Texas Investigating Islamic Tribunal For Allegedly Operating Sharia Law Court Authored by Darlene McCormick Sanchez via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday an investigation into a Dallas-based group accused of operating as a sharia law court. Protester David Wright (L) speaks with counterprotester Vincent Simon, a Muslim, as Melissa Yassini holds a s...
Texas Investigating Islamic Tribunal For Allegedly Operating Sharia Law Court Authored by Darlene McCormick Sanchez via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday an investigation into a Dallas-based group accused of operating as a sharia law court. Protester David Wright (L) speaks with counterprotester Vincent Simon, a Muslim, as Melissa Yassini holds a sign across the street from a mosque in Richardson, Texas, on Dec. 12, 2015. LM Otero/AP Photo In a press release, Paxton said he requested documents from the group, known as the Islamic Tribunal, regarding allegations that it was issuing rulings based on sharia law. According to the release, the Islamic Tribunal has “reportedly sought to replace actual courts of law and to evade neutral, generally applicable state and federal laws.” Paxton warned, “Anyone or any entity that seeks to subvert the codified state and federal laws of this country will be stopped dead in their tracks. If the Islamic Tribunal is undermining the rule of law or misleading Texans about the legal authority it claims to hold, my office will ensure its operation is shut down.” “ This is America, and we will not be governed by sharia law, ” he added. The Epoch Times reached out to the Islamic Tribunal for comment. The organization described itself on its website in April 2025 as a “unique institution” in America. It said its 2014 establishment aimed “to set a precedence [sic] that will be emulated and duplicated throughout the country.” The organization has since changed the wording on its website, saying it wanted to clarify its operations amid the controversy. “ The Islamic Tribunal wishes to clarify the nature of its work in light of recent public statements ,” the group stated. “ The Tribunal does not function as a court of law and does not issue legally binding judgments .” The website noted the group’s role was limited to mediation and religious arbitration requested by members of the Muslim com...
Michail_Petrov-96/iStock via Getty Images I previously reiterated my Buy rating for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. ( MPT ) in December 2025, thanks to the REIT's ongoing recovery from the prior tenant defaults and the rich dividend yields. MPT remains a Great Contrarian Buy here, thanks to the promising tenant/asset/balance sheet renewal along with the established technical support and the compell...
Michail_Petrov-96/iStock via Getty Images I previously reiterated my Buy rating for Medical Properties Trust, Inc. ( MPT ) in December 2025, thanks to the REIT's ongoing recovery from the prior tenant defaults and the rich dividend yields. MPT remains a Great Contrarian Buy here, thanks to the promising tenant/asset/balance sheet renewal along with the established technical support and the compelling dual return prospects, despite the macro/tenant risks. MPT Faces Numerous Headwinds & Tailwinds MPT 1Y Stock Price (TradingView) Since my last Buy rating, MPT has gone ahead and charted a new high of $6s after the well-received FQ4'25 earnings calls. This is albeit with the stock losing -23% of its value afterward, with a similar correction also observed in its healthcare/diversified REIT peers in varying degrees. 1. Macro Risks Much of the REIT's headwinds are attributed to the potentially increasing inflationary pressure from the ongoing Iran conflict, with it already contributing to the Fed holding the interest rates steady in the recent FOMC meeting and the analysts pricing in a potential rate hike ahead. These may contribute to MPT's likely to be delayed debt refinancing prospects, as similarly observed in the elevated weighted average interest rates of 5.360% in FQ4'25 ( +1.12 points YoY ), with the higher-for-longer interest rate environment potentially prolonging their balance sheet recovery prospects. I am of the opinion that the wider REIT sector is likely to underperform in the near term, attributed to the macro pessimism and the uncertain normalization cadence over the next few quarters, if not years, as the Fed expects the core PCE inflation to moderate to 2% only by 2028. 2. Tenant Risks Potential New Tenant Headwinds (LinkedIn & Bloomberg Law) MPT may also be facing a recovery headwind closer to its REIT operations, with it uncertain if Healthcare Systems of America's (HSA) supposed " financial mismanagement " may affect their ability to continue paying r...
Nvidia stock was down for much of Tuesday but ended the trading session up slightly amid concerns that the Iran war was set to escalate. It’s still stuck in the purgatory of a nine-month trading range. Nvidia stock rose 0.3% to $178.10, finishing well off an intraday low of $173.66; the gained 0.1%, and moved 0.2% lower.
Nvidia stock was down for much of Tuesday but ended the trading session up slightly amid concerns that the Iran war was set to escalate. It’s still stuck in the purgatory of a nine-month trading range. Nvidia stock rose 0.3% to $178.10, finishing well off an intraday low of $173.66; the gained 0.1%, and moved 0.2% lower.
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) revealed today that it's coming on board as a major partner in Elon Musk's Terafab chip-manufacturing project. The Terafab has been championed as a massive chip-production facility that will produce chips used by SpaceX, Tesla , and xAI. Right now, the team-up looks to be a significant win for Intel and a smart move by Musk to accelerate the Terafab's development and productio...
Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) revealed today that it's coming on board as a major partner in Elon Musk's Terafab chip-manufacturing project. The Terafab has been championed as a massive chip-production facility that will produce chips used by SpaceX, Tesla , and xAI. Right now, the team-up looks to be a significant win for Intel and a smart move by Musk to accelerate the Terafab's development and production timeline and increase the project's chances of being a big success. Intel stock closed out the day up more than 4%, but Tesla ended the session down roughly 1.8%. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
iQoncept/iStock via Getty Images As Q1 2026 earnings season approaches, consumer discretionary stocks are under the microscope as investors assess how American spending held up in the face of persistent inflation pressures, tariff-driven price increases, and shifting consumer confidence. The following list highlights mid-cap consumer discretionary stocks that have earned the highest possible Seeki...
iQoncept/iStock via Getty Images As Q1 2026 earnings season approaches, consumer discretionary stocks are under the microscope as investors assess how American spending held up in the face of persistent inflation pressures, tariff-driven price increases, and shifting consumer confidence. The following list highlights mid-cap consumer discretionary stocks that have earned the highest possible Seeking Alpha EPS Revision Quant Grade of A+, spanning a wide range of sub-sectors from gaming and automotive retail to leisure products and education services, all indicating that analysts have been consistently raising their earnings expectations ahead of Q1 results. The list is topped by American Eagle Outfitters ( AEO ) and Callaway Golf Company ( CALY ), both of which have earned the highest EPS revision grade based on quantitative earnings revision analysis. These companies represent diverse segments within the consumer discretionary sector, from apparel retail to leisure products. Other prominent companies on the list include Columbia Sportswear Company ( COLM ), known for its outdoor apparel, and Etsy ( ETSY ), the online marketplace for handmade and vintage goods. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. ( AEO ) — EPS revision grade: A+ Callaway Golf Company ( CALY ) — EPS revision grade: A+ Columbia Sportswear Company ( COLM ) — EPS revision grade: A+ Etsy, Inc. ( ETSY ) — EPS revision grade: A+ Graham Holdings Company ( GHC ) — EPS revision grade: A+ Kontoor Brands, Inc. ( KTB ) — EPS revision grade: A+ LCI Industries ( LCII ) — EPS revision grade: A+ Under Armour, Inc. ( UAA ) — EPS revision grade: A+ Consumer Discretionary ETFs: ( XLY ), ( VCR ), ( FXD ), ( FDIS ), ( RSPD ), and ( RXI ) More on Consumer Discretionary stocks 3 Market Segments I'm Targeting When Iran War Ends How To Create A Wheel Strategy With Sector ETFs To Generate Income Retail Sector Recap: Consumers Pull Back On Weak Outlook Weekly ETF flows: Five of 11 sectors record outflows; energy sector leads inflow...
(RTTNews) - Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly planning to cut a few hundred jobs globally as part of a broader restructuring aimed at sharpening its long-term growth strategy.
(RTTNews) - Sony Pictures Entertainment is reportedly planning to cut a few hundred jobs globally as part of a broader restructuring aimed at sharpening its long-term growth strategy.
The shareholders of energy company Mach Natural Resources (NYSE: MNR) had a trading session to forget on Tuesday. On news of a bulk sale of the company's units by several institutional investors that was priced below market, the stock sank by almost 11%. Mach, which is active in various aspects of the upstream oil and gas industry, announced the pricing of that secondary unit sale on Monday night....
The shareholders of energy company Mach Natural Resources (NYSE: MNR) had a trading session to forget on Tuesday. On news of a bulk sale of the company's units by several institutional investors that was priced below market, the stock sank by almost 11%. Mach, which is active in various aspects of the upstream oil and gas industry, announced the pricing of that secondary unit sale on Monday night. Those investors are unloading 9 million units in an underwritten public offering at $13.05 per unit. Image source: Getty Images. Continue reading
monsitj/iStock via Getty Images The People's Bank of China said Tuesday it bought the most gold in more than a year in March, as a key pillar of support for the metal remained intact as prices came under pressure due to the Middle East war. Bullion held by China's central bank rose by 160K oz last month, or around five tons, marking the 17th consecutive month that the PBOC—among the world's larges...
monsitj/iStock via Getty Images The People's Bank of China said Tuesday it bought the most gold in more than a year in March, as a key pillar of support for the metal remained intact as prices came under pressure due to the Middle East war. Bullion held by China's central bank rose by 160K oz last month, or around five tons, marking the 17th consecutive month that the PBOC—among the world's largest buyers—has added to its holdings. Gold tumbled 12% in March in the metal's worst monthly performance since 2008, as the war lifted the U.S. dollar and prompted bets that the Federal Reserve would not reduce interest rates if inflation picked up. The PBOC's purchases may help lift investor confidence in gold, as some other central banks have turned to sales; in March, Turkey’s central bank sold and swapped ~60 tons to defend the lira. In the first two months of this year, central banks bought a net 25 tons, the World Gold Council reported last week . Gold futures finished little changed on Tuesday, as traders remained cautious ahead of President Trump's Tuesday night deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or risk devastating attacks on its infrastructure. Iran showed no sign of accepting Trump's ultimatum , but Pakistan said diplomacy attempting to reach a peaceful settlement is progressing steadily, while asking Trump to extend his deadline by two weeks and Iran to "open the Strait of Hormuz for a corresponding period of two weeks as a goodwill gesture," Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said. Front-month Comex gold ( XAUUSD:CUR ) for April delivery added $0.30 to $4,657.10/oz, while front-month Comex April silver ( XAGUSD:CUR ) fell for the third straight session, down 1.1% to $71.826/oz. ETFs: ( GLD ), ( GDX ), ( GDXJ ), ( IAU ), ( NUGT ), ( PHYS ), ( GLDM ), ( AAAU ), ( SGOL ), ( RING ), ( BAR ), ( OUNZ ), ( DUST ), ( SLV ), ( PSLV ), ( SIVR ), ( SIL ), ( SILJ ) More on gold and silver Stocks From Liberation Day To Iran War If Silver Is Near A Bottom, The SILJ E...
Good morning . Pakistan asks Trump for a two-week deadline extension. LG Energy earnings reveal the fallout from the unraveling of the EV transition. And the UK bars Ye from entering the country. Listen to the day’s top stories . Market Snapshot S&P 500 6,616.85 +0.1% Brent Futures $105.22 -4.1% Market data as of 05:10 PM ET. Data is subject to provider delays. Donald Trump said he was in “ heated...
Good morning . Pakistan asks Trump for a two-week deadline extension. LG Energy earnings reveal the fallout from the unraveling of the EV transition. And the UK bars Ye from entering the country. Listen to the day’s top stories . Market Snapshot S&P 500 6,616.85 +0.1% Brent Futures $105.22 -4.1% Market data as of 05:10 PM ET. Data is subject to provider delays. Donald Trump said he was in “ heated negotiations ” involving the war with Iran after mediator Pakistan asked for a two-week extension of his Tuesday deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Still, Tehran has “finalized the necessary measures” for all scenarios, Tasnim reported, after talks were said to have broken down following the US president’s threat to wipe out Iran’s “ whole civilization .” IMF Chief Warns World Is Ill-Equipped to Counter Iran War Risks Read more The S&P 500 eked out a small advance in Tuesday trading and Treasuries rallied after Pakistan’s request. Oil retreated on optimism for a diplomatic way out of the conflict. Bitcoin slipped as cryptocurrencies were swept up in the broader market volatility . Over in China, Beijing is setting up a sweeping new mechanism to ensure the security of its supply chains, targeting espionage and allowing the country to retaliate against foreign entities if they impose curbs on trade. The rules give government agencies the authority to start security probes against nations and international organizations if they “adopt discriminatory bans” and other similar measures against China. In the corporate world, Apple’s foldable iPhone is still on track for a September debut, people familiar said, rebutting concerns about major manufacturing snags. The company is scheduled to introduce the foldable model alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. More tech: Intel is joining Elon Musk’s long-shot effort to develop semiconductors for Tesla, SpaceX and xAI, helping the so-called Terafab project “refactor” the technology in a chip factory. Elsewhere in AI, ...
Annie Ramos, who came to US from Honduras as a toddler, was detained last week at husband’s base in Louisiana The wife of a US soldier who was detained last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at her husband’s Louisiana military base was released from federal custody on Tuesday. “All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a bab...
Annie Ramos, who came to US from Honduras as a toddler, was detained last week at husband’s base in Louisiana The wife of a US soldier who was detained last week by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at her husband’s Louisiana military base was released from federal custody on Tuesday. “All I have ever wanted is to live with dignity in the country I have called home since I was a baby,” Annie Ramos said in a statement following her release. Continue reading...
On April 1, amid China’s cybercrime offensive in Southeast Asia, Cambodia extradited to China Li Xiong, former chairman of Huione Group, which had been severed from the US financial system last year for laundering at least US$336 million from cyber scams between 2021 and 2025. The US had also sanctioned Huione’s parent company, Prince Group, and indicted founder Chen Zhi. In January, Cambodia extr...
On April 1, amid China’s cybercrime offensive in Southeast Asia, Cambodia extradited to China Li Xiong, former chairman of Huione Group, which had been severed from the US financial system last year for laundering at least US$336 million from cyber scams between 2021 and 2025. The US had also sanctioned Huione’s parent company, Prince Group, and indicted founder Chen Zhi. In January, Cambodia extradited Chen to China, securing the arrest of a man accused of being Cambodia’s biggest scam...