Why it's so hard for world leaders to bring down oil and gasoline prices toggle caption Brandon Bell/Getty Images North America The near-total halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes, has created a catastrophic disruption in oil markets. Crude oil prices have now topped $110 per barrel,...
Why it's so hard for world leaders to bring down oil and gasoline prices toggle caption Brandon Bell/Getty Images North America The near-total halt of traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the key waterway through which about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas typically passes, has created a catastrophic disruption in oil markets. Crude oil prices have now topped $110 per barrel, and could climb more. Those higher prices have rippled through to U.S. gasoline prices. Loading... The global energy market and U.S. policymakers have several levers they can pull — and are pulling — to try to bring prices down. But those tools can only go so far. "The levers that we have in the short term are very limited," says Avery Ash, the CEO of the energy security and national security nonprofit SAFE. "The worst time to try to be solving a crisis is when you're in a crisis." Here's why. Spare capacity is in the wrong places Normally, in the event of a severe shock to oil supplies, markets would look to countries that could boost production very quickly. Sponsor Message Drilling brand-new wells would take too long to help with an immediate pinch. But the countries in OPEC, the oil cartel led by Saudi Arabia, voluntarily choose to make less crude than they could, giving them lots of what's called "spare capacity." "It's production that's basically ready to go that they're just not using," says Ellen Wald, author of Saudi, Inc., "because OPEC has agreed that they're not going to produce that much." The problem is, right now the world's spare capacity is concentrated in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, on the Persian Gulf … and the wrong side of the Strait of Hormuz. "Spare capacity is only as good as the ability to get the oil out of where it's being produced," Wald says. In this case, no good at all. Pipelines can only transport so much crude What about finding alternate routes for the crude that can't get shipped through the strait? Saudi Arabia does have a...
An immigration court few have heard of is quietly shaping policy behind the scenes toggle caption Yuki Iwamura/AP The Trump administration has reshaped a lesser-known corner of the Justice Department to set immigration policy and escalate mass detentions and deportations. An administrative court known as the Board of Immigration Appeals has published a body of immigration case law that significant...
An immigration court few have heard of is quietly shaping policy behind the scenes toggle caption Yuki Iwamura/AP The Trump administration has reshaped a lesser-known corner of the Justice Department to set immigration policy and escalate mass detentions and deportations. An administrative court known as the Board of Immigration Appeals has published a body of immigration case law that significantly narrows the due process and relief from deportation available for immigrants, an NPR analysis of its decisions shows. The White House has done that by shrinking the size of the board by nearly half — and stacking the remaining slate of 15 judges with President Trump's appointees. Last year, their decisions backed Department of Homeland Security lawyers in 97% of publicly posted cases; that's at least 30 percentage points higher than the average from the last 16 years. Sponsor Message Loading... The board has made it harder for immigration courts to offer immigrants bond in lieu of detention. It's made it easier to deport migrants to countries other than their own. And a new proposed regulation would make it harder for people to appeal their immigration decisions at all. The board did this last year while quickly pumping out 70 published decisions, a record number of precedent-setting cases. "The board has an impact on immigration law that is much, much bigger than the number of people that are on it," said Andrea Sáenz, a former board judge appointed by former President Joe Biden and terminated by Trump last year. "That's because they have this ability to set immigration precedents and rules for the whole country." Immigration courts are housed within the Executive Office for Immigration Review, or EOIR, at the Justice Department and are not a part of the independent judiciary. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attorneys appear before these courts to make their arguments about why someone should be removed from the country. Immigrants, meanwhile, appear before these co...
Cash position was RMB47.66 billion (US$6.81 billion) as of December 31, 2025, compared with RMB41.96 billion as of December 31, 2024. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net profit per ADS were RMB0.53 (US$0.08) and RMB0.52 (US$0.07), respectively, and non-GAAP basic and diluted net profit per ordinary share were both RMB0.26 (US$0.04) for the fourth quarter of 2025. Basic and diluted net profit per Americ...
Cash position was RMB47.66 billion (US$6.81 billion) as of December 31, 2025, compared with RMB41.96 billion as of December 31, 2024. Non-GAAP basic and diluted net profit per ADS were RMB0.53 (US$0.08) and RMB0.52 (US$0.07), respectively, and non-GAAP basic and diluted net profit per ordinary share were both RMB0.26 (US$0.04) for the fourth quarter of 2025. Basic and diluted net profit per American depositary share (ADS) were both RMB0.40 (US$0.06) and basic and diluted net profit per ordinary share were both RMB0.20 (US$0.03) for the fourth quarter of 2025. Each ADS represents two Class A ordinary shares. Net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of XPENG was RMB0.38 billion (US$0.05 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared a loss of with RMB1.33 billion for the same period of 2024 and a loss of RMB0.38 billion for the third quarter of 2025. Excluding share-based compensation expenses and fair value (gain) loss on derivative liability relating to the contingent consideration, non-GAAP net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of XPENG was RMB0.51 billion (US$0.07 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with a loss of RMB1.39 billion for the same period of 2024 and a loss of RMB0.15 billion for the third quarter of 2025. Net profit was RMB0.38 billion (US$0.05 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with a loss of RMB1.33 billion for the same period of 2024 and a loss of RMB0.38 billion for the third quarter of 2025. Excluding share-based compensation expenses and fair value (gain) loss on derivative liability relating to the contingent consideration, non-GAAP net profit was RMB0.51 billion (US$0.07 billion) for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with a loss of RMB1.39 billion for the same period of 2024 and a loss of RMB0.15 billion for the third quarter of 2025. Vehicle margin , which is gross profit of vehicle sales as a percentage of vehicle sales revenue, was 13.0% for the fourth quarter of 2025, compared with 10.0%...
NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Evidence Of Underground Water On Mars 'That Could Have Supported Life' Authored by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), NASA’s Curiosity Rover has discovered evidence on Mars that suggests underground water once existed in a region of the planet later than scientists first believed, the agency reported March 15. Curiosity component images combined into ...
NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds Evidence Of Underground Water On Mars 'That Could Have Supported Life' Authored by Jill McLaughlin via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours), NASA’s Curiosity Rover has discovered evidence on Mars that suggests underground water once existed in a region of the planet later than scientists first believed, the agency reported March 15. Curiosity component images combined into a self-portrait at drilling target ‘Windjana.’ NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS “Our findings show that Mars didn’t simply go from wet to dry,” said Dimitra Atri, group leader of the Mars Research Group at New York University. “ Even after its lakes and rivers disappeared, small amounts of water continued to move underground, creating protected environments that could have supported microscopic life .” Curiosity, an SUV-size vehicle weighing about one ton, spent six months investigating an area filled with geological formations known as boxwork, which are low-crisscrossing ridges about three to six feet tall. The features look like giant spiderweb patters when viewed from space, according to NASA. “ Seeing boxwork this far up the mountain suggests the groundwater table had to be pretty high ,” said Tina Seeger of Rice University in Houston, one of the mission scientists. “And that means the water needed for sustaining life could have lasted much longer than we thought looking from orbit.” Scientists say they think the boxwork formed when groundwater traveled through cracks in the bedrock, leaving behind minerals. The minerals hardened and reinforced the fractures over time, forming ridges, NASA said, and the surrounding rock was worn away by wind, leaving behind the web-like structures. Until now, scientists have only had images taken from space of the formations. The same boxwork features exist on Earth, but are much smaller. The ones on Mars are larger and more widespread. Engineers steer the rover remotely from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, guiding it ove...
The first phase of this economy arrived in the form of city-specific meet-up apps. Meetup, arguably the most popular of these apps, actually predates most social media platforms, having been initially founded to bring New Yorkers together in the wake of 9/11. Post-Facebook, so to speak, these platforms proliferated, and Meetup eventually proved so successful that WeWork bought it for $200 million ...
The first phase of this economy arrived in the form of city-specific meet-up apps. Meetup, arguably the most popular of these apps, actually predates most social media platforms, having been initially founded to bring New Yorkers together in the wake of 9/11. Post-Facebook, so to speak, these platforms proliferated, and Meetup eventually proved so successful that WeWork bought it for $200 million in 2017 . New startups meanwhile coordinated curated dinners, coworking spaces, running clubs, and shared activities. At WeRoad, we came to it through travel. When such institutions enter a protracted decline, the desire for community remains. Enter the IRL economy, which I loosely define as an industry that deliberately facilitates in-person belonging. The end goal of all these businesses is to get people offline, together. How a given business goes about doing it is somewhat secondary. Humans are social animals. We’re biologically wired for social cohesion, which has been a matter of life or death since the days of hunting woolly mammoths and sleeping in caves. As our species marched forward, we built this cohesion into institutions: schools, religious communities, trade associations, sports clubs, civic organizations, even entire nations. Multigeneration families living together were the norm and every city was dotted with bars and cafés for informal gatherings. People are starving for the meaningful social connection they haven’t found online, and now they’re willing to pay. That hunger is quietly giving rise to a brand new market — and a generation of startups racing to serve it. Instead, people retreated into their screens at such a scale that major social health organizations started sounding the alarm about a global loneliness epidemic. The World Health Organization found that 1 in 6 people worldwide experienced persistent loneliness , contributing to 870,000 deaths per year and costing governments billions in healthcare, employment, and education. Loneliness often ...
Palantir's High Valuation and Market Challenges in 2026 According to a report from Yahoo Finance, Palantir Technologies currently trades at a price-to-sales ratio approximately 80 times its annual sales. This valuation metric starkly contrasts with the average S&P 500 company, which trades at roughly three times sales. A ratio of this size places the company in a category that few index constituen...
Palantir's High Valuation and Market Challenges in 2026 According to a report from Yahoo Finance, Palantir Technologies currently trades at a price-to-sales ratio approximately 80 times its annual sales. This valuation metric starkly contrasts with the average S&P 500 company, which trades at roughly three times sales. A ratio of this size places the company in a category that few index constituents have ever sustained for long periods. Leadership Questions Traditional Valuation Frameworks The company's chief executive has stated that conventional metrics are irrelevant for assessing Palantir's value, suggesting standard frameworks cannot adequately capture its business. Proponents of the stock echo this sentiment, positioning the firm as a unique entity. However, similar arguments have historically rarely resulted in sustained success for investors. Revenue Concentration and International Growth Concerns Despite strong execution and a key role within the U.S. federal government and large domestic organizations, questions remain about long-term distinctiveness. A significant majority of the company's revenue originates within the United States. Growth in international commercial revenue recently increased at a rate that trails its domestic expansion. The CEO has commented that operational focus outside America is challenging and suggested a lack of understanding in certain regions. Observers note that global suspicion regarding data sharing with an organization linked to U.S. intelligence agencies may be a factor. Competitive Landscape Intensifies While Palantir currently leads in operationalizing artificial intelligence at scale within complex organizations, this advantage faces increasing pressure. Major technology firms are investing heavily to close the capability gap, making the defense of its unique market position more difficult over time.
Firefighters battled a blaze at a giant oil refinery in Kuwait on Friday after a fresh drone attack as Iran kept up a wave of strikes on its neighbours and vowed there was “no concern” about its missile production. Despite calls for an end to targeting Gulf energy infrastructure by European leaders on Thursday, Kuwait reported a fire at its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, a day after a direct hit on Qata...
Firefighters battled a blaze at a giant oil refinery in Kuwait on Friday after a fresh drone attack as Iran kept up a wave of strikes on its neighbours and vowed there was “no concern” about its missile production. Despite calls for an end to targeting Gulf energy infrastructure by European leaders on Thursday, Kuwait reported a fire at its Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery, a day after a direct hit on Qatar’s vital Ras Laffan facility. Iranian authorities had vowed to retaliate after an Israeli strike on Wednesday damaged its South Pars gas field , which draws on the world’s biggest known gas reserve and is vital for domestic supplies. Advertisement The escalating damage to Gulf infrastructure has spiked oil and gas prices again and led to fears of lasting damage to global supplies, even as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated an end to the fighting could be close. Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery in Kuwait on Friday. Photo: AP “We are winning and Iran is being decimated,” the Israeli premier said at a press conference on Thursday, claiming Tehran no longer had the capacity to manufacture ballistic missiles.
March 11, 2026 — People queue at Baidu’s headquarters in Beijing to install the open-source AI assistant OpenClaw. Photo: VCG China’s internet finance self-regulatory body has warned consumers and financial institutions against using the open-source AI agent OpenClaw, citing security vulnerabilities and fraud risks. The National Internet Finance Association of China issued the alert last week afte...
March 11, 2026 — People queue at Baidu’s headquarters in Beijing to install the open-source AI assistant OpenClaw. Photo: VCG China’s internet finance self-regulatory body has warned consumers and financial institutions against using the open-source AI agent OpenClaw, citing security vulnerabilities and fraud risks. The National Internet Finance Association of China issued the alert last week after a surge in downloads of the tool, also known as “Lobster.” The agent can obtain high-level system permissions and carry out tasks on user devices based on natural language commands, raising concerns about misuse.
Farmers Trust Co. trimmed its holdings in Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR - Free Report) by 10.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 55,559 shares of the company's stock after selling 6,530 shares during the period. Palantir Technologies accounts for approximately 1.6% of Farmers Trust Co.'...
Farmers Trust Co. trimmed its holdings in Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ:PLTR - Free Report) by 10.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 55,559 shares of the company's stock after selling 6,530 shares during the period. Palantir Technologies accounts for approximately 1.6% of Farmers Trust Co.'s holdings, making the stock its 12th largest position. Farmers Trust Co.'s holdings in Palantir Technologies were worth $9,876,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Get Palantir Technologies alerts: Sign Up Other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Unique Wealth LLC lifted its stake in shares of Palantir Technologies by 8.3% in the 4th quarter. Unique Wealth LLC now owns 2,376 shares of the company's stock valued at $422,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Investors Research Corp raised its holdings in Palantir Technologies by 50.0% during the fourth quarter. Investors Research Corp now owns 225 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 75 shares in the last quarter. Coastline Trust Co lifted its position in shares of Palantir Technologies by 1.8% in the fourth quarter. Coastline Trust Co now owns 19,256 shares of the company's stock worth $3,423,000 after buying an additional 348 shares during the last quarter. Miller Global Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Palantir Technologies in the fourth quarter worth about $40,000. Finally, Legacy Wealth Management LLC MS boosted its stake in shares of Palantir Technologies by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. Legacy Wealth Management LLC MS now owns 34,580 shares of the company's stock worth $6,147,000 after acquiring an additional 420 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 45.65% of the company's stock. Palantir Technologies News Summary Here are the key news stories impacting Palantir...
An old Soviet-era Lada car drives past a truck belonging to a private Cuban company (mipyme) parked in front of a gas station with an IsoTank of imported fuel in Havana on March 19, 2026. Adalberto Roque | Afp | Getty Images The U.S. Treasury Department has said Cuba won't be allowed to take delivery of Russian crude, even as the fuel-starved island appears poised to receive two tankers carrying o...
An old Soviet-era Lada car drives past a truck belonging to a private Cuban company (mipyme) parked in front of a gas station with an IsoTank of imported fuel in Havana on March 19, 2026. Adalberto Roque | Afp | Getty Images The U.S. Treasury Department has said Cuba won't be allowed to take delivery of Russian crude, even as the fuel-starved island appears poised to receive two tankers carrying oil and gas. In a general license published Thursday, the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Cuba to a list of countries that would be blocked from transactions involving the sale, delivery or offloading of crude or petroleum products that originate from Russia. The U.S. had temporarily authorized the purchase of Russian oil stranded at sea last week, as part of an effort to stabilize energy markets during the U.S. and Israeli-led war on Iran. The short-term measure suspended sanctions that were first imposed on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The update comes as maritime intelligence providers have been tracking two tankers carrying Russian oil and gas heading toward Cuba. Beset by blackouts and a worsening economic crisis under a U.S. oil blockade, the communist-run Caribbean island is currently facing its biggest test since the collapse of the Soviet Union. U.S. President Donald Trump said earlier in the week that he thinks he'll have the " honor " of taking Havana in some form. Russia, which has been allied to Cuba for decades, has sharply criticized the Trump administration's fuel blockade and pledged to provide the country with "necessary support, including financial aid." Read more Cuba partially restores power and vows ‘unyielding resistance’ to U.S. oil blockade Trump says he thinks he will have the 'honor' of 'taking Cuba' Russia's Putin slams U.S. oil blockade on Cuba: 'We do not accept anything like this' The tanker Sea Horse is one of the vessels making its way to Cuba, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward. ...
juvaida khatun/iStock via Getty Images The U.S. high-yield market delivered its third consecutive year of total returns over 8% in 2025. While the fourth quarter's return was more muted and spread volatility increased, overall spreads continued to trend lower. Fund strategy Concentrates on the high level of current income that high-yield bonds offer and that has historically driven a significant p...
juvaida khatun/iStock via Getty Images The U.S. high-yield market delivered its third consecutive year of total returns over 8% in 2025. While the fourth quarter's return was more muted and spread volatility increased, overall spreads continued to trend lower. Fund strategy Concentrates on the high level of current income that high-yield bonds offer and that has historically driven a significant portion of their total return Leads with straightforward investing in the high-yield market so investors know what they're invested in; drives alpha through security selection rather than relying on out-of-index allocations to boost income or returns Assesses the trade-off between risk and relative value using a time-tested, proprietary process conducted by a team of high-yield specialists Fund performance Columbia High Yield Bond Fund Institutional Class ( CHYZX ) shares returned 1.34% for the quarter ending December 31, 2025. The fund's benchmark, the ICE BofA US Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index (the benchmark), returned 1.36% for the same period. Monthly fund performance is available online at columbiathreadneedleus.com. Market overview The ICE BofA US Cash Pay High Yield Constrained Index (the benchmark) returned 1.36% during the fourth quarter. Lower-quality issuers underperformed notably with BB, B and CCC rated issues returning 1.58%, 1.52% and -0.23%, respectively. Overall spreads ended 5 basis points (bps) tighter. (A basis point is 1/100 of a percent.) Fourth-quarter total returns were positive, albeit coupon-driven, as spreads and interest rates were little changed. This marks the thirteenth consecutive quarter of positive high-yield market returns, the longest streak since the inception of the index in 1996. The modestly positive total return masks intra-quarter volatility, as idiosyncratic credit loss events in other asset classes (i.e., bank loans and structured credit) drove spreads sharply wider to begin the quarter. Spreads subsequently recovered but wi...