10 Very Important Trends To Watch As We Enter 2026 Authored by Michael Snyder via TheMostImportantNews.com, Are we on the brink of a worldwide nightmare? Many have described what we are currently experiencing as a “perfect storm” . We have been getting hit with one crisis after another as global events have greatly accelerated in recent months. But now it feels like the next chapter that we are en...
10 Very Important Trends To Watch As We Enter 2026 Authored by Michael Snyder via TheMostImportantNews.com, Are we on the brink of a worldwide nightmare? Many have described what we are currently experiencing as a “perfect storm” . We have been getting hit with one crisis after another as global events have greatly accelerated in recent months. But now it feels like the next chapter that we are entering is going to take things to an entirely different level. On New Year’s Eve, something very unexpected happened at our most important landmark in the middle of the country. You will want to read all the way to the end of this article to see what I am talking about. This year is already off to a very unusual start, and I fully expect a lot more craziness in the months ahead. The following are 10 very important trends to watch as we enter 2026… #1 The Price Of Silver The price of silver is telling us that there is big trouble under the surface of the global financial system. Even though there was a dramatic attempt to suppress the price of silver this week, it was still up about 140 percent in 2025. And the difference between the price of paper silver and the prices that physical silver is going for around the world has become extremely alarming … Silver at $130 in Japan, $106 in Kuwait, $97 in Korea, and “$71” on Western screens is not a market; it is a confession. The numbers read like a crime scene diagram: in the real world where bars change hands and coins disappear into safes, silver has quietly migrated into triple‑digit pricing, while the supposed “global benchmark” in New York and London is still stuck in a fantasyland of leveraged promises. In Tokyo shops and Japanese bullion counters, you are not buying silver in the 70s; you are paying the equivalent of $120–130 an ounce because that is what it costs to replace inventory once you factor in tight wholesale supply, shipping, insurance, currency chaos, and the growing sense that the next shipment might not show...
Wilfried Nancy has launched an impassioned defence of his credentials to manage Celtic, asking his critics to apply “context” and claiming the media have tried to “kill” him during his troubled early weeks in charge of the club. The reality is Nancy’s job will come under serious threat should Celtic lose Saturday’s Old Firm fixture. The 2-0 loss to Motherwell on Tuesday was the fifth reverse of Na...
Wilfried Nancy has launched an impassioned defence of his credentials to manage Celtic, asking his critics to apply “context” and claiming the media have tried to “kill” him during his troubled early weeks in charge of the club. The reality is Nancy’s job will come under serious threat should Celtic lose Saturday’s Old Firm fixture. The 2-0 loss to Motherwell on Tuesday was the fifth reverse of Nancy’s seven games in charge of Celtic. The visitors’ performance at Fir Park was especially dismal, which raised the latest set of questions about the former Columbus Crew coach’s suitability for his role. If Rangers win at Celtic Park they would draw level with their oldest foes despite the Ibrox side’s own unconvincing start to the campaign. Both teams trail Hearts in Scotland’s Premiership. “This is only the beginning,” Nancy said. “Usually we have four weeks of pre-season. I did not have pre-season. Before I came, I knew that if I don’t win games I am going to be in trouble because this is part of the job. But I am pleased to be here. I know where we are now. I am not an underdog. “In context, I knew that this kind of situation could happen. I need time. Give me time and you will see my team. You are going to see what I am going to do because you can see already what I did before. I didn’t start [in coaching] yesterday. If you do your job you will see the way I want to play, the way I defend, the way I want to attack; it is clear. It is totally normal that you guys, you kill me. I am fine with that. I am totally fine with that because I know where I want to go. Judge me in a few weeks, months.” A common criticism of Nancy has been the regular deployment of a three-man defence, for which Celtic are ill-suited. The club’s board face a January dilemma over whether to spend significant money to help Nancy with his long-term aspirations or admit they have made an error in hiring him. After Brendan Rodgers departed in October, Martin O’Neill led Celtic to seven wins out of ei...
Woman killed in suspected mountain lion attack in US It is not known if one or multiple animals were involved in the attack, she added. Two mountain lions have been euthanised after an extensive search, and investigators are currently studying them for signs of human DNA. A group of hikers found the woman's body on a remote trail and spotted a lion nearby. After scaring the predatory cat off, they...
Woman killed in suspected mountain lion attack in US It is not known if one or multiple animals were involved in the attack, she added. Two mountain lions have been euthanised after an extensive search, and investigators are currently studying them for signs of human DNA. A group of hikers found the woman's body on a remote trail and spotted a lion nearby. After scaring the predatory cat off, they checked the body and could find no pulse, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Spokesperson Kara Van Hoose said. If confirmed, it would be the first fatal attack there since 1999. A hiker is believed to have been killed by at least one mountain lion in the US state of Colorado on Wednesday, according to wildlife officials. The hikers had thrown rocks at the mountain lion to drive it away, Ms Van Hoose told a press conference. CPW officers responding to the scene shot the lion, which ran off. They then tracked it to euthanise it. A second lion was found in the area and was also euthanised. If neither lion appears to be the culprit, the search will resume for a possible attacker. Under CPW rules, wildlife that kills a human being must be euthanised for public safety reasons. The woman's body showed signs of a mountain lion attack, according to Ms Van Hoose. The local sheriff's office has notified her next of kin, and will later release her identity, Ms Van Hoose told the BBC. She is believed to have been hiking alone. The Crosier Mountain Trail is north of Denver, near the Wyoming border, and close to Rocky Mountain National Park. It could be considered secluded, Ms Van Hoose said, adding hikers often lose their cell signals. The Larimer County sheriff, police from the nearby city of Estes Park, and volunteer firefighters have been assisting in the search. A biologist conducting a deer survey by helicopter in the area helped look for the animal and transport personnel, according to CPW. Meanwhile, houndsmen brought dogs in to track scents, which Ms Van Hoose said is an often-ef...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trad...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trading on Friday, shares of Aveanna Healthcare Holdings Inc (Symbol: AVAH) entered into oversold territory, hitting an RSI reading of 28.0, after changing hands as low as $7.68 per share. By comparison, the current RSI reading of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 51.0. A bullish investor could look at AVAH's 28.0 RSI reading today as a sign that the recent heavy selling is in the process of exhausting itself, and begin to look for entry point opportunities on the buy side. The chart below shows the one year performance of AVAH shares: Looking at the chart above, AVAH's low point in its 52 week range is $3.67 per share, with $10.32 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $7.79. Find out what 9 other oversold stocks you need to know about » Also see: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trad...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trading on Tuesday, shares of AutoZone, Inc. (Symbol: AZO) entered into oversold territory, hitting an RSI reading of 28.1, after changing hands as low as $2801.07 per share. By comparison, the current RSI reading of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 65.5. A bullish investor could look at AZO's 28.1 RSI reading today as a sign that the recent heavy selling is in the process of exhausting itself, and begin to look for entry point opportunities on the buy side. The chart below shows the one year performance of AZO shares: Looking at the chart above, AZO's low point in its 52 week range is $2277.88 per share, with $3256.37 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $2825.55. Find out what 9 other oversold stocks you need to know about » Also see: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trad...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trading on Friday, shares of Paymentus Holdings Inc (Symbol: PAY) entered into oversold territory, hitting an RSI reading of 29.9, after changing hands as low as $28.89 per share. By comparison, the current RSI reading of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 51.0. A bullish investor could look at PAY's 29.9 RSI reading today as a sign that the recent heavy selling is in the process of exhausting itself, and begin to look for entry point opportunities on the buy side. The chart below shows the one year performance of PAY shares: Looking at the chart above, PAY's low point in its 52 week range is $22.65 per share, with $40.4326 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $29.30. Find out what 9 other oversold stocks you need to know about » Also see: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Retail investing reached unprecedented levels in 2025, driven by the democratization of financial tools, social media and a massive influx of younger, tech-savvy market participants. HOOD stock is moving. See the chart and price action here. Here's a look at facts and figures from the year of the individual investor. Market Participation & Volume Record Inflows: Retail inflows into U.S. stocks rea...
Retail investing reached unprecedented levels in 2025, driven by the democratization of financial tools, social media and a massive influx of younger, tech-savvy market participants. HOOD stock is moving. See the chart and price action here. Here's a look at facts and figures from the year of the individual investor. Market Participation & Volume Record Inflows: Retail inflows into U.S. stocks reached a record high in 2025, totaling roughly $308 billion—a 14% increase over the previous 2021 “meme stock” peak of $270 billion, according to Reuters. Read Next— Palantir: From Meme Stock To Market Leader In 2025 Favorite Tickers: Retail investors branched out from meme stocks like GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) to drive record-high trading volumes in tech stocks leading the AI revolution like NVIDIA Corp. (NASDAQ:NVDA) and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) . "The two most active stocks on our platform are typically Nvidia and Tesla. Those are just two examples of individual investors seizing the narrative and in many cases forcing institutional investors to play along," said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers, per Reuters. Market Share: Individual investors accounted for 20% to 25% of total U.S. equity trading volume on average, spiking to a record 35% in April 2025 during periods of high volatility, according to JPMorgan Chase. Daily Activity: Retail investors added approximately $1.3 billion to the market every day during the first half of 2025, a 32.6% increase over the previous year. Demographics & Access Younger Entry Points: The age of entry into the market has dropped sharply. As of early 2025, 37% of 25-year-olds held investment accounts, compared to just 6% for that same age group in 2015. Income Democratization: Lower-income individuals have increased their investing activity by 5x over the last decade. By May 2025, below-median income earners represented 31% of all monthly retail investors, according to JPMorgan Chase. Social Influence: 36% of investo...
California Water Service Group’s CWT unit, California Water Service (Cal Water), received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) for a temporary interim rate revision effective Jan. 1, 2026. Courtesy of the CPUC’s interim rate approval, Cal Water will be able to implement a 3% rate increase in the majority of the districts in which it provides services to its customers. ...
California Water Service Group’s CWT unit, California Water Service (Cal Water), received approval from the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) for a temporary interim rate revision effective Jan. 1, 2026. Courtesy of the CPUC’s interim rate approval, Cal Water will be able to implement a 3% rate increase in the majority of the districts in which it provides services to its customers. A rate hike is essential for this regulated utility, as it can continue investing in essential infrastructure upgrades to ensure the delivery of safe, clean and reliable water to its customers. Interim rates may be refunded or adjusted once the final approved rates are determined by the CPUC. Why Is Rate Increase Essential for Utilities? Utility operation is capital-intensive, and the companies operating in this space need to make regular capital investments to upgrade, maintain, strengthen and expand their existing infrastructure. Strengthening infrastructure allows water utilities to cater to the rising demand in their service territories, and the replacement of old infrastructure helps the utilities to avoid accidents and wastage of potable water. Aging Water Infrastructure Needs Investment The U.S. water and wastewater infrastructure is deteriorating, with water main breaks occurring every few minutes, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that $1.25 trillion in investments will be needed over the next 20 years to maintain and upgrade drinking water, wastewater and stormwater systems. The U.S government and the regulated water utilities are making investments to upgrade and maintain infrastructure. Water Utilities Benefit From the Rate Revision The approval of new rates enables higher revenue generation, which can be deployed toward infrastructure upgrades and equipment replacements. This supports the smooth operation of facilities and enhances the quality of customer service. Water utilities benefit from a r...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trad...
Legendary investor Warren Buffett advises to be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. One way we can try to measure the level of fear in a given stock is through a technical analysis indicator called the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which measures momentum on a scale of zero to 100. A stock is considered to be oversold if the RSI reading falls below 30. In trading on Friday, shares of Masimo Corp. (Symbol: MASI) entered into oversold territory, hitting an RSI reading of 27.9, after changing hands as low as $104.58 per share. By comparison, the current RSI reading of the S&P 500 ETF (SPY) is 35.6. A bullish investor could look at MASI's 27.9 RSI reading today as a sign that the recent heavy selling is in the process of exhausting itself, and begin to look for entry point opportunities on the buy side. The chart below shows the one year performance of MASI shares: Looking at the chart above, MASI's low point in its 52 week range is $75.22 per share, with $153.93 as the 52 week high point — that compares with a last trade of $105.74. Find out what 9 other oversold stocks you need to know about » Also see: The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Key Points Denison Mines announced it is almost ready to start construction on its new uranium mine. Regulatory approvals are in process, and production could begin mid-2028. 10 stocks we like better than Denison Mines › Denison Mines (NYSEMKT: DNN) stock started off the New Year right, soaring 11.3% through 11:25 a.m. ET Friday, after the uranium mining company announced this morning that it's re...
Key Points Denison Mines announced it is almost ready to start construction on its new uranium mine. Regulatory approvals are in process, and production could begin mid-2028. 10 stocks we like better than Denison Mines › Denison Mines (NYSEMKT: DNN) stock started off the New Year right, soaring 11.3% through 11:25 a.m. ET Friday, after the uranium mining company announced this morning that it's ready to start construction of its "proposed Phoenix In-Situ Recovery ... uranium mine." Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue » Phoenix rising Denison calls Phoenix its "flagship" project, and says it will "become the first new large-scale uranium mine built in Canada since Cigar Lake." "Significant regulatory, engineering, and construction planning progress has been made throughout 2025, which has positioned Phoenix in a construction-ready state," says the company. Construction will take two years, and "provided final regulatory approvals to commence construction are received in Q1'2026," this means uranium production might conceivably begin by mid-2028." What this means for Denison stock Denison continues to anticipate that widespread adoption of nuclear energy around the world will drive increased demand for uranium, creating a ready market for output from the Phoenix project. As regards regulatory approvals, management notes "Canada's objective to develop sustainable and environmentally responsible 'nation building' mining projects to reinvigorate Canada's natural resources sector." All of the above bodes well both for getting Phoenix online on time and according to schedule, as well as for there being plenty of demand for Denison's uranium once the new mine begins producing. The next step will be to receive final regulatory approval from the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, after which Denison will make a final investment decision on whether to proceed with construction. As...
The iShares Russell Top 200 ETF is seeing unusually high volume in afternoon trading Friday, with over 387,000 shares traded versus three month average volume of about 47,000. Shares of IWL were down about 0.1% on the day. Components of that ETF with the highest volume on Friday were Nvidia, trading up about 1.8% with over 74.3 million shares changing hands so far this session, and Intel, up about...
The iShares Russell Top 200 ETF is seeing unusually high volume in afternoon trading Friday, with over 387,000 shares traded versus three month average volume of about 47,000. Shares of IWL were down about 0.1% on the day. Components of that ETF with the highest volume on Friday were Nvidia, trading up about 1.8% with over 74.3 million shares changing hands so far this session, and Intel, up about 7.3% on volume of over 47.3 million shares. Micron Technology is the component faring the best Friday, higher by about 7.8% on the day, while Applovin is lagging other components of the iShares Russell Top 200 ETF, trading lower by about 8.2%. VIDEO: Friday's ETF with Unusual Volume: IWL The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
Iran traded barbs with the White House after Donald Trump said the US is “locked and loaded” to strike should the Islamic Republic harm protesters who’ve taken to the streets. The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council responded, warning that US intervention would endanger US forces and destabilize the Middle East. It was the second time this week Trump brandished threats against Iran’s ...
Iran traded barbs with the White House after Donald Trump said the US is “locked and loaded” to strike should the Islamic Republic harm protesters who’ve taken to the streets. The head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council responded, warning that US intervention would endanger US forces and destabilize the Middle East. It was the second time this week Trump brandished threats against Iran’s government. He warned earlier the US will “knock the hell” out of any effort to repair nuclear infrastructure damaged during June’s 12-day war. Those comments came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Trump amid ongoing concern over the Islamic Republic’s atomic ambitions . The protests that erupted Monday in Iran’s capital before spreading to several cities were in response to a cost-of-living crisis. Iran’s local currency has slumped to a record low , pushing up food prices and deepening an economic crisis in the sanctions-hit nation. The rising tensions are an early reminder of the geopolitical risks facing investors in 2026, with ambiguity over Iran’s nuclear program still looming as a major hurdle for regional stability. What You Need to Know Today Elon Musk’s very bad start to 2026 began with steep European sales declines for Teslas . Later, the carmaker lost the global EV crown to China’s BYD after fourth-quarter shipments missed expectations . In between, the billionaire’s X platform posted sexualized images of children because of a safeguards failure by its AI chatbot . The darkening sales outlook for Tesla — a key Musk brand — unfolds as consumers worldwide adapt to new technology choices. Wall Street has grown increasingly skeptical about Tesla’s sales prospects, cutting expectations by almost half over the last few years. At the same time, new EV competitors seem to emerge everyday. Rolls-Royce Chief Executive Officer Chris Brownridge told us his factories plan to ramp-up customized rides for discerning drivers . Russian crude is still finding bu...
These malign figures will do anything to avoid paying for the harm they have done, but accountability must eventually come to both It’s not quite a new year resolution, and it’s certainly not a prediction. Think of it instead as a hope or even a plea for the next 12 months. May the coming year see those leaders who have done so much damage to their own countries, and far beyond, at last be called ...
These malign figures will do anything to avoid paying for the harm they have done, but accountability must eventually come to both It’s not quite a new year resolution, and it’s certainly not a prediction. Think of it instead as a hope or even a plea for the next 12 months. May the coming year see those leaders who have done so much damage to their own countries, and far beyond, at last be called to account. Let 2026 be a year of reckoning. Start with the man whose reach is longest, by dint of the mighty power he wields. Such is the nature of the US electoral system that Donald Trump, who returned to power less than a year ago, will face the judgment of voters in 10 months’ time. His name will not be on the ballot but, make no mistake, the midterm elections of 3 November will deliver a verdict on the second Trump presidency. Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnist Guardian newsroom: Year One of Trumpism: Is Britain Emulating the US? On Wednesday 21 January 2026, join Jonathan Freedland, Tania Branigan and Nick Lowles as they reflect on the first year of Donald Trump’s second presidency – and to ask if Britain could be set on the same path. Book tickets here or at guardian.live Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here . Continue reading...
Search under way after people seen entering sea A search operation involving multiple emergency services is currently taking place in Withernsea, East Yorkshire A search operation is currently taking place after reports of people entering the sea at Withernsea in East Yorkshire. HM Coastguard said the incident was reported shortly after 15:00 GMT and a search involving a rescue helicopter and anot...
Search under way after people seen entering sea A search operation involving multiple emergency services is currently taking place in Withernsea, East Yorkshire A search operation is currently taking place after reports of people entering the sea at Withernsea in East Yorkshire. HM Coastguard said the incident was reported shortly after 15:00 GMT and a search involving a rescue helicopter and another aircraft was under way. The search also involves coastguard rescue teams from Withernsea, Hornsea and Hull, as well as RNLI crews from Withernsea, Bridlington and Humber Rescue's inshore lifeboat. Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Humberside Police and Humberside Fire and Rescue are also in attendance.
Watsco's Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $3.00 on each outstanding share of its Common and Class B common stock payable on January 30, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 16, 2026. Watsco has paid dividends to shareholders for 52 consecutive years. Johnson & Johnson today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash d...
Watsco's Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $3.00 on each outstanding share of its Common and Class B common stock payable on January 30, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 16, 2026. Watsco has paid dividends to shareholders for 52 consecutive years. Johnson & Johnson today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend for the first quarter of 2026 of $1.30 per share on the company's common stock. The dividend is payable on March 10, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on February 24, 2026. The ex-dividend date is February 24, 2026. GFL Environmental today announced that the Board of Directors of the Company has declared a cash dividend of US$0.0154 for each outstanding subordinate voting share and multiple voting share of the Company for the fourth quarter of 2025. The cash dividend will be paid on January 30, 2026 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 13, 2026. RPM International today announced that its board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.54 per share, payable on January 30, 2026, to stockholders of record as of January 16, 2026. RPM's last cash dividend increase of 6% in October 2025 marked RPM's 52nd consecutive year of increased cash dividends paid to its stockholders, which places RPM in an elite category of less than half of 1 percent of all publicly traded U.S. companies. EMCOR Group today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per common share. The dividend will be paid on January 30, 2026 to stockholders of record as of January 14, 2026. VIDEO: Daily Dividend Report: WSO,JNJ,GFL,RPM,EME The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
While many aspects of UK political polling have shifted drastically since 2019, the public’s view on Shamima Begum has remained largely fixed: a big majority do not want the now 26-year-old woman back in the UK. In 2019, Sajid Javid, then home secretary, stripped the Londoner of her UK citizenship on the grounds that she was a security threat, having travelled as a schoolgirl with two friends to t...
While many aspects of UK political polling have shifted drastically since 2019, the public’s view on Shamima Begum has remained largely fixed: a big majority do not want the now 26-year-old woman back in the UK. In 2019, Sajid Javid, then home secretary, stripped the Londoner of her UK citizenship on the grounds that she was a security threat, having travelled as a schoolgirl with two friends to territory controlled by Islamic State (IS) in Syria. At the time, 76% of people backed the move. Fast-forward to November 2025, and an equivalent poll found two-thirds of people thought Begum should not be allowed back to the UK. In policy terms, therefore, responding to the European court of human rights’ intervention in the matter should be a no-brainer for the Home Office. This week, media briefings suggested Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, would “robustly” push back against the court after it questioned whether the UK should have considered if Begum – who left the country aged 15 – had been trafficked before it left her stateless in a Syrian camp. It is not, however, a subject that ministers can simply ignore, for two reasons in particular. The first is that Begum is not alone. In November, a report into counter-terrorism by a commission of senior UK lawyers said the government’s refusal to repatriate most of the several dozen Britons still living in camps for former IS members and their families was becoming “untenable”. It said that between 55 and 72 people with links to the UK remain in the camps, among them about 30 to 40 children, living in “inhuman” and often dangerous conditions, and added that other countries have already taken action on the issue. The second reason – for all that Mahmood might dismiss it – is that the human rights court might have a point. Even if one was to argue that the 15-year-old Begum was old enough to understand the implications of seeking out a self-styled global caliphate that has carried out numerous and atrocious rights abuses, t...