luxury they can’t afford. They’re learning that truth is negotiable, that principles are disposable, and that the most important skill in life is reading the room and adjusting your thoughts accordingly.The feedback loop is complete: adults model cowardice, children learn that genuine expression is risky, and everyone becomes practiced at self-censorship rather than self-examination. We’ve created a society where the Overton window isn’t just narrow—it’s actively policed by people who are terrified of stepping outside it, even when they privately disagree with its boundaries.This is the architecture of soft totalitarianism. Just the constant, gnawing fear that saying the wrong thing—or even thinking it too loudly—will result in social death. The beauty of this system is that it makes everyone complicit. Everyone has something to lose, so everyone stays quiet. Everyone remembers what happened to the last person who spoke up, so nobody wants to be next.The technology doesn’t just enable this tyranny; it makes it psychologically inevitable. When the infrastructure punishes independent thinking before it can fully form, you get psychological arrested development on a mass scale.It’s already baked into education and employment through DEI and ESG. Wait till it’s baked into the monetary system. Maybe they’re just connecting us to the Borg anyway?We’re passing this pathology down to our children like a genetic disorder. Except this disorder isn’t inherited—it’s enforced. And unlike genetic disorders, this one serves a purpose: it creates a population that’s easy to control, easy to manipulate, easy to lead around by the nose as long as you control the social rewards and punishments.The Price of TruthI don’t share my opinions because I “get away with it”—I don’t get away with anything. I’ve paid socially, professionally, and even financially. But I do it anyway because the alternative is spiritual death. The alternative is becoming someone who messages critics privately but never takes a public stand, someone who’s perpetually annoyed by others’ courage but never exercises their own.The difference isn’t ability or privilege. It’s willingness. I’m open-minded and open-hearted. I can be convinced of anything—but show me, don’t tell me. I’m willing to be wrong, willing to change my mind when new information comes to light or I gain a different perspective on an idea, willing to defend ideas I believe in even when it’s uncomfortable.There are a lot of us right now realizing that something isn’t right—that we’ve been lied to about everything. We’re trying to make sense of what we’re seeing, asking uncomfortable questions, connecting dots that don’t want to be connected. When we call that out, the last thing we need is people who haven’t done the work standing in our way, carrying water for the establishment forces that are manipulating them.Most people could do the same thing if they chose to—they just don’t choose to because they’ve been trained to see conviction as dangerous and conformity as safe.A 2020 Cato Institute survey found that 62% of Americans say the political climate prevents them from sharing their political beliefs because others might find them offensive. Majorities of Democrats (52%), independents (59%), and Republicans (77%) all agree they have political opinions they are afraid to share.When adults who lived through Covid saw what happens when groupthink becomes gospel—how quickly independent thought gets labeled dangerous, how thoroughly dissent gets suppressed—many responded not by becoming more committed to free expression, but by becoming more careful about what they express. They learned the wrong lesson.What we’re creating is a society where authenticity has become a radical act, where courage is so rare it looks like privilege. We’re raising children who learn that being yourself is dangerous, that having real opinions carries unlimited downside risk. They’re not just careful about what they say—they’re careful about what they think.This doesn’t create better people. It creates more fearful people. People who mistake surveillance for safety, conformity for virtue, and silence for wisdom. People who’ve forgotten that the point of having thoughts is sometimes to share them, that the point of having convictions is sometimes to defend them.The solution isn’t to abandon technology or retreat into digital monasteries. But we need to create spaces—legal, social, psychological—where both kids and adults can fail safely. Where mistakes don’t become permanent tattoos. Where changing your mind is seen as growth rather than hypocrisy. Where having convictions is valued over having clean records.Most importantly, we need adults who are willing to model courage instead of strategic silence—who understand that the price of speaking up is usually less than the price of staying quiet. In a world where everyone’s afraid to say what they think, the honest voice doesn’t just stand out—it stands up.Because right now, we’re not just living in fear—we’re teaching our children that fear is the price of participation in society. And a society built on fear isn’t a society at all. It’s just a more comfortable prison, one where the guards are ourselves and the keys are our own convictions, which we’ve learned to keep safely locked away.Whether it’s experimental medicine or the masters of war lying again to drag us into what might become World War III—it’s PSYOP season—it’s never been more important that people find their conviction, use their voice, and become a force for good. If you’re still scared to push back against war propaganda, still getting swept up in manufactured outrage cycles, still choosing your principles based on which team is in power—then you may have learned absolutely nothing from the last few years.These days, friends are starting to confide in me that maybe I was right about the mRNA vaccines not working. I don’t gloat—in fact, I appreciate the openness. But my standard reply is that they’re four years late to the story. They’ll know they’ve caught up when they realize the world is run by a bunch of satanic pedophiles. And yeah, I used to think that sounded crazy too.Republished from the author’s Substack Tyler DurdenMon, 06/30/2025 - 22:35
On Monday, major U.S. indices closed in positive territory, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average rising 0.6% to 44,094.77. The S&P 500 gained 0.5% to finish at 6,204.95, while the Nasdaq also advanced 0.5%, ending the session at 20,369.73.These are the top stocks that gained the attention of retail traders and investors throughout the day.Robinhood Markets, Inc. (NASDAQ:HOOD)Shares of Robinhood Markets soared by 12.77% to close at $93.63, after touching an intraday high of $94.24 and a low of $85.50. The stock now sits at its 52-week high of $94.24, with a 52-week low of $13.98. The trading platform operator unveiled new features aimed at simplifying and enhancing crypto trading for its users. In a move designed to make digital asset management more accessible, the company introduced updates that promise a more powerful and user-friendly experience. New offerings include stock and ETF tokens, which are available in the European Union.Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)Apple Inc. advanced 2.03% to finish at $205.17, after trading between $199.26 and $207.39 during the ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
S&P and Nasdaq touch fresh highs. White House claims Canada ‘caves’ on trade. China’s June factory activity unexpectedly expands. Elon Musk calls Trump bill “DEBT SLAVERY.”‘ Some companies are expected to benefit from higher NATO defense spending.What a first half of the year it has been.In the first six months, the world saw a (not so) new U.S. president in the Oval Office, said president upend the global trade landscape, and a president in South Korea removed from office. Conflicts also broke out between India and Pakistan, as well as Israel and Iran (along with a U.S. airstrike thrown into the mix.)Chinese AI startup DeepSeek made its debut, stealing ChatGPT’s thunder for a while, and elections took place around the world, including in Germany, Australia, and even right here in sunny Singapore. We might just have to call Billy Joel and get him to write a whole new version of “We Didn’t Start the Fire.” Despite such a rollercoaster ride so far, market investors, in response to most developments, seem to have adopted the U.K.’s mantra as it prepared for war in 1939: Keep calm and carry on. If we take a longer-term view, markets have delivered a respectable performance despite a volatile first half. Just a few stats: the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite closed at fresh all-time highs Monday and are up about 5% year to date. In Europe, the Stoxx 600 is up 6.7%, and in Asia, most major markets are in positive territory, with Hong Kong and South Korea posting a whopping 20% gain year to date. Keep calm and carry on into the second half of the year, investors. — Lim Hui JieWhat you need to know todayS&P and Nasdaq touch fresh highs. On Monday, the S&P 500 gained 0.52% and posted another record close, ending at 6,204.95, while the Nasdaq Composite advanced 0.47% and reached a fresh all-time high of 20,369.73. Asia-Pacific markets traded mixed Tuesday, with Japan’s Nikkei 225 retreating from an 11-month high.White House claims Canada ‘caves’ on trade. The White House said that Canada “caved” to President Donald Trump by hastily rescinding its digital services tax after the president threatened to shut down trade negotiations between the two major trading partners.China’s June factory activity unexpectedly expands. The Caixin/S&P Global manufacturing purchasing managers’ index came in at 50.4, higher than the Reuters estimate of 49. It also diverged from China’s official PMI report, which samples more companies, mostly in upstream sectors.Elon Musk calls Trump bill “DEBT SLAVERY.” The Tesla and SpaceX CEO is doubling down on his criticisms to kill Trump’s signature megabill. Musk also called for a “new political party,” and vowed that any fiscal conservative who votes for the bill will “lose their primary next year.”[PRO] Beneficiaries of NATO defense spending. With NATO members committing to a much higher defense spending target, certain companies are expected to see huge boosts to their bottom lines – particularly those headquartered in Europe.And finally...Fotograzia | Moment | Getty ImagesDigital illustration of a glowing world map with “AI” text across multiple continents, representing the global presence and integration of artificial intelligence. As nations build ‘sovereign AI,’ open-source models and cloud computing can helpAs artificial intelligence becomes more democratized, it is important for emerging economies to build their own “sovereign AI,” panelists told CNBC’s East Tech West conference in Bangkok, Thailand, on Friday.In general, sovereign AI refers to a nation’s ability to control its own AI technologies, data and related infrastructure, ensuring strategic autonomy while meeting its unique priorities and security needs.— Dylan Butts» Read more
Stephanie Ivory counts on Medicaid to get treated for gastrointestinal conditions and a bulging disc that makes standing or sitting for long periods painful. Her disabilities keep her from working, she said.
'Historic moment': First LNG Canada shipment departs B.C. for Asia YahooCanada's historic first cargo of LNG sets sail for buyers in Asia Financial Post‘Historic moment’: First LNG Canada shipment departs B.C. for Asia Toronto StarCanada’s liquefied natural gas touted — and doubted — as a green ‘transition’ fuel CityNews VancouverLNG Canada starts exports to Asia and explores pathways to expansion The Globe and Mail
TOKYO (AP) — Business sentiment among large Japanese manufacturers has improved slightly, according to a survey by Japan’s central bank released Tuesday, although worries persist over President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The Bank of Japan’s quarterly tankan survey said an index for large manufacturers rose to plus 13 from plus 12 in March, when it marked [...]
Trump vents online about service provider after conference call marred by glitch
Crocs Inc's (NASDAQ:CROX) management is likely focusing on keeping inventory clean against a softer wholesale backdrop, rather than trying to meet sales targets, in order to help protect margins, according to Bank of America Securities.The Crocs Analyst: Analyst Christopher Nardone maintained a Buy rating, while reducing the price target from $140 to $135.The Crocs Thesis: With shares down 14% from their peak following the company's first-quarter earnings release in May, the stock now prices in "a more cautious US wholesale environment," ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Senate Republicans are in a sprint on Trump's big bill after a weekend of setbacks
"Do you really think we're going to get rid of lawyers?" former Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently asked, warning that artificial intelligence will complicate legal work—not eliminate it. During a TED interview in Vancouver in April , he called AI a "career-defining" shift. Schmidt urged every industry to "adopt it, and adopt it fast." He argued that AI is already transforming office environments, clinics and courtrooms by making jobs "more sophisticated, not quickly obsolete."Don't Miss:GoSun's breakthrough rooftop EV charger already has 2,000+ units reserved — become an investor in this $41.3M clean energy brand today.Invest early in CancerVax's breakthrough tech aiming to disrupt a $231B market. Back a bold new approach to cancer treatment with high-growth potential.AI Adoption Accelerates Across IndustriesSchmidt pointed to his March investment in Relativity Space, a California-based rocket startup, as an example of AI's learning potential. "It's an area that I'm not an expert in, and I want to be an expert," he told the audience, ...Full story available on Benzinga.com
Over 60,000 supplements recalled over deadly poison risk: Check packaging NOW Daily MailVitamins sold nationwide recalled due to 'risk of serious injury or death' from poisoning WKRCiHerb Recalls Bottles and Blister Packs of California Gold Nutrition Iron Supplements Due to Risk of Serious Injury or Death from Child Poisoning; Violation of Federal Standard for Child Resistant Packaging U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (.gov)60K vitamins, prenatal supplements recalled over deadly poison risk NewsNationAbout 60,000 units of multivitamins recalled for risks to children. See impacted items. USA Today
Dad Jumps From Disney Ship to Save Young Daughter, Ocean Rescue on Cam TMZChild reportedly fell overboard on Disney cruise. Her dad jumped in after her. USA TodayDad Jumps Overboard to Save His Daughter After She Falls from Fourth Deck of Disney Cruise Ship: Reports People.comChild falls overboard on Disney Cruises ship TheStreetDad jumps in to save daughter who fell overboard from Disney cruise ship near Fort Lauderdale CBS News
Sage lays off entire staff of 338 amid Supernus acquisition Fierce PharmaSage Therapeutics cuts most of its workforce following acquisition STATSage to lay off most staff amid Supernus buyout Yahoo FinanceSage Sacks Entire Staff After Supernus Buyout BioSpaceSage Therapeutics cuts over 300 jobs after securing buyer The Business Journals
Digital marketing is extra confusing right now because two huge changes are happening at the same time.
TORONTO - More than 250 workers at the CN Tower, one of the most iconic tourist sites in Toronto, have been locked out just before Canada Day, their union said on Monday.
GMS is a distributor of specialty building products.
Peter Thiel Warns: One-World Government A Greater Threat Than AI Or Climate Change In a wide-ranging interview on the future and global existential risks, billionaire technology investor Peter Thiel raised alarms not only about familiar threats like nuclear war, climate change, and artificial intelligence but also about what he sees as a more insidious danger: the rise of a one-world totalitarian state. Speaking to the New York Times’ Ross Douthat, Thiel argued that the default political response to global crises—centralized, supranational governance—could plunge humanity into authoritarianism.Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir, shared his worries using examples from dystopian sci-fi stories. “There’s a risk of nuclear war, environmental disaster, bioweapons, and certain types of risks with AI,” Thiel explained to Douthat, suggesting that the push for global governance as a solution to these threats could culminate in a “bad singularity” - a one-world state that stifles freedom under the guise of safety.Thiel critiqued what he described as a reflexive call for centralized control in times of peril.“The default political solution people have for all these existential risks is one-world governance,” Thiel observed, pointing to proposals for a strengthened United Nations to control nuclear arsenals or global compute governance to regulate AI development, including measures to “log every single keystroke” to prevent dangerous programming. Such solutions, the investor warned, risk creating a surveillance state that sacrifices individual liberty for security.Drawing on historical and philosophical analogies, Thiel referenced a 1940s Federation of American Scientists film, One World or None, which argued that only global governance could prevent nuclear annihilation. Thiel juxtaposed this with a Christian theological framing: “Antichrist or Armageddon?” In both, the billionaire said he sees a binary choice between centralized control and catastrophic collapse. Yet, Thiel questioned the plausibility of a charismatic “Antichrist” figure seizing power through hypnotic rhetoric, as depicted in apocalyptic literature. Instead, he offered a modern twist: the path to global control lies in relentless fearmongering about existential risks.“The way the Antichrist would take over the world is you talk about Armageddon nonstop,” Thiel explained. The billionaire contrasted this with earlier visions of scientific progress, like those of 17th- and 18th-century Baconian science, where the threat was an evil genius wielding technology. Presently, Thiel argued, the greater political resonance lies in halting scientific advancement altogether. “In our world, it’s far more likely to be Greta Thunberg than Dr. Strangelove,” he quipped, invoking the radical Swedish climate activist as a symbol of anti-progress sentiment.On AI specifically, Thiel struck a balanced tone, tempering both utopian and apocalyptic predictions.“One question we can frame is: Just how big a thing do I think AI is?” he asked himself. “My stupid answer is: It’s more than a nothing burger, and it’s less than the total transformation of our society.”Thiel compared AI’s potential impact to the internet in the late 1990s, suggesting it could create “some great companies” and add “a few percentage points” to GDP, perhaps boosting growth by 1% annually for a decade or more. However, the billionaire expressed skepticism that AI alone could end economic stagnation, viewing it as a significant but not revolutionary force.While Thiel expressed nuanced views on artificial intelligence, his venture capital firm, Founders Fund, is aggressively backing the technology. Namely, it recently led a $600 million investment in Crusoe, a vertically integrated AI infrastructure provider.“The biggest risk with AI is that we don't go big enough. Crusoe is here to liberate us from the island of limited ambition,” Thiel said at the time. Tyler DurdenSun, 06/29/2025 - 22:45
TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said late Sunday trade talks with U.S. have resumed after Canada rescinded its plan to tax U.S. technology firms.
Singapore's Acting Minister of Transport, Mr. Jeffrey Siow, led a high-level delegation to WeRide's headquarters in Guangzhou.
Disturbing Signs of AI Threatening People Spark Concern ScienceAlertAgentic Misalignment: How LLMs could be insider threats AnthropicAI Chatbot blackmails engineer, threatens to reveal extra-marital affair, experts warn how AI is learning Times of IndiaAnthropic study: Leading AI models show up to 96% blackmail rate against executives VentureBeatAI is learning to lie, scheme and threaten its creators The Japan Times
Brazil's Vale, one of the world's largest iron-ore producers, has decided how to spend half of the planned 70-billion reais in investments under its "new Carajas programme", according to a company director, who discussed details of the five-year plan with journalists this week.Gildiney Sales, director of the mining company’s North corridor, said some of the projects are in the execution phase.
This is CNBC’s live blog covering European markets.Sterling higher, UK stocks to open in green as U.S. trade deal comes into effectThe British pound, which last week hit an almost four-year high against the U.S. dollar, is up 0.1% against the greenback at 7:39 a.m. in London to around $1.373. Futures data meanwhile points to higher opens for both the FTSE 100 and the broader FTSE 250.Monday marks the start of the trade deal between the U.K. and U.S. which was brokered last month. Key details include British car export tariffs being reduced from 27.5% to 10%, along with duties on aerospace goods such as engines and aircraft parts being slashed to zero. The U.K. has still been left with a baseline 10% tariff and an outlined agreement that will put zero tariffs on core steel products has not been finalized.The U.K.’s statistics agency meanwhile on Monday confirmed that economic growth for the first quarter of 2025 was 0.7%, in line with its previous estimate.— Jenni ReidHere are the opening callsYui Mok – Pa Images | Pa Images | Getty ImagesThe London skyline on Sept. 15, 2023.Welcome to CNBC’s live blog covering all the action in European financial markets on Monday, and the latest regional and global business news, data and earnings.Futures data from IG suggests a positive start for European markets, with London’s FTSE looking set to open unchanged at 8,794, Germany’s DAX up 0.3% at 24,104, France’s CAC 40 up 0.3% at 7,709 and Italy’s FTSE MIB up 0.2% at 39,911.The positive start for Europe comes after similar sentiment in Asia-Pacific markets overnight, as investors parsed details on trade negotiations and data points, including Japan’s industrial output figures for May and China’s manufacturing activity for June.Meanwhile, U.S. stock futures rose early Monday as investors look to cap an exuberant month for stocks, despite uncertainty over global trade negotiations.— Holly EllyattWhat to watch for todayMarket watchers in Europe will be looking at the latest inflation data out of Italy and Germany on Monday, as well as German retail sales, for signs of inflationary pressures and a hit to consumer confidence.Traders will also be digesting data out of China earlier that showed manufacturing activity contracted for a third straight month in June, despite Beijing’s stimulus efforts helping to stabilize certain aspects of the industrial sector.— Holly Ellyatt
Canadian Prime Minister Carney says trade talks with Trump are back on after Canada rescinds tax on technology firms.
US Stock Futures Advance as Trade Talks Continue: Markets Wrap BloombergShares firm in Asia as US-Canada trade talks resume ReutersAsia-Pacific markets mostly rise as investors parse a slew of data releases CNBCAsia stocks head for monthly gains on US trade deal hopes; Nikkei hits 1-yr high Investing.comMost Asian stocks rise as investors eye US trade talks Bloomer Advance Newspaper
Diverging China PMI trends stir AUD/USD and Hang Seng moves ahead of key Caixin data releases.
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CDC: New COVID Variant Estimated To Be No. 1 Strain In US Authored by Jack Phillips via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),A new estimate from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that a COVID-19 variant that has been driving cases in China earlier this year is now the No. 1 strain in the United States.This scanning electron microscope image shows the novel coronavirus (orange), which causes COVID-19 disease, isolated from a patient in the United States, emerging from the surface of cells (green) cultured in the lab. Photo published on Feb. 13, 2020. NIAID-RMLA CDC estimate, updated on June 26, shows that between June 8 and June 21, the NB.1.8.1 variant now makes up 43 percent of COVID-19 cases in the United States and is ahead of the LP.8.1 variant.Earlier this month, CDC data showed that NB.1.8.1 had 37 percent of cases and was No. 2 behind the LP.8.1 variant, which saw 38 percent of reported cases at the time. The new CDC estimate this week shows that LP.8.1 now makes up 31 percent of all cases.The CDC says that wastewater levels show COVID-19 activity is “currently low” despite the NB.1.8.1 variant increase. Only Alaska is reporting “high” levels of the virus, while Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Florida, and Connecticut are seeing “moderate” levels, according to the CDC.Last week, private data showed that states reporting the variant, which has been dubbed “Nimbus” in some media reports, include Arizona, California, Colorado, New Jersey, New York, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Ohio, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington state as of June 19.Chinese doctors earlier this month predicted a peak of nationwide COVID-19 cases in July, as the latest data released by Chinese health authorities show that variant NB 1.8.1 is still the main pathogen causing the rapid increase in COVID-19 infections in China.An internal university research report at China’s Peking University stated that NB.1.8.1 may become the next dominant global strain, with symptoms including a sharp sore throat, fever, runny nose, vomiting, and diarrhea, according to previous Epoch Times reporting.A worldwide rise in cases late last month is primarily in the Eastern Mediterranean, Southeast Asia, and Western Pacific regions, the World Health Organization said on May 28. The new variant had reached nearly 11 percent of sequenced samples reported globally in mid-May.The WHO said some Western Pacific countries have reported increases in COVID cases and hospitalizations, but there’s nothing so far to suggest that the disease associated with the new variant is more severe than other variants.In a statement to The Epoch Times in late May, a CDC spokesperson said the agency “is aware of reported cases of COVID-19 NB.1.8.1 in China and is in regular contact with international partners.”Prior reports from The Epoch Times, citing Chinese doctors and outside health experts, have said that patients are reporting a sharp sore that’s been dubbed the “razor blade throat” or “razor throat.” Some media outlets, including The Associated Press and international media reports from the UK and India, have used the “razor throat” moniker to describe the NB.1.8.1 variant.Due to the Chinese Communist Party’s history of covering up information and publishing unreliable data, including underreporting COVID-19 infections and related deaths since 2020, information provided by local doctors and health workers can offer valuable information for understanding the situation on the ground in the totalitarian country.The Associated Press contributed to this report. Tyler DurdenSun, 06/29/2025 - 22:10
The first commercial application of a new, quinone-enabled flow battery system for long duration energy storage will take place at medical facility in California.The post US Not Ready To Give Up On Energy Storage — Yet appeared first on CleanTechnica.
Lululemon sues Costco for selling alleged dupes of its products CTV NewsView Full Coverage on Google News
The phone company's new wireless deal seems too good to be true — but it isn't.
100,000 EVs Will Retire This Year. What Will Happen To Their Batteries? InsideEVsCrusoe, Redwood Partner on Data Center Powered by Used Batteries BloombergRedwood Materials diverts its huge battery hoard toward the AI energy boom Business Insider
Uber Technologies, Berkshire Hathaway, PepsiCo, Costco Wholesale, Walmart, Starbucks, and Nebius Group are the seven Grocery stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeat’s stock screener tool. Grocery stocks are the inventory of food items and household goods that a supermarket or grocery store maintains for sale to customers. They include perishable products like produce, meat, [...]
Floating by are tangled roots and water lilies. Undulating floodwaters reflect the sky. Treetops drop giant peapods into the water. A few thatched huts, without walls and on stilts, are set just above the muddy water’s edge. It is a day trip for twenty Indigenous people in a traditional river ... [continued]The post Solar Projects That Make Us Smile appeared first on CleanTechnica.
The billionaire's real estate firm expects housing market fluctuations to shape homebuying trends this year.
Recent adjustments to my projections for global steel demand through 2100, reflecting a significant slowdown in Chinese infrastructure and cement consumption, have sharpened my economic focus on competing new steelmaking technologies. With lower growth trajectories for steel firmly established, every ton produced in the coming decades will increasingly face stringent ... [continued]The post Why Hydrogen Won’t Win The Zero-Carbon Steel Race appeared first on CleanTechnica.
Lululemon sues Costco for selling alleged dupes of its products Global NewsLululemon sues Costco for allegedly ripping off clothing designs Reuters
Paradise Care Cottages in Port St. Lucie is closing, causing residents to find new homes, with a 45-day notice period confirmed after a typo scare.
Growing emphasis on precision farming and rising demand for high-performance lubricants to reduce machinery downtime are fueling the Agricultural Lubricant market growth. Growing emphasis on precision farming and rising demand for high-performance lubricants to reduce machinery downtime are fueling the Agricultural Lubricant market growth.
White House Pressures Syria To Normalize Ties with Israel Amid 'Quiet Talks' President Trump believes Syria may soon join the Abraham Accords, based on comments given to reporters by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Friday. The reasoning seems to be that with Assad out, this provides an opportunity to control the outcome and force Damascus to make peace with Israel.After all, Syria under the Assad family was the single fiercest, longtime enemy of Israel, with a de facto state of war on for half-a-century, centered on the occupied Golan Heights.Leavitt told reporters that Trump remains optimistic about expanding the peace agreement. She confirmed that the president brought up the issue directly with Syria’s new de facto leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa (aka. US-terror designated Jolani) during this Riyadh visit and Gulf tour. "One of President Trump’s main requests during his meeting with President Sharaa was for Syria to join the Abraham Accords," Leavitt said. "Achieving a lasting peace in the Middle East is a core objective for this administration."Sharaa had reportedly told US Representative Cory Mills during a visit in April that Syria was open to joining the accords under the "right conditions."US Special Envoy to Syria Thomas Barrack has also been bringing the pressure. He has recently referenced quiet discussions with Damascus underway, amid the reopening of the ambassador's residence in Damascus - a first since 2012.Barrack encouraged the international community to give Syria's new leadership "an opportunity to prove its new direction."However, so far the government stacked with Jolani's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members has turned a blind eye to massacres targeting Alawites, Christians, and Druze - along the coast and in Damascus and elsewhere.Sadly, this whole ugly reality seems to be missing from White House statements. Why didn't Trump name as a firm condition the protection of churches, for example, as a basis for dropping sanctions on Syria?Just last week Mar Elias Orthodox Church in Damascus was attacked by a suicide bomber, resulting in the deaths of 25 people and scores more wounded.Following the church bombing in Damascus, unknown individuals wrote "You're next" on the walls of Mar Elias Church in Kfarboum, Hama countryside. pic.twitter.com/XSAoO3gIQW— Beirut Wire (@beirutwire) June 22, 2025What government is looking out for Syria's religious minorities? Certainly Washington appears to have shrugged as Damascus' new hardline Sunni masters engage in deal-making, and a blind eye is turned to their ISIS and Al-Qaeda past. Tyler DurdenSat, 06/28/2025 - 22:45
Senators voting in weekend session to meet Trump's deadline for passing his tax and spending cuts
The Senate is taking a key procedural vote as Republicans race to pass President Donald Trump’s package of tax breaks, spending cuts and bolstered deportation funds by his July Fourth deadline. But voting came to a standstill and Vice President...
Guests for The Robbys pose for photos as they arrive at Robinson Film Center in Shreveport, La., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
Guests for The Robbys pose for photos as they arrive at Robinson Film Center in Shreveport, La., Saturday, June 28, 2025.
The Business Of Broken Self-Worth In The Digital Age Authored by Kay Rubacek via The Epoch Times,A new study from JAMA Pediatrics should stop us in our tracks: early adolescents who report addictive use of screens—not just frequent use—are more than twice as likely to consider suicide within two years.Not because they’re online too much, but because they can’t stop.At the same time, a young woman named Caroline Koziol, once a top athlete and student, is suing TikTok and Instagram after their algorithms flooded her feed with eating disorder content. What began as a search for fitness tips spiraled into full-blown anorexia. Hers is just one of over 1,800 similar cases being filed.This isn’t a glitch in the system. It is the system.Social media platforms aren’t just reflecting our insecurities—they’re cultivating them. Why? Because insecurity is profitable. When a teen feels like they’re not enough—too fat, too plain, too quiet—they stay online longer. They scroll, they compare, they engage. And every second they spend chasing validation, someone else cashes in.What we’re seeing is the weaponization of low self-worth, scaled by algorithm and monetized by design.That may sound harsh. But let’s be honest: this is not new. For decades, the beauty industry, fashion, even wellness trends have profited from telling people—especially women and girls—that they’re not quite good enough as they are. Social media just industrialized the tactic.Now, platforms optimize for compulsive behavior, not joy or creativity. Addictive engagement is rewarded; mental health is collateral damage.The truth is, many industries benefit when people doubt themselves: advertisers profit from the fear of not measuring up, influencers and online gurus sell the illusion of “fixing” your flaws, and even parts of the pharmaceutical and therapy world expand when anxiety and depression rise.And those are just the commercial beneficiaries. Politically, a public that lacks confidence is easier to sway. Easier to divide. Easier to control.The erosion of self-worth isn’t just a personal struggle—it’s a public vulnerability. And in the digital age, it’s becoming systemic.We need to call this what it is: a cultural emergency. The lawsuits against Meta and other platforms are a start, but they won’t be enough on their own. If we want meaningful change, we need three things:First, legal and design accountability. Platforms must be held responsible for the psychological effects of the algorithms they deploy. That means transparency in how recommendation systems work and consequences when they clearly lead to harm.Second, parental and educational empowerment. We must teach young people not only how to use tech—but how to resist it. To spot manipulation. To value themselves beyond a like count.And third, we need a cultural shift. Self-worth cannot be treated as a niche concern or a private battle. It’s a foundation for freedom, resilience, and public health. When people believe they matter, they’re less likely to be controlled—and more likely to create.Because the real danger isn’t just that tech platforms make people feel worthless. It’s that people don’t even realize it’s happening.And when you don’t believe in your own worth, you’re willing to trade it—for anything that promises to give it back.Views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times or ZeroHedge. Tyler DurdenSat, 06/28/2025 - 22:10
The first half of 2025 was marked by major intraday swings and volatility. And Goldman Sachs expects even higher equity volatility in the second six months of the year. All eyes next week will be on central bankers as they take center stage in Sintra, Portugal. The U.K. Labour Party will also mark one year in office — as approval ratings unwind.“Politics isn’t wagging the tail – it’s shaking the entire dog.”These strong words from one wealth manager to CNBC last week capture a hectic first half of trading. They also set the stage for an uncertain second half, where “geoeconomics” looks set to remain a dominant market force. This week, expect attention to return to monetary policy, as central bankers from across the globe — who have kept their heads down amid political tensions — prepare to speak at the ECB Forum in Sintra, Portugal. Halftime reportA lot has happened in the last six months, with trade tensions and truces sending equity markets across the globe haywire.The VIX volatility index — also known as the Wall Street fear gauge — spiked in April as tariff threats, followed by tariff pauses, caused huge intraday swings across major indices. Meanwhile, “black swan” moments in the Middle East also kept investors on edge.Amid all the uncertainty, some stock markets showed remarkable resilience: Germany’s Dax remains the outperformer in Europe, up over 18% so far this year, followed by London’s FTSE 100 up around 9%, while the French CAC 40 lags with around 5% gains.But what does this all mean for trading in the second half of the year? Goldman Sachs warns that, “elevated policy uncertainty paired with a worsening macro backdrop are likely to support higher equity volatility in the next months.”Don’t miss the best of CNBC’s live programming and events from across Europe, Asia and the Middle East on YouTube.Central banks take center stage at SintraAs Goldman’s warning rings loudly in investors’ ears, the stage is set for central banks to return to the limelight.This week, the town of Sintra in Portugal plays host to the annual ECB Forum, where European central bankers are joined by their international counterparts to exchange views on current policy issues.The sun may well be shining in Portugal — but President Donald Trump’s recent comments will no doubt cast a shadow over the meeting, as he continues to put unprecedented pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.Just last week, Trump’s name-calling of Powell ramped up, sparking talk of a so-called “shadow Fed chair,” who could keep an eye on things until taking over as chair next year.Powell also put the pressure on his monetary policy peers, calling on central bankers to hold steady until they see the impact of trade tariffs: “We are well positioned to wait and learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.”Europe will need to decide how much it lets the U.S. approach dictate its policy, with ECB President Christine Lagarde opening proceedings in Sintra with a speech on Monday evening.Expect a punchy tone; her recent op-ed in the Financial Times saw her call for the euro to take advantage of the current environment and “gain global prominence.”Labour’s First Year in PowerNext Friday marks the first anniversary of the Labour Party taking power in the U.K., following 14 years of Conservative rule. A landslide victory saw a jubilant Labour return to Downing Street with the promise of change and growth. But the honeymoon period was short-lived.Fast-forward 12 months and Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks set to reach his first year in office with plummeting approval ratings which put him below his rival party leaders, including Reform’s Nigel Farage, Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.Starmer has faced a lot of external pressure, ranging from a public spat with Elon Musk to a slew of foreign policy challenges in Ukraine and the Middle East. Even three trade deals — with Europe, India and the very first U.S. agreement — did little to improve his popularity. But the economic challenges at home are causing the most discontent, with pressure even from within his own party to review certain reforms.
The first half of 2025 was marked by major intraday swings and volatility. And Goldman Sachs expects even higher equity volatility in the second six months of the year. All eyes next week will be on central bankers as they take center stage in Sintra, Portugal. The U.K. Labour Party will also mark one year in office — as approval ratings unwind.“Politics isn’t wagging the tail – it’s shaking the entire dog.”These strong words from one wealth manager to CNBC last week capture a hectic first half of trading. They also set the stage for an uncertain second half, where “geoeconomics” looks set to remain a dominant market force. This week, expect attention to return to monetary policy, as central bankers from across the globe — who have kept their heads down amid political tensions — prepare to speak at the ECB Forum in Sintra, Portugal. Halftime reportA lot has happened in the last six months, with trade tensions and truces sending equity markets across the globe haywire.The VIX volatility index — also known as the Wall Street fear gauge — spiked in April as tariff threats, followed by tariff pauses, caused huge intraday swings across major indices. Meanwhile, “black swan” moments in the Middle East also kept investors on edge.Amid all the uncertainty, some stock markets showed remarkable resilience: Germany’s Dax remains the outperformer in Europe, up over 18% so far this year, followed by London’s FTSE 100 up around 9%, while the French CAC 40 lags with around 5% gains.But what does this all mean for trading in the second half of the year? Goldman Sachs warns that, “elevated policy uncertainty paired with a worsening macro backdrop are likely to support higher equity volatility in the next months.”Don’t miss the best of CNBC’s live programming and events from across Europe, Asia and the Middle East on YouTube.Central banks take center stage at SintraAs Goldman’s warning rings loudly in investors’ ears, the stage is set for central banks to return to the limelight.This week, the town of Sintra in Portugal plays host to the annual ECB Forum, where European central bankers are joined by their international counterparts to exchange views on current policy issues.The sun may well be shining in Portugal — but President Donald Trump’s recent comments will no doubt cast a shadow over the meeting, as he continues to put unprecedented pressure on Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.Just last week, Trump’s name-calling of Powell ramped up, sparking talk of a so-called “shadow Fed chair,” who could keep an eye on things until taking over as chair next year.Powell also put the pressure on his monetary policy peers, calling on central bankers to hold steady until they see the impact of trade tariffs: “We are well positioned to wait and learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any adjustments to our policy stance.”Europe will need to decide how much it lets the U.S. approach dictate its policy, with ECB President Christine Lagarde opening proceedings in Sintra with a speech on Monday evening.Expect a punchy tone; her recent op-ed in the Financial Times saw her call for the euro to take advantage of the current environment and “gain global prominence.”Labour’s First Year in PowerNext Friday marks the first anniversary of the Labour Party taking power in the U.K., following 14 years of Conservative rule. A landslide victory saw a jubilant Labour return to Downing Street with the promise of change and growth. But the honeymoon period was short-lived.Fast-forward 12 months and Prime Minister Keir Starmer looks set to reach his first year in office with plummeting approval ratings which put him below his rival party leaders, including Reform’s Nigel Farage, Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.Starmer has faced a lot of external pressure, ranging from a public spat with Elon Musk to a slew of foreign policy challenges in Ukraine and the Middle East. Even three trade deals — with Europe, India and the very first U.S. agreement — did little to improve his popularity. But the economic challenges at home are causing the most discontent, with pressure even from within his own party to review certain reforms.