Finance news

How did a Venezuelan dropout become a crime boss on the US hit list?

The Tren de Aragua leader killed in a US-Venezuelan raid was a high school dropout who lived in comfort behind bars as he transformed a prison gang into one of the most powerful and extensive criminal organisations in Latin America. Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, alias Nino Guerrero, or “child warrior”, died at age 42 in a raid announced Friday by President Donald Trump and later confirmed by Venezuela. Founded in Venezuela in 2014, Tren de Aragua has been designated a terrorist...

Trump to name James McDonald – one of his lawyers – as Wall Street’s top cop

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he planned to appoint James McDonald as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, the federal prosecutor whose office handles many of the most high-profile cases involving Wall Street. McDonald would replace Jay Clayton, whom Trump nominated as US director of national intelligence less than two weeks after a congressional backlash against his interim appointee, housing official Bill Pulte. Trump had tapped Pulte after Tulsi Gabbard, the...

250 years of the USA: Following in the footsteps of George Washington at the beginning of the USA

Four of the first five US presidents came from Virginia - including the very first. Exploration tour between peanut soup, preserved documents and Washington D.C., where George Washington never ruled.

+++ Football World Cup 2026 +++: World Cup hype about the US team – ticket prices shoot up after 4:1

Draw in injury time: Switzerland only 1-1 against Qatar +++ Trump congratulates the US national team on their opening victory +++ FIFA President Infantino angers Italy with a joke +++ The World Cup news blog.

Trump says deal to end war to be signed on Sunday, but Iran questions timing

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that an initial deal to end the war in the Middle East would be signed on Sunday, although Iran denied the signing would take place so soon. Trump added in a social media post that the Strait of Hormuz, a ‌vital artery for global oil supplies which Iran has blocked, would be immediately “open to all” after the deal is signed. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the two sides had agreed on a framework for a peace deal and that Islamabad was...

US Government Order: Anthropic Shuts Down Mythos

The US government orders a ban on two Anthropic models for foreigners. The company feels it has been treated unfairly.

Russia, China, and Iran Are Joining Forces Against Western Pressure

Russia, China, and Iran are increasingly creating a strategic alliance of convenience that US policymakers must confront as it seeks to disrupt global order, according to a group of US experts and former officials. Speaking on June 10 at the "America's Adversaries: The Russia Reality" national security briefing organized by the Independent Women's Forum, many of the panelists noted that the transactional benefits are already yielding critical strategic dividends, particularly for an otherwise is

+++ 2026 World Cup +++: Trump congratulates the US national team on their opening victory

Fifa President Infantino angers Italy with joke +++ World Cup entry denied for Partey - Ghana sends protest note +++ Debate about viewership at the World Cup +++ The World Cup news blog.

US strike kills leader of Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, White House says

Venezuela’s information ministry said that during the operation there were clashes with members of criminal groups, in which the leader was neutralized.

Trump to discuss Strait of Hormuz demining efforts at G7

US President Donald Trump is expected to discuss plans to demine the Strait of Hormuz with allies during next week’s Group of Seven summit in France, a senior US administration official said on Saturday, as mediators said an agreement to end the war was close. Britain and France, which are both members of the G7, have expressed interest in assisting with demining the critical waterway once the conflict is paused. The official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity on ground rules..

China accuses US of power abuse with expanded blacklist of Chinese firms

Beijing has warned of a resolute response to the Pentagon’s newly expanded blacklist of Chinese companies, accusing Washington of using national security as a pretext to curb the development of Chinese firms. The warning came after the US Defence Department released its updated Section 1260H list on Monday as required by American law, expanding the roster to 188 entities, up from 134 last year. The list names what the department says are “Chinese military companies” operating, directly or...

Why SpaceX may not be a model for Chinese companies to copy

China should not try to copy SpaceX despite the US company’s successful IPO, a leading economist has said. The company raised US$75 billion when it went public on Friday and made its chief executive Elon Musk the world’s first trillionaire. But Shen Yingchun, a professor at Beihang University, told Beijing Daily: “China does not need to and cannot copy SpaceX.” She said “the strength of the US model is efficiency”, using the market to drive down costs and forcing companies to innovate. Shen...

+++ Iran War +++: Pakistan: USA-Iran deal probably finalized in the next 24 hours

Tanker hit by projectile off Oman's coast +++ Iran plans to bury Khamenei on July 9th +++ US military reports shooting down of Iranian drones in Strait of Hormuz +++ The news blog.

Artificial intelligence: Anthropic blocks top AI model for foreigners – Europe affected

A US government order forces Anthropic to block two new AI models from all non-US citizens. The background is concerns about national security.

AI: OpenAI is apparently being targeted by several US states

According to insiders, US authorities are investigating the ChatGPT developer. The focus is also on possible risks for minors. The timing is sensitive for the company.

Escalation in the Gulf: Why oil prices are falling despite new US attacks

The US and Iran are bombing each other. There is a risk of oil shortages in Europe and corresponding reactions on the markets. What investors need to prepare for.

Police seize HK$7.2m of drugs, target syndicate recruiting using online gaming

Hong Kong police have arrested four men and seized 9.5kg (20.9lbs) of suspected drugs worth about HK$7.2 million (US$918,850) in a case involving two mainland Chinese men allegedly recruited by a syndicate through online gaming platforms. Police said on Saturday that the operation began on Thursday, when officers intercepted a suspicious 21-year-old man from the mainland who attempted to flee in Tsim Sha Tsui. They escorted him to a nearby flat, where they seized 399 grams (14 ounces) of...

Can America sustain a war with China? New reports raise questions

The United States can launch stealth bombers across continents, track missiles from space and deploy forces anywhere on the planet. But as the nation approaches its 250th birthday next month, studies suggest a more basic question demands attention in Washington: can the military reliably fuel, sustain and connect those forces in a crisis? From the skies to orbit, two new reports point to vulnerabilities in critical pillars of US power projection at a time of intensifying strategic competition...

+++ USA +++: Trump: US military kills head of criminal organization Tren de Aragua

Trump government must put up plaques on slavery and climate again +++ Trump nominates Jay Clayton as new intelligence coordinator +++ Trump receives birthday present from Merz +++ The news blog.

+++ Iran War +++: Iran: End of the Lebanon attacks part of the agreement with the USA

US military reports Iranian drones shot down in Strait of Hormuz +++ Pakistan: Iran and USA have agreed on agreement +++ Israel orders evacuation in southern Lebanon +++ The news blog.

Finding strength in a crisis: You can learn resilience from these people

US tariffs, AI disruption, Iran war – one exceptional situation is followed by another. How do companies and managers become resilient? Four people for whom emergencies are routine reveal their secrets.

Artificial Intelligence: Anthropic blocks top AI model following US government order

For the first time, a top AI has to be blocked on government orders. Anthropic is suspending access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5 due to US government national security concerns. What's behind it?

+++ Football World Cup 2026 +++: FIFA President Infantino angers Italy with a joke

Dream start for US boys against Paraguay +++ Iranian association: Fifa president does not keep promises +++ English announcement from World Cup referee becomes internet hit in Brazil +++ The World Cup news blog.

Artificial Intelligence: Anthropic blocks top AI model after government order

There has never been anything like this before: OpenAI rival Anthropic suddenly has to block access to its best AI model because the US government fears a security risk. A lot is still unclear.

Iran War: Will there be an Iran deal? – US military reports new attacks

An agreement between the USA and Iran seems within reach. But Tehran's nuclear program remains a sticking point in the negotiations. And the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense.

US downs Iranian drones in Strait of Hormuz despite peace deal progress

The United States said it downed multiple Iranian drones targeting commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz early on Saturday, hours after both sides said a deal to end the Middle East war was closer than ever. The interception came after weeks of halting talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Pakistan, that have been marked by threats and exchanges of fire despite a fragile truce agreed in April. US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees operations in the region, posted on social..

US blocks foreign access to Anthropic’s newest AI models over security risks

Washington has ordered Anthropic – a leading entity in America’s AI sector – to block all foreign nationals from accessing its latest models, Fable 5 and Mythos 5, citing national security concerns, according to the Silicon Valley-based firm. The unprecedented export-control measure – the first to target specific AI models – came just days after Anthropic released the models, underscoring Washington’s increasingly hands-on approach to regulating frontier artificial intelligence...

Situation at a glance: Will there be an Iran deal? - US military reports new attacks

An agreement between the USA and Iran seems within reach. But Tehran's nuclear program remains a sticking point in the negotiations. And the situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense.

Asia shaken as US abandons role as guardian of rules-based order

Fight against drug cartels: Trump: US military kills leader of Venezuelan drug gang

Tren de Aragua is a gang involved in drug trafficking, protection rackets and human trafficking. The US government considers it a terrorist organization - and is targeting its leader.